ing images which presented themselves before me. was ashamed at representing such sublime objects by such imperfect designs, but I wished to preserve some memorial of the sensations which I here experienced."

It was from the ceiling of the temple of Tentyra that the famous Egyptian Zodiac was taken by Napoleon and carried to Paris. From the astronomical drawings on this Zodiac, mathematicians have concluded that it must have been formed in the first century of the Christian era. The reign of Tiberius has been fixed on as the period of the construction of the building; and a time when the summer solstice was in Cancer as the date when the Zodiac was carved; whence it follows that the period in question could not be far removed from the birth of Christ.

For a minute description of Tentyra. and for much valuable information on other matters connected with Egyptian antiquities, see Russell's Egypt, 23d vol. Harper's Family Library.

CABINET OF NATURE.

FALLS OF NIAGARA.

BY REV. F. W. P. GREENWOOD.

[Concluded from page 116.]

Retrace your steps to the upper bank, and then, in your strength holds out, proceed a short way further to the enjoyment of a view, already referred to, which excels every other in this place of many wonders. It is obtained from a bridge or platform, which has recently been thrown out over some rocks,* and is carried to the very brink of the Horseshoe Fall, and even projects beyond it, so that the spectator at the end of the platform is actually suspended over it. And if he is alone, and gives way to his feelings, he must drop upon his knees, for the grandeur of the scene is overpowering. The soul is elevated, and at the same time subdued as in an awful and heavenly presence. Deity is there. The brooding and commanding Spirit is there. "The Lord

is upon many waters." The heights and the depths,

These are called the Terrapin Rocks.

the shadows and the unlight the foam, the mist, the rainbows, the gushing showers of diamonds, the beauty, and the power, and the majesty all around and beneath, environ the spirit with holiest influences, and without violence compel it to adore. "Deep calleth unto deep." The cataract, from its mysterious depths, calleth with its thunder, back to the deep lake, and up to the deep sky, and forward to the deep ocean, and far inward to the deep of man's soul. And the answer of the lake, and the answer of the sky, and the answer of the ocean, are praise to the Maker, praise to Him who sitteth above the water-flood, praise to the Almighty God! And where is the soul which will not also hear that call, and answer it even with a clearer and louder answer, and cry, Praise to the Creator, praise to the infinite and holy, and blessed God!

These Falls are not without their history; but, like their depths, it is enveloped with clouds. Geologists suppose, and with good apparent reason, that time was when the Niagara fell over the abrupt bank at Queenstown, between six and seven miles below the place of the present Falls, and that it has, in the lapse of unknown and incalculable years, been wearing away the gulf in the intermediate distance, and toiling and travel. ling through the rock, back to its parent lake. The abrupt termination of the high bank and table land at Queenstown; the correspondence of the opposite cliffs to each other all the way up to the Falls; the masses of superincumbent limestone, which both the American and Canadian cataracts hurl, from time to time, into the boiling abyss, all seem to favor this supposition. But when did the grand journey begin? When will it end? How vain to ask! How momentary human life appears, when we give our minds to such contemplations! Where was the cataract toiling in its way, when none but the

*Within a few years several pieces of the upper stratum have been thrown down. The waters, however are now obliged to act upon a surface three times wider than that which formerly sustained them, and the limestone is becoming more and more compacted with the harder chert, as they approach Black Rock. Their retrocession must therefore be slow, beyond the power of computation, Beneath the limestone strata, there is a layer of loose shale, which is easily washed away, and which is always first hollowed out before the limestone falls,

awe-struck Indian came to bow before its sublimity? Where was it, when the moss-buried trunk, which now lies decaying by its borders, was a new sprung sapling, glittering with the spray-drops which fed its infant leaves? Where was it, before the form of a single red man glided through the forest? Where was it, when lofty trees stood by it in the intimate sympathy of centuries, which long since have been resolved into earth? Where was it, when winds and clouds were its only visiters; and when the sun and blue heaven by day, and the moon and stars by night, alone looked down and beheld it, the same as they do now? And is not science blind and foolish, when, being in her elements and leading-strings, she lisps impiety, instead of prayer?

Four days flew by us like the waters of the rapids, while we staid here, and then came our time for departure. As we rode down to Lake Ontario, on the bank of the river, and turned every moment to catch glimpses of the Falls, we were favored, when between two and three miles on our way, with a full view of the whole cataract, through an opening in the woods. We stopped and alighted, in order to enjoy the melancholy pleasure of contemplating it for the last time. It looked softer and gentler in the distance, and its sound came to the ear like a murmur. I had learned to regard it as a friend; and, as I stood, I bade it, in my heart, farewell.

Farewell, beautiful, holy creation of God!-Flow on, in the garments of glory which he has given thee, and fill other souls, as thou hast mine, with wonder and praise. Often will my spirit be with thee, waking, and in dreams. But soon I shall pass away, and thou wilt remain. Flow on, then, for others' eyes, when mine are closed, and for others' hearts, when mine is cold. Still call to the deeps of many generations. Still utter the instructions of the Creator to way-faring spirits, till thou hast fulfilled thy work, and they have all returned, like wearied travellers, to their home.

THE broad volume of nature never contradicts the volume of inspiration. The seven thunders of the Apo calypse may be heard in the roar of Niagara.

THE PLANETARY WORLDS.

THE number of systems in the heavens which lie within the range of our telescopes, is reckoned to be at least a hundred millions (100,000,000.) In the regions of infinite space beyond the boundary of all these, it is not improbable that ten thousand times 100,000 millions of other systems are running their ample rounds. With each of these systems, it is probable that at least a hundred worlds are connected.* Every one of these worlds and systems, we have reason to believe, differs from another, in its size, splendor, and internal arrangements, in the peculiar beauties and sublimities with which it is adorned, and in the organization and capacities of the beings with which it is furnished. The immense multitude of rational beings and other existences with which creation is replenished, is an idea which completely overpowers the human faculties, and is beyond the power of our arithmetical notation to express. Even the multiplicity of objects in one world or system, is beyond our distinct conception. What very feeble and imperfect conceptions have we attained of the immensity of radiations of light incessantly emitted from the sun and falling upon our globe, and of the innumerable crossings and re-crossings of these rays from every object around, in order to produce vision to every beholder! of the incalculable myriads of invisible animalcula which swim in the waters and fly in the air, and pervade every department of nature! of the particles of vapor which float in the atmosphere, and of the drops of water contained in the caverns of the ocean! of the many millions of individuals belonging to every species of vegetables, of which 50,000 different species have already been discovered, and, of the number of trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants of every description, which have flourished since the creation! of the countless myriads of the lower animals, and of the human species, which have been brought into existence since the commencement of time,

*With the solar system to which we belong, there are connected more than a hundred globes of different sizes, if we take into account the planets both primary and secondary, and likewise the

comets.

and of those which are yet to appear in regular succession till time shall be no more! of the immense variety of movements, adjustments, and adaptations, connected with the structure of an animal body, of which fourteen thousands may be reckoned as belonging to the system of bones and muscles comprised in the human frame, besides a distinct variety of as numerous adaptations in I each of the 60,000 different species of animals which are already known to exist! of the countless globules contained in the eyes of the numerous tribes of beetles, flies, butterflies, and other insects, of which 27,000 have been counted in a single eye! And, if the multiplicity of objects in one world overwhelms our powers of conception, and computation, how much more the number and variety of beings and operations connected with the economy of millions of worlds!

BERLIN is the capital of the kingdom of Prussia, and the scene of many of the diplomatic negociations and intrigues of European politics. It stands upon the river Spree, which divides the city into two parts, and, though but an insignificant stream, is invaluable to the inhabit.