means of well constructed zigzags, with 16 of which the face of the mountain is scaled. The mountain scenery as we ascended, both near and remote, including the huge glaciers which we approached, is_magnificent in the extreme. Rarest

alpine plants too were abundant. Next to the Rhododendron Ferru

gineum, through acres, I may truly say miles, of which we passed in the highest bloom; the sweetest and loveliest flower which presented itself in large quantities at the highest summit where vegetation otherwise seemed to cease, and close to huge glaciers and snow-beds, was the Primula Viscora. For a considerable distance the rich lilac hue of this delicious flower gave as glowing and as entire a tinge to the ground as I have ever known the heaths on our English moors. I need not say how the effect was aided by the splendid sunshine, and the contiguous snow. As we began to descend, we came to the Austrian Custom House. We were led to expect a tedious delay, and other annoyances; but though time seemed unnecessarily wasted in the examination of our passports, our looks, I suppose, sufficed for the rest, and our luggage was not so much as touched. But now for the descent of the Splügen into Italy. Here, in my opinion, where little, comparatively speaking, is said of Splügen Pass, are its wonders. The Via Mala usually runs away with all the powers of description; but in that part of which I had heard nothing previously lay my greatest surprise and interest. If we look at the Splügen Pass as a work of art, there is no comparison whatever.

The

But

Via Mala might deserve all that was said of it, before our railway wonders commenced; but who that has seen their tunnels and galleries, &c., &c. can for a moment be struck with any peculiar difficulty that has been surmounted in the Via Mala? the descent on the Italian side is the wonder the admirable manner in which a road, in no part painfully steep, has been contrived down a steep descent of 2 or 3,000 feet or more, often through or along the

breast of precipitous rock-here is the wonder-it is effected by means of galleries and continual zigzags. The first gallery is more than 700 feet long, 15 feet high and wide; the second is 642 long; and the third 1530 long. These galleries, the longest on any alpine road, are constructed of the most solid masonry-arched with roofs sloping outwards to turn aside the snow, supported on pillars and lighted by low windows like the embrasures of a battery. They were rendered necessary to protect this part of the road from falling avalanches, which habitually descend the face of the mountains, and which, if not warded off, would have swept away the road the first year after it was made. But how long they will stand I cannot pretend to say. The roof of one of the galleries had broken in for a considerable distance just before our arrival, and the rubbish was only removed just suffici ently to enable our carriage to pass. I should be very sorry to pass the Splügen in wet stormy weather; and how the Diligence performs its daily route with so little accident, is to me a marvel. So much for art: and if we come to the matter of scenery, if the sublime, the terrific, the horrible, is to carry the day, the Via Mala must, with me at least, yield to the descent into Italy. Never can I forget my nervous sensations on looking down upon the endless zigzags beneaths us, with the consciousness that our carriage must find its way along the whole of them ere the bottom of the valley could be reached. I never remember to have had such a feeling of danger, and gladly indeed would I have got out of the carriage if either time or strength would have allowed of it. The view down into the valley of the Cardinel is truly terrific, too terrific to admit of a satisfactory enjoyment of the magnificent scenery which presents itself. At one turn of the zigzag, about half way down, and close to us was the magnificent cascade of the Medessimo, 800 feet high; but it was impossible to have eyes at liberty for it, amidst the eagerness to get safely into the valley beneath us.

At length we reached the little village of Campo Dolcino, a sweet sounding Italian name, little suited to so poor and dirty a place, except so far as we had now got into a place of safety from our difficulties and dangers. The scenery from this village to Chiavenna is exquisitely beautiful. We had still zigzags, but nothing terrific; and the whole character of the country was different to any thing we had seen. The road is ingeniously contrived amidst huge masses of rocks, interspersed with luxuriant chesnuts. The roaring and impetuous Lixa passing through the centre of the valley, with high and grotesque mountains on either side the dark hue of which, as well as of the fragments of rocks which have fallen from them into the valley, give a very peculiar and sombre effect; with which the black appearance of the houses singularly harmonizes. The effect would perhaps not have been so exquisitely interesting, if the glowing aspect had not been so powerfully relieved by our splendid sunshine. Early as it was in the day-not more than 3 o'clockthe sun had set to half the valley. Not the least delightful feature in the picture, was the exquisitely soft and beautiful opening down the valley in the direction of Como.

The situation of Chiavenna is beautiful in the extreme; but the town is filthy and miserable, and I do think every fifth or sixth female we met was more or less afflicted with goitre. As we drove through the whole length of the town, I really dreaded the sojourn of half-a-day in such a wretched looking place; however, to our surprise and delight, we found ourselves landed at an excellent hotel, beautifully situated out of the town, and close to the ruins of an old castle. Gladly would I have tarried here and made an excursion up the Val Bregaglia, where I have long had a feeling of interest, and where I have felt it a privilege to send supplies for ministers and schoolmasters, as well as the circulation of tracts. But it would only have been painfully tantalizing to have gone where an entire ignorance

of the language would have prevented any pleasant and profitable intercourse. I was always struck with the importance of that locality, as a key to Italy; but now, for a season at least, a wide and effectual door is opened into Italy itself, and I trust that while it can be done, that country will get well supplied with the Holy Scriptures and religious

tracts.

The next morning, (our third,) we proceeded along the banks of the pretty lake Riva to Varenna, on the Lake Como. Every inch of the road is beautiful. We could only have wished not to have seen such abundant symptoms of a warlike nation; but every town and place that we came to was filled with Austrian soldiers. At Colico we came upon the Lake of Como, and went along its banks to Varenna. Much of the road has been redeemed from the Lake, or bored through the rocks in long tunnels. At Varenna we took boat to Bellagio, which Murray justly speaks of as one of the finest positions amongst the Italian Lakes. It is situated on a promontory, and commands the most splendid views, not only up to Colico, but of the Lecco branch in one direction, and the Como branch in the other. Here we resolved to rest for three or four days; and nothing could exceed the interest of this lovely spot. Our hotel indeed was sufficiently forbidding as we entered it, and I was almost tempted to desire that our boat might remain and take us back to Varenna; but we learnt, as in innumerable other instances, what mistakes would be made by acting on first impressions, for filthy as the entrance was, we found every thing in the interior remarkably clean, with excellent fare, and great civility and attention. Our hotel was situated on the lake, with a large balcony in front, where we sat under the shade of a spreading vine, enjoying the delicious scenery around us, with the innumerable shoals of fish playing about in the water at our feet. It was a scene never to be forgotten; yet it makes one's heart sad to see the people wholly given to idolatry, and to contrast the beauties of

this wonderful world with all that is so deformed and forbidding in the tenants of it: while it is depressing to be wholly unable to drop even a word to one's fellow-creatures that might be of use. We took steamer from Bellaggio to Como, which we found full of priests and Austrian soldiers; and thus we saw this beautiful lake most completely, and under the most favourable circumstances of weather, &c. It may be hazardous to say that it disappointed me; but here again was the mischief of expectatations too highly raised. Often had I been told that I had not seen a lake worth looking at till I got into Italy, and much had I heard, from time to time, of the matchless beauty of an “Italian sky.” I am not prepared to give Como the palm, and as to the Italian sky, though we must have had the greatest advantage of weather, I have yet to learn wherein its peculiarity consists. I have been

nearly a fortnight in Italy, and have seen nothing different in the sky to what I have continually seen in England. The road from Como to Milan lies through the plain of Lombardy. We had twenty miles of diligence, and then ten of railway, from Monza to Milan. The road is thoroughly uninteresting, except as it regards the exuberant fertility of the country. The whole of Lombardy looks like a well-cultivated garden. We were indebted to the hedges of acacia for keeping off the scorching sun, yet they had their drawback: all the trees in that country seem crowded with the most noisy tenants, called tree crickets; the incessant clatter which they keep up is a perfect nuisance; the poor birds seem to be driven away in alarm and disgust, not one scarcely did we hear or see. I have much to say about poor Milan, but must reserve it for my next.

DIED, at Clapham Common, June 21st, 1849, in the eighty-first year of his age, JOHN HATCHARD, Esq., for nearly fifty years the highlyesteemed senior partner in the firm of Messrs Hatchard and Son, booksellers and publishers, 187, Piccadilly. Having served his apprenticeship with the late Mr. Ginger, bookseller, in College Street, Westminster, he became an assistant to the late Mr. Payne, at the Mews Gate.

In each of these situations he conducted himself with that industry, integrity, and amenity of manners, which drew towards him the attention and regard of a large number of the most distinguished characters of the day; many of whom evinced towards him the highest marks of their es

teem, which ceased only at their or his death.

Having commenced business on his own account at 173, Piccadilly, it pleased God, in his Providence, greatly to crown his honest efforts with success.

The publication of a very able pamphlet, in the year 1797, entitled "Reform or Ruin," which had a sale of almost unprecedented extent, seems to have been the origin of that great popularity to which he afterwards attained, and which he never lost to the end of his career, as a bookseller and publisher.

In this career he was honoured by special appointment as bookseller to Queen Charlotte, and other members of the royal family.

The publications of the excellent Society for Bettering the Condition of the Poor, were entrusted to his care from the commencement to the close of its operations; as well as that valuable work, "The Christian Observer," from its first commencement until his retirement from business in 1845, both adding largely to his acquaintance with men distinguished for their desire to promote true religion, and to advance the welfare of every class of society.

For a period of more than forty years, Mr. Hatchard devoted a large portion of his time and influence in aiding young ladies in procuring situations as governesses. To this benevolent effort his attention was directed from discovering that many professional men, tradesmen, and others, at their death, left behind them daughters, to whom they had given a refined education, but for whose maintenance little or no provision was found; believing these to constitute a most interesting and valuable portion of the community, and for whom (at that period,) no public or other society had been formed, he directed his judicious and Christian efforts on their behalf, and had the satisfaction of thus providing for hundreds-we might, perhaps, have more truly stated, thousandsof ladies thus circumstanced, vast numbers of whom have not only themselves been thus placed out of the reach of want, but have proved blessings to the families in which he was the instrument of placing them.

Such was the esteem in which Mr. Hatchard was held, that not a few of the affluent members of society were in the habit of placing in his hands large sums of money to be distributed amongst persons who he knew were necessitous and deserving; thus was he delighted to be the medium of diffusing comfort to many whose cases might not otherwise have

met with that aid which was thus dispensed to them. Until the year 1845 he was enabled to carry on an extensive business, when, from advancing age, and its attendant infirmities, he retired, and in the quietness of domestic life he devoted himself more especially to prepare to meet that God whose honour and glory it had been his chief object to promote during the discharge of the whole of his more public duties.

It having pleased God so far to prosper his business as to enable him to bequeath a very handsome provision for his family, as well as legacies to various friends, and to thirtyseven Christian and benevolent institutions, he departed in peace, after a short but very severe illness, borne with Christian resignation, and entire submission to the Divine will.

The very successful course which Mr. Hatchard was permitted to pursue, arose mainly, by God's blessing, from the exercise of untiring energy, stern integrity, and always maintaining his own proper position in society; and, at the same time, it is not too much to affirm that he was identified with almost all the leading men in the ranks of literature and politics, and still more so with those engaged in the advancement of true religion and philanthropy. He was a warmly attached member of the Church of England, yet holding in high esteem those who, differing from him, held their own views with Christian charity towards others.

He lived and died in the full and hearty belief of the Unity, but distinct personality and offices, of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost; and thus "like a shock of corn, fully ripe, was he gathered unto his fathers," and is doubtless now "before the Throne of God, serving Him day and night in His temple."

PARIS MISSIONARY SOCIETY.The progress of evangelisation in Africa is very encouraging. There were 181 baptisms during the early months of last year. The number of converts among the Bechuanas was about 2,000. These new Christians "walk worthy of their vocation," and already shew a remarkable zeal for godly things. The little church of Bethulia, consisting of only 110 communicants, has collected nearly 1,200 francs on behalf of this Society. At Morija, nearly 8,000 francs were given towards the erection of a temple. At Carmel, at Motito, and other places, the same zeal has been evinced. These facts shew that the conversion of these savages is real and sincere. Such poor men would not give so much money to pious objects, if their hearts were not penetrated by divine grace. May the example of these faithful Bechuanas serve as an incentive to ourselves! Do we not all need to learn to give more liberally, to deny ourselves still more for the cause of the Lord, and to shew a more unreserved determination to " fight the good fight of faith”?

GERMANY.-The following leading article in the Britannia newspaper traces up the evils under which Gerinany is now smarting to their proper

source:

"The Frankfort Parliament, that most transparent of all follies, the very phantom of political nonsense, has vanished; and the Baden Republic has followed it.

"But Germany will not be quiet until she is compelled to feel the penalties of disturbance, nor will she know the value of reason until she has been taught the inconvenience of irrationality.

"The first step of all her governments ought to be the reform of her universities. By what system it has happened that the whole body of

their students have been insurrectionists must be a matter of the sternest inquiry; and the teachers of those revolutionary blockheads ought to be sent instantly on a "march of mind" into Siberia. Wherever there has been a rebellion, the students have been the most violent, mischievous, and absurd. Yet, can we wonder at this result when we know the grossness of life and the profligacy of principle which are habitual in the German colleges?

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Germany is now the land of infidelity. The works of the German press are almost divided between the various forms of infidelity; and if Voltaire returned to the earth, he would find himself outstripped at once in profligacy and profanation by any of the thousand illuminati whose pens supply the founts of German knowledge.

"The godless colleges of Germany have been the real source of the public corruption. Where no religion is taught, or where all are taught alike, or where the extravagances of a professor are the only way to make a subsistence, there must be irreligion; and where Christianity is a scoff, the spirit of rebellion inevitably follows. Fear may restrain it for a time; but, as in a diseased body the least wound turns into a danger, so in a community taught to despise the simplicity of Christian truth, political ruin only waits the slightest public collision to seize the whole political frame. Would it be possible to conceive the disregard of all oaths of allegiance, the promptitude of plunder, the readiness of rebellion, the unhesitating recourse to blood, displayed in all the foreign revolts of our time, if the population believed in the Scriptures, if they reverenced the commands of Christianity, if they lived in sacred fear of a great day of retribution, or if they actually believed in a God? The perpetrators of those atrocities were as actually hea then as if they sacrificed on the altars