Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not. for of such is the kingdom of Heaven.

VOL. XL.

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old

he will not depart from it

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

annum, according to circumstances, to dispose of as they pleased.

The surplus, after the payment of interest on the capital, the rent of the land, and the maintenance of the producers in comfort, would amount, at a moderate computation, to four thousand pounds, which could be devoted first to an endowment for the church and to a permanent provision for the schools, and afterwards to a fund for the formation of other institutions as population increased, to the advancement of the missionary cause, or to any other object of Christian benevolence.

The buildings and the support of the inmates for the first year would together amount to 60,000%, which might be raised in shares of 20%., and by loans and contributions.

Description of the Buildings &c.

The square of buildings surrounds an area of thirty-four acres, and consists of 300 cottages for 1200 persons, or 300 families, averaging four persons in each family, besides public buildings and private official residences: each cottage has four rooms, a front and back room both on the ground and upper floors. A married couple with out children will occupy two rooms on the ground-floor of a cottage; and in that case the two upper rooms can be united to the adjoining cottage, making six rooms for a large family.

The large room over the gateway at the entrance of the square is the committeeroom; the apartments on each side are appropriated as lodging-rooms for the visiting committee and for strangers, as well as for the residence of the secretary.

Passing round the buildings to the right -the angle building in the foreground is the infirmary, with the surgeon's residence adjoining.

The residence of the clergyman has a garden at the back, with a pathway leading

to the church.*

buildings, is to be cultivated by the children, in connexion with their education, The governor's house is immediately opposite that of the clergyman.

The fourth angle building is the storehouse, with the storekeeper's residence adjoining.

The centre building comprises a large kitchen, with a dining-hall above, for those who have no particular desire to dine in their own cottages.

At a short distance on the left of the buildings is a manufactory for shoemaking, carpentering, hatmaking, smiths'-work, &c. &c.; some cleanly employments, such as tailoring, &c., would probably be carried on in the cottages.

A little further on to the right of the manufactory is the laundry.

Behind the hall of assembly, and the gardens cultivated by the children, are the farming establishment, bailiff's house, &c.

On the hill is a windmill belonging to the institution.

The whole to be surrounded by 800 or 1000 acres of land; but should the inmates consist of a large proportion of the agricultural labourers, and the locality be eligible for farming, two or three thousand more acres of land might be occupied.

LATE QUARTER-MASTER SERGEANT OF THE FOURTH LIGHT DRAGOONS. (Concluded from p. 325.) THE town of Kurachee is a place of some

importance: it is guarded by a fort situate on an island in the harbour, but which is not of any strength. Sir John Keane's dispatch to Commodore Pepper, upon the breaking out of the war, proved at once the respect he entertained for his antagonists, and the reliance he placed in the navy:"Proceed to Kurachee, and take it. John Keane." Verbum sat. The town is situate close to the sea shore, surrounded by fortifications, upon the walls of which are placed eighteen things that once upon a time were called cannon; but the air from the salt water, time, and neglect, have so worked upon them that they are completely useless. Behind the town is a large square tank (reservoir) of water, with stone embankments, the borders of which are embellished with the splendidly outstretching Banian tree. One of these is of extraordinary size. This tree sends roots from its branches, so that when the roots reach the ground they act as supports to the parent branch. There is a small temple erected for the occupation of four howling dervishes, and the excruciating noise performed by these saintly fel

lows exceeds that made by wild beasts; in fact, their noise was the resemblance of nothing in the air above or in the earth below. Trained from their infancy to give utterance to a description of howling peculiarly their own, their sanctity is calculated from the amount of discordant notes they produce. These four worthies must have been chosen to inhabit this favourite spot on account of their holiness alone, for had the seven sleepers been near them any morning about three o'clock, their slumbers would have been ended. Of appearance the most disgusting, their hair matted together with filth and ashes, their bodies well greased and then covered with dirt, they would have been little likely amongst Europeans to have gained much respect for their religion; yet such was the credulity of the inhabitants of Kurachee, that they were applied to in all difficult cases of sickness, robbery, &c., for their talismans and charms, which young married females adopt to procure a family; old ladies, to regain the lost affections of some antiquated Lothario; and some dupes, to discover thieves. These people were applied to, in short, in almost all cases of social life, and sometimes carried on that most dangerous of intrigues, love to a married woman. Nothing was too hard for them to cure, nothing too difficult to solve. When business did not call forth any exertion on their part, they were always to be found lying under the shade of the Banian tree, or satisfying the craving of an inordinate appetite with the offerings to their idol. About eight miles from Kurachee is another large tank, built with very high walls, and having an island in the centre. This tank has also a great number of Banian_trees on its sides, and four temples. The dervishes who occupy these places were, thank Providence, born under something else than a howling star. They gain their living by shewing to their visitors a great number of alligators, that swim about in the water, (where they are daily fed by the priests,) or lazily bask in the sun upon the island. The priests inform you that these brutes will come when they are called, every one having a name; but as they did not call them, "I very much doubted the fact." Certain it is, that at feeding time the priests ran over a string of names, and the huge creatures came for their food; but it is rather against common sense to imagine they know when they are called. The tale can only be got up to impose upon the credulity of the natives; and as it answers the purpose intended, in Heaven's name let them believe it. No seeing this sight without the perpetual "becksheesh."

The Mohurrum, at Kurachee, is observed with the same ceremonies as in Hindostan,

the same music, drums and pipes perpetually playing. A hole is dug, about two feet deep, in which a fire is made, and the devotees march round, clashing pieces of iron. When one set is tired, another takes the place, and continue dancing from night till morning, singing the names of two of their holy men, Hoosain and Hassan. On the day of the full moon, their taboots, or miniature temples, made of bamboo paper and tinsel, are carried down to the river, each followed by its own peculiar sect, and there despoiled of its finery, and thrown in. Thus the object of their adoration for the last fortnight, and which had cost them a great deal of labour, pains, and money, assumes the form of a boat for little frogs, or crannies for little fish. Superstition must surely have reached its acme, when that which is worshipped one day is broken up and cast into the river the next: yet so bigoted are the natives of India to their own religious observances, that any attempts to gain them over from their blindness (as far as regards religion) is sure to be met with rejection and utter scorn. In some instances the light of the Gospel has been accepted; but at the same time at a sacrifice of caste, and involving, by that loss, the desertion of relatives, of friends, of business, of home, and of worldly goods. Thrown back entirely upon their own resources, for none of their former, or, indeed, of any caste, will recognise or employ a seceder from the Brahminical faith, the proselytes to Christianity labour under difficulties of a most disheartening nature; and fre quently, when borne down by sorrows, regret that they have quitted their original faith, and, in consequence, fall below the notice of their former compeers. Conversion to Christianity is most frequently carried into effect by the Romancatholic priests of Goa and the Moravian missionaries; but after a convert has been baptized, he is generally left to begin the world anew, despised by his former friends, and an outcast from the society he has walked in. Bereft of home, deprived of his former fellowship, his converters do not extend their hands to afford him that support of which their exertions have deprived him, and thus he becomes an utter outcast, and descends generally to a premature grave, unpitied or unwept.

Amongst the other inhabitants of Kurachee whom it is worth while to notice, was the celebrated Mr. Masson, who was truly a most enterprising man. A Scotchman by birth, he had come to England, and, having met with some_reverses, had enlisted in the Company's Foot Artillery, and had been promoted to pay-serjeant of a company. At the Siege of Bhurtpore, he had deserted; and, with astonishing perseverance, had made his way from that place

to Cabool, totally unaided, and ignorant of the language. He had resided in Cabool for many years without denying he was a Feringee (European), but clothed in the Affghan costume. Although living in a place surrounded by Europeans, no persuasion could induce him to exchange his garb for that of one of his own country. He had afforded valuable information to government respecting the Russian emissaries who had been endeavouring to undermine our commercial relations with Dost Mahomed; and had also informed them that a Russian army had been despatched to reduce Orgunje (Khiva). Application was made for his discharge from the army; and his pardon for desertion, as well as the discharge, were both forwarded to him. He had sent numerous presents to the Company's Museum of coins and other antiques which he had found in Bokhara. A pension of 100l. per annum had been granted by the Company for his valuable services; and he, with true filial tenderness, had transferred it to his mother. Leading a most erratic life, he had wandered over the greatest part of the north-west of India; and had visited, on Mount Caucasus, the Grecian settlements formed by Alexander the Great. He was, of course, most abstemious in his drink when pursuing any object which required the cunning of a spy; but when not thus employed, he was most apt to indulge in the cacoethes bibendi. Burgundy, Champagne, and most other expensive wines, graced his table upon the occasions of festivity; and his Bacchanalian orgies lasted from twelve at noon till three in the morning. His attention, at this time, was engaged upon a most elaborate work-the History of the House of Timour, which he had nearly completed, but which was never finished, owing to his papers having been seized at Khelat while on his return to Cabool.

the ears of a monarch when he is surrounded by his courtiers, was, in his hours of leisure, accustomed to lay aside the ensigns of his dignity, and to visit, in the dress of a private individual, all classes of his subjects. While rambling about in this manner, he arrived at the country residence of one of his nobles, named Matweef, at a time when the latter had residing with him a young lady of great personal attractions. Alexis, after having desired Matweef to address him as a captain of the Russian guards, was introduced to her, and being highly pleased with her manners and conversation, he prolonged his stay until late in the evening. When she had retired, Alexis inquired who she was, and was informed that her name was Nathalia Narychkin, and that she was the daughter of a gentleman, who, on account of his circumstances having become embarrassed, had been compelled to remove to a distant part of the empire. Alexis then took his departure. Nathalia had made deep impression on the mind of the czar, but thinking her too far below him in rank, he strove to banish her from his thoughts. Not being able to succeed, he paid her a second visit, and became more enamoured of her than before. Nathalia, knowing nothing of his rank, treated him with great familiarity, and received his attentions with undisguised pleasure. Thus an intimacy was formed between them, which caused the czar to become a constant visitor at the house of Matweef.

a

CZAR OF RUSSIA.

PRIOR to the time of Peter the Great, when a czar of Russia wished to marry, he announced his intention to his courtiers, who dispatched persons to all parts of the empire, on whose judgment and fidelity they could rely, to select, from amongst the daughters of the nobility, the most beautiful women they could find. The ladies thus chosen were conducted to Moscow, and lodged in the Kremlin, where they were visited by the czar, for the purpose of choosing one of them, on whom it should please him to confer the title of czarina.

Alexis, the father of Peter the Great, knowing how difficult it is for truth to reach