was common.

And it has been much imitated in later days. As to the trident of Tarshish, it has been held by many a sea-king since his time.

The translation of the word Tarshish by the word Sea, as stated in certain passages of the Targum, Septuagint, and Vulgate, according to Smith, "Clarke's Butterworth," and the "Imperial Bible Dictionary," warrants the suggestion above thrown out that Japheth's grandson gave his name to the sea. And it is still further justified by a note of the learned Jerome who had much to do with Jews and Jewish literature-to Isaiah, ii--16, saying that "the Hebrews believe that Tarshish was their original term for the sea." Who, it may be asked had a better right than they, who were as competent, to determine the meaning of a word in their own language? And is it not strange that with a key thus within reach, those who have undertaken to open the door of knowledge to others, should themselves have remained without, groping in darkness-" blind leaders of the blind?" That the last, and probably fullest of the biblical dictionaries, should say "No passage of scripture gives a satisfactory solution" of this subject. Overlooking the fact that correlative passages and circumstances must be considered in determining doubtful questions.

We are of opinion that this Hebrew interpretation of a Hebrew word, bears the biblical student clear of the difficulties by which his path is beset. If he turn from it to one side, Scylla awaits him. If to the other, Charybdis surely will shipwreck his hopes. Safety lies alone in holding to Hebrew guidance; the records which do not contradict themselves if fairly construed, and

comprehensively considered; and whose sense is made so plain by the translations of the Targum, the Septuagint, and the Vulgate, last referred to, and by the declaration of Jerome, that "he who runs may read " the truth. If an explanation is wanted of how, and where, Ezekiel's "iron, tin, and lead," were obtained, ships of Tarshish-ships of the sea-will bring it; whether the Pillars of Hercules have to be passed to reach those products of Spain, or southern Asia be sought to obtain them from her vast storehouses of metals. And if that prophet's "multitude of all kind of riches," and the "gold, silver, ivory, apes, peacocks, almug trees, and precious stones," of Kings and Chronicles, are to be accounted for; again, ships of Tarshish--ships of the sea-will come laden with treasures and truth; but this time from Ophir, and the far eastern emporiums and isles of India-where alone they could be had.

That radiant land whose vales and bowers,

Seem made of sun-beams, gems, and flowers.

Thus rendered, the Psalmist's "Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles," lxxii-10, are linked together in harmony of meaning as of measure. Theirs were Realms of the Sea; on which they looked in pride of possession from their island thrones, carpeted and curtained with every green thing, and skirted with billows sporting with golden sands. And in this view, the antithesis of the verse is made perfect; for the kingdoms of "Sheba and Seba" therein referred to, were parts of the main land—as has been satisfactorily determined by biblical geographers. And even Jonah's flight "from the presence of the

Lord," should cease to agitate further the shallowness of literalism. For finding at Joppa "a ship going to Tarshish," a ship going to sea-what more natural in his disregard of duty, and his forgetfulness of his great forefather's sublime affirmation of God's omnipresence -"Whither shall I flee from Thy presence? If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Thy right hand shall hold me"-what, we ask, would have been more natural, than that he should imagine the vain thing of escape on its boundless bosom, from the punishment of his refusal to go, as commanded, and warn the people of Nineveh ?

Viewing the various passages of the Hebrew record in which the word Tarshish is found, by the light given by the Hebrews themselves, there is seen no inconsistency, no contradiction, nothing in conflict with well-known facts, no fanciful hypotheses calling for blind faith; but a reasonableness challenging that loftier faith, which is belief coming of understanding.

This look out from Gun Rock on the Bay of Gibraltar, with El Rocadillo at its head-the site of old Roman Carteia, and older still Tartessus of the Phoenicianshas led to thoughts of Tarshish more instructive than at first supposed they would be; in this at least, that they serve to show that people sometimes delve for things which lie unseen on the surface. How sadly true the daily experience of life, that many seek vainly, because wrongly, for that happiness which is spread abroad by Him, who would make us "to lie down in green pastures, (and lead us) beside still waters," if we would but heed the Promises of His Goodness! Promises seen

written on all around: and heard in the whispering breeze which breathes on us its freshness, to go hence and gather it again; in the fall of summer showers, drank by the thirsty earth, then going, we know not whither, yet rising once more in fountains of life and health; and in the melody of sea-side billows, which come, and go to seek still another being of beauty, robed in the splendour of the skies, and wearing the iris-coronet of eternal hope!

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CHAPTER XX.

FROM GIBRALTAR TO CADIZ. STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR. TARIFA. GUZMAN EL BUENO. SPANISH LOVE OF ROMANCE. KNOWLEDGE MAN'S SAFEGUARD. HUMAN INCONSISTENCY. TRAFALGAR. CADIZ SITUATIONBAY-HER HISTORY ONE OF TRADE-ITS GENERAL EFFECTS. MUSEUM. CAPUCHIN CONVENT-CHURCH OF SANTA CATALINA. MURILLO. HEALTH AND CLIMATE. FROM CADIZ TO JEREZ. SIGHTS. THE CARTUJA. THE GUADALETE RIVER-BATTLE OF A.D. 711.

STEAMING from Gibraltar on a bright morning, with the sky-lines of its fortress-rock sharply defined and defiant; and its broad bay sheltering from a stiff south-wester more than three hundred merchantmen and ironclads; one is apt to think, that no nation could ask a better point d'appui for a naval lever, wherewith to move at will the commerce of the Mediterranean.

The Strait of Gibraltar is forty miles long, from Europa Point (of the Rock) to Cape Trafalgar on the Spanish coast. Its eastern or Mediterranean end, from Europa Point, to Ceuta-opposite in Africa-is twenty miles wide; and the western or Atlantic end, from Cape Trafalgar in Europe, to Cape Spartel in Africa, is thirty miles wide. Toward midway-at Tarifa-the width is ten miles, giving the Strait something of an hour-glass shape. An ascertained surface current at