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hours, thirty-nine minutes, twenty-one seconds; inclination to the ecliptic, 1° 51' 6"; eccentricity, about 1-21 of the transverse axis; or, Mars is 26,926,000 miles nearer the sun at one time than at another.

In reference to the physical constitution of Mars, but little is known with any thing like certainty. When viewed through the telescope, he presents the appearance of large spots on his surface. These vary in their color. Those near the poles are very much brighter than the other parts. Its axis being much more inclined than that of the Earth, its seasons must be much more marked than ours. And the fact, that in the polar regions there are but two seasons in its year, each of nearly twelve months' duration, led Herschell to a somewhat singular conjecture in regard to the polar spots just mentioned, and which he supposes to arise from snow. Says this distinguished observer, "In the year 1781 the south polar spot was extremely large, which we might well expect, as that pole had but lately been involved in a whole twelve months' darkness and absence from the sun; but in 1783 I found it considerably smaller than before, and it decreased continually from the 20th of May till about the middle of September, when it seemed at a stand. During this last period, the south pole had already been about eight months enjoying the benefit of summer, and still continued to receive the sunbeams, though, toward the latter end, in such an oblique direction as to be but little benefited by them. On the other hand, in the year 1781, the north polar spot, which had then been its twelve months in the sunshine, and was but lately returning into darkness, appeared small, though increasing in size." From these observations he concludes, "that the bright polar spots are owing to the vivid reflection of light from frozen regions; and the reduction of those spots is to be ascribed to their being { exposed to the sun."

Has Mars an atmosphere? This is a question which has been warmly discussed on both sides. Herschell has given his opinion quite summarily. Says he, "It has been surmised to have a very extensive atmosphere; but on no sufficient or plausible ground." Dick, on the other hand, and many with him, have urged very strong reasons in favor of a very extensive and very dense atmosphere surrounding this planet. The latter is most probably the correct theory. And to this fact, perhaps, is owing the ruddy appearance of Mars' light. All have observed that our heavens, near the horizon, especially during the twilight, frequently exhibit a dead, reddish appearance. This is caused by the refracting influence of the Earth's atmosphere. A pencil of light entering the Earth's atmosphere horizontally with reference to the position of the observer, will be separated into its primary rays. As the direction of the pencil is in a line tangent to the Earth's surface at the point of observation, or nearly so, if a

part of the rays composing the pencil be much deflected, they will strike the Earth, and a portion of them be absorbed by it. The consequence is, that those rays only which are least deflected will reach the eye of the observer. The violet ray being the most refrangible, and the red the least, it follows that more of the violet rays will be absorbed and reflected than of the red; or, in other words, that the red tinge will predominate. This coincides exactly with observation. Let us apply this to the subject before us. A pencil of light from the sun falls upon Mars obliquely. On entering his very dense atmosphere it becomes separated into the primary rays. A portion of these is absorbed, and the remainder reflected. But from a known principle in optics, that the angles of incidence and reflection are equal, it would follow that, in a given pencil of light, the reflection of the different rays composing it would take place at very different angles. Moreover, after the separation, some of the most refrangible rays would strike the body and be reflected by it in another direction, while the least refrangible might not touch the body at all, and only have their direction changed by passing from a rarer to a denser medium. Should these latter, which are the red rays, reach the eye of a terrestrial observer, having been separated from their violet companions, they would cause every thing to appear of a ruddy hue, or, more correctly speaking, their light would be of that tinge. Supposing both of these circumstances combined, and we have no difficulty in accounting for the "ruby light" of this celestial companion of the Earth. The conjecture of Herschell, endorsed though it be by Nichol, that the body of Mars is composed of some substance similar to red sandstone, which gives it the fiery appearance observed, appears so unphilosophical, when in contrast with the theory of refracted light, that we feel disposed to dismiss with

out further notice.

In reference to Mars, I need only state further, that diligent investigation has been made to discover whether he is attended by a secondary body like our moon. No such body has as yet been discovered. The body of the planet, like that of the Earth, is an oblate spheroid, whose equatorial and polar diameters are to each other as 16 to 15, the equatorial being about 4,200 miles in length, and the polar 263 miles shorter. The density of Mars is about 3 2-7 times greater than water. One pound of matter at the Earth's surface, if transported to Mars, would weigh only five ounces six drams. About one-third or one-fourth of its surface is probably covered with water, the relative quantities of land and water there being the reverse of what we find on the Earth. Some have endeavored to explain Mars' ruddy appearance from this circumstance. As the sea appears green, the land would take the complimentary colors of the spectrum; and being greater in extent, the reddish hue would be the dominant one. This, however, is by

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no means a satisfactory explanation of the phenom- present, however, some remarkable peculiarities, which we shall notice.

enon.

ASTEROIDS.

No one who has ever made the divine works a subject of study, can avoid the conclusion that order everywhere rules. This instructive lesson has been so deeply impressed upon the minds of some, as to lead, in cases where an apparent want of order to any extent was visible, to investigations in relation to the cause. And in more instances than one, have such investigations been rewarded with the richest discoveries. One of the most striking illustrations of this we find in the case of the celebrated German astronomer, BODE. The distance between the orbits of Venus and the Earth is about 27,000,000 miles; between that of the Earth and Mars about 50,000,000, or nearly double the preceding; between Mars and Jupiter 350,000,000; between Jupiter and Saturn 411,000,000; and between Saturn and Uranus 894,000,000. This illustrious astronomer was struck with the fact, that, with the exception of the interval between Mars and Jupiter, the interval between the orbits of any two planets is about twice as great as the inferior interval, and only half the superior one. This regularity led to the supposition that the order was not really broken; but that between Mars and Jupiter an undiscovered planet was circulating. This suggestion set the astronomical world to observing, when, lo! instead of one, four new planets were found revolving within this space, and all very contiguous to each other. The mean distance of the four from the sun being about 250,000,000 of miles, the law of planetary distances, as just announced, became verified. Here we have a stupendous result following the close observations of a discriminating mind. But for some such a one, these four diminutive sisters might now be wandering unheeded through their untracked course in space!

The discovery of these four planets, to which the name of asteroids has been applied, belongs to the present century. Ceres, the first of the four, was discovered by Piazzi, at Palermo, on the first day of January, 1801; Pallas, the second, by Dr. Olbers, of Bremen, 28th of March, 1802; Juno, the third, by Harding, near Bremen, September 1, 1804; and Vesta, the last, by Dr. Olbers, 29th March, 1807. No others have since been observed, although it is very probable that others exist. Those discovered are all very small, the diameter of the largest being only about 1,600 miles, while that of the smallest, if we may trust some eminent observers, is only about 270. Mercury, the smallest of the old planets, contains about 17,000,000,000 cubic miles, while the sum of the asteroids amounts only to about 5,000,000,900.

From the diminutive size of these little sisters, and their great distance from us, but little is known, with certainty, of their physical constitution. They

1. Their orbits are more inclined to the ecliptic than any of the other planets. The inclination of Mercury's orbit is little more than seven degrees (70 0' 9".) The next in point of magnitude is Venus, which amounts to three degrees and twenty minutes, while that of Uranus is only forty-six minutes. But in the asteroids the angle of inclination, in some cases, is as great as thirty-four degrees.

2. Their orbits are much more eccentric. While the orbits of the older planets differ but little from circles, these present the phenomena of elongated ellipses. In one instance, that of Pallas, the eccentricity amounts to no less than 64,516,000 miles, or about one-eighth of the whole transverse axis!

3. Two of these exhibit the singular phenomenon of intersecting orbits. The mean distance of each from the sun is the same, being about 263,000,000 of miles. But as the eccentricity of one is very much greater than the other, the lesser axis of the latter is consequently greater than that of the forThis causes the two orbits mutually to intersect each other.

mer.

4. All the asteroids revolve at nearly the same mean distance from the sun. Vesta's mean distance is about 225,000,000 of miles, Juno's 254,000,000, Ceres' 263,000,000, and Pallas' also 263,000,000.

5. The periodic time of their revolutions around the sun is nearly the same. The difference of times between Ceres and Pallas is but a single day; that of the former being four years, seven months, and ten days, and the latter four years, seven months, and eleven days.

6. They are all very much smaller than the old planets. As stated before, the smallest of the old planets contains more than three times the mass of all the asteroids put together. In fact, the largest of the four is not quite as large as our own moon.

7. They differ from all the older members of the planetary system, in the extent of their atmospheres. Ceres is surrounded by an exceedingly dense atmosphere, which extends to the distance of 675 miles from its surface. So dense is it that many eminent observers have thought it consisted of the same material as the body of the planet itself, only more diffusive, and that they had here detected nature in the very act of forming worlds. We shall have occasion to speak of this more at large in a subsequent number, when we come to review the theory of La Place respecting the formation of the universe.

From the various peculiarities above noticed, many eminent astronomers have supposed that these refractory sisters were the fragments of an older and larger planet which revolved in their immediate vicinity. Of the plausibility of this theory we shall take occasion to speak more at large on another occasion. Man may observe facts. He may, from those facts, deduce certain conclusions as probable truth.

But for complete assurance we must wait for the investigations of the spirit world. We cannot believe that any thing which bears the impress of infinite Wisdom will escape ultimate observation and correct understanding. Amid the infinite variety of God's works, the intellectual part of man's nature may find an eternal feast, while the emotions rising into rapturous adoration at each advance in true knowledge, will cause the tongue to break out in new strains of praise and glory throughout the ceaseless ages of a blissful eternity. Who would not be a child of God, and an heir of such an immortality? "The hand of God

Has written legibly what man may know,

THE GLORY OF THE MAKER. There it shines,
Ineffable, unchangeable; and man,

Bound to the surface of this pigmy globe,
May know and ask no more. In other days,
When death shall give th' encumbered spirit wings,
Its range shall be extended; it shall roam,
Perchance, among those vast, mysterious spheres—
Shall pass from orb to orb, and dwell in each,
Familiar with its children-learn their laws,
And share their state, and study and adore
The infinite varieties of bliss
And beauty, by the hand of Power divine
Lavished on all his works. Eternity
Shall thus roll on with ever fresh delight;
No pause of pleasure or improvement; world
On world still opening to the instructed mind
An unexhausted universe, and time
But adding to its glories; while the soul,
Advancing ever to the source of light
And all perfection, lives, adores, and reigns
In cloudless knowledge, purity, and bliss."

PIETY WITH CHEERFULNESS.

BY REV. M. SMITH.

WHILE our thoughts are gently passing over the world, variegated scenes appear before the mind. There is contained, in the material universe, much that is lovely and interesting. But in the most distant islands of the sea, together with the greater lands, evidences of inconstancy and change are everywhere presented to view. All these give support to the truth of revelation, that sin has entered into the world.

Primeval life and glory commenced in Eden's lovely bower. Life's morning dawned. The rising king of day had kissed the tree of life, and bathed in golden glow the sweet groves of bliss. The innumerable songsters of heaven mingled in soft harmony; strange music stirred with life the air of Paradise, while they spread their wing to the breeze, lingering in ecstasy around the beautiful beings for whom was reserved the image of God-beings, of whom the poet has said,

"Of noble shape they were-erect and tall-
Godlike erect, with native honor clad:
For contemplation he, and valor formed-
For softness she, and sweet attractive grace."

Hand in hand they stood rejoicing in the beneficence, wisdom, and infinite love of that Being, who had, from utter nothingness, spoken all things into existence. Soon all is changed. Sin entered, and, in transgression, struggled to silence the still voice of Heaven's mercy. Hope, restless, plumed its flight, and bade the world farewell. Despair spread its dark wing of death over their moral sky. Gloom, now augmenting, rolled its rayless cloud of night upon a thousand distant mountains. Doubtless, angels were there, surveying with deep regret the ruins of a fallen world. But happy deliverance came. And, after all, how humble and how thankful should we be at the remembrance that there is a door for our escape, which has opened up a living way to life without death, day without night, and joys fadeless and unending! The moral unadaptation of the soul for this heavenly life can now be changed through the merit of the Savior. Piety, true, living, and faithful, will soon bring its possessor to God and the pleasures of heaven.

The importance of a right state of heart, in order to secure moral impressions and religious truths, is clear and conclusive. True piety, in firm belief, comprehends just conceptions of the being, attributes, and providence of God, with suitable aspirations of mind to him, and, as far as possible, striving for assimilation to his moral perfections, with humble and continued obedience to his will. No one can, for a moment, doubt but that knowledge, veneration, love, and resignation are all essential to the character as a true Christian. And surely no effort should be abandoned which is calculated, under grace, to peacefully adorn the undying spirit with all those Christian attainments so requisite to its true happiness and dignity here, and the fadeless joys of a peaceful immortality. It is true religion that gently binds the heart and mind to the happy relationship which we sustain to God and future bliss. To approach the burning plain of Deserta Libya interioris, could not be more horrifying to the startled eye of the lone and enjoyments to that soul destitute of a knowltraveler, than the presence of religious associations

edge of the Savior.

True piety is so far removed from marring the enjoyments of private and socal life, that it sweetly blends the milder traits of courtesy, affability, and the like duties, elevating the harmony of mutual dependence and unity of sentiment. Charity and forgiveness are truly amiable and useful duties of social beings. This heavenly principle teaches humility of feeling in the smaller circles, and in the more extended range-in humble associations, as well as the more hospitable alliance-the care of a friend and the amiable, disinterested duties we owe to the stranger and to our enemy. If the exercise of these harmonized principles, when moved with compassion, are beheld with approbation and delight, how lovely and transcendently glorious must those appear, which result from true philanthropy, when

THE CITY COQUET AND THE COUNTRY PASTOR.

calm and dispassionate! Truly this principle was originally designed, and is constitutionally bound in the common rights and connections of society; but it is reserved for religion alone to elevate it to impartiality, and make it efficient in embracing all mankind, regardless of sect, party, or nation. Notwithstanding all the opposition of the world, the Christian has the confidence of both the good and the vile, to a greater extent, than if he were identified with any other class. Under such reflections, how tranquil is the mind when stayed upon God! But how it rises with still more spirit-stirring energy at the remembrance that all sorrow will soon be for ever past!

True knowledge and desire are always advancing toward the future, while gathering up the diamond treasures of brilliant hope, which are cast around us as lights from eternity. It tends to elevate, expand, and give efficiency and power to the development of intellect. Contemplation is boundless. How wonderful the capacity of thought! The passage of a ray of light from the sun to us, in flight of time, is quite limited; but thought can pass to the sun, survey the dominions of old Olympus, range the field of Mars, step the casually explored zodiac, sweep over the trembling fires of the celestial concave, mount the chariot of ascending flight, drive to the throne of God, and lodge its onward ray { upon the farthest revolving world, without calculation of either time or space. What cannot the soul, so incomprehensible in the power of its faculties, enjoy, if happy in God! Already it sends out its thoughts of future bliss, as faithful pioneers upon the long, interminable road before it. Experimental religion revealed in the heart can only constitute these powers free and happy for ever.

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FULL fifteen minutes the bell of the little church in Peacedale had announced its sweet invitation to the worshipers of God, and still the family of Mr. Harris were detained. What could it mean? Himself and family the most punctual attendants upon divine ordinances, Mr. Harris deemed tardiness at church one of the most heinous of little sins. He stood impatiently with his hand upon the door, and Mrs. Harris wondered what Ellen could be doing, and Mary Harris, whose simple but really elegant toilet had been long completed, hastened to the dressing-room of her friend to assist, if necessary, her preparations. Hair oil, cologne, tooth powders, and combs were scattered carelessly over the toilet, while a beautiful brush was lying on the floor with the wardrobe that had escaped in the greatest confusion from her traveling trunk.

"Ellen, dear, papa is waiting and is very impatient. He does so dislike being late at church."

"Well, Mary, I am almost ready, and, dear me! I am quite out of breath now. It is so unpleasant to get ready for church. I dread it. I have nothing in the world that looks fit to wear."

Mary cast her eyes over the profusion of dresses of various kinds that strewed the chairs, and were hung about the disordered room. She said nothing; but her quick eye detected that her friend was described in the few words, "The more she has, the more she is dissatisfied with her possessions."

Ellen Dale was soon ready, and the girls descend

Another duty identified with piety is that of always possessing a cheerful spirit. Gloomy feelings, when oft indulged, end in indifference and ingratitude to God. Care upon this subject seems to be more lightly esteemed than upon almost any other Christian duty. Every exertion should be used to keep the mind cheerful and happy. When prayer is offered up to a throne of grace, it should be with sprightliness of feelings, but with solemn and humble gratitude to God. A gloomy and distrustinged to the parlor. There was the greatest possible prayer does not seem to be either acceptable to the Lord or profitable to the soul. We should weep and mourn over our imperfections and crimes, but never indulge one impatient or unkind feeling toward our heavenly Father. We can always possess this kind of spirit, by constantly bearing in mind that our present condition might be far worse. Contemplate spirits lost in their gloomy, dark abodes in the eternal world, where justice long since would have fixed our suffering homes. Then turn with tearful eye to the cross: behold the sufferer there: hear the tones of mercy sweetly fall, with heavenly influence, on the soul; and let the heart melt with humble gratitude and love, while Jesus spreads light over the

contrast in the appearance of the two. Mary Harris, with her book muslin, made in the most faultless fashion, but without ornament of bow or ribbon, and her happy face looking out from that most becoming of all female hats, a cottage gipsy, and Ellen Dale with a tournure of remarkable size, and a gaudy silk, and a flaunting hat, decorated, as one might say, to death, with laces, and bows, and flowers. She was just such a one as would attract attention in a country church; and her toilet had been made in especial reference to this purpose. Mortified at the lateness of the hour, Mr. Harris proceeded silently to church, and with the most noiseless manner escorted his ladies to the upper part of the house

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THE CITY COQUET AND THE COUNTRY PASTOR.

to their seat. Ellen Dale swept up the aisle with a pride of step peculiar to herself, and in no degree lessened by the thought that many eyes might be upon her. But, contrary to her hopes, she had remained at home so long as to defeat the very purpose for which she had come. It was the first prayer. Every head was bowed. Thoughtless persons are not ashamed to bow before the Lord in his holy temple; and Mr. and Mrs. Harris and Mary knelt with peculiar reverence as they entered their own slip. But Ellen Dale, poor Ellen Dale sat alone, with her head firm through all the solemn invocation of those young and burning lips. A spark of the Spirit caught from the glory of the throne fell on that worshiping assembly as they followed their young and earnest pastor through his morning prayer; and truly it seemed that the lips of the choir had held blessed communion with the Father of lights as they sung that most beautiful of the sweet Wesley's hymns

"Talk with us, Lord, thyself reveal,

While here o'er earth we rove;
Speak to our hearts, and let them feel

The kindlings of thy love."

Mr. Grange, was a frequent caller at Mr. Harris'; and the quick eye of Ellen Dale detected that he was no unlover-like admirer of the graceful Mary, and that the young minister was by no means an intruder, let him come at what time he would. A blush and a smile always awaited him from Mary Harris. To Ellen Dale he was coldly polite. Perhaps he understood her character as a coquet, and had not sufficient charity for her professed reformation.

Time went on. The one week which Ellen Dale had allotted to her visit at Mr. Harris' had lengthened to a month, and a superficial observer would have admired the change that had been wrought in the vain and giddy girl in that brief period. No one could exceed her propriety in every word she uttered. Her attendance upon church was extremely strict, and a few drops of rain, which before would have been deemed an excuse to stay at home, now only made her the more eager to be present at church. Perhaps it was that the young minister was sure to escort her home, or perhaps (let us hope the best for human weakness) it was real piety. Mr. Grange was evidently paying the strictest attention to Mary Harris or Ellen Dale. All the parish said so. Which was it? Reader, he was an engaged man! But, alas for beauty! alas, that even devotion can be so blind to the merit of true modesty! There was a statue-like coldness about Mary Harris almost repulsive until you had learned to love her for the goodness that slept so quietly beneath. Ellen Dale was all soul-the most affectionate of impulsive be

dream, or did he wander, that poor Mary Harris sat alone in her room, while the young minister and Ellen Dale sat in the parlor below? He was sitting near her. His calm eyes, now lighted with the eloquence of love, bent upon her; and his thrilling voice asked, "Ellen, will you love me?"

"What a preposterous question, Mr. Grange! I thought you were engaged to Mary Harris, and here you are passionately making love to me as if you were Don Quixotte."

"Be not conformed to this world," said the deeptoned orator of that humble pulpit, and a sermon followed these words of the apostle, which, for holy zeal and plain earnestness, Ellen Dale thought she had never heard equaled. She returned home, if not a better person, resolved to look upon the course of her past life, and, by the grace of God, to improve the time to come more like a rational and ac-ings. Was the lover false to the day-star of his countable being. With such parents and such an education as Mary Harris had received, she would have been a self-denying Christian. But she was the only daughter of worldly and ambitious parents, and her whole life had been a chase after the fashions and amusements of the world. Educated at a fashionable boarding-school, and the belle of a populous town, it is not possible to conceive that serious impressions could long remain upon her mind unless removed from the influences which nurtured directly the reverse feelings. Vain Ellen Dale certainly was. Coquettish, why should she not be? The families of Messrs. Dale and Harris had been always intimate; and though the girls had been friends from their childhood, yet the disparity in their natures and pursuits had prevented that intimacy which might otherwise have existed. Ellen Dale made known her resolutions to her friend, and she gladly promised to assist her in finding that pearl of great price, "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit." Doubly sacred their friendship became as their pursuits blended more and more in the same direction. Instead of wasting her mornings in bed, and her afternoons with novels or profitless conversation, Ellen Dale turned herself to put in order her abundant wardrobe, and to restore from chaotic confusion a toilet of the most profuse liberality. The pastor,

"I did think I loved Mary Harris; and if her heart was as susceptible-if-if I thought my love was returned as impetuously as I love, Mary Harris, next to Ellen Dale, would be my choice. But, Ellen, you give me no answer. I have nothing to offer you but my heart. A name I mean to have; but for years to come my life must be humble. Can you be a country pastor's wife?"

"And make pinafores for the Sunday scholars, and sing psalms at prayer meeting? Really, it is an inviting prospect. Pardon me, Mr. Grange, if I have wounded your feelings," she added, seeing a blush of indignation upon his pale cheek. "I am serious now. You have mistaken me wholly. I am not suitable for your wife. Mary Harris is just such a little body as you need-pious and graceful enough to knead bread or entertain company."

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