forcing out another of the boards. At the hole thus left unprotected, the ground rushed in with such impetuosity as to knock the men out of the shield; and they, being panic struck, ran away, but finding that the water did not follow, they returned to the scene of action, and after immense exertion succeeded in stopping the run, when upwards of six thousand cubic feet had fallen into the tunnel. The rush of the ground was attended with a very great noise, resembling the bursting of a thunder-cloud, and a general extinguishing of the lights. While this was taking place in the tunnel, a still more unusual phenomenon was occurring on the shore at Wapping, where, to the astonishment and dismay of the neighbourhood, the ground commenced sinking gradually over an area of upwards of 700 feet, leaving a cavity on the shore of about thirty feet in diameter and thirteen feet in depth. It was most fortunate that this occurred at low-water, for at high-water an irruption of the river would have been the inevitable consequence. A number of men were sent over, and the hole was filled with bags of clay and gravel, and everything rendered perfectly secure by the return of the tide.

But the termination of the toil and the danger was fast approaching; hope beat high in many a bosom, and many an anxious eye was directed to

the coming hour, when that which will be the admiration of future ages, as it is the wonder of our own, was to stand complete in all its vast magnitude and enduring strength. On the 13th August, 1841, just thirteen years and one day since Father Thames signified his displeasure, and stopped the work by the irresistible influx of his waves, Sir Isambert Brunel passed down the shaft erected on the Wapping side of the river, and thence by a small driftway through the shield into the Tunnel.

The world must have appeared brighter to him from that moment! Nor should the labourers be forgotten; who expressed their admiration of him, who had given method, firmness, and prosperity to their labours, in the cheering with which they greeted his appearance in the tunnel from the opposite shore.

After Sir I. Brunel had thus passed through the tunnel, visitors were admitted upon the payment of a small fee; and in August, 1842, the western arch was opened on the Wapping side, and upwards of five hundred persons passed through to the Rotherhithe shaft. The tunnel continued to be visited by vast numbers, until it was closed to mere visitors, in order to make the necessary arrangements for its being opened as a road for foot passengers, which interesting event took place on Saturday March 25th, 1843; the

Lord Mayor of London and many distinguished noblemen and gentlemen leading the procession, which passed through it from one side to the other. It was a joyous day-flags were flying-bells ringing, and cannon firing!

The tunnel is 1,200 feet long, divided down the middle into two roads by a wall of sixty-nine arches, and is lighted by 126 gas lights. It is reached by descending a circular staircase of 100 steps. One penny is charged to foot passengers for passing through. The whole cost of this great undertaking was about £614,000.

On

The writer passed through it last summer. entering through the toll-house, sounds of music were heard, and on looking down the circular staircase a band of musicians were seen playing beneath; the effect produced by their peculiar position was delightful. Passing through the tunnel he observed, between the archways of the centre wall, numerous stalls of little trinkets and confectionry, a weighing machine, and at the southern end an artist was engaged in taking profiles of the visitors !

Thus was this great undertaking at length accomplished. But what pains and perils were incurred! In contrast with these works of man, see with what infinite ease the Almighty architect accomplished his mighty purposes. He made the stars also," is all that is said of the production of

of heaven!

those innumerable worlds that bestud the canopy "For He commanded, and they were created." Yes: He who liveth for ever and ever, "created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein." How wonderful!

But however wonderful the work of Creation, the Redemption of man is a far greater wonder.

"'Twas great to speak a world from nought:
'Twas greater to redeem."

In creating a world, JEHOVAH speaks and it is done-there cannot be any obstacle to the accomplishment of his will. In redeeming man from sin and ruin there was an obstacle, arising from man's disobedience and rebellion. But, oh, the riches of divine wisdom and mercy! JESUS, the Son of God, comes down from heaven, and by dying, the just for the unjust, he opens a new and living way by which the terrible and insurmountable obstacle which stood in the way of our salvation is avoided. There is now a bright pathway from his tomb to his throne, along which we may all walk, and passing the dark river of death, arrive safely in the celestial country. Happy they who are found walking therein! Are you?

THE FAITHFUL DOG.

In January 1799, the cold was so intense that the Seine (at Paris) was frozen to the depth of fifteen or sixteen inches. Following the example of a number of thoughtless youths who were determined to continue the amusement of skating, in spite of a thaw having commenced, a young student, called Beaumanoir, wished also to partake of this dangerous pleasure; but he had scarcely gone twenty steps when the ice broke under his weight, and he disappeared. The young skater had carried a small spaniel with him, which, seeing his master sink under the ice, immediately gave the alarm, by barking with all his might near the spot where the accident had happened. It will easily be believed that it was impossible to give any assistance to the unfortunate youth; but the howl