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-DIARY KEPT IN THE VALE OF DOOMBERA-NEAR KANDY.

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1840 From November 14 to 21.-This week has set in with quite a change from the weather of last week; miɛty cool mornings for the first two or three days, with bright hot weather every day, and dry light breezes from the S. W. and N. E.

Thermometer average.-68. 6. A. M. 77v 2. P. M. 749 8. P. M. A moderate quantity of Dew falls every night.

Operations-On the younger Estates and on those which can spare men from Coffee picking, clearing the plantation, nurseries &c. from weeds-but on the Estates in hearing, besides picking his Coffee berries, the planter has been very busy drying his parchment skin Coffee for which the fine weather of this week has been very favourable.

From November 21 to 28. This week, again, the weather has changed from the dry, hot, bright weather of last week, to cloudy days and frequent showers, with a soft calm state of the atmosphere-Light variable breezes generally from the N. E.

Thermometer Average.-72° 6 A. m. 76o 2 P. M. 74° 8 p. M.

Operations.-The same as last week but of course it has not been so favourable for drying Coffee.

The appearance here of the Coffee plantations, Sugar do, and all vegetation from Paddy fields to jungle, is very beautiful, and at this period of the year, more than that of any other, they are clothed in their richest foliage at least on this side of the country it is so, and arising, as it does no doubt, from the satisfactory rains, which are always to be depended upon here, at this scason, and from the calm humied state of the atmosphere, without those violent squalls of wind which accompany the S. W. monsoon, is highly beneficial and favorable to the productions of the Coffee plant.-1stly in giv ing the tree vigour to bring its fruit to perfection at the time it most requires it, and 2ndly in giving it strength to recover from the consequences of such hard work, and to get ready for the time when nature once more requires its ser. vices.--This must be particularly the case with cultivated trees which are made to produce to their utmost possible extent, nor should pruning, lopping and han lling in moderation be forgotten by the planter, to assist them.

From November 28th to December 5th.-Generally fine this week, and sometimes hot in the middle of the day, but on the whole the climate has been mild and serene, with a light cloudy sky and gentle breezes from the North East.

Thermometer Average.-72 6 A. M. 76 2 P. M. 74 8 P. M. Dew falls every night.

Operations. Continue the same as last week.

From December 5th to 12th.-A continuation of the same weather as last week, fine and moderate--but nearly every night there has fallen heavy dews or light rains, which caused the morning to be cool and misty, until the sun rose-Wind has always been from the N. E.

Thermometer Average,-70≈ 6 a. m. 77 ~ 2 r. M. 75° 8 p. M.

Operations.-Continue the same, and notwithstanding gathering in the crop has been going on in full force during the past six weeks and there has been no lack of Labor-yet some estates here are computed not to have gathered in two thirds as yet, and one or two not more than half their crop, indeed from the general full blossom which came out in the end of March last on this side of the country, all the trees appear to have brought on their full quantum of fruit to one general ripening, as nothing but berries in a dead ripe state are to be seen on every side.-Coffee allowed to ripen on the trees in this

state (where the trees are sufficiently vigorous to bear it) is said to be pos sessed of a higher degree of flavour than when gathered at the time the berry is just turning red-Of the Mocha Coffee such is supposed to be the case, where the fruit is gathered after it has fallen on the ground.

Health. The country on this side may be said to be in its usual state; Europeans are all well and the coolies appear free from the disorders prevalent some time ago.

ERRATA.

No. IV.

Page 136, line 9, between the words, "author of," and "Iliad," insert the.'

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8, between the words, "because," and "thee," insert "of." 12, for "goots," read "goals."

Page 177, line 25, read thus:

"Tempt not the Lord thy God. He said and stood"

COLOMBO:

PRINTED AT THE HERALD PRESS.

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Ir is a vulgar error that the Art of Poetry is "light and fugitive." It is, on the contrary, that which is the most comprehensive and profound of all the accomplishments of the mind of man. Moral truth is by none so perfectly taught, because by none is it so perfectly understood, and penetrated to its most secret recesess, as by the true poet. That a mere versifier is a poet, is unquestionably an error; but the process of thought, which is evolved by poetry, is the very perfection of all science, that is, moral science. Great therefore as are the masters of mathematical science, they are not the greatest minds. Newton,"-remarks a very profound thinker,-" was a great man; but you must excuse me if I think that it would take many Newtons to make one Milton."*

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Mathematical science may discipline the mind, but it is not mind; it is without. Like logic, it assists the reasoning faculty, but is not reason. "Both" (to use the language of an accomplished mind) "are Coleridge's Table Talk.

but accommodations to defective mental powers; and substitutes
for a
more compendious way of coming at truth, viz. intuition.
This is a higher faculty than reasoning: the aisthesis of the
Apostle, Phil. 19, or that spiritual discernment, spoken of, 1 Col.
ii. 14."† This intuitive power is "the vision and the faculty
divine" of the true poet. Hence, while the world lasts, such
names as Homer and Eschylus, Virgil and Horace, Dante and
Tasso, and our Shakspeare and Milton, will stand foremost in the
rank of great minds. They will be the perpetual fountains of
delight and instruction. Truly therefore, as well as beautifully, sings
our modern philosophical poet, whose own faculties are of the high-
est order of the human intellect:

"He serves the muses erringly and ill,
Whose aim is pleasure light and fugitive:
O that my mind were equal to fulfil
The comprehensive mandate which they give,-
Vain aspirations of an earnest will!"

Wordsworth.

I would partially illustrate these remarks by further quotations from Milton's Paradise Regained, of which I extracted one splendid passage in my last essay. I shall select such passages as will serve for illustrations both of the wisdom and the beauty of the poet's mind: for after beauty and truth were his constant aspirations from the beginning of his eareer. This might be shown, were this the proper place and time, from his early_familiar letters" Epistolae familiares,"-particularly to his friend Diodati. He was ever ambitious of greatness and excellence; and he sedulously sought the beautiful in all things.

The dignity and simple sublimity of the first lines of Paradise Lost, and the devoutly sublime invocation to the Holy Spirit have been the subject of frequent and just admiration. The opening of Paradise Regained is similarly, though not perhaps equally fine.

+ Bishop Jebb. Knox Esq.

I who ere while the happy garden sung
by one man's disobedience lost, now sing
Recover'd Paradise to all mankind,
By one man's firm obedience fully tried
Through all temptation, and the tempter foil'd
In all his wiles, defeated and repulsed,

And Eden raised in the waste wilderness.

Thou Spirit, who ledst this glorious eremite

Into the desert, his victorious field,

Against the spiritual foe, and brought'st him thence

By proof the undoubted son of God, inspire,

Thirty years

correspondence. Letter LVIII. to A.

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