been conducted. No one would think of finding fault with God for giving us grain, merely because it has been applied to alcoholic purposes, and thereby been a curse to the world. Yet this would be as reasonable as to complain of the inventor of machinery for giving us the results of his labors, merely because that machinery has in many, or even in a large majority of instances, hitherto been applied under such circumstances as to increase the degradation of those who have labored in connection with it. Because the cupidity and avarice of man pollutes and perverts every good and perfect gift that is put into his hands, we are not thence to conclude at once that he would be better off without these gifts, or that they may not in some future period be so applied, as to prove what they were designed to be-the choicest of Heaven's blessings.

It continues to be no longer a problem, whether manufactures are necessarily attended with moral degradation or not. credible results of the partial trials that have been made in this country, The almost inover those of foreign manufactures, have set this question forever at rest. The change in circumstances has already wrought wonders, and yet this change has been but limited and incomplete. Surely if with this brief trial such important improvements have been made, we may reasonably conclude that the ultimatum of excellence is yet far from having been reached.

The leading differences between British and American manufactures appear to lie in these two points: first, the difference in the amount of intellectual cultivation among the inhabitants, previous to the introduction of manufactures; and, second, in the fact that in England every member of any given family, from the child of four or five years old upwards, must actually be employed in the business, and that from twelve to fifteen hours per day, and with a prospect that the same will continue through life, or the whole family must be rejected entirely : while in our own country, those who have not a prospect of speedy promotion in the establishment, most of them are young people who design only to spend a few years in that business, to acquire means preparatory to settlement in some other situation for life; and even while there, the number of hours per day at the most not exceeding from nine to twelve, and very many among them not working by the hour at all, but by the piece; and the more skillful and experienced sometimes doing two or three "days' work" in a day, or devoting considerable time to other purposes. In other words, the difference is in external circumstances and internal management.

With these limited, yet vastly important, changes at the outset, we have among us manufacturing villages and cities, that are already eminent, not only for intellectual and moral culture, but for revivals of religion, and for permanent, high-toned principles of piety. With such evidence before us, what may we not expect, when all has been done that may and ought to be done, to bring about the best possible results in manufacturing districts?

It has been objected that extensive manufacturing establishments, by bringing into near proximity so many of different classes and sexes,

present an unavoidable difficulty in the way of their moral elevation. This we deny. The fact that such results have followed in the past, only proves that that great and important principle, which appeals to the sympathies of men, and enables masses to be acted on more easily than individuals, whether for weal or woe, has hitherto in this particular branch of labor been allowed to take an unfavorable bias, rather than seized upon and turned to good account.

When owners and directors shall have fully availed themselves of this principle, in the diligent and unremitting use of the instrumentalities already in their hands, in the way of intellectual cultivation, moral reformation, Sabbath School instruction, and sanctuary privileges, and the almost countless systems of restraining and improving influences that characterize our age and nation, we say, when all these shall be perfected and employed in their full power, can we doubt that manufacturing districts shall compare favorably, in point of moral elevation, with any other classes of their fellow-men, of any employment whatsoever ?

It has often been remarked, that no other employment can be found so favorable to morals, as that of Agriculture. Yet "one of the most distinguished philanthropists of England stated that he had instituted an extensive inquiry into the comparative amount of crime, and especially of impurity, in the manufacturing and the agricultural districts of England, and had found, to his surprise, that the former were decidedly more moral than the latter." (Quar. Chris. Spectator, 1832, p. 381.) This fact affords indisputable proof, that the degradation of the operative class in England, is to be charged entirely to other influences than those resulting from the application of machinery to manufacturing purposes.

We think enough has been written to show, that the effect of inventions, in their application to machinery, even on the operative class, so far from being the crushing and destroying monster that many have supposed, when stripped of its extrinsic evils and attending circumstances, is a mere bugbear, scarcely worthy of our notice. Space will not permit us even to glance at the direct benefits, otherwise the contrast which might thus be presented, would show in a still stronger light the blessings with which invention has visited the hardy laborer.

Proceed to take from him the grist-mill and flour-mill, and leave him to prepare his grain with his own hands,-at the same time increasing his labor and diminishing his comfort, and unless he is a Grahamite of the broadest stamp, preferring his grain slightly broken, unbolted, and half cooked, he will bestow on you no thanks for the change. So we might go on with the saw-mill that furnishes materials to shelter him; the paper-mill that gives him the newspaper and book for his amusement and instruction, and the factory that clothes him, until we had stripped him of nearly all that renders life desirable. Even the poorest of the present working class, we had almost said, fares sumptuously, compared with the most favored in such a state of society. In short, the abolition of machinery, as connected with inventions, would roll back the wheels of improvement and civilization many ages,

and speedily reduce the world to a state of barbarism; and not the rich merely, but all would suffer a loss never to be repaired, but by the restoration of that which had been taken away.

Instead of this gloomy picture, we would rather look forward to the time, when by the still farther multiplication of inventions and laborsaving machines, the amount of physical effort with the hand, necessary for the supply of the world's inhabitants, shall be far less than at the present time; when at least two sets of hands shall be employed in every large manufacturing establishment, and not less than half of the time of every individual devoted to the cultivation of those higher and nobler powers, that ally him to angels and to God himself.

In conclusion, we feel prepared to say with Lord Bacon, that "the glory of inventions is that they raise human nature, without hurting any one; and do not press or sting a man's conscience, but bestow on all, rewards and blessings without the sacrifice, or injury, or sorrow of one. For the nature of light is pure and harmless-it may be perverted in its use, but not polluted in itself.”

G. B. D.

r

"THE LIGHT OF BEAUTY'S EYE."

BEFORE the chariot of the sun,
His coursers pant their race to run,
Along the heavenly plain,
They strive, impatient of delay,
But vainly strive, to dash away-
Curbed by the golden rein
Of Him who sits upon a throne,

Within that flaming car,
A form no eye may gaze upon,
So bright its glories are.

In dense array, on every side,

Down through the shadowy air they spring,
In wide and wider spreading ring,

Throughout the great expanse.
They came the glorious light of day
O'er all the world to spread-
Light that from each spirit-wing
In richest shower was shed.

Before their face the night-mists fled,
As swift on glittering wings they sped
Athwart the gladdened earth;
O'er hill and dale they coursed along,

The laughing day-beams flit and glide-And woke the busy mortal throng

A countless living swarm;

While gleefully each tiny sprite
Dips his wings in heavenly light,
Which bathes the day-god's form:
And soon, in shining circles round,
They wait the signal given,

[bear

To mingled care and mirth.

They played amid the morning clouds,

And gorgeous colors gave;

They dipped within the heaving sea,

And fringed the crystal wave.

Which bids them spread their wings and They fell upon the castle walls,

To earth the light of heaven.

Now
open wide the heavenly doors,
And out the countless army pours,
In bright and swift advance ;

And frolicked in the stately halls

Of worldliness and pride;

They glided in the humble cot,
Where worldly state and pride came not,
To whelm affection's tide.

Thus from the sky, on pinions bright,
Imbued with Heaven's fairest light,
A merry band descended,

And fell upon a cottage side,

Where creeping vines in beauty vied,

And fragrant odors blended.

And half-concealed an arm of snow,
Which, pillowed on the couch below,

Her gentle head supported.

Thus wrapped in calm and peaceful sleep,
The lovely being lay,

Till o'er her placid cheek and brow,
She felt the day-beams play.

Then from those swimming orbs of blue,
Fringed with lash of darkest hue,
The drooping lids divided,

They chased each other 'mid the flowers, And through the liquid openings

And in the lattice peeping, They entered where a fairy form

Of loveliness lay sleeping.

Along a forehead white and meek,
And down a rosy, dimpled cheek,
Her waving ringlets sported;

The shining sprites, with folded wings,
In sweet enchantment glided.
Thence, nestled in those sweet retreats,
They never more will fly,
But sparkle on forever there,
"The light of Beauty's eye."

CURIOSITY SHOP.

THE following curiosities have been gleaned from the old laws of Yale College, and will compare favorably, we think, with any of the stray fancies or quaint conceits that have lately flooded the newspapers. They are decidedly unique in their kind, and the only wonder is how their venerable originators could bear to part with them. To account, however, for the great difference between the old and the new system, it is sufficient to remember, that formerly laws were made for the use of students, while latterly they are only printed to be sent home to parents and guardians. The old engraving has also been inserted, because the No. in which it formerly appeared is at present exhausted.

EXTRACTS FROM THE LAWS OF YALE COLLEGEe, published A. D. 1787.

Chap. 2.-Of a Religious and Virtuous Life.

1. All the scholars are required to live a religious and blameless life, according to the Rules of God's Word, diligently reading the holy Scriptures, that Fountain of Divine Light and Truth, and constantly attending all the Duties of Religion.

2. The President, or, in his Absence, one of the Tutors in their Turn shall constantly pray in the Chapel every Morning and Evening, and read a Chapter or some suitable Portion of Scripture, unless a Sermon or some Theological Discourse shall then be delivered. And every member of College is obliged to attend, upon the Penalty of One Penny for every Instance of Absence, and a Half Penny for being tardy or egressing without a sufficient Reason.

4. All the Scholars are obliged to attend Divine Worship in the College Chapel on the Lord's Day, and on Days of Fasting and Thanksgiving appointed by public Authority, upon penalty of Four Pence (without just Reason) for Absence either Part of the Lord's Day, or a Thanksgiving Day, or a Fast Day, and Three Pence for Absence from a lecture, and One Penny for being tardy, &c.

6. Every scholar is required to shew all due Honor and Reverence, both in Words and Behavior, to all his superiors, viz. Parents, Magistrates, Ministers, and especially to the President, Fellows, Professors, Tutors and Seniors of this College; and shall in