divested of that false but vivid colouring, Portugal, Holland, Russia, and finally in which causes the depraved imagination of France herself, man to dwell upon it with so much delight. All this destruction of life and happiness Instead of being entertained with elo- was produced that the people of France quent descriptions of the valour of the troops might have their attention diverted from the and the brilliancy of their exploits, aided by tyranny of Napoleon's domestic administraall the delusive' pomp and circumstance of tion, and that while they were dazzled by the war,' we are made to accompany the author glare of his foreign victories, he might comalong the desolated track of the victorious piete one of the most perfect despotisms unarmy, or to share with him in the sufferings der which mankind ever groaned. Yet there and privations of the retreat, and are there are Christians-conscientious and intelligent introduced to the direst forms of suffering, Christians,-who are still carried away by which sickness and mutilation and want can enthusiasm for his character, and think that produce. Countries ravaged, cities destroy- his triumph over the dearest rights and intered by fire, or laid waste by pillage, the re-ests of mankind, entitle him to the most ilsources of honest industry cut off, the ordi- lustrious meed of human glory. nances of religion interrupted, the bonds of society broken up, and mild virtues of peace every where yielding to the fierce and unrelenting passions of war. The Emperor Napoleon, from the commencement of the Russian expedition to his overthrow at Waterloo,was the means of destroying or mutilating TWO MILLIONS of men! and yet the loss of life, with the incalculable amount of misery inflicted upon the immediate instruments and victims of his mad designs, forms but a small part of the destruction of human happiness caused by his desolated ambition. Every city and village, which the French entered on their march to Moscow, was deserted and set on fire by its inhabitants, and the whole country was thus made to present a scene of desolation that filled the mind of the soldiers with a sad presentiment of the fate that awaited them.Who will pretend to form a conception of the suffering produced among the 400,000 inhabitants of Moscow, by the burning of that city at the commencement of a Russian winter? After the battle of Smolensk there was not a particle of linen to dress the wounds of six thousand wounded soldiers. After the battle of Moscow, twenty thousand wounded French subsisted for some days upon soup and horse flesh and cabbage stalks, and even this miserable fare was luxury compared with the privations of that retreat, in which four hundred thousand of the best soldiers Europe ever saw, perished in the short space of six weeks Add to this the demoralizing and antisocial influer.ce of war-the fierce passionsthe corruptions of morals-the habits of dissipation-the spirit of insubordination-the distaste for the pursuits of private life, and we have an amount of injury produced by one campaign sufficient to counterbalance all the advantages which have ever been derived from successful or unsuccessful war. This is, however, but one campaign,-one act of a drama whose scenes for more than twenty years successively lay in Italy, Egypt, Germany, Austria, Prussia, Switzerland, Spain, From the Journal of Humanity. COMPARATIVE VIEW OF LIBRARIES. Founded. Volumes. Alexandrian, in Egypt, B. C. 300 600,000(a) unknown 400,000 1826 400,000 1500 200,000 1734 300,000 300,000 230,000 1229 200,000 1810 180,000 1477 150,000 1557 130,000 1477 130,000 120,000 1582 100,000 1348 100,000 1403 100,000 1527 100,000 1558 100,000 1748 100,000 1665 100,000 100,000 Mazarin Library at Paris, Vienna, Austria, Royal Library, at London, 1224 90,000 1365 90,000 Rostock, Mecklenberg, 1409 60,000 1544 60,000 AMERICAN LIBRARIES. Founded. Volumes. Harvard University, Massachu setts, 1638 40,000 (d) Philadelphia City Library (founded 1731 35,000 1807 1701 National Library, at Washington heard among the rustling of the leaves and grass around, and its shallow and narrow stream might be overlooked by the traveller.. This brook, although so small, was inspired with a proud spirit and murmured against the decree of providence, which had cast its. lot so lowly. "I wish I were a cloud, to roll all day. through the heavens, painted so beautifully 17,000(e) as those lovely shapes are colored, and never 16,000 descending again in showers; or, at least I wish I was a river, performing some useful duty in the world. Shame on my weak waves and unregarded bubbling. I might as well have never been as to be puny, insignificant and useless." by Franklin) Boston Athenæum, Yale College, Connecticut, D. C. 14,000 Dartmouth, New Hampshire. 1770 14,000 Union, New York, 1795 13,600 Charleston city Library, Bowdoin, Maine, 13,000 1794 12,300* 1764 12,100* When the brook had thus complained, a 1746 12,000* beautiful tall flower, that bent over its bo10,000 som, replied, 1808 10,000 St. Mary's Maryland, Catholic, 1804 "Thou art in error, brook. Puny and insignificant thou mayest be; useless thou art not, for I owe half of my beauty, perhaps my life, to thy refreshing waters. The plants adjacent to thee are greener and richer than the others. The Creator has given thee a duty, which though humble thou must not neglect. Besides who knows what may be thy future destiny? Flow on. I beseech thee." along its way more cheerfully. On and on it The brook heard the rebuke, and danced (b) This library was founded by John II., by other rivulets poured their crystal waters went, growing broader and broader. By and who left ten vols.; six on profane literature, into it, and swelled its deepening bosom, in and four on religion. His son, Charles V. which already began to appear the fairy creaadded 900; making one of the largest libra-tures of the wave, darting about joyfully, and ries then known. Louis IX. decreed that every bookseller who should publish any work in any part of the kingdom of France, should deposit a copy in this library. It now contains 80,000 manuscripts, and is open gratuitously every day, Sunday excepted. (c) This library takes its name from Sir Thomas Bodley, who was usher to Queen Elizabeth; and a distinguished benefactor of the University. An annual speech in his praise is still made at Oxford. (d) This library is rapidly increasing from an annual appropriation of $5,000 by the Trustees. (e) The first Congressional library of about 3,000 vols. was burnt by the British, August, 1814. After this, Mr. Jefferson offered his collection to Congress, which was purchased, but with some hesitation; many objecting to "the infidel character of the collection." The library Medals are very valuable. Including student's libraries. From the Now York Mirror. From the side of a mountain there flowed forth a little rivulet. Its voice was scarcely glistening in the sun. As its channel grew wider and wider, and yet other branches came gliding into it, the stream began to aswere launched on it and it rolled on in a sume the importance of a river, and boats try, freshening whatever it touched, and gimeandering course through a teeming counving the whole scene a new character and beauty. As it moved on now in majesty and pride, the sound of its gently heaving billows formed itself into the following words: we may seem, there may be in store for us "At the outset of life, however humble great and unexpected opportunities of doing good and of being great. In the hope of these we should ever pass on without despair bring in its own reward. How little I dreamor doubt, trusting that perseverance will ed when I first sprang on my course, what purposes I was destined to fulfil. What happy beings were to owe their bliss to me! What lofty trees, what velvet meadows, what golden harvests were to hail my career. Let not the meek and lowly despair-heaven will supply them with noble inducements to virtue." SUPPLEMENT TO THE CONNECTICUT COURANT. VOL. III. From Blackwood's Magazine. DEVOTIONAL MELODIES. Return-once more return, Oh Wanderer, to thy God, A voice yet on thee calls, A finger points the road :Why wilt thou, sinful, still The proffer'd boon disdain, Did Jesus come to save, Yet bleed-yet die in vain? Return-trust not to youth, JANUARY 8, 1833. To strength, health, wealth, renown; Ere even this day goes down; Behold the mighty sun, He metes out every day; The seasons, as they roll,- Shall white be made as snow! Against Sin's torrent strive; "Before the Lord cast down From the Christian Observer for September. MEMOIR OF WILLIAM LAWRENCE. A Berkshire Shepherd. The pages of the Christian Observer have preserved many interesting and instructive records, which had otherwise been lost, of faithful servants of Christ in various circumstances of life: some in stations of rank and dignity; some among the middle classes of society; many among the clergy; and some, -as, for example, that remarkable man NO. 21. Thomas Hogg-from among the " poor in this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom" of God. To the latter class belonged the subject of the following memorial; which, it is hoped, will not be found uninteresting, or without value, as a record of useful and attainable excellence in humble life; and as exhibiting the effects of genuine religion in elevating the character amidst scenes of active business, and in supporting the mind under severe and protracted suffering. William Lawrence' was born in the village of Hinton, in Berkshire, in the year 1776. His father was a shepherd, who brought up a large family by his industry, without parochial aid, and trained his son, the subject of this little memoir, to his own occupation. Performing himself, with the greatest ability as well as care, the duties of his employment, he endeavored to impress on the mind of his son the necessity of diligence; representing that the most minute attention was required in looking after a flock of sheep; as, from the want of such care, his master might sustain severe losses. The hours of leisure afforded hi.n while attending his flock on the downs, young Lawrence spent in reading; and he devoted his winter evenings to writing and arithmetic. Thus, even in boyhood, he advanced far beyond the ordinary knowledge possessed by his equals. The writer of this memoir hired him for a shepherd in 1797, at the age of twenty-one; and he continued in his service, except the interval of two years, till the commencement of the painful illness under which he labored for more than three years, and which terminated in his death, in December, 1830, in the fifty-fourth year of his age. The incidents afforded by the life of William Lawrence, which was spent entirely in the humble occupation of a shepherd, or in agricultural labor, can be neither numerous nor important; but his short and simple annals may, perhaps, furnish a useful lesson to those who, in possession of superior advantages, have never yet equalled him in consistency and propriety of conduct. "In the obscurity of retirement, amidst the poverty and privations of a cottage, may be often witnessed scenes of magnanimity and selfdenial, as much beyond the belief as the practice of the great;-a heroism borrowing no support from the gaze of the many or the admiration of the few, yet flourishing amidst pain and suffering, and on the confines of the tomb." Lawrence's reserve of character induced him to shun observation; and only those who knew him intimately were aware how much worth and excellence dwelleth beneath his modest and unassuming demeanor. His chief defect consisted in a degree of insensibility to the misconduct of others. Although acting, himself, from principles of undeviating rectitude, he was unwilling to administer reproof to those over whom he might have exercised some degree of control, and whose improprieties he might have checked by timely remonstrances and correction. diligence and attention. He often obtained from his little flock an annual profit of from six to eight pounds, and sometimes even more. Observing his economical habits, I inquired of him how he disposed of his spare money; and finding that he kept it by him, I called his attention to the means of disposing of his unemployed capital in the public funds, by which interest might be obtained. Savings' banks did not at that time exist. He promptly brought me twenty pounds, with which stock was purchased; and he continued to add to his first deposit as circumstances would allow. A shepherd while keeping his sheep in the fields at a particular time of the year, and with a good dog, has many hours of leisure. During the war, draughts were constantly These, together with his winter evenings, made for men to serve in the militia: and Lawrence chiefly employed in reading; and insurance offices being established, to prothus became very conversant with some of cure substitutes for those who were unwilling our best authors, both in prose and verse: to serve personally, on the payment of from but he was equally diligent in making and seven to twelve shillings, Lawrence constantmending his shoes, and repairing his gar-ly availed himself of the opportunity thus ments, in which he was very skilful. He could repeat pages of Milton's Paradise Lost in a manner which showed that he perfectly understood the subject. Having to pass near Stoke with a flock of sheep, whilst they were resting in the lane, observing the mausoleum of the poet Gray in the Park, he was attracted to the spot, and was so pleased with the inscription that he committed the whole to memory, and repeated it correctly on his return. The illusions which he would make to some of the finest passages in Thomson's Season's proved that they were not lost upon him. He read with interest Cowper, and Klopstock's Messiah. As a trifling illustration of the happy manner in which he could apply sentiments acquired from the perusal of his poets, it may be mentioned, that on one occasion when the intended marriage of two persons notorious for the turbulence and in-my and unwearied industry. petuosity of their tempers was discussed in his presence, he instantly quoted from Dr. Watts' Lyric Poe.ns: "Nor can the soft enchantment hold The writings of several of our best divines were also a part of his favorite study. So far from the refinement of mind produced by reading incapacitating him for the menial duties of his situation, his employer, together with his fellow-laborers, must bear testimony to the care with which he performed every Occupation which devolved on him; and no appearance of conceit evinced his consciousness of superiority to his associates. When a shepherd conducts himself well, it is common to permit him to keep two ewes with his master's flock; and Lawrence was allowed this privilege, as a reward for his afforded of providing against such a contingency. But, in consequence of the repeated recurrences of these draughts, the number of men liable to serve was so much reduced, that those who remained were no longer permitted to effect insurances; and, when the next vacancy was to be supplied, the lot unhappily fell upon him. This was a severe affliction, for, feeling extremely averse, to the roving life of a soldier, he was compelled to find a substitute, which he could not obtain under forty guineas, besides some additional and unavoidable expenses. Ten pounds were allowed him by law, and eight were raised for him by friends, who, esteeming his character and admiring his principles, were anxious to assist in relieving him from his difficulties; but twenty-four were still to be paid out of money gained by so much econo In 1808, being then thirty-two years of age, he married Elizabeth Tyrrel, who was cook in his employer's family, and who now survives him. This event he had prudently retarded for a year, in consequence of the loss he had sustained from the above named circumstance of the militia. His sound judgment and prudence in making provision for a family before he married, is a most valuable lesson to men in his station. After their marriage, Lawrence and his wife continued in their situations for two years; and their first child was born in their employer's house. At the expiration of the two years, with the prospect of an increasing family, they had apartments fitted up for them at a vacant farm-house of their master's, free of rent and taxes, where they continued to reside till 1817, when they left his service, to commence business on their own account. This affair terminated shortly after, much to their disadvantage; for, though Lawrence was an excellent servant, he soon found he had not the judgment requisite for a higher post in society. Towards the close of the sively to it; and received with a cheerfulfollowing year, he returned to me, and after smile the observation one day made to him several years faithful and confidential service, by a casual visitor, who had heard of his taste during which he considerably increased his for Milton's poetry, that not only among the little property, I offered him the management angels they honor God who "at his bidding, of a branch of agricultural labor, over be-speed," but they also no less acceptably serve tween five and six hundred acres of land, to him, who wait in patience for his commands, which he attended, till the distressing cir- and yield themselves to his disposal. As, cumstance which rendered him unfit for la- however, it had been his honor and happiness bor. His wife and son afterwards continued to "abide with God in his calling," amidst this branch of business, till feeling conscious active duties, so now, amidst disability and that his end was approaching, he manifested suffering, "patience had her perfect work." some anxiety to secure to his only son the So exemplary was this, and so admirable a means of obtaining, at a future period, his termination did it afford to his honorable own livelihood, with credit and respectabil- course, that, as his condition became known, ity; for which purpose he placed him as an not a few of the higher, and some among the apprentice, at an expense of about 40 pounds, highest class of society, not only took pleas with a very worthy tradesman. ure in personally ministering to his comfort, but in witnessing, by their visits to his cottage, the instructive calmness and humble dignity of one, whom an Apostle would have calle" a brother of low degree, exalted" by principles of the highest and noblest tenden There are, unhappily, but few opportunities for presenting to the notice of the public, persons in the character of laborers who have never had any share in augmenting the burden of the poor rates; when, therefore, such a case does occur, it may be useful to exam-cy. ine the causes which have operated to prevent During the period of his long and painful that rare individual assimilating with his fel- illness, he lived in a little hamlet called New lows. Lawrence was the son of most deser- Town in the parish of Hitcham, Bucks, adving parents, who depended entirely on their joining a lane leading from the Church to the own energies for the support of themselves Bath road. Although the place was so oband their numerous family. He imbibed the scure, a carriage was frequently to be seen same spirit and commenced his career with at his door, the distinguished owner of which no other independence than diligence and was within the cottage conversing with the economy. The money thus obtained he duly sufferer, whose intelligence and consistent valued, because aware of the difficulty with piety attracted much attention. He felt ve which it had been obtained. After his mar-ry grateful to his benefactors for the kindriage, instead of resorting to the parish, his ness evinced towards him during his long and exertions increased with his increasing fami- painful illness; and would often say, ly; for he established an evening school for think that God should raise me up so many boys, which, while it afforded him a remu- | friends, who furnish me with such numerous neration for his trouble, was very useful to comforts, and from whose sympathy I derive those whom he instructed. Besides this, fol- so much consolation; especially so many lalowing up the dictates of a sound judgment dies and gentlemen of rank and influence, and an independent spirit, he employed his who might never have heard of my situation!" leisure in mending shoes for the neighbor- Tears trickled down his cheeks while he achood; he occasionally acted as the pig-butch-knowledged this, together with the obligations er; and he was mole-catcher on the farm, which was quite compatible with the business of a shepherd-the latter affording him a small regular income, while the former services were paid for as they occurred. The period of his active industry was suddenly brought to a close, by a load of oat sheaves falling on him, which so severely injured his spine, as to bring on a series of incurable and protracted sufferings, from which death alone could effectually relieve him. In addition to constant wearing pain and debility, he had now to endure the weariness felt by an industrious and active spirit, amidst the cessation of that habitual employment, which in the wise dispensations of Divine Providence, becomes so continued a mitigation of continued toil. He was altogether laid aside. That he at times acutely felt this, was evident, yet he bowed submis To he was under to the medical gentlemen whose attentions to him were unremitting and gratuitous. A few brief notices of his conversations during his illness, will illustrate his religious character. One distinguished feature of his mind was submission to the Divine will. He had learned in whatsoever state he was, therewith to be content. He was asked when suffering very acutely, "Would you exchange this scene of affliction for wealth, ease, and worldly enjoyment? He replied, "Not on any account; it is the will of God that I should suffer, and therefore it is best for me." On one occasion when a kind friend was conversing with him, after dwelling with great delight on that text "For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us & far more exceeding and eternal |