fell from the atmosphere which weighed 260 pounds

Contemporary writers

agree in stating, that on this day between 11 and 12 o'clock in the morning, a loud explosion was heard at Ensisheim, and that this stone was soon after seen to fall in a field at no great distance from the town. This stone, till within a few years, was preserved in the parish church of Ensisheim.

In 1762, two stones fell near Verona, one of which weighed 200 and the other 300 pounds.-Three or four hundred persons were witnesses of the

.event.

In 1790, on the 24th of July, a shower of stones full near Agen, in Guienne. About nine or ten o'clock at night a meteor was seen moving through the atmosphere with very great velocity. A loud explosion was soon heard, which was followed after a short interval by a shower of stones over a considerable extent of country.

In April 1802, the same thing happened at L'Aigle. Biot, a member of the French National Institute, who visited the place to ascertain the fact, writes to this effect. Persons of all professions, manners and opinions, ecclesiastics, -soldiers and laborers, men, women and children, agree in referring the event to the same day, the same hour, and the same minute. They say they saw the stones descending along the roofs of the houses, Lreak the branches of the trees, and rebound after they fell upon the pavement. They say they saw the earth smoke around the largest of them, and that the stones were still hot after they had taken them in their hands. The mineralogical collections formed on the spot with the greatest care, contained nothing of the kind.-On a sudden, and only since the time of the meteor, these stones have been found, and within a certain extent.

Within fifteen years past the falling of similar bodies, under similar circumstances, has happened in Portugal, Bohemia, France, Great Britain, India and South America.

To account for the existence of these stones, various theories have been formed by philosophers. Some have supposed them to be only common stones struck with lightning and partly melted. But this theory has now no advocates. A less fanciful hypothesis is that they are masses of matter thrown from volcanoes. But to this there are serious objections. No such bodies are found near the craters of volcanoes, or are known to be projected from them. And in many instances these bodies have fallen several hundred and even several thousand miles from any known volcano. Mr. Edward King has varied this theory, and supposes that these substances are thrown from volcanoes not in solid masses, but in the state of ashes or dust. He supposes that these ashes descending in a cloud become condensed, take fire, and produce nume. rous explosions. According to him, the pyritical metallic, and argillaceous particles melt, are suddenly chrystallized and consolidated and fall in masses to the ground. This explanation evidently involves as great difficulties as those which it is intended to obviate. Some philosophers have supposed that these stones are thrown from terrestrial comets. Not to mention any other objection to this hypothesis, it will by no means account for such a phenomenon as appeared at Sienna in 1794, when stones descended, not from a moving meteor, but from a luminous cloud. ́Other philosophers ascribing to these stones an origin still more extraordinary, suppose them to be projected from the moon. Admitting that bodies can be projected beyond the sphere of the moon's attraction, they must move round the earth in one of the conic sections, and all the difficulties attending the preceding hypothesis, embarrass this The subject must be acknowledged to be involved in much obscurity, and the phenomenon, till we are possessed of more facts and better observations, muat be considered inexplicable.

POETRY.

A HYMN for CHRISTMAS-DAY. 'Till mild RELIGION, from above,

Parental Government

A PRIVILEGE TO YOUTH.

"Tis Education forms the common mind,
Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclin❜d.

Porz

FAMILIES are the nurseries of societies and states. The trees, transplanted from them, into groves and orchards, continue to grow in the same direction, they had previously taken. This consideration leads the skilful gardener to be peculiarly attentive to their growth in its first stages. He often and criticallly examines them; roots out noxious weeds; carefully prunes off useless branches; and suffers not a single shoot to remain, which is neither ornamental, nor valuable. Thus faithful parents watch over their tender offspring; learn them early to submit by checking the first signs of disobedience; and nip every opening vice in the bud.

The advantages, accruing to youth from subjection to parental authority, are so numerous, that it is difficult to determine, which had beiter be selected to impress the mind with the importance of the subject. Persons never feel more capable of governing themselves and providing for their own welfare, than from the age of fourteen to twenty-one. Yet it is notoriously true, that, in no period of their existence, are they so completely unqualified to act without restraint. There is no period, in which they have so much need of the counsel, advice and control of those, who have passed this critical juncture. Less wisdom and vigilance are necessary to preserve the infant, than the youth, from danger and ruin. The reason is obvious. At this time of life, their sprightly imaginations paint anticipated scenes of enjoyment in the most glowing colors; their passions strong and vigorous are easily blown into a flame; their thirst for unbounded Tiberty is ardent; and they vainly flatter themselves, that if they were only freed from the subjugation of minority, they could gratify all their desires. Their judgment being immature and their appetites for pleasure insatiable, they are exposed to every species of excessive indulgence. To the great susceptibility of impression, we are chiefly to compute the eccentricities, indiscretions and volatility of youth. Almost every object, being new, deeply affects them, and, by the force of novelty, they are allured into many irregularities. How vastly important, that they should now have an experienced guardian to warn them of latent evils, by his friendly admonitions, and prohibit them, by his reasonably strict commands, from rushing into irretrievable infamy and disgrace.

It is of unspeakable consequence to young persons, that they have more restraints, than they are capable of imposing on themselves. For such is the strength of their passions, that the feeble dawning of their own reason is by no means sufficient to direct them. Their reason is like a moderate wind, which indeed blows in a right direc tion; but their passions, like an impetuous torrent, drive them the contrary way.

Innumerable facts, in perfect concurrence with the most enlightened dictates of the understanding, evince the truth of the proverbial saying, that "those, who never knew how to obey, will never

Know how to govern." Witness those heads of families, who were never in a state of subjection. They either govern their children and domestics with more than despotic tyranny, or grant them more than democratic liberty. Persons, who have been educated in this way, or rather who have never had any education, make wretched members of society, "It is good for a man," says the prophet, *that he bear the yoke in his youth." This has been often verified by experience. In our journey through life, we meet with unavoidable disappointments; and frequently receive treatment not very congenial to our feelings. But persons, who have never had their inclinations crossed, nor their patience tried; take great affronts at ☛mall offences, and, considering them as insupportable evils, they determine to seek redress. They murmur and rave, and not only disturb the peace of their own houses; but keep up a perpetual clamor about a mere nothing, till the whole neighborhood becomes a perfect Bedlam.

Parents! these are demoralizing times. Infidelity prevails. Are not many of your sons, leagued together for the purpose of proving the Bible a forgery and the immortality of the soul a delusion? Search faithfully and diligently into this matter! That you may have a proper sense of the importance of your duty, read attentively the third chapter of the first book of Samuel; and be exhorted no longer to deprive your offspring of the precious privilege, good family government. Unless a general reformation speedily take place, we have reason to fear the worst of consequences. For pure family democracy is of all kinds the most alarming..

Youth, be entreated never to resist the lawful authority of your parental guardians. You ought always to be jealous of your own judgment, when it is opposed to the experience of riper years. Be cau tious how you listen to such as entice you to disobey. Beware of the fascinating charms of infidel philosophy. Her embrace is fatal.. For, in the awful moment, when the sweet, the consolatory balm of religion is most needed, she fills the flesh of her votaries with thorns, and their hearts with barbed arrows. DISCOS TANTALOS.

A Description of the Person of Jesus Christ, &c. As it was found in an ancient manuscript, sent by Publius Lentulus, President of Judea, to the Senate of Rome.

THERE lives at this time in Judea, a man of singular character, whose name is Jesus Christ. The barbarians esteem him a prophet; but his followers adore him as the immediate offspring of the immortal God. He is endowed with such unparalleled virtue as to call back the dead from their graves, and to heal every kind of disease with a word or a touch. His person is tall and elegantly shaped; his aspect amiable and reverend. His hair flows in those beautiful shades which no united colors can match, falling into graceful curls below his ears, agreeably couching on his shoulders, and parting on the crown of his head, like the head dress of the sect of Nazarites. His forehead is smooth, and his cheeks without a spot, save that of a lovely red. His nose and mouth are formed with exquisite symmetry: his beard is thick and suitable to the hair of his