first press, Boston has the greater honor of publishing the first American newspaper. The name of this paper was the "Boston News-Letter." The first number was issued on the 24th of April, 1704, by John Campbell. This paper was discontinued in 1776, after being regularly published for nearly seventy-two years. 16. The second newspaper was also published in Boston, and likewise the third. This third paper was called the "New England Courant," and created much disturbance by the recklessness with which it expressed its opinions. James Franklin was its editor and proprietor. It was in the office of this paper (which stood on the easterly corner of Court street and Franklin avenue) that Benjamin Franklin learned the printer's trade. 17. Since the days of Franklin very great improvements have been made in his favorite art; and one might be pardoned for believing that no further improvements could be made that the day of improvement is pastthat perfection is attained when we consider that playing on a machine, as on a piano, now sets type, and that one gentle pressure of the toe causes thousands of printed sheets hourly to teem from the press. 18. "From thee, O Press! what blessings flow To unworthy mortals here below, Life's path to smooth! The widow's cause, the infant's tear, 19. "Through thee, fair Liberty will stand, The Press enslaved, she'll inly moan, CXIII.-SONG OF THE RAILROAD. 1. Through the mold and through the clay, O'er the river, through the brake, Like forty thousand giants snoring! Dash along! Slash along! Crash along! Flash along! On! on! with a jump And a bump And a roll! — Hies the fire-fiend to his destined goal! 3. O'er the aqueduct and bog, On we fly with a ceaseless jog; Every instant something new, Now a tavern now a steeple- Now a crossway, now a bridge; Rumble, tumble, Fretting, getting in a stew! Church and steeple, gaping people, 4. By the foundry, past the forge, Through the plain and mountain gorge, Where repose the silent dead: Flit like specters as you pass; Whish! whir! ka-swash!-he's left behind! Rumble, tumble, all the day,— CHARLES T. WOLFE. CXIV. THE EVILS OF WAR. - 1. War, pestilence and famine, by the common consent of mankind, are the three greatest calamities which can befall our species; and war, as the most direful, justly stands foremost and in front. Pestilence and famine, no doubt for wise although inscrutable purposes, are inflictions of Providence, to which it is our duty, therefore, to bow with obedience, humble submission and resignation. Their duration is not long, and their ravages are limited. They bring, indeed, great affliction while they last, but society soon recovers from their effects. 2. War is the voluntary work of our own hands, and whatever reproaches it may deserve, should be directed to ourselves. When it breaks out, its duration is indefinite and unknown,-its vicissitudes are hidden from our view. In the sacrifice of human life, and in the waste of human treasure-in its losses and in its burdens,-it affects both belligerent nations, and its sad effects of mangled bodies, of death, and of desolation, endure long after its thunders are hushed in peace.. 3. War unhinges society, disturbs its peaceful and regular industry, and scatters poisonous seeds of disease and immorality, which continue to germinate and diffuse their baneful influence long after it has ceased. Dazzling by its glitter, pomp and pageantry, it begets a spirit of wild adventure and romantic enterprise, and often disqualifies those who embark in it, after their return from the bloody fields of battle, for engaging in the industrious and peaceful vocations of life. 4. History tells the mournful tale of conquering nations and conquerors. The three most celebrated conquerors, in the civilized world, were Alexander, Cæsar and Napoleon. The first, after ruining a large portion of Asia, and sighing and lamenting that there were no more worlds to subdue, met a premature and ignoble death. His lieutenants quarreled and warred with each other as to the spoils of his victories, and finally lost them all. 5. Cæsar, after conquering Gaul, returned with his triumphant legions to Rome, passed the Rubicon, won the battle of Pharsalia, trampled upon the liberties of his country, and expired by the patriot hand of Brutus. But Rome ceased to be free. War and conquest had enervated and corrupted the masses. The spirit of true liberty was extinguished, and a long line of emperors succeeded, some of whom were the most execrable monsters that ever existed in human form. 6. And Napoleon, that most extraordinary man, perhaps, in all history, after subjugating all Continental Europe, occupying almost all its capitals,-seriously threatening proud Albion itself,-and decking the brows of various members of his family with crowns torn from the heads of other monarchs, lived to behold his own. dear France itself in possession of his enemies, was himself made a wretched captive, and, far removed from country, family and friends, breathed his last on the distant and inhospitable rock of St. Helena. 7. The Alps and the Rhine had been claimed as the natural boundaries of France, but even these could not be secured in the treaties to which she was reduced to submit. Do you believe that the people of Macedon or Greece, of Rome, or of France, were benefited, individually or collectively, by the triumphs of their captains? Their sad lot was immense sacrifice of life, heavy and intolerable burdens, and the ultimate loss of liberty itself. HENRY CLAY. CXV. THE SHIP AND THE SEA-GULL. 1. The brave old skipper walked the deck, As night came down with gloomy frown |