It were, indeed, a most interesting process of inquiry to race out the apparent and more hidden indications of God's designs as to the inhabitation and cultivation of the various portions of the globe on which we are placed. It is certain that the dense aggregations of our thronged cities are attended with natural evils, and liabilities to disease, which require the constant care of mechanical and medicinal science to obviate, or at least to diminish. We are all well aware that one spot of cultivated soil is soon in process of exhaustion, and demands artificial adaptations and regenerators. But it is far more difficult to decide which portion of the uninhabited globe should command our attention. Yet the explorations of travellers, and the kindred sciences of geography and geology, unequivocally point out that Providence has so disposed the surface of the earth, that in innumerable places the lands are fit for the labours and the sustenance of industrious man. The very arrangements, which might affright a careless observer, are those which are often productive of the greatest natural benefits.

In a judicious address, lately delivered by the Rev. Dr. Lang to some emigrants, about to proceed to Port Philip, he says:-" It is doubtless a melancholy and saddening reflection to think, when one is looking from the deck of a vessel towards the land of his birth, as it is gradually fading from his view, and at length disappearing in the distance, that, in all probability, he will never behold it again. But this is an ordeal to which Divine Providence is, doubtless for the highest and holiest purposes, subjecting many of our country

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men in the present crisis; the unfavourable condition and prospects of many in the mothercountry having of late given rise to an extraordinary excitement on the subject of emigration, and particularly of emigration to Australia. I need not advert to the circumstances I allude to at any length, as you are all sufficiently aware of them, and have all, doubtless, experienced them yourselves. I need not remind you of the increasing difficulty of obtaining remunerating employment for honest labour of all descriptions, in this country. I need not remind you of the constantly increasing difficulty of providing for the maintenance of a large family, or of insuring their comfortable settlement in life, in the station in society in which they have been accustomed to move. need not remind you of the absolute impossibility, in consequence of the enormous competition in all branches of industry, of an honest man's making his way through the dense crowd of a redundant population, without successively, and, perhaps, reluctantly, elbowing another and another, on the right and left of him, out of his path, and, perhaps, out of the means of subsistence. These characteristic circumstances of the times are sufficiently known to you all, and it is, doubtless, your own personal experience thereof, that has brought you here this day. But these peculiar, and, in the opinion of many, unfortunate circumstances in the present condition of the mother-country, have all been, not only permitted, but actually designed by Divine Providence to work out the accomplishment of the plans of an all-wise and beneficent Creator, in the moral government of the world.

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For God tells us himself, in his most blessed word, that He formed the earth to be inhabited,' and he has given us, as a nation, beyond any other nation, either of past or of present times, ships, colonies, and commerce,' not only that this transcendently important object should be carried out, but that the inhabited portions of the world should be filled, more especially, with a people of British origin-that the waste places of the earth should be occupied with the habitations of numerous industrious, virtuous, and Christian men, from these highly-favoured isles of the sea. Yes! it is, doubtless, for these high and holy purposes, that the Lord is now saying to you in his providence, as he said to Abraham of old, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee; and I will make of thee a great nation.' I congratulate you, therefore, fellow-countrymen and Christian friends, on your going forth, under the evident leadings of the good providence of God, to a land where honest industry and perseverance will be sure to meet with their proper reward—a land in which, as I can testify from my own observation and experience, there is ample room for all who will go to it, without that enormous competition which now characterises almost every branch of industry at home-a land, in short, which is crying out for population, just as this country is crying out from its redundancy.

"I need scarcely add, however, that your future success, in your adopted country, will depend, in great measure, on your own patient industry and

perseverance. This is equally the general condition of humanity in all countries, and the law of Christianity; for the Christian man must be diligent in business, while he is fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; and the apostolic rule is, that he who will not work, should not eat. But the difference in the case of your adopted country, as compared with the land you are now leaving, is, that the rewards of patient industry and perseverance are far more ample, and far less uncertain there, than they are at home. Knowing, therefore, your character in this respect, as Christian men, I anticipate your complete success in the objects of your expedition; and be assured that that success will be of vast importance to others, as well as to yourselves; for there are thousands of reputable and Christian families and individuals in England who will gladly follow you to your adopted country, as soon as they shall hear the tidings of your settlement and success.

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"Let me entreat you, in conclusion, both during your stay on shipboard, and in the land of your destination, to Remember the Sabbath-day, to keep it holy.' This is the grand test of any man's religion; for if our Christianity, to whatever denomination we profess to belong, does not stand this test, it is utterly worthless. Let me remind you, also, that life at sea is so different from life on shore, that there will always be numberless occasions on shipboard for the exercise of patience and mutual forbearance. I trust, then, that these Christian graces will be duly exhibited by one and all. It is the most distinctive badge of our Christian

discipleship, to bear one another's burdens-to love one another.

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Finally, brethren, farewell! May the Angel of the covenant be your guide and your guard as you traverse the dark blue sea, and be the breaker up of your way in your adopted land! And may many in that land have cause, both in time and through eternity, to bless the day that this vessel was guided to their shores!"

CHAPTER II.

THE SCENERY AND DIVERSIFICATION OF THE GLOBE.

THE arts and necessities of society in a high state of civilization, gather man into cities and towns. The inhabitants see little of the works of God in creation, except on rare occasions. How many

live and die amidst the mere works of man! What an advantage, therefore, has the emigrant traveller, in observing the broad and untrodden fields of creation! If he do but cultivate and prize his opportunities, he may constantly derive pleasure and instruction from viewing the wondrous works of God. Every advance in his journey after quitting his native shores, will be an advance in the path of knowledge. He will not need to be highly educated to enjoy these opportunities; only let him cultivate a spirit of patient observation, with a constant reference to the great Creator, and he will have perpetual themes for wonder, admiration, and devout joy.

It is delightful to peruse the records of some of