just, and powerful. Who would wish to inhabit a globe where all its revolutions depend on a blind chance, or on the influence of the stars, which must be fatal both to our natural and moral state. Let us leave to the superstitious this science, so humiliating to the mind, and so destructive to peace, which they call astrology, and which in reality is only a wretched abuse of astronomy. As for us, our surest foundation for happiness is to know, that we live under the guidance of a wise, just, and good God, who directs all things.

To the above we beg leave to annex the following singular story; which, if true, seems to indicate, that some individuals at least have been possessed of an extraordinary share of foresight into future events; but whether by means of astrological calculation, or by any other way, we shall not pretend to determine. Let the reader judge for himself.

We are told, that the judicious Mr. Dryden studied astrology with great accuracy and success, as appears from the calculations of his children's nativities, and especially that of his son Charles; concerning whom, from his geniture, he thus predicted:

"If he [Charles] lives to arrive at the eighth year of his age, says Mr. Dryden, he will go near to die a violent death on his very birth-day; but if he should escape, of which I see but small hopes, he will in the twenty-third year be under another dangerous direction; and if he should escape that also, the thirty-third year will produce a killing direction."

Before the month of August, in which young Dryden was to enter into the eighth year of his age, Mr. Dryden was invited to the country seat of the earl of B. his brother-in-law, at Charlton in Wilts; where, on the very day of master Charles' anniversary, lord B made a general hunting match, to which all the neighboring gentlemen were invited. Mr. Dryden accompanied the gentlemen, after taking care to set his son a double exercise n the Latin tongue, which he taught his children himself, with a strict charge not to stir out of the room till his return; well knowing the task he had left him would take up a longer time. Charles was busy in performing his duty, in obedience to his father, when the stag made towards the house; and the noise alarming the servants, they hasted out to see the sport. One of them took young Dryden by the hand, and led him out to see it also, when, just as they came to the gate, the stag being at bay with the dogs, made a bold push, and leaped over the court wall, which was low, and very old; and the dogs follow ng, threw down part of the wall, ten yards in length, under which Charles Dryden lay buried. He was immediately dug out, and after six weeks languishing in a dangerous way, he recovered.

In the twenty-third year of his age he fell from the top of an old tower belonging to the Vatican at Rome, occasioned by a swimn ing in his head, with which he was seized, the heat of the day being excessive. He again recovered, but was ever after in a languishing, sickly state.

In the thirty-third year of his age, being returned to England, he was unhappily drowned at Windsor. He had with another gentleman swam twice over the Thames; but in crossing it the third time, it was supposed he was taken with the cramp, because he called out for help, though too late. Thus were the father's predictions fulfilled, and his skill in astrology verified

PROGRESS OF ARTS.

The woollen

We dare not overlook the progress of our arts. manufactories of Bennington, (Vt.) supply one hundred yards of cloth in a week, and some of it is equal to our high-priced cloths. Even the shoemaker's pegging is an art which has lately received much improvement, by which this labor has been greatly shortened. The present state of our country has much relief from the persuasion that it has great instruction in the arts, which have attained great improvements in Europe, and that it already possesses such infant institutions as only require the public favor to carry them to their perfection. The opinion prevails that the Spanish sheep will give their excellent wool in America, and that our country will not be judged from experiment, as it has been from theory, incapable of any thing which is excellent in any other portion of the globe. We learn from Baltimore, that an engraving of arch-bishop Carroll had been executed by Landy and Tanner, in 1812. The superior execution of our times may be admitted, but in the times of Smibert, in the past generation, we were indulged from public favor with engravings of our most eminent men of every rank. Not a minister of any communion in our capital, but he might have been found from some engraver upon the walls of our houses. Not a governor or a general but this token of affection appeared. The taste is less indulged, and the arts suffer. We have seen an engraving from Spain of the bishop of Orense in 1810, and we wish to see the same execution in our own country. Much is said of the admirable edition of Homer at Parma, and we have not been displeased at the printing of Wolf's Homer for common use, not only for its correctness, but great execution. The progress of the press in our country is its honor, and the specimens of Cambridge will lead us to covet the same generous aids from an established university press, that are enjoyed in foreign countries. Mr. Thomas has shown us the rapid progress of the press in America, and its useful publications are not without specimens of taste and elegance. It is to the honor of France that

the paper employed at the presses in Paris in the beginning of the present century, much exceeded two hundred thousand reams. The comparison of this progress would not dishonor us in the opinion of any of the friends of this useful art.

Our charities continue to perform their kind offices, in some places, with generous establishments, but every where by the public sentiment. In the past year the Baltimore dispensary administered to one thousand eight hundred and forty-nine persons, of whom only twenty died, and of whom five hundred and twenty-nine received the vaccination. When these charities do not occasion any neglects, and agree with domestic economy, they are of high utility. Care should be taken that they do not degenerate by the careless manner in which they are administered. To find them aids to the enlightened charity of well informed men, and institutions that the best might direct, and not be burdened by them, is to find a consolation to human woes, and strength to good hopes, and an aid to the health of the body, without destroying the health of the mind, and the active powers it can possess. Essex Reg.

CURE FOR BURNS.

From the Albany Gazette.

Mess. WEBSTER & SKINNER-A son of mine, some time since, while playing with some other boys, with fire-balls composed of tow dipped in spirits of turpentine, gun-powder, &c. was burned in a shocking manner, by having one of the fire-balls accidentally thrown in his face. Having noticed the application of cotton recommended in the Baltimore Medical Lyceum, in case of burns, I was induced to make the experiment. I covered the side of the face, which was now so much swollen as to close the eye, and blis. tered all over, the skin also in some parts broken by his having washed it in cold water immediately after the accident had taken place. I did not remove the cotton for ten days; during which time he never complained of the least pain, and when removed found it perfectly well, leaving no sort of marks except two or three spots rather darker than the rest of the skin, but which has since disappeared. As a remedy so efficacious and so easily procured, ought to be made public for the benefit of our fellow citizens, I request the liberty to communicate the same through your paper. JOHN COOK.

CORRESPONDENCES.

[In continuation from page 341.]

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all things shall be added unto you. Matt. vi. 33.

Now the very titles alone of the writings under consideration, if they be just and proper titles, appear to supply the clearest and most satisfactory answer to the above question, at least such as must needs be deemed so by those, who allow the justness and propriety of those titles. For if the writings under consideration be indeed, what they are called, SACRED SCRIPTURES, and THE WORD OF GOD, then they must needs, in the very nature of them, contain a sense distinct from that of the letter, and yet involved in the letter. For the term SACRED, manifestly implies that they treat of sacred things; and the WORD OF GOD as manifestly implies, further, that they are His real speech and language; and if they be the real speech and language of GoD, they must needs contain his divine will and wisdom, just as the words of a man, when he speaks from sincerity, contain the will and the wisdom of the man. They must also contain that will and wisdom equally in one part as in another, since it is impossible to suppose that any VOL. I. No. 9.

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part of the speech of GoD can be without a meaning, that is to say, a divine meaning, or a meaning expressive of his divine will and wisdom, in its power, and in its fulness. If, therefore, there be any single part or sentence of the divine book, which doth not contain a divine meaning, it is impossible it can be the inspired speech of God; and if it be not the inspired speech of GoD, then it is alike impossible that it can constitute any part or portion whatsoever of his DIVINE WORD. When therefore the Apostle said, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ," his meaning must needs be, that one part of the sacred volume is inspired of God alike with another part, and therefore is alike his divine speech and language, consequently is alike full of his divine will and wisdom, and thereby alike profitable for doctrine, &c.

But where now shall we find, or how shall we be able to form any conception of, this divine will and wisdom of GoD, thus profitable for doctrine, &c. and contained in all parts of the HOLY WORD, if we look no deeper than the letter, and suppose that the sense of the letter is all that concerns us? It is true, in some cases, the sense even of the letter of the sacred volume, expresses, in the most energetic fulness, both the will and the wisdom of him who inspired it; but in how many instances is this not the case? To say nothing of the rituals of the Jewish church, which form no inconsiderable part of the five books of Moses, commonly called the Pentateuch, what must any rational person conclude respecting the many apparently trivial, and in some cases, unjustifiable circumstances related of the three patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, if they be supposed to refer only to those patriarchs, and to involve in them nothing deeper and more holy than what concerned their history? For let it be asked, (but with a holy awe) of what concern is it to us to be informed, (if the literal information be all) that "Abraham made a great feast, the same day that Isaac was weaned;" and that afterwards "he dismissed his concubine Hagar" and presently that he provided a wife for his son Isaac, which latter transaction occupies the whole of the twenty-fourth chapter of the book of Genesis, and is recorded with a detail of the most minute and seemingly uninteresting particulars? What doctrine again, what reproof, what correction, or instruction in righte usness, is further to be found in what is related of Isaac's servants ₫ Gen. xxi. 14.

* Tin. iii. 16.

+ Gen xxi. 8.