for distribution on the following week, for the gratuitous perusal of any who chose to apply." So shily was the strange "Visitor" looked upon, that not one person invited him to his Cottage.

I therefore, some time afterwards, without ceremony presented you myself to half-a-dozen cottagers, who I knew could read, requesting them to read as much as they liked, and return the number in a fortnight. From this unpromising beginning, you will be glad to hear, that you are now read by at least twenty families,-some of whom are above the rank of Cottagers. The numbers are exchanged every fortnight. Last Sunday afternoon, five or six persons seemed disappointed that No. 11 had not arrived; this anxiety I had predicted to some of my parishioners, when they first commenced reading you in April or May, but very little credit, probably, was at that time attached to my prediction.

That you may continue your benevolent labours, and be universally read, is the earnest and anxious wish of

November.

A CUMBERLAND CURATE.

POTATOES.

LAST week, nearly three pecks of potatoes were taken up in a private garden at Bury, the produce of four plants, weighing 32lbs. Four of them weighed 4lb. 9oz., and one measured six inches long and 12 inches in circumference, and weighed 24lbs. The plants were from cut potatoes.

The above account is taken from the "New Times" paper. On reading it we immediately set about weighing the potatoes which were sent to us, as mentioned in our last Number. These were nearly all of a size; the largest of them weighing about 14lb.

We do not pretend to say that the

largest sized potatoes are always to be preferred; but still it is highly satisfactory to see to what perfection they may be brought by proper cultivation. The best mode of cultivating potatoes is a subject of great consideration to the Cottager, and well worth his attention. The method adopted by our Correspondent S. M. of putting in the manure, is very well worth attending to, as a much less quantity will thus suffice, and it all tells directly upon the plant. It must be useful too, to attend to his method of putting in the set, namely, with the eye uppermost. It is true that the set will grow in any position; but, if the eye be downwards instead of upwards, the shoot has got to work its way round, and this process must be all a waste of time. But when the eye is uppermost, then the plant is immediately at work, in the right direction, and the business of forming the young potatoes must begin sooner, and consequently they will be larger at any given time. Then, if any one will examine a long potatoe, he will see that the eyes in the middle part are larger and stronger than those at the end; which seems to be the reason why S. M. preferred them, and rejected the ends. This method also gives an opportunity of cooking the potatoes, and merely reserving a portion containing the eye. It is common for persons to use their large potatoes, and to keep the small ones for seed; saying, "any thing will do to set." Any thing will do; but the set from a large fine potatoe seems likely to do much better.

Selections from different Authors.

GOD grants and continues his favours only to those who serve him with an upright and sincere heart. It is of no consequence to have begun well, and to have done our duty for some time, if we do not per

severe. Even pious persons must be on their guard, lest, by growing careless and remiss, they deprive themselves of the protection of God, and the effects of his love. Ostervald.

He who once lets his tongue loose to a wilful untruth, soon grows impudent in multiplying falsehoods. Bishop Hall.

Those who commit the sin of profane swearing, plainly testify that they have no fear of God before their eyes. Cooper.

Such inconsiderate expressions as these, "God bless me!" "The Lord have mercy upon me!" "As I hope to be saved!" and such like expressions are common indeed in the mouths of men; but, when used without becoming seriousness of mind, as is too generally the case, are little better than a profane mockery of real piety. The same may be said of the irreverent mention of sacred words, such as "God," and "Christ, and "Lord," and "Heaven," and many others of a like description, which men use as mere unmeaning exclamations, for the sake of filling up their discourse: but all of which are violations of the divine commandment, and profane the name of God. The same..

When men stoop to the meanness and guilt of falsehood, to avoid a present danger, they are cunning, but not wise; for, as we can only judge of the circumstances of the present moment, and cannot tell what is going to happen, it is very likely that our falsehood will bring us into still greater difficulties. It is also certain to deprive us of confidence in the protecting care of Providence, which is the greatest support and comfort in every trouble. Maria Hack.

The Latin motto to the family arms of Dr. Doddridge, when put into English, means "Live while you live." On this motto Dr. Doddridge wrote the following lines, which Dr. Johnson thought to be one of the finest epigrams in the English language.

"

"Live, while you live," the epicure will say,
"And seize the pleasures of the passing day.'
"Live while you live," the sacred preacher cries,
"And give to God each moment as it flies."
Lord in my view let both united be,

I live in pleasure, when I live to Thee.

Doddridge.

A firm trust in the assistance of the Almighty Being naturally produces patience, hope, chearfulness, and all other dispositions of mind that alleviate those calamities which we are not able to remove. Spectator.

We little think of it, but God shall call us to an account for the unkind and cruel usage of his poor dumb creatures. He hath made us lords, not tyrants; owners, not tormentors. He that hath given us leave to kill them for our use, hath not given us leave to abuse them for our pleasure. Bishop Hall.

A Correspondent has sent us the following extract from the late Bishop Porteus's Poem on Death.

At Thy good time,

Let Death approach; I reck not:-let him come
In genuine form, not with Thy vengeance armed,
Too much for man to bear. Oh! rather lend
Thy kindly aid to mitigate his stroke.
Then shed Thy comforts o'er me; then put on
The gentlest of Thy looks; then deign to cheer
My fainting heart with the consoling hope
Of Mercy, Mercy, at Thy hands!-And Thou,
Whom soft-eyed Pity once led down from Heaven
To bleed for man, to teach him how to live,
And, O, still harder lesson! how to die;
Disdain not Thou to smoothe the restless bed
Of sickness and of pain. Forgive the tear
That feeble nature drops; calm all her fears;
Fix her firm trust on thy triumphant Cross,
Wake all her hopes, and animate her Faith;
"Till my wrapt soul, anticipating Heaven,
Bursts from the thraldom of incumb'ring clay,
And, on the wing of ecstacy upborne,
Springs into Liberty, and Light, and Life.

Bishop Porteus.

DAY OF JUDGMENT.

That day of wrath, that dreadful day,
When heaven and earth shall pass away,
What power shall be the sinner's stay?
How shall he meet that dreadful day?

When, shrivelling like a parched scroll,
The flaming heavens together roll;
When louder yet, and yet more dread,
Swells the loud trump that wakes the dead:-

O! on that day, that wrathful day,
When man to judgment wakes from clay,
Be Thou the trembling sinner's stay,
Though heaven and earth shall pass away.

Sir Walter Scott.

EXTRACTS FROM THE PUBLIC NEWSPAPERS, &c.

On Monday last a Coroner's Inquest was taken at Old Hurst, on a Cottager's child, two years of age, who had been accidentally killed by a pocket knife which it held in its hand. The child was running across the sitting room, when a projecting brick caught its foot; and, in falling, the knife entered its throat under the ear.- Lincoln Gazette.

Lately, at Twickenham, died Widow Brittell, at the advanced age of 103 years. She retained her faculties to the last. She supported herself till the age of 85 without any assistance from the parish. She was much respected; and her remains were followed to the grave by the children of the National School.

About the beginning of July, last year, a female Weasel of the largest species, was taken alive in a field at Craigie, near Perth. The person who caught it amused himself by taming this little animal. In a few weeks the weasel appeared to be perfectly reconciled to the narrow bounds of the house, through which it was allowed to range, and became so familiar with his host as to eat out of his hand, climb round his person, and go into his pockets in search of food. In the month of December, this animal was delivered of four young ones, who were also treated with all possible care by the owner of the house. The weather having become very cold,