estates the most valuable on the island. I Cuba. Doubtless where the original forest could not but fancy, as I stood gazing on this is untouched, they do cast a shade; but standlovely view, that Dr. Johnson must have had ing alone or in clusters of four or five, their it in his mind when he described the happy shadow is scarcely more than imaginary. It valley where dwelt Rasselas, prince of Abys- is the most valuable tree of the island, as sinia. By the aid of a little imagination the well as one of the most beautiful, as its trunk large white sugar-houses dotted over its sur- and leaves supply all the materials for buildface, might easily, at that distance, have ing the cottages of the Guajeros, and the huts been converted into palaces, while the broad of the negroes. There are several species, waving leaves of the banana, the dark green but the most common is the Palma-real, or orange groves, ladened with fruit, the cocoas, oreodoxia regia. Truly the queen of the forthe palms and the rest of the luxuriant trop-est, it grows in all soils, attaining a height of ical verdure, presented as beautiful a picture from fifty to seventy feet, its slender trunk as that which daily met the eyes of Rasselas. being generally covered with a minute white Owing to the great heat of the valley which lichen, which gives it the appearance of is entirely surrounded by mountains that keep having been whitewashed the previous year. off the sea breeze and radiate back the heat About six feet from where the leaves spring they receive, the houses of the planters are out, the foot-stalks commence, which being built on the ridge, and as we rode along we always of a bright green and closely folded passed continually by villas, some of them round the young foliage, seem the real plant kept in the nicest order, and others falling springing from a tall vase of unpolished marinto ruins. These latter, in most instances, ble. The shape of the white trunks renders belong to absentees who are either proscri- the illusion more perfect, as many of these bed or dare not venture within the clutches are larger in the middle, tapering off graduof Spanish justice. Here I would gladly ally both upward and downward. Each tree have lingered some time, but the guide hur- has about twenty leaves, one of which is ried us on, telling us we would scarce have shed every three weeks; the young foliage time to get through the gap in the mountains when boiled is as delicate as the garden cabbefore sun-down. After riding for some dis-bage, while the seed or nuts, takes the place tance, we began to descend the inner side of of mast for hogs. From the extremity of the ridge, and soon reached the cane-fields the foot stalk, or green portion of the trunk, below. These are among the most produc- all the leaves spring out in a single cluster; tive of the island, and the superstition among they are from fifteen to twenty feet long; the Guajeros or peasantry is, that the land the lower, or older ones falling over in graceis enriched by the blood of the Indians, who ful curves, while the younger are more or were massacred here by the Spaniards in less erect, with their extremities only bent 1511. Collecting them all here under false over. They are much used to border avenpretences, they basely murdered them, while ues, and in driving under them I have often any who might escape to the heights were thought they resembled marble columns supdriven back by soldiers stationed above, and porting arches of artificial verdure, more throwing themselves in despair into the river, than trees. perished by hundreds, exclaiming as they fell, "Io mori"-I die-which is said to have been the origin of the name of the river and valley.

Our guide hurried us over this part of the rode that we might reach the gorge before dark, yet I could not but pause before a lit tle hut which doubtless belonged to some Guajero, and gaze on what seemed the realization of one of the most brilliant and cherished dreams of my childhood. How often

When we had descended the mountain, the pleasures of imagination vanished before those of reality. The sun had sunk behind the ridge, but his rays still fell on the tall have I poured for hours over De Foe's fastops of the plume-like palms scattered in profusion through the fields of waving cane. Speaking of "the shade of the palm tree," is decidedly a poetical license, when applied to

cinating descriptions of Robinson Crusoe and his man Friday; and after picturing to myself the hut, with its stake fence in front, and the steep hill and cave behind, longed

for a glimpse of the hero and his castle; for the hotel, and after a ride of five hours I my belief in his story was as firm as my was too tired to accept an invitation to spend faith in that of Joseph and his brethren. the evening with some pretty creole ladies, And now, by the aid of a little imagination, who having caught sight of me the evening not only castle and hill, but master and man before, were very anxious to know me for seemed before me, and I felt almost tempted the purpose of more closely inspecting a to dismount and see whether I could not rigolet which I wore to protect me from the find the entrance to the cave, and the rude dew. I was very sorry I did not hear of earthen jars, and goat skin cap, and umbrella their desire at the time, as, though too tired of the owner. to be either entertained or entertaining, I

Just under the cliff, almost touching its should have liked to gratify them with a side, stood a rude cottage, its high pointed sight of the article; but I did not know of roof, thatched with palm leaves, while its it until after my return to Havana, towards walls were formed by driving stakes into the which we turned our faces with many reearth and weaving branches between. Seat-grets the day after our ascent of the Cumed at the door, smoking a cigarette, was a bre. Guajéro, whose beard and hair seemed not to When we were once more comfortably inhave been acquainted with either scissors or stalled in our old quarters at the Hotel Curazor for many months, while his swarthy bano, I was most peremptorily ordered by complexion, and costume of shirt and panta- Miss Sue to go to bed, and recruit for a picloons only, rendered him a fit representative nic to be given next day at the Quinta del of Robinson Crusoe, before it became neces- Obispo-Bishop's garden-by the British sary for him to have recourse to his goat Consul. I was very glad to do so, and skin habiliments. Hanging lazily over the awoke next morning feeling no bad effects gate of the garden, which was surrounded from either my ride up the mountain or my with a stake fence, was a Chinaman, his journey. It was a lovely day just suited to straight black hair and yellow skin answer- out door amusements, and though the sun ing very well for Friday, while beneath the was intensely hot, the fresh sea-breeze branches of a cocoanut tree lay the identical cooled the air so that sheltered from its rays goat, who figures so largely in De Foe's nar- there was no danger of being too hot or too rative. cool. We set out about twelve o'clock acIt was after dark before we entered the companied by a young creole lady, and after pass, but the moon was so bright that I did half an hour's drive reached our destination, not regret the absence of other light. The where we found a gay party awaiting us unroad for a mile ran along the bank of the der the shade of the tall bamboos. All river, the pass being barely wide enough to had been requested to provide themselves admit of the two. It seemed to have been with a spoon and knife and fork, while the cut out by the force of the waters, so per- Consul's lady and her sisters supplied the pendicular were the sides. At times this eatables. I had driven out to this beautiful passage to the valley is impassable, as the place several times, but had never walked waves of the bay are often in a storm dri- through it, and I gladly accepted the arm ven high up into it. On either side were of my old acquaintance, Doctor T— of hollows and small caves, some half way up the Royal Navy, and leaving the young la the hill, others on a level with the road, and dies to amuse themselves by dancing and the guide told us that on the opposite side of flirting in the billiard room, and the more the river was a large cave which had never sober to arrange the dinner, I set off for a been entirely explored, though parties had regular scramble through the tangled masbeen in for more than two miles. I was ses of tropical vegetation, to the great horror very anxious to take a peep into it, but of Sue, who protested I would ruin not only gave up the idea on hearing it was apt to "dainty slippers" and dress, but my comfall in, as I had no ambition to be smother- plexion also. Trusting however to my usual ed by a mountain. good luck, and a large leghorn flat to proIt was eight o'clock before we reached tect me, I set out, and had no reason to re

VOL. XXI.-89

gret my attempt. To be sure I once or We wandered for more than an hour up twice stepped on treacherous places, and the and down, visited the wild animals, peeped slippers suffered a little, but I was amply re- at the alligator through whose cage flowed paid not only by all I saw, but by the con- an artificial stream, and at last turned into versation of my companion. I found him an avenue of Mangoes bordered with staa real treasure, as there was scarcely a tree tues. There was Silence with her finger on or plant which we met with that he could her lips, Apollo minus a hand, and Cupid not tell me something about, and I learned with a broken arrow. At the end was a more from him during the day respecting the stream which divided the quinta from a vegetation of Cuba, than I had heard from neighboring domain, and looking down a any dozen persons to whom I had heretofore long avenue of bamboo-reeds whose slender addressed my inquiries; often had I stopped tops met in an arch over head, I spied a in admiration before some beautiful tree, little cottage literally embowered in roses, shrub or plant, and on asking the name been while the air was heavy with the perfume of told by persons who had lived for years on Oleanders, Heliotrope tube roses, and many the island, "I really dont know," or "I other flowers that grew in wild profusion have heard but forgotten." No such an- about the grounds. I could not restrain my swers repelled my curiosity now, the Doctor exclamations of delight at the picture, and knew every thing, and forgot nothing. hearing from one of the negroes that the Whether my questions related to the ani- house was unoccupied, I determined to take mal or vegetable world they were readily a closer look at it. But the Doctor objected replied to, and in such a way that without on account of the sun, and I was bribed off tiring me with scientific terms, familiar only by the promise of a bouquet, if I would deto the learned, convinced me that his infor- fer my explorations until after dinner. mation was derived not only from books but his own observations.

When we reached the terrace where the dinner was to be laid we found the rest of This Quinta has been the favourite coun- the party wondering at our long absence, try-seat of a Lord Bishop, hence its name, but not unhappy about it. The notes of a but it belongs now to a young man residing hand-organ still issued from the billiardin Paris, who takes no pains to keep it up, room, a low building standing in the garden and in a few years not a trace of its former which had escaped the tornado that unroofed cultivated beauty will remain. The house the dwelling house. Here many of the genwhich was only a common one, was unroofed tlemen were footing it with the young laby a tornado and is now nothing but an dies, while others were scattered over the overgrown ruin; two or three old negroes grounds collecting botanical specimens for make a pretence of keeping the garden in the herbarium of the Hon. Miss Murray, order and feeding the animals, but it is a who seated at the foot of a tree was showing mere pretence. Its beautiful avenues of her sketch book to another group. Mangoes, Zapotes and Palms are choked up The Doctor and I joined the party who and overgrown, the ponds or fountains dry were preparing dinner, and for an hour gave or stagnant, the artificial streams which our undivided attention to dressing salad, were formerly led about the grounds at carving turkeys, cutting bread, &c., &c., &c. great expense are dry in some places, and" Many hands make light work," but unhave overflowed their banks in others. The less they are skilful, they are apt also to bridges are decayed, the terraces broken. make mistakes, and the merriest part of the The marble statues which border the ave- day was laying out the dinner, which was nues or stand singly, are thrown down and done by the gentlemen under the direction broken or covered with green mould. Most of the ladies. One tall middy was voted of the cages where the birds and wild ani- head nurse, and ordered to take care of the mals were confined are empty, or have a children while the servants assisted. This few half starved inmates; while a perfect duty he performed very well for a time, till wilderness of flowers gives some idea of getting rather tired, he quietly coaxed them what the garden must have been in its glory. off, and under pretence of amusing them

put them up into the lower branches of the | for me to walk first into the drawing room." trees where they could not get down with- The queen not wishing to part with her made out assistance, and joined a party who were her lady of the bed chamber, and she is the engaged in taking the champagne out of a first unmarried lady who has been raised to pond, where it had been set to cool. Loud that dignity. Byron has celebrated her in was the ululatus set up by the deserted one of his poems, and from the position she children, when they discovered the trick, holds she may be considered as among the and every mother was seen rushing towards first ladies of England. them to discover if her darling was safe. I have often heard and read of the beauty As soon as peace was restored we were sum of the high-born English women, but either moned to dinner by Mrs. S, the merri- I have been most unfortunate in the speciest lady of the party, who, being a sister of mens I have seen, or tastes differ widely. the Consul's lady was one of the presiding There is a want of high-toned refinement, spirits of the day. I can never forget the not only in appearance, but in manner and comic gravity with which she requested a conversation which forcibly strikes me in all stately officer, who offered his assistance, whom I have ever met with. Nor do I wonand assured her he was ready to do any der that the French deem it "une chose imthing for her "Just to wash up those possible" for an English woman to be well plates." Most daintily did he turn up the dressed. cuffs of his uniform and commence operaI was also much struck with the difference tions to the amusement of the whole party, between the manner of our naval officers who saw the spirit of mischief lurking in the and the British. I saw them constantly todark eyes of the lady when she made the gether during the past winter, and associated request. As it was nearly four o'clock be- intimately with both. Though I met with fore our arrangements were completed we great kindness from the latter, and as a genwere pretty hungry and the good things dis-eral rule found them well-educated, gentleappeared rapidly before us. Freely flowed manly men who could never have been the wine, and brightly flashed the wit, and guilty of rudeness, they were wanting in if the ghost of the old bishop was lingering that high polish, and graceful ease of mannear his favourite residence while in the ner which characterizes the well-bred officer flesh, he must have been edified or perhaps of our navy. There was a stiffness about horrified at the bursts of laughter that rose them on first acquaintance, which alternated from our party. Merriest of the merry was strangely with a careless roughness and freethe Hon. Miss Murray, lady of the bed dom. Of course there are exceptions to chamber to her Majesty Queen Victoria; a every rule, and I speak of both as a class, young lady of sixty, whose beautiful neck not individually. The English officer on and arms would have graced a belle of six-duty is a machine wound up to go so longteen. I afterwards saw a good deal of her, he has his orders and obeys them without and was charmed with her unaffected man- the slightest deviation; he has no idea that ners, and sound, common sense.

circumstances can alter cases where orders She told me much about her life at court, are concerned. An occurrence presents itand her private history. She is the daughter self to my mind that will illustrate my meanof the Bishop of St. David's and aunt of the ing. It is against the orders of both services Hon. Charles Augustus Murray, so well for the officer of the deck to speak, except known as the author of the Prairie Bird. At on business, while on duty. Not knowing the age of forty she was chosen Maid of this, cousin Sue one day when on board an Honor to the Queen, and served in that ca- English man-of-war, asked one of the offipacity until a few years ago; when accord-cers why he had not been up to the hotel to ing to her own account, she told her Majesty see us according to a promise made some it was too ridiculous for so old a woman to days before. After a few moments hesitahold such an office, for, said she, "when tion he stammered out "because it is too your majesty tells a page to request the far," and turning short from her, walked to young ladies to come down how absurd it is the other end of the deck, and though we

remained more than an hour on board, did that greeted us on joining the rest of the not again address her. Surprised at such party, for he was the third gentleman who rudeness in a gentleman who had always had returned in the same plight, and the been most polite, she mentioned the circum- champagne was voted decidedly “heady.” stance to me, and asked if anything had The servants, during our absence, had been said or done to offend him. We could drunk up the remnant, and were many of in no way account for his conduct until next them "glorious." The Spaniards are noted day, when he informed her he was on duty for their weak heads, and a few glasses of at the time, and was not at liberty to speak wine render them very belligerent. One of to her; he wished to tell her he had been them thinking his dignity insulted, resented unwell and not able to take so long a walk, it with a blow, when a general "set to" enbut the Captain was in hearing and he dared sued, and before the gentlemen could sepanot; though as far as we could learn the rate them, the hand organ which had done commander was anything but a martinet, duty for the dancers, was smashed, and half and much liked by his officers. A similar the crockery broken. The remnant being circumstance once occurred to me on board packed into the volantes, we turned our the U. S. steamship Pennsylvania. Not faces homeward, all agreeing we had passed knowing that an officer of my acquaintance a charming day.

was on duty, I asked him some question about the ship, to which he replied most politely, but begged me to excuse him as he could not converse while on duty, and touching his hat walked away.

[To be continued.]

RELIGION AND SCIENCE.

"It will be perceived that hitherto we have been controverting negative objections to the truth of the Mosaic Chronology. The result, founded on indisputable facts and incontrovertible principles of science, leaves the Mosaic chronology on unshaken foundations. But with this result, we do not rest. We have now positive testimony borne by those

"Planets, stars, and adamantine spheres,
That wheel unshaken through the void immense,"

to the Mosaic account of their creation. Who has not

But I have wandered far from the pic-nic. I claimed the fulfilment of the Doctor's promise, respecting the bouquet, and we set out In the May number of the Messenger, in after dinner to the pretty cottage where he an article on "the testimony of Geology and amply redeemed his word, loading me with Astronomy to the truth of the Hebrew Refloral treasures. Turning into a narrow walk cords" these occurs the following extractbarely wide enough for two, and bordered by high hedges of Oleander in full bloom, we started on our return to the party, but when we reached the stream we found the bridge at that place broken down, and while we were debating whether we should retrace our steps or try and jump over, a most furious barking of dogs in our rear roused my fears respecting blood-hounds, which I knew were kept at most of the country places; and listened in imagination to the voice of their choral hymns I boldly ventured on, resolved to have all of praise, when the ills of wet feet rather than face the ferocious animal. Laughing at my fright, the Doctor urged me to go around, as the banks of the streams were swampy, but finding me resolute to " go ahead," he took his stand in the middle of the stream on a remnant of the bridge, and offering me both hands, he jumped me lightly to a stone from which I reached the dry land by another spring. He attempted to do the same, but in his anxiety to take care of my flowers, fell just short of the mark, and came down up to his knees in the mud. Loud were the shouts of laughter

"Nightly to the listening earth,
They tell the story of their birth;
Forever singing as they shine,
The hand that made us in Divine."

They now declare to man the language of attestation to the truth of the inspired historian of their creation. Let us listen to this language which comes to us from re

gions of immutable truth and from spheres of imperishable glory.

"Having shown the fallacies of all those who have misunderstood their language, or obscured its meaning, we will state its testimony to the truth of the inspired record.

kable epoch must, from the essential principles of the solar system, have happened. When that epoch actu

"Astronomers had always known that a certain remar