THE SUSPENSION-BRIDGE at the elbow of the Niagara river, two and a half miles below the falls, spans the river near the head of the rapids, above the whirlpool. From pier to pier it is 800 feet long, and in breadth 8 feet. It is suspended on eight wire cables, four on each side, and which pass over towers fifty-four feet high, built of heavy timber. The present structure is only the

scaffolding for constructing a larger bridge, intended for the passage of railroad cars. The towers for the large bridge will be of solid masonry, each 80 feet high. Each of the cables is 1,160 feet long, and composed of 72 strong, No. 10 iron wires, closely wrapped round with small wire three times boiled in linseed oil, which anneals it, and prevents injury from rust or exposure to the weather. The cables, after passing over the piers on the banks, are fast anchored in solid masonry fifty feet back of them. The suspenders, which form the sides, are composed of eight wires each, and are four and a half feet apart. The bridge itself is 200 feet above the water, and is a wonder alike of enterprise and art.

THE BIBLE. We have never seen a more truthful remark upon "the book of all books" than the following: "The Bible," says Rome, "is dangerous." But dangerous for whom? It is dangerous for infidelity, which it confounds; dangerous for sins, which it curses; dangerous for Satan, whom it dethrones; dangerous to false religions, which it unmasks; dangerous to every church which dares to conceal it from the people, and whose criminal impostures or fatal illusions it brings to light.

Glance not with careless eye

66

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES."

The sacred pages o'er;
Nor lightly lay the volume by,
To think of it no more.
Ungrateful!-pause and think,
Nor madly throw aside
The passport to eternal life-
The sure and only guide.
Be not content to hear

What others say; but go,
Like the Bereans, daily search
"Whether these things are so."

Search deeply, prayerfully;

There is no promise given

To those who will not strive t'obtain
Admission into heaven.

Sure 'tis our highest end
Eternal life to gain :

"Search," then, "the Scriptures;" they alone

The words of life contain.

They point our wandering feet

To Christ, the living way!
O read, believe, repent, obey-
Thus reign in endless day.

CHRISTIANITY NOT OF HUMAN ORIGIN.-There are in the English language few sentences which contain more thought than the following:

"To me, when I look at this religion, taking its point of departure from the earliest period in the history of the race; when I see it analogous to nature; when I see it comprising all that natural religion teaches, and introducing a new system in entire harmony with it, but which could not have been deduced from it; when I see it commending itself to the conscience of man, containing a perfect code of morals, meeting all his moral wants, and embosoming the only true principles of economical and political science; when I see in it the best possible system of excitement and restraint for all the faculties; when I see how simple it is in its principle, and yet in how many thousand ways it mingles in with human affairs, and modifies them for good, so that it is adapted to become universal; when I see it giving an account of the termination of all things, worthy of God and consistent with reason to me, when I look at all these things, it no more seems possible that the system of Christianity should have been originated or sustained by man, than it does that the ocean should have been made by him." Pres. Hopkins.

A GRAND DISCOVERY.-A man, says Cecil, may find much amusement in the Bible; variety of prudential instruction; abundance of sublimity and poetry; but if he stops there, he stops short of his great end, for "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." The grand secret in the study of the Scriptures is to discover Jesus Christ therein, "the Way, the Truth, and the Life."

GOD'S WORK. In all his dispensations, God is at work for our good. In prosperity, he tries our gratitude; in mediocrity, our contentment; in misfortune, our submission; in seasons of darkness, our faith; under temptation, our steadfastness; and at all times, our obedience and trust in him.

THE CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER.-The sum and substance of the preparation needed for a coming eternity is, that you believe what the Bible tells you, and do what the Bible bids you. Chalmers on Romans.

JAMES SMITHSON, of England, left his entire property to the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, to found, at Washington, an institution which should bear his name, and have for its objects the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The trust was accepted by the United States government, and an act passed, August 10, 1846, organizing “The Smithsonian Institution for the Increase and Diffusion of Knowledge among Men." The endowment consists of the original sum, $515,169, received Sept. 1, 1838, which is to remain for ever as a permanent fund. The interest of this amount to 1846, when by act of Congress the funds were placed in the hands of the Board of Regents, was $242,129; which sum, with all accruing future interest, is to be expended in the building, and the current expenses of the Institution. The entire income is to be divided into two equal parts, one of which is to be devoted to the increase and diffusion of knowledge by means of original research and publications; and the other, to the gradual formation of a library, a museum, and a gallery of art. The programme of organ

ization, and details of intended operations, may be found in the reports of the secretary, Prof. Henry; especially in his plan presented to the Regents, and adopted by them December 13, 1847.

SUNDAY-SCHOOLS.-Bishop Beveridge has truly and strikingly said, "Who knows but the salvation of ten thousand immortal souls may depend on the education of a single child." Connect with this the remark of a living bishop of the church of England, that "Sunday-schools have saved the manufacturing districts,” and also the fact mentioned by Dr. Bowring, that "out of 1,065 convicts sent for crime to the penal colonies, only fourteen had ever been in the Sabbath-school,” and what an argument do we have for the importance of these institutions, both for time and eternity

CHILDREN IN HEAVEN.

Who are they whose little feet,
Pacing life's dark journey through,
Now have reached that heavenly seat
They have ever kept in view?
"I from Greenland's frozen land,"
"I from India's sultry plain,"

"I from Afric's barren sand,"

"I from Islands of the main ;"

"All our earthly journey past,

Every tear and pain gone by,
Here through Jesus met at last,
At the portals of the sky."
Each the welcome "Come " awaits,
Conquerors over death and sin;
Lift your heads, ye golden gates,
Let the little travellers in.

ANTICIPATIONS OF HEAVEN.-Let your hope enter within the veil, in the full and delightful anticipation of your speedy admission. And is this the only grace which should enter it? No. Let love enter within the veil, and say, "Whom have I in heaven but thee?" and let faith enter it, and say, "I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living;" let patience enter, and behold the good resting from their sorrows; let gratitude enter, and take up its song and its harp; let humility enter, and see how all its honors are devoted to Jesus; let charity enter, and mark how, amidst all the varieties in character, origin, and glory, among its inhabitants, there is but one heart; let desire enter, and say, O when shall I come and appear before God? and let joy enter, and drink of its rivers of pleasure.

INCIDENTAL SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION.-The art of weaving spiritual instruction easily and naturally into the daily occurrences of life, is of incalculable value. Its acquisition is worth your most earnest, prayerful, and constant efforts. It was the remark of one of the sons of the venerated Dr. Scott, that the knowledge which he had found turn to most account in life, appeared to have been gathered up gradually and imperceptibly, from the conversation that passed, from day to day, in the family.

HUMILITY.—In the school of Christ, the first lesson of all, is self-denial and humility; yea, it is written above the door, as the rule of entry, or admission: "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart." And out of all question, that is truly the humblest heart that has the most of Christ in it. Leighton.

A FEARFUL PRINCIPLE CONCERning Habits.-There is one feature in the law of habit so important, and uniformly sure in its operation, as to call for the notice and remembrance of all. It is this: our power of passive sensation is weakened by the repetition of impressions, just as certainly as our active propensities are strengthened by the repetition of actions.

DANIEL BOONE was one of the first adventurers who penetrated the wilds of Kentucky.

From 1769 to 1773,

he spent in exploring the wilderness. In 1773 he com

menced his removal to Kentucky, with his own and five other families; and though assailed by the Indians, and for a time driven back, yet in 1775 he built a fort and established himself where Boonesborough now stands. In 1777 he sustained two sieges from the Indians, and in the next year, was surprised and taken, prisoner by them, while hunting with his men. After a time he escaped, and reached his home in safety, after having gone 160 miles through the wilderness in four days. After a life of fearless adventure, and great courage and enterprise, he died, in 1822, at the age of 85. An interesting account of his life may be found in Sparks' American Biography.