in a tigerish-looking place), or whether they did not quite like the idea of leaving their property in the hands of strangers, I cannot say; for the objections they made were but imperfectly understood by us. Money, however, can work wonders everywhere; and a half-rupee dropped into each of their black palms decided the thing at once. Without more delay, they started cheerfully upon their midnight errand, having borrowed some extra arms from the remaining puggy, whom I had kept to watch over us during their absence. The blazing brands which we had carried with us across the ford, were now collected into a pile; fresh timber was cut, and added to it; and leaving the travellers to feed and keep up the fire, I got into my garry again, and, for want of something better to do, I fell asleep. The sun was beginning to climb the eastern heavens, and a pale and chastened light streamed through the top branches of the tall trees around, before I became conscious that beautiful morning, fresh and lovely from the hands of its Creator, had returned to the world. Day had only just broken. The shadows of night still dwelt beneath the luxuriant foliage that fringed the banks of the swiftly-flowing river, whose waters were almost hidden from view by the dense and undulating fog that still clouded its course. A wreath of pale blue smoke ascended from the dying embers of last night's fire, near which stood the solitary puggy, with his hands resting upon the rounded and horn-tipped end of his bow, his face turned towards the east, as if watching the rapid change of night into day. The party-coloured ends of his turban hung negligently down the back of his white robe, while around him slumbered the travellers, secure in his fidelity; their heads pillowed by the little treasures they had brought with them from Cambay. On my right, an old Moslem tomb, half-buried in brushwood and rank withered grasses, caught on its dingy dome some of the faint glimmerings of daylight.

It was a sort of dell, scooped out of the plain by the river that we had halted in, and was another of those cool retreats whose shade and waters are sought out by travellers, between stages, to pass the heat of the day in. Trees of magnificent growth hung their broad arms over the stream, and their branches interlacing, formed a leafy tunnel, under which the bubbling waters coursed their way towards the ocean. Upon the sandy margins I detected the foot-prints of many wild animals; and the heavy tread of the brown bear, who had lately been down here to quench his thirst and cool his paws, was pointed out to me by one of the puggies.

(To be continued.)

THERE is a species of worm which makes for itself a covering by cementing together, with an exuded glutinous matter, very minute shells, or fragments of wood, pebbles, clay, sand, &c.; thus forming that small and hard, but brittle tube, which is so well known to seashore wanderers.

Like that tube, as I have often thought, is man's external being; an accretion of strangely varied materials; each revealing to the practised observer, a portion of the individual's providential history; and conveying the idea, that, piece by piece, we might detach the whole; unrobing, by degrees, the inner being masked by this incrustation of circumstances, so as to know him as he is.

This idea is, however, a fallacy. We might, indeed, were the process to which I have alluded, possible, trace back a man's mental history, even to the period of unconscious infancy; but that which he is now, is inwrought in his inmost soul, as well as testified by his external being. To a considerable extent, he is the creature of circumstances; but while examining the nature and action of those external influences, which mould, or greatly modify, the human character, I would desire to keep other and not less important truths in view; and to these truths, the remainder of this article shall be devoted.

In the first place, every person has a distinct natural character, more or less marked, and independent of external causes. This truth is implied throughout Scripture; and is exemplified in the variety of character often manifested among the children of large families.

In the second place, it is not only by natural character that we appropriate the results of external circumstances. We live on earth amid earthly influences; but we are at the same time dwellers in a spiritual world. Spiritual beings ourselves, the Holy Spirit quickeneth us, sanctifying spirit, soul, and body; or-fearful alternative!-the Evil one, of the limits of whose permitted power, Scripture does not definitely speak, leads, enslaves, or possesses, those who resist not him, and draw not nigh unto God.

Thus, then, we stand; surrounded every moment of our lives by

numerous influences; some continual and slow, as the dropping of water, or the growth of the clasping ivy; some sudden and transitory, as the lightning's flash, or the ocean-storm; some secret and recondite, as the attracting power of the magnet; influences, varied as the seasons and the hours, countless as the sights which we see, the sounds which we hear, or the questions or sensations which we feel; for, in truth, these sights, sounds, and emotions, do themselves constitute these influences; and do, one and all, continually tend to form our future selves. We know this to be the truth; and even while we are feeling the burden of the solemn truth, the process goes forward; nay, while we are negligent and unmindful of it, still the process pauses not. Passively and continually we are each becoming that which we shall remain to eternity. Even if we slumber, external influences act upon us, whether for good or evil. It may be, that, as in the case of Elijah, angels, unseen and unheard, are our visitants; or it may be, that, like Saul, we rest beside our enemy. This truth of our incessant exposure, and, in some degree, subjection to external influences, is, if misunderstood, most disheartening. It is so to the fatalist; because he does not receive another corresponding truth, answering to this, as does the impression to the seal, or the key to the wards of the complicated lock; even the truth, that God works for, works in, and works with feeble, but responsible man. He works for us, by his omnipotent ordering of all, even the minutest of those external circumstances which act upon us; so that, to each of his children, each event of life, rightly met, is perfectly adapted in itself, and in all its complicated and extensive relations, to their highest good. He works for us, in that his omniscient care protects and defends us when our vigilance is relaxed, or is insufficient. He works for us, when He averts dangers, and controls evils, in answer to believing prayer; hiding us in the hollow of his hand; keeping us as the apple of his eye. He works with us, by his Spirit; the Spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. He so directs all events, that Egypt's priesthood shall train a Moses; that the Pharisees shall educate a Saul; that the Chamberlain of Candace shall learn "a more excellent way;" and that the pupil of Lois and Eunice shall become a Christian bishop. He works in us mightily; casting down imaginations and strongholds, and every high thing that exalteth itself against God; unbinding the chains of habit; disentangling the net of self-deception; unfastening the self-riveted manacles of stubbornness and passion; renewing, changing, transforming the human character, till we cannot read in it the history of the

individual man, without also recognizing the working of a Power above man-even the working of the Holy Spirit of God.

These principles being premised, I purpose in future papers practically to consider the intellectual and moral influence of the circumstances which principally affect the human character; the direct influences of law and avowed instruction being excepted. Station, fortune, the era in which we live, connections, friendships, religious denomination, occupations, amusements, state of health, locality, and reading, may be regarded as among the most powerful of these influences; and each of them individually the reader is invited to review; for, after all, it matters little to any reader, what another person, however well-meaning, may write or think of influences, which, known or unknown, are forming his or her character, and fore-shadowing his or her eternal destiny. It behoves us all, each with individual solicitude, to ponder these influences; and, seeking for strength and wisdom not our own, to labour to appropriate the good, and to reject the evil of each. Thus may we hope to bear witness in our own happy experience, to the truth of the apostle's declaration, "ALL THINGS are YOURS."*

AN OBSERVER.

1 Cor. iii. 21-23.

MARTIGNY.

BY MRS. BUSHBY,

DURING the departed year, the Englishwoman's Magazine presented its readers with a succession of lovely views from the far-famed English Lakes; famed both on account of their intrinsic beauty, and of their intimate connection with the celebrated "Lake Poets." During the present year it offers a series of views from lands still more remarkable for the grandeur, the sublimity, and the varied beauty of their enchanting scenery; commencing with MARTIGNY, a village in Switzerland, which is approached from France by Geneva and St. Maurice; and whence roads diverge towards Chamouni and Italy; towards Chamouni, by the Col de Balme, or by the Tête Noire; towards Italy, to Turin by the Great St. Bernard; and to Milan, by the Simplon. In its glorious scenery, Switzerland may be allowed to surpass the English Lake dis

trict; but who shall venture to compare the works of the genius whom that land calls her own, with those of a Southey or a Wordsworth? The bountiful Creator may indeed have bestowed intellectual powers as high, possibly higher, than theirs, on JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU; but the evil use which he made of them has left on his memory a stain which must effectually cloud that halo of brightness by which the sons of genius encircle, for posterity, the scenes with which their names are associated.

The picturesque little town of MARTIGNY, situated at nearly one extremity of the Swiss Canton of LE VALAIS, and almost at the entrance of the great valley of the Rhone, consists of two parts, the burgh and the village, placed at some little distance from each other; the burgh being in the valley of the Dranse; which, issuing from the adjacent mountains of the Great St. Bernard, discharges itself into the Rhone near this place.

Martigny, the OCTODURUM, FORUM CLAUDII, or VICUS VERAGRORUM of the Romans, who conquered the Veragri and Seduni, the ancient inhabitants of the territory extending from Lake Leman and the Rhone, to the summit of the Alps, has been more than once nearly destroyed by sudden inundations of the Dranse; the last of which occurred in June, 1818, occasioned by the fall of part of the Glacier of Chedroz, which, bursting the dam of ice that confined the lake Mauvoisin, and swelling its waters, caused it to overflow. Accompanied by a thick, black smoke, like that arising from a fire, the water rushed down impetuously, sweeping away houses, trees, and rocks, and spreading ruin as far as Martigny, where traces of its devastation still exist.

The climate of Martigny is warm; its neighbourhood produces some strong wines, the most esteemed of which are those of La Marque, and Coquempin. Its honey is also considered the finest in Switzerland; and it possesses a great attraction for botanists, in the variety of rare plants found in its vicinity. Martigny contains within itself nothing of note, except the cathedral or church of St. Marie, where are some Roman inscriptions; and the priory of St. Bernard, which furnishes eight canons to the Hospice of St. Bernard, and two to that of the Simplon. The episcopal see, founded in the fourth century at Martigny, or Octo

*

The monks of this community are of the order of St. Augustine. The Superior takes the title of Prevost, or Provost; his appointment is for life. The number of the monks generally amount to about twenty or thirty, of whom ten or twelve reside in the monastery; some few hold curacies; and others, who, in