PHYSICAL SCIENCE. The eyes are black and deep set, and the brow lowthe cheek-bones high, the nose large and aqualine, the mouth large, and the lips tumid and compressed. The skull is small, wide between the parietal protuberances, prominent at the vertix, and flat on the occiput. In their mental character, the Americans are averse to cultivation, and slow in acquiring knowledge; restless, revengeful, and fond of war, and wholly destitute of maritime adventure. The families into which this race is subdived, are two-the American and the Toltecan. V. THE ETHIOPIAN RACE is characterized by a black complexion, and black, woolly hair; the eyes are large and prominent, the nose broad and flat, lips thick, and the mouth wide; the head long and narrow, the forehead low, the cheek bones prominent, the jaws projecting, and the chin small. In disposition the negro is joyous, flexible and indolent; while the many nations which compose this race present a singular diversity of intellectual character, of which the far extreme is the lowest grade of humanity. The Negro, Caffrarian, Hottentot, Oceanic, Negro, Australian, and Alforian families, belong to this race. I shall now give a very brief description of some of the most important parts of the human body, commencing with THE BONES. 73 of small fibres, each of which is inclosed in a thin, delicate sheath, or membrane. A stronger membrane surrounds each of the muscles, by which they are separated from others with which they come in contact, and over which they move with perfect freedom. Muscles are generally divided into three parts; viz., the middle, which is the thick fleshy portion called the belly, and the extremities which are denominated the origin and insertion. Most muscles are attached to two bones; to one by the origin, which is the fixed extremity, and to the other by the insertion, which is moved towards the origin by the shortening of the intervening part. To give room for the attachment of the muscles to the bones, there is an enlargement of the latter, and a contraction of the former. This enlarged portion of the bone is called a process. The diminished portion of the muscle, which is white and shining, is called a tendon, or sinew. It is sometimes called a cord. This arrangement, also, adds much to the beauty and symmetry of the form. We next notice THE SKIN. This is composed of three layers-the cuticle, or scarf-skin, the retemucosum, or mucous coat, and the corium, or true skin. Each of these has important functions to perform in the animal economy. The cuticle, which is the outer coat, though exceedingly thin, serves as a protection to the more sensitive parts beneath. It is furnished with neither blood vessels, nor nerves, and is, therefore, wholly insensible; and if it has pores, they are too small to be seen even by the aid of the microscope. On some parts of the body, especially such as are exposed to pressure and friction, as the palm of the hands, and the soles of the feet, the cuticle is naturally thick, and is rendered still more so by use. The nails belong to the cuticle, separating with it from the true skin. The number of bones entering into the composition of the human body is more than two hundred. They constitute the frame-work of the body, and are generally divided into those of the head, trunk and extremities. Some of these are designed for the protection of the parts which they cover, but most are constructed with special reference to locomotion. Bones are composed of two kinds of substances; viz., those of an animal, and those of an earthy nature. The proportion of animal to earthy matter in persons of middle age, is about as one to two; while in infancy the ani- The mucous coat lies between the cuticle and corium. mal portion greatly predominates, and in old age the It is a thin, soft net-work, which seems to be designed earthy. Hence, in the young the bones are soft and to preserve the moisture of the nerves, which are spread yielding, in middle life strong and elastic, and in old out upon the surface of the true skin, to moderate the age dry and brittle. To describe the forms, relations, || effect of external pressure and friction. It is, like the and purposes of even the most important bones of the system, would transcend the limits prescribed for this article. It need only be added, that in the wonderful adaption of the bones to answer the purposes for which they were designed, the wisdom and goodness of the Creator are most strikingly displayed. Here is neither superfluity nor deficiency. In form and position, no improvement could be suggested. Like all other works of nature, the human skeleton shows that the hand that made it was divine. In no part is there the least indication that it is the work of blind "chance," but every-without coming in contact with them. It is the seat where there is indelibly impressed the most unequivocal marks of design. THE MUSCLES. Covering the bones and attached to them are the muscles. They are very numerous, and employed in communicating motion to all parts of the system. They constitute what is commonly called the lean flesh, or the red fleshy part of the body, and are composed VOL. I.-10 cuticle, unprovided with nerves and blood-vessels, and, of course, like that, insensible. It is the seat of the coloring matter of the skin. The corium, which is the innermost coat, is a dense, firm tissue, peculiarly adapted to bind together and protect the more internal parts of the body. Unlike the other layers, it is distinctly organized, and abundantly supplied with nerves and blood-vessels, which are so numerous and minutely divided, that the point of the finest needle cannot be placed upon the surface of sensation and touch, and an organ of absorption and exhalation. It also assists in regulating the heat of the body. As an organ of exhalation, it is of great importance. The amount of waste matter carried off by the skin is, undoubtedly, much greater than is generally supposed. By the most accurate experiment it has been found that, under ordinary circumstances, no less than twenty ounces of such matter is thrown off in this manner every twenty-four hours, mostly by the medium through which they, in turn, act upon the what is termed insensible perspiration. ᎢᎻᎬ ᎻᎬᎪᎡᎢ, mind. A nerve conveys the decision of will to the member which is to execute its highest resolve; or it communicates knowledge from without, which wakes up the strongest emotions of the soul. The system is composed of the brain, spinal marrow, and nerves. The former occupies the cavity of the skull. It consists of two parts-the cerebrum and cerebellum. The former occupies all the upper portion of the cavity, and is divi This may be considered the fountain-head whence issue the streams of life. It is a strong conical shaped muscle, situated in the thorax, and, in man, somewhat upon the left side. It contains four large cavities; viz., the right auricle, which receives the blood as it is returned by the veins from the different parts of the body-the right ventricle, into which the blood is dis-ded into two equal parts, called hemispheres, one lying charged by the right auricle, and which, in turn, sends on each side of the head. These are again subdivided it to the lungs through the pulmonary arteries-the left into three lobes-the anterior, middle, and posterior, auricle, which receives the blood on its return from the occupying the portions of the head indicated by their lungs, pouring it immediately into the left ventricle, names. The cerebellum lies in the back part of the from which it is propelled, through the aorta, or large head immediately below the cerebrum. The whole artery, into all parts of the system. The blood, in its re-brain is marked upon the surface with a great variety turn from the extremities to the heart, and until it reaches of undulating windings, called convolutions, and is inthe lungs, is of a dark color, and is called venous blood. closed by three membranes. The dura mater, which In the lungs it is changed to a bright red, after which, is the outer one, is thick and strong; the pia mater, the until it again reaches the extremities, it is known as inner membrane, is of a much finer texture; and bearterial blood. The former is incapable of supporting tween these is the tunica arachnoidea, which, unless life until renovated by the process of respiration. The inflamed, is nearly transparent. organs or vessels which return the blood to the heart, are denominated veins; those which distribute it through the system, arteries. Both of these may be seen at the wrist-the dark blue vessels seen near the surface are the veins—those in which the pulsation is observed are arteries. Perhaps in no part of the system are the marks of design more obvious than in the organs of circulation, especially in the beautiful contrivances called valves, employed for the purpose of preventing the blood from turning back in some parts of its course. These, however, cannot be well described without the aid of diagrams. Immediately connected with the organs of circulation, in position and object are THE LUNGS. These are those large, spongy bodies found with the heart in the thorax. They are the organs of respiration, and are made up of the bronchial tubes, which are merely a continuation and subdivision of the windpipe, air cells, blood-vessels, nerves, and cellular membrane. The air cells, which are connected with the bronchial tubes are exceedingly numerous, varying from the twentieth to the hundredth of an inch in diameter. Their entire surface, in a human subject, of ordinary size, is supposed to exceed 20,000 square inches. In respiration, these are filled with atmospheric air, which is separated from the blood by the thin membrane with which they are lined. Through this membrane the air acts upon the blood-oxygen, one of its elements, being absorbed, and carbon given off. Aqueous vapor is also exhaled. As to some of the chemical changes which take place in respiration, there is a diversity of opinion. A due quantity of oxygen, however, is indispensable. THE NERVES. In many respects the nervous system is the most interesting portion of our physical nature. It is here that the mind holds its mysterious communion with the material world. The nerves are the instruments with which the mind acts upon external objects, and The spinal marrow, or cord, is connected with the brain, and consists of an elongated cylinder of nervous matter, extending down the back, and lodged in the canal formed by the grooves and arches of the vertebræ. It is of the same substance as the brain. From this cord proceed nerves, which extend to all parts of the system-those which are appropriated to the function of sensation from the posterior portions, and those designed to communicate voluntary motion from the anterior. The nerves communicating with the organs of sense will be noticed in another place, as, also, more particularly the functions of the brain. A few practical hints may form the subject of a separate communication. ACROSTIC OF AN ALBUM. Original. THE SAILOR. BY REV. A. M. LORRAINE. Mr "Voyage up the Cattegat" naturally enough produced a train of recollections and reflections, which I trust would interest the readers of the Repository. sooner than Atheism. They have, as they think, a more formidable reason for not obeying the word of God, than infidelity. They admit that it is all true and good, very good; but they contend that God will make an exception for poor sailors, in consideration of the tempests, disasters, and shipwrecks which they encounter in the world, and the dog's life which they I closed that recital by observing, "that we had many live. They urge that he will not call into strict quesa fearful talk about the pinnace, after we put to sea.' ."tion an occasional spree on shore. Nor do I mean by These conversations were generally wound up by Old superstition the unshaken belief of sailors in the possiChaplain Jack, who, with an indefinable squint, would bility of occasional visits from the world of spirits; exclaim, "Away with your ifs and your ands-your for, as many pious and learned men have advocated round turns and half-hitches! My great comfort is, this, I leave it to others dogmatically to denounce it as What is to be, will be.' He who is born to be drown-superstition; and when they have proved it such, I shall ed, cannot be hanged. Didn't I make fast the painter|| agree with Dr. Clarke, that it is infinitely less dangerwith my own flippers? And when they raised the ous than infidelity. halloo below, did I not run to haul up the pinnace? But never a piece of a boat could I see, as big as you might stuff in your eye. Bad luck to the old yawl! 'Tis not the first break that she has taken. I would rather pull the bow oar in the jolly-boat, than to sit in the starn sheets of the pinnace." But by superstition I mean the voracious credulity with which seamen swallow every hook that is baited with a ghost or hobgoblin. They will tell not only of the spirits of departed men and women, but of the apparitions of houses, ships, boats, and things which were never sentient in this world or the world to come. When a boy, I could not desire snugger moorings, in the mid watch, than to be pressed in the circle between two shaggy pea-jackets, while, "Heard solemn, went the goblin story round, But Old Jack would not say this until he had exhausted his own eloquence on the subject, and had listened to all that could be said, pro and con, from the boatswain down to the cabin-boy. And when he found that we began to gather in our slack, "for want of argument," he felt it to be his province, as an One fellow would go on with his chilling and unearth"ancient mariner," to wind up the whole with relig-ly tale, until the whole watch drank in the panic, exion-if that can be called religion which throws aloft the blame of all that is done on the land and on the sea. Poor Jack's insight of the doctrine of fatality was extremely convenient. It absolved him as readily of the sin of a drunken frolic, as he did of the death of Charley, of which he was indeed innocent. However, there was no protest to his dogma in those days; for it was indescribably pleasant to all hands, to|| know that they had done all that could be done to save their ship-mate, and that, as it regarded themselves, no shark could devour them until their time came. If their were no hereafter, it is questionable whether it would be an act of mercy to dispossess the sailor of this delusion. It is a deadening opiate, lulling the seaman in danger, and in tempest, just as it quiets the fears of the Mussulman in the rage of battle. But when we consider that man is immortal-that there is a God to be loved-a heaven to be obtained-that our eternal states are hanging on the feeble life-rope of a fleeting probation, and that man is a moral agent, we must acknowledge that it is philanthropic to anoint the eyes of seamen, that they may see. I spoke in my former communication of the sailor's superstition. But the word "superstition" I do not use in the infidel sense. It does not embrace that strong persuasion which the mariner has of the truth of the Bible. In all my acquaintance with seamen, (and the morning of my life was with them,) I never found one who had the temerity to deny the Scriptures; and my conclusion is, that salt water might breed any thing cept himself, he being braced by an inward consciousness that the story was of his own fabrication. But as soon as he would wind up his yarn, and give place to another, himself would begin to drink the same cup of trembling which he had been administering to others. Thus did they proceed, each believing others more honest than himself. And it was no hard matter thus to believe, as each succeeding tale was more and more strongly fortified, by the most solemn asservations-sometimes honor, life, and every thing else being pledged for the veracity of the story. This was an indispensable preface; for a sailor would pay very little attention to a tale, were he advertised beforehand of its falsehood. "Away with your spoon-drift," he would say, "who do you think will hearken to your lie?" Sometimes they would all become so timorous, that it required considerable effort for the stoutest of them to go alone on the forecastle to call the watch. However, they did not always riot in the supernatural. At times they recited tales that would not discredit the "Arabian Nights' Entertainments." A fellow might be ever so shiftless and lazy-might turn the ship into a sloop forty times in a day-(to "make a sloop of a ship," is to skulk on the forecastle, so as to bring the three masts in a range with the officers abaft)—he might, in one word, be a perfect land-lubber, yet when night came, the crew would forgive him all, if he could only tell a fine yarn, or sing a good song. When religion spreads extensively on the sea, how delightfully will the nocturnal hours be employed by 76 "THY WILL BE DONE." the watch upon deck! Then will they talk about the melting story of the cross, tell their Christian experience over, and sing the songs of Zion, until the very waves will be vocal with the praises of God. The history of the most illiterate sailor, if written by a masterly hand, would be filled with the most thrilling incidents-incidents as astonishing as romance, but far more interesting, because they would be clothed with the power of truth. Why, then, may we not hope that when religion and science shall have diffused their influence over the seas, the ocean will become an unceasing fountain of intellectual and of lawful amusement to mankind? Original. "THY WILL BE DONE." "The heathen, in his blindness, No missionary efforts so ravish my soul as those that are made for the salvation of seamen. The be nevolence of the Church has now put one foot upon the land and one upon the sea, and is crying with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him who made the heavens and the earth, and the sea and the fountains of water." But the rivers appear to be too much neglected, as though they belonged neither to the land nor to the sea. Who will arise to bless the "fountains of water," who? O, ye daughters of Wesley, here is a work for you to do! You might form socie-She must forsake friends and country—must break all ties, powerful and unique, and as merciful as singular, which would loom forth as the redeeming angel of the waters, until Scriptural holiness should cover all our rivers. Methinks one will say, "What a singular proposal! Have we any thing to do with the rivers?" Yes. Remember that those streams will ever constitute the principal avenues of our trade and enterprise."I have given up all-thy will be done!" Look now at the lovely boy in your arms, and reflect that his home may be upon the waters, as captain, officer, supercargo, or trader. Before that day arrives, if you hasten the beneficent work, your bounty will go before to prepare the way-to make the rough places smooth-to destroy the snags and sawyers of infidelity and intemperance-to raise a highway for our God, and sanctuaries for your offspring, until the Ohio, the Missouri, and the Mississippi, with their tributary streams, in all their vast extent, shall see the salvation of the Lord. Original. THE CONSUMPTIVE. Thy sunken form shows, even now, Prepare! for lo, the hour is near Time yet to thee is given, the endearing ties which bound her to a happy home, and it might be, give up her young life, for Christ's sake. It was a bitter struggle; but grace triumphed over nature; and rising from her knees, with high resolve and noble resolution beaming from every line of her beautiful face, she said, in a low musical voice, She hath gone-she hath left the home of her childhood—the fond parents who had watched over her infancy, and with but one earthly arm to lean upon, one noble heart to call her own, she hath wandered far from the land of her birth, to the sea-girt isles of paganism, to tell the perishing millions there of a Savior's love, and point them to heaven and immortality. Years have rolled away, amid sorrow, privation and suffering, but she has never regretted the step she took in earlier life; and often, when its storms have been gathering in gloom around her-when hope seemed to have fled, and every succeeding wave threatened to overwhelm her frail and shattered bark, she hath heard, in the still small voice of Jehovah, "Fear not, I am with thee. O, be not dismayed, Original. ON FEMALE INFLUENCE. DEAR BROTHER HAMLINE,-In my former communication under the above caption, I designed scarcely any thing more, than to offer my hearty congratulations upon your auspicious commencement of the Ladies' Repository, and to indicate the topic upon which I intended to write. And what, with the laborious duties of two entire professorships, which for the sake of economy to the College, I have voluntarily undertaken to perform, together with other indispensable engagements, I have sometimes been tempted to fear, that what I may furnish for the Repository, will be regarded by its numerous and intelligent readers, as but little better than mere scribbling. For though I am not so vain as to proclaim with one of old, pingo in eternam I write for immortality; yet I confess that I am by no means, unsolicitous that what I do write may not be altogether unworthy the attention of those who may honor it with a perusal. In writing, however, (even under the most favorable circumstances,) as in the performance of every other duty, I am under the necessity of throwing myself upon the kind indulgence of those whom I endeavor to serve. And were I so fastidious as not to be willing that any thing I write,|| should meet the eye of that important character-the public-until it has been brought to such a state as perfectly to satisfy my own mind, I should be in the condition of the man, who is said to have stood on the bank of a river, waiting for it to run by, that he might be able to cross to the opposite shore. But a truce to apologies, which in general, are none other than indirect and ill-disguised compliments to the very persons who make them. And especially, must I endeavor to avoid the error into which a member of a certain Legislature is said to have been in the habit of falling; who, in the beginning of his speeches, would || always apologize to the House for what he was going to say; and in the conclusion, would repeat and spin out a great many additional apologies for what he had said. A fellow member who felt himself annoyed by this seemingly interminable habit, observed in reply, on one occasion, that the gentleman's speeches reminded him of a kind of houses, that he had frequently seen in Virginia, which were all front-porch and back-porch. I must try to keep clear of falling into the same condemnation. during the periods of infancy and childhood. Then it is that the mind and the heart are "wax to receive and marble to retain" the impressions that are made upon them. The future tree or shrub does not more certainly partake of the nature of the plant from which it springs than is the future character of the man or woman, decidedly influenced by the education they may have received in the cradle or the nursery. We need not repeat for the twenty-thousandth time, the universally admitted principle, that "just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined." I know that this maxim, and a multitude of others to the same purpose, have become exceedingly and almost intolerably trite. They are nevertheless true, and, as is usual with all such maxims, they are trite because they are true. And until their importance is more generally felt and acted upon, those who take a becoming interest in subjects of this nature, must continue to repeat and insist upon them, in every variety of form, at the risk of being set down by your lovers of flash and novelty, as intolerably prosing. Such truths as these, like those of the sacred Scriptures, (with which they are in admirable keeping,) are not to be passed over, or pressed with less frequency or earnestness, because the people may happen to be tired of hearing them. It is the solemn and imperative duty of every friend of humanity, to persevere in the promulgation and enforcement of them, whether the people will hear, or whether they will forbear. We repeat, therefore, that the education which we receive during our infancy and childhood, is of vital importance to our future prosperity and happiness. And it is equally indisputable, that female influence, in almost every conceivable case, greatly predominates in the impartation of that education, of whatever character it may be. And, alas! how injurious, and yet how common is the mistake, that very slender qualifications (of an intellectual and moral kind) will suffice to meet all the wants of our nature, during those interesting and critical portions of our existence. Ladies, who would not permit a bungler to manufacture for them the most trivial article of wearing apparel, we are sorry to say, are not unfrequently willing to surrender the entire charge of their children, into the hands of those, who are but little else than a compound of ignorance, coarseness, passion and vulgarity. And no marvel, if in the hands of such persons, they acquire a viciousness In pursuing the subject which I have selected to of mind, of manners and of morals, which the most write upon, it may be well, for the sake of something assiduous attentions of their parents, and the most lalike method, to notice the effects of female influence in borious efforts of their subsequent instructors, are altothe formation and modification of the human character, gether insufficient to eradicate. Those who for years, during the several successive periods of infancy, child- have been accustomed to the education of youth, know hood, youth, and mature age; intending in all that I a little of what we are now saying, from woful experimay offer, to produce, if possible, an increasing convic-ence. And because they do not sometimes work miration of the vast importance of cultivating, to the great-cles in the transformation of such children, these very est practicable extent, the intellectual powers, the moral parents, whose indiscretions in the early training of faculties, and the religious sensibilities of that interest-them, have thrown insurmountable obstacles in their ing portion of society. Education, in its most enlarged and appropriate sense, not only should commence; but, either for good or for evil, actually does commence in every solitary instance, way, are ready to charge them with being impudent pretenders in their profession. Let parents do their duty to their children at home, and then if teachers do not succeed in improving their minds, and preserving |