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rial of which our vestments are composed, but also upon their colour. In sunny weather, when it is desired to keep the body cool, white clothing is to be preferred, because it reflects heat; while in winter, when all external heat is to be absorbed and not reflected, the darker colours are to be chosen. Sensation long ago taught our ancestors these facts. Before passing from this digression, let it be understood that the rule which applies to inorganic or dead substances, does not hold good in the case of the skin of the living negro, or the black coating which lines the back of the chamber of the eye; since it is found that the scorching power of the sun when received by living black surfaces is destroyed.

But why should snow be white? some may ask. If black and the darker colours of the solar spectrum be the warmest clothing, why was not that colour chosen for the covering of the earth in winter? The question is a natural one, but the answer is easily given. If snow had been black, it would have rapidly absorbed the sun's rays, and would have thawed beneath the first sunshine which fell upon it; the result would have been, that the vegetation, prematurely deprived of that protection which was intended to guard it against the cold, would have died in the frosty air as soon as the sun had set. Moreover, we find that all living things perish under sudden alternations of temperature, though, if the change be made gradually, they can survive in curious extremes of heat and cold. We observe that a frost in spring, or in early autumn, generally does more damage to vegetation, than the prolonged frosts and excessive cold of winter; because the sun's rays act quickly upon the unprotected frozen plants, and by a sudden alteration in their warmth, induce a change inconsistent with their vitality. Hence, gardeners who understand the philosophy of their employment, take as much care to protect the objects of their attention from the sun's heat as from the frost's cold. The white, heat-reflecting and non-conducting snow, is the best protection against sudden alternations of heat or cold, for while it is melting its temperature never varies from 32 degrees and the vegetables which are enveloped in it rarely suffer a much lower, and cannot be exposed to a higher tempe

rature.

Hoar-frost gives great beauty to the scenery of the winter months, and should therefore be noticed here. If a quantity of common alum or sugar be dissolved in hot water in a glass or porcelain vessel, and a number of strings or thin rough sticks be suspended in the liquid while cooling, it will be found that crystals of sugar or alum will be deposited upon the strings or sticks, before the smooth sides of the vessel show any marks of crystalline formations.

This readiness, if we may call it so, of bodies assuming the crystalline form, to adhere to rough and porous substances in preference to such as are polished or compact, is observable in the crystallization of watery vapour, which we know as hoar-frost. The tuft of hair scraped from the cow on the iron railing, is covered with white fringes of frost-work, while the smooth metal has not a trace of crystalline deposit. The curled dead leaves, or the crumpled straws upon the pavement, have their edges adorned with white embroidery, while the surface on which they lie is unmarked by anything of the kind. When there is a very large quantity of moisture in the air, these differences do not appear so clearly, and the hoar-frost deposits its "rime" surfaces-though most thickly upon the rough and porous.

upon all

The beautiful and fantastic forms which

dim the window-pane, are also crystals of
water. The perspiration from the skin and
lungs of the inmates of a room, is con-
densed upon the glass which has given out
a portion of its heat to the external air, and
in turn withdraws a portion of the calorie
from the watery vapour, with which its in-
ternal surface is in contact.
The vapour
having lost that portion of its latent heat
which was necessary to its existence in the
gaseous form, resumes the fluid shape, and
is deposited as dew upon the window-pane,
where its temperature being still further
reduced, it becomes solid, and gives to the
eye the beautiful crystalline arrangement
with which all of us are familiar. Amidst
all these wonderful changes, the water re-
mains unchanged in its composition. To
its various changes, and to the myriad pro-
cesses to which it is necessary, are due, in
a great degree, those natural phenomena
which make the planet we inhabit so full
of exquisite beauty.

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visit it, because there is nought of beauty or luxuriance; yet these old mounds were trodden in past days by a numerous population: here dwelt the Druids, and some of their most imposing ceremonies were performed on the loftiest of the three cleft hills, that lifts its conical summit above the plain.

Listen! the poet's ear has caught myste rious whisperings, and his eye has seen the acting of times long vanished, yet not unreal, for curious facts are connected with old Grimbsy, and truths may be revealed concerning it which few, perchance, have heard.

The

The ancient town stood on seven hills, or mounds, forming a beautiful amphitheatre, like the original site of imperial Rome, when Romulus and Remus, wolf-nurtured sons of an unhappy priestess, resolved to erect a city among their native hills. seven risings may even now be readily discovered, and he who delights in tracing out the boundaries of places renowned in history, may discern, that from these hills proceed three lines of artificial embankments, extending across the country, and communicating with every part of the island: the first was of merely local importance; the second swept onward to the Wolds, a ridge of natural hills which intersect the country from north to south, and

form a chain of communications with the centre of the kingdom; a third ran along the sea-coast, and connected old Grimsby with the south-east extremity of Britain. These artificial embankments were called beacons; they are now utterly deserted, except by the sheep which graze upon them, or the children who run along the ridges on a summer holiday, and scramble up and down the sides in quest of blackberries. Time was, when watches were stationed at intervals, whose business it was to convey intelligence from one to the other, in case of sudden outbreaks; and so complete was the telegraphic system, that even Cæsar spoke of it with admiration. Strange, indeed, it seemed, and very startling to him who passed over a wild heath, thinking, perhaps, of home, and unconscious of the system that prevailed, to hear a loud shout, resembling a sudden clap of thunder, close at hand, and then, before the echo could die away, to hear another, sounding fainter and farther, till the most distant seemed like its far off murmur among the hills.

Such then was Grimsby, with its seven hills and range of beacons, in the days of our remote ancestors, when the surrounding country, now brought into cultivation, and covered with flocks and herds, presented the desolate appearance of vast moors and marshes, with interminable forests, the resort of wild animals, and of men still more savage.

have brought to mind the farm of the old Corician swain,

"Who cultured well his little spot of ground."

But in the days of which we speak, men knew nought of Virgil, or his Georgics, and if voyagers spoke of Britain, their narratives obtained but little credit. It was reserved for Agricola, who sailed round the northern point, to discover that Britain was certainly an island, inhabited by tribes who differed equally in their probable origin, and degrees of civilization.

The Coritani, inhabiting modern Lincolnshire, with the counties of Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Rutland, and part of Northampton, were doubtless of German extraction, as indicated by their make and temperament, by their customs, and mode of life. Grimsby, already mentioned, was one of their chief towns, a stronghold of Druidism, and partly invested with a sacred character. It exhibited three classes of society, comprised in the Druids, chiefs, and lower orders, each of which dwelt apart, though acknowledging the same kingly head. Commerce was as yet unknown, and since scarcely any intercourse subsisted between the chiefs and people, the latter looked principally to the Druidic priesthood for instruction and assistance in time of need.

Take note of yonder mount; it is at least three hundred feet in length, by four hundred feet broad; it rises immediately in But however undisciplined were the front, and was apparently thrown up for lower orders, it was otherwise with the chief- the abode of such among the natives as tains, whose stone-built and cone-shaped followed the daily avocation of fishing, or houses clustered on the mount where now coasting in their coracles or wicker boats, we stand. Among these was Galgacus, one covered with skins. Three small eminences of the noblest and most distinguished of come next, containing about three acres those who held sway at Grimsby. Unlike each; they were surrounded by a fence of many of his woad-dyed brethren, who waged trees cut from the neighbouring forest, to war with the neighbouring states for the prevent the encroachments of wild beasts, sake of plunder, and cared nought for the and were clustered over with the wattled misery they inflicted, Galgacus preferred dwellings of the natives, in which the poorattending to his flocks and herds. Though est of the people resided. These eminences brave, as became his station, and signalized had been thrown up by manual labour, in by his prowess when resisting a murderous the midst of a wide morass; but to those irruption, which had for its object the an- who dwelt upon them, a bog was like their nihilation of his tribe, he preferred the native element, and it must have been amusquiet occupations of a husbandman and ing to see them run up to their waists in shepherd. His fields, therefore, seemed to mud, when making their way home, during anticipate a better condition of society, and the winter season, across the swamps by his blossoming apple-orchards, spreading which their settlements were generally surbeside an ample stream that fertilized a rounded; so inured, indeed, were they to the considerable portion of the country, might | severity of the climate, that even in the

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visit it, because there is nought of beauty or luxuriance; yet these old mounds were trodden in past days by a numerous popula tion: here dwelt the Druids, and some of their most imposing ceremonies were performed on the loftiest of the three cleft hills, that lifts its conical summit above the plain.

Listen! the poet's ear has caught mysterious whisperings, and his eye has seen the acting of times long vanished, yet not unreal, for curious facts are connected with old Grimbsy, and truths may be revealed concerning it which few, perchance, have heard.

The ancient town stood on seven hills, or mounds, forming a beautiful amphitheatre, like the original site of imperial Rome, when Romulus and Remus, wolf-nurtured sons of an unhappy priestess, resolved to erect a city among their native hills. The seven risings may even now be readily discovered, and he who delights in tracing out the boundaries of places renowned in history, may discern, that from these hills proceed three lines of artificial embank ments, extending across the country, and communicating with every part of the island: the first was of merely local importance; the second swept onward to the Wolds, a ridge of natural hills which intersect the country from north to south, and

form a chain of communications with the centre of the kingdom; a third ran along the sea-coast, and connected old Grimsby with the south-east extremity of Britain. These artificial embankments were called beacons; they are now utterly deserted, except by the sheep which graze upon them, or the children who run along the ridges on a summer holiday, and scramble up and down the sides in quest of blackberries. Time was, when watches were stationed at intervals, whose business it was to convey intelligence from one to the other, in case of sudden outbreaks; and so complete was the telegraphic system, that even Cæsar spoke of it with admiration. Strange, indeed, it seemed, and very startling to him who passed over a wild heath, thinking, perhaps, of home, and unconscious of the system that prevailed, to hear a loud shout, resembling a sudden clap of thunder, close at hand, and then, before the echo could die away, to hear another, sounding fainter and farther, till the most distant seemed like its far off murmur among the hills.

Such then was Grimsby, with its seven hills and range of beacons, in the days of our remote ancestors, when the surrounding country, now brought into cultivation, and covered with flocks and herds, presented the desolate appearance of vast moors and marshes, with interminable forests, the resort of wild animals, and of men still more savage.

But however undisciplined were the lower orders, it was otherwise with the chieftains, whose stone-built and cone-shaped houses clustered on the mount where now we stand. Among these was Galgacus, one of the noblest and most distinguished of those who held sway at Grimsby. Unlike many of his woad-dyed brethren, who waged war with the neighbouring states for the sake of plunder, and cared nought for the misery they inflicted, Galgacus preferred attending to his flocks and herds. Though brave, as became his station, and signalized by his prowess when resisting a murderous irruption, which had for its object the annihilation of his tribe, he preferred the quiet occupations of a husbandman and shepherd. His fields, therefore, seemed to anticipate a better condition of society, and his blossoming apple-orchards, spreading beside an ample stream that fertilized a considerable portion of the country, might

have brought to mind the farm of the old Corician swain,

"Who cultured well his little spot of ground."

But in the days of which we speak, men knew nought of Virgil, or his Georgics, and if voyagers spoke of Britain, their narratives obtained but little credit. It was reserved for Agricola, who sailed round the northern point, to discover that Britain was certainly an island, inhabited by tribes who differed equally in their probable origin, and degrees of civilization.

The Coritani, inhabiting modern Lincolnshire, with the counties of Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Rutland, and part of Northampton, were doubtless of German extraction, as indicated by their make and temperament, by their customs, and mode of life. Grimsby, already mentioned, was one of their chief towns, a stronghold of Druidism, and partly invested with a sacred character. It exhibited three classes of society, comprised in the Druids, chiefs, and lower orders, each of which dwelt apart, though acknowledging the same kingly head. Commerce was as yet unknown, and since scarcely any intercourse subsisted between the chiefs and people, the latter looked principally to the Druidic priesthood for instruction and assistance in time of need.

Take note of yonder mount; it is at least three hundred feet in length, by four hundred feet broad; it rises immediately in front, and was apparently thrown up for the abode of such among the natives as followed the daily avocation of fishing, or coasting in their coracles or wicker boats, covered with skins. Three small eminences come next, containing about three acres each; they were surrounded by a fence of trees cut from the neighbouring forest, to prevent the encroachments of wild beasts, and were clustered over with the wattled dwellings of the natives, in which the poorest of the people resided. These eminences had been thrown up by manual labour, in the midst of a wide morass; but to those who dwelt upon them, a bog was like their native element, and it must have been amusing to see them run up to their waists in mud, when making their way home, during the winter season, across the swamps by which their settlements were generally surrounded; so inured, indeed, were they to the severity of the climate, that even in the

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