while alive. Growing with almost magical rapidity, it sucks up from the soil in which it stands all pestilential damps, and will in a few years convert a fever-stricken swamp into a salubrious plain. There is, indeed, a very general opinion among medical men that even the fragrant odours of its leaves and flowers are invigorating and healthful.

Much has already been done in turning this wonderful tree to account in various parts of the world. In Algeria at this moment there are many hundred thousand of these trees which have had the happiest effects upon the climate. In Cape Colony, which is naturally deficient in trees, the settlers have planted the Eucalyptus round their homesteads; indeed, the sight of its greenish blue leaves surmounting the other foliage is the surest indication to the traveller that he is approaching a human residence. In California the directors of the Central Pacific Railway have had it planted along the whole line, with the view of diminishing drought.

It will probably well answer the purpose, for it is invariably found that the destruction of forests has the effect of diminishing the rain-fall: a large expanse of woodland is found to attract far more rain than falls upon open land. Cyprus, which has lately come into our hands, has suffered much by the wholesale destruction of forests; it is therefore probable that an attempt will be made by planting forests of the Eucalyptus to recover the more equable climate it once enjoyed.

There are many species of this tree, as many, it is said, as one hundred and fifty. The best known is the "blue gum," which has been found to grow so rapidly and successfully in warm climates. If England were not too foggy and frosty for this species we might again hope

to have Dartmoor a forest in reality as well as in name. Could this and similar wastes in our country be planted with some hardy species of Eucalyptus it would be a vast improvement. Perhaps the day is not distant when the attempt will be made, for the Eucalyptus amygdalina, which is hardy enough to flourish well in the hills and mountain ranges north-east of Melbourne, at a height of 4,000 feet above the level of the sea, will probably survive an English winter without difficulty.

This species is not only hardier than the "blue gum," but even surpasses it in size and grandeur. This giant of the vegetable world is the king of trees, exceeding in height, bulk, and weight of timber the Sequoia, or any of the monster conifers of California. 5 One was measured, which grew on the Black Spur in the Australian Alps, and found to be 480 feet in height. Baron Müller, the government botanist at Melbourne, speaks of some specimens still loftier, and assures us that he has found one tree as much as 53 feet in circumference.

Could this giant be acclimatised in England, as have been many of our trees in Australia, the oak would have a formidable rival," and would possibly no longer remain the monarch of our woods. Its coming would be hailed with delight by our small birds, which would build their nests in safety on its summit, while its delicately-scented myrtle blossoms would afford a rich harvest to numerous bees.

1 Aromatic, having a fragrant smell.
2 Miasma, a pestilential vapour.
3 Railway sleepers, the beams to
which the rails are fastened,

4 Salubrious, healthful. (Lat. salu-
bris, healthful.)

5 Conifers, cone-bearing trees; firs of different kinds. (Lat. fero, I bear.)

6 Formidable rival, a competitor to be feared.

I

THE MOUNTAIN OF FAME.

DREAMED that I was conveyed into a wide and boundless plain, that was covered with prodigious multitudes of people, which no man could number. In the midst of it there stood a mountain with its head above the clouds. The sides were extremely steep, and of such a particular structure that no creature which was not made in a human figure could possibly ascend it. On a sudden there was heard from the top of it a sound like that of a trumpet; but so exceedingly sweet and harmonious, that it filled the hearts of those who heard it with raptures, and gave such high and delightful sensations,1 as seemed to animate and raise human nature above itself. This made me very much amazed to find so very few in that innumerable multitude who had ears fine enough to hear or relish this music with pleasure; but my wonder abated, when, upon looking round me, I saw most of them attentive to three sirens,2 clothed like goddesses, and distinguished by the names of Sloth, Ignorance, and Pleasure. They were seated on three rocks, amid a beautiful variety of groves, meadows, and rivulets that lay on the borders of the mountain. While the base and grovelling multitude of different nations, ranks, and ages, were listening to these delusive deities, those of a more erect aspect and exalted spirit separated themselves from the rest, and marched in great bodies towards the mountain, from whence they heard the sound, which grew still sweeter, the more they listened to it.

On a sudden, methought, this select band sprang forward, with a resolution to climb the ascent, and follow the call of that heavenly music. Every one

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took something with him, that he thought might be of assistance to him in his march. Several had their swords drawn, some carried rolls of paper in their hands, some had compasses, others quadrants, others telescopes, and others pencils; some had laurels on their heads, and others buskins on their legs: in short, there was scarce any instrument of mechanic art or liberal science which was not made use of on this occasion. My good demon," who stood at my right hand during the course of this whole vision, observing in me a burning desire to join that glorious company, told me, "He highly approved that generous ardour with which I seemed transported; but, at the same time, advised me to cover my face with a mask 10 all the while I was to labour on the ascent." I took his counsel without inquiring into his reasons. The whole body now broke into different parties, and began to climb the precipice by ten thousand different paths. Several got into little alleys, which did not reach far up the hill before they ended and led no farther; and I observed that most of the artisans," which considerably diminished our numbers, fell into these paths.

We left another considerable body of adventurers behind us, who thought they had discovered by-ways up the hill, which proved so very intricate and perplexed that, after having advanced in them a little, they were quite lost among the several turns and windings; and though they were as active as any in their motions, they made but little progress in the ascent. These, as my guide informed me, were "men of subtle tempers, and puzzled politics, who would supply the place of real wisdom with cunning and artifice." Among those who were far advanced in their way, there were some that, by one false step, fell backward, and lost

more ground in a moment than they had gained for many hours, or could be ever able to procure.

We were now advanced very high, and observed that all the different paths which ran about the sides of the mountain began to meet in two great roads, which insensibly gathered the whole multitude of travellers into two great bodies.12 At a little distance from the entrance of each road, there stood a hideous phantom that opposed our farther passage. One of these apparitions had his right hand filled with darts, which he brandished in the face of all who came up that way; crowds ran back at the appearance of it, and cried out, Death! The spectre that guarded the other road was Envy she was not armed with weapons of destruction like the former; but by dreadful hissings, noises of reproach, and a horrid distracted laughter. She appeared more frightful than Death itself; insomuch that abundance of our company were discouraged from passing any farther, and some appeared ashamed of having come so far.

As for myself, I must confess my heart shrunk within me at the sight of these ghastly appearances; but on a sudden, the voice of the trumpet came more full upon us, so that we felt a new resolution reviving in us, and in proportion as this resolution grew the terrors before us seemed to vanish. Most of the company who had swords in their hands, marched on with great spirit and an air of defiance up the road that was commanded by Death; while others, who had thought and contemplation in their looks, went forward in a more composed manner up the road possessed by Envy. The way above these apparitions grew smooth and uniform, and was so delightful that the travellers went on with pleasure, and in a little time arrived at the top of the