THE S. E. WIND OUR ELECTRODE.

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sultry S.E. wind, proceed from there, as the thermometric register denotes. And is not this S.E. the great electrode, or electric current, bringing up a large quantity of heat and electricity, the frequent source of our grand, extensive, and terrific thunder-storms? If heat can be, and is, transferred from region to region, why not electricity? There is no barrier to its passage along the clouds; they afford a ready path through and along the upper regions. Surely if we can transmit a message along the line, how much quicker, and how much easier, can it pass from Jerusalem to London along the atmosphere; and the clouds of the one place signalize to each other, and be the medium of communication. A minute will suffice for the atmospheric telegraph. And often have I sat and gazed at the rapid changes of those delicate and beautiful cirrous expansions, and thought that they were repeating signals along the line. Why should electricity be excluded from the privilege of transfer, and hence exhibit a plus and minus state, the clouds or vapour in one area becoming highly charged with electricity, while another area is proportionally less charged? Hence come those great thunder-storms from the burning deserts of Arabia, Egypt, and the area of Jerusalem and Persia, transferring a portion of their heat and electricity to our area.

The S.E. wind is the prelude to, and the feeder of, the storm and heat. Nor are these mere conjectures; the instruments record the fact as significantly as the electric telegraph transmits a message. What are a

12 THE ELECTRIC LINE- ALONG THE CLOUDS.

thousand miles to such agents, whose speed is almost incomprehensible?

And I have, on some of these occasions, held a mental and sympathetic communication with Jerusalem, "name ever dear to me," and often sighed and thought upon that Jerusalem which I hope will be my happy

home.

"O when, thou city of my God,

Shall I thy courts ascend;

Where congregations ne'er break up,

And Sabbaths have no end?

"There happier bow'rs than Eden's bloom,

Nor sin, nor sorrow, know;

Bless'd seats, thro' rude and stormy scenes,
I onward press to you."

Nor are these, our better thoughts, unworthy of our subject, for they impart a grace and charm to every theme; and all nature is adorned by holy thoughts; and Jerusalem is a suggestive name to every reflective mind. As the electric line along the clouds is a beautiful feature, I have ventured to digress, and have peculiar pleasure in being permitted to transcribe some very appropriate, chaste, and descriptive poetry, by a talented friend.

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Mountains, quick it dashes through,
Gliding in and out to view;
Crossing rivers, through the seas,
To the far antipodes.

Distant countries, scenes remote,
All are brought within its scope:
'Barbarian, Scythian, Bond and Free,'
Wonder what the thing can be.
Towns and cities, every hour,
Feel its worth and own its power.
Once within its grasp of thought,

Time and space are brought to nought:
Farthest lands and kingdoms come,

Through its aid, to be but one:

Men, assisted by its art,

Speak a thousand miles apart.

"Soon, perhaps, without surprise,
We shall see before our eyes,
Just behind the speaker's chair,
Spacious rooms or office-where,
Full of desks, with clerks to each,
Noting down the member's speech;
And a telegraph will run,
Point direct from every one,
To those leading cities, hence,
Which desire intelligence.

"Dials now no longer go;

All such methods are too slow;

Lines adopt far greater speed,

Here they write and there they read.
Pekin from its lofty wall,

To Lord Palmerston may call ;
And his lordship with the Czar

Hold debates on peace or war.
Commerce, with its flag unfurl'd,
Flash its orders through the world :
Science, free and unconfined,

Reap a harvest for mankind.

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14

ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH-COMMUNICATES

Such is but a narrow view
What the Telegraph can do;
For we learn 'twill soon declare
Wonders in the sky and air;
Note all phases, changes, forms,
Register the coming storms,
And, before the event occurs,
Act their own interpreters.
At each station will appear
Bulletins distinct and clear;
Farmers then may plough or sow,
They may reap, or they may mow,
On the oracle rely,

Whether 'twill be wet or dry;

And informed of each event,
Henceforth learn to be content.
Sailors may consult anon,
Read a storm is coming on.
Priceless message, though but short,
Not a vessel leaves its port;
Sweeps the gale with fury rife,
Wealth is saved and human life.
Art with science well combined,
Work this marvel for mankind.
Here we drop the curtain o'er
The Telegraph, and say no more.

MORAL.

"Christian Faith and Christian Hope,
They embrace a wider scope;
Teach how mortals, moved by love,
May commune with heaven above.
Glorious scheme and free to all,

'I will answer ere they call.'
And to make it yet more clear,

While they are speaking I will hear.'
Providence has thus designed
Mind should act direct on mind;

No artifice or skill of man,

Is needed to complete the plan.

THE STATE OF THE WEATHER.

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But mark! the privilege is given
Alone, to intercourse with Heaven.
For ever will this truth be found,
Religion takes the highest ground."

STEPHEN PERRY.

In corroboration of the opinion of the poet, we find in the "Times," Saturday, November 1, 1856, that the electric telegraph conveyed the intelligence from St. Petersburg, that the frost had set in yesterday, Friday, the 31st of October.

Telegraphic accounts from St. Petersburg, dated yesterday, state that the weather has become very cold, and that during the past three days there has been six degrees of frost. Ice was expected to come down the river the next day, in which case the navigation would be suspended earlier than usual. Eight thousand casks of tallow still remained on the wharf at St. Petersburg."

Dr. Watts's version of the 139th Psalm, is appropriate to our subject, and shows that there are higher powers than the electric telegraph, and that if we can converse with the distant regions of the earth, the Spirit of God pervades the universe, and holds immediate communication with all realms of space and with the soul of man; and the still small voice of conscience is the signal from heaven, and the recording witness of our thoughts and actions.

Lord, thou hast search'd and seen me thro';
Thine eye commands, with piercing view,
My rising and my resting hours,

My heart and flesh with all their powers.