amounted to 502,925, and of deaths to 314,513, the increase being no less than 188,412. In 1823, the number of births was 498,643, the num. ber of deaths, 318,878, the increase being 179,765. In 1824, the number of persons born was 505,335, and of deaths 318, 535, being an iucrease of 186,800. In 1825, the number of births was 523,614, and the number of deaths 327,343, making an increase of 196,271. In 1826, the number of births was 525,585, and of deaths 355,114, giving a difference of 170,471 in favour of the former. In 1827, the number of births was 490,660, and the number of deaths 365,578, bearing an increase of 125, 082 on the year. The population has increased no less than 1,450,877 during the eight years, and at the commencement of 1828 amounted to 12,552,278. Of the 365,578 deaths in the year 1827, 16,726 were still born; 130,735 died under the age of three; 34,504 under the age of ten; 14,914 between the ages of ten and twenty; 18,889 between twenty and thirty; 18,473 between thirty

Obituary.

DIED in January last at Edinburgh, after a very long illness, Mr. George Dichmont. This Gentleman had been a receiver of the doctrines of the New Church about 14 or 15 years, and he never appeared more happy than when he was actively engaged in promoting the interests, and spreading a knowledge of the doctrines, of the New Jerusalem. The writer of these few lines has, on many occasions, experienced his Christian-like kindness and generous hospitality.

If I each false and evil shun-
In virtue's path shall daily run,

And thus for heav'n prepare ;
What joy shall fill this soul of mine
When I, in realms of bliss divine
Live free from earthly care.

POETRY.

PEACE.

WHEN ev'ning draws her curtain o'er the scene
Which charm'd the eye with ev'ry varied hue,
While gentle breezes blow, and high is seen

One twinkling star to meet the day's adieu :
What calmness reigns;-now look, the stars increase,
And hail their lovely queen,-is this not peace?

Yes; but the landscape only is at rest,

There is a peace more soothing to the mind; It is when passions cease to wound the breast, And man in heav'nly joys can pleasure find : When sin's subdu'd, and painful conflicts cease, When God is felt within; this-this is peace!

X.

OCEAN IN THE MORNING.

MORN breaks upon the waters! and the sky
Glows with the herald beams of coming day,
And the loose dappled clouds, which slumbering lie,
Are waked to beauty by the kindling ray.
Now, see the life-inspiring orb appears,
Slowly emerging from the azure main !
And while his fount of light all nature cheers,
The silvery mist curls off the glossy plain;
The flattering sea-gull flaps his heavy wing
Far in the distance-and amid the spray,
Gamboling joyously, the fishes fling

White sparkling foam upon the matin ray;

White greeting smiles seem flashing from the skiffs, And morning's beams glance joy from yon bright cliffs,

MISSIONARY HYMN

BY THE BISHOP OF CALCUTTA.

FROM Greenland's icy mountains,
From India's coral strand,
Where Afric's sunny fountains
Roll down their golden sand,
From many an ancient river,
From many a palmy plain,

They call us to deliver

Their land from error's chain.

What tho' the spicy breezes
Blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle,
Tho' every prospect pleases,
And only man is vile ;-
In vain with lavish kindness
The gifts of God are strewn,
The heathen in his blindness
Bows down to wood and stone.

Shall we whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high,
Shall we to men benighted
The lamp of life deny ?
Salvation, oh, salvation!

The joyful sound proclaim,
Till each remotest nation
Has learnt Messiah's name!

Waft, waft ye winds, His story,
And you, ye waters roll,
Till, like a sea of glory,

It spreads from pole to pole;
Till o'er a ransom'd nature

The Lamb for sinners slain,
Redeemer, King, Creator,

In bliss returns to reign.

MAN'S HIGH DESTINY CONTEMPLATED.

An Heir of Immortality.

GRACIOUS God, how large, how rich the boon!
Who, to attain a mansion in the heavens,
Would faint, or falter in fair virtue's path?
Ecstatic thought! that bliss on earth unknown,
Shall be our portion endless, unalloy'd!
How unsubstantial seems all earthly good,
While feeding on the hopes that reach to heaven.
Eternity!-and shall we still consent

To barter for time's frail satisfactions,

Our chiefest good; and vainly think such joys,
So transient at the best, and oft impure,

Can satisfy the soul, which born for heaven,
Is longing after blissful immortality?

JOY AND SORROW.

THE light of heaven unheeded shines,
If cloudless be our skies:

But when it beams on life's dark clouds,

What rainbow beauties rise.

T. L.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

The request of A cannot be complied with.

L. C. came safe to hand, and will be considered in the present Month. The Communication signed "A YOUNG PERSON," is not exactly suitable for the Magazine.