Tantallon, on the edge of a promontory inaccessible on the sea-side, and only united to the land by a narrow isthmusonce the seat of 'the noble Lord of Douglas blood,' but destroyed for its adherence to the royal cause in the days of Charles the first.

66

.. Before me was a considerable expanse of cultivated land, and beyond, at some little distance out at sea, surrounded on all sides by the magnificent ocean, was the Bass Rock, deriving its name, probably, from a bass, or hassock-what in Yorkshire would be termed a buffet, to which it bears considerable resemblance. . . . During the wars between the Scots and Picts, it was inhabited by one of the crowd of ancient saints, who was called Saint Baldred. He is said to have been a successor of Saint Mungo, and was, perhaps, a Culdee Presbyter, residing here for safety from persecution. It is even reported, that he miraculously caused this remarkable rock to rise up from the waves. The tradition is, at least, as good as many others of a much later period, and quite as authentic as many of the tales told of the Puritans, about the time of which we are now writing."

To the honour of this saint, a chapel was erected by Cardinal Beaton, and was used as a place of worship up to the time of the Reformation from Popery.

When Cromwell invaded Scotland in 1650, the public records of the Church of Scotland were sent to the Bass Rock, but the records were seized by the Parliamentary army, and sent to London in casks. At the restoration of Charles the second, the records were ordered to be sent back to Scotland. The ship was wrecked, and most of the papers were lost. Those which were saved were, in a few years, in consequence of legal proceedings, brought to London, and were consumed by the fire which destroyed the houses of Parliament.

When, after the restoration, the jails of Scotland were crowded with the victims of the cruel and bloody persecutions which preceded and followed the battle of Bothwellbridge, the Bass Rock was purchased by Lord Lauderdale, on behalf of the government, at the price of four thousand

pounds, to be a state-prison. He was appointed to be the governor of the place, at a salary of one hundred pounds a year. It was then made a prison for Presbyterian ministers.

"So long as time shall endure, the Bass Rock will remain an imperishable monument to John, Earl of Lauderdale." It was the scene of his cruel conduct towards men who were persecuted on account of their love to God.

Here was imprisoned Robert Gillespie, for opening a place of worship, and preaching without lawful permission. He was, for a time, refused to have any of his friends to visit him. Here, too, was imprisoned, Alexander Peden, once minister of Genluce, in Galloway, but he was prohibited, by an act of the Scottish parliament, from exercising his ministry. He was, it is supposed, kept in prison four years. One day, while he was here, a soldier, passing him, said, "The devil take him." Mr. Peden replied, in a firm tone of voice, "Poor man, thou knowest not what thou art saying; but thou wilt repent that." The soldier soon after became terrified, and asked Mr. Peden to pray for him. The soldier, at his next turn to relieve guard, said, “ I will lift no arms against Jesus Christ's cause, nor persecute his people; I have done that too long." He was threatened with death; but he persisted in his refusal, and was sent away from the Bass Rock. Many excellent men suffered imprisonment here because they refused to renounce what they believed to be true and important, and would not obey the mandates of civil rulers in things pertaining to religion and their conscience. We have much reason to be thankful that such cruelties are not now practised in our country.

LETTERS TO THE YOUNG.

NO. 111.-ON BOOKS.

MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS,—A month ago, I addressed a letter to you on "Home." I then promised to write you

you

The

a letter "On Books." If you feel about books as I do; if love them as I love them, you will not be unwilling to read a letter about books. I could like, my young friends, to keep on good terms with you, as I have in my mind many thoughts that I purpose, if spared, to pen down for you at different times. I shall be happy if you are so much interested in my letters as to read them over more than once. You may rest assured, that I would gladly wipe the tears from your eyes when you weep. I feel deeply interested in your welfare. I remember how glad I used to be, when I was a boy, to receive kind words from those older than myself. Now, if I can excite in your minds, my young friends, a love for books, I shall help you to spend many a happy hour. I shall introduce you into the wisest and best society, if I bring you into the company of good books. "Books are the companions of wise men." Good books enshrine the souls of wise men. wise and good have read and thought until their souls have been deeply imbued with knowledge and feeling. They have wished to impart and leave to others their thoughts and feelings the results of their inquiries. They have written their ideas. They have reviewed and improved their writings. They have wished to imbue their books with as much kind feeling as they could. They have put choice thoughts into appropriate words. When, therefore, you sit down to read a book written by a wise and good man, you may fairly regard yourselves as holding converse with his inmost nature. The author may, long since, have gone into the world of spirits, and you may wonder whether or not he still retains the same opinions which his book contains. You may, perhaps, be ready to say, If he could now speak, would he seek, with still greater earnestness, to impress these thoughts on my mind? However that may be, the man once did thus think and write, and he left his thoughts for your instruction and guidance. You can take up a book and lay it down when you like. You can pause and think of what you have read. You can put the book into your pocket-carry it with you

into the fields—

sit down under a tree, or by the river and sea-side, and

read it there. By reading you can receive instruction from the wisest and best of men.

Books contain the history of men who have performed noble actions. You, by reading, may see by what influences their characters were formed. In books, you may learn how they acted when young; how their minds expanded; how they became wise, good, honourable, and useful. If it is interesting to watch the growth of a plant, a flower, or a tree, it is far more so to watch the growth of mind. If it is interesting to follow a river like the Thames, or the Humber, or the Wear, from its fountain, through fields and meadows, noticing how it is fed by small tributary streams, until it becomes a wide and a beautiful river, and at length empties itself into the sea, surely it is much more so to notice the rise and progress of those wise men, who have obtained honourable renown, and conferred great benefits on mankind. If you cultivate a taste for reading; if you love books; you may watch with interest the growth of the strongest minds, the progress of the greatest souls. While you do so, you may not only become instructed, but will also feel your own minds moved, a fire will be kindled in your own souls. Strong purposes and hopes will be excited within you. Many young persons have risen up from the perusal of the life of a great, good, wise man, not only admiring him, but lifting up their souls to God, have resolved to imitate the noble example, and determined to try to equal, in knowledge and goodness, those of whom they had been reading. Their minds were thus made up; their time was no longer wasted. Good books became their every-day companions; and thus they became wise, happy, and useful.

In books, too, you have the history of nations-of Egypt, of Assyria, of Greece, of Rome, France, Germany, China, America, and of our own sea-girt isle. The mind is wonderfully enlarged by such reading. Sitting by your own fire, you can visit, by the aid of books, the most distant lands, and become acquainted with the most distant times. The treasures of the past and present are poured into your souls. How much better to be thus employed than

to spend your youthful days in indolence. Books also tell us about the works-the wonderful works of God. David said, "How manifold are thy works, O God, in wisdom hast thou made them all."

In drawing this, my third letter to a close, let me remind you, my young friends, that in good books the voice of wisdom and experience addresses you. There the angel of goodness talks to you. When Sir William Jones was a young boy, and used to ask questions of his mother, as all wise boys do, she used to answer him thus:-"Read, and you will know." He did read. He became one of the best informed, wisest, and most amiable men of his age. The same advice, with all affection, Uncle Joseph gives to you. Read and you will know. I want to enlist your heartiest sympathy on behalf of good books. I want you to devote your pocket-money to the purchase of good books. I want to induce you diligently, patiently, and thoroughly to read good books. Your minds being thus active, will acquire useful knowledge, which will be more valuable to you than much silver or gold. "There is a fire-fly in the southern sky, which shineth only when upon the wing. with the mind. Whenever we rest we darken. saith God unto the soul, for ever." I am again brought to the close of my letter. Wishing you every blessing, and hoping to address you again next month on the Bible. I am yours truly,

So it is Onward,

UNCLE JOSEPH.

DWELLING-HOUSES MADE OF ICE.

AMONG the number of expeditions sent in search of Sir John Franklin, one, commanded by Sir John Richardson, left this country in the Spring of 1848. On his return, he published a work, from which the following account is taken. In describing the habits of the people who inhabit the Arctic regions, he says,—

'As the days lengthen, the villages are emptied of their inhabitants, who move seaward to the seal hunt. Then