was returning home,-may we not suppose, exultingly? They had left London by the four o'clock train, and the express train, from Exeter, was due there at half-past four. This latter was just proceeding past Southall, at its usual speed of about fifty miles an hour, and the down train was rapidly approaching, when the band of iron and steel which surrounded the right driving-wheel, and which was one inch and a half thick, five inches broad, and twenty-three feet in circumference, broke, and the pieces, owing to the circular and rapid motion of the wheel, were hurled with great velocity in different directions. One piece, seven feet in length, and weighing more than two hundred and fifty pounds, which must have been projected from the wheel just as it was rising from the railway, carried upwards by the projectile force, descended almost perpendicularly on the top of one of the second-class carriages of the train which was meeting the express, cut through it with the precision of a knife, and with its violence scarcely affected, being nearly two hundred weight and a half, struck the two poor travellers each on the head, and, if we may use such a phrase, most instantaneously killed them; breaking into the cranium, and scattering the brains about the carriage. Halt's head was laid completely open, from the temple downwards, and presented a most revolting spectacle. Bishop was struck on the back part of the head, which was completely smashed in. The features were not at all mutilated. In Halt's case, when the body was removed, the eyes were open, and even bright, the countenance wearing decidedly the appearance of sudden surprise. Other persons were hurt, but they sustained no serious injury.

Lest we should be supposed to have forgotten the solemn admonition of our Lord in reference to those on whom the tower of Siloam fell and slew them, and the men of Galilee whose blood Pilate mingled with their sacrifices, we would lose sight of the persons immediately concerned, and only speak generally. Let us not forget that what we call death is only a transition,-change in the mode of being, not the loss of being itself. The soul dies not. Of the mysterious change from the consciousness of time to the consciousness of eternity, we know nothing. But the fact is indubitable. This “day

shalt thou be in paradise ;" "He died, and lifted up his eyes in hell, being in torment;" are texts that speak volumes. So sudden was death in one of the persons slain in this affecting occurrence, that the dead countenance was fixed in the first expression of surprise. But, O! the solemn feeling of the soul finding itself in eternity, unconscious of the presence of God, the Judge! And to this are we every moment exposed. No projected mass of steel is necessary to fall on us. A minute blood-vessel in the brain may break, and mortal life is over! And of mortal life this is one of the constant conditions! No one knows but that thus he may be ended. Even in sleep the messenger may come, and our waking may be in eternity. O, what ought our life to be every moment? Let us always be as we would wish to be in the last moment of time, the first of eternity.

"Waken, O Lord, our drowsy sense,
To walk this dangerous road :
And if our souls be hurried hence,

MAY THEY BE FOUND WITH GOD!"

A FEW NOTES ON EASTERN ASIA AND CHINA. * CHINA is no longer what from time immemorial it has been, a country with its teeming millions, including, perhaps, a third of the human race, semi-barbarous, immovably stagnant, given over to idolatry, utterly impervious to Europeans. In consequence of the late war, in which the "Descendant of the Sun" was taught that, as against British information and discipline, his rabble multitudes were defenceless, powerless; China has begun to be opened: only, perhaps, begun; but still, the gutes are no longer closed and bolted; and we cannot doubt but that, sooner or later, Christian wisdom and zeal will have the means of pervading the dense masses so long living without God in the world.

From "The Last Year in China, to the Peace of Nankin :" by a FieldOfficer. Foolscap 8vo., pp. 197. Longman.

The little volume now open before us was published about three years ago. We have just been looking over it, and several passages struck us as likely to be interesting to our readers. As it is our wish to embrace such an opportunity whenever it occurs, and thus to show that we are constantly on the look-out to afford useful information of all kinds, we shall make no apology for breaking in upon our usual order, and in the present Number give a paper of extracts suited to the title we have chosen for them.

The author, in his way to China, stopped at Penang, that is, Prince of Wales's Island, belonging to the great Asiatic Archipelago, extending, like a barrier, from the southeastern coasts of Asia to New-Holland, through which all vessels must pass which are bound for China, whether from Europe or the East Indies. Our first extract relates to this island and its scenery.

"In driving along, I was first struck by the unusual greenness of the grass, which in Madras generally resembles hay. The heavy rain, which falls plentifully in Penang, accounts for the difference. The roads are good, and wonderfully numerous, diverging in every direction. The hedges of the dwarf bamboo, in some places regularly cut like an English boundary-hedge, give a great appearance of comfort. At the roots of these hedges, the little pine-appletrees are growing; and when the fruit is ripe, they must give a gay and picturesque effect to the roads. Cocoa-nuttrees abound: but the great production of the island is the nutmeg-tree, which meets the eye in every direction. The tall rabustan-tree, the fruit of which tastes like an acid gooseberry, and is enclosed in a prickly scarlet shell, is also a picturesque object. But the mangosteen is the delicious fruit of Penang. The shell is of a reddish-brown colour, of the size of a small apple, and rather thick. The fruit in the inside is equally delicate to sight and taste, being very white and luscious.

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'Lieut. H. and I visited the 'great tree.' It is on the slope of a hill so we had no great ascent to make. I recognised it as the 'great tree'directly I saw it, though I had been told that, even at a little distance, it would not look so

large as it is. It is believed to be a species of dammer-tree. The natives call it the milk-tree; because, when bruised with a stick, a milky or rather creamy substance, very white and soft, and somewhat glutinous, makes its appearance. It is said to be thirty feet round the base, (I think it is more,) one hundred and ten feet up to the first branch, and at that height still twenty-one feet round. It has not many branches left, and it is said to be dangerous to stand under the tree in windy weather. The trunk is very straight, like a huge mainmast. It is decidedly worth going to see, though seven miles from the harbour. From the spot there is a fine view of the island and sea, and the ride to it forms an agreeable morning excursion.”

Singapore." There had been evidently, for two or three days, a Chinese festival; and this was the closing, but apparently most important, day. As we passed through the streets, which were crowded with Chinese, we saw large tables laid out in the middle of the road, and scaffoldings at the sides raised to a great height, all covered with offerings arranged with the greatest neatness, and illuminated with huge wax tapers of various colours, interspersed with blue and white flags. We stopped to look at one of the tables. The Chinaman smiled, but did not appear at all offended at our curiosity. The offerings consisted of large cakes, fowls, heads of hogs, and all kinds of fruit and confectionary. At one end of the loaded oblong table was a row of the finest tea-cups made of china, (about the size of those used for children's toys in England,) filled with the celestial beverage, which formed part of the offerings. The fruit, plantains, mangosteens, &c., were formed into tall thin pillars, for the corners and sides of the tables. All the offerings were transfixed by little josssticks, which were lighted at one end, and burned down like a fusee, only much slower. I also observed a very lofty scaffolding, which was walled round on three sides, and filled with men, I presume Buddhist Priests."

Macao." The Cave of Camoens, that in which he composed a part of the Lusiad, is naturally a picturesque object, formed by three irregular stone blocks, such as Homer's deities might have pelted each other with. One of these

blocks seems to have fallen on the two others, and thus formed a cool cave, with two entrances. The Portuguese, with their devices, and plaster, and ornaments, have spoiled its sylvan graces. To crown their absurdity, they have clapped a round summer-house on the top."

Macao. After speaking of "our countryman, Chinnery," the artist, and saying that he has Chinese pupils, the writer adds, "Chinese artists abound. Some are very respectable performers. They take accurate likenesses, and will make copies of paintings to resemble the originals to such a degree that none but an artist can tell the difference. They don't know how to flatter yet; but English dollars will one day teach them that profitable art. A lady at Macao was having her portrait taken. As the work proceeded, she expressed her strong dissatisfaction at the performance. Spose,' said the painter, you smile a little It was vain; for when it was done, the lady's indignation was so great, and so disagreeably expressed, that the artist was irritated, and exclaimed with warmth and simplicity, 'If handsome face no got, how handsome face can make?""

he lookee better.'

Hongkong.-" .—“ I accompanied a party to the south-side of Hongkong. We walked, by the time we returned home, from twelve to fifteen miles, up and down steep hills, and occasionally on rugged, sharp, slippery stony paths.

south side is far more picturesque, and less bleak, than the north. The villages we saw, unlike the mat-huts in the harbour, are exceedingly neat in appearance, with blue-tiled, white-washed houses. But on a nearer approach, the senses of sight and smell are anything but flattered. Salt-fish, evidently very stale, predominates. The island is, apparently, one mass of rock-hills, with long, but very narrow valleys, widening towards the sea. These patches are mostly under cultivation, chiefly paddy (rice) fields, and some vegetables. The wind on the tops of the hills towards the south blew very cold, and had a very bracing effect upon me."

Chusan. "Tinghai, the capital, is a very flourishing town. The shops are all open, and the inhabitants appear cheerful and happy under British protection. It has a most abundant market, pigs, poultry, vegetables, and, above all, fish. The