and it has been even doubted whether the point does not bring increased danger and hazard, instead of preserving the structure.Yet who doubts the security generally afforded by the electric rod? And wherefore should we question the existence of a power of Water Divination, because it is not always certain?

The art is not of recent origin; neither is it peculiar to our country. It had its birth in Germany, equally the land of wild and fanciful superstitions, as of solid science and profound learning. It then emigrated into the other countries of Europe, and was sometimes absurdly employed for determining the innocence or guilt of persons accused of crimes. In France, it was cultivated, and frequent trials of its power were made. Having attracted the attention of the learned, a series of experiments were instituted to determine the extent of its application. Under the direction of the acute examiners, it assumed a scientific form, and the laws of its action were partially discovered.

The theory explaining the phenomena of the Divining Rod is this, that its action is similar to, and probably produced by Galvanic Electricity: that the metal or fluid, with the muscles of the arms, forms a circle analogous to the connexion of the wires of artificial machines, and that the twigs are strongly attracted towards the line of communication. All will readily acknowledge the influence is sufficiently powerful, who have read of the experiments made with the voltaic apparatus on the muscular and nervous systems of the human frame, or have witnessed the frightful exhibitions on the bodies of executed criminals, when the limbs have been thrown out, the faces convulsed, the eyes unclosed, and the whole forms of the recently dead seemed animated with returning life.

Reserving the remarks that occur to occupy a page in some foture publication, we will briefly state the facts ascertained in relation to this art, whose operations are governed by the mysterious laws, hitherto inscrutable to human wit, and indefinable by human investigation.

A fresh twig taken from any tree will diverge from a perpendicular, or dip below a horizontal line, by a greater or less angle with its first position, when brought directly over, or in the near vicinity of a vein of metal or water. The effect is more perceptible when two twigs are taken and brought closely in contact at the cut extremities. When a forked branch is used, the degree of diverging is much greater than with the single or double sticks.

The Hazel, Peach, Plum, and Cherry, are more susceptible to the attraction than other trees, and therefore preferable for experiment. Whalebone, when moistened with a solution of salt or acid in water, has been employed instead of the vegetable growth.

The forked stick is generally used, and the mode of procedure is this. The operator holds the extremity of each branch in one hand, with the united portion pointing upwards, in a direction as nearly as possible perpendicular to the earth. Carefully preserving this position of the instrument, he walks slowly forward: when he approaches the fountain or the bed of the metal, the end inclines down ward; if the attracting bodies be near, it turns entirely over. The depression closely resembles the dip of the magnetic needle, when traversing a bed of ore.

The attracting influence does not extend to a greater depth than about twenty feet below the surface, and is diminished or freely communicated, according to the composition of the medium interposed. In some spots where waters are known to flow, the Rod does not incline. This unfaithfulness is attributed to the nature of the mineral covering.

The inclination is much more free when the twig is in the hands of some individuals than others: as the Galvanic power produces feebler or more powerful convulsions and attractions when applied to different animals of the same species. The action is facilitated, if the operator be barefooted, and previously wash the palms of the hands and soles of the feet with salt and water, or muriatic acid so diluted as to occasion no inconvenience. When these precautions are taken, it is said the experiment will succeed with every person.

The divergence varies with the condition of the system. When the frame is debilitated, and the circulation slow, the effect is greater than in vigorous and athletic health.

Silk is a most perfect non-conductor of Electricity. If the operator wear stockings or gloves of this material, no effect is produced.

These are some of the results of the experiments which have almost placed the Divining Rod, by the side of the instruments of philosophy, and if prosecuted, will raise the practice to a rank among the sciences ministering to human convenience and pleas

ure.

L.

POETRY.

ORIGINAL.

MASSASOIT'S DREAM.

THE hour, the fated hour has come at last,
That calls my soul from its frail home away;
The lone low wailing of the hollow blast,
Foretels the rule of terror and dismay.

When yon bright being-the Great Spirit's home,
Has laid him down beneath the western wave,
Then shall my kindred people sadly come,

To sing a requiem o'er their chieftain's grave.

Then listen to my tale-in last night's sleep,
An awful vision came across my soul;
The tempest-God went o'er the blacken'd deep,
And taught its billowy mountains high to roll.

The earth, the ocean, and the upper sky,

Were all one mass of undistinguish'd gloom,Darkness was over all Immensity,

I deem'd it Nature's final hour of doom.

"And it came to pass that the Angel of the Lord went out and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred four score and five thousand: and in the morning behold they were dead corpses."

THE watch fires gleam bright on plain and height;

The star hosts wheel their sparkling flight,

Like diamonds on the brow of night,
Shining pure and gloriously.

The weary sentinel paces the ground,
Where rest in their still repose around
Proud Assyria's chivalry.

The monarch slumbers amid his host:
He dreams of his battles won and lost:
He dreams of his own exulting boast,
To bring Israel's glory low:
He dreams of the fight, of the coming day,
When his mail clad bands in the battle's fray,
Shall break like a storm on the foe.

'Twas midnight's watch-in the glowing sky,
The rushing of mighty wings went by:
Sounds as of pinions rustling on high,

To garner the fruits of the grave:

The Angel of Death on the whirlwind came,
And smote with his sword of living flame,
The gallant, the noble, the brave.

The woes of the bruised hearts are hushed,
The hopes of the gallant ones are crushed,
There is no wail-and there hath not gushed,
For the dying the mourner's tear.

The young warrior's groan-it is his last,
And on, the wing of the Angel pass'd,
In its dark and dread career.

'Tis morn, and the trumpet's voice peals out,
The clarion pours its stirring note,

And wildly sounds the battle shout,

On Galilee's blood stained plain.
The warriors sleep on, they will not wake,
For the trumpet's pealing blast cannot break,
The dreamless sleep of the slain.

With corses of men the field was spread,
The locust bands like the mists were fled,
They rest in the silent calm of the dead:

They were swept from the angel's path.

THE OCEAN ISLES.

OH! many are the beauteous isles
Unknown to human eye,

That, sleeping 'mid the Ocean smiles,
In happy silence lie.

The Ship may pass them in the night,

Nor the sailors know what a lovely sight

Is resting on the Main ;

Some wandering Ship who hath lost her way,
And never, or by night or day,

Shall pass these isles again.

There, groves that bloom in endless spring
Are rustling to the radiant wing
Of birds, in various plumage bright
As rainbow-hues, or dawning light.
Soft-falling showers of blossoms fair
Float ever on the fragrant air,

Like showers of vernal snow,
And from the fruit-tree, spreading tall,
The richly ripen'd clusters fall
Oft as sea-breezes blow.
The sun and clouds alone possess

The joy of all that, loveliness:

And sweetly to each other smile

The live-long day-sun, cloud, and isle.
How silent lies each shelter'd bay!

No other visitors have they

To their shores of silvery sand,

Than the waves that, murmuring in their glee,

All hurrying in a joyful band

Come dancing from the sea.