away from our view. To me such a sight is always solemn and affecting; for who can tell when he once loses sight of his native land that he will return thither any more. But the French coast is now in view, and on a hill to the west of Boulognesur-Mere, at about a quarter of a miles distance is the column of Napoleon. Boulogne consists of two towns,an upper and a lower; the former is the older part, and occupies the summit of a hill. The lower or new town stretches along the right bank of the Liane, from the old town to the harbour, and along the shore. It is regularly built, and contains the best streets and houses. This port is the great place of debarkation for passengers between England and the continent. The town and its neighbourhood looks well from the deck of a vessel. The population of Boulogne in 1846 was 29,741. Of this population nearly one-sixth are

English. The larger farms in the neighbourhood rarely exceed 100 hectares=247 acres; and in general run from 35 to 60 hectares. The average rent of pastureland in 1834 was from 48s. to 80s.; of grainland 24s. to 40s. [Gazetteer of the World.]

As soon as our passports and bags were examined, we proceeded in the dust and heat to the Railway Station, where, having partaken of a hasty meal, we took our seats for Paris. Here it may be desirable to state that we booked our places from London to Basle, First-Class, for £27, a distance of some 600 miles. For miles we passed over a sandy soil, now and then getting a view of the sea, and after an uninteresting ride, at least it was to me, of 166 miles, we arrived in Paris at 8 45 p.m. We passed the night at the Hotel du Chemin de fer du Nord.

25th, Thursday. At seven in the morning we left Paris for Strasburg. Many

objects of an interesting character, particularly those on the right bank of the Rhine, met the eye in this journey. Strasburg, at which we arrived ar 4 30 p.m. is a large and fortified frontier city of France, situated at half-a-mile from the left bank of the Rhine, 72 miles north of Basle, and 250 miles east by south of Paris. It is built on a plain. The citadel is a regular pentagon, and the garrison generally amounts to 6,000 men. The construction of the houses is after the German manner, and the language and customs of the majority of the inhabitants are still German. The greater part of the The cathedral is justly

streets are narrow.

classed among the most distinguished specimens of Gothic architecture. Its tower 466 feet in height, and ascended by a stair of above 700 steps, is said to be the loftiest building in the world, with the exception of the highest of the pyramids

of Egypt. It was upwards of a century and a half in building; and is alike distinguished for symmetry of parts, solidity, and lightness. Three of us, namely, myself, Miss H. C. and the doctor ascended the tower, and richly were we repaid for our toil by the charming view we had of the city and the surrounding country. One thing which greatly interested ine was the storks which build their nests on the tops of the houses, or, rather, on elevated parts like chimneys. "As for the stork," says the Psalmist, "the fir-trees are her house;" but here human habitations, or some other buildings, are her house. "The stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed time." Alas, that God's people should not know the judgment of Jehovah. In this beautiful cathedral is a celebrated clock which we greatly admired. The west front has a triple portal, and a circular window 48feet in diameter. And as I gazed

upon the lofty roof and ancient pillars, I have no doubt that I had feelings similar to those which Milton possessed, stern republican as he was, when he wrote the following beautiful lines.

"But let my due feet never fail

To walk the studious cloisters pale,
And love the high embowed roof,
With antique pillars massy roof,

And storied windows richly dight,
Casting a dim religious light.
There let the pealing organ blow,
To the full-voic'd choir below,

In service high and anthems clear,
As
may with sweetness through mine ear,
Dissolve me into ecstacies,

And bring all Heaven before mine eyes!"

It is a subject, however, worthy of profound reflection whether such edifices have not diminished rather than increased the piety of mankind. How few seem to understand the words of Christ :-"God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."