made, before the government at home put an end to this anarchy.

In the first volume, page 67, there is an account of La Tour the elder, who having married a lady of the court of England, received the order of the Garter, and was sent on an expedition to persuade his son to surrender the possessions he held on the coast to the English government. The son refused to receive him, and his fortress was then beseiged by the father, aided by soldiers, sailors, and cannon landed from the ships, but without success. After the loss of several lives, the seige was raised, and the elder La Tour being afraid to return to either France or England, solicited hospitality of his son, who built a house for him outside of the fort, and treated him with kindness and respect, except, that he would never permit him to come within the fort. Madame La Tour came to Boston to solicit succours, and is mentioned by Hubbard. She appears to have been an extraordinary woman; the whole of this episode of the La Tours, is perhaps, the most interesting thing in the history of Nova Scotia.

The following extract is a translation from page 33, volume 1, relating to a rock of Lapis Lazuli, which would be worth seeking if the whole be not a fable. "From the last bay in going to the river St. John, there are nothing but rocks for six or seven leagues, the coast is very dangerous, and about three fourths of a league outside of the Island of Menan, there is a rock which is only uncovered once in six or seven years, which by what the savages relate, is Lapis Lazuli: I saw a piece of it which they made a present of to the late commander, De Razilly, who sent it to France to be shewn, where it was declared to be real Lapis Lazuli, of which blue might be made that would be worth ten crowns the ounce. They tried to persuade the savages to shew where the rock was, but they never would indicate the spot, however much they were promised, but only that it was near Menan, as I have said.'

Near the Island of Miscou, not far from bay Chaleur he. describes a remarkable spring. He says there is no fresh water in the district, which he is describing, but, “at one hundred paces from the coast, there comes up from the bottom of the sea, a strong spring of fresh water, in a column, six or eight inches in diameter, which keeps its freshness for a circuit of twenty paces, without mixing at all

with the salt water, either by the ebbing or flowing of the tide, so that this spring rises and falls with the tide; the fishermen go to it to fill their water casks, dipping it up with a bucket into the boats, as if it was the reservoir of a fountain; at the lowest tides, there is always a fathom depth of water along side of this extraordinary spring."

[We are much gratified in being able to present the following Discourse to the publick. The sound judgment and solid acquirements of the honourable author, have made every friend of learning hail the acquisition of the new Professor as a most fortunate event. The remarks on the early state of the law and its followers in this country, and on the Common Law, will be read with particular interest.] Inaugural Address delivered in the Chapel of Harvard University, by the Hon. Isaac Parker, Chief Justice of Massachusetts, and Royall Professor of Law.

Mr. President, Gentlemen of the Corporation, and Gentlemen of the Board of Overseers,

In publickly accepting the trust which you have done me the honour to confide to me, I have given a pledge that to the utmost of my power I will endeavour to accomplish the design of this institution, and promote the honour and interest of the University to which it is attached.

It will not become me to make apologies, nor you to receive them; and I ought not to magnify the difficulties of a task voluntarily assumed, with a view to bespeak favour, if your reasonable expectations shall be disappointed.

That indulgence, however, which by the candid and enlightened is bestowed upon first efforts, in a new and untried course, I shall claim, and have no doubt shall receive.

Like all incipient institutions, this must be imperfect in the outset; like them it may, however, be improved in its progress, and at least, in future time and in other hands, may grow into a system, honourable to the University, and highly useful to the publick.

In the rapid growth of this revered seminary, from a school to a college, and from that to an University, keeping pace with the advancement of the Commonwealth of which it has ever been the FAVOURITE CHILD, as well as the faithful nurse; it has been thought difficult to account for

so late an introduction of jurisprudence among the sister sciences, which have long flourished here under the patronage of the publick.

The other learned professions have, from time to time, received enough of publick and private encouragement, to admit of their being taught here by eminent professors, whose labours have been highly creditable to the University, as well as beneficial to the student; while the Law, so interesting to the whole community, and the final pursuit of so many who are educated in this place, has been hitherto excluded; not, I should hope, because it is deemed unworthy of being classed among the subjects of liberal education; but for want of that countenance and support, which have been so munificently bestowed upon the other sciences.

The publick neglect of so important a branch of education may be traced to causes in no way disreputable to the science of jurisprudence in its present improved condition, or to the wisdom and discernment of those who have governed the affairs of the University.

In the dispensations of Providence towards nations, we find a wise adaptation of intellectual powers to existing circumstances, always leaving room for progressive improvements and gradual advances, until that stage is reached, beyond which the capacities of a nation, like the faculties. of the individual, are not permitted to pass, and from whence the period of decline may be supposed generally

to commence.

In their youth, when industry is the prevailing character and principal want, that course of education, and those facilities of acquiring knowledge, which lead to the retired speculations of the closet, and separate the class of men which thinks, from that which only acts, would obstruct rather than promote the progress of improvement: for the labour of all is wanted under such circumstances, to conquer difficulties and procure comforts.

The division of labour, so useful in mechanick operations, in full grown societies, could not usefully exist in the early incipient state of a community, nor can the occupations of the mind be perfectly and usefully divided, until a full population shall have demanded an appropriation of employment, and superiour skill in produce. In sparse settlements, and in a new country, the general mass of knowledge, except what pertains to the higher branches of philosophy, is perhaps, as great as in more mature societies; for each

individual embraces a greater number of subjects in the former than in the latter state but for want of exclusive attention to single objects, less perfection in each particular art or science is reached in a young, than in an older community.

The course of education in this country has been wisely adapted to the actual state of things, and until recently has been calculated to give a competent portion of general knowledge, rather than to produce extraordinary instances. of wonderful attainment.

Professorships of particular branches of sciences, have therefore been but lately introduced, except in Theology, which in an enlightened christian country, is deservedly the first object of publick patronage, and in the demonstrative sciences, which are at all times necessary. Our students have been educated for business, not for contemplation, and the rare opportunities which have yet occurred, of devoting a life to literary or scientifick pursuits, have justified the slow advancement of this University to that grade of eminence, which the establishments of older countries have so long enjoyed.

But the means of education are multiplying and developing, in proportion to the increasing demands of our rapidly improving society.

Next to the care of the soul, has been justly estimated the preservation of life and health; professorships for instruction in the various branches of the healing art, have therefore succeeded those of Theology, and it ought not to be considered as out of the natural course, that thirty years should have intervened between the admission of those necessary sciences into the University, and the establishment of jurisprudence as a branch of academick education.

Our Commonwealth has now got beyond its infancy, and its institutions are fast advancing to the perfection which accompanies maturity.

The recent establishments which publick and private munificence have authorized, have already, under a wise and vigorous administration, given Harvard the qualities as well as the name of an University. Her fame will be durable, for it rests on the broad basis of publick utility. The sciences will here flourish, for they will be nurtured by free inquiry. The happiness of enlightened men will be here promoted; and the true honour of the country, springing

from a diffusion of correct principles, manly erudition and cultivated taste, will acknowledge this venerable seminary, as its fountain.

In times past, with fewer advantages, it has poured forth its annual stores of intelligence and virtue to improve and adorn the state. Theologians, Statesmen, Physicians, Jurists, have from time to time received here the elements of that learning, wisdom and patriotism, which have shed a lustre almost unparalleled, on so young a country.

May we not, without vanity, indulge the anticipation, that American literature and science and arts will hereafter stand high, if not pre-eminent in the world of intellectual and moral improvement, and that this western hemisphere, but yesterday a forest, is destined at some future period, to invigorate and fertilize the decaying seminaries of a then decaying world, and thus to remunerate Europe for the encouragement and brilliant example she gave to the infancy of this aspiring country.

The time has already arrived, when the rich and munificent discern, that the only durable monument of fame, and the only imperishable application of overflowing funds, is the endowment of this general parent of their country's hope, with the means to instruct and embellish in all the literature and science of the age. Patriotism thus exhibits itself without suspicion of its motive, for generations unborn are to enjoy its benefits; and centuries hence, the names of those who have thus added to the stores of human knowledge and virtue, will be celebrated and blessed, while the deeds of such as have founded their fame on the miseries of the world, will be remembered only to be execrated.

Here, within these walls, the moral strength of our coun try is to be formed, and its literary reputation matured. A few years hence, when most of us shall have passed out of the active scenes of life, this interesting mass of youth dispersed over our towns and villages, will occupy the pulpits, the chambers of the sick, the bar, the bench of justice, the seats of the legislature, the hall of Congress, the chair of state. Multitudes succeeding them, will press upon and follow their steps; it will depend upon the principles here imbibed, whether this copious stream shall fertilize or ravage society; upon the instruction they shall here receive, whether they shall honour or disgrace the cause of learning in their country. Upon THEMм will rest the character of the