of the tail of the overseer could have done." By firing at them several times afterward, the animals were compelled to run with precipitation into the woods. M. du Pratz then examined their habitations. UNDER ONE of the houses he found fifteen pieces of wood with the bark in part gnawed off, apparently intended for food. And, round the middle of this house, which formed a passage for the beavers to go in and out at, he observed no fewer than fifteen different cells. BEAVERS PRODUCE their young-ones towards the end of June; and generally have two at a time. These continue with their parents till they are three years old, when they pair off, and form houses for themselves. If, however, they are undisturbed, and have plenty of provisions, they remain with the old ones, and thus form a double society. INSTANCES HAVE occurred of beavers having been domesti cated. Major Rodefort, of New York, related to Professor Kalm, that, for a year and a half, he had in his house a tame beaver, which was suffered to run about like a dog. The Major gave him bread; and sometimes fish, of which he was very greedy. As much water was put into a bowl as he wanted. All the rags and soft things he could lay hold of, he dragged into the corner where he was accustomed to sleep, and made a bed of them. The cat in the house, having kittens, took possession of his bed; and he did not attempt to interrupt her. When the cat went out, the beaver often took one of the kittens between his paws, and held it to his breast to warm it, and seemed to dote upon it: as soon as the cat returned, he always restored to her the kitten. Sometimes he grumbled; but never attempted to bite. IN THE year 1820, there were in the upper room at Exeter 'Change, London, two beavers, which had been there some time. They were very tame, and would suffer themselves to be handled by the visitors; but most persons were alarmed, an on approaching them, by the animals uttering their weak and plaintive cry. This noise they also frequently emitted during their play with each other. At times they were exceedingly gay and frolicsome, wrestling and playing with each other, as far as the limits of their small apartment would admit. They often sat upright to look about them, or to eat; and, if any thing moveable was given them to play with, they would drag it about, and seem highly pleased with it. They were in no instance observed to drag any thing about on their tails, or to make any attempts to do so. In all their manners these animals were extremely cleanly. They were fed with the bark of trees, and on bread; and such was their propensity to gnaw wood, that it was not considered safe, notwithstanding the natural gentleness of their disposition, to allow them the full range of a room, for they would soon have eaten their way out, and have escaped. THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. THIS IS another of the Epistles written by St. Paul during his imprisonment at Rome, as is manifest from various allu. sions which the Epistle itself contains. The Philippians were greatly attached to St. Paul, by whose preaching they had been converted, about the year A.D. 51, to the faith of the Gospel, and in which they continued stedfast, so that, although the Apostle in his letter cautions them against Judaizing teachers, their conduct had not given him cause to reprove them in any way. THE PHILIPPIANS on hearing of the Apostle's prolonged imprisonment, sent Epaphroditus, one of their ministers, to assure him of the continuance of their regard, and to offer him a supply of money. This Epistle was written in consequence of that act of kindness; and it is remarkable for its strong expressions of affection. ST. PAUL alludes to the readiness and liberality of the Philippians in the beginning of his letter, when he speaks of their " fellowship in the Gospel," or contribution to the Gospel "from the first day until now," and expresses a confident hope of their continued steadfastness and well-doing immediately adding, "Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart;" or, as the sen tence is more correctly and clearly given in the marginal note, "because ye have me in your heart." WE HAVE reason to think that St. Paul wrote this Epistle towards the close of his imprisonment, since, in mentioning. with great sorrow the illness of their messenger Epaphroditus, he tells them that he hoped to send Timothy to them, and also himself to follow shortly after, but that, as Epaphroditus showed so great a desire to return to Philippi, he thought it best that he should at once depart, instead of waiting till the Apostle could himself accompany him. Phil. ii. 19-30. WE WILL Conclude these remarks upon the Epistle to the Philippians, with the observation of Archbishop Secker upon the character of St. Paul, as illustrated by it. "AS THE excellent characters of the first believers and teachers of Christianity are in general a strong recommendation of it to mankind, so that of St. Paul in particular shines with distinguished lustre throughout his whole history, but especially his Epistles, the faithful picture of his soul. Even in this short one to the Philippians, it is surprising to observe how great a variety of most exalted and engaging virtues he shows. The authority of the Apostle is so perfectly tempered with the condescension of the fellow Christian; the expressions of his tenderness for those to whom he writes are so endearing and instructive at the same time; his acknowledgments of their kindness to him so equally full of dignity, humility, and disinterestedness; his mention of his past persecution is so mild, and of his present danger so cheerful; his attention to the supporting of their courage is so affecting, and his confidence that both he and they should persevere and conquer, is so noble, and yet so modest; his deliberation whether life or death be eligible, is so calm, and his preference to live even in misery for their sakes and that of the Gospel, is so genuinely heroic, yet fully equalled by the composed and triumphant mention which he elsewhere makes of his approaching martyrdom; his zeal for propagating religion is so ardent, yet attended with so deep a concern that it be true religion; he is so earnest to guard them both against a superstitious reliance on outward ordinances and a licentious abuse of the doctrines of faith and grace; so solicitous to improve them in rational piety and meek beneficent virtue; so intent to fix their minds on everything worthy and amiable, and to raise them above every thing gloomy and anxious; his warmth in this glorious cause is so far from being affected or forced, and every expression so evidently flows from a heart which cannot help overflowing; that whoever shall read this one Epistle with attention and fairness, under all the disadvantages of a translation made word for word, and broken into short verses, will feel a strong impression on his mind that the writer of it must have been an uncommonly great and good man, every way deserving of the high rank which he claims, of a commissioned servant of God, and incapable of claiming it falsely." M. IN CHRIST's true members, Faith sees her Lord, and love ministers to His necessities. If there be any universal virtue which fills, as it were, all the rest with goodness and gives them their value and importance, that certainly is charity, the true love of God and of our neighbour; from which whatever arises will at last be grateful and pleasing to God, although it should seem otherwise of little value.-Bishop Bull. Harm. Apost. TRANSLATION OF AN ANCIENT LATIN HYM OF ST. HILDEBERT. "Extra portam jam deletam.” Speak the word! the stone he shifteth,— He steps into the light of day. Pirates fierce my sea-tost bark I, a fig-tree, dry and rotten, My root from out thy vineyard tear! My old foe, unto the slaughter, Wearied by his oft assailing, |