No More Learning

LETTEK V.
AND GOD CALLED THE DRY LAND EARTH; AND THE GATHERING TOGETHER OF THE
WATERS CALLED HE SEAS: AND GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. AND GOD SAID,
LET THE EARTH BRING FORTH GRASS, THE HERB YIELDING SEED, AND THE FRUIT
TREE YIELDING FRUIT AFTER HIS KIND, WHOSE SEED IS IN ITSELF, UPON THE
EARTH: AND IT WAS SO. AND THE EARTH BROUGHT FORTH GRASS, AND HERB
YIELDING SEED AFTER HIS KIND, AND THE TREE YIELDING FRUIT, WHOSE SEED
WAS IN ITSELF, AFTER HIS KIND, AND GOD SAW THAT IT WAS GOOD. AND THE
EVENING AND THE MORNING WERE THE THIRD DAY. -- Genesis i. 10--13.
My dear Children,
Two day a of the history of our globe had now run out, and the third
came full of blessing. The character of this day's creation was two-
fold, as the account in Genesis i. fully manifests. The first part was
a call for the dry land (which evidently had been created in the begin-
ning) to appear;--the second, the Creation of the three great orders
of vegetation--trees, herbs, and grass; but I know of no part of
Scripture that brings out the character of this day's creation so
strikingly as the 104th Psalm. The inspired Psalmist looks back
3000 years, and brings the whole subject most blessedly before our
minds in the 104th Psalm, from 1st verse to the 6th:--"Who laid
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? LETTER V.
47
the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood
above the mountains. "--The mountains were there, but the waters
covered them. --"At thy rebuke--that is, at thy word commanding
them--they fled; at the noise of thy thunder they hasted away," and the
dry land appeared. And then how striking the description of the
rivers and fountains of water, and the great sea:--" They go up by
the mountains, they go down by the valleys, unto the place which
thou hast founded for them--(evidently the great ocean);--thou hast
set a bound* that they may not pass over, that they turn not again
to cover the earth. He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which
run among the hills, they give drink to every beast of the field. " But
we must go back a little to the scene before us. --When the dry land
appeared, it doubtless presented all the varieties of mountains,, and
valleys, islands, and continents; and the waters likewise, all their
varieties of oceans and seas, lakes, rivers, and streams. At first the
earth must have looked barren, but this could have been but of short
duration; for no sooner had the command gone forth, than verdure
and beauty covered the face of the land, and this, too, in a state of
maturity, all having seed in themselves; so that every tree, and every
shrub, and every flower we now see, had its first parent there; for
* Some have applied this ninth verse to the promise to Noah, that the waters
should no more cover the earth; but Creation is surely the subject throughout
the whole Psalm.
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? 48
THE CREATION.
though the vegetable world has branched out for man's happiness in
almost endless variety, yet doubtless the heads of all the respective
families sprang into existence that third day. Some have supposed
that this creation was confined to one place, the Garden of Eden; and
that the winds and waters, and fowl have from age to age carried out
the seeds to other lands. Others, that the great leading orders of the
three divisions sprang up in the countries where God had destined
they should flourish; so that the oak and the pine, and all the hardy
families had the north for their first home; and the palm, the vine,
the olive, the myrtle, and the more tender trees, the south; and this
last idea seems to me to be much the more probable, and this I have
endeavoured to exhibit in the plates, though of course, from the
smallness of their size, I could but very imperfectly accomplish it.
Having thus endeavoured briefly to explain to you what seems to
me to have marked the order of this day's creation, I must now seek
to tell you something of the blessings connected therewith, and also
enlarge a little on the natural history of the metals and minerals
within the heart of the earth, and of the trees and grass on its surface.
In the twenty-eighth of Job there is a beautiful remark on this, " As
for the earth, out of it cometh bread, and under it is turned up as it
were fire; the stones of it, the place of sapphires, and it hath the dust
of gold ;" and in the first verse, " Surely there is a vein for the silver,
and a place for gold where they fine it. Iron is taken out of the
earth, and brass is molten out of the stone. " In these few verses,
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49
what an amazing quantity of information is given to us! and, considering
the antiquity of the book of Job, it is of increased interest; and
in the close of this chapter, when, inquiring the value of wisdom,
he introduces all the precious metals and gems of the earth,
and then puts them all aside; for the value of wisdom--the wisdom
of God, even Jesus--is far above all the glory of the earth. But
the verses are so beautiful that I quote them: and they tell us
how well the value of these things was known at this early period
of the earth's history: --"It cannot be gotten for gold, neither
shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. It cannot be valued
with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it
shall not be for jewels of fine gold. No mention shall be made of
coral or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. The
topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with
pure gold. "
If you compare Luke xi. 49 with Matt. xxiii. 34 and 1 Cor. i. 24,
and then read Proverbs i. 20, 23, viii. and ix.
, I am sure you will see
that in applying the title of the Wisdom of God to the Lord Jesus, we
have authority which cannot be gainsaid.
But the knowledge of the metals, with their uses, can be traced back
far beyond Job; for Genesis iv. when speaking of Lamech, the sixth
from Adam in the line of Cain, says that he had three sons, Jabal, the
father of such as dwell in tents, and have cattle, Jubal, the father of
D
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? 50
THE CREATION.
all such as handle the harp and organ, and Tubal-Cain, an instructor of
every artificer in brass and iron.
And now, my dear children, in endeavouring to tell you some of
the blessings connected with the third day, the subject is so extensive,
that I hardly know where to begin. For look around on every side,
and we are surrounded with its mercies; 1st, as it regards the mineral
kingdom, (and this includes all the metals,) what could we do without
iron and coal ? all our manufactories depend on these productions of
the earth (and we know of no substitute for them); for though indeed
the natives of the South Sea Islands may make a rude substitute of
bone and hard wood for their axes, war-instruments, and fish-hooks,
yet bone and wood would make but poor steam-boilers, rail-roads, &c.
Look at the prodigious steam-boiler of the Great Britain;* nay, look
at the ship itself, like a massive island of Iron, and then look at the
main-spring of a watch, or that delicate and fine needle that little
Mary works with: from the iron originally taken from the stone,
melted down by the agency of the coal, man has been enabled to bring
about these different results; for although Steel has an addition of
carbon to refine it, yet still Iron is the main thing. Indeed, as I re-
marked before, there is no end to the use of this valuable metal; and
therefore to meet this demand, whilst the mines of other ores are com-
paratively rare, this abounds. Imagine a rail-road made of gold--
travelling by that plan would soon be at an end. But as I wish to
? See Appendix.
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LETTER V.
51
give you a brief account of the principal metals separately, I will not
enlarge any more in this place.
But, my dear children, whilst the heart of the earth thus supplies
all kinds of metals for our machinery, the surface supplies all kinds
of materials to be worked by that machinery: for not only does
the earth thus supply us with clothing, but with a variety that is
boundless. It may be called--
1. Our storehouse for food;
2. Our wardrobe for clothing;
3. Our dispensary for medicine;
4. And our great forest for all kinds of wood for the artificer, from
the mountain oak, of which our ships are built, to the beautiful rose-
wood tree of which dear Harriet's work-box is made.
Having thus endeavoured to introduce the third day generally to
you, I will now seek to go a little into detail, dividing the subject
into the contents of the earth beneath its surface, and the productions
of the earth above its surface; and under the first head, I will tell you
(1,) of the precious gems; (2,) of the metals; (3,) of the rocks, slate,
and stone; (4,) coals and salt: and under the second general head,
I will enlarge on the principal trees, herbs, and grass--1, for food;
2, for clothing; 3, for medicine; 4, for the arts.
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52 THE CREATION.
>>
I. THE PRECIOUS GEMS.
The Diamond. *--This was known to the ancients as the adamant,
and is the most precious of all the gems of the earth, one stone alone
being valued at 5,000,000/. sterling. This stone now belongs to the
court of Russia, but was once the eye of an idol in India. The finest
diamonds have been found at Golconda, Visna, and Borneo, and some
of an inferior quality in the Brazils. The former are called oriental,
or diamonds of the east: the latter, occidental, or diamonds of the
west. The poor slaves work for these quite naked, lest they should
secrete the stones. Diamonds arc ornamental for the diadems of kings
and princes, and hence they generally sparkle as the peerless gem of
the crown. The diamond pulverised is used as its own polish, as it
is only by itself that it can be cut or polished. It is also most useful
in the more common art of cutting glass. Diamonds are likewise
combustible, and can be burnt to ashes, and reduced to charcoal; and
here they afford a striking picture of man in the zenith of his glory,
and the depth of his humiliation. The diamond was one of the pre-
cious stones that was on the High Priest's breast-plate, and had engraven
on it the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel: but on this I will
enlarge in my next.
The Ruby is a red sparkling gem of the first rank among precious
? All the precious stones which nre printed with capital letters were in the
breast-plate of Aaron.
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stones; it is found in Pegu and Ceylon, also in Hungary and in Brazil.
When the Ruby exceeds 20 carats or 80 grains, it is called a Car-
buncle. This was the first stone in the breast-plate of the High Priest
.
Emerald ; a green, brilliant, precious stone, exceedingly hard, found
in the East and in Peru.
Topaz is the third order of precious stones, and is of a yellowish
gold colour. It is found in each quarter of the globe, India, Ethiopia,
Bohemia, and Peru.
The Chrysolite is the Topaz of the ancients; it is the least hard
of all the gems, and is found in Egypt, Ceylon, and the Brazils.
The Sapphire is of an azure or beautiful sky colour; it is found in
Ceylon, Brazil, Bohemia, and Silesia; sapphires brought from the
latter place are of less value than the oriental or eastern ones.
The Amethyst is of a violet colour, bordering on blue;--found in
the East and in Europe.
The Beryl is a beautiful stone, like the diamond, of a pale green
colour, and is sometimes mistaken for it; it is found in Ceylon, Pegu,
the East, and Bohemia.
Agate. Many stones bear this name, but they are all generally
composed of quartz, with varied tinges of colours, veins, and spots, but
they never exhibit orange or green; they are finest in Germany.
Chalcedony is semi-transparent, very hard, and of a milky grey
colour, said to be originally found in Chalcedon in Asia;--found in
Saxony, Silesia, and the British Isles.
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54 THE CREATION.
The Onyx is an agate of a greyish brown colour. White zones or
girdles are essential to the onyx. This gem was on the shoulder-
pieces of the ephod of the High Priest, as well as on the breast-plate.
The Opal is an exceedingly beautiful stone, with an amazing
diversity of colours on a ground of white. Pliny mentions one in his
time that had sixty colours. It is found in Mexico, Hungary, and
the British Islands.
The Jacinth is a purple gem, mingled with a deep yellow, ap-
proaching to a flame colour. It is found in the East, and Bohemia
and Portugal.
The Cornelian, a species of Chalcedony, is generally of a blood-red
colour, but sometimes white; it is easily engraved on, and receives a
brilliant polish. It is found near Babylon, also in Hindostan, and in
Bohemia.
Crystal may be reckoned among the precious gems: it is found in
India and Europe. *
Pearl is a hard, cream-white, round gem-like substance, of con-
siderable lustre, found in shell-fish, both of the mussel and oyster
kind ; and although an animal production, it is reckoned among the
gems. The oyster in which the pearl is most generally found inhabits
both the American and Indian seas, and is sometimes met with on the
coast of Scotland. The old fish yield the best pearls.
The use of most of the precious gems is not very manifest: they
* See Appendix.
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55
are worn chiefly for ornament; but the most beautiful jewels are found
in that sweet verse in Proverbs iii. , " Let not mercy and truth forsake
thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thine
heart:" and the christian female is exhorted to let her adornments not
be of gold or costly apparel, but the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,
which is in God's sight of great price. (1 Pet. iii. 3,4; 1 Tim. ii. 9,10. )
II. OF THE METALS.
Our second subject of consideration is the metals. The ancients
knew only seven; and these they represented under the signs of the
heavenly bodies,--Gold had the Sun for its emblem--Silver, the Moon
--Quicksilver, Mercury--Copper, Venus--Iron, Mars--Tin, Jupiter
--Lead, Saturn. The moderns have discovered thirty-seven others.
Gold, which is the heaviest* of all the metals, excepting platinum
and iridium, is found in the four quarters of the globe; but in small
quantities. The largest lump ever known was dug out of the gold
mountains of the County Wicklow, and is, I think, in the British
Museum. You remember we saw the mountain in our way to the
Glen of Imale. The gold of Asia is the finest;--but that of America
is comparatively the most abundant. Gold has a variety of uses: --
the Tabernacle of the Wilderness had silver for its foundations, and
boards covered with gold for its superstructure; and all the furniture
? See Appendix.
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? 56
THE CREATION.
of the Lord's dwelling was covered with gold. In the temple the
pavement and the ceiling of the Most Holy were of the same. Gold is
also used for the diadems of kings, and the coronets of nobles. The
richest coins of the realm, as well as medals commemorating any event
of moment, are also struck from this noble metal. Its tenacity is
amazing; for it has been proved that a gold wire, whose diameter is
only one-tenth of an inch, will support a weight of 500 pounds; and
its malleability is almost beyond belief: for Mr. Reaumur asserts, that
he beat a grain of gold into forty-two square inches of leaf-gold.
Silver is the metal next precious to Gold and Platinum. It is also
found in all quarters of the globe, but abounds in South America.
It is a metal in great request: all the common coin of the realm is
struck from it. If you remember, the reflectors of our Light-house
at Wicklow were made from this precious metal; besides which, its
uses are various. It is a metal of great brilliancy.
Quicksilver is a metal--fluid at very low temperature. It was well
known to the ancients, and called by them hydrargyrum, or, water of
silver. Quicksilver is found in Germany, Hungary, Spain, and Peru.
This metal is used in a variety of ways, and is most valuable to man.
I suppose you remember seeing it frequently in the tube of the
weather glass; its use there is to indicate the variations of the weight
of the air--heavy dry air pressing it up, and light air allowing it to
descend. The state of the weather is so connected with the weight of
the atmosphere, that the Barometer becomes a useful index of its
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57
changes also. It is also in great demand for our manufactories; and
especially in gilding copper; for these two metals have no affinity
whatever with each other, and seem inflexibly set against any union;
but the Quicksilver has friendship with both parties, and is used to
amalgamate the surface of the copper substance intended to be gilt--
say, for instance, buttons,--these are then covered with a certain
quantity of gold amalgam, which immediately adheres; afterwards
heat is applied, which drives off the Quicksilver, and leaves the gold
firmly fixed to the button. Until these few years past, the Quicksilver
thus evaporated was lost; but now it is made to pass into water, when
it instantly condenses and falls to the bottom. The Quicksilver in
this case is a beautiful emblem of the Peace-maker, that brings two
hostile parties together, and never leaves them until they are one,
and then passes away ready again for any fresh act of love.
Mercury is also a most valuable medicine in the hands of educated
men. Hydrarge, or Silver-water, is its name in the Pharmacopoeia.
Copper ranks next in value. Sweden supplies vast quantities of
this metal, as does also the Isle of Anglesea in Wales. Many of our
domestic utensils and vessels are made of Copper. Beaten out into thin
sheets, it is used to cover the bottoms of sailing vessels, keeping them
at once clean, dry, and free from the operations of marine worms.
These sheets are also sometimes used as the covering of buildings.
Brass is a mixture of copper with zinc; and bell metal also has copper
(which is the most sonorous of metals) for its chief ingredient. Most
d3
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. 58
THE CREATION.
of our engravings also are executed on copper sheets. The rust of
copper, if we may so call it, is verdigris: and from this is made the
brightest of our green paints. So in every point of view it is useful.
Iron is the most useful and the most abounding of all metals. It is
found in England in great abundance, especially in our neighbouring
county of Gloucester; also in Wales: and close to the Iron mines,
generally speaking, there is a boundless supply of coals to work the
Iron. And this, my dear children, with thousands of other things
with which we are surrounded, tells us of God's merciful goodness;
and proves that He (and not chance or fortuity) made and furnished
the world as a habitation fitted and suited for Man, destined to be its
occupant. The uses of Iron cannot be enumerated; for look around
on every side, and there is not a thing of art that you gaze on, but, in
one form or another, Iron lent its aid to make it what it is; and even
when it is cast aside, the very rust of the old despised Iron hoops is a
valuable medicine (oxide of Iron), as our dear S. full well knows; but
in God's creation nothing is wanting--nothing is lost.
Tin is a most useful metal in all our domestic concerns. It is
softer than silver; but harder than lead. Tin is found in the East
Indies, France, Spain, and Saxony; and it abounds in Devonshire and
Cornwall, which in a great measure supply the demands of Europe.