Additional Notes.

It is proposed here, to introduce a few observations relative to the weather, the productions of the Holy Land, and the Jewish Calendar, from accredited authorities. They could not, consistently with its name, form an integral part of a purely Scriptural Almanack; and it is presumed, they will be equally interesting and useful in their present position.

Weather.

According to the seasons, already mentioned, this month is the second in winter; and the cold is more or less severe, as affected by different situations. There is frequently a considerable fall of snow, which, however, is speedily dissolved in most places. Heavy rains now fall, especially in the night, which swell the rivers and lakes.In the plain of Jericho, the cold is scarcely felt, and the inhabitants are clothed in linen garments at the same time, when it snows in other parts of Judea. Early in the day, the mercury in the thermometer, is generally between 40 and 46 degrees; and it does not rise above three or four degrees in the afternoon. Towards the latter end of this month, when the sky is clear, it becomes so hot that travellers cannot, without some difficulty, prosecute their journey.

Productions.

All kinds of grain or corn, are now sown. The beans are blossoming, and trees become in leaf. Earliest appears the blossom of the almond here, and even before it has a leaf. If the winter be mild, the violet fig (of a longer shape than the summer fig, and gathered early in the spring), is still found on the trees, though they are stripped of their leaves. The misletoe and the cotton tree, now flourish. Among the flowers and garden herbs of this month, there are, the cauliflower, the violet, and white hyacinth, the gold-streaked daffodil, different violets, tulips in great variety, wormwood, the lentisc tree, anemonies, ranunculuses, and colchilas, a kind of lily, resembling the Persian, when blown.

Jewish Calendar.

This is said to have been composed by Rabbi Hillel, in A. D. 358; before which, it seems, the Jews were not in possession of any calendar.-Lamy's Introduct. p. 117. Calmet says, the Jews had calendars anciently, wherein were noted-all the feasts-all the fasts -and all the days on which they celebrated the memory of any great event that had happened to the nation.-Zech. viii. 19; Esth. viii. 6. in Græc. These ancient calendars are sometimes quoted in the Talmud; Mishna Tract. Taanith. n. 8; but the Rabbins acknowledge that they are not now in being. Maimon and Bartenore. Those that we have now, whether printed or in manuscript, are not very ancient. See Genebrar. Bibliot. Rabbin. p. 319. Buxtorf, Levit. Talmud. p. 1046. That which passes for the oldest, is, Megillath Thaanith, "the Volume of Affliction;" which contains the

days of feasting and fasting heretofore in use among the Jews; which are not now observed: nor are they in the common calendars. The critical history of Calendars and Almanacks, in ancient and modern times, might possibly rank among the utilities as well as "Curiosities of Literature;" while it might also contribute towards the reading and increased understanding of the Holy Scriptures!

A few selections from the Jewish Calendar, for the present month, must now conclude these observations:

2. A rejoicing for the death of king Alexander Jannæus, a great enemy to the Pharisees.

3. Reading-Exod. xiii. 17-xviii. 1; and Jud. iv. 4-vi. 1.

4 or 5. Fast in memory of the death of the Elders, who succeeded Joshua. Judg. ii. 10.

10. Reading-Exod. xviii. 1-xxi. 1, and Isa. vi.

15. Beginning of the year of trees. Hence they count the four years, during which they supposed the trees were unclean, from the time of their being planted. Levit. xix. 23—25.

17. Reading-Exod. xxi. 1-xxv. 1, and Jer. xxxiv. 8, to the end. 22. A feast in memory of the death of Niskalenus, who had ordered the placing of images or figures in the Temple, which was forbidden by the law: but he died, and his orders were not executed.

23. A fast for the war of the ten tribes against that of Benjamin. Jud. xx. The Jews also now call to remembrance the idol of Micah. Jud. xviii.

26. Reading-Exod. xxv. 1-xxviii. 20, and 1 Sam. v. 12. vi. 14. 29. Memorial of the death of Antiochus Epiphanes. 1 Mac. vi. 1. The lessons for reading, are, Exod. xxvii. 20-xxx. 11, and Ezek. xliii. 10, to the end.

30. The first New Moon of the month Adar.

ALLOW a friend at a distance to express his grateful congratulations to you, for the continuance and growing value of your wellconducted periodical; and as a small tribute of service, I send the following chronological arrangement of a most memorable

event in Scripture history. It may suit your January number, in particular; and not prove uninteresting, I hope, to any of your readers. A CUMBRIAN.

Month.

ACCORDING TO M. BASNAGE.-Ant. Jud. tom. ii. p. 399.

I. September. Methuselah died, aged 969 years.

II. October. Noah and his family entered the Ark.

III. November. The fountains of the great deep broken up.

IV. December 26. The rain began; and continued 40 days and 40 nights.

V. January. The earth buried under the waters.

VI. February. Rain continued.

VII. March. The waters at their heighth till the 27th; when they

began to abate.

VIII. April 17. The ark rested on Mount Ararat, in Armenia.

IX. May. Waiting the retiring of the waters.

X. June 1.

The tops of the mountains appeared.

XI. July 11.

18.

Noah let go a raven, which did not return.
He let go a dove, which returned.

25.

The dove being sent a second time, brought back the

olive-branch.

XII. August 2. The dove sent out a third time, returned no more.

IN soliciting your attention to the subject of the present address, I find considerable relief and pleasure, in the recollection, that I am to be followed on the same subject by other members of this Society, more competent than myself to exhibit the nature and importance, and to recommend the claims and interests of Biblical Literature.—

A subject so important-a theme so extensive-transcends, by far, not only my humble abilities to render it justice, but perhaps those also of the most exalted and highly cultivated mind. Feeling as I do, then, upon this topic, and looking forward with pleasurable anticipations to its ample discussion, by those who shall succeed me, I propose merely to submit a few general remarks, leaving its details for my more able colleagues.

In approaching the subject under consideration, the first thing to which the mind naturally adverts, is its vast-its infinite importance. Here we reflect on the high and exalted character, the imperative claims, and the tremendous sanctions of that volume, into whose subjects we propose investigation, and whose details we promise to illustrate. It is the BIBLE!-a book proceeding, not from an erring mortal, but from " God, only wise." It is the BIBLE!-the storehouse of truth, the fountain of wisdom and piety, the repository of all that is great in idea, awful in importance, desirable in experience, and venerable in excellence. It is that Book, upon which the eternal destinies of men are suspended, and through which, alone, substantial happiness is conveyed to the immortal mind of man! Need any thing more be added, to impress our minds with the importance of the subject to which we propose the devotion of our time, and the consecration of our talents? There need not:-we have individually subscribed to the apostolic enunciation, that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God," and in so doing have admitted its supreme authority, and its pre-eminent claims. We cannot, however, but advert to the awful responsibility which attaches itself to every man taking upon himself to explain the meaning, or to illustrate the details of this sacred book. Here every word is big with meaning, and every sentence is invested with Divine authority. Under such circumstances, we shall assuredly bear in mind, that no one can innocently, or without prejudice to the character of the holy volume, misinterpret any, even the least part of its contents, or misapply any, even the most subordinate, of its heavenly doctrines. The object of Divine revelation is uniform-it is one; and however unimportant any one of its parts may appear, viewed in a detached or isolated form, yet it will be found that each has its distinct and assigned place in the scheme of human redemption. In this sacred temple, no stone can be reversed, or removed, without destroying the harmony of its parts, and disfiguring the beauty of its proportions. But this temple is the work of God; it bears upon its front the impress of the great Architect of the World! Take we heed to ourselves, then, that we mar not His work; that we frustrate not His gracious designs! Did I conceive it necessary to fix your attention more particularly upon this part of the subject than I have already done, I would solicit a consideration of the various parts of that mighty apparatus, which has been set in motion for the purpose of accrediting the truth of the Revelation of God. In how many cases has the arm of the Lord been made bare, and the operations of na