icebergs reared their proud crests almost to the height of the mountains, between which they were formed, and defying the force of the solar beams, lay scattered in various directions about the sea-coast, and in the adjoining bays. Beds of snow and ice filling extensive hollows, and giving an enamelled coat to neighbouring valleys; mountain rising above mountain; the whole contrasted by a cloudless canopy of deepest azure, and enlightened by the rays of a blazing sun; the effect heightened by a feeling of danger, seated as we were on a pinnacle of rock, surrounded by tremendous precipices; all these circumstances combined to form a view singularly sublime. The impression of the elevation, and the brightness of the picture were such, that the sea, which was at least a league from us, seemed within reach of a musket shot; mountains, twelve miles distant, appeared close at hand; and our vessel, which we knew to be three miles from shore, appeared to be in danger from the rocks. In our descent, which, from the steepness of the rocky paths, was extremely hazardous, and from the sharp-edged stones very painful, we met with an expanse of snow stretched directly across our way. This being loose and soft, we entered upon it without fear, and our progress was at first by no means rapid, but on reaching the middle of it, we came to an expanse of solid ice, over which we were launched with astonishing rapidly.

Scoresby.

FIELD ICE AND BLINK ICE.

THE Occasional rapid motion of fields of ice, with the strange effects produced by such vast bodies, on any opposing substance, is one of the most striking and terrific objects which the polar seas present to view. They, not unfrequently, acquire a rotatory movement, whereby their circumference is carried round with the velocity of many miles in an hour. A field, thus in motion, coming in contact with another at rest, or especially with another moving in a contrary direction, produces a dreadful shock. A body of more than ten thousand millions of tons weight, meeting with resistance, when in motion, crushes the weaker opposing body into shivers, with a most appalling crash. Sometimes the destruction is mutual. Fragments of huge dimension and bulk are often piled up to the height of twenty or thirty feet, while a proportionate quantity are depressed beneath the water. On approaching a pack, field, or other compact aggregation of ice, the phenomenon of the ice-blink is seen whenever the horizon is tolerably free from clouds. The ice-blink consists in a stratum of a lucid whiteness, appearing over the ice in that part of the horizon adjoining the land. When this ice-blink occurs in favourable circumstances, it affords to the eye a beautiful and perfect map of the ice, twenty or thirty miles beyond the limit of direct vision, but less distant in proportion as the atmosphere is more dense and ob

scure.

The ice-blink not only shows the figure

of the ice, whose image it reflects, but enables the experienced observer to judge whether the ice thus pictured be field or packed ice; and if the latter, whether it be compact or open, bay or heavy ice. Field ice affords the most lucid blink, accompanied with a tinge of yellow; that of pack is more purely white, and that of bay ice greyish. The land also, on account of its snowy covering, occasions a blink which is more yellow than that produced by field ice.

Scoresby.

ORATIONS.

SPEECH OF PERCENNIUS.

A FIERCE and violent mutiny broke out among the legions of Pannonia. The death of Augustus and the accession of Tiberius being made known to the army, the general granted a suspension of military duty, as an interval for the expression of grief or joy. There happened to be in the camp a busy incendiary, named Percennius, formerly a leader of theatrical factions, and now a common soldier; a man of fluent speech, and, by his early habits, versed in the art of exciting sedition and tumult. Having gained over a number of the soldiers to his party, he stood forth the orator of rebellion, and thus harangued his comrades.

"How long, fellow soldiers, must we obey a small and despicable set of centurions? How

long continue slaves to a wretched band of tribunes? If we ever mean to redress our grievances, what time so fit as the present, when the new emperor is not yet settled on his throne. By remonstrances, or sword in hand, we may now obtain relief. With passiveness of spirit we have already suffered enough. For thirty campaigns we have been slaves. In this vile servitude we are grown grey; we are worn out with infirmities; we are covered with wounds. In this condition, still are we destined to endure the toils of war. Even they who have nominally gained a discharge, are forced yet to follow the standard under the name of veterans; another word for protracted misery. Some, indeed, by bodily vigour have surmounted all their labours; but what is their reward? They are sent to distant regions, and, under pretext of an allotment of lands, they are settled on a barren mountain, or swampy fen. War, in itself, is a state of degrading drudgery. The life and the limbs of the soldier are valued at five pence a day. Out of that miserable pittance, he must provide his clothing, his tent equipage, and his arms. that fund he has to bribe the centurion. that must he purchase occasional exemptions from service. With that must he pay for remission of punishment. But blows and stripes from our officers, wounds from the enemy, intense cold in winter, excessive heat in summer; destructive war, in which every thing is hazarded, and peace by which nothing is gained; these are the soldier's portion. For these evils there remains one only remedy, that is, to seize this

With
With

opportunity to fix the conditions of our service. Let every soldier receive a denarius daily, and at the end of sixteen years, let him be entitled to his dismissal. Beyond that term no farther service. Without any man being detained, and forced to follow the colours as a veteran, let every one receive the arrears that may be due to him. Let him be paid in ready money on the spot, and in the camp where he has signalized his valour. The Pretorian cohorts have two denarii a day. At the end of sixteen years they return to their families. And is superior merit the ground of this distinction? Do they encounter greater dangers? Their duty is to mount guard within the city. The service may be honourable. But it is our lot to serve amid savage nations, in a state of perpetual warfare. From our very tents we look and behold the barbarians."

Tacitus.

ADDRESS OF GERMANICUS TO HIS MUTINOUS

SOLDIERS.

DURING an insurrection of the first and the twentieth legions in their winter quarters, Germanicus, son of Drusus, the brother of Tiberius, commander in chief, thought it necessary to send away from a camp, that resembled a city taken by storm rather than a Roman station, Agrippina his wife, the grand-daughter of Augustus, with her infant son, Caligula. Alarmed