a.

Signers of the Declaration of Independence.

John Hancock, of Mass., born 1737, died 1793, age 55; Sam'l Adams, Mass., b. 1722, died 1803, age 82; John Adams, Mass., b. 1735, d. 1826, age 91; Robt. Treat Paine, Mass., b. 1731, d. 1814, a. 84; Elbridge Gerry, Mass., b. 1744, d. 1814, a. 70; Josiah Bartlett, N. H., b. 1729, d. 1795, a. 66; Wm. Whipple, N. H., b. 1730, d. 1785, a. 55; Matthew Thornton, N. H., b. 1714, d. 1803, a. 89; Stephen Hopkins, R. I., b. 1707, d. 1785, a. 78; Wm. Ellery, R. I., b. 1727, d. 1820, a. 92; Roger Sherman, Ct., b. 1721, d. 1793, a. 72; Saml. Huntington, Ct., b. 1732, d. 1796, a. 64; Wm. Williams, Ct., b. 1731, d. 1811, a. 81; OliverWolcott, Ct., b. 1726, d. Wm. Floyd, N. Y., b. 1734, d. 1821, a. 87; Philip Livingston, N. Y., b. 1716, d. 1778, a. 62; Francis Lewis, N. Y., b. 1713, d. 1803, a. 90; Lewis Morris, N. Y., b. 1726, d. 1798, a. 71; Richard Stockton, N. J., b. 1731, d. 1781, a. 53; John Witherspoon, N. J., b. 1722, d. 1794, a. 73; Francis Hopkins, N. J., b. 1737, d. 1791, a. 53; John Hart, N. J., b. ——, d. 1787, -; Abraham Clark, N. J., b. 1726, d. 1794, a. 69; Robert Morris, Pa., b. 1733, d. 1806, a. 73; Benjamin Rush, P., b. 1745, d. 1813, a. 68; Benjamin Franklin, Pa., b. 1706, d. 1777, a. 54; John Morton, Pa., b. d. 1777, a. 54; George Clymer, Pa., b. 1739, d. 1813, a. 74; James Smith, Pa., born, d. 1806, a.; George Taylor, Pa., b. 1716, d. 1781, a. 66; James Wilson, Pa., b. 1742, d. 1798, a. 56; George Ross, Pa., b. 1729, d. 1779, a. 50; Cæsar Rodney, De., b. 1730, d. 1783, a. 53; George Read, De., b. 1734, d. 1798, a. 64; Thomas McKean, De., b. 1734, d. 1817, a. 83; Saml. Chase, Md., b. 1743, d. 1811, a. 68; Wm. Paca, Md., b, 1740, d. 1799, a. 59; Thomas Stone, Md., b. 1742, d. 1787, a. 45; Charles Carroll, Md., b. 1737, d. a. ; George Wythe, Va., b. 1726, d. 1806, a. 80; Richard Henry Lee, Va., b. 1732, d. 1794, a. 62; Thomas Jefferson, Va., b. 1743, d. 1826, a. 83; Benjamin Harrison, Va., b. ——, d. 1791, a. ; Thomas Nelson, Va., b. 1738, d. 1789, a. 51; Francis L. Lee, Va., b. 1734, d. a. - ; Carter Baxton, Va., b. 1736, d. 1797, a. 61; Wm. Hooper, N. C., b. 1742, d. 1790, a. 48; Joseph Hews, N. C., b. 1730, d. 1779, a. 49; John Penn, N. C., b. 1741, d. 1788, a. 47; Edward Rutledge, S. C., b. 1749, d. 1800, a. 51; Thomas Heyward, S. C., b. 1746, d. 1809, a. 63; Thomas Lynch, S. C., b. 1749, d. a. -; Arthur Middleton, S. C., b. 1743, d. 1787, a. 44; Button Gwinnett, Ga., b. 1732, d. 1777, a. 45; Lyman Hall, Ga., b. 1731, d. 1791, 60; George Walton, Ga., b. 1740, d. 1804, a. 64.

Rain Water.

N our country there falls rain, including melted snow, to the average depth of 35 inches. On a surface of 40 feet square, there falls yearly 34,909 wine gallons; and if all this were secured in cisterns, there would be nearly one hundred gallons for every day's consumption, or about three barrels. This water, if well preserved, would be the very purest and best for most domestic purposes. The horse and the cow prefer rain water to pump or well water; and though I would not be entirely governed by their decision, yet great respect is due to their judgment in such matters. The water of many wells is tinctured in such a way as makes it less fit for a solvent; and it does not so perfectly combine with nutritious substances, to form chyle, and nourish the human system. They who live in situations where water is not easily procured from the ground, may be told that the purest water is descending around them; and if they will only be at the necessary expense to secure this gift of heaven, they may provide an abundant supply. On such reservoirs, the inhabitants of Palestine placed much dependance; and it is a merciful appointment of God, that in warm countries, where the greatest supply of water is needed, the most rain descends. We may yet find good capacious cisterns, of brick or stone and Roman cement, economical additions to our domestic conveniences. A cistern 10 feet square, and 10 feet deep, would contain 118 hogsheads of 63 wine gallons each, and would secure to most families, a constant supply of water. F. F.

Boston Scientific Tracts.

Honesty the best Policy.

A FARMER called on Earl Fitzwilliam to represent that his crop of wheat had been seriously injured in a field adjoining a certain wood, where his hounds had, during the winter, frequently met to hunt. He stated that the young wheat had been so cut up and destroyed, that in some parts he could not hope for any produce. "Well, my friend," said his lordship, “I am aware that we have frequently met in that field, and that we have done considerable injury, and if you can procure an estimate of the loss you have sustained, I will repay you." The farmer replied, that anticipating his lordship's consideration and kindness, he had requested a friend to assist him in estimating the damage, and they thought that, as the crop seemed quite destroyed, £50 would not more than repay him. The Earl immediately gave him the money. As the harvest, however, approached, the wheat grew, and in those parts of the field that were trampled, the corn was the strongest and most luxuriant. The farmer went again to his lord

Common Errors in English Composition,

An extract from a New Grammar, preparing for the Press.

THERE are, perhaps, no words in the English language, so often misapplied as Prepositions and Conjunctions. This defect arises, very naturally, from defective instruction. Hitherto, the correct use of these two classes has but partially entered into the essentials of an English education. Why it is, that this subject has been so long neglected, we know not; one thing we know, that it is high time to wake up to a sense of its importance. Mr. Murray touched lightly upon this subject, in no conspicuous part of his Grammar, as if it were a mere matter of minor consideration. Mr. James Brown was the first man who gave the subject that attention, which its importance demands.

În calling your attention to this subject, in these desultory observations, permit me first to say, that there exists a natural relation between members of the same sentence; and the proper use of Prepositions and Conjunctions, is to express these relations. Remember, that the Preposition or Conjunction does not make the relation, that the relation exists independent of either, but that they are only used as signs of the relations. Hence, the errors referred to above, consist in the application of that Preposition or Conjunction, which is not a true sign of the existing relation. For every relation, there is a correct Preposition or Conjunction; but since the proper application of these connecting words, has hitherto formed no part of an English education, no marvel, that so many errors have crept into use, not merely through the vulgar, but also through the learned.

If, in adducing examples, illustrative of this part of my subject, I should array the errors of authors on English Grammar, I hope it will be remembered, that I am actuated by no sinister motive; but would merely show, that since popular authors are the father of so much error, no wonder, that popular error has begotten such an infinite progeny.

The first example, that I shall adduce, is found in "Hints to teachers and private learners," by Mr. Samuel Kirkham, in the last edition of his GramIn the second paragraph, you will find the following

mar.

"Others hint that the learner ought to apply definitions in a general way, but they lay down no systematic arrangement of questions, as his guide." By using the Conjunction as in this example, instead of the Preposition, for, the Noun guide is made to be nominative instead of objective, as the sense requires; and when analyzed, reads thus

"But they lay down no systematic arrangement of the questions, as his guide lays them down."

Again, in the last paragrah of the same piece, we have

"It is hoped, that the blame for their non-improvement, will not be thrown upon him.”

The relation existing between blame and non-improvement is a possessive one; but for does not express that kind of relation, consequently, it is misapplied; of should be used.

"The blame for William, will not be thrown upon John." "The blame of William, will not be thrown on John."

Again, in Mr. K's address to "the young learner :"