dreariness like a dream of Haroun Al Raschid to the wearied pilgrim on desert sands. The divan, or wide sofa, on three sides of this hall, is far more agreeable in this enervating climate than any European furniture; only, in winter, as the ground underneath is permeated by leaky clay tubes bearing the waters of the Barrady, and there is no other heating apparatus save a brazer of charcoal, one is sometimes very chilly, and is tempted to exchange this tomblike dampness for a cozy corner near some friendly stove or familiar fire-place. But the general impression which unintelligent strangers carries from Damascus is, that the people have what they want, and have gone wisely to work to realize their idea of earthly blessedness,--an indolent, sensual, dreamy one to you, but in their eyes no faint type of the Mussulman’s heaven. F W Holland CAMBRIDGE, MASS. RELIGIOUS, MORAL, AND POLITICAL DUTIES. What is morally wrong, cannot be made practically right. The laws of morality are taught in the Bible. They are unchangeable truths. No sophistry, no expediency, no compromise can set them aside. If politics is the science of government, and if civil government is a divine institution, intended to protect the rights of all; if “an injury done to the meanest subject, is an injury done to the whole body;” and if “rulers must be just, ruling in the fear of God,” all legislation should be based on moral duty. Any enactments that have not this basis, are, in the Divine sight, null and void. If man is endowed by nature with inalienable rights, no legislation can rightfully wrest them from him. Any attempt to do it, is an infraction of the moral law. Our religious, moral, and political duties are identical and inseparable. It is the duty of all christian legislators so to act _now_, as they know all must act, when truth and righteousness shall have a universal prevalence on the earth. Lindley Murray Moore. WHY SLAVERY IS IN THE CONSTITUTION.