mercy of every piratical plunderer, determined to store his ports with shipping; and vessels larger than those in use in the surrounding nations were built, many of which carried sixty oars. The unremitting attention of this illustrious prince to the navy, contributed to increase the blessings of his reign, and has obtained for him the title of “Father of the British Navy.” Of the Saxon system of government it may be observed, that it had in it the germ of freedom, if it did not always exhibit the fruit. In religion they were idolators, and their idols, altars, and temples, soon overspread the country. They had a god for every day of the week. _Thor_, the God of thunder, represented Thursday; _Woden_, the God of battle, represented Wednesday; _Friga_, the God of love, presided over Friday; _Seater_, the God of Saturday, had influence over the fruits of the earth; _Tuyse_, the God of the Dutch, conferred his name on Tuesday; they also worshipped the sun and the moon, each conferring a name on one of the days of the week; _Sunnan_, on Sunday; and _Monan_, on Monday. The merit of eradicating this baneful superstition, by the introduction of Christianity, was reserved for a Roman Pontiff. Gregory, surnamed the Great, who, in the year 597, sent Augustine, a monk, into the south, and Paulinus into the north of England, by whose preaching the Christian religion made such rapid progress, that it soon became the prevailing faith, and Augustine was elevated to the Archbishopric of Canterbury, and Paulinus was made Archbishop of York. He was the first to preach Christianity in Mercia, where he followed the victorious arms of Edwin, King of Northumbria.