had passed over our heads, and he was truly born again, even when he had become old! I need here add no more than to say, that he obtained the certificate he came for, and the pension he was seeking at the Admiralty; and that by a subscription among some friends, he was enabled to purchase a wherry on the Thames, where he has for some time past been very usefully employed as an agent of one of the Societies established for the moral and religious instruction of our seamen. Surely this is another illustration of our motto, "Cast thy bread upon the waters for thou shalt find it after many days."

,

Before I lay down my pen, I may perhaps, be allowed to say, that John P was always a good specimen. of our old, and commonly called, hard-aweather English seamen, who, from having been all their lifetime at sea, or on ship board, have but few words in which to clothe their ideas or express themselves on general topics, unless it be in sea phrases and nautical comparisons. This was and still is, peculiarly the case with honest John P- although he has for some years been a resident on shore, and a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Full well does he know what religion in the heart means, for this kingdom of God is within him; but he cannot go far in expressing his feelings and knowledge of this glorious transformation, in what he would term, a shore-going way. There is, however, a simplicity of manner, and a force and propriety, in his nautical prayers and conversation which have surprised every man of intelligence who has heard him, and is acquainted with the literal signification of John's vocab

ulary. A gentleman who was once present, gave me an account of what passed; as, on that occasion, my name and former humble proceedings were introduced into John's prayer. This took place one old year's day, when he and several other pious seamen, with some landsmen, agreed to keep what is called a watch-night, that is, to sit up until the old year is gone out and the new one come in, on which occasions the individuals unite in singing, reading of Scripture, and praising God for all his mercies through the various stages of the year about to expire, and then they commence the new year in actual prayer and supplication for his mercy and grace to go with them through the days that may yet be added to their earthly pilgrimage. In these simple, primitive, and edifying exercises, it is customary for several individuals to take a part. On the occasion here alluded to; it came, in the course of their little service, to John's turn to give out a psalm or hymn, and then to engage in prayer, which, my informant assured me, he did with the seriousness of a patriarch, and the simplicity of a little child. This gentleman assured me, that John's whole soul appeared absorbed in penitence, in gratitude, and love to God; so that he seemed utterly unmindful of any one's presence, save His unto whom he was now addressing himself in confession of sins committed, and in thanksgivings for mercies received. Often his full heart caused his eyes literally to flow down with tears. But it was the peculiarity of his language, and the simplicity of his mixture of confession, supplication, and a sort of conversation with God, while on his knees, which exhibited, so strikingly, the character

istics of a poor pious sailor's devotions. Weeping like a child, the old hero of many a hard-fought battle, exclaimed, "O Lord, I am a poor vile, ignorant sinner, not worthy to call on thy name. Lord, I have many times, at this season of the year, sat up to drink, and curse, and swear the old year out, and the new year in, with my shipmates. Yes, Lord, I did so when I belonged to the Cr. There we sat in the galley most of the night sinning against thee. Lord, I did so when thy dear servant Mr. M― belonged to our ship. O Lord! thou knowest how that dear man was willing to take us poor sailors in tow for heaven. Lord, thou knowest how he often hailed us, but I would not answer him; no, nor even throw a rope. O Lord, forgive me, and do thou bless his soul now and for ever." Should this recital induce a smile, oh! let it not be one of contempt at poor John's simple prayer, which, I doubt not, ascended to heaven, and entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Rather let the reader contemplate the case of a vessel lost in error, as to the courses she has long been steering, and unacquainted with her present latitude and longitude. Let him consider this vessel overtaken, dismasted, and almost overwhelmed by a storm; then let him realise to his mind some friendly ship bearing down to her relief, anxious and willing, if possible, to take her in tow; but all these friendly intentions are defeated; for the besotted crew will neither answer the repeated calls made to them, nor even exert themselves to throw a small line on board the friendly ship to receive a tow rope from those who are desirous of rendering assistance. When the reader has proceeded thus far he will, though

a landsman, have a clue by which he may interpret poor John's simple and undisguised confession of his past conduct, and understand, in a small degree, how expressive and to the purpose are many sea terms and nautical phrases, when used by real seamen. O how often has the Saviour of men beheld us like this poor bewildered, dismasted vessel, ready to sink into eternity, without the knowledge of our situation, and without power or will to help ourselves? And how often has he borne down in mercy, and asked "Why will ye die?" How often would he have gathered us, as a hen her brood under her wings; but, like John P, we would not hear, nor answer, nor make the least effort to flee from the wrath to come, or to lay hold on eternal life. "He would ofttimes have taken us in tow, but we would not even throw a rope." Let the trifler smile at John's confession, but let me ever take it up, and repeat it for my

self, to the praise of that mercy which did not leave me or poor John to perish in our ignorance, ingratitude, and stupidity.

CHAPTER XV.

"CAST THY BREAD UPON THE WATERS; FOR THOU CHALT FIND IT AFTER MANY DAYS.-ECCLES xi. 1.

To proceed with some additional illustrations of our motto, I may here observe, that few persons, who are unconnected with our navy, can be aware of the great difference that runs through all the interior of different ships composing the same fleet or squadron. In fact, it is in ships as in houses, two of the latter may comprise a part of the same terrace, and in all respects of size and building may be the exact counterpart of each other, while every thing within them, as to comfort, regularity, intelligence, and morality, may be as opposite as possible. So it is in ships of the same fleet, and size, and rating on the navy list. In one, the visitor who possesses correct principles, and a well informed mind, may find many things to interest his best feelings, and command his esteem; while, in the other, he will hear and see little else than what is calculated to excite his pity or contempt. To confine myself, however, to one particular, it may be stated, that the young gentlemenvolunteers, and midshipmen, are so watched over by the captain and commissioned officers, and so trained up in general and professional knowledge on board of some ships, as to bid fair for their one day becoming