of the drowning Brethren! In a few moments the dear children ceased to cry, and the voice of prayer was turned to endless praise. The Captain now exhorted all who were still on the wreck to come nearer to her head, as she was fast breaking up, and that part of her was likely to hold together longest, adding, “Hold on if you possibly can until the morning, and then we shall be seen from Goat Hill Battery, and be rescued." With this advice they were enabled to comply, though with considerable difficulty. The sea was tremendous, and the night dark! Wave followed wave in close succession, and they had frequently but just recovered their breath from the past wave when the next took it from them again. At length the greatly wished-for morning arrived; but, alas! it was not to be the morning of deliverance for them. They made the best signals of distress they could, but they were not seen. They on the wreck could see people walking on shore, but no one saw them, there was so little for the naked eye to distinguish them from the reef, and the waves ran high. Vessels and boats passed at some distance during the day, and they unitedly and with one voice endeavoured to hail them; but the beating of the sea on the rocks drowned their voices, so that they could not be heard. The Brethren and Sister Jones were, however, enabled, by the grace of God, notwithstanding all their disappointments, to stay their minds on God, and to instruct the deeply-stricken and penitent Captain and sailors how to be saved. The sailors wept and prayed, whilst the Missionaries pointed them to the Lamb of God, and exhorted them to add faith to penitence. Poor fellows! two of them died this day on the wreck exhausted, but “looking unto Jesus." Night again came on apace, and soon enveloped them in all its dreariest gloom! Seated on a piece of the wreck; up to their breasts in water; without a crumb of bread, or a drop of water having passed through their lips; the sea very rough, and the waves passing over them, each wave threatening immediate death! In this condition they held each other. If one ventured to sleep a little, another watched lest the waves should sweep him away. It was a night like the last, full of horrors. When day appeared, it was welcomed with praise to God that their eyes were permitted once more to see it, and with prayer that it might be the day of rescue; at the same time, according to Mrs. Jones, their language appears to

have been that of their divine Master, "Not my will, but thine be done." Vessels and boats passed again, but they were not seen. Some time after noon this day (Thursday) Brother Hillier said he thought he could swim ashore, and thus, by the blessing of God, rescue himself, and be the happy instrument of saving them. The Brethren Jones and Oke feared, with the Captain, that he was too weak, having taken nothing, to swim three miles, the distance required. He, however, still thought he could, and in the spirit of prayer he committed himself to the deep, and they, after bidding him fare. well, commended him to God. He struck off well, but in about ten minutes sunk to rise no more, till." the sea shall give up her dead." One or two of the sailors also attempted to reach the shore on pieces of the wreck, but failed. Thus the survivors passed through another day of sorrows. The bodies of some of the sufferers were seen floating to-day; and the rain fell in showers around them; but Sister Jones says, eagerly as they wished it, only one slight shower fell on them. She put out her tongue, and caught a few drops of rain, which refreshed her, for which she felt thankful to God. Niglit now approached once more, but with every appearance of its being the last; for the joints of the piece of wreck on which they were began to open fast, and there was every appearance of its soon falling in pieces and putting an end to all their affliction. With this expectation, each was fervently engaged with God in hallowed and resigned communion. Contrary to their expectations, however, they were spared to see another day. The sea was much calmer to-day (Friday) than it had before heen, and about noon, Brother Oke said that he would endeavour to swim ashore. Mrs. Jones was asleep when he made the attempt, but was informed afterwards by Mr. Jones, that he was drowned soon after he got into the water, being too weak to swim far. Mrs. Jones was seated on what are called, I believe, the bitts; her husband was beside her with his head leaning on her shoulder, while her hand held him by the coat collar. He began to lose the use of his legs, and his dear wife called the Captain to help her to raise them, if possible, out of the water. The Captain made the effort, but was too weak to come to her help. Not long afterwards, Brother Jones looked at his wife, and said, "My dear, I feel a strange drowsiness! What can be the

meaning of it?" She had never seen any one die, aud replied, " My love, I cannot tell." Soon after he cried out, "Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly! and a few minutes afterwards exclaimed 66 Glory, glory!"-and blessedly entered into it. Thus he died, with his head leaning upon Mrs. Jones. She called to the Captain, but received no answer, for he too, poor man, was dying. For a few minutes she held the remains of her dear husband to her breast; but soon a wave washed him from her unnerved arms, and he fell at her feet. For a few seconds she saw the body floating, and then fell into a state of insensibility. In this state she remained until rescued by Mr. Kentish and Mr. Ashford, two gentlemen, who, on hearing of the wreck through an American Captain, who, it is said, passed by at noon, humanely went off without delay to render all the help they could. When she was found, her face was so swelled that her head appeared almost a shape. less mass. On being touched, she came to herself, and asked what they were going to do with her? They conveyed her ashore with all possible dispatch, and at the house of Mr. Kentish she met the best of care and medical skill. Dr. Peddie was up with her all the night; bled her two or three times to keep off inflammation, and happily, under God, contrary to his own expectation, saved her life. He told me, that if she had been there two hours longer, nothing could have saved her. That she lives is a great wonder: God only could have preserved her, and to him therefore be the praise. She says, that it appears to her as if boats saw them three times. They pulled or sailed towards them a cousiderable way, and their hopes on such occasions were strongly excited. They now rejoiced over approaching deliverance; but alas! it was joy of but short continuance, for they all either turned back, or passed them unobserved. I asked her, if she thought the Brethren who attempted to swim ashore would have lived had they remained on the wreck, and she believes not. The Captain, she says, was much stronger in appearance than Mr. Oke, on Friday morning, and yet he died, and she believes that had she not drank salt water that day, she must have died also. Feeling refreshed by doing so herself, she exhorted the Captain and Brethren to do the same, but they declined. I asked her how the sailors died? her answer was, OI hope that they are saved! The Captain and men wept much over

their sins they were deeply humbled, and earnestly asked what they should do to be saved?" and she added, " we were so taken up with the salvation of their souls, that we seemed to forget our own danger. To the last moment of their existence the Missionaries exhorted them to look to the Lord, which they did; and there is strong ground for hope that they found mercy." I had an opportunity of thanking Dr. Peddie today for the great attention paid to Mrs. Jones by him. He, I understood, slept at Mr. Kentish's three or four nights on her account. 1 told him that the Missionary Society would gladly pay his bill. To this he most generously replied, "Sir, it is altogether an act of benevolence, and I should never forgive myself if I charged a farthing." This was said with so much feeling, that I was almost as much gratified with the manner as with the act. To-night I met the Leaders in Class, and we afterwards held the Leaders' meeting.

Tuesday, 14th.-I spent some time with Sister Jones, and in the evening preached in Ebenezer Chapel, from, "Knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance: cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward." The following is an extract from the "Weekly Register newspaper of this day: "Mr. George Newbold, late mate of the mail-boat Maria, arrived here on Saturday morning, from St. Bartholomew's. He reports, that he and the man who were saved in the boat of the Maria endeavoured to scull the boat to the vessel, but found it impossible to reach her, from the boisterous weather and heavy sea which was running, added to which, part of the boat's stern was stove in, and no proper place remained for sculling; they, however, used every possible exertion to return, but were unsuccessful, and by next morning they had drifted down to the back of Nevis, where they were fallen in with by a French sloop, which took them on board, and conveyed them to St. Bartholomew's,"

Wednesday, 15th. Mr. and Mrs. Morgan arrived this morning from Dominica, which place they left on Sunday morning last. We met in tears. At noon we went to see Sister Jones, who, by the mercy of God, is fast recovering. In the afternoon I went to Engish-Harbour; saw Sister Hillier, who bears up under her affliction in a most Christian manner; and at night, to a full chapel, I improved the afflicting dispensation. The chapel was

hung with black, and most of the people appeared in mourning. It was a heartrending time. The feelings of several were more than they could endure. The expressions of sorrow that every where meet the eye, or salute the ear, cannot be described. So great has been the demand for mourning, that it has taken an extensive rise in price. May this prove to many a godly sorrow, that shall work repentance unto eternal life! Then, indeed, the servants of God will not have died in vain.

Thursday, 16th.-Early this morning one of our kind friends, from St. Christopher's, called upon me. She gives a must affecting account of the affliction produced in that island by the wreck of the Maria. The following is from the St. Christopher's Advertiser: "With feelings of the deepest sorrow and concern, we have to record the loss of the Mail-boat, Maria, Captain Whitney, which sailed hence on the 25th ult. for islands to windward." After detailing some of the particulars above named, the editor goes on to state : ، The premature and unhappy fate of so many persons, several of whom were well known and greatly esteemed in this island, has excited a deep and general feeling of commiseration throughout the community." I spent part of this day with Sister Hillier, and in the evening improved once more this distressing event in our large and excellent new chapel at Willoughby-Bay. It was, like all the rest, a season of tears !

Friday, 17th.-I left Willoughby-Bay early this morning, and reached St. John's (twelve or fourteen miles) by breakfast time. In the forenoon I gave Sister Jones a drive out. This is the first day she has been out since her affliction. For the first time also she has appeared in the garb of a widow, and for the first time has seen Mr. Kentish since he was the instrument of saving her. These things considerably affected her, yet she is much recovered.

I called at the office of the Editor of "The Free Press" to-day, for the purpose of contradicting a mistake in his paper of last week. Writing concerning the wreck, with feeling for the sufferers and indignancy towards some who are represented to have seen the wreck without affording relief, he adds, "Mr. Hillier, in a paroxysm of disappointment and despair, seeing they were thus bereft of the only probable

chance of relief, on Thursday plunged into the sea and perished." On being better informed, he regretted the error, and has written a paragraph contradicting it in a satisfactory manner.

Saturday, March 18.-To-day the brethren Cox and Gartside arrived from Nevis, in obedience to the summons of the Chairman. They, with him, are to stand in the places, for the present, of the dear Brethren who have so unexpectedly received their last, their best, and their eternal appointment. One of the Brethren in St. Christopher's is requested to go to Nevis to supply their places, and Mr. Grimshaw remains alone in Dominica.

Monday, March 20.-I have been employed nearly the whole of this day in looking after the effects of dear Brother Jones. I found it to be a painful duty. In the evening, after I reached St. John's, I spent some time with Sister Jones, who now is nearly well, and whose recovery is almost as astonishing as her deliverance from the wreck. how strikingly is she a monument of divine mercy! The profane are even constrained to acknowledge God in her

case.

A general feeling of sympathy and affection prevails. Some who did not look at the Missionaries favourably when living, now speak well of them. "O! what a pity that so many good people have been taken from us!""What a loss to the Island!" &c. are some of the exclamations which are to be heard. May God of his infinite mercy, grant that this great loss may be so felt as to awaken some to righteousness who are now strangers to it!

Tuesday, March 21.-This morning I had the happiness to hear from Montserrat. Blessed be God, all is well. It seems that they did not bear of my safe arrival at this island for a week, and were in much anxiety and constant prayer for me. I spent a little time today at the Moravian Mission Establishment, and was most kindly received. The brethren and sisters sympathize greatly with us in the loss which we have sustained. About noon I took an affecting leave of our dear Sister Jones, and commended her to God and the word of his grace. We have had and still have a wish for her to take up her residence with us in Montserrat; she, however, now thinks her duty is to return home, as her husband is no more.