And shall this occurrence leave you without serious impressions?-Heaven forbid !

The whole number of persons on board the Ætna, is stated to have been thirty-four. The officers, crew, and servants of the boat, consisted of fifteen; of course, the passengers amounted to nineteen. Out of this number, twelve at least have lost their lives. Of some of the unfortunate sufferers, I have received no other information than that which is contained in the public papers. From a friendly intercourse with the family connexions of others, and those also who were brought to the Hospital, I have seriously participated in their afflictions, and now record the issue.

Of those who first fell in death by this accident, the family of Mr. JOB FURMAN, well known and respected in this city, have been the greatest sufferers. Early in the morning of Saturday, Mrs. SARAH FURMAN, Mrs. MERSEROLE their daughter, MARY FURMAN sister of Mr. FURMAN, and Miss CAROLINE FURMAN niece of Mr. FURMAN, only 10 years of age; all these, in the enjoyment of full health, left the city to pay the last expression of friendship, by attending the same afternoon, at Elizabethtown, the funeral of Mrs. PRINCE, who was a niece of Mr. FURMAN. While at that house of mourning, the infant of the deceased expired; it was immediately dressed in its shroud, and placed in the cold arms of its mother, in the same eoffin and both conveyed to the silent grave. Under serious impressions of this closing scene of mortality, they entered on board of the Etna, no doubt in the cheering expectation of returning in safety to the habitation of Mr. FURMAN. We all know the lively emotion which expectation inspires for the return of absent friends; and such was the anticipation of Mr. FURMAN, as the day declined. At last, the sun set. The sable curtain of night drop't. Expectation grew stronger, and yielded to impatience.-They arrived ;-not in health

and activity, but, fast bound in the fetters of death; while their ma gled persons exhibited a spectacle too appalling to recite! Dreadful was the domestic anguish; too deep and heart rending, further to pursue. Necessity, imperiously demanded a speedy interment; and, on the next afternoon, the four bodies were intered in one large grave. How uncertain are ou» domestic enjoyments; and how soon may our choicest sweets be turned into bitterness and gall' O loss beyond repair!

O distress'd father! left alone,

To weep their dire misfortune, and thy own!

How shall thy weaken'd mind, oppress'd with woe,

And drooping o'er thy Sarah's grave,

Perform the duties that you doubly owe,

Now she, alas! is gone.

LYTTLETON, altered.

Such was the public feeling upon this occasion, that some thousands of our fellow-citizens were prompted to mingle their sympathy, by attending the funeral solemnity.

What pious heart will withhold a fervent prayer to the throne of God, that the survivors of this bereaved family, may be endowed with the consoling smiles of the Almighty, and so enriched with his heavenly grace, that from this most severe affliction, they may be assisted to learn those useful lessons, never to be forgotten!

At 10 o'clock on Saturday night, nine of those unfortunate sufferers were brought to the door of the Hospital. Some of them from their emaciated state, were conveyed on litters, and others in coaches. No wonder that their agony and cries broke in upon the stillness of the night, and rendered the scene most awfully affecting! Instantly every exertion, which the dictate of humanity, or the medical talent could produce, were employed for their relief. Two females, Mrs. TAYLOR, and NANCY DOUGHERTY, who were most severely injured, were placed in the woman's ward, No. 5, and the others introduced to such rooms as were most like

ly to produce their comfort and restoration.-On the Sabbath morning at nine o'clock, visiting this Hospital, with the intention of performing the usual course of worship, the dreadful accident, unknown to me before, was then communicated. Mr. WETMORE, the Superintendent, benevolently suggested the propriety of my suspending the usual service, and immediately to visit these distressed patients. With this proposal I cheerfully acquiesced; and continued my friendly attention to them, until they either sunk in death, or by the goodness of God, were restored to their health. The concluding part of my address to you this morning, will be a recital of some of those impressive sentiments communicated by the lips of the dying patients, in the devout hope, that God may impress upon your minds, the vast importance of being prepared to meet your last change.

ANN DOUGHERTY, aged about 30, inhaled a large portion of steam, and likewise was externally scalded in a shocking manner. She however was amply supported by the hand of her Saviour, and gave a charming assurance of the virtue of religion, under the sharpest distress. As this female died in the night on which she came in, I am indebted to the women who occupy the same ward, for my information, and from whose joint testimony the following statement may be received as correct. Previous to her entering on board the Steam-Boat, she had an impression upon her mind that she should not live long; and, in taking leave of a christian friend, she cut off a lock of her hair, and gave it to her as a memorial of affection, saying, "I do not expect to see you again." Soon as her scalds were dressed, she said, “I thank God for this accident; I shall the sooner go to my heavenly Father's home." A pious aged woman went to her bed, and asked her," is Jesus the Saviour precious to you? She replied, "O yes, he is precious to me," and raising her debilitated voice as much as possible, she said, “I want you all to seek, and love the Lord." A little after, she said to one of her attendants, "I dare not say this is hard,

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though it may seem so." This person asked her if she could do any thing for her? to which she replied, "No, the Lord will do all things well for me.". The cook employed in the Hospital kitchen had some knowledge of this sufferer, and came in to see her. Observing the position in which she lay, she asked her, if her pillow did not seem hard to her head? With peculiar emphasis, she answered, “O no! it does not. Jesus can make a dying bed feel soft as downy pillows are." I am sorry to see you suffer so much. "Yes, I do suffer; but what are my sufferings when compared with what Christ suffered for us? I am willing to suffer any way my Lord shall please; and to die any death, by which he thinks proper to take me to himself." When near 4 o'clock, she visibly began to fail, and with solemn aceents said," It is almost done!-it is almost over!" Speedily after, she sunk in the arms of death.-Let me ask you, my hearers, if on a dying bed, could you have said so? Are you prepared thus to meet death? When he cometh, will he find you in your sins;-or, as having fled for refuge to a Saviour's arms?

The next case was that of JOSEPH STEVENS, in No. 14, a native of Ireland. This unfortunate stranger was so dreadfully scalded, and had inhaled so much steam, that he could merely speak in a whisper. By the dressing he had received, no part of his face was visible but his lips. I took a seat by his side, and tenderly expressed my wishes that God might command a blessing upon the means used with the hope of his recovery; and especially grant him merey and peace through a blessed Redeemer, whatever might be the issue of his present misfortune. Though the poor creature was severely scalded in his throat, he thus expressed the greater agony of his mind. "O how distressing! God has turned his back upon me in this judgment ! It is no more than I deserved, for I have been a great sinner." I perceived that this was no time for me to probe the man's wounded mind deeper, by asking him questions

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on his conduct, which under other circumstances might have been necessary; for death was now evidently approaching. I therefore immediately opened to him the balmof the gospel, and explained to him in what manner God turneth his face upon penitent sinners, through the sufferings and death of his Son Jesus Christ. I further encouraged his desire by assuring him, from the Scriptures, that Christ was able to save to the uttermost, all that come unto God through him; let their transgressions or their miseries be never so great. He faintly replied, "O that Jesus Christ would look upon me, and save my poor soul." I visited and prayed with this afflicted man twice a day, and found him anxiously engaged with his God and Saviour. The patients in the ward, repeatedly informed me that this severe sufferer, by the motion of his lips, appeared to be constantly employed in prayer, until he died on Tuesday. Will not this case form a contrast to that of DOUGHERTY? How dreadful it must be for a man at any time, to endure an impression upon his soul, that for his sins, he is abandoned by his Maker! but more so, when he is plunged into distress, and the forebodings of death opens the grave to his view. Although it is not our province to seal the fate of any man, yet we most ardently wish that the last trying hours of this distressed person, may be a warning to every thoughtless sinner present. Pause! think seriously! pray that the Saviour's face may turn and shine on you, before the grim visage of death appears.

The next patient I visited, was ANN THOMAS, placed in No. 15. This was a coloured woman, and she informed me that she was second cook in the Steam-Boat. It is said that nearly the whole of her person was scalded. Her face, neck and arms were so lacerated, that the black skin in several places was torn off, the under one appearing like that of a white person. Having inhaled a quantity of steam, her speech could scarcely be understood. She was perfectly sensible of her danger, and asked me to pray for her. On

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