the ship. When the men were mustered to their quarters, the sturdy blasphemer was missing, and my friend went below to seek him; great was his surprise at finding him on his knees, repeating the Lord's Prayer with wonderful rapidity, over and over again, as if he had bound himself to countless reiterations. Vexed at what he deemed hypocrisy, or cowardice, he shook him roughly by the collar, exclaiming-"Say your prayers in fine weather." The man rose up, observing in a low voice, "God grant I may see fair weather to say them in." In a few hours the storm happily abated, a week more brought them to harbour, and an incident so trivial passed quickly away from the memory of the captain, the more easily as the man in question was paid off the day after landing, and appeared not again.

Four years more had elapsed, during which, though my friend had been twice shipwrecked and was grievously hurt by the falling of a spar, he pursued without amendment a life of profligacy and contempt of God. At the end of this period he arrived in the port of New York, after a tedious and dangerous voyage from England. It was on a Sabbath morning, and the streets were thronged with persons proceeding to the several houses of worship with which that city abounds-but the narrator, from whose lips I take this anecdote, was bent on far other occupation, designing to drown the recollection of perils and deliverances in a celebrated tavern, which he had too long and too often frequented. As he walked leisurely towards the goal, he encountered a very dear friend, the quondam associate of many a thoughtless hour. Salutations over, the captain seized him by the arm, declaring that he should accompany him to the hotel. "I will do so," replied the other, with great calmness, on condition that you come with me first for a single hour into this house (a church), and thank God for his mercies to you on the deep." The captain was ashamed to refuse, so the two friends entered the temple together. Already all the seats were occupied, and a dense crowd filled the aisle; but, by dint of personal exertion, they succeeded in reaching a position right in front of the pulpit, at about five yards' distance. The preacher, one of the most popular of the day, riveted the attention of the entire congregation, including the captain himself, to whom his features and voice, though he could not assign any time or place of previous meeting, seemed not wholly unknown, particularly when he spoke with animation. At length the preacher's eyes fell upon the spot where the two friends stood. He suddenly paused-still gazing upon the captain, as if to make himself sure he laboured under no mistake, no optical delusion-and after a silence of more than a minute, pronounced with a voice that shook the building-"Say your prayers in fine weather!" The audience were lost in amazement, nor was it until a considerable time had elapsed that the preacher recovered sufficient self-possession to recount the incident with which the reader is already acquainted, adding, with deep emotion, that the words which his captain uttered in the storm had clung to him by day and night after his landing, as if an angel had been charged with the duty of repeating them in his ears; that he felt the holy call as coming direct from above, to do the work of his crucified Master-that he had studied at college for the ministry, and was now, through grace, such as they saw and heard. At the conclusion of this affecting address, he called on the audience to join in prayer with himself, that the same words might be blessed in turn to him who first had used them. But God had outrun their petitions, my friend was already His child before his former shipmate had ceased to tell his story. The power of the Spirit had wrought effectually upon him, and subdued every lofty imagination. And so, when the people dispersed, he exchanged the hotel for the house of the preacher, with whom he tarried six weeks, and parted from him to pursue his profession with a heart devoted to the service of his Saviour, and with holy and happy assurance, which (as he declared to me, and I confidently rely in his truth) advancing years hallowed, strengthened, and sanctified. From that companion of a night I then parted, probably not to meet again

till we stand before the judgment-seat of Christ. His history is too palpably instructive to require that I should add my own reflections, and with one only I conclude, addressing those persons who seek God merely in the hours of danger and trouble, in the words of the captain-" Say your prayers in fair weather."

THE WRECK OF THE "ROYAL ADELAIDE" STEAMER.

Margate, April 2, 1850. The wreck of this fine steamer and the awful loss of life which accompanied it have occasioned a painful degree of excitement in this place. Intelligence of the catastrophe only reached the authorities about noon on Sunday last, though the wreck took place at eleven o'clock on the preceding night, within fifteen miles of the harbour. It now appears that the signals of distress fired from on board the unfortunate ship were observed by the coast-guard men attached to the Westgate station, about one mile westward from this town, on the cliffs. As they were repeated only two or three times, however, the men did not give any alarm to the pilot-boats, and, the signals not being observed from the port-head, or harbour, no boats put off during the night. Yesterday morning, about half-past seven o'clock, a signal gun was fired from the Tongue lightship. The signal was not repeated, but there was something sufficiently unusual in the circumstance of its being fired at all to induce the crew of a lugger, called the Nelson, under the command of William Parker, to put off, with the view of ascertaining what was required. The Nelson left the harbour shortly after eight o'clock, and bore towards the Tongue Sand. On nearing the lightship, they signalled her crew, who inquired whether they were come out in consequence of having heard a gun fired? The crew of the Nelson said they had, and asked what was the matter? The captain of the lightship said they feared a large steamboat had gone ashore on the Tongue Sand, about three miles off. Parker asked what time this had happened? The captain said the steamer passed the lightship about a quarter to eleven o'clock on the previous night, and in about twenty minutes afterwards they observed signals of distress fired from a vessel on the track she had taken. Parker asked the captain why they had not fired before? The captain replied, that they only observed the signals two or three times, and, as they heard and saw no more, they were under the impression that the ship had merely grounded, and got off again. Shortly after daybreak, however, at low water, they saw the hull of a large paddle-box steamer on the sands, and they then fired the signal gun which had attracted attention on shore.

The Nelson at once bore down in the direction pointed out, but, as the wreck was not then visible, they were at that time unable to make any observations as to her precise position. They continued in the neighbourhood of the sand, however, and in the course of the afternoon picked up the bodies of two persons, which were found floating, the one in the "Black Deeps," about four miles from the Tongue lightship, and the other on the Girdler Sand. These bodies were brought on shore yesterday, and will be shortly interred.

About nine o'clock on Sunday morning one of the preventive service men came down to the pierhead (it being then low water,) and said that a portion of the wreck of a large ship was visible from the cliffs, about fifteen miles distant, on the Tongue Sand. The fact of a serious wreck having taken place was also announced by a Deal boatman, who came into Margate during the morning, and reported having spoken a steamer (the Malcolm Brown) that had seen the wreck upon the sands. This was quite sufficient to put all the boatmen belonging to this port into a state of great activity;

and before evening nearly twenty sail of luggers, having at least one hundred men on board, left the harbour for the Tongue Sand. In consequence of the heavy sea running, and the extreme danger of getting on the sand in this part of the Channel, nothing was done by any of the boats on Sunday evening, but all of them remained near the spot during the night. The identity of the ill-fated vessel was, however, proved beyond doubt, one of the boats' crew having picked up a signal lantern bearing the name of the "Royal Adelaide, of Dublin," yesterday morning.

Mr. Frewin, the owner of a pilot-boat and lugger belonging to this port, who had gone out on the previous night, returned into port, and had an interview with Mr. W. H. Valder, the representative of Mr. Hammond, Lloyd's agent at this port. Mr. Frewin explained to Mr. Valder the exact position of the wreck, and informed him that he had failed in all his attempts to make an examination of her, and that he had returned into port only to provide himself with his diving apparatus, by means of which he had some hope of being able to examine the state of the ship and her cargo.

Mr. Frewin explained that the wreck was now lying right on the top of the sand, about two cables' length from deep water, and about the same distance W. by N. from where the Tongue Beacon used to stand before it was washed away. The men on board the lightvessel reported to Mr. Frewin, that when the Royal Adelaide passed their ship a dreadful sea was running; and their opinion is, that having first struck the edge of the bank, she became unmanageable, and was driven further on to the sand, where she now lies. They also consider, from having seen so few signals fired, that the vessel filled with water very shortly after she struck; and then, of course, no more signals could be fired. That the vessel must have had a very heavy shock, and soon gone to pieces, appears evident from the fact that the larboard quarter, from the bulwarks down to the keel, broke clean adrift, and has been discovered buried in the sand near the Red Sand buoy, two miles from the wreck, in 24 fathoms of water. The copper sheathing and fastenings on this portion of the wreck are entire. The poop was also discovered floating in the "Black Deeps," on the other side of the Girdler Sand, about four miles from the wreck. Mr. Frewin went off to the wreck again this morning, provided with his diving apparatus, and, as the weather has been tolerably calm since, it is hoped he will have had an opportunity of examining what remains of the vessel. The other lugger boats remain on the spot for the chance of picking up any of her cargo. The crews have had to contend with very rough seas hitherto, and one galley has been sunk while engaged in the hazardous calling. Not a vestige of any of the boats belonging to the Royal Adelaide has been discovered, from which it is inferred that they were launched, but, not being able to live in the terrible sea that prevailed at the time, have all foundered.

The two bodies picked up by the Nelson lugger, on being brought ashore, were conveyed to the house of Mr. Gore, an undertaker of this town, who, on the instructions of the parochial authorities, has had them both placed in shells, preparatory to their interment. Neither of these poor fellows appears to have died from drowning. They rather seem to have perished in the water. Both of them were provided with life preservers in the shape of large corks tied round the chest and back, the one having ten and the other five, each about as large as a brick. There was nothing found on either of their persons leading to positive identification, but from some letters found upon the one, and a name written inside the boot of the other, there does not appear to be much doubt on the subject. The one, from his dress, would appear to have been the mate of the vessel. He wore blue trousers, black frock coat, a pilot overcoat, and a south-wester. In his pockets were found three letters and a memorandum, but no money or other property of any description. One of the letters is written by a gentleman named Roberts, who dates from Great Horner-street, Liverpool. It is addressed to Mr.

L

William Gowler, chief mate of the Leeds steamer (this vessel belongs to the Dublin company,) and communicates the death of Gowler's wife. It is dated as far back as February last. Another letter is written by Mr. P. Howell, and dated from the Dublin Steam-packet Company's Offices, Edenquay, Dublin. It complains of some irregularities on board the company's boats, and would appear to have been handed to the deceased by a Mr. Lane, to whom it is addressed. From this it might be inferred that the unfortunate man was an officer on board the Leeds steamer, but a memorandum found in his waistcoat pocket seems to show that, at any rate, on the present voyage, he was one of the crew of the Royal Adelaide. This memorandum runs:"Wilson and wife lost their ticket. To be allowed to pass free in the Royal Adelaide to London.

"March 27, 1850.”

"J. LEFEBVRE."

The name of "Coe" is written in the boot of the other deceased. Two shillings and a fourpenny piece were found upon him, and his pockets were completely full of sand, showing that he must have driven about on the bank for some time. It may be mentioned, also, that when found his neck was dislocated. From his dress he appears to have been a stoker or fireman. The letters and memorandum have been handed over to Mr. Marchant, the superintendent of the Margate police, who wrote by last night's post to Mr. Roberts, to ascertain his wishes respecting the body of the deceased.

The spot where this wreck took place is one of the most dangerous in the British Channel. It was within a few cables' length that a German emigrant-ship went to pieces in October last, when nearly 200 lives were lost. The prudent course, in weather similar to that which prevailed on Saturday night, would have been to bring up in Margate-roads for the night. The Tongue lightship shows a steady white light, and the Girdler, which is about ten miles higher up the Channel, a revolving light.

Plymouth, April 2.

The Royal Adelaide steam-packet, belonging to the City of Dublin Steam-packet Company, which was totally lost on the Tongue Sand, off the North Foreland, at ten o'clock on Saturday night, the 30th ult., and so discovered by Captain Manning, of the Malcolm Brown screw-steamer, on Sunday morning, at eight o'clock, arrived at Plymouth at nine o'clock on Thursday evening, the 28th ult., from Cork, and landed here five horses, thirty-eight head of cattle, three calves, nine pigs, some rice, butter, &c. She brought about six cabin, and say 150 deck passengers, from Ireland, and embarked six (adult) cabin and six (adult) deck passengers here; and, having also shipped a quantity of wool, left for London at half-past three o'clock on Friday morning (Good Friday,) the 29th ult. She had fifty or sixty pigs on deck, but was only moderately laden. The names of the cabin passengers who embarked here are :-Hurst, 1; Withers, 1; Payne, 3; and Tucker, 1; and of the deck passengers, Welsh, 3; Squires, 1; Morrish, 1; and Thompson, 1. Hurst and Withers were respectable young women; Payne, a married man, with his wife and three children; they had their household furniture on board; Tucker, a young man of 30, apparently a mate in the merchant service, who said he was going to London to join a ship bound to New Zealand; Welsh, a woman, and her three children, 14, 9, and 6, going to Ramsgate to join her husband; Squires, a young man. Of the others nothing is known at present.

Captain John Batty, who commanded the Royal Adelaide, had been upwards of twelve years master and mate of that vessel. Two mates, who had been some time in her, were discharged the voyage before last. Her present chief officer is stated to be a native of Plymouth; the name of her second mate is North, apparently a native of London; and her chief engineer is from Liverpool.

Monthly Chronicle.

During the past month it has been our happiness to receive many evidences of continued sympathy from old and attached friends to the Society, and also to enlist on its behalf the support of others who, we have reason to hope, will afford it most material assistance. Into the last few weeks of the financial year, a great number of meetings are necessarily crowded, and of all recently held we certainly must report very favourably. Perhaps their most pleasing feature has been, that in most cases an Auxiliary has been established, from which we may fairly anticipate continuous and efficient aid. Our deputations have attended public meetings at Islington, Epsom, Tottenham, Kingston, Reading, Colchester, Bungay, Yarmouth, and Lowestoft. At the two latter towns the Society was favoured with the services of Rev. J. Maysey, of Welling, Kent, who ably presented the claims of the Institution; and who, we are happy to add, met with a most favourable response. At present we aid in supporting a missionary at Yarmouth, to which port he confines his labours; but our friends at Lowestoft, feeling that the seamen and fishermen of their own port have a paramount claim, are desirous of securing for them a similar advantage; and the probability is, therefore, that a Coast Mission will be established, for the benefit of these towns and the adjacent seaboard.

We have, also, gratefully to acknowledge the kind help received from the Sailors' Church, Camberwell, Spa Fields, Tabernacle, Finsbury Chapel, Uxbridge, Bideford, Torquay, Haverfordwest, and Milford Auxiliaries; and we venture to express our sincere desire to be still favoured with their valued co-operation.

The annual tour in Notts and Derby is now being discharged by the Rev. T. C. Finch and Mr. Lonsdale, who will, we feel assured, enjoy the accustomed welcome from the towns they visit. Cambridge and St. Neots have kindly received the Rev. Edward Muscutt as our deputation, and we shall have much pleasure in recording next month the success he meets with.

The approaching anniversary of the Society is now engrossing our attention, and we should be much gratified if we could as deeply interest in it the sympathies of the public.

The Annual Meeting will be held in the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street, on Tuesday, May 14th, at six P. M. The Right Hon. the Earl of Ducie (President) in the Chair.

The Annual Sermon will be preached by the Rev. Ralph Wardlaw, D. D., in the Poultry Chapel, on Wednesday evening, May 15th, at half-past six o'clock.

We are at least confident that nothing that our friends can do for us will be wanting to ensure an encouraging attendance, and we sincerely trust that it will be the means of greatly benefiting the Society, by strengthening its hold upon the benevolent regard of all who are interested in promoting the welfare of their fellow-men, or the extension of the kingdom of the Redeemer.