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favourably received by them; but their father, a merchant of immense property, although sensible of their personal merits, objected to their want of fortune, and desired that they would discontinue their courtship until their circumstances were much improved; which was shortly the case, by the prize-money gained by the capture of the Hermoine in 1762. Soon after, the eathquake happened at Lisbon, and deprived the merchant of all his property. The generous captains, immediately on hearing it, repaired to Lisbon, where, yielding to the full and noble gratification of love and friendship, they settled an annuity on the father, and married his two daughters.

The brig Mary, R. Tucker, was captured by an American privateer, off the coast of Portugal, who took the crew, except the master and a lad, and put on board six Americans. When off the Azores, four of them being below, the master and boy determined to attempt the recapture of the vessel, for which purpose they had previously secured a bayonet, with which they dispatched the two men on the deck. Those below hearing the scuffle, one of them succeeded in getting on deck; this man the master seized and got over the side of the ship, while the boy threw the hatch over and fastened it down, which gave them complete command of the vessel, and were enabled to reach Fayel in six days.

Poetical Scraps.

THE SPIRIT OF THE STORM. I'm the son of the wind, and I follow behind, With swift steps from the sunless shade, Like the lightning fleet, each victim I greet, With the havoc my pinions have made On the vessel that glides, o'er the boundless tides,

With her crew in sweet slumbers bound, I love to alight, when the mantle of night, Falls in silvery vapours around, And parting her sails, with my tempest-wing'd gales,

To new victims of horror I flee,

And laugh at their woe, as I wantonly go, O'er the boundless expanse of the sea. On many a cloud, of its beauty proud,

I triumphantly ride through the air, And then imprecate the water-fiend's hate, To crush ev'ry hope with despair. O'er land and o'er water, to wreck and to slaughter,

I flit like the shade of a dream, And on the sea shore, mid the elements' roar, Woo the spirits of death in the stream; Then the foaming floods fly; and the waterfiends cry,

And the sea-news in agony scream. When earth's beauty is lost, in the flowerchilling frost,

And her charms like the rainbow decay; On snow and on sleet, is the trace of my feet, On the rock, on the foam-covered spray, And the avelanche falls from its tottering walls,

When I rest on its top by the way. Then the portals of death are wide open'd beneath,

And the dirge is the plainings of woe; Aud when twilight's pale mist, earth's bosom hath kiss'd,

My shroud is a mantle of snow.
In thunders I laugh, as the rapture I quaff,

The shrieks of despair from the earth, Then sullenly die, 'mid the gloom of the sky, Till nature shall give me new birth.

THE SEAMAN'S BURIAL.
The wind is hush'd; the summer sun
Still lingers in the golden west,
As if it loved to look upon

A scene so calm, so bless'd;
The untired wave sweeps on its way,
Unbroken in the sunset ray,

The tall ship rests a silent thing
Upon the ocean tide;

So calm, the sea-mew dips its wing
Close to its wave-worn side.
The sea-boy's song is hush'd, as slow
That noiseless ship rock to and fro.
Sweet as from ocean's coral bed,

Hark! sounds of mourning conie;
And warriors march with measured tread,
To beat of muffled drum.
And faintly now uprising there,
The funeral dirge strikes on the air.

The prayer is hush'd, the solemn 'stave

In silence dies o'er that stern crowd;.
As slowly through the clear blue wave,

Girt in his snow-white shroud,
The palid corse is seen to glide
Far, far adown beneath the tide.
He sleeps! but o'er his ocean grave

Long peals the minute-gun;
The thundering requiem of the brave,

When their bright course is done.
And night winds oft shall whisper there-
Peace to the wave-toss'd mariner!

Gentleman's Pocket Magazine.

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WILLIAM AND NANCY.

"Bleak was the morn when William left his Nancy,
The fleecy snow frown'd on the whiten'd shore;
Cold as the fears that chill'd her dreary fancy,
While she her sailor from her bosom tore."

"I've lost one eye, and I've got a timber toe," sung old Joe Jennings, as he swivelled round on his wooden pin, whilst bustling through the comical Jack-in-the-box gate at the east end of the Navy Asylum, going into Greenwich Park

'I've lost one eye, and I've got a timber toe."" "And where did you leave your eye, Joe?"-" In the Gut of Gibraltar." "Well, Joe, you'll never see double again, so what do you say to another glass? Come, let's freshen the nip, my old boy, and spin us a tough yarn." "No, no, thank ye, sir, all the same-No, no, thank ye, I'd rather not; for whilst I am spinning the yarn you would be winding me up, and then I should go reeling it to my cabin, and catch the yellow fever."*"But where did you lose your leg, Joe!"-" Why,

The pensioners, when in disgrace, are compelled to wear a party-coloured coat, in which yellow predominates. [No. 3.

I'll tell you all about it, sir, as soon
as we come to an anchor under the
trees. There, now you shall have
it. Why, d'ye see, I lost my leg
when I lent a hand to take the R-
French 80, and warm work we had
of it." 66
Avast, there, Joe, avast!
you know it's all a fudge," said old
Tom Pipes, as he came hobling up-
"you know it's all a fudge. Warn't
you, groggy? and didn't you jam

your

foot atwixt the shot-locker and the combings, and capsize down the hatchway? and now you want to persuade the gemman. it was done in action." "Ay, ay, Tom, you're always running foul of me-but no matter, you know better. Zounds! didn't you hold the step of my precious limb while the surgeon dock'd it, and saw'd away the splinters? and arn't I got the shot to this hour?" "Yes, Joe, yes; but tell the gemman about Nancy, and her husband;-my scuppers run over whenever I think of it."-" Why,

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ay, he shall have it, and do you lend me a lift if I should break down, though I don't much fear it. Why d'ye see, sir, Bill Neville was our messmate, and he used to tell us a little of his history. And so, sir, he was brought up in a country village, and loved his wife when only a little girl; and he went to sea, thinking to make his fortune for her sake. Well, he got to be master of a merchantman, and then they were married. Who can describe the pleasures of that moment when their hands were spliced at the altar, and he hailed her as his own! But he was obliged to sail again. Oh!' said Nancy, should you never return, what shall I do ?'-where shall I pass-where end my wretched days? His heart was too full to speak; one hand clasped in her's, the other pointed to the broad expanse where the noon-day sun was shining in meridian splendour. It had a double meaning-Nancy felt it: There is a God, trust in him!' or, 'If not on earth, we meet in heaven!' Well, sir, eighteen months rolled away, during which, in due time, Nancy brought into the world a dear pledge of affection—a lovely boy. But, oh the agony of the mother as every day dragged on without intelligence from William ! When she looked at the sweet babe —was it indeed fatherless, and she a widow? You'll excuse my stopping, sir, but indeed I can't help it I've shed tears over it many a time:

"Well, sir, eighteen months was turned, when one morning Nancy arose to pour out her heart before her Maker, and weep over her sleeping child. The sun had just risen above the hills, when a noise in the little garden which fronted the cottage alarmed her. She opened the casement, and, putting aside the woodbine, beheld-delightful, yet agonizing sight-her dear, her longmourned William, handcuff'd, between two soldiers, while others, with their side-arms drawn, seem'd

fearful of losing their prey! His face pale, and his emaciated body worn down with fatigue and sickness, his spirit seem'd ready to quit its frail mansion, and was only kept to earth by union with his wife. Nancy forgot all, and clasp'd him in her arms; but the rattling of the irons pierced her soul. I do not mean to condemn the policy, sir, but 'tis a cruel practice that of pressing. Ah! I well remember it-though I always served my king, God bless him? Yet I've witness'd many an aching heart, and heard many a groan of agony. But to proceed: William proceed: William was pressed; Nancy hastened into the cottage, and, wrapping the sleeping babe in its blanket, she prepared to accompany them. Cannot you picture to yourself the first glance which the wretched parent cast upon his child? Oh, it was a sad sweet joy, that wrung the soul! I shall pass by their meeting, their dear delight, their bitter anguish. If you can feel, it is already engraven on your heart. Suffice it to say, William had been shipwrecked on the African coast, and though he had lost the whole of his property, yet heaven had spared his life, and his the only one. Sickness came on him, and but for the humanity of a poor untutored negro, he might have breath'd his last. She was black-she was a negro-but God searches the heart. He had procured, with much difficulty, a passage home. The ship arrived; he set out, and walked many a weary mile, led on by love and cheered by hope, till the roof of his cottage appeared in view, Here he sunk upon his knees, and poured forth his heart in trembling anxiety and fervent petition. A sailor can pray, sir, and it matters not, so it be right, whether it is in a matted

pew

at

church, or swinging like a cat at the mast-head. He arose, and with hastier step reached the wicket, when- but I dare not repeat the story-I've told you already he was pressed. Well, he was drafted on

board of us, and his dear Nancy permitted to be with him. The evening before the action, she was sitting on the carriage of the bow. gun, with her baby cradled in her arms, and William by her side-they were viewing, with admiration and delight, the beauteous scenery displayed by the sinking clouds in a thousand fantastic shapes, tinged with liquid gold streaming from the setting sun, and caressing the little innocent, while all the parent kindled in their hearts. But hark! a hoarse voice is heard from the mastheard-all is hush'd. 'Halloo!' said the captain. A sail on the larboard bow, sir.' "What does she look like?' I can but just see her, sir, but she looms large.' 'Mr. Banks,' said the captain, 'take your glass aloft, and see if you can make out what she is. Call the boatswain--turn the hands up--make sail.' In a moment all was bustle; the topmen were in their station, and every man employed; and in a few minutes every stitch of canvass was stretch'd upon the yards and booms. The officer that was sent aloft reported it a ship of the line, which looked like a foreigner. Every heart was now elate but Nancy's it might be an enemy! Oh, that thought was dreadful! And as William conducted her below, the tears chased each other down her pale face, and the heavy sigh burst from her gentle bosom. William mildly reproved her, and again pointing to heaven, flew to his post. The stranger had hauled to the wind, fired a gun, and hoisted French colours. Up went our's with three cheers; and there's seldom a moment of greater pride to a British tar than when he displays the ensign of his country in presence of the enemy. Three cheers resounded through the ship, and broadside upon broadside shook her groaning timbers. Where was Nancy? William was first in every danger. Three times we boarded the foe. but were repulsed. Dreadful grew the scene of blood

and horror through the darkening shades of coming night. No one bore tidings of the fight to Nancynone, save the poor sailor, whose shattered limb came to suffer amputation, or the wounded wretch to be dressed, at which she assisted with fortitude. Two hours had pass'd in this awful suspense and heart-rending anxiety, when a deep groan and piercing shriek from the lower-deck convulsed her frame. She knew the voice, and, snatching the infant in her arms, rushed to the spot. Soon she found the object of her search; his manly form mangled and shattered; that face, one ruddy with the glow of health, now pale and convulsed; the blood streaming from his side and breast! He saw her too. Nancy!' said he, and raising his feeble hand, pointing to heaven, it fell and William was no more! Sinking on the lifeless body of her husband, Nancy fainted with the dear babe still in her arms; when, oh, mysterious Providence! at that very moment-while senseless and inanimate at that very moment a ball entered through the vessel's side-it pierced her bosom! Need I tell the rest? They were pleasant and lovely in their lives, and in their death they were not divided."

Greenwich Hospital.

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spirits, from whom, in the hey-day of youthful blood, parting seemed so bitter, even amid the greedy cravings after novelty, so natural to the ardent and youthful mind? I thought of the changes time or death might have wrought, and could not repress my tears. The voice of the captain of the vessel aroused me from my reverie : "We shall have a greasy night, I doubt," said he, anxiously looking towards the receding land. I turned to gaze upon it; masses of dense and marble-like clouds enveloped it; the evening was lowering, and although there was scarcely enough of wind to fill the sails, there was that uneasy motion of the waves, termed by seamen short sea;' and occasionally fitful squalls of wind swept past us, hurrying the vessel for an instant with the swiftness of a meteor, and then, leaving her to plough her sluggish course, rolling and pitching as the short abrupt seas struck her now forward and then aft. Every thing, as the captain observed, seemed ominous of at least a squally night; nor was he deceived.—I had continued on deck, listlessly watching the crew, as they bustled about the ship and rigging, making all snug, in anticipation of the gale, till at length the perfect stillness about me, broken only by the booming of the sea against the ship's sides, and the creaking of the masts and rigging, warning me of the lateness of the hour, I descended to my berth. was then blowing a fresh breeze from the N.E.

It

I suspect I had slept about three hours, when I awoke, and found the ship lying down nearly on her beam ends; and by the rapid rush of waters past her sides, I knew that a heavy squall must have caught her. There was a great stir above, and the boatswain was turning up all hands. I rushed immediately on deck—the night was pitchy dark, and the wind had freshened to a hard gale; all the following day it encreased; by night it blew a furious

tempest, and the sea encreasing with it, rose literally mountains high. We had hitherto laid our course, but the wind now hauled round to the eastward; to ease her, we sent down top-gallant-masts, mizen top-masts, and jib-boom, and kept as close to the wind as the violence of the weather would allow us; but the sea canted her head off, so that she made more lee than head-way, and the rigging was terribly strained with the work. About day-break. a tremendous storm tore the foresail in ribbons: we had now but a closereefed main-topsail and fore try-sail set (every hand flatly refusing to go aloft to bend auother sail to the foreyard), so that we had little hope of keeping off the Mozambique shore, near to which we imagined we must have driven unless, indeed, the wind shifted, and of this there was little likelihood. The gale too, if possible, seemed to increase; the sky was one vast black cloud; and the rain fell so thick, that we could scarce distinguish an object from the wheel to the main-mast. One pump had been incessantly at work for the last six-and-thirty hours, but the water gained so fast upon her, that we were obliged to rig the weather one, and even then we could scarcely keep it under.

About noon, however, the rain ceased, the atmosphere cleared, and the wind lulled; and then our spirits and energies revived. The captain now determined, if possible, to wear ship. After a hard struggle we succeeded, and found, to our great joy, that she made better weather on this tack, as the sea now headed her, and she had time to rise to one sea before another struck her. By four P.M. we had gained considerably on her. considerably on her. She had still some water between decks, but nothing to be alarmed at; and though we had battened down the hatches, there was such a weight of water on deck, from the continual seas she shipped, it was impossible to keep them perfectly tight. Our anxiety

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