24 SPECIAL PROVIDENCE. rects the destinies alike of angels and of men, not to be followed with unshaken confidence and good cheer. You are aware of my firm belief in a particular providence-in that governance of the world which regulates, not only the larger affairs of men and of nations, but which extends to the minutest concerns of the creatures of God-till, "without him not even a sparrow falleth to the ground." Next to those truths which assure us of the remission of sin through the shedding of blood, and which bring the life and immortality of the gospel to light, the Bible unfolds no one in my view more precious or more consolatory than this. I delight to believe, not only that a particular guidance, by providential dispensations, is granted to all who sincerely wish to do the will of their Maker, but that special paths of duty are often made so plain, that there can scarce be a mistake in entering upon and pursuing them. This belief, with the persuasion-from a chain of circumstances well known to you-that my present situation is one of unquestioned duty, keeps my mind in perfect peace; and even emboldens me to appropriate to myself the assurance, "Behold I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again to this land, for I will not leave thee nor forsake thee." An additional cause of quietude springs from another truth of inspiration, to which I yield the most implicit credence the declaration that "the fervent effectual prayer of the righteous man availeth much." Sensible of the responsibility of the station I hold, EFFICACY OF PRAYER. 25 and aware of all that is needful for a right discharge of its duties, I sought and received a pledge of constant remembrance before a throne of grace, from many whom I know to be no strangers there; and now, as my thoughts hasten through the numerous circles of my best and most loved friends, a vision of light and blessedness-a vision which, I am persuaded, is no "fancy's sketch,"-rises sweetly on the sight. Instead of the clouds and sadness of an uncheered separation, light and peace encircle every brow, while supplications for all needed grace to myself and the ship in which I sail, like accepted offerings, ascend gloriously unto God. Presented on the altar of a living faith, they cannot-they will not ascend in vain. And as we are hurried away on the very wings of the wind, the persuasion steals cheeringly upon my soul, that high and holy influences, like the dews of Hermon, are already returning and resting upon us. O, my dear H, what a glorious religion is that which the Christian possesses-how unsearchable are its riches of wisdom and of grace! A religion rescuing us not only from the guilt and condemnation of sin-cheering us with hope and fitting us for immortality—but guiding and guarding us also in all our ways, and yielding consolation and joy in every circumstance in which we can be placed. If the religion of the cross be a cunning fable, as some would persuade us to believe, O how wise the intellect that devised it, and how happy the heart that is deceived! If all its promises and its hopes-its fears and its joys—its impressions and its prayers are but a dream VOL. I. 3 26 BOISTEROUS WEATHER. -it is a dream of enchantment from which I would most devoutly plead never to be awakened; and of which, to all who sleep, I would most importunately say-" Sleep-0, sleep on !" LETTER III. OCCUPATION AND AMUSEMENTS. U. S. ship Guerriere, at Sea, THE North Atlantic proved rude and boisterous as usual in the wintry season, and for more than a fortnight we suffered much from the coldness of the temperature, the wetness of every part of the ship, and an unceasingly rough sea. With wind constantly fair, we were so heavily rocked by it without a moment's respite from morning to night and from night to morning, that our heads seemed ready to drop from our shoulders in keeping the weary motion; while the ship, almost deluged with water, labored excessively, and every timber creaked and groaned beneath the weight of her metal, till our sympathy and patience were alike nearly exhausted. 'The smooth waters, mild sky, and balmy air of the tropics, however, to which we were rapidly transported, with open ports, dry decks, and every thing bright and comfortable, caused us soon to forget in the enjoyment of the present, all the discomfort and weariness of the past. sea. To a lover of nature, there was one redeeming circumstance in the varying beauty of the stormy The weather was such as at most times, to keep the frigate under close reefed fore and main topsails and foresail. The St. Louis, an admirably modeled ship, and a noble sailer, under canvas still more reduced, was often within a quarter of a mile under our lee; and rolling and pitching at times so deeply as almost to show her keel, presented an object of constant interest in the scene around. You know my passion for the ocean, and will not be surprised to hear that I could scarce resist the temptation of spending half my time on deck. At night, the scene was peculiarly fine. A full orbed moon brushed by cold and wintry clouds above, a troubled and roaring sea below-its dark surface illumined in a thousand points and lines of light, from the cresting and breaking of waves conflicting on every side. Our ships careering through and upon the heaving billows, dashing beds of snowy foam far around, and leaving a broad wake behind, as they sank and rose with the swellings of the sea, and then plunged again furiously on their way-the bright gleaming in the moon beams of the little sail out, while the naked spars above, in the deep rolls of the vessel, swept widely and swiftly in black and clearly defined lines against the sky-all combined in forming a glorious sight for the eye of an enthusiast; and one from which I could scarce tear myself for the oblivion of sleep. Since entering the northeast trades, our passage, as regards every thing external, has been more than ordinarily devoid of interest. Even the monsters of the deep have so studiously secreted themselves from observation, that I have seen neither whale, shark, nor dolphin, and scarce a porpoise or bonetta. From all former experience, I should have thought it almost impossible to have been so long a time at sea, without more sights of interest and beauty: and every present appearance indicates that we are still likely to be without a gale, or waterspout, an exhibition of phosphorescence, or any thing except plain sailing, with smooth water, and a prosperous breeze. We were partially becalmed for a day, two or three degrees north of the equator, and during the period boarded the first vessel we have spoken -a Spanish ship, the Preciosa, one hundred and twenty days from Manilla, bound to Cadiz. Shortly afterward, the southeast trade wind reached us, and we are now sailing charmingly onward, with an atmosphere and sky like June. You recollect the beauty of the sea within the limits of this trade--the only true Pacific, in my opinion, in any part of the world-it is delightful as ever; and with the additional advantage of a splendid moon, we hope, in ten days, to be safe at anchor in the bay of Rio de Janiero. For the first fortnight out, it was impossible to write, and most of my time was occupied in reading. There is a large and good collection of books on board. Besides several private libraries, a public one of many hundred well chosen volumes, purchased by a subscription of the ship's company, is arranged |