curing a near place to my stand at evening prayers, and often hanging about the guns and other places, near which I have been in conversation with his shipmates. A short time ago he ventured to say in an under tone, as he touched his cap in passing me, "It is my first watch on deck to-night, sir, and I should be happy if you would be kind enough to meet me for a short time before you go below, sir:" a blush of embarrassment accompanying the request, showed the effort with which it had been made, and told it was no trifling subject on which he desired to consult me. I, of course, most readily assented; and on keeping the appointment found him to be so seriously disposed, that it might already be said of him, "Behold he prayeth !" and while his eager inquiry was, 66 Sir, what must I do to be saved?" learned that he had fully resolved henceforth "to die unto sin, and to live unto righteousness," if happily he might by any means be saved. I have conversed with him several times since, and only last night we had a long interview. He is now in the enjoyment of what I trust will prove "a good hope through grace;" and at last be "an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast, which shall enter into that within the veil." In the belief that he is born of the Spirit of God and a new creature in Christ Jesus, his whole face beams with peace and joy, while every look exhibits the meekness and gentleness of a child. He is an uneducated young man, but of good sense and stable character; and seems already to 100 CASE OF CONVERSION. possess clear conceptions of the faith of mind and affections of heart essential to genuine piety: so truly has the Christian poet said of the word of life, "When once it enters to the mind, It sheds such light abroad, In this case I have taken great satisfaction. It has been unmingled with extravagance either of sentiment or feeling. His convictions of sin have not been particularly deep, though sufficiently so to make him perfectly sensible of the necessity in which he stands, from guilt, of a Redeemer for the soul; and to have filled him with penitence and humility in view of the follies and vices of his life. now that "he knows in whom he has believed," and rejoices in the hopes of the Gospel, there is the same temperance and soberness of affection, though his bosom is evidently filled with light and glad ness. And Two others, at least, are in like manner turning from the error of their ways, and while my own heart humbles itself in grateful thanksgiving before God, I trust there has been joy in heaven over the repentance of sinners here. There is said to be much less profaneness on board than formerly, the number who no longer drink their allowance of grog is increasing, and many things indicate an improvement in the general state of morals among us. Commodore Thompson and Captain Smith both extend every aid to the full dis IMPROVEMENT IN MORALS. 101 charge of the duties of my station; and while it is manifest that I have won the confidence and attachment of the crew, all my fellow-officers, I am happy to say, appear to regard with favour the attempts they perceive me to make, by the distribution of tracts and conversation, in addition to the services of the sabbath and evening prayers, to enlist the feelings of the seamen in favour of virtue and piety. The Commodore has very kindly expressed his wish, though my state-room is immediately adjoining his own apartments, that any of the crew who are desirous of visiting me there may feel themselves at perfect liberty to do so, whenever the duties of their station and the circumstances of the ship will permit. How thankful, dear H-, ought I to be for this various encouragement, encouragement beyond the most sanguine anticipations I had dared to indulge! In myself I am unworthy of the blessing; still was never more alive to the goodness and condescension of the Most High, in imparting not only a desire to be useful and "to do good unto all as I have opportunity," but in affording also the means and a facility for putting that desire in exercise. If at any time thoughts and affections connected with a separation from those I love best, come upon me with a power that leads me to exclaim, "Can it be possible that it was my duty thus to tear myself from them?" I have only to look around me on these wanderers of the flock of Christ, the few who "hear His voice and follow Him", and on the guilty hundreds still straying far from this good Shepherd and the pastures of His grace, and remember that, humanly speaking, without me there would have been "no man to care for their souls", when, with humble and grateful acknowledgment, I am made to feel that I am led by my Master, and that His Spirit, for good to the souls of others at least, is upon me. . Whatever my own true character in the sight of God may be, scenes, in which are found "The hopes and fears, and joys and sympathies " of an heir of immortal glory, just bounding into being, have more attractions for my heart than all the splendours of a court, and the fascination of mind and manners thrown round its brightest circles; and, if I know myself, I had rather be a successful messenger of" the tidings of great joy" to the most obscure sailor on board this ship, than, "Bereft of these most high capacities," to appear an embassador with full powers in the proudest empire of Christendom. I do not recollect ever to have felt more strongly the desire of securing to myself the blessing of Him, "who converteth a sinner from the error of his ways," than since I have been with this crew; and my daily prayer, as well as heart's desire, unto God is, that they may be saved. May the grace of God in the ministry with which I am clothed be sufficient for me, and in mercy to myself and to His creatures, may I be made the happy instrument of feeding, with the sweet provi FALKLAND ISLANDS. 103 sion of the Gospel, the few here who are of that "flock which shall yet inherit the kingdom", of reclaiming the lost and wandering, of binding up the broken-hearted, and of leading the lambs of the fold into "the green pastures," and beside the "still waters" of His love. LETTER XIV. PASSAGE ROUND CAPE HORN. Falkland Islands.-Staten Land.-A Gale.-Double Cape Horn. U. S. Ship Guerriere, at sea, THE wintry weather of the southern hemisphere commenced early with us after leaving port. A few bright and balmy days, with fair weather and fullspread canvass, and a moon at night riding through a soft and tranquil sky in a brightness of beam almost equal to that of noonday, were followed on the first Sabbath morning by a red and lurid horizon, a head wind, with scud and squalls from the south, and a heavy rolling sea upon our bows. For three weeks afterwards we were in a succession of strong gales directly against us, and reduced almost every night to close-reefed main and fore sails, with housed guns, and the deadlights all in, by way of preparation for "the whirlwind and the storm". It was not till the 13th inst., nearly four weeks after leaving Rio, that we reached the latitude of the Falkland Islands, and, after two days' calm, ran past the groupe, but not in sight of land, with a noble |