Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

tremity. At short intervals, chambers have been hollowed out, with port holes opening over the precipice. In these lie guns of the greatest size unemployed, and which seem likely to be so, until "nations learn war no more." They speak of a thousand cannon in all the different works, with several years supply of provisions constantly in their store houses, and a garrison of four or five thousand men.

Situated so easy of access as is Gibraltar, to Mahometan Africa on the one hand, and Catholic Spain on the other, it seems greatly to be desired, that it should also become one of the "strong holds of Zion." Some few have been stationed here already, who, we trust, are among the true soldiers of the cross. Of these we have had the pleasure to make the acquaintance of Rev. Messrs. Pratten and Barber, missionaries of the Wesleyan connexion. Their English congregation has been gathered chiefly from among the military, who attend however, during the day, on the regular chaplain of the garrison. Owing to the constant changes. of the regiments, their church, as well as congregation, is necessarily very fluctuating. While some of its members adorn the doctrine of God, our Saviour, others, they said, were a source of great grief to them, principally on account of the single vice of intemper

ance.

Mr. P. remembered that the journals of his predecessor spoke of this, as the great obstacle to the progress of religion among soldiers, and judging from his own experience and observation, it still held true of the whole army. Mr. Barber devotes his attention more particularly to the Spanish language and popu

lation, and is not without encouraging success in his labors.*

We dined in company with the missionaries, at the house of J. P. Esq. an active, and decided member of their church. Mr. P. is a lawyer of the first respectability, and possesses in a high degree, the confidence of all classes of residents on the rock. He was engaged when we arrived, in preparing the defence of a man, who was arraigned for murder. Such instances, notwithstanding the numberless causes of irritation which must be continually occurring among people of so many different countries, languages and religions, were, he assured us, exceedingly rare.

In Dr. H. and family, with whom we have this morning taken breakfast, we find the warm friends of Mr. Temple and the other missionaries at Malta. Dr. H. is at the head of the medical staff, and of the hospital department in the Mediterranean. Through his polite attentions, brother G. obtained access to the more private and important fortifications. It is truly delightful, to see a family of their high standing, casting the weight of their influence in favor of evangelical religion.

Several of our own countrymen, whose civilities we have experienced, are here established in business. As in other parts of the Mediterranean where no Amer

*

During the late destructive sickness, this faithful missionary maintained his post with truly christian heroism. "Beside the bed of death, the reverend champion stood." Nor did he neglect his accustomed duties at the grave, where, shortly after reading the burial service over seventeen persons in one day, he was laid by their side.

ican missionaries are stationed, seldom, it is to be feared, do they frequent places of public worship. How much is it to be regretted that protestants, when abroad, are not more disposed to imitate the Catholics, in efforts to provide themselves with the means of religious instruction. Our merchants in foreign lands, often exhibit great liberality in the support of various public objects, and much hospitality towards their travelling countrymen. Their patriotism as Americans, even if religious considerations did not operate, might, one would suppose, induce them to countenance foreign chaplains. Should they invite men of learning and piety to engage in this office, a part of their support, could no doubt be obtained from societies at home. They could likewise act as teachers to their children, or as their family physicians; the greater leisure, too, which they would find for literary pursuits, would no doubt, add in this respect to the improvement of their parishioners. Why should it always be a reproach in the view of the Heathen, the Mahometans, and Catholics, that we are a nation without any religion? How few American ambassadors, or consuls, or foreign merchants, are doing any thing for the support of the religious institutions of their country.

Two things in Americans, said one of our countrymen who had spent many years in the East, seem strange and inexplicable to the Turk ;-that we should be a people without a king, and without a religion. The former mystery we need not be in haste to clear up, but the latter is certainly a reproach on us as a christian people. The English, the Dutch, the Swedes, and other protestant nations, often have their foreign chaplains. We care not to have them at the expense

of a national religion, yet surely there are other ways in which they may be secured. The remark is not made in the spirit of complaint, or disrepect, but from a desire of seeing our countrymen practise "whatsoever things are lovely, and whatsoever things are of good report."

CHAPTER III.

GIBRALTAR TO MALTA.

Lipari Islands-Straits of Sicily-Messina-Violent squall—Apostolic recollections-Approach to Malta-Quarantine harbor.

MY DEAR M.

Messina, Nov. 6.

AFTER spending but four days at Gibraltar, we sailed thence on the 26th, in the American brig Rook, Capt. Atwood, bound to Malta, and this place.* At first we kept near the Spanish coast, until by a change of wind, we were compelled to run over to the opposite side. On the morning of the 29th, we saw Al

* An incident which occurred to our obliging and friendly Captain while he was lying at Gibraltar, is, perhaps, worthy of record. Several nights in succession, he had private interviews with a Spaniard of high rank, to whom he had been introduced by a friend. A revolution, he was assured, had been completely organized, and he was solicited to convey some of the leaders, to a certain town, the wealth of whose churches was then to be seized, and entrusted to him for sale at a specified port. In this manner, the means of sustaining the insurrection were to be obtained in the first instance. Capt. A. declined the undertaking, but left in confident expectation of soon hearing, that the revolution was begun, both on the coast, and in the north of Spain.

giers with its white castle, at a distance, and for some days, continued in view of the African shores. Another change of the wind, prevented our reaching Malta by the southern side of Sicily, so that after vainly attempting to double Mount "Eryx, and the Ægates" islands, at the western extremity, we coasted along the northern shore. Palermo, the ancient Panormus, still the capital of the island, was concealed from our view in a winding bay. When we drew near the Lipari islands, we encountered a violent squall, with much lightning and thunder during the night. This was succeeded by fine weather on the following day, and we had a delightful prospect of Ustica, which is at a distance from the group, and then, of Alicudi, Felicudi, Salina, Lipari, Vulcano, Pinaria and Stromboli. All these, with the numerous surrounding islets, we left on the north. They presented the usual appearance of volcanic regions,-deep ravines, and irregular surface. Our eyes were feasted however, with the sight of the green grass which clothed the deep vallies, and the groves of olive and orange trees, that adorned the hills. At night, Stromboli rolled up its volumes of smoke, but Etna was concealed from our view by clouds.

It was not until night-fall, that we doubled the Faro light, on the head land at the entrance to the straits of Messina. Of course, we could but just discover the "rock of Scylla," on the Italian side. The current is very rapid, and a loud roar is constantly heard from the breakers on the opposite shore. It is not, however, precisely agreed where to look for Charybdis. At the entrance of the straits we were met by a number of pilots, all hoping to take advantage of the fears and the ignorance of strangers. Our Captain, who

« ZurückWeiter »