whilst the clouds passed on. This limits to our knowledge. This, he early disposition to observation assured me, he did not say to induced his parents to cultivate his mortify the presumption of any talents, and the clergyman of his person, or from an affected humility, village gave him the first elements which is a kind of hypocrisy. He of learning. His ardour for study did not pretend to deny but that became then extreme, the day was he knew what might be thought on not long enough for him, and he many subjects, but he dared not often read a good part of the night venture to affirm that he completely by the light of the lamp that was understood any one. He was in burning in the church of the village, general silent, never ostentatiously his family being too poor to allow obtruding upon others either the him candles for his nocturnal acuteness of his understanding or studies. He often took only four the eloquence of his conversation; hours' sleep in the night. At the he was never in a hurry to give age of ten he harangued his Bishop his opinion before he knew that of (who passed through Gassendi's the persons who were conversing village on his visitation) in Latin with him. When men of learning with such ease and spirit that the introduced themselves to him, he Prelate exclaimed, "That lad will was content with behaving to one day or other be the wonder of them with great civility, and was his age." The modest and unassum- not anxious to surprise their admiraing conduct of Gassendi gave an tion. The entire tendency of his additional charm to his talents. studies was to make himself wiser "He complained," says St. Evre- and better; and to have this intenmond, "that nature had given tion more constantly before his such a degree of extent to our eyes he had inscribed all his books curiosity and such very narrow | with these words, 'Sapere aude.'"

WONDERS IN THE DEEP.

Job xli. 31; Psalm cvii. 23-30; Eccles. iii. 10; 1 Thess. v. 9, 10. 1470. Dreadful Night. The are so nearly upright as to render Halsewell, one of the finest ships in the service of the East India Company, commanded by Captain Pierce, an officer of distinguished ability and exemplary character, sailed from the Downs on the 1st of January, 1786. Besides the crew and a body of soldiers, there were a considerable number of passengers on board. The vessel, after being driven about by contrary winds for some days, struck on the rocks near Leacombe, on the Isle of Purbeck, at a part of the shore where the cliff is of vast height and rises almost perpendicular from its base. At this particular spot, where it was the peculiar misfortune of the Halsewell to be driven, the foot of the cliff is excavated into a cavern of ten or twelve yards in depth, and of breadth equal to the length of a large ship. The sides of the cavern

it extremely difficult of access, and the bottom is strewed with sharp and uneven rocks which seem by some convulsion of the earth to have been detached from its roof. The ship lay with her broadside opposite to the mouth of this cavern, with her whole length stretched almost from side to side of it. When there was no longer the hope of being able to keep the vessel afloat, and the ship had separated in the middle, the crew, who had been very remiss in their efforts, quitted the vessel in great numbers. Some of them reached points of the projecting rocks, from which they afterwards fell, while others were dashed to pieces against the sides of the cavern. Twenty-seven persons gained the rock, but only a few of them succeeded in scrambling beyond the reach of the returning

the bottom. Desperate as the attempt was, some made the effort and succeeded, while others, trembling with fear or exhausted by the preceding conflict, lost their footing and were dashed to pieces on the rocks below. The first two persons who gained the top hastened to the nearest house, and made known the condition of their comrades. The steward to the Purbeck Quarries immediately collected the workmen, and, procuring ropes with all possible despatch, made the most humane and zealous exertions for the relief of the survivors; but it was a task of great difficulty, as the rocks hung over so much that it was not easy to throw a rope

attempting to gain the rope missed it and perished. At last, when the officers and seamen who had been saved were mustered, they were found to amount to seventy-four, the only persons saved out of rather more than two hundred and forty that were on board the Halsewell when she sailed through the Downs. It was supposed that about fifty more had reached the rocks, but were either washed off or fell from the cliffs.

tide. Captain Pierce remained on board the vessel, and sat down between his two daughters in the round-house. It was now night, and there were no hopes of rescuing the ladies until daylight. Those who had reached the rock felt some expectation that the vessel would remain entire, for in the midst of their own distress the sufferings of the females on board affected them with the most poignant anguish, and every sea that broke inspired them with terror for their safety. But, alas! their apprehensions were soon fatally realised, and within a very few minutes of the time that the third mate had gained the rock, a general shriek, in which the voice of female dis- to their relief. Many persons in tress was lamentably distinguished, announced the dreadful catastrophe. In a few moments all was hushed except the roarings of the winds and the dashing of the waves, the wreck was buried in the deep, and not an atom remained to mark the scene of this dreadful catastrophe. The shock which this gave to the trembling wretches in the cavern was awful. Though hardly rescued from the sea, and still surrounded by impending dangers, they wept for the fate of their unhappy companions. Many 1471. Foundering of the "Lonwho had gained a precarious station, don."-We take the following weakened with injuries, benumbed account of the loss of this vessel with cold, and battered by the from an excellent discourse upon tempest, forsook their hold, and, it published at the time by Dr. falling on the rocks, perished be- Jobson: "The steamship London neath the feet of their miserable reached Plymouth on Friday, Jan. associates. Their dying groans 5, 1866. The passengers waiting and exclamations only tended to for her arrival went on board awaken more painful apprehen- in the afternoon of that day, and sions and increase the terror of the a little past midnight the vessel survivors. At length, after three steamed out from within the hours, which seemed as many ages, Breakwater and proceeded on her the break of day showed their outward voyage-the weather being wretched situation in all its horrors. calm, with a light wind ahead. The only prospect of saving them- She had encountered strong winds selves was to creep along the edge and heavy currents on her passof the cavern to its outward ex- age down the Channel, and tremity, and, on a ledge scarcely as had been laid to anchor for inbroad as a man's hand, to turn the tervals, both at the Nore and corner and endeavour to scramble at Spithead; and it was not up a precipice almost perpendicular without difficulty, and even loss and nearly two hundred feet from of the pilot's life, that she had

been brought within the Break-away, and as the storm gave no water at Plymouth. But when she signs of abatement, the captain left, though the barometer had ordered the ship to be put about, greatly fallen, yet, as the wind and intending to run back to Plymouth sea had moderated, it was not for repairs. Within half an hour deemed necessary to detain her. of the altered course, the full fury During the whole of Saturday the of the heavy sea struck the ship, ship had full steam on, and she swept away the starboard life-boat, proceeded satisfactorily. On Sun- and stove in the starboard cutter. day, the 7th, though the wind had The London and her passengers freshened somewhat, there was and crew were now about two nothing to raise alarm in the voya- hundred miles south-west of the gers, and Sunday service was Land's End. Heavy cross-seas ran held in the chief saloon - Dr. with the wind dead astern of the Woolley, Professor of Sydney Uni- vessel, and she rolled and pitched versity, and Mr. Draper being as- fearfully. About half-past ten that sociated in conducting it. Sunday Wednesday evening, January 10th, night the wind increased to a strong a mountain of water,' as described, gale, heavy squalls were en- fell suddenly on the waist of the countered, and the sea rose con- ship, swept away the main hatchsiderably. On Monday morning, way, flooded the engine-room, exJanuary 8th, the ship was well tinguished the furnaces, and filled clear of land, and had reached the the lower decks, until the engineer open Bay of Biscay, where, in was up to his waist in water. All stormy weather, the huge waves of possible and available means, by the Atlantic-from cross-currents sails, blankets, and mattresses, were of opposite seas-heap themselves employed to cover the hatchway, up fearfully. The heavy swell of and to bale out the water that the waters continuing, Captain flooded the ship, but without sucJohn Bohun Martin stopped the cess, and it was officially reported engines and set his topsails, that that the engines would work no the ship might better accommodate longer. Then it was the captain herself to her circumstances, and began to express some fear of the still move slowly ahead. At noon destiny of his vessel, and said, in of Monday the wind lulled; the seamanlike phraseology, 'Boys, you engines were again set in motion, may say your prayers.' The fury and the ship continued to make of the storm strengthened still progress. On Tuesday morning, more, and on Wednesday, at midJanuary 9th, while the captain was night, Mr. Draper held a prayerendeavouring to keep the ship in meeting in the saloon, thronged her course by means of the screw, with the passengers and crew; the the violence of the storm broke captain, who happily had learned to over the vessel, dismantled her of pray before he went on board, much of her masts and rigging, snatching a few moments now and and swung them to and fro in then with the worshippers, and then broken splinters and shreds over hastening to his place on deck. the affrighted passengers. Still, Many prayed earnestly to God. there was no serious alarm as to Some fetched their Bibles, opened the ultimate safety of the ship, and, and read them for Divine direction dismantled as she was, she was and comfort. And first one and kept steaming slowly forwards. then another went up to the minisOn Tuesday afternoon the wind in- ter in the midst of them, and said, creased to a hurricane, the sea Pray with me, Mr. Draper,'ran mountains high, broke over a request,' say the survivors, the vessel, and carried the port that was always complied with.' life-boat clean away. The long The faithful servant of the Lord, dreary night of Tuesday wore who, for twenty-four hours previous

6

to this, had been incessantly going Amidst all this, Mr. Draper, the forth among the people exhorting shipwrecked minister, stood in the them to seek salvation through circle of his drowning and aweJesus Christ, and praying with them stricken congregation, and cried, that they might obtain it, now The captain of this sinking ship went to and fro through the vessel, says, "There is no hope!" But the seeking to save them that were lost, Captain of our salvation says there and crying aloud as he went, O is hope for all that will flee to God, may those that are not con- Him.' And no doubt, with many verted be converted now,-hundreds other words than those preserved of them.' The ship surged heavily for us by the survivors, did the along, a helpless gaping hull, no faithful preacher of the free and longer pliant to the waves, and the universal love of God to sinners water every moment increasing upon exhort that perishing crowd to flee her. Early on Thursday morning, to Christ, the never-failing Refuge the sea in full force behind carried of sinners. Some last desperate away four of her stern ports, and efforts were now made to escape broke with overwhelming fury into from the sinking vessel in the two the after-part of the ship, so that small boats remaining; but one of she began to settle down more them was swamped, and the other quickly. The captain now felt it seemed more likely to founder than incumbent upon him to announce the ship itself. At the call of to all on board that there was no authority, the second engineer took further hope of saving the ship, and command of the port-cutter, with that she was sinking fast. Previous as many as would venture in her, prayers and exhortations had pre- and received from the firm voice of pared them for the awful an- the captain the memorable words, nouncement. There was no shriek- -There is not much chance for ing, no wild agony, but bowed sub- the boat. There is none for the mission to their impending doom; ship. Your duty is done; mine is and they prepared, with calm and to remain here. Get in and take determined resignation, to meet it. charge of the few it will hold.' Mothers clasped their infants to As they dropped into the boat, the their bosoms, and blessed them for engineer urged the captain to join the last time. Fathers gathered them. 'No,' said the brave Englishtheir children around them, that man, with his strong sense of duty, they might sink with them hand in I will go down with the passengers; hand. Husbands and wives em- but I wish you God-speed and safe braced each other, and pledged to land!' Still considerate of others, eternal love. Aged couples retired in this time of mortal extremity, he to die together, resolving that in threw them a compass, and gave death they would not be divided. them their course, saying, 'EastFriends grasped each other's hands, north-east to Brest, ninety miles.' and bade one another Farewell,' At that instant, a lady, bare-headed, before they went to their long home. with dishevelled hair, and with And the silent tragic-actor, Brooke, 'livid horror on her face,' shrieked who, with herculean vigour had aloud amidst the wind, 'A thoulaboured at the pumps until they sand guineas for a place in that would work no more, and who on boat!' The doctor's assistant stage-boards and amidst mock offered five hundred pounds for a scenes had soliloquised in the seat in it, and pleaded his official Tempest, mimicked danger, and relation to the crew. It was too talked loftily of dying, now beheld late. The small boat, with sixteen death's stern approach in dread seamen and three second-class reality, and, folding his arms, with passengers, was pulled away in sunken chin upon his breast, pre-desperation, and within five mipared to meet the last enemy. nutes afterwards the far-famed

waved their hands and handkerchiefs, and gave tender messages for their friends, as if desirous that some at least should escape to tell the hapless fate of those whom they left perishing on board."

steamship, the London-two hundred and sixty-seven feet in length, of two-hundred horse power in her engines, with her estimated freight of one hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds, exclusive of her own value, and, most of all, with her living cargo of more than two 1472. Raft of the "Méduse."hundred and twenty immortal men, In July, 1816, the French frigate the women, and children-was seen Méduse was wrecked on the coast to settle stern foremost, throw up of Africa, when part of the ship's her bows in the air, and then company took to the boats, and plunge headlong down through the the rest, to the number of one dark whelming waters into the hundred and fifty, had recourse to deep grave of the ocean; the last a raft hastily lashed together. remembered figure on board being In two hours after pushing off for Mr. Arthur Angel, with his obedient the shore, the people in the boats hand upon the donkey-engine, and had the cruelty to bear away and the last remembered words being leave the raft, already labouring Mr. Draper's energetic call, Pre- hard amid the waves, and alike pare to meet thy God!' The small destitute of provisions and instruboat-a frail bark, with its freight ments for navigation, to shift for of nineteen human beings, all but itself. After the first transports of destitute of food and water-was passion at this dastardly conduct wondrously preserved by Him who had subsided, the sole efforts of the 'doeth according to His will in the people on the raft were directed to army of heaven and among the in- the means of gaining the land to habitants of the earth,' and after procure provision. All that they contending through the night with had on board consisted of twentythe maddened sea, which broke five pounds of biscuit and some over it again and again, and nearly hogsheads of wine. The imperious swamped it, the cutter was sighted desire of self-preservation silenced at length by a friendly Italian every fear for the moment; they vessel, and the survivors were res- put up a sail on the raft, and every cued, and treated with the utmost one assisted with a sort of delirious generosity. Had it not been so, enthusiasm; not one of them foreand if all had perished, the fate of saw the real extent of the peril by the London would not have been which they were surrounded. The conjectured for months; and then day passed on quietly enough, but the heroic conduct of Captain Mar- night at length came on; the tin, who, British-sailor-like, could heavens were overspread with die, but not desert his duty; the black clouds, the winds, uncalm soothing influence of religious chained, raised the sea mountains instruction and prayer upon the high, terror again rode triumphant passengers and crew; the love that on the billow. Dashed from side to is stronger than death in parents side, now suspended betwixt life and children, husbands and wives; and death, bewailing their misand the unreserved devotedness of fortune, and, though certain of the faithful minister of Christ, as death, yet struggling with the exemplified in the self-forgetful merciless elements ready to devour efforts of the Rev. Daniel James them, the poor offcasts longed for Draper to save, in the last lingering the coming morn, as if it had been moments of his life, the lost around the sure harbinger of safety and him, would not have been told. repose. Often was the last doleful It is said that when the cutter ejaculation heard of some sailor or was pulled away from the sinking soldier weary of the struggle rushship, the drowning passengersing into the embrace of death. A