n iniquity.'"

Tom looked very grave when his father spoke, and felt very serious. Ben
clearly understood and remembered the important lesson given him, and
prayed silently that he might always make use of it when, temptation
should come in his way. He was very happy, and he knew it, in being in
a ship with such good men as Mr Charlton and Mr Martin, to whom he now
found that he might add Mr Manners. These men, though only a few among
many, had a great effect on the mass, and helped to leaven in some
degree the whole ship's company. Ben himself produced a good effect not
only on Tom, but among the other boys of the ship, and even with many of
the men, though he was not aware of it, and would not have talked about
it if he had been.

In consequence of the fever, the frigate did not go back to Valparaiso,
but stood away to the northward, looking in at other ports along the
coast where any British merchantmen were to be found. It is thus
England protects her commerce, by showing the inhabitants of the various
ports in the world to which her merchants trade, that she has the power
to punish those who may venture to ill-treat them; her consuls and any
other authorities are supported; and any seamen or other British
subjects who misbehave themselves on board English ships can be brought
to punishment. If British subjects break the laws of the country in
which they are residing, they are left to be punished according to those
laws. It is, however, the duty of the consul, supported by the
authority of the captain of a man-of-war, to see that they are not
punished except justly, according to those laws.

Callao, the port of Lima, the capital of Peru, was the last place on the
west of America at which the frigate touched. She anchored in a large
bay, guarded by forts, and opposite the modern town of Callao, which
stands near the beach. Upwards of a hundred years ago a fearful
earthquake occurred, which shook Lima to the ground; and a huge wave
rolling in towards the shore at the same time, overwhelmed the old town
of Callao, and destroyed the greater part, if not the whole, of the
inhabitants.

Peru was taken by the Spaniards three hundred years ago from the native
Indians, who lived happily under their own princes and chiefs. The
latter were treated with the greatest cruelty and injustice by their
conquerors, and compelled to work in the silver and copper mines which
exist along the whole range of the Andes. The S