h we gladly embraced. When he had finished, I addressed the
company, much to my own comfort: great seriousness prevailed. After I had
relieved my mind, the captain closed with a few sweet and feeling words.
When the occasion was over, he came to me and expressed his thankfulness
that I had been enabled to strengthen his hands by throwing in a word of
exhortation. He said that sometimes, when he had felt indisposed and
unprepared for his religious duty, he had given himself to a quiet
dependence on the Lord, and had been mercifully helped, to the benefit of
his own soul, in endeavoring to do his duty to others.

There is great uncertainty (he says in a letter written during the
voyage), how we shall find things at Petersburg, and whether they will
permit us to proceed to the South; but this I must leave. Whatever way it
may please Providence to turn the matter, as it regards myself I believe I
shall be relieved from Russia in having made this last attempt.

They arrived at Petersburg on the 9th of the Seventh Month, after a safe
and agreeable passage of seven days.

Before we reached Cronstadt, to quote from J.Y.'s Diary, we encountered a
strong gale, so that the officers from the guardship, who came to see that
all was in order, had hard work to get on board. There were eighteen
Russian sailors with oars, yet they could not draw the boat, and our
steamer was obliged to throw ropes and haul her in. The sight of Cronstadt
was formidable; for more than two miles in and near the harbor there was a
line of ships of war. At Cronstadt we had to be put on board a smaller
steamer, which caused us much detention. At the custom-house all passed
off well; they were more civil and less strict in their examination than
in England. The Russian sailors look very unbright; they are not active in
managing a boat. They not unfrequently received a few strokes from the
fist of the helmsman, or a rope's-end, either of which they took with that
unconcerned composure which showed they were accustomed to it. We are
located at the hotel of H. Spink, an intelligent Yorkshireman; his wife is
very kind and attentive.

13_th_.--Spent this day at Peterhoff, with W.C. Gillibrand and wife,
with two of their friends. It is the first opportunity we have had for
serious conversation in this place, and I hope it was to mutual comfort.
They took us a drive after dinner to see several of the Emperor's
pavilions, mostly surrounded by beautiful pieces of