t to sleep, but to brood, throughout the
weary night, on our present position.

CONSOLATIONS OF RELIGION.

It may be asked if, during such a trying period, I did not seek from
religion that consolation which it is sure to afford? My answer is, Yes;
and I farther feel assured that, but for the support I derived from
prayer and frequent perusal and meditation of the Scriptures, I should
never have been able to have borne myself in such a manner as to have
maintained discipline and confidence amongst the rest of the party: nor
in all my sufferings did I ever lose the consolation derived from a firm
reliance upon the goodness of Providence. It is only those who go forth
into perils and dangers, amidst which human foresight and strength can
but little avail, and who find themselves, day after day, protected by an
unseen influence, and ever and again snatched from the very jaws of
destruction by a power which is not of this world, who can at all
estimate the knowledge of one's own weakness and littleness, and the firm
reliance and trust upon the goodness of the Creator which the human
breast is capable of feeling. Like all other lessons which are of great
and lasting benefit to man this one must be learnt amid much sorrowing
and woe; but, having learnt it, it is but the sweeter from the pain and
toil which are undergone in the acquisition.

PUT TO SEA.

March 16.

A great portion of Friday night was passed by me in walking up and down
the beach, anxiously looking out seaward; and it appeared to me about
three o'clock that the wind had much abated; from this period until dawn
it continued gradually to subside: and as daylight stole in I saw that
the surf had somewhat fallen. I resolved at all events to lose no single
chance that offered itself in our favour, so I turned all hands out, and
in a few minutes the boats rode triumphantly beyond the surf, which was
indeed much heavier than I expected to have found it, and my boat was
nearly filled in passing the outer bar: but now the surf was behind us,
and it is the nature of man to laugh at perils that are past. Our
thoughts too were soon called to present difficulties, for a tremendous
sea was running outside, the wind directly in our teeth, and every moment
freshening again. Throughout the whole of Saturday the men toiled
incessantly at their oars, and when it wanted about an hour to sunset we
had only made about seven miles and a half of southing.

COMPELLED AGAIN TO BE