ys, that cannot produce its true _heroes_--men who have risked,
and are willing again to risk, their own lives to save others. Our
fisheries are the best nurseries for our navy. Englishmen may be
justly proud of the boatmen, from amongst whom spring those 'hearts of
oak' which have so long rendered our fleets pre-eminent over those of
every other country in the world. But, besides the generous
disposition to assist any perishing fellow creature, there were in
this instance more powerful motives to exert every effort to save the
crew of the Anson. This ship had been stationed for some time at or
near Falmouth, so that acquaintances, friendships, and still dearer
ties, had been formed between the inhabitants of the neighbouring
towns and villages, and the people of the unfortunate vessel. But a
few days before they had witnessed a far different scene, when she
left their shores in all the pride of a well-ordered and
well-disciplined man-of-war, amidst the shouts, and cheers, and
blessings of the multitude, who now beheld her lying within a few
fathoms of them a helpless wreck, her masts gone, her bulwarks broken
in, the waves sweeping over her, and breaking up her timbers.

The surf ran so high, it was impossible that any boat could reach the
wreck. The life-boat, in 1807, had not been brought to the state of
perfection it has attained in our day; and the many inventions which
science and art have since introduced for the preservation of life,
were for the most part unknown in the times of which we are now
writing.

Several men attempted to swim to the ship, but without success; they
were all, one after another, cast back exhausted upon the beach, and
many of them without sense or motion. At last, when there seemed no
hope left of affording aid to the sufferers, Mr. Roberts, of Helstone,
seized hold of a rope, and boldly struck out in the direction of the
Anson. He was a powerful swimmer, and his courageous efforts were
watched from the shore and from the wreck with intense interest, and
many a heartfelt prayer was breathed for his safety and success.
Tossed on the foaming waters, at one moment lost to sight, and almost
suffocated in the spray, and at another rising on the top of a huge
wave, he at last reached the ship, and was hailed as a deliverer by
those who were still clinging to the spars and rigging. The rope which
Mr. Roberts had taken with him was made fast to the wreck, and this
formed a communication with th