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ments are called, after a very good night's rest-my usual occupations of the chamber being performed, with almost as much satisfaction as if I had been in my own room on shore. The weather had cleared a little, and a light wind from the north-west was pushing us gently along our course. The man heaving the lead, and calling out the number of fathoms of water in which we were sailing, reminded me of Paul's voyage to Rome, "where we sounded and found it fifteen fathoms." We were about 50 miles from the Cape-the Bay here is very wide, and we seemed almost surrounded with fishing smacks and other small craft; we soon, however, slipped by all of them. At half-past eight o'clock, the time the passengers had previously fixed, we were summoned to breakfast, which I welcomed, as usual, with a good appetite. There appears to be a large supply of eatables on board-Our live stock consists of a cow and calf-six sheep a dozen or more pigs-and ducks, chickens, and geese, innu

merable.

3 o'clock, P. M.-We are now just off Cape Henlopen; the pilot is about leaving us, and all hands and hearts are busied in sending off their letters. Farewell; the wide ocean lies before me; one spot after another of my native shore fades away, like "clouds in the horizon." What events, what vicissitudes may take place, before I may be permitted to visit again the scenes of my childhood-if indeed this be permitted at all-but I forbear again farewell.

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March 22d.-At Sea. After the pilot left us yesterday, we soon got out to sea with a fair breeze. The motion of the ship produced sickness in most of the passengers, and we all could scarcely keep our feet; any two of us in conversation might have been thought under the influence of ar

dent spirits "We reeled to and fro, and staggered like drunken" men. At the supper table, we could muster 7 only, out of 22-and before 9 o'clock only three of us could be seen. Thus far I have entirely escaped any thing like nausea or bad feeling. Last night, though my first at sea, I slept very soundly. When I went on deck about seven this morning, I had the pleasure of witnessing the ocean in one of its most lovely faces. The sun was bright, and the wide waste of dark blue water was thrown into gentle heavings by its own influence; the white crests of the waves were silvered by the rays of the sun-these, and a thousand other peculiarities, all new to me, filled me with wonder and awe,

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"As its billowy boundlessness opened be fore me.' The water within soundings is of a dark green, but that beyond the reach of the lead is of a deep indigo blue colour-a change which is no doubt produced by the light not being reflected from the bottom. The blue colour of the deep water is beautifully changed to pea green, or light blue, by the white foam occasioned by the wake of the ship. As this foam, if the vessel is making much head-way, is often projected in a broad thin sheet, for many yards over the surface of the waves, it often lies on, or rolls over the tops of the waves, like so much oil, without mixing with the denser water. This morning, the mate of our ship saw a long-boat filled with water, sweeping over the waves. This incident produced, of course, many unpleasant sensations. Where is the crew, which perhaps once manned this boat?-have they all gone down amidst the roaring of the waters?What prayers have been offered up

what sighs and tears have been poured forth, by friends at home, for these wanderers on the deep, who may have thus untimely perished!

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cay.

On beds of green sea-flowers thy limbs shall be laid, Around thy white bones the red coral shall grow;

Of thy fair yellow locks threads of amber be made; Decorations fantastic to caverns below."

The wind continued favourable all day, and carried us along at the rate of eight and a half knots an hour. In the evening the wind became more violent, and before we could haul in all our light rigging, which had been spread during the day to catch every breeze, one of the studding-sail booms snapt, and was carried away. This, together with the empty long-boat, created in my imagination so many frightful images, that I slept but little all night.

23d. The wind continues still favourable. Most of my shipmates are still overcome with a horrible nausea of sea sickness, so that our breakfast was scarcely touched by any but the captain, Dr. G., Mr. W., and myself. We are now in the gulf stream, about 200 miles east of Delaware Bay-On drawing up a bucket of the water, its temperature I should judge to be about 80°-that of the air being 65°. It felt exactly as if it had been taken from a kettle near the firethis difference of heat must of course be more remarkable in winter than in summer.

What a beautiful contrivance of the Great Author of nature is this gulf stream? By means of it, a constant and regular current, or circulation, in the waters of the ocean is established, which preserves it nearly uniform in its composition; though the saltness of the sea still varies with the latitude. It is a remarkable fact, that in tropical and polar regions this saltness is the same. The gulf

stream is also the means by which heat is conveyed, from warmer to colder climates. The heated wa

ter rises to the surface in the tropics, and is carried in such quantities towards the north, that the warmth of the gulf stream is felt for more than a thousand milesThe tendency of such changes is to regulate and equalize the whole temperature of the earth. The sailors say that the gulf stream may be distinguished from the other parts of the ocean, by a difference in the colour of the water; but from my observation this is not the fact. There is also another error with regard to this stream, which rests upon higher authority than that of sailors. Dr. Franklin, and other writers, assert that what is called gulf weed, is every where interspersed through this stream, and is therefore a sign that you are sailing in it. This weed, however, is much more abundant out of the current than in it-Indeed, after passing its edge a few miles, the weed entirely disappears.

You all know that I have been a lover of natural history, in all its branches, from my youth up; the gulf weed, therefore, from the time of its first appearance, excited my particular attention. Its origin is mysterious. Whether it is produced at the bottom of the sea, and then rises to the surface, or whether it grows on the surface of the waves themselves, or whether it is an animal or vegetable production? are, I believe, questions still undetermined. Dr. Thunberg, who, I recollect, mentions it in his travels, supposes that it originates, and grows as it floats, on the bosom of the waters. This sea weed, which I think is a fucus, appears in small green bunches, composed of long and narrow fleshy leaves, which shoot out from slender stems. I have found it not unfrequently with little circular pods, which look like its fruit-specimens of which

I have gathered, to grace my collection of natural objects at home. Though this weed often lies promiscuously on the surface of the sea, I have seen large fields of it arranged in long narrow bands, separated from each other by intervals of water-which suggests to the mind the idea of its being planted in furrows, like wheat in a field. These bands always lie longitudinally, in the direction of the winds. I examined a good deal of this weed, expecting to find it the residence of a number of marine animals; but I found nothing lodged in it, but a small species of shell called the spirula spirorbis.

We have to-day an instance of one of those beautiful sunny days at sea, of which I have so often read-For my part I must say that a sunny day on terra firma, is vastly more agreeable. In our present situation, however, there is something peculiarly pleasant and exhilarating in fair weather, and a fine propitious breeze.

24th. We are still sailing, as we have been since we left soundings, at the rate of 10 knots an hour, on our regular course. The heaving of the log, by which the speed of the ship is ascertained, is done every two hours, at the ringing of the bell-it is a very simple process. A triangular piece of wood, loaded with lead on one side, is attached by its three corners to a cord of known length-a sand glass, which discharges itself in a given time, is then preparedthe triangular piece of wood, or log, is thrown into the water, while the ship is under way, and sinking below the surface, in the direction of its loaded side, remains nearly stationary, and presents sufficient resistance to unwind a certain length of the cord, which is on a reel, in the time marked by the glass. I was very much interested to-day in observing the habits of a little bird, which keeps principally in the wake of our ship-no doubt

to pick up any aliment which may be thrown overboard. This bird is the stormy peterel (procellaria wilsonii). It is called peterel, from the apostle Peter, because it seems to walk on the water. For hours I have stood at the taffrail, watching the motions of hundreds of these birds, some of them skimming gracefully over the surface of the waves, and curiously preserving the same ever varying curves some climbing up the hills of water, and others in clusters, apparently at rest round an article of food. The sailors are very superstitious with regard to these birds, which they call Mother Cary's chickens-probably from some old witch or fortune teller of that name. I recollect a well-told story in Blackwood's Magazine, on this subject, to which I refer you-it is headed the Fatal Repast. It is supposed by many that the peterel, as it is seen in almost every part of the ocean, lives on the water entirely, and hatches its eggs under its wings-I need not say this is not the fact. It is surprising, however, what a length of time they continue on the wing; they have been the last objects which the darkness of the night concealed, and the first which the morning dawn has enabled me to discover. They utter a low note, something like weet, weet, which is quite audible when they are near the ship. This some of the sailors translate into wet, wet, and say it indicates stormy weather. It is generally supposed that this is the same species of peterel which inhabits both the European and American portions of the Atlantic; but though much alike, they are still different

That which sweeps over the vast range of the European ocean is called the pelagic peterel; and that which inhabits the American Atlantic is called Wilson's peterel— after our own great ornithologist. Think not that I say too much concerning these interesting little

wanderers of the deep-There is no one, perhaps, who crosses the Atlantic, but must feel indebted to them for many hours of amusement. At sea, every thing which tends to break the dreadful monotony of the wide waste of water and sky, amuses the mind. The only other living thing out of the ship that I have yet seen, is the shear-water, and a few gulls.

This afternoon a gale of wind caught us with most of our small rigging or kites hoisted, and before we could haul them in we had our studding-sail boom carried away. The wind continued to blow all night, and the ship to rock and groan most terribly. About 12 o'clock I had just forgotten myself in a nap, when I was roused by a tremendous blow, struck against the side of the vessel-The waves rushed in through the cabin windows or sky-lights; the ladies screamed, and confusion generally prevailed -For myself, I thought we were lost. My anxiety, however, was the apprehension of a novice, for one of the passengers, Mr. W., who had frequently been to sea, quieted most of our fears, by stating that we had "only shipped a seaa very common occurrence." After this I slept but little, in consequence of the rocking of the ship, the whistling of the wind through the rigging, and the constant creaking and groaning noise produced by the working of the joints of the vessel, the masts, and the bulk heads. In the morning I could almost say with Shakspeare's Cla

rence

"I would not pass another such night To gain a world of happy days-so full of Dismal horror was the time."

26th. The wind still continues favourable, and we have now made almost one-third of the distance of our voyage. The grand banks of Newfoundland lie about 300 miles to the west. We have taken our present course, in order, as the captain says, to give the icebergs,

which sometimes break away from their moorings at the North pole at this season of the year, a good birth. Before setting out on my voyage, I had read a good deal respecting the fisheries established at the great bank. I anticipated much amusement, and expected to add many articles of curiosity to my cabinet, by an examination of that interesting scene; I was therefore a little disappointed, at finding that this was now out of my power, although I consoled myself with the thought, that the fogs and dangers which almost always hang over that place, were also escaped. An iceberg, too, with all its terrors, I had also a desire to see, afar off; but I had now no chance of being gratified. It is remarkable how soon we become used to a life at sea-The unpleasant sensation first felt, of being alone comparatively, on the vast waste of waters, with only a plank between you and death, is now seldom experienced. I have been remarkably favoured, in not being for a moment sea-sick, though almost every one around me, except my friend and room mate, Dr. G., have been suffering. Religion, as our friend Dr. D. says, is the best thing to go to sea with. A peaceful conscience, a realizing, firm, and abiding sense of a superintending Providence, will contribute more to health, cheerfulness, and general comfort, than all the rules laid down by Dr. Franklin and others, on this subject. For myself I know not how I could have got along, or may still get along, in the voyage of life, without the little of this good thing, which I hope I possess. This afternoon we saw the first ship since we left soundings-We were not near enough to speak her, but I felt a pleasure in having human beings within sight. We soon passed her, at the distance of about a mile. In the descriptions of most voyages which I have read, I have noticed

some wonderful accounts of the feelings of the traveller, when he comes in sight of the first ship in the middle of the ocean-Throbbings, thrillings, ecstasies, and all those kind of things, are then judiciously scattered through the description. In the present instance, therefore, when the sailors cried out-" sail, ho," I was prepared at all points for something exquisite but the ship passed us without producing any thing more than the plain, every-day sort of feeling, which I have just mention ed. A strong gale of wind springing up in the evening, we were obliged to reef our topsails; in doing which, the sailors were very expert, and presented to us landsmen an exceedingly interesting sight.

27th.-To-day is Sunday; but the weather is too rough to admit of any publick religious service being performed.

(To be continued.)

THE BEST METHOD OF CONDUCTING
CHRISTIAN MISSIONS.
No. III.

4. Let us now inquire how a hurtful interference in missionary operations may best be avoided or prevented. For this purpose, it is primarily important that all missionary associations, whether acting as churches, or as voluntary societies, should be careful to guard against selfish views, to cultivate a truly liberal and Christian spirit, and to keep constantly in mind, that all genuine evangelical missions must have for their grand object, to which every other must be made subservient, the salvation of immortal souls; that thus they may contribute to extend the Redeemer's kingdom, and promote the declarative glory of God in the world. The disposition, motives, and object here brought into view, are, it is believed, nearly all that is requisite

for the certain prevention of the evil which it is so desirable to avoid-They will ensure, as a natural consequence, every thing else that is necessary. Nor is there more danger that a narrow, exclusive, engrossing, or aggressive spirit and system, will be cherished and pursued, in the management of missions by churches as such, than in the operations of those which are conducted by voluntary associations. The truth is, that a real missionary spirit is essentially a spirit of expansive Christian benevolence; and where this is possessed, it will, in all cases, prove a powerful preservative against the workings of selfishness and bigotry; and where it is not possessed, selfish views and a desire of power and pre-eminence will, in some shape or other, be acted on and acted out, let the form of a missionary society be what it may. It is now more than two years and a half, since we inserted in the fourth volume of the Christian Advocate, an essay on this question "How shall we maintain both Truth and Charity?”* We wish that those of our readers who take-and all ought to takean interest in this subject, and who possess the fourth volume of our work, would turn to the essay we have named, and give it an attentive perusal. But for those who may not possess the volume referred to, and because the opinions we advocate are represented by some as savouring of a sectarian spirit, we quote from what was written at the time we have mentioned, by the same hand which now holds the pen, the following paragraphs

"Let this matter be considered in reference to missionary operations The writer of this essay is a Presbyterian, and he certainly does not think that he can lay claim to any extraordinary measure of Christian charity. He nevertheless is

* See Christian Advocate for 1826, the Nos. for August and September.

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