The Hon. Ageut at Cromarty reports, 2nd of December: The weather was very stormy, and this pilot-boat swamped under ship's quarter, and two of the men, then baling her out, had a very narrow escape with their lives, by having caught hold of the tow-rope, as the boat broke adrift from the vessel. + The Agent at Falmouth reports the 20th of December, that this vessel was bound from London to Swansea with metals, run into at 3.30 a.m. on Sunday by s.s. 'Ben Ledi,' of North Shields, and sank immediately, carrying down one hand; remainder of crew, some without clothing. got on board steamer, and were landed at Falmouth same day. The Hon. Agent at Holyhead reports, 15th of January, that the Otway' was from Ipswich to Belfast, with patent manure. The vessel is a total wreck at Rhoscolyn, Anglesea. One man lost his life, master and two hands saved, came on shore nearly naked and badly bruised. Master remains at wreck, to see if he can recover something. This has been a very sad case. Anothor account says: The schooner Otway' (Murray, master), of Whitehaven, bound from Ipswich to Belfast, laden with coprolite, was wrecked yesterday at Rhoscolyn, near Holyhead, during a very dense fog. crew, consisting of the captaiu and three men, sighted no lights after leaving the Cornish coast. She experienced very heavy weather for several days, and before she became wrecked had lost her topmast sails and lower rigging. Her wheel also got out of order, and the vessel became unmanageable. The sea broke over her, and got into The the hold. She was driven on the rocks, and has become a total wreck. The crew gt_on the rocks, but one man, who was shipped at Ipswich, was subsequently washed away and drowned. His name is not known, but he was a native of Foxhall, Essex. The coastguards of Holyhead and Rhosneigr immediately proceeded to the scene of the disaster, but could render no assistance. § The Hon. Agent at Ramsgate reports, 15th of February, that the crew of this vessel had a very narrow escape of their lives. They were very gallantly rescued from their perilous condition by the Ramsgate lifeboat, and landed here in an almost destitute condition, having lost all excepting what they stood in. They were taken to the Sailors' Home, and supplied with warm provisions; the captain's wife and children, who were on board, were provided with warm clothing, whilst the crew had some lent to them while their own were being dried. All the men were induced to joiu the Society before leaving Ramsgate. The Prawle Hon. Agent reports, 8th of January, that the schooner Utility, came on shore at Prawle, at 3.20 a.m. on 3rd January. Tremendous sea from south-west. Crew, five in number, saved by apparatus. Great difficulty was experienced by Mr. G. Blacken, in getting them from the wreck, the shore being very shallow, and rocks full of holes. The coastguard had to work up to their necks in water, to prevent the crew from being dashed to pieces, the night being very dark. Great credit due to coastguard. ANNUAL GRANTS TO WIDOWS AND ORPHANS. "WE ARE ORPHANS AND FATHERLESS, OUR MOTHERS ARE AS WIDOWS."-LAM. V. 3. Statement of the number of Widows and Orphans relieved in January, who were also relieved at the time of the death of their Husbands, but who are permitted to apply annually for further Relief while they have Children under Fourteen Years of Age, or are themselves above Sixty years of Age, and without Children. NOTE.-One thousand two hundred and seventy-two Widows, a list of whom appeared in our Hundredth number, page 222, Vol. XXV., were also relieved in July, making, with the above, a total of two thousand four hundred and sixty-one Widows, and three thousand three hundred and seventy-two Orphans of Fishermen or Mariners, who are thus receiving Annual Grants to the amount of £7,169 4s. 1d. yearly, to help to pay the rents of their cottages; the interest of the funded property of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society (though only half sufficient) being set apart in aid of this benevolent purpose. WHO IS TO BLAME? LET us suppose a vessel foundering at sea. We know the vessel to be exceedingly rotten, and so leaky that it is filling fast-that it must shortly go down. On shore the utmost effort is made. The life-boat, with capacity to hold every person on the sinking ship, is launched. The mariners pull alongside the rotten, sinking vessel. The captain of the life-boat begs every person on board immediately to let go the old rotten ship and trust himself in his hands in the life-boat, with the certainty of being brought safe to shore. The people on board resolutely refuse the invitation. One says, "The old vessel is not so bad; she only requires painting," &c. Another says, “Away with both you and your life-boat! we have a carpenter of our own, whose business it is to mend the old ship. Who do you think is going to leave this fine old ship, and trust to that poor-looking boat?" The vessel fills and sinks. And now tell me, if every fool-hardy despiser on board goes down, who is to blame? Plainly themselves. The life-boat was sent to them, and they refused. Man is that rotten ship-fallen, ruined by sin, filling fuller and fuller of sins, until he sinks into perdition. Christ Jesus is the life-boat. God so loved this poor, ruined, sinking world that He sent the life-boat, "That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Did the world believe God? Oh no, they rejected even such love, so great salvation. They murdered the Son of God. The death of Jesus was the offering of Himself, the atoning sacrifice for sin, God raised Him from the dead; and the RISEN CHRIST becomes the life-boat of every soul that trusts in Him. But, my reader, may I ask you a home question. Where are you—in the life-boat, or in the old ship? Are you in Christ, or trusting to the selfrighteousness of old human nature? Are you one of the redeemed? Can you that you have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins"? (Col. i. 14.) Or are you still in and of that world, which is guilty of rejecting and murdering the Son of God? say 66 Perhaps you do not care for these things. Are you filling up the measure of your iniquity? You know when the old ship gets full it sinks, and when your last sin on earth shall be filled up and you sink into endless perdition, you will remember who is to blame. But are you trusting to outward forms and ceremonies of religion? Now what good will this outside paint do? The ship is sinking, and if you stay on it, you will go down with the very paint-brush in your hand. Oh, my friend! all the baptisms, and sacraments, and ordinances that man perform will never keep one ruined sinner from sinking into hell! Woe be to your poor soul if you trust in them. can Do you say there are so many opinions-how am I to tell who is right? Whoever points you to Christ, the life-boat, is right; and whoever keeps you in the old ship is wrong. Do you not see that? ship-that is, your Are you trying-no matter how-to mend the old fallen human nature, called in scripture "the flesh"? Then you may be quite certain, sooner or later, if you continue in that condition you will, as the old ship, go down. Think where! Oh the bottomless pit—and who is to blame? Oh, give up the vain attempt to mend the old ship. Own yourself a lost, undone, ruined sinner-believe the grace of God in sending you Christ the life-boat--trust Him with all your heart-confess Him with your lips and life. You cannot be in both. If you are in the old ship, no matter how selfrighteous, you are sinking fast: there is not a moment to be lost. It is indeed great presumption for any one in the old ship to say, he knows he is safe. But if you are in Christ, the life-boat, you cannot be too sure. He never did and never will lose one. C. S. No. CIII. JUNE, 1879. Vol. XXVI. THE ROYAL NAVY-ANCIENT AND MODERN.* B (Continued from page 66.) Y daybreak on the morning of the 2nd of June, 1666, the four days' battle off Dunkirk was resumed, but previous to this a council of war had been held by candlelight on board the head-quarter ship, wherein the Duke of Albemarle delivered this opinion: "That if we had dreaded the number of the enemy yesterday we should have fled, but though we are inferior to them in ships, we are in all things else superior. Force gives them courage. Let us, if we need it, borrow resolution from what we have formerly performed. Let the enemy feel that though our fleet be divided (referring to the absence of the White Squadron), our spirit is entire. At the worst it will be more honourable to die here on our own element than be made spectacles to the Dutch. To be overcome is the fortune of war, but to fly is the fashion of cowards. So let us teach the world that Englishmen would rather be acquainted with death than fear." These noble words elicited a burst of applause; every captain repaired to his ship, and the action was at once renewed, with, if possible, increased fury, a few hours' pause only occurring by the intervention of a calm, till about noon, when a breeze sprang up. Van Tromp, before the wind, rashly bore into the midst of the English fleet, and being raked on all sides, had a narrow escape, and had once more, as on the preceding day, *From "British Battles on Land and Sea," by James Grant; Cassell & Co., and other sources. K |