For a period of four months they had been under the constant influence of scriptural instruction and prayer, and of a system of intellectual and moral government, founded on the grand principles of Christianity, and in unison with its spirit and precepts. They had all been eye-witnesses of the blessed effects which the knowledge, faith, and love of Christ are, under the power of the Eternal Spirit, able to produce; and these effects many of them had experienced, to the praise and glory of God. If they follow the instruction they have received, they will prove holy and useful men, wise to win souls to Jesus and to heaven, by conversation, example, and prayer, and will be kept by the power of God unto the everlasting kingdom of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; but it will not be manifest, till that day when God shall take an account of his people, how many souls on board the "Earl Grey" were "born again"-born of the Word and Spirit of God!

This chapter I shall close with extracts from a letter, which one of the prisoners put into my hands as he was about to step over the ship's side into one of the boats appointed to convey him and his companions to the shore. He appears to have availed himself of the light of the midnight lamp, and to have occupied his last hours on board (which he was neither able nor disposed to give unto sleep,) in attempting to give utterance to a heart which was too full for utterance, and whose emotions must be far beyond the sympathies of those who have not felt the plague of

their own hearts, nor experienced the sweet influence of pardoning love:

"Allow me to thank you most sincerely for every expression of kindness I have received from you. I acknowledge with grateful love to the ever-blessed God, that to him alone belongs the glory and the praise for every covenant-blessing bestowed upon the undeserving and the guilty, such as we poor sinners are, through whatever channel he may be pleased to convey his precious and free gifts, the tokens of his everlasting and unchanging love : yet I must thank you for all the kind and anxious care you have exercised towards us all, and towards myself as an individual. It might have been with us as with many poor men in the like situation with ourselves, to have 'no man that would naturally care for our state,' as God's creatures, and as offenders against his holy laws. But thanks be to the Lord for the manifestation of his abundant goodness! Oh, sir, if I know my heart at all, I feel that it overflows, as it were, this night with sincere gratitude and love to my Lord and your Lord, to my Father and your Father, for all his goodness to my soul and body, and to us all, from the time we first stepped upon the decks of this highly-favoured ship.

"What shall I render unto the Lord for having made you the instrument of good to my soul, and to the souls of many of my poor dear companions in affliction! I am sure, dear kind friend of us poor con

victs, your heart will respond, we shall bless and praise the Lord for ever!

"It is midnight now, and I feel that I could, did prudence not whisper, like Paul and Silas, break out into a song to my Redeemer, upon taking a retrospective view of all the Lord's mercy and goodness which have followed us through our lives, and especially during our voyage. I felt, though nearly heartbroken by the thought of parting from my wife and child,—I felt, when in the hulk, such a strong desire to sail in this ship as nothing could repress, and I left no stone unturned to accomplish my object, so far as I was concerned, though very ill. But I see now, without abating aught from my sin and guilt, and moral responsibility, God would have it so. He intended good; he had thoughts of peace and not of evil towards me, a then careless creature.

"I bless and adore him for his providential dealings with me, I thank him,-oh! I do indeed thank him this night, that he brought me on board this ship! I cannot tell what he has done for me, through your faithful and affectionate instrumentality. But he has brought me low at his footstool to exalt me in the righteousness of the holy Jesus, who is very precious to my soul; and in his dear name I can rejoice, some days, all the day along. Oh, sir, I believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, you and I, and many of my dear fellow-men here, will be saved, and when we get to heaven salvation will be the subject of our praise

K

'Then shall we sing, more sweet, more loud,
And Christ shall be our song!'

"May the Lord make and keep me very humble, and make and keep me faithful unto death! I need not remind you that I have no strength to resist sin and gladly to follow my Lord, bearing his cross, but what I derive from our exalted and ever blessed Lord himself. I feel it! Oh, my soul longs to love him more;-I long to be made useful to poor sinners! Oh, that I may have the opportunity! I can do it in one way, I know, by shewing forth the Saviour's praise and power to save, in my life and walk, spirit and temper. The Lord open the doors for me to speak to my fellow-sinners of Jesus and his great salvation! The Lord grant me wisdom, and a sound judgment, and a warm heart, and an enlightened mind!

"Oh, sir, pray for me,-I will pray for you! I cannot forget you and all your kindness, and the kindness of your and our kind friends in England, who have taken so much interest in our welfare. Oh, do tell them, to the honour of our Lord, that one poor wandering sheep has been brought to the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep, he loved them so dearly! . . . . I hope to meet with you, kind sir, where Jesus is; and it will be heaven where he is ... Oh, I feel a heaven in my soul when he dwells in me by faith, and visits me with his love; and he will never leave me :-he cannot-for he is formed in my heart the hope of glory: I dare not doubt it! Blessed be God, there are many more

besides me! The Lord has his own sheep amongst us. And now we must part, I feel the smart! Blessed be that dear uniting love that binds us together!

"I have been very much comforted by these words —the precious words of Jesus, which discover his relation to his believing people, and remind them of his never-ceasing care for them, My Father and your Father; my God and your God!' Excuse me in taking so much liberty as I have, in addressing to you this short letter before I quit the 'Earl Grey.' Farewell!".