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CHAPTER V.

The Voyage.

THE storm is changed into a calm
At His command and will;

So that the waves, which raged befɔra,
Now quiet are and still.

Then are they glad, because at rest,

And quiet now they be :

So to the haven He them brings,

Which they desired to see.

Psalm cvii. 29, 30.-Scotch Version.

These difficulties are nothing in reality. He that has an object in view so exciting as the acquisition of ability to preach Christ to the heathen, plods along without one thought of weariness or inconvenience; loving to tread the rough furrows, because he sees them strewn with the promise of many a sheaf.-Rev. William Arthur.

THE partings were mostly over beforehand, and the tranquillity and content of its autumn were filling the air of England on the day when the pilgrims left it. And the peace of God was keeping their minds. Mr Ritchie, the early and ardent promoter of the mission, and a few other friends, accompanied them to the ship, and, from the cheerfulness of the voyagers, augured the best for the success of their expedition. They considered their preparations complete, and with hearts strong and hopeful, they bore away down the Mersey.*

* From Mr Ritchie's communication, already mentioned, we may give the following particulars of the last hour at Liverpool. Captain Gardiner had not yet reached the vessel, which was already warping out of dock: "I endeavoured, however, to improve the precious moments by carrying on a conversation from the wharf with our friends on the poop-deck, who were dressed in their sea-going garbs, and protected from a hot September sun by broad-brimmed' sombreros.' They seemed full of hope, and animated by a high and holy zeal for the great cause on which they were about to proceed; and, judging from their healthful animated looks, they were as well adapted as any men ever

During the voyage, as well as afterwards in the place of his destination, Mr Williams kept a copious journal. This companion of his wanderings, and confidant of all his musings, has survived many perils, and been sent home to its author's family. From its daily records we gather the following account of the voyage:

"Saturday, September 7, 1850.-Came on board the Ocean Queen at eleven A.M. At noon hauled out of the Brunswick Dock Basin, and taken in tow by steam-tug.

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Fairly on board and standing out for the wide ocean, how varied were the emotions felt! But the one above all others was a sense of joy at the cer

were for the fatigues and privations which stared them in the face." "When Captain Gardiner arrived, I particularly remember asking him, with that frankness which became our intimacy, for how long a period he considered the provisions he was taking would serve the party; to which he replied, 'About six months after arrival, even allowing we catch no fish nor kill any game.' I expressed my regret that he had not taken a twelvemonth's provision at once, especially when he was aware of the difficulty, if not impracticability, of hereafter landing any at the mission,-owners not wishing to allow their vessels to deflect from their course, to touch at so dangerous a coast as Tierra del Fuego. On this he gave me explanations,—based on the state of the funds of the Mission, the certainty of damage by wet and damp, and the exposure to robbery by the natives,-which, no doubt, were perfectly satisfactory to himself, and must also have been so to me, for I thought little further on the subject. Shortly afterwards, about noon, the Ocean Queen was warped through the gates, and, following her tug-steamer, swam nobly down the vassal river, amid cheers from the pier-head, much augmented by the numerous friends of the San Francisco emigrants, and the response from on board, until at length she was lost in the haze."

tainty of now being actually engaged in the great work of making known the Saviour of the world, and that, too, to a poor benighted people—a race of savages.

"Now for the first time I saw those who were to be my companions in the work of faith. These I found (besides Captain Gardiner) consisted of my fellow-catechist Mr Maidment, Joseph Erwin, shipcarpenter, and our three boatmen from Mousehole, near Penzance, John Badcock, John Bryant, John Pearce.

"The vessel is bound for San Francisco, California, being 568 tons burden, commanded by Captain H. S. Cooper, and carrying, besides our own party, a lady and gentleman from Liverpool, with their children and two servants, and four German Jews.

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Sunday, September 8.-Captain Gardiner conducted services in the cabin, morning and night; but I could not venture to be present, as yet unable to bear the motion below.

"I have much enjoyed the day, and felt much of the goodness of God whilst pondering on my situation. However, I can scarcely realise the actuality of my position and this novel change so suddenly brought about.-My poor dear friends!

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Thursday, September 12.—I have now had time to see something of my associates. The more I see of Captain Allen Gardiner, the more I admire his character. Day by day he opens up before me in

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