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home; but, whatever might be his secret hopes for the future, he gave all his heart to the work before him. The love of Christ constrained him, and the sacrifice of earthly endearment which he had made for his sake, helped to render that Master's authority more august and his favour more precious. And if it be a fine spectacle to see a home-sick but open-hearted sailor like Collingwood, sustained by a simple sense of duty-keeping his post one weariful year after another, when a flower from his own garden would have been more welcome than a forest of laurel, and a sight of his children more prized than a step in the peerage it is surely as great a lesson to see the Christian missionary self-exiled from what he deems an earthly paradise, and, in a calling which admits no earthly recompence, bound to a barbarous shore by no other mooring than compassion for his fellow-men and loyalty to his Lord in heaven. It would be wrong to print the outpourings of brotherly and friendly tenderness, and the yearnings homeward with which Mr Williams' letters overflow; but, having been allowed to read them, we confess that they have greatly exalted the writer in our eyes, and have imparted to his mission another element of martyrdom.

Returning to the Journal, we resume the record after the sailing of the Ocean Queen:

"Our ship was seen getting under weigh at about nine o'clock on the morning of the 19th December,

and in a few hours we lost sight of her. God speed her, and all that are in her! About ten o'clock on the same morning we ourselves prepared to leave Banner Cove, in search of a place where we might deposit some of our stores, our boats being too much crowded. We could not stow any in the immediate vicinity, on account of the natives. Accordingly, we got under weigh, but the wind was ahead of us at first. We had to make several tacks, and were sometimes puzzled in the attempt. My berth was in the Pioneer with Captain Gardiner ; but, as he required two of the sailors with him, I exchanged places with Bryant, and went on board the Speedwell, which was under command of Erwin, Badcock being with us. Thus we were divided, Captain Gardiner, Mr Maidment, Pearce, and Bryant in the Pioneer, and we three in the Speedwell. The Speedwell was much the heavier laden of the two, and greatly encumbered with stores. In addition, we had a heavy raft of timber fastened to our stern, and towed after us. I now turned to, to assist for the first time in the management of a sailing craft. I soon was able to handle the mainsheet, in working the boat, 'hauling aft' and slackening off,' 'brailing up' and 'furling,' as required; and rigged out in most of the gear of a sailor, with sou'-wester, a blue serge shirt, and heavy sea-boots. The wind was blowing fresh from the N.E., with squalls of rain, and, although somewhat gloomy the weather, and chilling, we set off

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in excellent spirits. After tacking about for more than an hour, the Pioneer got the start of us, by weathering on one tack the point of land projecting from Garden Island, and we lost sight of her. In attempting to do the same, the raft we had in tow came on our weather bow, whilst we were in stays, and we were driven leeward considerably. We now tried to wear her, but, owing to a field of kelp on our lee bow, she would not go round, and we saw ourselves fast drifting right on the surf. We were startled and amazed at the suddenness of the danger, as well as by its imminency and greatness. It was scarcely credible to our senses, that, in the course of a few minutes, and almost at the instant of our losing sight of our companions, we should be exposed to such a peril as was now before us. All was anxiety and alacrity to do whatever we could. The anchor was hastily let go, but, owing to the mass of kelp and bad holding-ground, it came home until we were in the midst of the rocks. Destruction now; indeed, threatened us, and poor Erwin was almost beside himself. The boat, the boat will be lost!-she's done for, she'll go to pieces!' was the poor fellow's repeated exclamation. We did our utmost, by means of the boat-hooks, &c., to keep her from being heaved by the roaring swell on the rocks. Now she was broadside, and all but upon them; now her bow was really in danger of being stoved: we were first at one part, and as immediately at another.

our hands being fully engaged, to keep her from striking. Betwixt two and three hours we continued thus, in constant and unceasing effort, till at length we were somewhat relieved by getting a spring on the cable, on which I held for an hour longer, whilst Erwin and Badcock fixed the boathooks. The wind was blowing hard during the whole time, with increasing blasts at intervals, and the surge was furiously dashing about us. For more than four hours together had we thus to contemplate the probability of our destruction; and if our lives should be saved, yet now, separated from our companions, all our provisions gone, if left on shore, helpless and destitute, and at the mercy of the natives, the prospect was not pleasing. Were such my thoughts? They might have crossed my mind. But they were not my thoughts; my thoughts were altogether different. The grace of God so strongly supported me, that I felt not the least alarm, and was all along confident that we should again get off in safety. Indeed, I could not help thinking that I was too insensible to our danger, and too little affected by it. Certain, however, it was, that not a struggle nor one emotion of fear occurred to me. I felt that, whatever the result might be, all would be well, for God had the ordering of this, as well as of any other circumstance which should betide us.

Poor Erwin, as yet

a stranger to the grace of God, gave way to passionate paroxysms of grief, not on account of any

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danger to himself, but on account of the apprehended loss of our boat, and the injury we all, as well as the mission itself, would sustain thereby. Dear fellow! his feelings reflected honour upon him, as well as his unparalleled exertions. After remaining in our dangerous position the time before specified, a lull occurred in the wind, and we thought it a good opportunity to make an effort to get out, and push round the rocks into open water. It was, however, a most critical juncture, and presented certain destruction if we failed. Falling down before God, we sought his direction and help in prayer, and upon rising from our knees immediately proceeded to cut the chain cable; but, not succeeding in this, we let it go altogether. And now, although destruction appeared inevitable, the swell launching us broadside with great force in the direction of the rocks, yet, by the mercy of God, the danger was averted, and, after exerting ourselves to the uttermost, we found ourselves outside the rocks and round the point. Here again another difficulty presented itself. Our rudder had been unshipped, and carried away, and, before we could get any command of the boat, the wind and tide drifted us against the opposite small island, Round Island, when we had again to make strenuous efforts with our boat-hooks. Hardly had we escaped this, when we touched some sunken rocks and shoal water, but were again mercifully preserved. On getting free, we took the only alter

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