were written, we cannot but regard it as a very affecting document. It is quite evident that he had acquired a fond attachment to this personal narrative, and that the hours passed lightly which were spent in its life-like society. Not only was it a survivor from brighter days, and a remembrance of the hopes and aspirations of the outward voyage, but it was becoming too manifest that his Burslem friends might have no other messenger to tell how it fared with him in the last stage of the pilgrimage. Eventually, therefore, we believe that it was chiefly for their sakes that, by the light of a candle, and with "aching fingers," as he lay in his cheerless cabin, he continued to record the incidents. and impressions of these lonely days.

We are now arrived at the last entry. It is dated, "Cook's River, Sunday night, or possibly Monday morning, June 21 or 22" the shortest day of those regions, when the night lasts sixteen hours. It tells how Pearce had come to sit up with the invalids, but had been persuaded to retire to rest; and it speaks of Badcock as dying. It contains expressions which would almost indicate that the mind of the writer was beginning to wander; but, even amidst confused perceptions, it shews that his faith in God was still clear and unclouded. The last words are:

"When I left Burslem on the mission, it was with a secret confidence I should see the salvation of God. Oh, my soul hath beheld it!

But the

greatest trouble,' some would say, ' is not over yet. You have but a week's provision more, even at the rate you are now living at, and no certain expectation of a vessel's coming in that time!' Yes, this is so; but I have a certain and sure expectation of deliverance in that time. To-day is June 22; for I believe it is far advanced in the morning. We shall see. He that believeth shall never be confounded.

"Here I rest my hope.

"The Lord's will be done."

Captain Gardiner and Mr Maidment continued to lodge at the cavern, about a mile and a half from the mouth of Cook's River, where the boat containing the rest of the party was moored. And though the distance was not great, so exhausted and weakened were they all, that they could not maintain a daily communication. But on Saturday, June 28, Captain Gardiner visited the Speedwell ; and in his own brief journal he writes:—

"Found Mr Williams and Badcock to-day very ill. Mr Williams considers the latter beyond the hope of recovery. He is most patient, and leaning only upon his God. Mr Williams is certainly weaker than he has been during his long illness, and to-day spoke very incoherently. He was praying aloud when I reached the boat, for himself and his dying companion, committing themselves to God, and rejoicing in his faithfulness and truth. I have kept no record of the expressions which have

fallen from him during my various visits to Cook's River; but the invariable tenor of them has been entire resignation to the will of God, joy and peace in believing, and a firm trust in his Redeemer, with the full assurance that all had and still would work together for the advancement of his eternal interests. On one occasion, that each day's experience had proved a blessing, that he felt that no one of his trials (and he had many) could have been spared, that he had no will of his own, but left all in the hand of his heavenly Father, and that he was willing to depart in any way that the Lord should see fit.' To-day he said, that 'he only called upon God, on him alone he leaned, and that he was all to him.'

At eleven o'clock on that same evening, John Badcock died. He requested Mr Williams to join him in singing a hymn, and repeated the 202d of Wesley's Collection, beginning—

Arise, my soul, arise,

Shake off thy guilty fears;

The bleeding sacrifice

In my behalf appears.

Before the throne my Surety stands;

My name is written on his hands.

He sang it through with a loud voice, and a few minutes afterwards expired.

Early in June the net, which had occasionally procured a few fishes, was carried away by the floating ice; and on the 4th of July Captain Gar

diner mentions, as all the provisions remaining in the cavern, "half a duck, about a pound of salt pork, the same of damaged tea, a pint of rice, two cakes of chocolate, and four pints of pease, to which I may add six mice." From this time forward, to the end of their tragic history, they had little other subsistence besides mussels and limpets, and a species of gelatinous seaweed.

On Tuesday, July 22, Captain Gardiner writes"For six days we have had no intercourse with Cook's River, on account of the weather. I was there this afternoon, and John Bryant, to our great surprise, came over to us, being anxious to know how we were. Poor fellow! it is too great an exertion for him, although he says he feels better. Mr Williams is wonderfully supported, both in body and mind. The Lord has been very gracious to him. He is exceedingly weak, but has little pain, and says that he feels even better than he has done, although now reduced to subsist on mussels, which, to my great surprise, he is able to digest."

On Saturday, August 23, Joseph Erwin, the carpenter, died; and the following Tuesday terminated the sufferings of another of the boatmen, John Bryant. Captain Gardiner was now confined to his bed, and the fatigue of burying his two companions so exhausted Mr Maidment, that he never rallied. On the 6th of September, Captain Gardiner wrote a note, which never reached its desti

nation, and which was afterwards found defaced by the weather :

"MY DEAR MR WILLIAMS,-The Lord has seen fit to call home another of our little company. Our dear departed brother left the boat on Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 2), and has not since returned. Doubtless he is in the presence of his Redeemer, whom he served faithfully. Yet a little while, and though ... the Almighty to sing the praises throne. I neither hunger nor thirst, though five days without food. Your affectionate brother in..

Meanwhile, it will be asked, what steps were taken elsewhere for the relief of the famished exiles? As early as January, the Secretary of the Society had commenced his inquiries for a vessel to convey additional stores to the Mission; but it was uniformly answered, that no vessel would imperil her insurance for so small a freight; and it was not till the 6th of June that a vessel, advertised for April 21, actually set sail, carrying six months' supplies by way of the Falkland Islands. Nor was any

consternation created by the delay; for, naturally enough, the office-bearers hoped that fish and game might be procured as abundantly as Captain Gardiner seemed to expect; and then there was the hope that the Captain might have established a