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^3H5SBSHil 
 
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 MEMORIALS OF THE SEA. 
 
 r" 
 
 IIV TilE 
 
 REV. WILLIAM SCORL SBY, B. D. 
 
 INCCMEENT UT lll.HroiU) Kl'lSl ol'V 1, CHAl'EL, KAKTER ; 
 
 I Ei.r.ow OF Tin: royal scje iliies oe i.omjon AM) euinhihuh; 
 
 CORRESPONDING .MEMHEK (IT HIE I.VSTITLTE OK FRANCE, ETC. 
 
 " The Works of the Lord are great, soupfht out of all 
 them that have pleasure therein."— Z',sf«//« exi. 2. 
 
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 JAMES NISBET AND CO., BERNERS STREET; 
 
 SOLD IN EXETER BY CURSON, SPREAT, BALLE, AND OUIER 
 
 booksellers; in caiMbrid(,e by t. stevenson ; 
 in liverpool by vv. grapel. 
 
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 MDCCCXXXV. 
 
 Mount AUisOf. 
 Library 
 
 
 » I 
 
 ■•••"■ii 
 
THE 
 
TO THE VENERABLE 
 
 THE ARCHDEACOX WRANGHAM, M.A.. F.R.S., 
 
 AS A SMALL TOKEN OF RESPECT AND AFFECTION, 
 
 THESE MEiMORIALS OF THE SEA, 
 
 ARE INSCRIHED 
 
 By HIS FAITHFUL AND OBLIGED FRIEND, 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
 iV 
 
 4 
 
 
 Tgy 
 
Sec. 
 
CONTE^'TS. 
 
 .AIEMORIALS OF THE SEA. 
 
 ME3[0rvIAL I. 
 
 .^al)6atl)s in tljc Slvcttc llcflions. 
 
 FACE 
 CUAPTKU I.— GkNERAL TESTIMONIES OF NATURE AND 
 
 I'UOVIDENCE TO THE DlVINE InS' ' ' UTION AND PER- 
 PETUITY OF THE Sabbath .. .. ..3 
 
 Si;c. 1. Introduction .. .. .. ..3 
 
 2. The Testimony borne to the Law of the Sabbath, 
 
 by its influence on the physical condition of 
 Nature .. .. .. ..7 
 
 3. The Testimony to the Law of the Sabbatlj, from its 
 
 influence on the moral condition of Man .. 11 
 
 -4. The Testimony of Providence as to a Curse on 
 
 Sabbath Desecration .. •• ..18 
 
 li. The Testiniony of Providence as to a Blessing on the 
 
 Conscientious Observance of the Sabbath . . 2'i 
 
 S 
 
 { 
 
 I 
 
 )■'■ 
 
 
\ 
 
 Mil 
 
 ro NT TINTS. 
 
 TAGS 
 
 CiiAi'TiR IT.— SiTciAr TKsriMONins or PnovinrxcE on 
 
 Tl.MPOnAr, I'llOSI'KKITY, TO SaUU\TH (JuSI:RVAXCES IN' 
 
 Tin: AiKiK Ki.(. IONS .. ,. ,. 
 
 Sr.c.l. I'liliininaiy Observations .. ,, 
 
 28 
 
 28 
 
 2. Indications of a Providential lilessinp:, in connection 
 
 with Sabbath lorbcarance, in the Fishery of 1820 35 
 
 3. (\ii)tiire of a AVhale of uncommon si/e, after a pecu- 
 
 liar exerci.'c of self-denial, in honour of the Sab- 
 bath, on the preceding day 
 
 4. Keinaikable Indications of a I'rovidcntial lilcssing 
 
 in the l*i!<hery of 1823 .. •• 
 
 5. Trying Case of Forbearance in the Fishery of 1823, 
 
 followed by the usual Testimony 
 
 G. Indications of a Providential Rebuke for Sabbath 
 
 Violation .. .. 
 
 7, General Results of llic foregoing Testimonies 
 
 CifArTEH III.— Si>i:ciALTKSTiMONir.s OF Providence to 
 THE Sauhatii, as indicated by striking Deliver- 
 ances from i'i:rii.ous Situations .. 
 
 Sec. 1. Preliminary Observations .. •• 
 
 2. Record of a happy Deliverance from a ])erilous situ- 
 
 ation in the Arctic Seas, at the conclusion of the 
 Sabbath .. ,. 
 
 3, Providential IVIanifestations, in connection with Sab- 
 
 bath-day duties, experienced in a striking deliver- 
 ance from a most dangerous cntaKglement among 
 the Arctic ices .. .. ,, 
 
 Chapter IV.— General Results op the Testimonies 
 OF Nature and Providence to the Sabbath, with a 
 Plea FOR ITS Observance .. «• 
 
 45 
 
 51 
 
 58 
 
 C2 
 
 n 
 
 7G 
 7ij 
 
 77 
 
 92 
 
 122 
 
 MExAIORIAL II. 
 
 Chapter I.— Preliminary IIisTORV and Remark* .. 137 
 
 /^. 
 
 II 
 
 ■■*> 
 

 SARBATIIS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 •'Tn» Sardatii was mauk hok Mav."— Mark ii. ij. 
 
 Chapter I. 
 
 «CNRRAL TESTIMONIES CF NATURE AND PROVIDENCE TO 
 
 THE DIVINE INSTITUTION AND PERPETUITY 
 
 OF TilE SABBATH. 
 
 S E c T ION I . — /;/ / roduction . 
 
 n 
 * 
 
 >-l 
 
 / 
 
 /"»• 
 
 f«^:' 
 
 TriouGii the institution of the Sabbath is 
 found recorded in the fore-front of the appoint- 
 ments of God, eml)odied among the ten precepts 
 of the moral law, and re])eatedly enforced by 
 Moses and the Pr()2)hets ; yet its perpetuity of 
 o})lip^ation, is, with many persons amongst us, un- 
 liap})ily questioned. W hilst the nine other com- 
 mandments of the Almiu^hty are acknowledj^ed 
 to be of universal authority — as constituting the 
 plain and undisputed rule of man's obedience'- — 
 this one, though given before any of the asso- 
 ciated words, is now strangely held by soinc 
 professing Christians, as an appointment binding 
 
 ■^ 
 
 ■l 
 
 jr>a 
 
 
 f I: 
 
 .#• 
 
a 
 
 
 4 SAHHATIIS IN Till: AIJCTIC RlkilONS. 
 
 only u])()n tlio Jt'ws, 1ml not n|)on tlirni ! And 
 iilthouj^h our Lord, as liimsrlf dicljircMl, canK* not 
 to destroy the law or the prophets, but to i'ulill ; 
 whilst he denounced those * who should hreak 
 one of the least connuandmenls, and teach men 
 so, — yet this command, thus j^enerally conlhined 
 and g-iiarded, is daringly asserted to be now 
 amudled ! 
 
 Hut it comi)orts not with the object of this 
 pul)lication to controvert the (piestion after the 
 laborious and learned nu'thods in which, in 
 modern times, it has been taken up, and, in 
 diiferent instances, we regret to add, most per- 
 niciously pursued. I'or the obvious tendency 
 and observable effects of the specious arguments 
 of Dr. Paley, and his too numerous followers on 
 this subject, may be perceived to be, not only to 
 undermine and break down the authority of the 
 fourth commandment, but to justify and encou- 
 rage that lamentable desecration of the Lord's 
 day so greatly and injuriously jirevalent through- 
 out the land. Considering the subtle and far- 
 fetched reasonings of some of the impugners of 
 the j^erpetuity of the Sabl)ath, — the masculine 
 efforts of others in explaining away the common 
 sense of the word of God, or in confounding the 
 natural understanding of man, — one cannot but 
 lament such prostitutions of learning as have too 
 often produced an undue prejudice on the minds 
 
 r 
 
 T 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
t 
 
 \' 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 1HVIM-; INSTinTluN OF Till-: SABllATII. 
 
 of sincere (Vliiistians, :\n;iinst those hi^li altaiu 
 meiits and superior powers of intelleel wiiieli, 
 when striellv threeted to (iod's j^lory, stand 
 fortli as the most nohh' en<l<)wnients of our 
 speeies. \\ ere such the neeessary ten(U'neie> of 
 s iperior attainments — tht)u^h, happy are wo in 
 the knowh'd^e of verv numerous and distin- 
 ^iiished (.'xam[»h's to the contrary — tlien, indeed, 
 on(^ mijj;lit envy rather the faculties of a little 
 child, or he willinj;- to " hecome a fool," so as 
 to " he wise'' in the comprehension of the word 
 of God in its simplicity and truth. 
 
 Accordini^'' to the simple tenor of the sacred 
 Scriptiues, if lelt uni^erplexed hy the i)erversion 
 of learn ini^-, and unprejudiced hy human dogmas, 
 the connnand assuredly renuiins with us of una- 
 hated ohligation, to " Kememher the Sahhath 
 day to keep it holy." ]?ut it is not merely an 
 ohligation ; it is an api)ointment full of wisdom 
 and mercv. Mankind, in their natural hlindness 
 and ignorance, are apt to suppose, that any of 
 the commands of God, which present a har to 
 their carnal desires or unhallowed pleasures, are 
 at once i»-rievous and unnecessary ; and are, 
 therefore, dis})oscd to deal with them, even hy 
 the most monstrous reasonings or s-ubtleties, so 
 that their consciences may find quiet in the 
 imagined abrogation, or mitigation of strictness, 
 of the migenial j^recept. But in our consideratioj) 
 
 
i 
 
 H 
 
 6 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 I 
 
 of the Divine government, it is most important 
 to be borne in mind, that God neither appoints 
 any observance, nor gives any command, without 
 a special object. He lays no arbitrary demands 
 upon his people ; he denies them no real Idcssing 
 which they are in a condition to receive ; he 
 vexes them by no useless burden, nor unnecessary 
 restriction ; but he requires them to keep his 
 commandments and statutes /or fheh' (food. And 
 *'^«fe-.this is one of his blessed statutes, involving most 
 essentially the good of mankind — " Keep my 
 Sabbaths : I am the Lord your God." 
 
 On this ground even, the seeking of good,— 
 greatly inferior though it be as a motive of obe- 
 dience, to that of a sense of obligation due to the 
 command of the great God, — we may obtain a 
 very powerful, and, we trust, a persuasive plea, 
 for the consecration of a seventh part of our time, 
 as a sabbath, that it way he well with ns, and that 
 a hlessbig may rest upon the land in which we 
 dwell. ' . In evidence of these effects being really 
 derivable from a reverent observance of the sacred 
 day of the Lord, it is only necessary, with a mind 
 spiritually enlightened, to mark the frequent, and 
 ofttimes manifest providential attestations which 
 are occurring around us. For God doth bear 
 continual witness to His own appointment, that 
 the Sabbath is no peculiar law for the govern- 
 ment of a peculiar people, but part and parcel of 
 
 '> 
 
i 
 
 i 
 
 TESTIMONY OF NATURE TO THE SABBATH. 7 
 
 the constitution of nature, and of the order of 
 Providence. And nature itself bears testimony 
 that the Sabbath is an actual Imv of Creation ; 
 and if so, then must it be as perpetual in its obli- 
 gation as the existence of nature in its general 
 constitution. 
 
 Among the various arguments derivable from 
 observation of nature and Providence, in relation 
 to the law of the Sabbath, we may notice, briefly, 
 the following : — the testimony bonie to the law 
 of the Sabbath by its influence on the physical 
 condition of nature, and on the moral condition of 
 man, with the testimony of Providence as to a 
 curse on Sabbath desecration, and as to a blessing 
 on its conscientious observance. 
 
 I 
 
 Section II. — The testimony home to the Law of 
 the Sabbath^ by its injiuence on the physical 
 condition of nature. 
 
 ir 
 
 It 
 
 In the fruitfiJness of the soil of the ground, 
 and in the physical vigour of both the lower 
 animals and man, we find the most manifest and 
 beneficial influence from particular periods of 
 rest, alternating with longer periods of labour. 
 
 For the refreshment and invigoration of the 
 earthy periodical fallows are not only useful, but, 
 if we would expect to elicit the best condition of 
 fertility, essential. Of this experimental fact, the 
 
8 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIf; REGIONS. 
 
 T 
 
 ■ii 
 
 most eminent and intelligent agriculturists give 
 the appropriate testimony, that where the practice 
 of fallows prevails, "the farmer's produce and pro- 
 fits are found to be far superior to where fallows 
 are omitted." And why ? Ik^ause the consti- 
 tution of the earth was made subject to the law 
 thus experimentally elicited, being designed for 
 a periodical portion of rest ; and this portion was 
 strictly defined when Jehovah issued the decree 
 to Israel, — " Six years thou shalt sow thy land, 
 and shall gather in the fruits thereof; but the 
 seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still." 
 
 In regard to the physical condition of the 
 animals employed in domestic labour, experience 
 bears witness to a similar law, requiring for 
 their health and strength the rest of a Sabbath. 
 *' Tal:e," for example, " that fme animal, the 
 horse, and work him to the full extent of his 
 powers every day in the week, or give him rest 
 one day in seven, and it will soon be perceived 
 by the superior vigour with which he performs 
 his functions on the other six days, that this 
 rest is necessary to his w^ell being." Of this 
 corroborative fact, the experience and observation 
 of one of the most successful coach-proprietors 
 in the kingdom, afford very striking evidence. 
 Speaking with him on the management of his 
 well regulated business, he made this remark in 
 respect to the number and period of employment 
 
 \ 
 
-r 
 
 T 
 
 ■\ 
 
 '# 
 
 TESTIMONY OF NATURE TO THE SAliBATH. 
 
 of his horses, — that he found it requisite to have 
 a spare horse in every six, not only for supplying*- 
 the phice of any that nii*:^ht l)e sick, hut, chiefly, 
 for giving each horse a clay's rest once every 
 week ! For he found, he added, ' that when 
 the horses were worked continually, though 
 employed only for an hour's stage to and fro 
 daily, they were rapidly worn out; it was hut 
 economy, therefore, in horses, to give them a 
 weekly rest !' 
 
 In the effect of continuous labour on the 
 physical condition of vuu), the existence of the 
 .same law is clearly observable. The frame of 
 the labourer who is without his sabbath of rest, 
 either breaks down through the pressure of his 
 unceasing" toil, or sinks into 2)remature decay ; 
 whilst the man of study, who ap})lies closely 
 every day of the week in continuance, disco\ ers, 
 sooner or later, by painful experience, that his 
 laborious diligence has been but improvident 
 draughts upon the resources of nature. Of this 
 latter efi'ect of continuous efi'orts of mind, we 
 have numerous and obvious examples among" the 
 learned professions. ' The premature death of 
 medical men from continued exertion, especially 
 in warm climates and in active service, has been 
 frequently observed ; and among- the more active 
 of the Clergy, who have neglected the substitu- 
 tion of another day of rest in compensation iot 
 
 B 2 
 
 I 
 
 "^*-- 
 
 «' 
 
 •*i 
 
i 
 
 10 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 the sabbath, many have been seen to be destroyed 
 by their duties on that day.' And it has been 
 shown by some of the most eminent among^ 
 Christian physicians, that, in a medical sense, 
 as well as in a relig-ious, the Sabbath, as a day of 
 rest, is a most beneficial institution. It is held 
 " as a day of compensation for the inadequate 
 restorative power of the body under continued 
 labour and excitement," And its rest, physiolo- 
 gically considered, has a " sustaining", repairing, 
 and healing power."* The working of Provi- 
 dence, in respect to our bodily frame, therefore, 
 attests to the present day, the declaration of our 
 Lord, that *' the Sabbath was made for man." 
 It further attests, that the Sabbath is not an 
 arbitrary institution, nor a mere judicial regula- 
 tion, nor a ceremonial observance designed for 
 the Jews only, but an " apj)ointment necessary to 
 
 man. 
 
 Thus, it appears, that Nature, in its physical 
 constitution, bears a special and multifarious tes- 
 timony to the jjerpetuity of obligation, and bent?- 
 ficence of character of the divine injunction, — 
 " Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the 
 seventh day thou shalt rest ; that thine ox and 
 thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, 
 and the stranger may be refreshed." 
 
 * This observation, with some other quotations in this Section, is derived 
 from tiie very intelligent evidence of Dr. Farre, before the Select Com- 
 mittee ot the House vi Commous ou the observance of the Lord's Day. 
 
\1 
 
 MORAL INFLUENCE OF THE SABBATH 
 
 11 
 
 Section III. — Thr Tcsfimofn/ 1<> the Law of the 
 Sdhhd lit, from its uijlucuce on the moral condi- 
 tion of man. 
 
 In this have we another (les('ii|)tion of per- 
 petually recurring testimony to the law of the 
 Sahhath. For hotli ohservation and experience 
 yield the most marked indications of the exis- 
 tence of an inseparable relation betwixt the due 
 regard of the Sal)bath, and the moral condition 
 of mankind. Hence are there but feu* i)articu- 
 lars in the practice of a Christian, which more 
 strikingly indicate the personjd accpiirement of 
 real religion than the habitual conscientious 
 observance of the Sabbath. And as with individ- 
 uals, so ^\'\^^\ nations, the manner in which this 
 divinely appointed day is ke})t, is found to afford a 
 fair comparative estimate of national piety. That 
 such, indeed, must have been the case, from the 
 earliest ages of the world, we may infer from this 
 declaration of Jehovah himself — " Hallow mv 
 Sabbaths, and they shall be a skjn between me 
 and you, that you may know that I am the Lord 
 your God." If this, then, was an appointed sign 
 in ancient times, betwixt Israel and Jehovah, 
 the analogy of our nuitual faith would itself indi- 
 cate, that the Lord's day with us, must continue 
 to be also a sign between the Gentile believer 
 and his God — between the Ghristian and his 
 
 •1 
 
■ 
 
 4» 
 
 I 
 
 n. 
 
 if 
 
 i,l 
 
 ' \ 
 
 12 
 
 SABRATIIS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 Saviour.* And the closest observation and ex- 
 perience elicit the pi^eneral i)r()p()sition, that the 
 sanctifying of the Sahbath may, in any country, 
 or age of the world, be regarded as a spiritual 
 barometer, exhil)iting, by its fluctuations, and 
 comparative height, the state of the moral atmos- 
 phere wherever it is observed. 
 
 Such, indeed, is the natural consequence of the 
 Divine appointment of the Sabbath ; for all the 
 appointments of a God infinitely wise and good, 
 must have a relation and tendency to good. 
 Being originally designed, not only to commemo- 
 rate a rest, but to be a sanctified rest from labour 
 in order to personal and spiritual edification, the 
 conscientious observance of it necessarily becomes 
 a sifjfi — a sign distinguishing " between him that 
 seiTeth God, and him that serveth him not." 
 
 In truth, the present welfare and eternal hap- 
 piness of man are most intimately and inseparably 
 involved in the right improvement of God's holy 
 day. Physically speaking, its observance, as we 
 have shown, is necessary to the weal of the body ; 
 but religiously considered it is still more essential 
 to the welfare of the soul. Were men, then, as 
 much in earnest about their immortal spirits, as 
 
 *As the discussion of the question of the Sabhath on the usual grounds, 
 falls not within the intention of this publication, it is not requisite to go 
 into the reason for the CI aiige of tlie clay from the seventh to the first. 
 It is sufficient lor our object, and, I app'ehend lor all the purposes for 
 which the Sabbath was designed, that one-seventh portion of our time be 
 Bct apart for rest and spiritual improvement. 
 
 ir 
 
 /J 
 
 
 L 
 
 ^ 
 
MORAL INFLUENCE OF THE SABBATH. 
 
 13 
 
 i0 
 
 
 7 » 
 
 
 al 
 
 
 as 
 
 
 IS 
 
 ^t: 
 
 Is, 
 
 
 go 
 
 &t. 
 
 1, 
 
 or 
 
 • 
 
 be 
 
 >'i . 
 
 y. 
 
 they arc about the j^ratilicatiou or iirospcrity of 
 their poor perishing ])odios, how (hlh roiitly wouhl 
 tluit sacred day, expressly designed and wisely 
 calculated ior spiritual ediiicalion, ])e s])ent ! VVe 
 should not then see the great mass of the world 
 working with unwearied diligence from day light 
 till dusk for the i)erishing things of time, and 
 stinting the labour for the soul, //' f/tcf/ labour at 
 all, to two or three meagre, listless hours of the 
 Lord's day. VVe should not then iind them stre- 
 nuously contending for the abolition of the Sab- 
 bath, or denying its continued obligations, or 
 questioning and rejecting its holy sanctions ! We 
 should not then hear so many comi)lainings res- 
 pecting the restraints of the Sabbath, nor find 
 the continued adoption, in spirit and action at 
 least, of the language of the j)ro2)het — " When 
 will the new moon be gone, that we may sell 
 corn ? and the Sabbath, that we may set forth 
 wheat ?" We should not then see the sacred 
 repose of the Sabbath converted into a rest of 
 sloth and indolence ; nor the observance which 
 is a sign between God and his people, bearing 
 the sign of the Prince of this world ; nor the mo- 
 mentous occupations of the Sabbath pursued with 
 careless indillerence ; nor the time due unto the 
 Lord, and claimed by him as his own, stolen 
 from Him to be given to business and self ; nor 
 the sacred hours of His holy day prostituted to 
 
 I 
 
14 
 
 SABBATHS IN TIIR ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 
 I' •',1 
 
 worldly iiuliilp^cnccs or cariuil oiijoyments. No ! 
 were mankind in earnest about their moral weal, 
 and religious advaneement, as essential re(iuisites 
 for future ji^lon , they would aeeount the Sahbath 
 a peculiar blessinjj^ ; they would consider it as 
 the day of their special hai)piness ; they would 
 improve it with lively dilip^ence in seeking for 
 spiritual gifts and graces ; they would be most 
 careful to *' remember the Sabbath day to keep 
 it holy." 
 
 Not only, however, doth the moral elevation of 
 man hold an essential relation to a right improve- 
 ment of the Sabl)ath ; but his temporal happiness 
 and welfare are found to be e(pially involved in 
 a due regard to this divine appointment, yea to 
 call for its s/ricfvst observance. 
 
 It isap{)i)ular objection to a strict keeping of the 
 Sabbath, that it deprives the poor labourer, borne 
 down by six day's severe toil, of his only oppor- 
 tunity for necessary recreation for the good of his 
 health. But we have a two-fold answer, derived 
 from general experience, to this popular reasoning. 
 The first is, the simple fact, that the pious poor, 
 who conscientiously and strictly regard the Sab- 
 bath, arc not less healthy or less happy, but as a 
 body much more so, than those who take the free 
 and unrestricted use of Sabbath day recreation. 
 And the next answer is the notorious truth, that 
 the Sabbath recreations of the labouring classes 
 
 w 
 
 JT 
 
MORAL INFLUENCK OT TIIi: SABDATII. 
 
 15 
 
 I 
 
 the 
 
 lor, 
 ib- 
 
 T 
 
 are, in the f^rcat mnjority of instaiicos, at once 
 subversive of happiness, and prejudicial to health. 
 For their prevalent infringement of the sanctity of 
 the Sald)ath is found by ex])i^rience to ^•enerate 
 more intemperance, sensuality, and lewdness, 
 than mere recreative indulgence on any other 
 equal portion of the week.* And in Roman 
 Catholic Countries where the Sabbath, as to its 
 greater jiortion, is professedly given u]) to pur- 
 poses of recreation, it is found to be the day 
 which largely exceeds all the rest in the ])ractice 
 of immorality and vice, instead of being im- 
 proved, as it is designed, for '* the promotion of 
 true religiim and virtue." And if we might take 
 Paris, when Catholicism was most predominant, 
 as an example, the result of actual investigation 
 was this — that there was decidedly more gambling 
 on the Lord's day than on any other day of the 
 seven, with good grounds for believing, that there 
 was more dissipation, and sensuality, and sinful 
 indulgence, on that fearfully profaned day, than 
 in all the remainder of the week together ! 
 
 The testimony to the law of the Sabbath, from 
 its influence on the moral condition of men, as 
 elicited in the evidence given before the "" Select 
 Committee of the House of Commons on the 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 'M 
 
 * The evidence before tlie Select Committee of the House of Commons, 
 on the due observance of the L'jrd's day— cspeciallv tliat in reference to 
 steam- boats and tea- ganlcus— affords many corroborations of lhes« 
 ktatemcnts. 
 
 ,H 
 
16 
 
 SAHIIATHS IN THE AltCTIC HIKilONft. 
 
 I 
 
 <)l)scrvaiicc of the T.onVs dav," is so decisive in 
 its cliaracttn', that I conc'eivc it a(lvaiita<;e(nis to 
 give here a few extracts in support of the fore- 
 g-oiii*^ ol)S(n'vati()iLs. 
 
 Mr. \\ Outlier, the keejiev of Newg-ate, stated, 
 that " h{^ had heard many prisoners (^xpress tlieir 
 rej^ret that their crimes had originated with a 
 breach of tlie Sahhatli ;" that "he had known 
 them caution their rehitives and friends to observe 
 the Sabbath, tracinj^- tlieir own crimes to their 
 non-observance or Ijreach of the Sabbatli ;" and 
 that '* nine-tenths of the ])risoners coming under 
 his care did not vahie the Sabbatli, or were not 
 in the habit of attending a jdace of worship." 
 
 Mr. l^enjamin ]>aker, who had been in the 
 habit of visiting the prisoners in Newgate for the 
 last twenty years, stated that " he had almost 
 universally found the prisoners who became im- 
 pressed widi a sense of their unhappy condition, 
 lamenting their neglect of the duties of the Sab- 
 bath;" that they almost universally considered 
 Sabbath-breaking as the leading cause of their 
 transgressions ; and " that the deviation from the 
 Sabbath led them on, stejj by step, into that 
 degree of crime which had brought them" to 
 their lamentable condition. Mr. leaker had 
 attended the execution of not less than 350 cri- 
 minals, " and nine out of ten," said he, " have 
 dated the principal part of their departure from 
 
 1^ 
 
 I 
 
 -r « 
 
 V 
 
 *\ 
 
I 
 
 MORAL INFLUENCE OF THE SAUHATII. 
 
 17 
 
 •j- 
 
 •yV 
 
 r 
 
 4\ 
 
 God to the neglect oi" the Sahl)ath ; that," he 
 added, " has cevtainlv hern tlu^ case!" 
 
 The llev. David liuell, Chiiphiin of the New 
 Prison, ('h'iken\v(>ll, staltMl, lliat 1()(),0U() pri- 
 soners, at tile h)west eakulation, had passed under 
 his care ; " that he had had many opportunities of 
 learninjj^froni the ])risoners themselves the courses 
 which had h>d them into crime, and j^enerally 
 found that the nej;lect or i^ross viohilion of the 
 Sabhalh was one;" that '* he had in many cases 
 heard i)risoners regret that they had been so re- 
 gardless of the Lord's day;" and, in reference to 
 the method of Sal)])ath violatioii he stated his 
 impression that "by far the greater number dese- 
 crate the sacred day /)v>//^ l<ikui(/ iJn'ir otni plca- 
 sui'c''' As to the inseparableness of crime and 
 Sabbath-breaking, he said, " I do not recollect a 
 single case of ca])ital ollence where the l)arty has 
 not been a Sabbath -breaker, and in many cases 
 they have assured me that Sabbath-breaking was 
 the first step in the course of crime !" To the 
 question, " Have confessions to that efl'ect been 
 frequent ?" he answered, — " Frequently have 
 they acknowledged it, and in some cases they 
 have requested me to warn others against it from 
 their example. Indeed I may say in reference 
 to prisoners of all classes, that in nineteen cases 
 out of twenty, they are persons who have not only 
 neglected the Sabbath, but all other ordinances of 
 
 
Six rroN 1\ . — The Tcslinnnnj of Providence as 
 to a Curse on ^abbaih Desecntlion. 
 
 k 
 
 18 
 
 5;AnnATIIS IN THE AIICTIC UKGIONS. 
 
 religion. So powerfully is my iniiid iin])rcssed 
 with tlu' siil>jiH*t, tluit I rainiot lorlxNir adding 
 my conviction tluit S{il)])ath-])rt'akiii«^ is nol only 
 a p^rcat national evil, l)iit a IVuitl'ul source uf 
 inniKHjility anionp;" all classes, and pre-emini^nlly 
 of lirofli-^^acy and crime amon^' the lower orders." 
 
 A<% / 
 
 'fcil 
 
 In manifold respects the course of an unerring 
 Providence bears continual witness to the truths, 
 that there is a hlessiny on conscientious Sabbath 
 observance, a curse on its vi<dation. Of this 
 latter truth the voluntarv account of thousands 
 
 • 
 
 of suffering transgressors, and the dying words 
 of many criminals, afford, as we have seen, 
 striking and ccmvincing evidence. Numbers of 
 miserable creatures who have paid the forfeiture 
 of their lives for their manifold crimes, have 
 been ctmstrained to confess, that the vicious 
 practices, which brought them to ruin and to the 
 gallows, commenced, and were fostered, by their 
 neglect or abuse of the Sabbath. Nor are we 
 without manifold warnings of other kinds, crying 
 to us as a voice from Heaven, — " What evil thing 
 is this that ye do, and profane the Sabbath day ?" 
 — "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy;'* 
 whilst the warnings, we may perceive, seem to 
 
 ^■r 
 
i 
 
 runsE ON sAnnATfi dksiichation. 
 
 \U 
 
 w,/ 
 
 rcali/0 tlio fnUiliiKMit of \\\v solemn hnijJTun^^e of 
 the Psalmist, whriv lie says — *' It is lime for 
 Tlioc, liOrd, to work for tli<v have made void 
 thy law." The i iirse, iudetMl, ou tlie violalioii 
 of iho Sal)l)alli, may he discovered in all ils modes. 
 Tf we ealeidate ihe nmnlxr «>t lives wliieh have 
 hcen lost amont;' perscms se» kinj;' their phasure 
 on the Lord's day--amonj^ those who have hcin 
 lost in sailinj;"-hoats, or have hein maimed or 
 killed in coaches and other con\(\vances — aimnsL;- 
 those who have heen drowned whilst skating;*, or 
 otherwise anmsinj;- themselves on the ice, — a ]>ro- 
 porticm, 1 helieve, much <;reater than arithmeti- 
 cally <hie to a sin<'le day, will he iound to have 
 met their death whilst pursuing* their unhallowed 
 pleasures on the Sahhath. 
 
 A very remarkahlc testimony was given under 
 the Levitical dis2)ensation, of Providential judg- 
 ment, in the seventy years captivity of the Jews, 
 for the violation of the Sahhath. What portion 
 of guilt in this matter rehited to the desecration 
 of the hehdomadal Sahhath we are not informed; 
 but the ehastisen'.cnt referred to is connected, in 
 the Seri])tures, with the neglect of the septennial 
 repose of the ground. It had heen commanded 
 the Israelites as a nation, to give * the seventh 
 year of their land a Sabbath of rest unto the 
 Lord ;' but, in case they should transgress, and 
 walk contrary to their God, it was judicially 
 
 
 ! 
 
 < ^1 
 
 i 
 ) 
 
 ! 
 
 7 
 
20 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 declared that they should be scattered among the 
 heathen for their chastisement ; and " then," it 
 was added, " shall the land enjoy her Sabbaths 
 as long as it lieth desolate and ye be in your 
 enemies' land ; even then shall the land rest, 
 and enjoy her Sabbaths. As long as it lieth 
 desolate it shall rest, because it did not rest in 
 your Sabbaths, when ye dwelt ui)on it." 
 
 Notwithstanding this special warning which 
 had been put upon record by Moses in the book 
 of Leviticus, [ch. xxvi. 34-35.] Israel did de- 
 fraud the land of its Sabbaths, and the poor of 
 its spontaneous produce. Then was the sure 
 judgment fuililled to the very letter ; for the 
 Jews were carried away captive into Babylon, 
 because of their transgressions, " until the land," 
 as it is strikingly written, ' had enjoyed her 
 Sabbaths ; for as long as she lay desolate she 
 kept Sabbath, to fullil three score and ten years." 
 [II. Chronicles xxxvi. 21.] And this, ])vo])ably, 
 was the verv amount of time of which her fields 
 had been defrauded of their portion of rest. 
 
 If such, then, was the visitation of the Jews 
 for their violation of a judicial precept of the 
 Sabbatical Institution ; it would be prudent in 
 those who are in the habit of oilending ' after 
 the similitude of their transgression,' through 
 the neglect of the permanently authoritative 
 weekly vSabbath, to consider, whether they like- 
 
 V 
 
 ' K 
 
 Hv 
 
 it 
 
 a! 
 k. 
 
i 
 
 CURSE ON SABBATH DESECRATION. 
 
 21 
 
 in 
 
 li 
 
 r 
 
 V 
 
 I 
 
 wise, in their temporal weal, will not be made to 
 pay the penalty ? ^V oukl to God that the great 
 multitude of persons of all grades and profes- 
 sions, who violate, for purposes of emolument or 
 pleasure, the sanctity of tlie Lord's Day, — the 
 Christian's Sal)l)atli — would carefully weigh the 
 consequences, and they would })rohably find that 
 their expected gains were in reality loss, and 
 their supposed enjoyments unreal ; whilst for 
 these they brave the wrath of God and bring 
 down a curse on their pleasures and on the work 
 of their hands ! For however little the great 
 mass of the world may think of the sin of vio- 
 lating the Sabbath, and however venial Sunday 
 trading or pleasuring may be considered among 
 men, there is good reason for believing that our 
 eternal hapiiiness is as much perilled by the 
 wilful, habitual desecration of the Sabbath, as 
 by the transgression of some of the commands 
 of highest acknowledged importance in the deca- 
 logue. And if, as some imagine, the Sabbath 
 may be neglected or broken without the charge, 
 before God, of sin, then could w^e bring forward 
 the strongest reasons for the repugnant and 
 dangerous conclusion, that idolatry and blas- 
 phemy, theft, and adultery — the laws against 
 which have no higher authority — may be eoni' 
 mitted without sin ! 
 
 ^^'i 
 
■V y 
 
 2-2 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 li 
 
 Section V. — Thr Tcstunomj of Providence as to 
 a Blosfihif) on the Conscientious Observance of 
 the Sabbat Jt. 
 
 Having touclicd upon the experimental mani- 
 festations of evil to man, both physically and 
 morally, as well as in regard to his temporal 
 happiness and prosperity, from Sabbath dese- 
 cration ; we now proceed more particularly to 
 remark upon the special acknowledgments of 
 Providence, in accordance with the promises of 
 Scripture, of a blessing on the reverential and 
 scriptural observance of the sacred day of the 
 Lord. For thus the word of Jehovah declares, 
 " blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabbath 
 from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from 
 doing any evil." And thus also is it graciously 
 promised, in the Iviiith of Isaiah, — ^' If thou 
 turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing 
 thy pleasure on my holy day ; and call the Sab- 
 bath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable ; 
 and shalt honour him, not doimj thine own ivaysy 
 nor Jindint/ thine own pleasure^ nor speaking thine 
 own words ; then shalt thou delicht thvself in the 
 Lord ; and I will cause thee to ride ui)on the 
 high places of the earth, and feed thee with the 
 heritage of Jacob thy father : for the mouth of 
 the Lord hath spoken it." 
 Such then are the assured blessings attached 
 
 - 
 
 r^ 
 
 < 
 
BLESSING ON SABBATH OBSERVANCE. 
 
 23 
 
 the 
 the 
 the 
 of 
 
 '^B^x 
 
 ie< 
 
 to a conscientious and sanctified observance of 
 the Sabbath, — delight in the Lord, — temporal 
 dignity or respect, — and temporal prosperity or 
 sufficiency of sustenance; and, behold, how strong 
 the assurance on which these blessings rest, — 
 " the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it !" 
 
 And that such blessings, either wholly or in 
 part, in a greater or less degree, are actually 
 bestowed ujion those who kee]) the Sabbath from 
 polluting it, and remember it to keep it holy, the 
 experience of all good men, who have been ena- 
 bled to make the experiment, abundantly proves. 
 Such, for example, was the oft-recited experience 
 of the celebrated Lord Chief Justice Hale, who 
 has publicly testified the singular comfort and 
 advantage which he derived from the due observ- 
 ance of the Sabbath. " I have found," says he, 
 " by a strict and diligent obscr% ation, that a due 
 attention to the duty of this day, hath ever had 
 joined to it, a blessing upon the rest of my time : 
 and the week that hath been so begun, hath been 
 blessed and prospered to me ; and, on the other 
 side, when I have been negligent of the duties of 
 this day, the rest of the week hath been un- 
 successful and unhappy to my secular employ- 
 ments ; so that I could easily make an estimate 
 of my successes in my own secular employments 
 of the week following, by the manner of my pas- 
 siing of this day : and this I do not write U'jhtly 
 
 A 
 
V ./' 
 
 mmm 
 
 24 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 11^ I 
 
 
 or inconsiderately ; but upon a long and sound 
 observation and experience."* 
 
 Now if such an efit^ct was found to be pro- 
 duced on worldly comfort and prosperity, by the 
 mere variations of manner and strictness in the 
 Sabbath day observances of a Christian, how 
 much greater must be the influence where the 
 Sabbath is entirely disregarded or openly dese- 
 crated ? If there was a constant observable 
 difference in the worldly prosperity of a religious 
 man, according as the duties of the Sabbath 
 were piously or carelessly performed, how much 
 greater a difference, in all reasonable analogy, 
 must there be, between the habitual breaking of 
 the Sabbath or keeping it holy. But the proof 
 of this will always be more convincing to the 
 person making trial of the measure, than it can 
 possibly be made unto others. For as to the ex- 
 perimental proof, my firm persuasion is, that any 
 one who from proper motives gives up his usual 
 Sabbath-day pleasuring or trading, and sacrifices 
 his supposed Sabbath-day enjoyments and gains, 
 will find by his own experience the sign which 
 God hath appointed and promised — a blessing so 
 manifest, either in body or soul, that his own 
 convictions will constrain him to confess, that the 
 Lord God omnipotent reigneth ! He will expe- 
 rience an internal evidence of the obligation of 
 
 * Hale's " Contemplations, Moral and Divine," p. 260. 
 
 H 
 
 A 
 
EGIONS. 
 
 ig and sound 
 
 d to be pro- 
 perty, by the 
 ctness in the 
 iristian, how 
 'e where the 
 openly dese- 
 t observable 
 •f a religious 
 he Sabbath 
 I, how much 
 )le analogy, 
 breaking of 
 Lit the proof 
 icing to the 
 than it can 
 s to the ex- 
 is, that any 
 ip his usual 
 d sacrifices 
 and gains, 
 ^iffn which 
 blessing so 
 t his own 
 5S, that the 
 will expe- 
 igation of 
 
 ). 260. 
 
 B^ESSIXO ox SABBATH OBSKRVAXrE. 25 
 
 tlie commands of GotI ^„,i e , 
 
 went given to hL ! "'" aoknowledg- 
 
 powerfully to his li ' "^'' '^''^^ 'P'^^ ^^re. 
 
 '%oftj,:iS::;'::;^-^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 unanswerable verbal ov„. ' "'* ™<'«' 
 
 •-ps, may be one dter "rT. ^"' '""'' P^ 
 attendant on obedSe C lov ?" ''"'"*'°"' 
 Savio.u. when he said "^ He7;XT °''^ "" 
 mandments and keeneth t}7 ■ ""^ ''°'"- 
 
 "«•: and he that W ,' " " '' *'"'' ^"^<^th 
 
 Father, and t:i;;r;rirr°^'"^ 
 
 »'l/.Kl/to him," ' ""'^ '^'^ manifest 
 
 4S;r ^:tra! •: - -f 
 
 openly desecrate it, are often made so oT 
 even to worldly or irreligious m"„ hit t^ ""'' 
 constrained to observe and avo w X !L ' T 
 are Providential. ^^ ''^«"lts 
 
 Speaking with an intelligent and K 
 Captain of a merchant vessel ol 1 v''''""' 
 S"W>ath abuses amnn ' *" '"^J««' "^ 
 
 fol'owing JudllLsZ'arrrth '^ "^'^ *« 
 own experience -' nTfi *^ '''''^' ''^ h'" ' 
 
 '-Ath::;hewt;teT;;rT'if-^^' 
 
 never prospered. He had ! "''' ' ^'^^^ 
 
 West Indies engaged Lti'" ''^'^^^ "' '^' 
 on Sundays, the sale f''"^ "! ^^'^ -'^oes 
 
 same as on other days, the 
 
 'i 
 
 '% 
 
 
 a,' 
 
 :**Y-- 
 
 
 *'«( 
 
 
 •■m'"-. 
 
" '»MI i " ii ""I WN>i<P<W> 
 
 V 
 
 -./ 
 
 / 
 
 I \i 
 
 \^i: 
 
 20 
 
 SA.B13ATIIS IN THE AUCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 i 
 
 ■1 
 
 I 
 
 I) f? 
 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 I 9 
 
 
 m 
 
 1*- 
 
 ■if 
 
 I 
 
 owners paying the present penalty of double 
 wages to the labourers ; he had noticed many 
 ship's companies habitually employed in various 
 duties expressly aiTanged for their occupation on 
 that sacred day ; he had witnessed ships in the 
 timber trade taking in their cargoes, and making 
 the Sunday a time of common labour, with a 
 view of hastening the voyage ; but he never 
 observed, and he had i:)aid great attention to the 
 result, that any of them were the gainers by the 
 efforts they made. On the other hand, he had 
 observed different cases, (though he could not, in 
 Christian charity, ascribe them to the Divine 
 judgment) in which accidents and stranding had 
 befallen several of the vessels in which the unhal- 
 lowed efforts had been made for hastening their 
 voyage, and thus entirely defeated the contem- 
 plated object.' Let the sea-faring reader calmly 
 consider whether these important deductions of an 
 intelligent observer may not be founded in tiiith ? 
 Let him reflect, since they are in accordance wdth 
 the Word of God, whether they are not more 
 ♦^han probabilities, yea, important certainties ? 
 
 An extensive proprietor of steam-vessels, a 
 man of sound ui, vstanding and acute observa- 
 tion, expressed, in. my hearing, very similar 
 sentiments as the result of hi^ experience. ' The 
 Company,' he said, ^ with which he was asso- 
 ciated, (being one of the most extensive and best 
 
 ."^I^Sif 
 

 of double 
 cccl many 
 in various 
 ipation on 
 ips in the 
 id making 
 u*, with a 
 he never 
 ion to the 
 ers by the 
 lid, he had 
 uhl not, in 
 he Divine 
 nding had 
 the unhal- 
 img their 
 e contem- 
 der cahnly 
 ions of an 
 in truth? 
 ance with 
 not more 
 inties ? 
 vessels, a 
 observa- 
 y similar 
 ce. *The 
 was asso- 
 e and best 
 
 BLESSING ON SABBATH OBSERVANCE. 
 
 27 
 
 ( 
 
 J 
 
 t 
 
 repfulated Companies in the kingdom) did no 
 voluntary business whatever on the Sunday ; 
 they sailed none of their vessels on that day, 
 except when any happened to be out of course, 
 and then, being obliged to despatch a steamer for 
 preserving the periods of sailing, no profit was 
 made of the passage, for the vessel was sent 
 away empty.' The result of experience in this 
 laudable practice was most satisfactory ; ^ they 
 found no particular inconvenience, and they were 
 not aware of any loss being sustained by the 
 obsei'vance of the Sabbath !' 
 
 These examples of this kind of evidence, out 
 of a great body of corresponding statements, 
 may suffice ; for the quantity of corroborative 
 experience among those whose endeavour it is 
 to " Remember the Sabbath day to keep it 
 holy" is, in reality, inexhaustible. 
 
 ft 
 
KWr*-:' 
 
 Chapter II. 
 
 SPECIAL TESTIMONIES OF PROVIDENCE ON TEMPORAL 
 
 PROSPERITY, TO SABBATH OBSERVANCES IN 
 
 THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 SEnioN I. — Preliminary Ohservatiom. 
 
 That " the works of the Lord," as well iu 
 Providence as in Creation, " are great,'' as 
 " sought out of all them that have pleasure 
 therein," is a (general scriptural truth. It is a 
 truth, however, which obtains more peculiar 
 manifestations with those \vho " go down to the 
 sea in ships, that do business in great waters;" 
 for these see, most strikingly, " the works of 
 the Lord, and his wonders in the deep." If, 
 then, the observableness of the actings of a 
 special Providence — as exhibited in the fore- 
 going chapter, in the general testimonies in 
 regard to the Sabbath, — have yielded any mea- 
 sure of conviction to the mind of the serious 
 and candid enquirer ; a still more powerful 
 impression might reasonably be expected from 
 particidar manifestations of similar providences 
 
 A' 
 
rROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 liO 
 
 a 
 
 u 
 i- 
 
 is 
 il 
 
 onserved by those cnjifaged in the adventures 
 of a sea-faring life. The oi)p()r nity of seeing 
 " the finger of God" under these very cireum- 
 stances, and of witnessing sueh striking testi- 
 monies of Providence to the Sabhath as carried 
 conviction to the minds of hun(h'eds of impartial 
 observers, having been my personal and repeated 
 privilege, I am induced to put some of the more 
 remarkable cases on record, with the prayerful 
 hope, that, under the Divine blessing, the edi- 
 fying impression which was produced on those 
 around me, may be extended likewise to others. 
 The cases to which I allude occurred in the 
 Greenland whale-fishery, — a service peculiarly 
 calculated, from its difficulty, uncertainty, and 
 hazardous nature, to yield perpetual evidences o4 
 Providential interferences. For the observation 
 of such interferences I had ample opportunities, 
 having for twenty-one years been personally en- 
 gaged in this adventurous occupation, in twelve 
 of which I held the chief command. It was, 
 however, in the last four voyages, wherein my 
 personal interest in the fishing, from holding 
 a considerable share in the concern, was the 
 greatest, that the Providential testimonies to 
 Sabbath observance were the most striking ; 
 and in these latter years the incidents here 
 related chiefly occurred. During this period, 
 the pecuniary interest to myself alone, in the 
 
 
30 
 
 SAIJIJATIIS IN Tin: ARCTIC RKCilONS. 
 
 capture of a large whale, was not uiifrequeiitly 
 near X*300, whilst a siiij^le day's successful fish- 
 ing* might afford a personal advantage, as in one 
 instance or more it did, of upwards of X'HOO. 
 C(msequently every motive of self-interest was 
 in favour of unceasing exertions, during the 
 whole seven days of the week, for promoting 
 the success of our undertaking. I'he i)ractice, 
 moreover, among the northern whalers, at that 
 time, was almost universal, — with the exce])ti()n 
 of one revered individual now" no more, and 
 occasionally, perhaps, of anotlnn' honourable 
 example of forbearance, — to j)ursue the fishery 
 equally on the Lord's day, as at any other time, 
 whenever whales were astir. Works connected 
 with the fishery, indeed, but considered of less 
 importance, were, for the most part, susjiended, 
 in honour of the Sabbath ; but the capture of 
 whales, if opportunity offered, was considered 
 as such a kind of necessity, as to justify that 
 departure from the ordinary rest of the day. 
 For it was argued, and that with reason, that 
 the whales which were seen on the Sabbath 
 might not remain till another day ; and, there- 
 fore, it was inferred, though by no means with 
 the same strictness of truth, that it was a neces- 
 mi-y dufy to pursue the objects of the fishery 
 whenever they were within reach. 
 
 Through the goodness of God, however, I felt 
 
 -<- 
 
 1 
 
4^ 
 
 ,L 
 
 rilOVinENTIAL TKSTl lON'iES. 
 
 31 
 
 the line of (lutv to 1)0 otlienvisr. Tlio ^ ici cv %• 
 maud concerning' the Sabbath, rendered, in jy 
 apprehension, the duty imperative, — to rrji n 
 Jhf/n I(tboi(rut(/ in a worUlUj caUinfi for worldltf 
 (ulriinliKje on tjial hoUj (hnj; and this, for several 
 of the most recent voyages in which I was engag- 
 ed, became our undeviating rule of conduct. And 
 here, it is but justice to those who were latterly 
 united with me in the adventure, — Messrs. Hurry 
 and Gibson, of Liverpool, — to mention, that thev, 
 with other partners in the concern, most fully 
 accorded, and on the same i)rinciple of reverence 
 to the Divine command as myself, in the practice 
 I had adopted, — having given, indeed, to another 
 of their Captains, engaged in the same pursuit, 
 very strict directions to sanctify the Sabbath as a 
 day of holy rest. And not these gentlemen only, 
 but others with whom I was previously engaged 
 — Messrs. Fishburn and 13rodrick, who were the 
 sole owners of the ship Esk, which I commanded 
 out of the port of Whitby, — most cheerfully 
 acceded to the plan, leaving me fully at liberty 
 to deviate from the usual practice in order to 
 sanctify the Lord's day. 
 
 Before proceeding to state the result of this 
 practice, I would earnestly solicit the kind indid- 
 gence of the reader for speaking so much of 
 myself. The recessity, indeed, of doing this, if I 
 became the narrator of circumstances arising out 
 
32 
 
 SABnATIlS IN Tin: AIUTIC REfilONS. 
 
 ^ ■ 
 
 of my own conduct, made me for some time 
 hesitate as to the propriety of jml)lisliini; these 
 personal cxj)eriences of the testimonies of Pro- 
 vidence to Sabbath observances. Ihit as these 
 testimonies, which could not else be known, mij^^ht 
 serve as enc(mragements to others to refrain 
 from Sabbath desecration, when ur^ed to it by 
 the apparent necessities of important worldly 
 interests, the hope of nsefidness seemed to justify 
 their being thus recorded. 
 
 Another circumstance connected with these 
 personal records, calling perhaps for still more 
 indulgence, is the apparent ostentation of put- 
 ting forth the details of cases of peculiar self- 
 denial, or of marked reverence for the Lord's 
 day, beyond the general practice of those en- 
 gaged in the same occupation, liut here would 
 I most solemnly disclaim any title to, or as- 
 sumption of, personal praise. On the contrary, 
 rather, from a heart-felt consciousness of pre- 
 vailing imperfection, would I adojH the words 
 of our Lord and say, — " we are unprofitable 
 s^iTants: we have done that which was our 
 duty to do." And deeply humbled with a sense 
 of personal short-comings in other things, and 
 even in the practice of keeping the heart with 
 all diligence, on the holy Sabbath, — I feel bound 
 thus publicly to give the entire praise to God, 
 in whatever, by His grace, I may have been 
 
 ./ 
 
rnoVIDENTIAL TKSTnroNIl-S. 
 
 O.I 
 
 oiiiil)lr(l to do or to siifTor, to hour or to i'or])t'iii\ 
 in resijoc't to the authority ol' 1 1 is \u)\\ law. 
 
 One other preeaiitionary ol)servation may here 
 he caUed ior, as a piard aj:;ainst the imputa- 
 tion of superstition or enthusiasm with wliirh 
 some of these ineidents may i)ossihly lie eharj;'ed 
 by those who are not in tlie hal)it of observing; 
 the passing incUcations of "the linger of God.'* 
 Our defence, as to this, is simple. If it be su- 
 perstition to refer any sj)eeial success vouchsafed 
 to the work of our hands to the blessing of 
 God, or if it be enthusiasm to expect such a 
 blessing when in that very work we have hum- 
 bly cndeav<)ured, in dependence on Ghrist 
 strengthening us, to fulfil the conditions to 
 which a blessing is promised, — then must our 
 every-day prayers, in which we ask for the 
 divine help and furtherance, be only the cere- 
 monials of superstition, and belief in the faith- 
 fulness of God to His promises, a mere cntbn- 
 siasni. If, moreover, to hope for deliverance 
 from peril, in answer to prayer, or for guidance 
 in danger and difficulty, on asking it of God, 
 were really enthusiasm, — then must the recep- 
 tion of the Scriptures, wdiich both invite and 
 admonish us to do so, with the belief in a special 
 providence so jierpetually taught therein, become 
 a similar weakness, and the wonder-working 
 
 power of faith a vain shadow ! But, as the 
 
 c 2 
 
msmmsmmmumiam 
 
 ■MMITi" T 
 
 mnrmmf^- 
 
 1 
 
 84 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 
 word of truth is true, iltere is a special provi- 
 dence disposing', guiding, and controuling the 
 affairs of this lower world, for "the Lord 
 reigneth ;" "he is a great King over all the 
 earth." And that this government is not merely 
 general, but particular, and special, we find 
 among a variety of evidence, these statements, 
 — that "man's goings arc of the Lord;" that 
 " the steps of a good man are ordered by the 
 Lord ;" yea, that whilst " a man's heart de- 
 viseth his way, the Lord directeth his steps.'* 
 And such is the gaiidance and blessing on 
 " every one that feareth the Lord, and walketh 
 in his ways," that he has this assurance in 
 scripture, — "thou shalt eat the labour of thine 
 hands ; hapjDy shalt thou be, and it shall be 
 well with thee." 
 
 Doubtless the grand endowments with which 
 it pleases God to reward the poor and unwor- 
 thy endeavours of his servants to honour Him 
 and keep his laws, are spiritual blessings ; and 
 these, did we fully realise their unspeakable 
 superiority over the mere transient enjoyments 
 of tima and sense, would be the objects of our 
 special anxiety and desire ; — nevertheless, it 
 doth please the Almighty Giver of all good 
 things to yield over and above, and in no 
 mean degree, real and manifold temporal bless- 
 ings to those who, on Gospel principles, and 
 
 -V 
 
PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 36 
 
 i» 
 
 in reliance only on the merits and rig"liteous- 
 ness of Christ for the acceptance, both of them- 
 selves and their poor performances, earnestly 
 strive to Avalk " in all His ordinances and 
 commands blameless." Hence, though the expec- 
 tation of temj^oral benefits in recompense of obe- 
 dience, were, as the motive to obedience, mi worthy 
 of the generous spirit of Christianity ; yet is the 
 doctrine unequivocally stated in the Scriptures, 
 that, in keej^ing of the commandments of the 
 Lord, there is, in every respect, "great reward :" 
 and that " Godliness is profitable unto all 
 things, having ^^romise of the life that now is, 
 and of that which is to come." 
 
 That such a result was actually realized in 
 my own humble endeavours to honour the 
 Sabbath, and keep it holy, let facts speak. 
 
 id 
 le 
 ts 
 ir 
 it 
 Id 
 lo 
 
 Section II. — Indications of a Providential Bless* 
 ing, in connection with Sahhaih forhcaranccy in 
 the Fishery of 1820. 
 
 Though, for several of the latter voyages 
 which I undertook to the Arctic Seas, it had 
 been our general rule and endeavour to refrain 
 from fishing on the Sabbath ; it was not until 
 the year 18*20, that I was enabled, undeviatingly, 
 to carry the principle into effect. But \ti the 
 voyage of that year, the principle of the sanctity 
 
Mi 
 
 Mfa 
 
 36 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 l\ ' 
 
 I 
 
 of the Sabbath was not violated, as far as I am 
 aware, by any endeavour whatever to j^ursue the 
 fishery on that sacred day. Several of the 
 harpooners — whose interest in the success of the 
 voyage was sn^ich, that even a single large whale 
 being captured yielded to them an advantage of 
 from X'6. to X'8. each — were, in the early part of 
 the voyage, veiy much dissatisfied with the rule. 
 They considered it a great hardship that, whilst 
 other ships took advantage of the seven days of 
 the week, for the furtherance of their fishing, 
 they should be restricted to six. And as the 
 obtaining of a fidl cargo was then the lot only 
 of a very few, they reasoned that our chance of 
 a prosperous voyage »vas but as six to seven, 
 when compared with that of our competitors in 
 the fishery. The chief officer, however, was 
 frequently know^n to remark, that if we, under 
 such disadvantages, should make a successful 
 voyage, he should then believe there indeed was 
 something like a blessing on the observance of 
 the Sabbath. 
 
 The early and middle part of the fishery, in 
 the voyage refeiTed to, having proved very un- 
 productive, our principles, towards the conclusion 
 of the season were put to a severe test, when, for 
 three successive Sundays, a considerable number 
 of fine whales most invitingly appeared around 
 us. But, notwithstanding the great temptatio]^ 
 
 I 
 
 IT 
 

 PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 37 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 .■^'k 
 
 '''■'• m 
 
 to *' hungry fishermen," we were enabled to 
 persevere in (>iir system of forbearance, and 
 with such a result, that all on board, I believe, 
 considered it as providential. 
 
 On the first occasion, during- the night, in 
 neglect or forgetfulness of the general order, 
 a boat had been sent ofi' in pursuit ; but it was 
 recalled when I arose, in regard to the Lord's 
 day, and none afterwards permitted to be lowered, 
 though an unusual number of fish, from time to 
 time, were in view. The three or four following 
 days were very unfavourable for our object, being 
 foggy, and, for the most part, calm ; but on the 
 Wednesday, whilst the fog was yet exceedingly 
 dense, a fine fish was struck in a crowded " patch 
 of ice," and though its pursuers could have no 
 other guides in the chase, but their mutual 
 shouts, and the sound of the blowing of the 
 distressed animal, yet the result, notwithstanding 
 the difficulties in the way, was unexpectedly 
 successfid, and the prize secured. 
 
 The next Lord's day, though fish were astir, 
 was a day of sanctified and happy repose. Early 
 in the week, on the appearance of several whales, 
 our efforts — put forth with augmented j^ower, in 
 consequence of the restraints of the Sabbath, 
 and furthered, no doubt, by Him who hath 
 promised his blessing to them w^io " call the 
 Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honour- 
 
 
i 
 
 tiS^mm^am 
 
 UTi" II iM 
 
 teiaa 
 
 ■^l^'^Ki 
 
 ^5S^ ii. 
 
 38 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 'i 
 
 
 h I 
 
 al)le," — wcrCj under various anxious hazards, 
 highly su(;cessful. Two hirgc whales were taken 
 on the Tuesday, and another on the Friday, 
 yielding a produce of the value of ahout £lGOO. 
 
 Of the fishing of Tuesday — accomplished 
 during a gale of wind, in thick weather, and 
 among numerous large masses of very dangerous 
 ice — the following particulars, supplied in some 
 minor respects from a recollection of the cir- 
 cumstances, are derived from my Journal of the 
 day. After a hrief narrative of the proceedings 
 in killing the two whales, and the difficulties 
 and anxieties attendant on getting them secured 
 to the ship, the Journal, in substance, thus j^ro- 
 ceeds : — Both the fish being secured, or at least 
 taken in tow by stout haw^sers, three of our 
 boats were dispatched to a large " floe," where 
 one of the whales had been harpooned, in order 
 to save the lines which, to an unusual extent 
 had been nm out, (5760 yards in length) and, 
 hanging only by a hummock of ice, had been, 
 for the time, abandoned. Meanwhile, as the 
 most feasible proceeding, the ship was allowed 
 to drift to leew^ard, with the intention, if prac- 
 ticable, to moor to the leeside of the floe to 
 which the lines were attached, that the boats 
 might have some guide, should the dense fog 
 continue, to their return. But the ice was 
 so crowded, and the gale so strong, that, with 
 
 ir 
 
 i» 
 
 s 
 
 i 
 
 »•.-,''* 
 
 ■^ M 
 
y^\ fc 
 
 PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIKS. 
 
 89 
 
 
 i 
 
 J 
 
 "1? 
 
 the encumbrance of two " heavy fish,'* the 
 ship became ahnost mimannji:eaT)le. In this 
 state we fell in with a small floe under our lee 
 — a sheet of heavy flat ice perhaps a quarter 
 of a mile in diameter — from the danger pre- 
 sented by which, we had a narrow escape, 
 having, with every exertion in the management 
 of the sails, and the slacking away of the 
 hawsers attached to the whales, only cleared 
 the extreme point by about half the breadth 
 of the ship. My anxiety at this moment was 
 extreme. If, on the one hand, we made fast 
 to any loose piece of ice, we should probably 
 be driven away to a great distance from the 
 boats, so as to endanger the safety of their 
 crews ; yet if, on the other hand, whilst con- 
 tending to reach the large floe, we should 
 unfortunately ftdl in with any compact body 
 of ice to leeward, we might be so circum- 
 stanced, (not being able to see a hundred 
 fathoms before us) as to be under the necessity 
 of casting the fish adrift for the preservation 
 of the ship. And in such an event we should 
 be at once in danger of losing our valuable 
 prizes, and of perilling the lives of our absent 
 people. It was a situation in which a reliance 
 on a gracious and special Providence, w^as pecu- 
 liarly consoling and advantageous. For whilst 
 looking most anxiously and prayerfully to Al- 
 
iiTiilMiifriTTnT-i 
 
 40 
 
 SAllBATIlS I\ THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 iui<;hty God for g-uitlanco in our manoeuvres, 
 and for wisdom to act in so critical a situation j 
 we were most proviuentially directed to a clear 
 edge of the very floe we were desirous of 
 reaching, so as to have the opportunity of 
 selecting a suitable spot for placing our ice 
 anchor. To eifect this, however, with a dimi- 
 nished crew, and during our rapid drift along 
 the edge of the ice — to discover a position 
 sufficiently to leeward for fixing an anchor, 
 where the extent of vision was so exceed- 
 ingly contracted — and to l)ring the sluggish 
 and encumbered ship to the spot within the 
 few moments which were allowed us for the 
 various important prejiarations, — required, not 
 only the utmost energies of which man was 
 capable, but the special blessing of Almighty 
 God to give his energies success. Whilst the 
 topsails were kept shivering, in order to dimi- 
 nish as much as possible the leeward pressure 
 of the wind, and to give time for what was 
 essential to be done, a convenient jDlace for 
 jnooring was sought out, and an ice anchor 
 dexterously fixed ; but with every effort and 
 possible despatch the ship had fallen too far 
 to leeward. In a moment the encumbering fish 
 were cast adrift (the ends of the hawsers 
 being dropped into a boat with a single 
 hand to secure them) and, then, by the prompt 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 
 i-'^ 
 
V!2> fc 
 
 as 
 
 |sh 
 
 tie 
 pt 
 
 I' 
 
 ' 'J 
 
 rnovinENTiAL testimonies. 
 
 41 
 
 management of the sails we fetched just within 
 range of the desired spot, and liappily eftected 
 a mooring. Thus was the requisite blessing 
 yielded. 
 
 The sailor, who, out of the dangers of a 
 lee shore and overpowering gale, has ever found 
 iniexpected refuge in the commodious harhour, 
 will enter into our feelings, when, having thus 
 escaped the immediate hazards of the ice and the 
 gale, we rejoiced and * were glad because we 
 were quiet, the Lord having brought us,' as 
 it were, ' to our desired haven.' And he who 
 has been accustomed to regard the hand of 
 God in his own deliverances, will not hesitate 
 to unite with the writer in the concluding ex- 
 pression, standing in the narrative of this day's 
 proceedings, — " Thanks be to God for all His 
 mercies !" 
 
 The* ship being well secured to the floe, all 
 the remaining boats were sent out to tow up 
 the whales ; and, in the course of the next 
 morning, the other boats, guided by the edge 
 of the ice, returned, with all the lines and 
 fishing tackle, in safety. 
 
 A day of sweet and welcome re] se was the 
 succeeding Sabbath. The gale Mad for some 
 time subsided ; and now a genial and cloud- 
 less atmosphere cheered the spirits, whilst all 
 nature sparkling under the sun's bright beams, 
 
 :hc^' 
 
 •, s 
 
igisjgt^i 
 
 '^V\ 
 
 ■I 
 
 I 
 
 ?! 
 
 ,1 
 
 42 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 seemed to participate in the gladness. Several 
 whales sported around us ; hut, as far as we 
 were concerned, they were allowed a Sahhath- 
 day's privilege to sport unmolested. 
 
 The men were now accustomed to look for 
 a hlessing on Sahhath observances. And within 
 tlie succeeding week, even before we were in 
 a comfortable situation for receiving further ac- 
 cessions to our now considerable cargo, the 
 blessing was realized. We were employed in 
 "making-off" — that is, packing the recently 
 acquired blubber in casks for its preservation, 
 when a fine stout whale rose close by the ship. 
 As quickly as the lumbered state of the decks 
 and disposition of the crew would permit, a 
 boat was dropped to pursue it. Ikung a thick 
 fog at the time, the boat was in a few moments 
 out of sight. But before we had arranged for 
 the dispatch of a companion for their assist- 
 ance and security, the usual alarm of a success- 
 ful pursuit, — " a fall ! a fall !" — resounded through 
 the calm atmosphere from the lips of our absent 
 people. The noise of the lines in "the fast 
 boat," as they were dragged out under the 
 resistance of several turns round the stem, 
 served as a guide to the assistance now yield- 
 ed ; and one of the boats fortunately got uj^ 
 with fresh resources, just in time to save the 
 lines, and to preserve the connection with the 
 
 r 
 
 i 
 
 V. 
 
^*"^ 
 
 i 
 
 niOVI DK NTIAL TLSTI MON f KS. 
 
 43 
 
 
 r 
 
 1 
 
 eiitaiiglccl whale. The (listincliiess with wliieli 
 soinuls arc transmitted thionyh a cahii atinos- 
 phere across the unruHlcil surface of an interghi- 
 cial sea, enahled the boats to pursue the chase hy 
 the resounding only of its own excited respira- 
 tions, so that in brief space four additional har- 
 poons were struck, and tin* vast animal soon 
 yielded its life to the skilfully-idied lances of 
 its i)ursuers. This was a most important ac- 
 quisition to our cargo, inasmuch as it was cal- 
 culated to fill np our remaining stowage, and to 
 authorise us to quit the present scene of labour, 
 which, however animating and interesting du- 
 ring a successful iishing, is generally found to 
 be oppressively anxious in its progress and ad- 
 ventures. In token of the happy circumstance 
 of the attainment of a complete cargo, or " a 
 full ship," the important inize was towed by 
 the whole of the boats in a line, with flags 
 flying, and constant animating cheers, till they 
 arrived alongside. 
 
 This proved a third and impressive instance 
 of unusual success, closely following upon special 
 self-denial in remembrance of the Sabbath dav, 
 and in humble endeavours to keep it holy. Nor 
 was the result less remarkable when put in 
 comjiarison with the fishing of the ships in 
 sight around us, — amounting occasionally to be- 
 tween twenty and thirty sail, — for scarcely was' 
 
iii^ytaKi 
 
 =-^rx 
 
 1 
 
 t-^ 
 
 '^ 
 
 i 
 
 44 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REiJlONS. 
 
 there an instance throughout this large fleet, 
 though most of them, if not the whole, employ- 
 ed every day alike in the capture of whales, in 
 which one-half of the like success resulted from 
 the labour of the same interval of time. This 
 remark, I trust, will not be ascribed to any 
 feeling of personal vanity, but as the mere state- 
 ment of a fact necessary to the verification of 
 the position proposed to be established by these 
 memorials of providential experiences. For in 
 justice to others engaged in the same field of 
 enterprise, freely do I admit, and with pleasure 
 yield the testimony, that many of the Captains 
 with whom I hajipened to come into comjoeti- 
 tion evinced a measvu'e of laborious, skilful, and 
 persevering zeal in their adventurous pursuits, 
 not merely praiseworthy in itself, but scarcely 
 to be exceeded. And in further justification of 
 my ow^n motives, I feel it right to add, that 
 however it pleased Almighty God to bless me, 
 personally, in the w ork of my hands, there were 
 others whose active and able exertions were, 
 in the general issue, crowned with equal, or 
 even greater success. All, therefore, which I 
 am desirous of claiming, by the putting forth 
 of these various incidents of personal experi- 
 ence, is, that they might serve as specific testi- 
 monies of a providential blessing on the w ork of 
 our hands, yielded to sincere endeavours, on 
 
 
 J 
 

 lere 
 
 ;re, 
 
 or 
 
 I 
 
 :th 
 
 iri- 
 
 Iti- 
 
 of 
 
 )n 
 
 1 
 
 -* 
 
 PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 45 
 
 Christian principles, to honour the Sabbath day. 
 And that our sell-denial in the now-cited cases 
 yielded, at the time, such testimonies to the minds 
 of most of those around me I have no hesitation 
 of distinctly affimiing. The chief mate, indeed, 
 who, in the outset, had been most free to express 
 to his brother-officers his dissent from the rule 
 (m which we acted, was, at the conclusion of this 
 voyage, so fully convinced if the f[illacy of his 
 former reasonings, that he candidly acknow- 
 ledged his error, and, never, on any future occa- 
 sion that I had an opportunity of witnessing, 
 either forgot the impression, or retracted the 
 opinion which he now avowed. 
 
 Section III. — Capture of a Whale of uncommon 
 size, after a peculiar exercise of self-denial, in 
 honour of the Sabbath, on tJie preceding day. 
 
 The next voyage, which was not very suc- 
 cessful either with ourselves or with the whalers 
 in general, was yet pursued throughout, without 
 any open desecration of the Sabbath by either 
 attempting to lish, or even pursuing the search 
 after better fishing stations on that holy day. 
 Very soon after our entrance into the fishing 
 stations our principles were put to the trial. On 
 Sunday, the 27th of May, (about 3 a. m.) a large 
 fish made its appearance close by the ship, and 
 
 4 
 
 ; 
 
 i 
 
^•\ 
 
 46 
 
 SATinATITS I\ THE ARCTIC RKfJiOXS. 
 
 t! 
 
 II » 
 
 
 
 rcmjiincd sportinc; {il)()iit for iioarly three hours, 
 u circumstance, in tlie hal)its of the whah?, of 
 very rare occurrence. Captain Manhy, who was 
 my companion on this occasion, has given a 
 record of the circumstancj alhided to, in his 
 *' Journal of a Voyaj^-o to Greenhmd," an extract 
 from which may appro})rialely serve as an intro- 
 duction to tlu3 present narrative. *^ Marly this 
 morning (Sunday"), says the writer, "the officer 
 of the watch reported to the Caj)tain that a very 
 large whale was lying on the surface of the 
 water near the ship, and asked permission to 
 lower a boat and attack it, hut was refused ; two 
 or three hours afterw\ards, on its rising again, the 
 officer returned, making the same ai)i)licatiori, 
 urged hy the crcw% who, [having risen from their 
 beds, almost to a man, to look at the tem2)ting 
 object before them] had actually carried one 
 of the harpooners by force into the boat, and 
 were preparing to lower it down ; but the same 
 denial was not only perem^^torily made, but an 
 order issued that the fullest reverence to the day 
 must be obsened. Thus," adds the intelligent 
 author, " did the Sabbath bring with it the charms 
 of peace." The trial of our forbearance, how^- 
 ever, was again exercised by observing a ship at 
 a little distance engaged in flensing a whale 
 which had just been captured ; and likewise by 
 the appearance of another whale temptingly near 
 
 ^. 
 
'l1 
 
 r^r. 
 
 rnovinENTiAL Tii:sTiMONir:><. 
 
 47 
 
 lis in tlir af'tonioon. 15ut, by the lielp of God, 
 wc were enal)l<Ml still to resist the accumulated 
 iuciteiueuts to violate tliesauelity of the Sahhath, 
 and to continue our usual devotional exercises 
 throughout the greater ])art of the day. 
 
 The weather, which during the Sunday had 
 been clear and serene, and particularly favour- 
 able for the i)roseciition of the fishery, changed 
 during the night, and in the morning was 
 dark, windv, and cheerless. 'Ihouy-h I myself 
 had no apprehension whatever that our self- 
 denial during the S.mday would be any even- 
 tual disadvantage, even in a worldly poiiU of 
 view, I was particularly anxious that my crew, 
 whose ardour had been so tryingly repressed, 
 should have the comfort and l)enefit of the same 
 conviction. As far, therefore, as any efforts of 
 my own could contribute to this end, I felt 
 desirous of exerting every diligence, and with 
 this view, immediately after breakfast, I went to 
 the mast head prepared for " a long spell." But 
 the aspect of the sea around was discouraging. 
 No whale had been seen during the night, and 
 for some hours my own observation was exerted 
 in vain. The ship at this time was surrounded 
 by sheets of ice, w4th a large compact body 
 of detached pieces, called " a pack,' ' lying to the 
 westward of us. Observing a part of this pack 
 that was looser than the rest, I ran the ship into 
 
 
 i'l 
 
 I 
 
 ' i 
 
 [/ 
 
 ■>- r._ 
 
^*'\ 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 48 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 it, and pursued, among its devious windings, a 
 very critical navigation, as far as I thought it 
 useful or safe to penetrate. We then, reluctantly, 
 began our retreat. After traversing, for a con- 
 siderable time, the different channels presented 
 by the surrounding ice, lingering still for the 
 chance of finding some stray game in this thick 
 and congenial cover, the search was at length 
 given up as hopeless, and the helmsman was 
 directed to steer out of the pack into the open 
 water adjoining. Just, however, as I was turn- 
 ing myself to descend from the mast head, as I 
 cast my eye to the westward, I caught a glimpse 
 of the tail of a whale in the act of descending — 
 for the whale, when playing about at its ease, 
 and having sufficiently refreshed itself by res- 
 piration, generally terminates its stay at the 
 surface by two or three "high backs," with the 
 exhibition of its huge tail out of the water, as it 
 finally disappears. The distance of the whale 
 now discovered, I considered to be nearly two 
 miles ; but as the glimpse I had obtained of it 
 was only momentary, no accurate observation 
 could be made as to its situation. A boat, how- 
 ever, was despatched at a venture — the officer in 
 charge of it being one of our most hardy and 
 adventurous harpooners. With him, indeed, it 
 seemed to be a matter of reckless indifference, 
 in the pursuit of his object, whether the whale 
 
 
 •SPX-:. 
 
PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 49 
 
 ngs, a 
 ght it 
 tantly, 
 1 con- 
 sented 
 or the 
 ; thick 
 length 
 
 were quietly lying at the surface, as if courting 
 the attack, or floundering with excited vehe- 
 mence in its dying agonies, or leajjing ever and 
 anon, in its mighty gambols, clear out of its 
 native element, and threatening with certain 
 destruction whatever it might encounter in its 
 action. The direction, and the estimated dis- 
 tance of the chase, were hastily pointed out to 
 this zealous harpooner, who, followed more 
 leisurely by an assistant boat, set forward, as 
 if rowing a race, neither deviating to the right 
 nor to the left ; so that the leading boat, thus 
 manfidly ui*ged, seemetl almost to fly on its 
 way. According to usual probabilities, one 
 would not have expected a favourable result ; 
 but fortunately, as the boat aj^proached within 
 about the third of a mile of the place where 
 the whale had been seen, it re-appeared, 
 when its pursuers were further animated to 
 exertion by an increasing hope of success. 
 And it so happened, contrary to the ordinary 
 habits of the animal, that it remained at the sur- 
 face of the water for several minutes together, till 
 the boat, without ever relaxing its speed from the 
 moment it left the ship, was rowed "high and 
 dry" upon the back of the chase ! With 
 palpitating anxiety I had been watching through 
 my glass the amazing eff'orts of the men, and 
 their encouraging progress, till the blow was 
 
 D 
 
 .F 
 
" '-, v^yM^ -ijias^ i,.ai 
 
 50 
 
 SABBATHS IN TIIK ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 III 
 
 t.-l 
 
 ii I 
 
 r 
 
 iff 
 
 struck. Perceiving- that it was effectual, I 
 gave announcement of the joyful tiding-s by 
 the usual exclamation of "a fall — a fall!" 
 Forthwith the delighted crew spring upon 
 deck — some in their sleeping dress, with eyes 
 half closed, and their bundle of clothes in 
 their hand — and literally, as on such occasions 
 they are wont, tumble in animated confusion 
 into the boats, — the half-naked arraying them- 
 selves during the few moments of " lowering- 
 away," or subsequently as opj^ortunity may 
 permit. Five other boats were thus added to 
 the force already engaged in the adventure, 
 and their exertions were singularly effectual. 
 By the time we were enabled to reach the 
 scene of action with the ship, several additional 
 harpoons had been fastened in the body of 
 the animal, and the lances so actively plied, 
 that already it exhibited signs of exhaustion. 
 It roused itself briefly for a final struggle — 
 warning the boats to keep clear of the pon- 
 derous blows of the fins and tail of the dying- 
 monster — and then, rolling over on its side, 
 ceased to live. Three cheers from the victors 
 announced this interesting, and unexpectedly 
 speedy result, — the capture having been com- 
 pleted within the short space of an hour from 
 the striking of the first harpoon. And it 
 proved a magnificent prize, being the largest 
 
mOVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 51 
 
 animal of the species, as estimated by the 
 length of the whalebone — the usual measure 
 of comparison employed in the fishery — which, 
 in an ag-gregate of several hundreds, I had 
 ever seen captured. The extreme length of the 
 animal, indeed, was not unusual, not being 
 more than 52 feet ; but the fatness and bulk 
 were remarkable. The longest lamina of whale- 
 bone measured within a quarter of an inch of 
 13 feet. The width of the tail was 21 feet. 
 The produce in hliibher was above 30 tuns, to- 
 gether with about a tun and a quarter, in 
 weight, of ivhalehone. 
 
 Every one in the ship was struck with the 
 size and appearance of this seasonable capture; 
 and most of the crew, I believe, reflecting on 
 the previous day's temptation and forbearance, 
 drew the unprompted inference, that there was 
 a blessing attached to the observance of the 
 Sabbath. 
 
 Section IV. — Remnrkahle Indications of a Pro- 
 videntkd Blessing in the Fishery of 1823. 
 
 The voyage of 1822, the journal of which 
 is before the public, did not fail in yielding its 
 portion of evidence in favour of the proposition, ;fe ^ 
 that a blessing, providentially, is connected with * 
 the humble endeavour to sanctify the Sabbath. 
 

 
 I i 
 
 52 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 One very satisfactory instance on that occasion 
 occurred, which, together with another, or two, 
 of a similar kind, in a previous voyage, might, 
 with propriety, have been brought forward 
 among these records of providential testimo- 
 nies ; but, as there was nothing peculiar in 
 these cases, this mere notice of them may 
 suffice. 
 
 In the fishery of 18*23, however, being my 
 last adventure to the Arctic Seas, one of the 
 most striking incidents of the class, under 
 ccnisideration, yet recorded, occurred. 
 
 About the middle of the month of May, we 
 arrived on one of the usual fishing stations, in 
 the 78th parallel of latitude, off the western coast 
 of Si>itzbergen. On Saturday, the 17th, several 
 whales were *' astir," and all our boats, manned 
 with eager fishermen, were sent out in pursuit. 
 One of the boats at length came within reach 
 of its chase, and a harpoon was struck ; but, 
 after great and fruitless efforts, during seven 
 or eight hours, to come at the wounded animal, 
 it escaped us by the breaking of the instru- 
 nuent with which it had been entangled. 
 Shortly afterwards, ere the sun had crossed 
 the meridian below the Pole to usher in the 
 sacred day of the Lord, we hoisted up our 
 boats, and rested from our labour. In the 
 morning, our principles of Sabbath forbearance 
 
 I 
 
we 
 
 i 
 i 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 6.3 
 
 were put to a severe test, by different incite- 
 ments to pursue the great object of our 
 voyage. Whilst a competitor in the adventure, 
 close by us, and another at a distance, were 
 employing their entire crews in the business 
 of the fishery, several fine large whales were 
 seen sporting, unmolested, around us, and 
 some of them came temptingly near. One 
 of these excited the ai'dour of our hitherto 
 unsuccessful crew in the highest degi'ee, play- 
 ing immediately around the ship, first on one 
 hand and then on the other, and sometimes 
 only a few fathoms distant, for almost an hour 
 together. Being anxious myself to "remember 
 the Sabbath Day to keep it holy," the ship 
 was laid to, and the too ardent crew sent 
 below, with a view of avoiding all unneces- 
 sary complaint or excitement. But without 
 sentries at the hatchways, it was found im- 
 possible to keep them down. Every now 
 and then they were caught stealing into the 
 forecastle ; and faint suppressed exclamations 
 might be heard — " there she blows ! there she 
 blows !" — as the unconscious animal sent forth, 
 in roaring expirations, the dense compound of air 
 and vapour from its mighty lungs. By means, 
 however, of our different religious services, 
 which were attended to as usual, the men, 
 for a time, at least, were effectually kept away 
 
 ■■^ 
 
 y\ 
 
54 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC IlEGIOX«. 
 
 from the interesting scene abroad, and some 
 of the disturhing" excitement happily subdued. 
 The impression that was on my own mind, 
 indeed, had been extended, through the like 
 personal experience, to many of my officers 
 and crew, as to the advantage of pursuing the 
 path of duty, rather than to expect any tem- 
 pjral benefit from the desecration of the holy 
 day of the Lord ; this, therefore, had its 
 influence on several of our pecq^le, in inducing 
 a more willing accordance with the established 
 order of the ship, for a temporary respite from 
 our every-day labour. At the same time we 
 were not without some examples amongst us-, 
 I trust, of a higher order of faith and obedience, 
 in those who felt the propriety, and acknow- 
 ledged the duty, of refraining from ordinary 
 occupations on the Sabbath, whatever might 
 be the temporal loss or disadvantage in so 
 doing. 
 
 Towards evening, the whales which had hi- 
 therto been so numerous and tantalizing in their 
 approaches to the ship, gi'adually disappeared, 
 and at night, when I retired to rest, not one was 
 any where to be seen. Nevertheless, when I left 
 the deck for the night, I playfully directed the 
 officer of the watch, whilst giving him the usual 
 and requisite orders, *to catch a whale as soon 
 as the Sabbath was ended,' — a duty which, how- 
 
 i 
 
rROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 55 
 
 its 
 
 .4? 
 
 7 
 
 ever hard or indeed impracticable it mi^ht seem 
 to have become, was punctually and literally 
 fulfilled. Immediately after twelve at night, the 
 sun being still above the horizon, — for it may bo 
 i:)roper to remind the reader that we were in a 
 latitude in which, during three months of the 
 year, there is continuous day -light, — the prompt 
 and zealous officer lowered a boat in readiness 
 for soi'v" to be manned by the forthcoming* 
 hands out oi the middle watch. But before the 
 watch was yet fully relieved, whilst the hai*- 
 l^ooner was adjusting and cleaning his weapon 
 and the boat's crew were rubbing their scarce 
 half-opened eyes, a solitary fish, the only one. 
 that had been seen for several hours, arose 
 within a commodious distance of the ship. The 
 boat was instantly in pursuit, and in brief space 
 the harpoon was struck into the back of the 
 chase, and all hands were aroused from their 
 beds by the usual alarm to assist in the capture. 
 Our excited hopes of a prize, however, were 
 greatly damped in the very onset, by observing 
 the wounded whale urge its way towards a large 
 contiguous sheet of "bay-ice," a shelter which 
 it succeeded in reaching before any of our boats 
 could overtake it. Here it had us at great dis- 
 advantage. For whilst the ice was too w eak to 
 bear the weight of a man to attack it by travel- 
 ling across the surface, it was at the same time 
 
56 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIOXS. 
 
 s 
 
 ! 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 - j i 
 
 ? 
 
 K i 
 
 SO cohesive in its substance as to render the 
 penetration of the boats excec :lingly tardy ^ 
 besides the noise of their advance through the 
 tenacious medium gave such timely warning 
 to the fish as to enable it without difficulty to 
 avoid our lances. Henee, for several hours, 
 during which it adhered to this shelter, it 
 effectually kept us at a distance, till our first 
 excited hopes of accomplishing the capture had 
 idmost sunk into despair. But at length, con- 
 trary to the usual habits of the animal, it 
 arose, most unexpectedly to us, in a small spot 
 of clear water, in the interior of the ice, where 
 one of our boats, more advanced than the rest, 
 was fortunately lying ready to receive it; and 
 there it immediately received the additional 
 security of a second harpoon. In the course 
 of an hour more, four other harpoons were 
 struck, and eventually, though the capture was 
 tedious, the prize was secured. Thus was our 
 refraining from Sabbath desecration satisfac- 
 torily rewarded by the capture of a fine whale 
 under circumstances most unfavourable for suc- 
 cess, and the oft-repeated conviction once more 
 afforded to the crew, that a strict obedience 
 to the Divine commands is not only the way 
 of duty, but likewise the source of manifest 
 blessings. 
 An incident occurred in mis day's fishing 
 
 i 
 
PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 «r 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 which, though not immediately connected with 
 the object in view, may here be recorded, as 
 iUustrative both of the common hazards of the 
 fishery, and of the merciful preservation of some 
 of our people. Just as we had started with 
 the operation of " flensing'' the captured whale, 
 another appeai'ed very near to die ship, was 
 forthwith attacked, and struck with a harpoon. 
 It set off with prodigious velocity to the west- 
 ward, dragging the "fast boat" through the 
 channels of the sun'ounding ice, at a rate 
 defying any attempt to yield either assistance 
 or protection. Whilst thus "flying through the 
 water," the boat unfortunately passed the shelv- 
 ing margin of a large lump of ice which it 
 grazed on the side, when the impulse, undef 
 the extraoidinary speed, turned it completely 
 bottom upward, and in a single instant of time 
 projected the astonished crew into the sea ! 
 Being at a great distance from all their com- 
 rades — hard as they were labouring at the 
 piu'suing oar — and some of the poor fellows, I 
 believe, being unpractised in swimming, they 
 were for a time in imminent peril of their lives. 
 But a gracious Providence watched over them; 
 and, like the persons with Saint Paul in his 
 shipwreck on Melita, those that could swim 
 got first a footing on the piece of ice by which 
 they had been overwhelmed, and of the rest, some 
 
 D 2 
 
 1:^ 
 
I 
 
 ^i 
 
 i f 
 
 '[•| 
 
 iri 
 
 I-! 
 
 I 
 
 <8 
 
 SABBATHS IN Tllfi AKCTIC HEOtOSfi. 
 
 [bllowcd siii)porto(l l)y oars, or by the help they 
 were enabled to give each other ; and so it 
 came to pass that they escaped all safe to the 
 same temporary refug-e. No sooner was the 
 whole party safely landed, than they got sight 
 of the line to which the whale was yet at- 
 tached, as it was sweeping across a submerged 
 projection of the ice ; this they dexterously 
 contrived to hook up so as to recover their hold 
 of the fish ; but an unfortunate obstruction 
 occurring in the running of the line, the har- 
 poon snapped, and the prize they had antici- 
 pated was lost. 
 
 Section V. — Trying Case of Forbearance in the 
 Fishery of IS'2S, followed by the usual Testimony, 
 
 An instance of forbearance in worldly enter- 
 prise — the most tantalizing in its circumstances 
 of any which I remember to have experienced 
 throughout the period of my occuj^ation in the 
 business of the fishery — occurred on the same 
 voyage as that of the case last recorded. 
 
 On the 13tli of July, blowing hard with rain 
 or sleet, we moored to a large and heavy floe 
 (a sheet of ice about three or four miles in 
 diameter) in order, the more commodiously, to 
 enjoy a Sab1)atli day's repose. A ship from 
 Veterhead, which h. • tor som« days been accom- 
 
 I 
 
I 
 
 rnoVlDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 50 
 
 t 
 
 ' 
 
 panying us in our progress through the wcsteni 
 ices, followed our exainple, and a considerahlc 
 number of her officers and crew joined us in 
 our usual Sabbath devotions. An evening 
 service, designed chiefly for the instruction and 
 benefit of the apprentices, had been concluded, 
 the sacred day of the Lord was drawing to a 
 close, and our visitors were preparing to return 
 to their ship, when a large whale was descried 
 by one of our own seamen in a situation veiy 
 inviting for attempting its capture. No doubt 
 it was contemplated by many with an ardent 
 and longing *gaze ; but the orders for sanctifying 
 the Sabbath being quite peremptory, no attempt, 
 on the part of any of our people, was made, 
 to pursue the tempting object. Our fellow- wor- 
 shippers, however, being less scrupulous, in- 
 stantly manned the boat which had brought 
 them on board of the Baffin, and set forth, 
 along with some others from their own ship, 
 in eager pursuit. Nor were their ardent hopes 
 disappointed; for in a short time the usual 
 quietness of the day, with us, was broken in 
 upon by the shout of success from the pursuing 
 boats, followed by vehement respondings from 
 the contiguous ship* The attack being followed 
 up with the wonted vigour, proved successful, 
 and the prize was fully secured by the middle 
 of the night i 
 
1 
 
 CO 
 
 SAIUJATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 i 
 
 
 
 
 
 I 
 
 That such a result should not be exceedingly 
 trying to the feelings of our peojde — who saw 
 that their cfrmpetitors had won the prize 
 which wc had iirst declined — was more than 
 could he expected. Nevertheless, both the 
 trial of their obedience, and the exercise of 
 their patience, were so sustained, as to be at 
 once satisfactory to me, and creditable to them- 
 selves. Their minds, in general, seemed dis- 
 posed to admit the principle on which we 
 acted ; for, in addition to the religious sanc- 
 tions, their repeated experiences had testified 
 that the principle was acknowledgetl ^f Heaven. 
 
 It was my intention to have " cast off,'* in 
 the morning of Monday, to explore the navi- 
 gable spaces of the ice to the westward, with 
 a view to the furtherance of oiu: voyage ; but 
 the day being still stormy, with constant thick 
 weather from snow, sleet, or rain, we found 
 it expedient to remain in somewhat anxious 
 idleness, whilst our successfid comrades were 
 joyously and usefully occupied in flensing the 
 valuable fish obtained almost under our stern. 
 This was doubtless an additional trial of the 
 good feelings of our crew ; but whatever might 
 be the regrets of any in yielding up, for con- 
 science-sake, our chance of so fine a prize, I 
 heard of no other dissatisfaction than the mere 
 expression of a natural anxiety to be under- 
 
 i^ 
 
 
rUOVIDENTI.VL TESTIMONIKS. 
 
 61 
 
 jre 
 
 I.I 
 ) 
 
 way that wo inif^^ht iiiid a fish for ourselves. 
 The state of the weather, however, indueed 
 us to continue at our nioorinj^s, till forced off 
 by the movements of the contiguous ices, 
 which threatened the safety of the ship. Soon 
 afterwards we set forth on our object ; and 
 havinp^ made a stretch to the westward, all 
 hands were speedily called into exhilarating 
 action, by the discovery of several whales. 
 The eageiTxess of the r; en, indeed, was, in 
 the first instance, against us ; move than one 
 of the objects of their anxiety beinp- wnie- 
 cessarily scared, for want of that vise and 
 considerate prudence which, under the circi n- 
 stances, was peculiarly needed to temper and 
 direct their excited zeal. At length, however, 
 after a variety of mortifying failures, a har])oon 
 was ably struck; and though tbo boat received 
 a desperate heave, and some of its oars were 
 projected high into the air, happily, no acci- 
 dent ensued. The excess of ardour among the 
 men, was now in full demand, being appro- 
 priately drawn off by tiie vigour with which 
 the wounded monster vainly struggled for its 
 liberty and life. Oucstripping the utmost speed 
 of its pursuers, in the beginning of the chase, 
 it obtained shelter amid a compact accumulation 
 of numerous masses of ice, where it was most 
 difficult to reach, and from whence it seemed 
 
II 
 
 I 
 
 6^ 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REG TONS. 
 
 next to impracticable to be dislodged. After 
 encountering', however, a variety of little adven- 
 tures, as well as some very threatening ob- 
 stacles, all of which were safely overcome, or 
 spontaneously gave way, as the pursuit and 
 lancing advanced — We succeeded in subduing 
 the powerful animal ; and no sooner was it 
 cleared of the lines, and in a condition io be 
 removed, than the compact aggregation of 
 ices by v>^hich it was enveloped, began to 
 relax, so that with little further embarrass- 
 ment a channel was cleared out, and the prize 
 effectually secured. Thus before the very first 
 day available for the fishery, after the Sabbath, 
 had come to a close, all our anxieties were 
 relieved, our forbearance compensated, and our 
 efforts crowned with the desired success. 
 
 Section VI. — Indicatmis of a Providential 
 Rebuke for Sabbath Violation* 
 
 T 
 
 i 
 
 »! 
 
 
 If the cases, heretofore cited out of my own 
 experience, be sufficient to indicate that a 
 gpecial Providence doth now, even as in former 
 ages of the world, yield continual achnow- 
 ledgments to the conscientious obseiTance of 
 the Sabbath ; other cases might be brought 
 forward to verify a similar indication of Pro- 
 vidential rebukes for the neglect or violation of 
 
T 
 
 ^ 
 
 rJlOVIDE:?fTlAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 6d 
 
 tidl 
 
 of 
 ght 
 *ro- 
 
 of 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 that holy day. For as, on the one hand, a 
 positive blessing has been distinctly realized in 
 the humble endeavour to " keep the Sabbath to 
 sanctify it, as the Lord our God hath commanded 
 us ;'' so, on the other hand, a consistent 
 experience of the contrary tiiitli has also been 
 realized — that in the violation of the Sabbath 
 hy secular employments, a jwsitire loss and clis- 
 adrantaye are often found to result. And this 
 observation, it is but candid to say, was sug- 
 gested by what I felt, personally, to be Pro- 
 vidential rebukes, long before the admirable 
 remarks of Chief Justice Hale on the subject, 
 fell into my hands; and I can heartily join 
 him in every word of the declaration in respect 
 to the Sabbath, already quoted, that "when I 
 have been negligent of the duties of this day, 
 the rest of the week hath been unsuccessful and 
 unhappy to my secular employments." 
 
 By my Father, whose attention to the reli- 
 gious welfare of his sailors was generally both 
 strict and exemplary, the important duty of 
 honouring the Sabbath was first impressed upon 
 me ; and for several voyages before it pleased 
 Almighty God, by his grace, to make me de- 
 sirous, I humbly trust, of living by the ride of 
 his holy word, and for the promotion of his 
 glory, I was induced, by strong convictions of 
 the obligation of the fourth Commandment, to 
 
64 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 endeavour to observe it. In the outset of his 
 adventures, indeed, my Father did not alto- 
 gether refrain from fishing on the Lord's day, 
 if any whales happened to come immediately 
 across his course, yet he seldom looked out for 
 them at a distance, or went out of his way to 
 seek for them,— whilst in the regularity of his 
 performance of divine worship, and in his care- 
 fulness to abstain from ordinary labour and from 
 worldly intercourse with his fellow Commanders, 
 he set an example so far above what was usual 
 in his occupation, as to impress those around 
 him with the conviction, that his aim was to 
 " Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." 
 As to myself the impression was such, that, on 
 being appointed to the command of a ship, it 
 naturally became my endeavour to follow closely 
 that part of his commendable practice, in respect 
 to the Sabbath, which had so strongly approved 
 itself to my mind. Divine service was, therefore, 
 regularly perfoimed on the Sundays, from the 
 very outset, and all unnecessary work, as far as 
 I tlien saw it right to draw the line, was steadily, 
 and for a considerable period, perseveringly ab- 
 stained from. One very conscious deviation, 
 however, ai length occurred, which, from the 
 circumstances felt at the time to result from it 
 in the way of rebuke, is too remarkable to be 
 passed over in silence. For as, from motives 
 
 4 
 
 i 
 
PROVIDENTIAL TKSTIMOMES. 
 
 65 
 
 on 
 it 
 
 
 calready stated, I have ventured to set forth a 
 considerable series of personal efforts to sanctify 
 the Sabbath ; both Christian dutv and candour 
 call for the avowal that, as to manifold and 
 great defects in these eflbrts, "I do remember 
 my faults this day ;" and in regard to a very 
 particular and well-marked example, am free to 
 record them. 
 
 My first trial in command, in the adventu- 
 rous occupation to which I had been brought 
 uj), was attended with most satisfactory success ; 
 and so rapid was our progress in the fishery, 
 that by the middle of the season usually avail- 
 able for the object, we had obtained a cargo 
 nearly adequate to the capacity of the ship, 
 and were in sanguine hope, if not in full 
 expectation, of a speedy and joyful return to 
 the land of our birth. On a Sunday moraing, 
 however, whilst cheered by the indidgence of 
 these hopeful prospects, we fell in with two 
 ships from the same port as my own, and 
 commanded by personal acquaintances. After 
 some hesitation and scmples of conscience 
 about breaking in upon the sanctity of the 
 Sabbath and Sabbath-day duties, I invited the 
 Captains on board to breakfast. Being all, on 
 this occasion, successful fishers, the excitement 
 of social intercourse provoked further departures 
 from duty ; the Sabbath seemed forgotten, and 
 
66 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 
 the conversation, which I had not rcsohition 
 to attempt to divert, proved worhlly and vain, 
 and altogether unsuited for the sacredness of 
 the day. And although I felt conscience- 
 stricken and unhappy, even in the height of 
 our self-indidgence, yet, from a foolish and 
 mistaken politeness, I asked them, as they 
 were preparing to retire, to prolong their stay 
 till after our usual early dinner. As they 
 unhappily acquiesced, the religious duties of 
 the day were, for the most part, prevented, 
 and the best of the Sabbath jiassed away, not 
 only unsanctified, but desecrated, so that when 
 they left me in the afternoon, I could realize 
 no other feeling but that of the deei^est self- 
 reproach. 
 
 Before leaving the deck for the night, as 
 my custom was, I went to the mast-head, 
 when I forthwith discovered a temjDting open- 
 ing among the ice in which we lay, leading, 
 by no veiy difficult navigation, to a situation 
 in the visible distance most encouraging for 
 prosecuting the fishery. The helm was im- 
 mediately put up in order to traverse the 
 opening, when, having occasion to pass under 
 the stern of the ship of one of my morning's 
 associates, he recommended me, on being in- 
 fonned of the intention of the manoeuvre, to 
 desist till the following day, a recommendation 
 
 1 
 
PROVIDEXTIAL TESTIMO.MKS. 
 
 67 
 
 the 
 lev 
 
 in- 
 to 
 ion 
 
 which, with an indecision thjit I slioiihl have 
 heen generally much ashamed of, I listened 
 to and followed. ]iut when I arose in the 
 morning, what was my mortification to iind 
 the passage entirely closed iij), whilst a ship 
 that had penetrated when the cliannel \\as 
 open, was seen to be fishing, and, as by her 
 8ignals we could discern, with great and con- 
 tinued success. No eflort to join her, however, 
 could be in any way availing ; so that wc 
 were constrained to lie idle spectators of the 
 interesting but inaccessih^.e scene. 
 
 The next day numbers of whales came 
 around us where we were ; but, although 
 every nerve was strained in anxious pursuit, 
 and although the situation and circumstances 
 seemed most favourable for success, all our 
 endeavours utterly failed. On the Wednesday, 
 having taken a circuit of the intervening ice, 
 sej^arating us from the place at which we had 
 previously aimed, we again came in sight of 
 the interior opening, and now we could per- 
 ceive that several ships had obtained an entrance, 
 the crews of every one of which were busily 
 engaged in a successfid fishing. We penetrated 
 towards them, in a new position, as far as we 
 could ; but, here also, we found a barrier of 
 ice, in the act, indeed, of opening, though as 
 yet impenetrable, and shutting us out from 
 
i 
 
 68 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 the interior lake. In this tantalizing* situation, — • 
 in full view of a fishing site, almost swarming 
 with whales, to which additional ships were eveiy 
 now and then finding access from a different 
 quarter, and, as soon as they entered, were 
 observed to hoist signals indicative of success, — 
 we were constrained, a second time, to remain 
 in anxious inaction, whereas could we have 
 {iccomplished a passage through the barrier, we 
 might have obtained, probably in a few hours, 
 the residue of a cargo whereby we should have 
 been in a condition to retreat from the hazards 
 and anxieties of an adventurous occupation, 
 consummated by complete success, and in full 
 assurance of universal welcome at home. 
 
 Painful as the continued disappointment was 
 to those associated with me in the toils and 
 rewards of the adventure, — to me it was feel- 
 ingly instructive. The impression was irresis- 
 tible, that I was chastised for the desecration 
 of the Cabbath. 15ut the course of disappoint- 
 ment was not yet completed. The barrier of 
 ice, which was not more than a mile and a 
 half in width, was found towards mid-night 
 to be pervious for boats ; though, from the 
 direction of the *^ slack," being head to wind, 
 it was not possible at that time to accomplish 
 the passage with the ship. As such, to antici- 
 pate our more tardy advance, five boats, 
 
 
 J 
 
 
PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 69 
 
 was 
 and 
 feel- 
 'sis- 
 ition 
 dnt- 
 ir of 
 id a 
 light 
 
 the 
 
 lind, 
 
 lish 
 
 Itici- 
 
 ►ats, 
 
 fully ccjuippcd for service, were despatched, 
 with instructions to the leading harpooner, — * to 
 penetrate the barrier into the interglacial sea 
 beyond, and, crossing it to make for the nearest 
 edge of a " field" — a sheet of ice of apparently 
 interminable extent — which formed the limit ')f 
 the navigable space on the north : having gained 
 this position he was directed to trace the margin 
 of the ice westward, * in search of whales, as, in 
 that direction, tlie current of success was now 
 observed to set.' Impelled by ardent fishennen, 
 the boats were soon beyond the bamer, and 
 were traced to the margin of the field, where I 
 lost sight of them among those of the adjoining 
 fleet. About four hours after they left, the wind 
 still blowing fresh " directly in our teeth," the 
 ice was found to be so much separated as to 
 encourage the hope of our being able to beat 
 to windward through it. An anxious, difficult, 
 and hazardous navigation of two or three hours, 
 brought us through the interposing ice into the 
 opening beyond, where I had the most confident 
 expectation of joining my boats in possession of 
 one or more whales. But what was my disap- 
 pointment, when, after a night spent in very 
 harassing labour, I discovered the boats re- 
 turning to the ship — not from the westward, 
 the direction in which they had been sent, but 
 from the very opposite quarter — and the people 
 
'I 
 
 i 
 > 
 i i 
 
 ,J* 
 
 > r I 
 
 70 
 
 SAnnvTiis IN Tin: arctic regions. 
 
 tlioughtlcssly exultinj:^ over the idle capture of a 
 polar bear, — a thing of mean and contemptible 
 importance, when the grand ol)jects of the 
 fishery were so abundant, as, if judiciously 
 sought out, and vigorously j)ursued, to afford 
 every reasonable prospect of success. Unfor- 
 tunately, they had mistaken the orders ; and 
 urging their way with a headlong zeal, took 
 up their stations in the only position where 
 there was a probability of their failing ! By 
 the time we reached the field with the ship, 
 the " run of fish" was nearly over ; whilst the 
 prosperous fleet assembled before us were found 
 exulting over the prizes they had captured. 
 Almost every ship had been successful. Seve- 
 ral of them had taken two large and valuable 
 whales, some sufficient to complete their cargoes, 
 so that a portion of the fleet immediately bore 
 away for the land of their hopes, " full ships,'* 
 of which their flying colours was the usual token. 
 The rest of the week was sjient in harassing, 
 and laborio\is exertions to attain to the like 
 condition of our rejoicing competitors, and, 
 eventually, with a small measure of success ; 
 ))ut even this, the capture of a single whale, 
 Avas in reality a mortification, for instead of 
 yielding the considerable i^roduce which its 
 ample size seemed to promise, it proved lean, 
 meagre, and singularly unproductive ! 
 
 \\- 
 
 III 
 
RKST'LTS OF IMIOVIDKNTIAL TESTIMONIES. 71 
 
 )ore 
 
 9> 
 
 like 
 
 [nd, 
 
 |ss ; 
 
 lie, 
 
 of 
 I its 
 
 in, 
 
 < ^• 
 
 
 As, therefore, the week commenced, so it 
 ended ; anxiety, mortification, and disappoint- 
 ment were continued in i)ainful succession, 
 throughout, and the lesson which was read to 
 me, hy this manifestation of a chastising 
 Providence, has remained in vivid recollection 
 to this very day 1 May God grant that the 
 present record of it may he the means of 
 inducing some of those who violate the Sabhath 
 for vain amusements, worldly compliances, or 
 worldly gains, to consider their ways, and be 
 wise ! May they he induced to examine into 
 the events of tlieir ovvii lives, wliether tlio 
 hand of God, bringing ciuses upon their un- 
 sanctified indulgences or labours, may not 
 sometimes he as clearly discerned ! Other 
 circumstances might here be adduced in illus- 
 tration of the same doctrine; but this, which 
 had so powerful an impression on my own 
 mind, may suflice. 
 
 Section VII. — General Iiesuli6' of the foregoing 
 Testimonies, 
 
 The traces of the special workings of God in 
 Providence, and the declarations of His mind 
 in the written word, are equally, rixh the great 
 mass of the world, as sealed booKS, because 
 they believe not. And amongst the portion of 
 
72 
 
 SAIIBATIIS IN" THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 j \ 
 
 i 
 
 I" 
 
 
 ill 
 
 mankind whc do really believe, the whole 
 book of Providence is by no means equally 
 intelligible. There are pages written for in- 
 dividuals, and distinctly perceptible to them, 
 into which another entereth not. Others there 
 are of so palpable a nature, that all who 
 acknowledge the doctrine may read. Some- 
 times, indeed, the voice of Providence is 
 thundered forth in such terrific manifestations, 
 that the multitudes exceedingly tremble and 
 quake ; yet, whilst the believing portion see 
 distinctly the linger of God, there are many, 
 whose hearts are so hard, and whose minds 
 are so dark, spiritually, that they see nothing 
 but the events of time and chance, or the 
 
 mere 
 
 contingencies 
 
 of nature. That these 
 memorials, therefore, should be received by 
 all, into whose hands they ^nay fall, with the 
 same accordance of feeling and interpretation, 
 is more than could reasonably be expected. 
 For those who reject the doctrine of a special 
 Providence — written though it be as by a 
 sun-beam in the Word of God — will not be 
 likely to receive, as evidence of the doctrine, 
 the experience and testimonies yielded to others ; 
 yet, there may be some among those whose 
 minds are in the condition of enquiry, as to 
 whether these things are o, to whom the 
 present testimonies, under the Divine blessing, 
 
 
 I 
 
KEST'LTS or PROVIDF.NTIAL TK STIMONIt.S. 7:^ 
 
 whole 
 |ually 
 )r iii- 
 thcm, 
 there 
 who 
 Some- 
 ce is 
 itions, 
 and 
 n see 
 many, 
 minds 
 J thing 
 )r the 
 these 
 xl by 
 h the 
 ation, 
 ected. 
 peciiil 
 by a 
 ot be 
 trine, 
 hers ; 
 rvhose 
 as to 
 the 
 ssing, 
 
 may subserve the intention of the writer, hy 
 beinp^ received as nKinifestalions of a special 
 Providence, and as yielding: the evicU'iice of fact 
 and observation, lioth to the divine institution 
 and perpetuity of the Sabbath. 
 
 Striking", however, as the circumstances herein 
 recorded are, and satisfactory as they proved in 
 ro«^ard to the impression which they produced, 
 in favour of the Sabl)atb,on those wlio witnessed 
 tliem, — they are not calculated, without some 
 furtlier explanation, to yield any thiuj^ like the 
 same measure of conviction to others. One par- 
 ticular of infonnation, at least, is essential for 
 deriving from them the fair measure of evidence 
 which they arc capable of yielding. For whilst 
 various cases luive been brought forward in 
 which particular success immediately followed 
 examples of })eculiar self-denial, as to Sabbath- 
 day labour ; it has not yet been intimated in how 
 many corresponding instances, the like testimony 
 of success, during the ensuing week, fiiiled to be 
 given. Now it is not a little remarkable that, 
 after a careful examination of the jouiiials of 
 my four last voyages to the whale-fishery — - 
 being the same to which the foregoing records 
 chietly refer— I can only discover fhree instances,* 
 
 * June the lOth and 24th, 1821, and July the 20th, 1823, were the 
 tlirce Sundays on which whales were seen but not pursued, and no 
 capture made In any of the next ensuing weeks ; whilst in the groat 
 majority of instances the testimony was decisive R3 to a blessing on the 
 lionouriuff of the Sabbath. 
 
 E 
 
 e 
 
i . 
 
 r 
 
 '^' 
 
 74 
 
 SAHIIATHS IN IIIK ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 wherein, (after resisting; the pursuit of whales 
 seen on the Sahbath) wc were nnJ successful 
 in the lisherv of the ensuing O' -k; and, in 
 respect to these, it must be obvious, t<t all per- 
 sons at all acqua-uited with the nature of the 
 adventure, that the loss was highly j)roblenia- 
 tical, since, thoug-h we had pursued them, we 
 might not have made a single capture ! 
 
 With this word of explanation, the confuling 
 reader will be able to draw his own conclusions 
 as to the weight of evidence, hereby yielded 
 to the proposition with which we started. But 
 as to those who may yet question the result 
 of our argument — that the statements here 
 presented afford decisive evidence of a Provi- 
 dential blessing on the endeavour to keep the 
 Lord's day holy — we would claim, at least, this 
 fair and candid admission, that our refraining 
 from Sabbath violation, when urged to it by the 
 prospect of worldly gain, was not the occa- 
 sion of either loss or disadvantage, in the ulti- 
 mate result of our labours. Coidd, however, the 
 convictions of those who accompanied me in the 
 voyages referred to — consisting, probably, of 
 150 different men — be conveyed to their minds, 
 an impression, of a much more decisive and 
 satisfactory character, methinks, woidd naturally 
 and generally follow. For on occasions when 
 we refrained from fishing on the Sunday, whilst 
 
 «.» 
 
 i 
 
RESULTS OF PROVIDENTIAL TESTIM«)N*IES. 7') 
 
 m 
 
 this 
 
 Iti- 
 the 
 the 
 of 
 ids, 
 iiid 
 
 illy 
 
 len 
 list 
 
 otlicvs were siict'cssfiilly onpi^^cd i'l tluit oljjoot, 
 our siibse(|nriit labours, as has 1 .'on seen, 
 often succeeded under circumstances so pecu- 
 liarly slrikin«j^, that there was scarcely a man 
 in the amount of our crew who did not seem to 
 consider it as the effect of the Divine Idessingl 
 Independently, indeed, of the positive duty 
 of sanctil'yinj,^ the Sahhath, and of the blessing" 
 oi Providence connected therewith, — we oft- 
 times realized the wisdom of the institution, 
 in the mere physical ])enelits resultin<^ from its 
 ol)servance. I or when the preeedinp^ week 
 happened to havt; ])een laboriously emidoyed, 
 the day of rest became sweetly welcome, and 
 obviously ])enericial in its restoring;" iniluenco 
 on the energies of the people for fitting" them 
 for a renewal (^f their arduous duties ; wliilst the 
 temporary restraint thus put upon the ardour of 
 the seamen, o})erated, no dou1)t, with no small 
 measure of advantage, ]>y stimulating to addi- 
 tional energy in their subsetpient labours. So 
 that in every point of view, and in every rela- 
 ti(m to the well-being of man, spiritual and 
 temporal, this sacred aj)pointment stands com- 
 mended both for its wisdom and goodness. 
 
 HUjonT n\h 
 
 on 
 
 rial 
 
 
 L 
 
Chapter TIL 
 
 SPECIAL TESTIMONIES OF PROVIDENCE TO THE SABDATII, 
 
 a;-. INDICATED BY STRIKING DELIVERANCES FROM 
 
 PERILOUS SITUATIONS. 
 
 Section I. — Preliminary Oh.^ervation.9. 
 
 II : 
 
 ( ; 
 
 
 
 The facts and incidents recorded in the 
 foregoing" Chapter have been adduced, as testi- 
 monies of Providence to the vSabbath, in the 
 blessing on temporal occupations observed to 
 follow a conscientious and humble endeavour to 
 hallow that sacred day. 
 
 But if, in the appointments of Divine Provi- 
 dence, there be a gracious connection between 
 the conscientious observance of the Sabbath, and 
 our worldly prosperity ; there must surely be, at 
 least, an equal connection between such sanctified 
 observance, and our personal preservation and 
 well-being. Were we to argue from what we 
 observe in the world, as to the frequency and 
 preponderance of accidents among desecrators 
 of the Sabbath already referred to, — we might 
 arrive at the conclusion, justified by the testimony 
 
 «-* 
 
rnoVIDENTlAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 77 
 
 the 
 
 rovi- 
 ween 
 
 and 
 3e, at 
 tilled 
 
 and 
 t we 
 
 and 
 ators 
 
 of Scripture,* that the circumstantial evidence 
 is hip^hly indicative of the Divine disj)leasure 
 aj^ainst the sin of Sabhath-l)reaking. Specitic 
 cases, indeed, have not unfrecpiently come before 
 the public, so strikin<j: in their character, that, 
 Avere it not wrong' in man to judge his fellow - 
 men who liave suH'cred bv the visitations of God, 
 one would be led to consider tliem as awful 
 manifestations of Providential judgments upon 
 the i)rofane violators of the Sabbath. J^ut in- 
 stead of bringing forward any cases of this kind, 
 I j)refer, as the less objectionable mode of illus- 
 tration, to j)ursue the course hitherto followed, 
 und to show, from j)ersonal experiences, some 
 examples of remarkable providential deliver- 
 ances, strikingly connected with an humble 
 attention to religious observances, and an earnest 
 endeavour to sanctify the Sabbath. And these, 
 like the former, are derived frtun the journals of 
 my voyages to the Arctic Regions. 
 
 Section II. — Record of a hapinj DcUverana' 
 from a perilous situation in the Arctic Seas^ 
 at the conclusion of the Sabbdth. 
 
 This instance of a providential deliverance 
 from a situation of much danger and anxiety. 
 
 lonv 
 
 • Exod. xxxl. 14, 15; XXXV. 2; Numb. xv. 32—36} Jer. xvii. '27; 
 Ezek. XX, 21 ; Amos viii. 4— lo. 
 
i ■ 
 
 n>' 
 
 m\ 
 
 78 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 occurred at the close of the iishery of the year 
 iS-20, some i)articiilars concerning' which have 
 ah'eady been recorded. It is not a case, indeed, 
 whicli comes so directly, as evidence of provi- 
 dential interferences or testimonies in respect to 
 tlic Sabbath, as some others, and could not 
 therefore be put forward as such without risking- 
 an injury to those which are felt to be more 
 satisfactory, if not quite decisive ; yet — from the 
 consoling- inthience, under circumstances of deep 
 anxiety, of a reverent attention to the religious 
 duties of the day referred to — from the unlooked- 
 for way of escape subsequently opened out for 
 us — and from the remarkable efi'ect and success 
 given to our efforts for extricating ourselves from 
 our intricate situation of peril — this case, I trust, 
 may not inappropriately be included among 
 other Arctic experiences of the advantage deriva- 
 ble from the obseiTance of the day appointed to 
 be kept holy. 
 
 When our cargo, obtained under circumstances 
 of pecidiar blessing, was completed, and we 
 began our retreat from the scene of our suc- 
 cessful labours, we found ourselves very deeply 
 involved among the heavy and dangerous ices 
 ranging along the eastern coast of the peninsula 
 of Greenland. Four or five days, however, of 
 tliligent and cautious sailing, brought us, late on 
 a Saturday evening, safe within the cheering 
 
 «i 
 
 i 
 
rilOVIDKNTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 79 
 
 luces 
 
 we 
 
 «uc- 
 
 ices 
 Isiila 
 of 
 on 
 •ing 
 
 X 
 
 VI 
 
 sight of the open ocean. But as we neared tlio 
 margin of the unencumbered waters, we found 
 them separated from us by an extended aggrega- 
 tion of ice, called a sen-strctiin — not uncommon, 
 indeed, in sucli situations — upon the outer edgf 
 of which the waves were breaking with alarming 
 violence. Such an interruption, at all times 
 dangrerous with an agitated sea, was now, in the 
 latter part of the seascm, the more so, when 
 almost every mass of ice — from tlie snow and 
 other softer parts being washed away — presented 
 a solid front in iill parts of its circumference. 
 The deeply submerged points in the ice, more- 
 over, were calculated, in the event of a ship 
 running foul of them, to strike her in a position 
 j)eculiarly dangerous, being so deep beneath the 
 surface of the water as, in the event of damage, 
 to render repairs impracticable, and so low, in 
 regard to the extent of the extra strengthen- 
 ings of the whalers, as tc j^^'csent the veak' st 
 surface for the resistance ' f the blow. E n- 
 gerous, however, as was the encountering of such 
 an obstacle even to the sirongcst and soundest 
 ship, — in our case, in ct»nso(p.?ence of damage 
 previously received, it was in the greatest degrt;e 
 formidable. For the lower part of the shi})'s stem, 
 or "foreground," had, in the early i)art of the 
 voyage, been actually cut oif by a severe blow 
 against the shelving edge of a lioavy mass of 
 
 I 
 
- i 
 
 80 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 I 
 
 L 
 
 * I 
 
 ice, so that the keel, in cahn weather, mig'hi 
 be seen projectinj^ in front, and alarmingly 
 ex])osing the ship to fatal accident, even on a 
 very moderate concussion within the limits 
 of the previous damage. Under such circum- 
 stances, in regard to the crippled state of the 
 shij), — and where a survey of the ice composing 
 the " sea-stream" resulted in the discovery 
 tluit it mainly consisted of ponderous masses, 
 with multitude ; of the much-dreaded submarine 
 projections, or tcmgues, at every variety of depth 
 from ten up to even thirty feet, — we could not 
 but shrink from attempting to force a passage 
 when the risk seemed so great. Whilst, how- 
 ever, in natural anxiety to escape from our 
 entanglement, I continued, from the mast-head, 
 the survey of every visible portion of the 
 barrier, hesitating, whether to make trial of 
 the inner part which was the least compact 
 and the least dangerous, or whether to wait 
 till the wind, now blowing a brisk gale, with 
 a heavy sea rolling in, should haie subsided, 
 or else a safer passagf^ in the ice should be 
 opened, — the coining up and consequent pro- 
 cedure of an accompanying shij), decided me 
 on the former. This ship, being without the 
 peculiar risks to which we were exposed, and 
 being, moreover, lighter as to cargo, and more 
 nimble in her construction than our's, took the 
 
L 
 
 PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 Si 
 
 not 
 
 [)act 
 
 ivait 
 
 ith 
 
 led, 
 
 be 
 
 |)VO- 
 
 me 
 Ithe 
 
 Llld 
 
 [ore 
 the 
 
 lead, and l)egan venturously to attempt to lorce 
 a passage. Having such a pioneer for break- 
 ing the various linos of continuous ices in the 
 way toward the sea, I was tempted, in the 
 hope of l)eing able to avoid the otherwise 
 inevitable collisions, to take advantage of the 
 tempomry channel that must be made. 
 
 Commending myself lirst to tb.c merciful 
 protection of that God who is a present helj* 
 in time of need and danger, and looking t(» 
 Him for His gracious influences to aid and 
 direct us in our progress, — all hands were 
 ordered up to attend the sails, and we began 
 to I'ollow the track that was opened before us. 
 In this way, under increasing hopes and en- 
 couragements, we proi^eeded safely, until we 
 approached very near to the exterior edge—- 
 the position of greatest danger — where, from 
 the violent action of the swell upon the ice 
 in that situation, with the collecting together 
 v( the largest anci mofit ponderous of the masses 
 composing the sea-stream, it would have been 
 madness to attempt to force a passage. The 
 pioneering snip, however, skilfully and smartly 
 managed, continued her advance, wlien, by 
 happy coincidence, it happened, that just as 
 she reached the critical point alluded to, the 
 very outward masses, which were constantly 
 changing as to their relative positions, j)rc- 
 
 E 2 
 
11 
 
 ■J I 
 
 hr' 
 
 8-2 
 
 SAIJIJATIIS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 seiitcd, at the instant, a narrow and transient 
 channel, and of tliis the adventurous navi- 
 gator proceeded promptly to avail himself, 
 'I'rembling with anxiety and sympathy at the 
 manifest hazard to be encountered, we ))acked 
 our sails to await the issue. The suspense 
 was keen, but brief in duration. Under a 
 smart management of the sails, and a surprising* 
 quick action of the helm, the ship bounded 
 through the tortuous and frightful gap, whilst 
 the sea was breaking with tremendous violence 
 on one of the heaviest of th<> masses of ice 
 within a fathom of lier lee, the slightest touch 
 against which must have done damage, if not 
 destructive injury, to the vessel. Happily, 
 however, our adventurous com})anion avoided 
 the innninent danger, and forthwith hauled 
 n])on a wind rejoicing in his escape and safety ; 
 but. before we could hll our sails so as to get 
 way on the ship — even before we could have 
 passed the narrows, had we been at the very 
 stern of our pioneer — the chain of ice in the 
 front had so overlapped, that the channel was 
 utterly impracticable. To attempt, under such 
 circumstance- to throw ourselves upon a chain 
 of ice compo ed of masi^r ; of from ten to twenty 
 thousand ton* in weight, and these in a state of 
 violent agitation, could not have been justified — 
 it woidd have evinced a feeling of presumptiou. 
 
 * a«. 
 
r I^.O V I n E N T I A L T E ST I M O N I E S. 
 
 83 
 
 rather than faith — a temj)tiiig of Providence 
 lather than a Christian dei)endance on i)rovi- 
 dential assistance. As the only means, there- 
 fore, of avoiding- the danger, into which, with 
 all sails ahack, we were rapidly drilling, we 
 hastily grappled the nearest piece of ice, hy 
 a hawser out of the stern, so as to enahle us, 
 hy its resistance of the ship's velocity, to wear 
 round, without any violent concussions, in a 
 navigation so encumbered, as to render im- 
 practicable the ordinary method of effecting 
 the evolution. The ships' head being thus 
 directed away from the sea, we ])enetratetl 
 inwards, with our safety-drag astern, through 
 a chain of heavy lumps of ice, so compactc<I 
 together as to afford us a temporary shelter from 
 the violence of the swell, and then we seized 
 upon the largest of the masses within reach 
 for affixing our ice-anchor. The immediate 
 <langer being thus overcome, all eyes were 
 naturally directed to our now happy fellow - 
 adventurers, and with feelings something like 
 those of the perilled seamen in a tempest- 
 tossed wreck, who perceive the safe escape to 
 the shore of some of their more daring, or m(>rc 
 favoured shipmates, we beheld them crowding 
 all available sail, and fleeing, as if lblh)wed 
 by an enemy, the scene of their anxieties and 
 hazards. Entering, so fully as we were aide t(» 
 
 ^ ' 
 
ii 
 
 
 . 
 
 .1 ;■! 
 
 li 
 
 
 u 
 
 i1 
 
 !i 
 
 H^i 
 
 84 
 
 SAHBATIIS IN Tin: ARCTIC RKCilONS. 
 
 1^ 
 
 do, inl(» tlieir joy, the consciousness was the 
 more (Iri)iessing, that for us there was now 
 no escape. 
 
 The power of a compact stream of ice,* how- 
 ever narrow the chain of i)ieces, in resisting 
 the force of the waves, is most remarkable, and, 
 in the i)resciit instance, proved strikinji^ly effica- 
 cious. Still, however, from the rai)id and some- 
 times unaccountable changes of the ice, under 
 the action of a heavy swell, oin* situation was 
 (me of peculiar ])eril. Hence, for many suc- 
 ceeding hours, we were ke})t in a slate of 
 varying but increasing danger; and had it not 
 been for the consoling assurance, that all our 
 ways were under the direction of that gracious 
 Lord whose assistance and guidance, at the 
 outset of this perilous adventure, had been 
 earnestly invoked, we must have sufferetl most 
 intensely from the various and formidable risks 
 with which we were surrounded. The hazard 
 we at iirst voluntarily encountered had increased 
 ten-fold by our proximity to the open sea ; 
 and this again was constantly augmenting by 
 an unfortunate and unexpected change in the 
 state of the weather. For the wind increased 
 to a gale ; rain began to descend in torrents ; 
 
 * A streitm of ice is an oblong collection of pieces of tlrift-ice, or 
 bay -ice, the pieces of which are continuous. It is called a sea-stream 
 when it is exposed on one side to the ocean, and is calculated to 
 afford shelter from the sea or waves to vessels within it. 
 
 I 
 
 V 
 
 'I* 
 
 V 
 
 i 
 
\ 
 
 rROVlDKNTI.VL 1 KSTIMoMKS. 
 
 85 
 
 '.arcl 
 Lsed 
 iea ; 
 
 by 
 
 the 
 
 ised 
 
 |its ; 
 
 k» "'' 
 
 treum 
 id ta 
 
 the sea rolled with IVighttul violence upon 
 the marjj^iii of the eontijj^uous stream, and was 
 eonstantU warning us of its destnietive power 
 1)V its suhlinie aetion upon the sea-ward ices, 
 and its constant terrific roarinj^. 
 
 It would be tedious to detain the reader with 
 a description of the difl'erent resources to which, 
 under Providence, we looked for preservation, 
 in the event of the swell breaking in upon us, 
 — with which in one instance we were more 
 than threatened — as these, to our much thank- 
 fulness, were not otherwise recjuisite except as 
 to the repetition of the manoeuvre in the first 
 instance adopted, for retreating from the imme- 
 diate margin of the open sea. For a channel 
 having broken out to windward, unnavigable 
 indeed because of its direction, the waves began 
 to roll in upon us with alarming force ; — in 
 this case, ha ing again grappled a small lump 
 of ice, with which the ship could make a little 
 head-way, we forced a passage further into the 
 interior. And when a position <>f temporary 
 security in a smooth sea had thus been gained, 
 — for we were not disposeil to retreat farther 
 from the proximate sea than was absolutely 
 necessary for safety — we moored to the largest 
 l)iece of ice within reach as l^efore. 
 
 The sacred day of the Lord had commenced 
 about the time when we were hesitating as 
 
■ ^ 
 
 1 1< 
 
 j 
 
 J 
 
 ■ < 
 
 II 
 
 
 i • 
 
 
 '.1 !■ 
 
 |r'li| 
 
 
 ^{\ 
 
 SAllHATIlS IN Tin: ARCTIC RKGIONS. 
 
 to tlie ])i'oj)ri('ty {)'i attempting; a j)assa<;'o to sea- 
 ward ; and by tho time that our last removal was 
 r()m])leted, the nsual hour ol morning prayers 
 had more than arrived. Our present situation, 
 heinj;' one ol appro])riate quiet, the anxiety ol* 
 leelin^' hitherto so painfully excited was sweetly 
 soothed hy the unitinpc to^^ether of the whole 
 ol the ere\\', whilst, in our humble manner, the 
 truly devotional and comprehensive Liturgy of 
 the Church, was read. Deeply, I believe, was fvU 
 the force of the sui)plications wherein we say 
 — "Mercifully," () (jod, "assist our prayers 
 that we make before thee in all our troubles 
 [ind adversities, whensoever they oppress us;" 
 — " and for the glory of thy name tuni from 
 us all those evils that we most ri(/htconsly hare 
 deserved; and grant, that in all our troubles 
 we may put our whole tmst and confidence in 
 \hy mercy, and cvennore serve thee in holi- 
 ness and pureness of living, to thy honour and 
 glory ; through our only Mediator and Advocate, 
 Jesus Christ our Lord !" 
 
 This devotional and profitable service being 
 over, with a plain address to the attentive 
 sailors adaj)ted to the occasion and circum- 
 stances so strongly pressing upon us, we all 
 returned to the look-out greatly com])osed in 
 feeling, and cheered in hopes, not only f)f a 
 merciful preservation, but of a speedy deli\(n- 
 
JIONS. 
 
 saj;"c to sea- 
 icinoval was 
 lin^^ prayers 
 lit situation, 
 ! anxiety of 
 was sweetly 
 
 the whole 
 manner, the 
 
 Liturgy ol' 
 
 ieve, was felt 
 
 irein wc say 
 
 our prayers 
 
 our troubles 
 
 )ppress us;" 
 
 e tuni from 
 
 htconsly hare 
 
 our troubles 
 
 onlidenee in 
 
 hec in holi- 
 
 honour and 
 id Advoeate, 
 
 erviee beinji 
 le attentive 
 md eireuni- 
 
 us, we all 
 ;om])osed in 
 t only of a 
 
 edv deliver- 
 
 rilOVIDKNTlAl. rMSTIMONirs. 
 
 87 
 
 I 
 
 anee from our situation of peril. I'or already 
 had the dark aiul threatening' asptu't of the 
 heavens ehanged ; tin* endangering gale had 
 greatly subsided ; and the wind, hitherto eon- 
 siderably out of the sea, had begun to shift to 
 a more favourable quarttn*. 
 
 Towards evening, the inii)rovement in our 
 prosj)ects was such, as to encourage us to 
 change our position by warping into a more 
 clear and commanding: situation to windward. 
 About 10 r.M. whilst progi'oss of the tedious 
 operati(m in which n c were engaged — heaving 
 the ship to windward by means of hawsers 
 attached in succession to the heavier masses 
 of ice ill the line of our advance — a devious 
 passage was spontaneously cleared away through 
 the nearest margin of the sea-stream, and the 
 same became singularly sheltered from the force 
 of the swell by the bending down of a distant 
 promontory of ice to the eastward. Under this 
 combination of inii)roving circumstances, a way 
 of escape was gradually opened out for us. It 
 was yet, however, encumbered with difficulties, 
 — difficulties arising from the direction of the 
 wind which, though more fiivourable than it 
 had been, was not sufficiently fair for ordinary 
 sailing, and from the nature of the channel to 
 be pursued, which was narrow, obstructed, and 
 intricate. But the grand difficulty, with a scant 
 
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 SAliBATIlS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 f •li 
 
 wind, jind under the jjeeidiar circumstances of 
 llie ice, was this — to avoid the constant tendency, 
 in a ship so close-hauled, of falling to leeward 
 of the channel, and thus becoming inextricably 
 involved in the vast body of ice, thickly com- 
 ])acted there, by the influence of the recent 
 gale. In a case, then, of a navigation so 
 peculiar and intricate that a single failure of 
 j)urpose in the management of the ship, or a 
 single mistake, or deficiency of effort, on the 
 part of any of the people in the boats employed 
 in clearing the passage, would have been fatal 
 to our hopes, — we realized, in this wise, the 
 Providence of God, in ' preventing us in all our 
 doings with His most gracious favour, and in 
 furthering us with His continual help,' so that 
 the exertions now made, at the utmost stretch of 
 possibility, were crowned with complete success ! 
 In thus confidently expressing my conviction 
 of a peculiar interposition of Providence being, 
 in this instance, realized, I would desire to 
 guard the doubting reader against sconiing the 
 conclusion, by mistaking the method in which 
 the interposition was supposed to be accomplish- 
 ed. Powerful as I believe to be the efficacy of 
 prayer, when fervently and scripturally offered 
 — and minute and prevalent as I consider to 
 be the operations of a gracious Providence — 
 yet far am I from imagining that, on our 
 
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 ' % 
 
■¥^: 
 
 ices of 
 idency, 
 eewarcl 
 ricably 
 y corn- 
 recent 
 ion so 
 ilure of 
 p, or a 
 on the 
 nployed 
 en fatal 
 ise, the 
 . all our 
 and in 
 so that 
 retch ol 
 success I 
 nviction 
 being, 
 esire to 
 ling the 
 which 
 mplish- 
 icacy of 
 ottered 
 sider to 
 dence — 
 on our 
 
 I 
 
 ' 
 
 
 ti 
 
 
 rnOVIDENTIAL TESTIMOXIKS. 
 
 89 
 
 account, the raging storm was made prema- 
 turely to abate its violence — or the inanimate 
 ices to move asunder against natural causes^ 
 or the unfavourable wind to change its direction 
 contrary to its laws — for any of these effects 
 would require an influence not merely provi- 
 dential, but miraculous. Nevertheless do I 
 consider it as neither fanaticism nor presump- 
 tion to believe, that our poor 2)rayers — humble 
 and imperfect as they were felt to be — might 
 be, and certainly were, in various essential 
 respects available, as evinced in the peculiar 
 blessing on our subsequent efforts. And herein, 
 I conceive the providence to have been specially 
 manifested ; — in the suggestions made upon 
 our minds, as to the position we were induced 
 to take — as to the means of preservation we 
 were enabled to adopt — and as to the powerful 
 and efficient exertions which all our people 
 were enabled to make throughout the progress 
 of the critical adventure. And, in this way, 
 within the range of the usual methods and 
 operations of the Divine governance, the watchful 
 Christian may be able, not merely to discover 
 the finger of God, but to find evidences of a 
 providential interference as satisfactoiy to his 
 own mind, as if the elements were diverted 
 from their course, or the raging waves, contrary 
 to their natural tendencies, were instantly stilled 1 
 
00 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 
 ' i . .11 
 
 And as the evidences, on the occasion referred 
 to, were, to myself, of this nature — though 
 I may have failed to communicate the like 
 impression to the reader — I have ventured 
 to record the circumstances of the case, as an 
 additional example of the gracious and con- 
 soling vrorkings of a special Providence, and, 
 if but in the most inferior degree, as a provi- 
 dential testimony of a blessing on a reverential 
 regard to the Sabbath. 
 
 After these reflections, in anticipation of the 
 result of the adventure, I shall only add a 
 brief description of our final manoeuvre, ex- 
 tracted, in substance, from the original Journal 
 of the Voyage in which it occurred. 
 
 Having made considerable progress in warp- 
 ing to windward, we found, about 10 p.m. our 
 situation to be such, — the ice being now quies- 
 cent, the wind moderate, and the weather fine 
 — as to present a hopeful prospect of escaping 
 through the now slackened barrier to seaward. 
 All available sail was, therefore, forthwith set, 
 and, having placed three boats at the " tow- 
 rope" to assist the ship in difficiUt passages — 
 such as when sailing too close to the wind, or 
 when required to make turns so sudden as to 
 be too much for the unaided action of the helm 
 — we cast off from the ice, and, in the feeling 
 of dependance on the blessing of God, proceed- 
 
 / 
 
 fi 
 
 il 
 
>. 
 
 *^ 
 
 referred 
 -though 
 he like 
 'en tared 
 ), as an 
 nd con- 
 ce, and, 
 a provi- 
 erential 
 
 1 of the 
 add a 
 vre, ex- 
 Journal 
 
 n warp- 
 .M. our 
 V quies- 
 her fine 
 scaping 
 eaward. 
 nth set, 
 
 " tow- 
 sages — 
 dnd, or 
 11 as to 
 le helm 
 
 feeling 
 kroceed- 
 
 rnOVIDEXTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 1)1 
 
 /, 
 
 ' I 
 
 ed on our way through the channel presented 
 to us. And such was our succc^ss in the under- 
 taking, that througliout the tortuous windings 
 and variety of difficulties we had to encounter, 
 we never failed in any one ohject, nor struck 
 a single piece of ice of any consequence. 
 Having passed the original harrier, we found 
 that the distant sheltering promontory, to which 
 we owed our opj^ortunity of escape, was so far 
 hent down at its eastern extremity, as to he 
 almost in contact with the fast consolidating 
 hody of ice from which we had escaped ; ha})- 
 pily, however, we discovered a tolerahly safe 
 channel in its sea-tossed margin, through which, 
 without much difficulty, and without any damage, 
 we safely passed ; — " Thanks be to God !" 
 
 The time of this merciful deliverance was 
 near the hour of midnight ; nevertheless the 
 occasion was celebrated with gladsome hearts, 
 by calling all hands together for evening 
 l^rayers — concluded by a discourse selected for 
 the occasion out of a valuable collection of 
 "Village Sennons." With cheered and ani- 
 mated feelings, we soon after began to wend 
 our way, in the oj^en unencumbered sea, to- 
 wards the land of our ardent desires and hopes. 
 Happy the christian whose heart and affections 
 are, in similar manner, so habitually set upon 
 the things of his eternal hopes, and on the 
 
92 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 rej^ion of eternal blessedness, that he is ever 
 ready to flee from the present world, with its 
 dangers and anxieties, like the imperilled navi- 
 gator from the Arctic ices ! Happy the man, 
 who, in the constant contemplation of the 
 glorious superiority of heavenly things, is pri* 
 vilcged to attain, whilst in the midst of life, 
 and in time of its best happiness, to the ex- 
 alted feeling of the spiritually-minded Apostle 
 to the Gentiles, — " having a desire to depart, 
 and to be with Christ, which is far better." 
 
 Section III. — Providential Manifestations , in 
 connection icith Sahhath-day duties^ experi- 
 enced in a striking deliverance from a tnost 
 dangerous entanglement among the Arctic ices. 
 
 Towards the close of my twenty-first and 
 last adventure to the Arctic Seas, it was our 
 privilege to experience that peculiar manifes- 
 tation of providential mercy, the particulars 
 of which are here recorded. Those, among 
 the readers of these Memorials, who are in 
 the habit of regarding the dispensations of 
 Providence, under the enlightening influences 
 of the Spirit of Christ, will have no hesi- 
 tation, methinks, of joining testimony with 
 the author, that "this is the finger of God;" 
 and those whose experiences of the methods of 
 
 li 
 
 •♦ 
 
 '4- 
 
 \ : 
 
 LW. 
 
 i 
 
rROVIDEXTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 93 
 
 is ever 
 /^ith its 
 d navi- 
 le man, 
 of the 
 is pri* 
 of life, 
 the ex- 
 Apostle 
 depart, 
 better." 
 
 Ho}is, in 
 experi- 
 a most 
 
 die ices. 
 
 irst and 
 was our 
 lanifes- 
 Irticulars 
 among 
 are in 
 :ions of 
 ifluences 
 10 hesi- 
 ly with 
 God;" 
 thods of 
 
 providence are yet doubtful and obscure, will, 
 I hope, in laudable exercise of Christian 
 candour, consider, — whether the circumstances 
 here fairly and honestly stated are not be- 
 yond the ordinary operations of time and 
 chance ? 
 
 With the view of giving a better appre- 
 hension of the nature of the circumstances 
 referred to, it may be useful to preface my 
 narrative with a description of the peculiar 
 character of the situation where it occurred. 
 The scene of the adventure was on the eastern 
 coast of Greenland, within a large body of 
 the heaviest and most dangerous ices of this 
 singidar region, — a situation usually consi- 
 dered as that of the greatest hazards of any 
 available for the prosecution of the fishery. 
 Such, indeed, was the apprehension, enter- 
 tained by the whalers of the last century, 
 of the danger of the ice on the east side 
 of the peninsula, usually denominated by 
 them the West Land, — that they dreaded, 
 under any circumstances, to approach within 
 sight of the coast. Nor were their fears 
 groundless ; as this vicinity was well known 
 to have been the site of some of the most 
 terrible disasters, among the Dutch, which 
 the adventurous service had ever sustained. 
 But the growing scarcity of whales, in the 
 
w 
 
 1' i 
 
 ■■i " 
 
 'I- 
 
 M 
 
 I : 
 I 
 
 
 li 
 
 i 
 
 i^i 
 
 .ir 
 
 94 
 
 SABBATHS IN THK ARf'TIC REGIONS. 
 
 exterior and more northern stations, since 
 the year 181G or 1H17, had impelled adven- 
 ture towards the west, in the direction of 
 their retreat, mitil the fishery was brought 
 to the very shores of the long lost Green- 
 land. And here, under the not unfrequent 
 encouragement of very ample success, a ha- 
 zardous fishery was subsequently, for a few 
 years, carried on, and protracted so late in 
 the summer of each year, till the fishermen, 
 in many cases, were fairly driven off by 
 the accumulated dangers of stormy weather, 
 lengthening nights, and the setting-in of the 
 tremendous ices of this region uj^on the land. 
 Though, however, the apprehension of ex- 
 traordinary hazard, as connected with this 
 station, had, after two or three seasons of 
 trial and experience, begun to give way ; 
 yet the occurrence of a melancholy catas- 
 trophe to one of the adventurers, in the 
 year 18*22, gave a cautionary check, for a 
 time, to the rapidly growing confidence of 
 the whalers. 
 
 The case of this unfortunate ship, the 
 King George of London, was singularly piti- 
 able. A peculiar fatality seemed to attend 
 her from the commencement of the adven- 
 turous voyage. During one of the hea\y gales 
 which, in the early part of that season, were 
 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 M 
 
 4 
 
niOVIDKNTIAL TKSTIMONIES. 
 
 95 
 
 since 
 adven- 
 ion of 
 irou^ht 
 Green- 
 'equont 
 
 a ha- 
 
 a few 
 late in 
 lermen, 
 off by 
 ireather, 
 
 of the 
 le land, 
 of ex- 
 ;h this 
 sons of 
 
 way ; 
 
 catas- 
 n the 
 
 for a 
 nee of 
 
 Pj 
 
 the 
 
 [y piti- 
 attend 
 adven- 
 gales 
 were 
 
 
 more than usually severe, as to the low tem- 
 perature with which they were attended, the 
 crew of the King George became unhappily en- 
 gaged in the too-successful pursuit of a whale. 
 The thermometer fell below zero. Thick wea- 
 ther setting in, the men in the boats lost 
 sight of their ship, and, for about fifty hours, 
 were exposed, without shelter or adequate 
 sustenance, to all the severities of the intense 
 cold, incalculal)ly aggravated in its influence 
 by the violence of the storm. One poor 
 fellow fell a victim to the severitv of the 
 exposure whilst yet abroad, and another, e\'en 
 after he reached the shij), and began to feel 
 the influence of the genial warmth, sunk un- 
 der the mortal penetration of the frigorific 
 blast. The remainder of those who had been 
 engaged in the boats recovered, but none of 
 them escaped without the most agonizing- 
 suffering, and few without permanent injury. 
 Some lost their fingers — others th/n' toes; 
 some their hands — others their feet. The sur- 
 geon of the ill-fated ship declared to a medical 
 friend, who supplied him with some dressings, 
 that he had amputated thirty-five fingers and 
 toes in one day ! An example of the severity 
 of the cold was adduced by one of the King 
 George's sailors, who stated, that a quantity 
 of beef that was sent out to the men upon 
 
9G 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC RECIONS. 
 
 I .ii 
 
 f I 
 
 the ice, when ihcy were first discovered at 
 the conchision of the pile, was taken straight 
 from the boilinp^ coppers ; but before the boats 
 conveying' it coidd reach their starving com- 
 rades, though at no great distance, it was 
 frozen so hard that they had to cut it in 
 pieces with axes ! 
 
 This striking warning of Providence, dis- 
 tressful as it was, proved but the beginning 
 of sorrows. For the enterprising Captain, 
 notwithstanding the enfeebled condition of his 
 crew, subsequently penetrated, in pursuance of 
 the fishery, to the ice -encumbered shores of • 
 the West Land, where he perseveringly re- 
 mained so late in the season, till all other 
 adventurers, admonished by the risks manifestly 
 accumulating there, had, with but one excep- 
 tion, made good their retreat. On he 4th of 
 September, the King George was for the last 
 time seen, — then attempting to get clear of 
 the fast closing ices, but the effort, it appears, 
 must have proved unavailing, as neither the 
 ship, nor any individual of the unfoi»tuna,te 
 crew, was ever heard of afterwards ! 
 
 In a situation of this kind, it was, and 
 not very far removed from the same parallel, 
 that the personal adventure of the present 
 memorial occurred. Whilst yet we lingered 
 immediately upon the eastern coast of Green- 
 
 r 
 
 ; 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 * 
 
PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 07 
 
 r 
 
 •ctl at 
 traight 
 ) boats 
 r com- 
 it was 
 t it in 
 
 ce, dis- 
 sginning 
 Captain, 
 i\ of his 
 nance of 
 hores of ' 
 mgly re- 
 all other 
 anifestly 
 e excep- 
 e 4th of 
 the last 
 clear of 
 appears, 
 tther the 
 foiftunate 
 
 |vvas, and 
 parallel, 
 present 
 lingered 
 
 If Green- 
 
 f^ 
 
 It 
 
 i 
 
 liuul, in the 71st dogroc of latitude, anxiously 
 hoping for an opportunity to increase an in- 
 different cargo, the summer of the year 18'23 
 dosed unexpectedly upon us. Enveloped 
 within an icy boundary of fields and floes 
 of the most ponderous description, extending 
 in crowded aggregation to fifteen or twenty 
 leagues from the land, — our situation, in the 
 event of the ice being set in upon tlic shore, 
 according to the prevalent influence of the 
 season in this particular region, was felt to 
 be one of no ordinary risk ; for a premature 
 winter had overtaken us, before we were aware 
 of the danger which we should have to en- 
 counter. — But I proceed with the narrative of 
 events from the time of our first movement 
 from the coast. 
 
 On the 4th of August, no object of duty 
 being present to occupy me, I landed on 
 Rathbone Island, which, for the first time, I 
 had found accessible, when I had the oj^por- 
 tunity of verifying the position in which it 
 was kiid down in my survey of the preceding 
 year ; and, though I had but one chronometer 
 with me on each voyage, it was gratifying to 
 find, that the longitude now obtained, as 
 corrected by two sets of recent lunars, was 
 only 8' 15'' different from that previously 
 assigned to it ; whilst the latitude was found 
 
 F 
 
I 
 
 98 
 
 SABBATHS IN TIIK ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 to be .accurate within two-thirds of a mile. 
 The plan of my narrative prevents me going* 
 into the particulars of the researches made 
 on this occasion ; hut I may take occasion, 
 by the way, to mention, that as we descended 
 from the Island we met with several patches 
 of snow, of a reddish colour on the surface, 
 probably tinged with tlie same singular vege- 
 tation as that which gave the extraordinary 
 appearance to the " Crimson Cliff's," discovered 
 by Captain Ross, in l^affin's Bay. The colour- 
 ing matter, in a small specimen, being left on 
 a piece of stone, after the dissolving of the 
 snow, was found to be of a deep red, powdery 
 or granular appearance. 
 
 From the day of this little exj)loration, the 
 shore was not, I believe, again accessible. For 
 within a week of that time, the autumnal 
 gales, >vith their usual attendants of heavy in- 
 cessant raxa, and a general inset of the ice 
 upon the land, commenced, so that by the 10th, 
 the island on which we had so recently landed 
 was found to be entirely enveloped in a broad 
 and impervious body of heavy ice. 
 
 In the first of these gales, a circumstance 
 occmved of so curious a nature, that, uncon- 
 nected with the object of this narrative, as it 
 otherwise may be, may excuse me in record- 
 ing it. Large and numerous flocks of birds, 
 
 1 
 
 II 
 
 I 
 
mile, 
 roing 
 made 
 
 ision, 
 ended 
 itches 
 uface, 
 vcge- 
 diiiary 
 ovcred 
 colour- 
 left on 
 of the 
 owdery 
 
 m, the 
 For 
 itmnnal 
 javy in- 
 Ithe ice 
 le 10th, 
 landed 
 broad 
 
 istance 
 uncon- 
 le, as it 
 record- 
 birds, 
 
 F 
 
 I 
 
 moVinENTTAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 99 
 
 I 
 
 J 
 
 \} 
 
 consisting" ahnost entirely of little aiil\s, fAIca 
 Al/f'J were living* ])Jist the sliip, for many hours 
 together, in |)er2)etnal succession, in the direc- 
 tion of the land. As, on account of the strength 
 of the wind, they kept very near the surface 
 of the sea and ice in their Hight, many of them 
 came unexpectedly in contact with the rope by 
 which the ship was attached to the iloe, (a haw- 
 ser of only 2j inches in diameter) and stnick 
 it with such prodigious force, that the unfortu- 
 nate little birds fell down, not merely stunned, 
 but actually dead on the spot ! Scarcely a Hock 
 passed within the range of the hawser, out of 
 which some did not fall, though a portion of 
 those which were winging their way on the 
 level of the rope, were to be seen making a 
 violent, and often fruitless effort, to avoid the 
 unlooked-for object. Some hundreds, it was 
 believed, were thus instantaneously brought 
 down. Out of one flock, no less than six were 
 observed to fall, and out of another five — all 
 of which dropped, lifeless, alongside of the 
 ship. Being the Lord's day, I did not allow a 
 boat to be lowered to pick up the game so sin- 
 gidarly killed ; but the ingenuity of the sailors 
 devised a mode of fishing' them out of the 
 water, at least such of them as drifted along- 
 side of the ship, by means of a little bucket 
 attached to the end of a pole. And, in this 
 
100 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 way, such a considerable number was obtained, 
 as to afford an agreeable treat — for though high 
 coloured in flesh, these birds yield a palatable 
 and wholesome variety after long use of salted 
 provisions — to all hands on board. But large 
 as this quantity was, by far the greater pro- 
 portion of those which were thus killed, were 
 ])elieved to be lost, as great numbers of the 
 lifeless birds w^ere seen drifting past the ship 
 out of reach of the little apparatus by which 
 the others were fished u]). 
 
 The effect of the momentum of these small 
 creatures was most surprising, not only in pro- 
 ducing death as suddenlv as the most fatal 
 shot, but in the singular demolition of their 
 thick short bills. Among those which, in this 
 way, were struck down by collision with the 
 rope, some were observed to have their bills 
 crushed or broken — others to have both mani- 
 bles completely torn off — and, in a few, the 
 whole beak was found to have been actually 
 driven backward into the head ! Altogether it 
 was a curious, and, to a sensitive obseiTer, a 
 painful scene, to watch the approach of the 
 poor unconscious birds; to see a portion of the 
 flock strike the extended rope ; and, without 
 either the fire or report of the usual instrument 
 of destruction, to obsers^e them fall so instantane- 
 ously inanimate, beneath the undesigned snare ! 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
tained, 
 hhigh 
 latable 
 
 salted 
 X large 
 er pro- 
 rl, were 
 
 of the 
 lie ship 
 r which 
 
 se small 
 in pro- 
 ost fatal 
 of their 
 , in this 
 vith the 
 eir bills 
 h mani- 
 ■ew, the 
 actually 
 ether it 
 erv^er, a 
 of the 
 of the 
 without 
 trument 
 tantane- 
 snare ! 
 
 niOVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 101 
 
 M 
 
 I liv 
 
 The regular progress of destnictiou, by this 
 singular fortuitousness of circumstances, may 
 read us a lesson of instruction on the little antici- 
 pated contingencies of human mortality. After 
 witnessing the catastrophe with a few of the 
 leading flocks of the passing birds, the conse- 
 quences to succeeding flocks, notwithstanding 
 the almost innumerable chances of escape, were, 
 with us, fidly anticipated ; but as to the progress 
 of mankind in their flight through life, on the 
 swift wings of time, one is led to reflect, in 
 contrast of this ordinary prescience, how few 
 among those who see the catastrophe which, 
 in a moment unexpected, brings others down, 
 learn to anticipate the risks of a like catas- 
 trophe to themselves ! It is enough, in other 
 events, to witness a few examjjles in order to 
 calculate the probable results ; but in the per- 
 sonal application of the perils of life, notwith- 
 standing the momentous consequences of a 
 dependent eternity, " all men,'' as it has been 
 observantly said, " think all men mortal but 
 themselves 1" There may be some, among the 
 readers of these Memorials, of this description, 
 whose minds are dead to a sense of their own 
 mortality ; — some, perhaps, whose compassionate 
 feelings may be excited for the singular des- 
 truction of the unconscious little birds — beings 
 only of a brief span of time — who have little 
 
1 f 
 
 r 
 
 102 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 >,: ;! 
 
 anxiety of feeling as to tlie risks of their own 
 swift i^rogress through the limited space of life 
 — beings, though they be, destined for an im- 
 mortality of endurance 1 The invisible line, 
 they must be aware, is stretched across the 
 plane of their progress ; in every moment of 
 time they do know that some one or other of 
 their fellow-creatures is unexpectedly struck 
 down by it ; would to God, that the fate of 
 the little birds might be commissioned to read 
 them this admonitory lesson — to lay to heart 
 the tremendous and awful perils of a prema- 
 ture fall, and, as wise men, to ' Prepare to 
 meet their God !* 
 
 But to return to my subject. Having fully 
 ascertained, at the conclusion of the gale, the 
 actual commencement of the inset of the ice, 
 and other tokens of a premature winter, we 
 began our retreat from the now dangerous coast. 
 Under a brisk and favourable breeze, and among 
 incompact fields and floes, our progress to sea- 
 ward was, at first, rapid and encouraging; but 
 after about six hours of prosperous sailing, our 
 hopes were changed into anxious apprehensions 
 by the discovery of a chain of the most ponder- 
 ous ices, on every point of the compass, except 
 the direction of our advance, forming, through 
 the entire range of vision from the mast 
 head, one continuous and impervious barrier ! 
 
 \ 
 
 1 
 f 
 
 P 
 
 
 Id 
 
l^ROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 108 
 
 ir own 
 ', of life 
 an im- 
 e line, 
 )ss the 
 rtent of 
 alier of 
 
 struck 
 
 fate of 
 
 to read 
 
 o heart 
 
 prema- 
 pare to 
 
 g fully 
 ale, the 
 the ice, 
 iter, we 
 IS coast, 
 among" 
 to sea- 
 ; hut 
 ng, our 
 tensions 
 jponder- 
 except 
 through 
 mast 
 )arrier 1 
 
 L 4 
 
 m 
 
 As no human efibrt or skill could possihly make 
 any impression on these prodigious ices, all 
 that was left us was to wait, in reliance on a 
 gracious Providence^ for some favourahle change. 
 But day after day passed heavily away, and 
 yet we were detained as helpless captives ; 
 and though with each succeeding gale (for the 
 gales had now hecome hoth frequent and fierce) 
 the ice was found constantly to he altering 
 its position, yet the changes which diminished 
 the area, and varied the spaces of the interior, 
 had no favourahle effect whatever on the closeness 
 of the harrier. Whilst we were thus encountering 
 such dismal weather and such painfid confine- 
 ment, circumstances occurred which led us to 
 reflect, with anxious and desponding feelings, 
 on the heauty and enjoyments of an English 
 summer. What a contrast, was our situation, 
 bound up, as we were, among impervious fields 
 of ice, harassed by storms and perplexed by fogs, 
 to the luxuriant meadows, the verdant groves, 
 and the grateful climate of our ha2)py land ! 
 
 But it is not necessary, as regards my present 
 purpose, to follow the detail of our anxious 
 progress out of this hazardous situation. Every 
 ingenuity was exercised, every opportunity im- 
 proved, and every nerve strained to the utmost, 
 in furtherance of the desired object. 
 
 1 
 
'i 
 
 ,il 
 '11 
 
 ,. 
 
 304 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 On the 20tli of August, we had approached, 
 aj^parently, within two or three leagues of the 
 sea, which the " hlink," or reflection in the 
 sky, during a brief interval of clear weather, 
 now distinctly pourtrayed. But the general 
 obscurity of the atmosi^here prevented us find- 
 ing any outlet. Whilst lying-to under the 
 lee of a floe, waiting for the clearing of the 
 fog, the sea, which had previously been as 
 smooth as a lake, became unexpectedly undu- 
 lated, and the ice, through the influence of a 
 penetrating swell, was forthwith put into great 
 agitation. The floe adjoining us exhibited the 
 usual, but wonderful, influence of the swell, by 
 cracking and breaking in every direction ; so 
 that a sheet of ice, perhaps half a mile in 
 breadth, fifteen to twenty feet in thickness, and 
 solid as some of the species of marble, was, 
 in a few minutes, broken up into hundreds cf 
 pieces, of from twenty to fifty yards in diameter ; 
 whilst all the larger contiguous ices partook 
 of the same destructive influence. 
 
 The weather now became stormy, and a per- 
 plexing night, from fog and darkness, came on, 
 during which, being unable to " make fast," 
 on account of the swell, we had to tack about, 
 in the utmost peril and anxiety, till morning, 
 in small and difficult openings, thickly encum- 
 
 /I 
 
PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 105 
 
 ►ached, 
 of the 
 in the 
 eather, 
 general 
 IS find- 
 er the 
 of the 
 een as 
 J undu- 
 ce of a 
 to great 
 ited the 
 ^vell, by 
 ion ; so 
 mile in 
 3SS, and 
 e, was, 
 reds cf 
 meter ; 
 Ipartook 
 
 a per- 
 jme on, 
 
 fast," 
 
 about, 
 |oming, 
 
 incnm- 
 
 I 
 
 II 
 
 bered with ice. At day-break, the weather 
 liaving partially cleared, a dubious and embar- 
 rassed channel, among the ice, was discovered, 
 leading a considerable distance towards the 
 S.S.W, in which quarter both the reflection of 
 the atmosphere, and the direction of the swell, 
 indicated the proximity of the open sea. A 
 deep impression, i^rovidentially, rested on my 
 own mind, as to the vital importance of in- 
 stant exertion to embrace the present oppor- 
 tunity of advancing on oiu* way. Sail was 
 instantly set, the helm was put up, and the 
 ship bounded, along a tortuous line, through the 
 intricate and hazardous channel which the 
 thickly accumulated ice very imperfectly afford- 
 ed. I saw we must be heset ; but this result, 
 with all its attendant risks, was unhesitatingly 
 yielded to, as it was of the utmost moment 
 to gain the nearest accessible position to the 
 sea, that a chance of escape might be left. 
 The ice was closing, however, with alarming 
 celerity ; our comse, every moment, became 
 more embarrassed and intricate, till, at length, 
 the approximating sides of the channel came 
 into contact, and the ship, in a few minutes, 
 was closely enveloped. For a time, indeed, 
 small occasional spaces remained among the 
 different masses of ice, through Avhich, by 
 the force of the wind, with the help of our 
 
 f2 
 
iOG SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 h ' ! . 
 
 hawsers, we were enabled to advance about a 
 mile farther, and then, whilst the sea, though 
 now clearly within vievv, was yet at the dis- 
 tance of four or five miles, the ship became 
 firmly and immoveably fixed. But most thank- 
 ful was I for the progress we had made ; for, 
 on the clearing of the sky, in the course of 
 the day, the ice was found compacted around 
 us into a solid and continuous body, in which, 
 to the utmost extension of vision, from the 
 mast-head, not a drop of water, except the 
 sea towards which we were pressing, could, 
 in any direction, be discerned. So that we 
 now found that another hour's delay, at the 
 place where we passed the night, v ould have 
 involved us, perhaps, in an inextricable dilem- 
 ma, at once out of sight and out of reach of 
 the sea. 
 
 Still, however, our position was one of great 
 jeopardy, both as to the uncertainty of our 
 being able to force a passage through the 
 compact and formidable barrier, which yet lay 
 without us, and as to the risk of almost certain 
 destruction, in the event of a gale coming on 
 from the direction of the sea, as we receded 
 from the shelter of the ice. But that gracious 
 Protector to whom our ways and proceedings 
 had been constantly committed, in humble 
 leliance upon 1 1 is encouraging promises, not 
 
 v; 
 
 I 
 
 .# 
 
 « 
 
 ■i 
 
 M 
 
rROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 107 
 
 bout a 
 tliougli 
 lie dis- 
 became 
 
 thank- 
 le ; for, 
 urse of 
 
 around 
 
 which, 
 om the 
 2pt the 
 , could, 
 hat we 
 
 at the 
 Id have 
 dilem- 
 each of 
 
 )f great 
 of our 
 
 [gh the 
 yet lay 
 certain 
 ling on 
 
 ireceded 
 ;-racious 
 
 leedings 
 
 Ihumble 
 , not 
 
 in 
 
 « 
 
 ^i 
 
 merely peiTnittcd us eventually to realize his 
 faithfulness to the very letter of scripture ;* 
 but meanwhile, not unfrequently, to exj^erience 
 the sweet consolation of that " peace of God 
 which passeth all understanding !'* 
 
 The night that now again commenced, how- 
 ever, was so abounding in anxieties, as some- 
 times to overpress those confiding reliances, by 
 which, if in their perfect exercise, the mind 
 ought to have been permanently stayed. The 
 swell i^cnctrating where we were, put the ice 
 in increasing motion, so that the noise and 
 vibrations of the ship whilst grinding or thump- 
 ing against the contiguous pieces, defied either 
 forgetfulness of mind, or the happy uncon- 
 sciousness of sleep, under such perpetual admo- 
 nitions of our dangerous situation. 
 
 For the most part, during this anxious pro- 
 gress, we found the ice closely wedged toge- 
 ther under a considerable pressure ; but at 
 periodic inten^als of about twelve hours — indi- 
 cative of the influence of a tide — the pressure 
 was so far relaxed that, under the force of 
 a brisk and favourable gale, together with the 
 help of our hawsers at the capstan and wind- 
 lass, we were generally enabled to make a 
 little progress to seaward, both morning and 
 evening. The hardness of the surface, sharp - 
 
 •Psalm xxxTii. Sj Iv. 22 j Prov. xvi. 3; 1 Peter v. 7; PhUip. iv. 6-7. 
 
108 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIOXS. 
 
 ncss of the angles, and magnitude of the 
 masses of ice aromid us, however, rendered 
 our advance hoth tedious and hazardous ; for 
 the most guarded blows, when the ship fetched 
 way in a crack, caused her to shake and re- 
 bound in an astonishing manner. 
 
 The morning of the 22d presented a clearer 
 sky than we had observed for some weeks, 
 when, notwithstanding a repeated experience 
 of the tendency of the ice, at this season, to 
 set to the westward, I was greatly surj^rised 
 to discover the land to be now within about 
 fifteen leagues of us, though we had appa- 
 rently receded, according to the distance given 
 by the log, not less than a hundred miles 1 
 On calculating, more particularly, the quantity 
 of the inset, — for as the wind for the most 
 part had been blowing directly along-shore, 
 the westing we had made was to be ascribed 
 entirely to this tendency of the ice to approach 
 the land, — I found that the difference of meri- 
 dian, produced in the course of seven days by 
 the operation, apparently, of this cause alone, 
 was 1** 50' of longitude, or about forty geogra- 
 phical miles; whilst the entire combined effect 
 of the current and of the wind, was a drift 
 of 71 miles in the direction of S. 32° W. 
 
 In the afternoon of this day, two ships stood 
 in from the sea to the edge of the ice* they 
 
 I 
 
 * 
 
rnoVIUKNTIAL TESTIMONIKS. 
 
 10}) 
 
 the 
 dcred 
 ; for 
 Itched 
 id rc- 
 
 ilearcv 
 veeks, 
 rience 
 3n, to 
 prised 
 about 
 appa- 
 given 
 miles ! 
 lantity 
 most 
 shore, 
 Icribed 
 roach 
 meri- 
 Lys by 
 |alone, 
 jogta- 
 effect 
 drift 
 
 [stood 
 they 
 
 'I; 
 
 ; ( 
 
 1^ 
 
 / 
 
 approached us within three or four miles, hove 
 to, and appeared to be observing us for some 
 hours. We were in hopes that they would 
 have regarded our perilous position, and have 
 waited the issue ; but, to our great grief, they 
 made sail and stood away out of sight. Gladly, 
 I doul)t not, would many of our anxious crew 
 have abandoned their little property, their 
 wages, and even their ship, in order to attain 
 to the safety of the envied voyagers, and accom- 
 pany them to their home. 
 
 During the following night, the ice was 
 quiet, and we happily reposed in peace. At 
 the usual hour in the morning, the pressure 
 relaxed, and we again began to move, and 
 made such encouraging progress that, when 
 the pressure returned, the sea became visible 
 from the deck, — the verge of the horizon, illu- 
 minated by the sun, being seen over the extreme 
 edge of the ice towards the S.S.E. Hence, we 
 found, that its distance must be less than two 
 miles. 
 
 In the evening, however, the wind freshened, 
 the sky thickened, and a great deal of rain fell. 
 The prospect became gloomy and dishearten- 
 ing. The ice around us was prodigiously heavy. 
 We had, indeed, been recently passing through 
 the very centre of a heavy floe, which, before 
 the breaking up of the ice, already recorded, was 
 
110 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 in a state of firm and tenacious continuity — a 
 continuity which no ininicdiatc jiowcr, but the 
 action of a swell, could ])ossil)ly have divided. 
 The mass alongside of which the ship lay, 
 and to which we had moored, — a mere frag"- 
 ment of the original, — was about one hundred 
 yards in diameter, and twenty to thirty feet in 
 thickness. The sides appeared like a wall of 
 quartz : hard, crystalline, and vertical. Whilst 
 in this state the ice for a short time slacked; 
 a swell set in and put us in motion ; but the 
 night coming on, with an easterly wind, pre- 
 vented us making progress. Happily we were 
 yet sufficiently immured to be defended, so long 
 as the ice should continue compact, against the 
 destructive power of the swell. 
 
 The next day, August 21th, was a time of 
 peculiar mercy. It was the Lord's day, and, 
 in any case but that of a great and urgent 
 necessity, would have been made, I trust, a day 
 of sanctified rest. It was a day to the events 
 of which the foregoing relation is mainly intro- 
 ductory ; but I have thought it proper to make 
 this previous record, that, under a clear per- 
 ception of the perils of our situation, the reader 
 might be able to appreciate the mercy of 
 our deliverance, to sympathise in the feelings 
 to which it gave rise, and, peradventure, to 
 yield accordance to oitr decided convictions of 
 
PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 Ill 
 
 lity— a 
 lilt the 
 ividcd. 
 ip lay, 
 B frag- 
 imdrecl 
 feet in 
 ^vall of 
 Whilst 
 lacked ; 
 but the 
 id, pre- 
 ve were 
 so long 
 inst the 
 
 time of 
 ly, and, 
 urgent 
 , a day 
 events 
 y intro- 
 lo make 
 lar per- 
 reader 
 ;rcy of 
 Peelings 
 ure, to 
 lions of 
 
 I* 
 
 a special blessing having been vouchsafed to 
 our poor eflorts, in the crisis of our hopes and 
 necessity, to sanctil'y the Sabbath, and, by a 
 humble dependence on Divine direction and 
 furtherance, to honour the God of Providence. 
 And if such, happily, should be the conviction 
 on the mind of the reader, these introductory 
 particulars will not have been recorded in vain. 
 At four A. M., of this eventful day, I was 
 informed that the wind, previously south- 
 easterly, had veered considerably towards the 
 west, and that the ice had already begun to 
 slack. On going to the mast-head, I found a 
 prospect of some advancement. Ivnmediately 
 "the hands were turned up" to take advan- 
 tage of the opportunity. The direction, how- 
 ever, on which our course lay, was surprisingly 
 altered. On the preceding evening, the nearest 
 direction to the sea was towards the S.S.E. or 
 S.E. ; but, during the night, it had unaccount- 
 ably changed to the S.W. This direction being 
 still nearly "head to wind," we warped under 
 great disadvantages ; as every piece of ice to 
 which we fastened was necessarily more or less 
 drawn down upon us. The work, therefore, 
 was one of immense difficulty, eliciting a very 
 anxious, though exciting, condition of mind. It 
 was necessary to keep a perpetual watch on 
 the different pieces of ice by which we warped 
 
 1 
 
1^ 
 
 
 1 1, 
 
 !li 
 
 
 it 
 
 
 iii 
 
 ]]'2 NA15UAT11S IN Tin: AllCTtC RKGIONS. 
 
 forward — lo calculate before hand the relative 
 impression of the ship's re-action, so as to avoid 
 the hlockin<^-up of our way — to fasten to such 
 pieces, and to such angles or sides of the pieces, 
 as should the least incommode us, and the most 
 clTectually advance us — to compensate the occa- 
 sional obli(pie direction of the wind by ropes, 
 counteractingly placed, so as to preserve the 
 parallelism of the ship's position, with the line 
 of her required movements — and to anticipate 
 every motion, whether on our part or that of 
 the ice, by having ropes in advance, and on 
 the bows, to check the ship's return, or to 
 controul the direction of her head. Such were 
 the primary considerations required to be con- 
 stantly kept in view, — producing, in the whole, 
 such a midtitude of varying forces, and corre- 
 lativeness of action, as required the utmost 
 intensity of thought practically to anticipate. 
 And almost every piece of ice that we encoun- 
 tered required this effort of mind, with a 
 corresponding promptness and variety of ex- 
 ertion, though the quantity of pieces, which 
 we thus passed in the morning, amounted, pro- 
 bably, to not less than a hundred. Our asto- 
 nishing success, however, in this difficult pro- 
 gress, was strikingly impressive on my own 
 mind, of the special blessing of God. For 
 amid such a multitude of difficulties, and such 
 
T 
 
 I'llOVIDLNTIAL TKSTIMoNlKS. 
 
 II:) 
 
 an iucalciilal)le vaiioty of iiitliu'iut's and it'sults, 
 the constant assistance of a pacions l*ro\ idence, 
 'preventing us in all our doings and lurthering 
 us with ct>ntinual help,' coidd alone have ena- 
 hled us to accomplish every movement we at- 
 tempted, and t<) advance, in the very face of 
 the wind, with a celerity and success beyond 
 our most sanguine hopes. 
 
 For the first seven hours after starting, our 
 efl'orts were unremitting. It was then ele\en 
 o'clock, the usual time of our Sabbath morning 
 prayers. The intense anxiety attendant on 
 our present situation, advanced as we now 
 were to within a mile of the sea, almost 
 tempted us to press forward to the utmost 
 attainable point ; though, from the seaward 
 direction of the wind, escape, under existing 
 circumstances, was doubtful, if at all practi- 
 cable. Happily we were enabled to resolve on 
 suspending our labours, in order to seek that 
 devotional communion with Him * by whom 
 we live, and move, and have our being,' to 
 which, on all previous Sabbaths from the 
 beginning of our voyage, we had been in the 
 habit of attending. And most seasonably it 
 hai^pened, just as the determination was taken, 
 that a mass of ice of extraordinaiy heaviness 
 compared with the general description of that 
 now around us — for we had for some time 
 

 ' I 
 
 4 
 
 m 
 
 ll 
 
 Hi 
 
 If ! 
 
 114 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 been beyond the massive fragments of the 
 shattered floe — was discovered within reach of 
 a whale-line to windward. To this we speedily 
 got a rope attached, warped the ship into 
 contact with it, and then, in the hope of not 
 being materially driven back, we rested^ for 
 our contemplated devotional service. 
 
 Our arrangements being thus completed, the 
 chief officer was left alone upon deck *' to look 
 out," whilst myself, and all the rest of the 
 crew — fifty in number — retired into the 'tween 
 decks. A solemn and chastened feeling was 
 prevalent throughout the little congregation, — • 
 the excitement, which had hitherto prevailed, 
 being interestingly modified by the customary 
 sympathies, and soothing influence, of the pious 
 formularies of our Church. In my own mind, 
 there was a feeling of animated confidence, 
 that we should not, eventually, sufi'er loss by 
 the present cessation from labour ; but little 
 did I contemplate the result ; a result which — 
 whatever might be the variety of views adopted 
 by difi'erent individuals as an explanation of 
 the phenomenon — called forth unanimous ex- 
 clamations of astonishment from the whole of 
 the ship's company. The wind, it should be 
 remembered, when we retired to prayers, was 
 still directly against us, and the ice betwixt 
 us and the sea closely compacted together. 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
of the 
 3ach of 
 peedily 
 p into 
 of not 
 Le(r for 
 
 ed, the 
 
 to look 
 
 of the 
 
 'tween 
 
 ig" was 
 
 Ltion, — ■ 
 
 availed, 
 
 ternary 
 
 3 pious 
 
 mind, 
 
 idence, 
 
 OSS by 
 
 ; little 
 
 lich — 
 
 lopted 
 
 ion of 
 
 [s ex- 
 
 ole of 
 
 lid be 
 
 was 
 
 itwixt 
 
 jther. 
 
 PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 115 
 
 But now, after the brief interval in which we 
 had been engaged in our humble endeavours 
 to worship the Lord our Maker, the condition 
 of the ice, and the somewhat discouraging- 
 prospect as to an immediate escape, had entirely 
 changed. The sea was actually nearer to us, 
 by some hundreds of yards, than it was when 
 we proceeded to prayers ; ' for the inteiTening- 
 ice,' according to the statement of the officer 
 of the watch, ' had been moving j^ast us, during 
 the whole of the interval we spent below, as 
 fast as, by the utmost exertions of all hands 
 in warping, we could have expected to advance 1' 
 This astonishing and unlooked-for advantage, 
 no doubt, was gained, by the simple operation 
 of natural causes, through the greater action 
 of the wind upon the generally thin ice around 
 us, than ujjon the deeply immersed mass to 
 which the ship was moored. But this was 
 not all the advantage. The wind which, pre- 
 viously, had been our greatest hindrance, now 
 shifted to the west, a somewhat more favour- 
 able quarter ; the ice, which between us and 
 the sea had been closely i)ressed together with- 
 out a single opening in any direction, was now 
 found to have slacked ; and, what was still 
 more remarkable, a vein or channel of water, 
 the only one in sifjhtj (affording an oblique 
 navigation, the most favourable for the present 
 
110 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 I\ 
 
 direction of the wind,) commenced at the renj 
 stern of the ship, and extended, with but trifling 
 obstructions, through all the intervenbuj ice, to 
 the very verge of the open sea I The concurrence 
 of all these circumstances, so favourable to an 
 escape from our, perilous entanglement, within 
 the hour of our devotional rest, was so striking, 
 that I believe every one on board made the 
 inference, that a special blessing from heaven 
 had attended the duty in which we had been 
 engaged. 
 
 A powerfid and animated effort required yet 
 to be made. All hands flew to their difierent 
 posts, and five of our boats were manned, and 
 in the water, in a moment. Four of these 
 were employed to assist the action of the now 
 gentle air, by the operation of towing, whilst 
 the fifth w^as sent in advance, on a pioneering 
 duty, to remove any occasional obstnictions, as 
 well as to improve the passage, in the more 
 embarrassing parts of the channel, lest the 
 ship, falling to leeward by the loss of her 
 head-way, should again become inextricably 
 involved. The sails were now set, and the 
 ship was got under way, when every man, 
 having a heartfelt interest in the duty assigned 
 liim, performed his part to admiration. The 
 pioneering-boat darted, with surprising celerity, 
 through the water, fixed itself upon the op- 
 
 k 
 
 -Kl 
 
 i: I 
 
i 
 
 PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 117 
 
 IS, as 
 more 
 
 the 
 
 her 
 jably 
 
 the 
 nan, 
 
 ned 
 IThe 
 
 op- 
 
 posing" ices with such a mighty energy, that 
 the pieces, as if endued with animation, and 
 influenced by terror, flew right and left from 
 the line of our advance ; whilst the other boats 
 at the "tow-rope," performed, at once, the 
 most Herculean and dexterous efforts, drawing 
 with amazing power, and obeying every com- 
 mand, and adjusting themselves to every re- 
 quired position, as if they were actuated by 
 one living principle, and that under a magical 
 influence. All this, indeed, was so striking, 
 that the scene, which I now describe at the 
 distance, in time, of nearly eleven years, seems 
 pictured in living reality before me. 
 
 Our eff'orts, as will readily be anticipated, 
 were crowned with complete success. We 
 rfeached the open sea about three p. m. when 
 a cri de joie burst from the delighted crew, 
 and rung upon the air with aft'ecting earnest- 
 ness, indicative, not of a heathenish joy, but 
 of a gratefid, heartfelt, and even sanctified 
 exultation. The nature and propriety of the 
 inward feeling of some amongst them, at least, 
 were distinctly evinced, when, out of the ful- 
 ness of the heart, these exclamations burst from 
 several lips— "Thank Godl" "God be praised!" 
 
 In this lengthened narrative, I feel I have 
 outrun my purpose ; and, I fear, may have 
 
 f.^ 
 
I 
 
 '\ J 
 
 i. 
 
 '"tl 
 
 IJ.- 
 J1 \ 
 
 : i 
 
 
 1 
 
 j 1 
 
 HI 
 
 . i 
 
 
 *5 
 
 118 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC HEGIONS. 
 
 submerged the impression originally designed 
 to be conveyed, by the too extended view of 
 an adventure, which, on myself and crew, 
 was so striking and impressive. For the re- 
 collections of this adventure have, almost un- 
 consciously, carried me away so far from my 
 immediate object, that I may be reasonably 
 ai3prehensive, whether the interest of the de- 
 tails to myself may compensate for the viola- 
 tion of precision, and want of limitation of 
 circumstance with others. At all events, though 
 the poiM at which, in the outset, I aimed, 
 should not be established to the satisfaction of 
 every reader, the generality, I trust, will so far 
 sympathise with the feelings, and follow the 
 convictions of the writer, as to discern in this 
 narrative, various and striking manifestations 
 of a special Providence. With the hope of faci- 
 litating the attainment of this desirable and 
 profitable result, I shall conclude this narrative 
 with some reflections, extracted from my log- 
 book, which afford a general outline of my 
 personal convictions, at the time of the ad- 
 venture, of the pecidiar manifestations of " the 
 finger of God." 
 
 To this effect are the reflections which I find 
 recorded. — * I consider this deliverance from a 
 state of anxious peril, as eliciting one of the 
 most striking examples of the blessing of God, 
 
 n 
 
 i 
 
PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 119 
 
 un- 
 
 od, 
 
 in a chain of providential circumstances, that, 
 in the whole course of an adventurous life, 
 I ever rememher to have witnessed. When, 
 on Wednesday morninf^ hist, (^Oth of August) 
 hy pressing our course to the S. S. W., we 
 got entangled among the drift ice on the 
 hreaking-up of the floes, we seemed, at the time, 
 to have committed a serious error, and to have 
 gone entirely wrong, — though in this instance, 
 in a most j^artieular manner, I had ' committed 
 my way unto the Lord' with the helief that 
 * he would direct my steps.' When I arose on 
 ^ Thursday morning, at break of day, T was in- 
 
 "^ duced hy an instantaneous decision, (after indeed 
 
 J having anxiously supplicated the Divine as- 
 
 ^ sistance), to run to the S.S.W. to the extremity 
 
 I of a bight, in which the ice was very heavy, 
 
 and in the act of closing, where we w^ere at 
 once firmly beset in a perilous situation. Now 
 had we remained, in this case, till my ordinary 
 hour of rising, we should not have reached 
 the jioint to which we attained within six or 
 eight miles, and, therefore, must inevitably have 
 been beset at the distance of twelve or four- 
 I teen miles from the sea, instead of four or 
 
 five ! In these, and in the succeeding events, 
 there was a striking chain of providences, mani- 
 fested, to my apprehension at least, in the 
 following as well as other particulars : — In 
 
 
120 SABBATHS IN THE ABCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 5 M 
 
 i 
 
 directing our course out of the ice at the time, 
 and in the way, by which we came ; — in urging 
 us to push into the then closing sea-stream, 
 which was immediately consolidated with the 
 ice in the rear, into an impermeable imck^ ; — 
 in blessing and timing our exertions when 
 warping and forcing through the ice, as also 
 in directing the manner and course of our 
 various efforts ; — and finally, in such a gra- 
 cious superin tendance of the whole adven- 
 ture as to bring us to the sea edge (the 
 place of greatest perilf) at a time when the 
 weather, instead of being dangerously tempes- 
 tuous, as at this season it most usually is, 
 was fine, the sea smooth, the ice slack, and 
 the wind veering to a favourable quarter ! The 
 whole of the circumstances, indeed, when con- 
 sidered in combination, produced a body of 
 
 * Pack.— The name given to a body of drift-ice,— V[\9X is of ice in 
 smaller-sized masses,— of such magnitude, that its extent is not dis> 
 ccrnible. A pack is said to be open, when the pieces of ice, though 
 very near each other, do not generally touch ; or close (as in the pre- 
 sent case) when the pieces are in complete contact, 
 
 t The greatest danger to which a ship is exposed on its escape from 
 besetment by the ice, is, just as it approaches the sea. For if, when 
 advanced to the margin, so as to be deprived of the usual shelter 
 afforded by the ice against the penetration of the waves, a gale, from 
 an unprotected quarter, should then come on, it must bring such ^ 
 tremendous sea upon the ice, that the ship would be exposed to utter 
 destruction from its frightful and v>"^nt action. And, had this been 
 the case iu the present instance, t hich, from the prevalence c*" 
 such gales in the autumn, we ^vere pan dlarly exposed, our ship must 
 have been placed in the utmost jeopardy, and its loss ":-«■ in all hu- 
 man probability, have been fatal to our lives, boti. fic>m the now 
 increasing severity and tempestuousness of the weather, and from the 
 Uaily diminishing chance of a rescue by any fellow-adventurer- 
 
 I 
 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
PROVIDENTIAL TESTIMONIES. 
 
 1'21 
 
 Lime, 
 ■giiig 
 •earn, 
 I the 
 
 :* ; — 
 when 
 ; also 
 f our 
 gra- 
 idven- 
 ; (the 
 m the 
 iinpes- 
 lly is, 
 and 
 The 
 In con- 
 dy of 
 
 of ice in 
 not dis- 
 
 e, though 
 the pre- 
 
 (ape from 
 if, when 
 lal shelter 
 lale, from 
 |g such 3. 
 to utter 
 Ithis been 
 ralence c^ 
 ^hip must 
 In all hu- 
 the now 
 from the 
 
 i-. 
 
 comeidences so manifestly providential, that it 
 would be at once heathenish and unphiloso- 
 phical to call them fortuitous ; a chain of 
 coincidences, indeed, which, if required to be 
 produced on mere principles of chance, would 
 have left us without hope of escape. " O that 
 men would praise the Lord for his goodness, 
 and for his wonderful works to the children of 
 men!" 
 
 «' 
 
I. 
 
 t'l 
 
 \m '1 
 
 I 
 
 li 
 
 y 
 
 *^ 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 
 GENERAL RESULTS OF THE TESTIMONIES OF NATURE AND 
 
 PROVIDENCE TO THE SABBATH, WITH A PLEA 
 
 FOR ITS OBSERVANCE. 
 
 The preceding records of observation and 
 experience are such, I trust, as may serve for the 
 convincing" of the candid and inquiring" mind, 
 that witness, both in Nature and Providence, 
 is incessantly being g"iven to the Divine in- 
 stitution and perpetuity of oblig"ation of the 
 Sabbath. And if this proposition be established, 
 then doth it follow, as an unquestionable corol- 
 lary, that there is an intimate, and, indeed, 
 inseparable connection between a conscientious 
 and sanctified dedication of a seventh part of 
 our time unto God, and our temporal well-being" 
 and happiness. Hence, although religious per- 
 sons are by no means exempt, either from the 
 trials of life, or from those temporal evils to 
 which our species, by reason of sin, has become 
 subject, — this fact, I believe, will be fully borne 
 out, both by the foregoing Memorials and gene- 
 ral experience, that, whatever the evils may be 
 which necessarily belong to our temporal condi- 
 tion, the measure of evil will be greatly lessened. 
 
 t 
 
 f 
 
 f 
 
GENERAL RESULTS. 
 
 1-23 
 
 t AND 
 
 I and 
 31' the 
 mind, 
 ience, 
 e in- 
 f the 
 ished, 
 corol- 
 Lideed, 
 ntious 
 art of 
 being 
 s per- 
 [n the 
 ils to 
 ecome 
 borne 
 gene- 
 [lay be 
 Icondi- 
 sened, 
 
 r 
 
 and the proportion of good greatly enhanced, 
 by a strict attention to our duty to *' God our 
 ►Saviour," and to the religious observance of the 
 Sabbath-day, which He has comn*. luled to be 
 kept holy. The external evidences of these 
 facts, indeed, on a great scale, as well as 
 within the sjihere of individual experience, are 
 probably as numerous as the instances of rise 
 and fall in the kingdoms of the earth — espe- 
 cially among those to which the Scriptures 
 have been given — wherein we may generally 
 discern the hand of God so dealing with 
 them in blessings or judgments, as to verify 
 the Scriptural statements — that " Righteousness 
 exalte th a nation ; but sin is a reproach" — 
 yea, and a curse too — "to any people!" And 
 this observation it were easy to illustrate in 
 a most ample manner, did occasion require, 
 both from the general records of the w^orld, 
 and, in an especial manner, from the eventful 
 history of modern times. 
 
 Though the line of argument for the Sab- 
 bath herein pursued, may be considered, by 
 some Christian persons, as inferior in its grounds 
 to that derivable from the direct testimony of 
 the word of God ; nevertheless, it stands com- 
 mended to us, methinks, in this — its striking 
 and convincing results. For every view of 
 the subject, derivable from observation and 
 
t 
 
 I , 
 
 r 
 
 \\ 
 
 r 
 
 
 
 ! 
 
 'I 
 
 124 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 experience, testifies, that the Sabbath is an 
 institution involving, most essentially and in- 
 separably, both th(^ i)resent well-being and 
 future happiness of mankind. Not, indeed, 
 that the mere outwdrd ohscrnwce of the ori- 
 ginal Sabbath — or our equivalent for it, the 
 Lord's day — will necessarily secure our reli- 
 religious advancement ; not that a supersti- 
 tioiis regard to the day, without its diligent 
 and wise improvement, will essentially ad- 
 vance our spiritual good or eternal happiness; 
 but yet, — since the abuse and profanation of 
 this sacred day, as we have so largely ihown, 
 are inseparable from manifold evils, and since 
 the right improvement of it is essentially con- 
 nected with the highest good, — we find, that 
 every princij^le belonging to our nature may 
 herein be engaged to urge 'he plea for its 
 reverential observance. 
 
 Recapitulating the mere heads of the testi- 
 monies already adduced in favour of the 
 Sabbath, we find, that whether considered 
 religiously or morally — physically or politically 
 — temporally or eternally, the blessing of the 
 Sabbath is amply and Providentially attested. 
 
 That the sanctifying of the Sabbath has an 
 important influence on the religious condition 
 of mankind, there can be no question, for 
 in whatever country, or among whatever indi 
 
 \ 
 
 
GRNIiUAL IIKSILTS. 
 
 l'2r} 
 
 an 
 
 lown, 
 
 since 
 
 1 con- 
 
 tliat 
 
 may 
 
 its 
 
 testi- 
 the 
 ered 
 cally 
 the 
 ted. 
 s an 
 ition 
 for 
 ndi 
 
 T 
 
 viduals the Sabbath is wholl; disreg nled, 
 true, spiritual ielij;ion is always wanting. 
 
 That the Sabbath is beneficial in a monil 
 point of view, the direct attestations of good 
 men, with the dyinjj^ confessions of many 
 criminals, abundantly prove. 
 
 That its observance is advantageous phf/si- 
 calft/j we may discern in the sweet experience 
 of the labouring man, as to the restoration and 
 invigoration of his bodily faculties, and in the 
 healthful and vigorous condition of the animals 
 employed in labour, through the repose of this 
 sacred day. 
 
 That the tendency of the Sabbath is bene- 
 ficial poUtlcally, w^e may judge i^resumptiveltjy 
 from the circumstance of its desecration being 
 made penal by a variety of statutes in the 
 law of the land ; and experimentally, from the 
 manifest fact, that the class of individuals in 
 all nations, who the most disregard the Sab- 
 bath, is that which furnishes the great body 
 of criminals, and that from which the \'i()lators 
 of the law, and the illegal resistors of '' tlie 
 powers that be," are mainly derived. 
 
 That its influence is most important and 
 obvious temporally, we have largely endeavour- 
 ed to shew in the foregoing testimonies, in the 
 various facts of realized prosperity and temporal 
 preservation, expressive of the blessing of Heaven 
 
126 SAIUJATIIS IN TIIK ARCTIC RFCilONS. 
 
 on a conscientious observanco of this sacred 
 day ; with manifestations of a corresponding" 
 evil and curse on its hal)itual desecration. 
 
 And that its influence is of momentous con- 
 sequence in the eternal coinUlion of mankind, 
 may be drawn from this consideration — that 
 since relifj^ion is the preparation for eternal 
 happiness, whereas religitm never flourishes if 
 the Sabbath ])e disreg-arded, — then must the 
 remembrance of the Sabbath, to keep it holy, 
 be inseparably connected with our future weal. 
 
 From principles, then, of common prudence, 
 of real patriotism, of approved philanthropy, yea 
 of personal seeking- of good, as well as of 
 scriptural truth and wisdom, we ought surely 
 to seek to improve the Sabbath more diligently, 
 and to observe the day more strictly unto the 
 Lord. And by all these different considerations 
 we urge our plea, — and that not because there is 
 wanting one grand and commanding principle of 
 duty to God, as exhibited in His authoritative 
 precepts, but — because God himself condescends 
 to enforce his own commands by a similar variety 
 of motives. By all the terrors that can fill 
 the soul with dread ; by all the glories that 
 can awaken desire ; by all the mercies that 
 can fill the mind with gratitude; by all the 
 Saviour's sufferings that can melt the soul with 
 love ; by every benefit that can interest the 
 
 IF* 
 
 I 
 
 
 I- 
 
 \ 
 
 >4^ 
 
I'l.KA lOK Tin: SAIHIATH. 
 
 Ii7 
 
 I 
 
 .11 
 't 
 
 heart of man ; and by all the nohle feelings 
 which can animate the •^'■enerous soul, — wo aro 
 moved and exhorted in the dillerenl paj^es of 
 the sacred vohnne to serve the Jiord our (iod. 
 Let us not ahridi^e, then, the wide expanse of 
 the Spirit's influence l)y contracting it within 
 that narrow range adapted only for ourselves. 
 Let us not, on the one hand, dehase the high 
 principles of the Gospel, hy resting content 
 with the mere expectation of temporal good 
 as a ruling motive, or the fear of the liord, 
 bodily, as the only inl!ucnce ; neither let us, 
 on the other hand, nnqualifyingly fix the mo- 
 tive or influence so high above the ordinary 
 moral apprehension, that any should be induced 
 to abandon the pursuit of it, as an inaccessible 
 attainment, for the want of an intermediate 
 step to reach it. Unspeakably happy, indeed, 
 is the condition of that man who can grasp 
 t/fc lore of Christ, as a constraining influence 
 to every moral duty and act of obedience ; 
 and yet, however inferior in condition, " blessed 
 is the man who feareth always.'''' He, therefore, 
 who attains only to the lower influence, that of, 
 fear, is declared by the sacred Scriptures to be 
 blessed ; but he who attains to that loftiest of- 
 motives, the " perfect love which casteth out 
 fear," is more blessed ! 
 
 Wherefore, in presenting these records of 
 
^' 
 
 11 
 
 1 
 
 J' 
 
 i ' 
 
 }. 
 
 I 
 
 l^ 
 
 1 
 
 \ 
 
 1« 
 
 1 ' 
 
 
 
 •I 
 ill 
 
 ! i 
 
 128 SABBAmS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 Providential testimonies to the Sabbath, in re- 
 gard to temporal blessings, and in enforcing, 
 in any measure, the duty of Sabbath obser- 
 vance by such considerations, the mode of 
 argument, I trust, is neither i:nscriptural, nor 
 unworthy of the object. 
 
 Nevertheless, in thus prominently setting forth 
 the connection betwixt our duty to God and our 
 personal well-being, — with a view to the promo- 
 tion of a stricter and more religious observance of 
 the day appointed with us to be kept as a Sab- 
 bath ; — ill should I discharge my conscience, as 
 a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, were 
 I to close this essay in such a manner as to 
 appear to advocate obedience to the divine 
 commands on the ground, merely, of temporal 
 benefits. These, indeed, may and ought to have 
 influence with those who are seeking their hap- 
 piness entirely in the enjoyments of this life, 
 that they may be saved, at the last solemn 
 hour of existence, from the appalling convic- 
 tion, that they have sacrificed Heaven for self- 
 indulgence, whilst that very self-indulgence 
 has resolved itself into "vanity and vexation 
 of spirit !" But those who, having higher 
 views and feelings, desire to live for eternity, 
 will find for the Divine commands, and for 
 religious observances, a far loftier motive and 
 nobler argument. With those whom the love 
 
 
 J. 
 
 I 
 
1 
 
 PLEA FOR THE SABBATH. 
 
 129 
 
 jnce 
 tioii 
 ;her 
 
 ity, 
 for 
 
 of Christ constrainetli, — the giving of prefer- 
 ence to the future and eternal good, rather 
 than to a present transcient indulgence, will 
 be the sure and certain mark of "a wise and 
 understanding heart." And their free decision 
 will no doubt be this, — that such is our duty 
 to the Father who hath created us, to the Son 
 who hath redeemed us, and to the Spirit who 
 sanctifieth us, — that did the discharge of our duty 
 involve the entire loss of temporal happiness, 
 and the entire ruin of earthly prospects, the 
 duty, as commanded by Him who hath a So- 
 vereign right over us, would still be imperative ! 
 But imperative as the claims, must unques- 
 tionably be, of the great Creator upon the 
 creatures of his hand, whatever might be the 
 sacrifices involved therein, — these claims, blessed 
 be God, are all enforced by methods and ex- 
 hibitions of goodness and mercy. As belivers, 
 then, in the sacred volume, we are called upon, 
 by the highest principles of gratitude, the 
 rather to be mindful of the goodness and mercy 
 of the Divine appointments, and of the mo- 
 mentous blessings they are designed to promote, 
 than to debase our better feelings by dwelling 
 on the penalties by which they are enforced, 
 or on the mere temporal consequences involved 
 therein. Through the goodness of God we 
 have the Sabbath, as an original law of crea- 
 
 g2 
 
 
I 
 
 ^ 
 
 f 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 •M' 
 
 130 
 
 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 tion and requirement of nature, appointing a 
 hebdomadal rest to both man and beast ; and 
 through His unspeakable mercy we have it 
 likewise given to us, for the promotion of the 
 superlative interests of our immortal spirits. 
 And this, doubtless, is the grand and leading 
 design of the institution of the Sabbath — that 
 the day appointed to bodily rest, by the prohi- 
 bition of worldly labour, may be employed, 
 with undivided attention, for religious edifica- 
 tion. Whosoever, therefore, has at all correct, 
 views of the solemn importance of a future 
 and eternal existence, with the necessity of 
 present preparation for it, will not merely 
 yield a negative acquiescence in this sacred 
 institution, but most anxiously strive to improve 
 it for the welfare of his soid. Then will he 
 see sufficient reason why the day should en- 
 tirely, and throughout, be given up to God; 
 why all worldly labour and conversation, yea, 
 and worldly thoughts too, should be excluded; 
 and why the remembrance of the day to keep 
 it holy is to be esteemed, not only as a com- 
 manded duty, but as a Divinely appointed 
 privilege. Then, content with the employment 
 of six days in worldly occupations, and for 
 the pursuit of the things needful for the body; 
 he will strictly regard the seventh day as a. 
 consecrated time, aiid conscientiously employ 
 
PLEA FOR THE SABBATH. 
 
 131 
 
 4 
 
 it as the souV day. And feeling by experi- 
 ence the difficulty of a spiritual progress, 
 notwithstanding the enjoyment of all the ad- 
 vantages of this blessed appointment, then, 
 peradventure, will he unite with the writer of 
 these memorials, in the deliberate conviction, — 
 that the due improvement of the Sabbath, 
 under the exhibition of the Gospel, and in 
 subserviency " to the Redemption of the world, 
 by our Lord Jesus Christ," is essential to man's 
 salvation ! 
 
 Could the world at large realize the momen- 
 tous importance of this Divine institution, 
 surely the so prevalent waste of the sacred 
 hours of the Sabbath in sloth and indolence, 
 with their sad profanation by labour and plea- 
 sure, would be changed for that pious zeal, 
 and stirring diligence which might vie with 
 the efforts of the men of business in their 
 worldly occupations. And could mankind, in 
 general, but enter into the holy views of the 
 inspired Apostle, Saint Paul, they would feel, 
 doubtless, the things of eternity to be so infi- 
 nitely momentous, as to throw the perishing 
 concerns of time into the distant shade ; for 
 then, like him, would they "count all things but 
 loss that they might win Christ and be found 
 in Him." Then, by such, would the day so 
 adapted for our spiritual edification be esteemed 
 
 i 
 
'1 
 
 I I 
 
 » 
 
 I 
 
 !^!l 
 
 : 
 
 ■ 
 
 ■i 
 
 
 i 
 
 r 
 
 ji 
 
 132 SABBATHS IN THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 
 
 ** a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable;" 
 too precious to be spent in doing our own 
 ways, or finding our own pleasure, or speaking 
 our own words, and, therefore, only meet to 
 be devoted to God. 
 
 Were all mankind truly religious — did all 
 consider the interest of the soul to be the 
 " one thing needful" — the object of the Sab- 
 bath, just declared, would itself be abundantly 
 sufficient to command its observance. But 
 because this is not the case — but, the rather, 
 as the great mass of the world are found to 
 be mainly engrossed in their worldly occupa- 
 tions — I have suggested the foregoing consi- 
 derations, with the prayerful hope, that some 
 of those who read may be induced to put the 
 doctrine of the Sabbath to the test of per- 
 sonal experiment. And shoidd any, with a 
 due dependence upon the grace of Almighty 
 God, be prevailed upon to make the trial, we 
 have little fear for the result. In so doing, 
 perhaps, it may please the Lord to cause them 
 both to participate in the writer's experience, 
 and to receive such convictions of a superin- 
 tending and special Providence, as may lead 
 them to grasp at more evangelical motives, 
 and to attain to the enjoyment of higher and 
 better principles. And should such be the 
 
 
 i 
 
 r 
 
PLEA FOR THE SABBATH. 
 
 133 
 
 a 
 
 we 
 
 lem 
 ice, 
 fin- 
 iad 
 
 res, 
 nd 
 the 
 
 
 t 
 
 / 
 
 happy issue, in regard to any one of my 
 readers, this humble endeavour to 2)crsuade to 
 a religious observance of the Sabbath, and to 
 an entire self denial as to all worldlv busi- 
 ness or pleasure on that sacred day, will receive, 
 at once, its fulfilment of design, and recompense 
 of reward. 
 
 May Almighty God give His blessing to 
 this humble effort to commend the importance 
 and design of His holy day, and so apply 
 His providential testimonies to the convincing 
 of the understanding, and the experience of 
 His goodness and mercy therein to the touch- 
 ing of the heart, that he who readeth may 
 apprehend the gracious influence of the Sab- 
 bath, and, in his conscientious observance of it, 
 be privileged to experience the loving-kindness 
 of the Lord! 
 
 'hi 
 
i 
 
 MEMORIALS OP THE SEA. 
 
 ao0» of tj&f «?»&, mmn\ 
 
t 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK, WHALER. 
 
 
 •• Yk ENOW NOT WHAT SHALL BE ON THE MORROW."— JAMES IV. U, 
 
 ClIArXER I. 
 
 PRELIMINARY HISTORY AND REMARKS. 
 
 i 
 
 Next to the hazards of active warfare, are 
 those, perhaps, which belong to a sea-faring 
 life. This is sufficiently indicated by the 
 annual losses in mercantile adventure, which, 
 in British shipping alone, is immense. The 
 relative loss of life, indeed, is by no means to 
 the extent of that of property, yet it attains 
 to a fearful amount in the course of a year. 
 And although in the ma-jority of shipwrecks, 
 the crew wholly, or partially, are mercifully 
 saved ; yet as the loss of a vessel, for the most 
 part, puts to hazard the lives of the crew, every 
 such accident becomes interesting to the sym- 
 pathies of our nature, whether as a Pro- 
 vidential deliverance from premature destruc- 
 
 'i 
 
I 
 
 II 
 
 i3R 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 
 tion, or as a catastrophe fatal to liiinian life. 
 And either result is calculated for ])r()ritahle 
 contemplation. In deliverance from j)erilous 
 adventures, the true Christian will mark and 
 adore tlie gracious Providence to which the 
 happy issue is primarily to he ascrihed ; and in 
 the contrary result, of a fatal character, he will 
 apply the reading of it given hy our Lord — 
 not for the unauthorised judging of the sufferers 
 "that they were sinners more than other men," 
 but — for the enforcing of this grand personal 
 admonition, " except ye repent, ye shall all 
 likewise perish 1" 
 
 In both these respects, the loss of the Esk 
 may be contemplated for edification by the 
 general reader ; but a far deeper interest, 
 mournful in its character and lasting in its 
 endurance, will be felt by those, who, relatively 
 or locally, were connected with the suff'erers in 
 the calamity; 
 
 With the writer, personally, there is, more- 
 over, a new source of melancholy consideration 
 in the circumstance, that the Esk, for a series 
 of voyages previously, was the ship in which 
 he himself pursued, in the Arcic Regions, a 
 satisfactoiy and prosperous adventure. His 
 feeling, therefore, both with regard to the 
 calamity itself, and the desire to render it 
 profitable to others, is of that peculiar, anxious. 
 
 t 
 
^:z^ 
 
 i'l 
 
 r II i: L I M I N A 11 Y R r; m a rk s . 
 
 1 3a 
 
 Esk 
 the 
 
 [ore- 
 ition 
 ?ries 
 liich 
 
 a 
 lUis 
 I the 
 
 it 
 
 I 
 
 1 
 
 ! 
 
 
 aiul somewhat j)iiinfiil (h^scription, not easily 
 to ho conveyed to general a})i)rehension hy any 
 written description. For the feelings of a 
 sailor, in a case of this l\infl, are peculiar to 
 his profession. If right-minded and consider- 
 ate, he acquires an interesting attachment to 
 his ship — especially if a favourite ship, or one 
 in which he has safely surmounted any un- 
 common adventure. He regards it with a 
 sensihility hordering on affectitm. And the 
 author of this puhlication, having naturally 
 acquired, during a onc-and-twenty years' pur- 
 suit of a sea-faring life, many of the feelings 
 peculiar to the sailor, finds that he has pre- 
 served to this day — through all the variety of 
 hahits resulting from so great a change of pro- 
 fession as that from a fisher at sea to " a fisher 
 of men," — a conscious attachment to the ship 
 whose loss he is about to record. But when 
 to this professional feeling is superadded the 
 loss of a great number of brave men — six or 
 seven of them the companions of his own 
 toils and adventures, men of approved inte- 
 grity, ability, and bravery, or youths of his own 
 training, of no small measure of promise, — 
 he finds it difficult to imagine a case, beyond 
 the sphere of his own family and connections, 
 that could have come before him with such 
 an accumulated weight of melancholy interest. 
 
 1 ! 
 
 il 
 
I 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 ' 
 
 m 
 
 140 
 
 LOSS ur THE i;sK. 
 
 As to one of tlicsc cluiiactcrs, who snfTored 
 with the wreck, — the hiave coinniaiKhn- (►!* the 
 vessel, John Dnnhar — a lew particnlars may 
 he commnnicatecl with a(lvanta'';e to mv nar- 
 ration, lie was my shipmate in my very 
 earliest voyaj^es, and was trained n\) from the 
 sitnation of ahle seaman, or '"foremast-man," 
 under my leather and myself, until, on my 
 retirement from the command of the Esk, he 
 was appointed to the charge of her. When 
 he first came to us from a creditahle service 
 in the Navy, at the hiief interval of peace in 
 the year 180'2-3, he was a smart, hut thoughtless 
 seaman. Full of physical vij^our, and of rohust 
 health, we found him sometimes difficult to 
 manage when the ship was in port, on account 
 of his forwardness in all the wild frolics of 
 his youthful comrades. Ofttimes, my Father 
 threatened to discharge him, hut his personal 
 bravery and varety of commendable qualities, 
 along with my own intercession on his behalf, 
 eventually prevailed for another trial of him. 
 And by trial after trial, he happily so improved, 
 that he worked his way up, in the course of 
 a few voyages, to the first class of officers 
 in the ship. But whilst his youthful wildness 
 became gradually sobered down, he continued 
 to retain the striking fearlessness, and manly 
 disinterestedness of character, which had always 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 t\ 
 
 i 
 
 «^ 
 
 ..■:% 
 
TS^*^^~ ■ > -"w^* m mm ^ i »' ■ > t. 
 
 _"%,^ 
 
 very 
 the 
 
 liUl, 
 
 my 
 
 :, he 
 riien 
 
 My 
 
 avs 
 
 i 
 
 ] 
 
 •A 
 
 1 
 
 MANLY INCIDKNT. 
 
 Ill 
 
 «> 
 
 3>: 
 
 (listiii<;iiisliecl him even amonj,^ the Lest of his 
 fellows. 
 
 A fine cxhibiticm of his manly and pfenc- 
 rous s])int occurred on one of my earliest 
 voyages. I was then a mere lad, and ac- 
 companied my father in the ship llesohition, 
 of Whithy. In the early part of the fishery, 
 ■sve had har|)ooned a whale, which took re- 
 fuge in a " pack," or large extent of broken 
 ice; and this, towards the seawar<l edge, hap- 
 pened to ccmsist of very small pieces, recently 
 frozen. My father, who never thought it 
 proper to withhold me from any of the justi- 
 iiahle risks of the profession for which I was 
 training, called me to the mast-head, from 
 whence he was observing the motions of the 
 wounded whale and the pursuing-boats. He 
 2)ointed me to the fish — which was seen blow- 
 w(j nearly a mile distant in the ice — and 
 observed, that as the boats could not reach it, 
 it would escape from ns, unless some one could 
 run over the ice with a lance and endeavour 
 promptly to kill it. " Now the ice," my father 
 added, " will not carry a man, but it will 
 carry you, as you are light and active, pro- 
 vided you nui. What think you of taking a 
 lance and trying to get to the fish ?" I 
 acquiesced — took a lance, and immediately 
 commenced crossing the ice on the hazard- 
 
 i 
 
 •I" 
 
 -.f y i. 
 
■^. 
 
 
 
 142 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 ous exploit. Skippin^^ from piece to piece, 
 each of which generally sank as I stepped 
 upon it, I had i)roGeeded safely for two or 
 three hundred yards, when I stopped, on a 
 larger mass than usual, to take hreath. The 
 progress here was more difficult — the first few 
 pieces of ice being particularly small. Whilst 
 I was trying with my weapon, the stability 
 of the first lump across which I had to pass, 
 to ascertain the probability of its supporting 
 me, I heard a great splashing behind me, 
 and immediately afterwards, Dunbar, who had 
 set out of his own accord, came up to me 
 with a lance in his hand. Seeing me hesi- 
 tating, he rushed forward to the place and 
 said — " Stop, Sir, — let me come first — if / be 
 drowned, it will be no loss to any body — 
 but your life is valuable!" Immediately, with- 
 out waiting for an answer, he dashed forward 
 across the dangerous place, which, by his ac- 
 tivity and speed, he cleared without sinking ; 
 and he never afterwards allowed me to pass 
 him until we both reached a chain of firmer 
 pieces of ice. These conducted us to the 
 place where the entangled whale had taken 
 refuge, and there it was eventually killed and 
 afterwards secured. By that time, one of the 
 ^ boats had pushed its way through the ice, 
 and we returned without further risk in it to 
 
 \ 
 
 'i 
 
 ^ 
 ^ 
 
 'i 
 
 
 4 
 
 ^v-*.*-. 
 
^..-v^ 
 
 ,f 
 
 .:.* 
 
 PRELIMINARY HISTORY. 
 
 143 
 
 piece, 
 epped 
 ro or 
 on a 
 
 The 
 ;t few 
 Whilst 
 ibility 
 
 pass, 
 orting 
 1 me, 
 
 had 
 to me 
 
 1 hesi- 
 ^ and 
 
 / be 
 
 r^ 
 
 I 
 
 ,1 
 
 i 
 
 T 
 
 f 
 
 J 
 
 ) 
 
 ^ 
 
 the ship. This example of nobleness of feel- 
 ing, and of peculiar personal attachment, gave 
 me, of course, a corresponding regard and 
 interest in this manly character, which his 
 hardihood, attention, and seaman-like conduct, 
 during the whole of the time he continued 
 with me afterwards, served only to strengthen 
 and confirm. 
 
 The ship Esk, to which this memorial 
 relates, was built at Whitby, by Messrs. 
 Fishburn and Brodrick, in 181*2 — 13. Being 
 designed for their own adventure in the whale 
 fishery, she was constructed on the most ap- 
 proved princij^les, of extraordinary strength 
 and solidity, and completed at an expence 
 amounting to about £14,000. Her burthen was 
 354 tons. 
 
 In this ship, which I commanded for the 
 first five years of her endurance, we encoun- 
 tered many adventures, and were safely borne 
 through some uncommon dangers. The most 
 remarkable of these j^erils, occurred in the year 
 1816, when the ship was damaged in a very 
 extraordinary manner, by being squeezed be- 
 twixt two sheets of ice. The pressure, most 
 singularly, took effect solely upon the after- 
 keel, breaking it away at the first scarf, with 
 a portion of the adjoining plank rabitted into 
 
 h 
 
 n 
 
 j^ 
 
( 
 
 
 144 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 **• 
 
 it. In consequence of this damage, a depth of 
 water, of above eight feet, flowed into the hold 
 in the course of an hour and a half! Not- 
 withstanding every exeiiion of our own crew, 
 of above 50 men, assisted by a great number 
 of hands from some whalers around us, the 
 ship eventually filled ; but, in consequence of 
 the buoyancy of the materials of which she 
 was built, aided by a few empty casks left 
 on board, she did not go entirely down. The 
 cargo and stores, meanwhile, had been dis- 
 charged upon the ice, and the ship in a great 
 measure unrigged, when, after stopping the 
 leak outwardly by the process of " fothering," 
 a peculiar contrivance was adopted within for 
 resisting the influx of water, so as to reduce 
 it to a flow of about 18 inches per hour in 
 depth. The leak being so far subdued as to 
 be within the limits of the action of the 
 pumps, — which were larger than ordinary, and 
 increased in number for the occasion by the 
 setting of a spare pump that was fortunately 
 on board, — we proceeded homeward under the 
 protection of the John of Greenock, Capt. 
 Jackson, by whom we were attended with 
 praiseworthy care and ability as far as Shet- 
 land 5 and from thence, still aided and furthered 
 by a most gracious Providence, we were ena- 
 bled to make our way alone in safety till our ^ 
 
 I 
 
 
 ffc' 
 
\ 7 
 
 PRELIMINARY HISTORY. 
 
 145 
 
 K'b*; 
 
 depth of 
 the hold 
 if ! Not- 
 vvn crew, 
 Lt numher 
 i us, the 
 quence of 
 ^hich she 
 ^asks left 
 wn. The 
 been dis- 
 in a great 
 pping the 
 othering," 
 within for 
 to reduce 
 r hour in 
 ued as to 
 n of the 
 inary, and 
 3n by the 
 fortunately 
 under the 
 ck, Capt. 
 idcd with 
 as Shet- 
 furthered 
 were ena- 
 ty till our 
 
 I I 
 
 arrival in port. On this occasion, a part of 
 the keel, '2'2 feet in length, was left in the 
 Greenland Sea, and a piece of the garboard- 
 strake, (or lowest planking attached to the 
 keel) 9 feet in length, was brought home upon 
 deck ! 
 
 But it is unnecessary to enter into details, 
 as a particidar narrative of this eventful voy- 
 age is already before the public in the " Account 
 of the Arctic Regions." 
 
 . 1 
 
 t1 
 
 V: 
 
 H 
 
 ti.-' 
 
r 
 
 ■r 
 
 -m^ 
 
 Chapter II. 
 
 [I 
 
 7> 
 
 '\ 
 
 .' *• ..V. 
 
 # 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 
 
 |4 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE SHIPWRECK. 
 
 For thirteen successive years the Esk accom- 
 plished in safety, and with a fair measure of 
 success, her usual voyage to the. northern 
 whale-fishery. She had latterly become the 
 sole property of an old and much respected 
 friend, now passed away into an eternal world, 
 Thomas Brodrick, Esq. In the month of 
 March, 1826, she proceeded from Whitby, 
 under the command of Mr. Dunbar, on her 
 last calamitous adventure. There were then 
 twenty-six hands on board — little more than 
 one half of the complement — the crew being 
 completed at Lerwick, on the way to the fishery. 
 From l^^'icp she sailed on the 18th of April, 
 and msix days reached the fishing stations 
 in latitude 76°. N. 
 
 During the season they captured four whales, 
 calculated to yield about fifty-five tuns of oil, 
 and left the fishing stations, homeward bound, 
 on the 9th August. On the 27th, they put 
 into Brassa Sound, Shetland, and landed such 
 of their crew as had embarked from thence. 
 i^vThe same evening they sailed for England 
 
 
 '-'*' " ifeiA 
 
 \ 
 
^^ 
 
 ■tsj 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE SllirWRKCK. 
 
 147 
 
 I. 
 
 Esk accom- 
 
 measure of 
 
 le. northern 
 
 become the 
 
 h respected 
 
 emal world, 
 
 1 month of 
 
 m Whitby, 
 
 bar, on her 
 
 were then 
 
 more than 
 
 crew being 
 
 ) the fishery. 
 
 h of April, 
 
 ing stations 
 
 four whales, 
 tuns of oil, 
 ward bound, 
 th, they put 
 landed such 
 Tom thence, 
 or England 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 "I 
 
 with a light breeze from the N.E. which soon 
 shifted to the southward. They wore close in 
 with Orkney on the 31st, and, on the 2nd of 
 September, accordinj to the Captain's jounial, 
 of which it forms the last remark, they were 
 " standing along the hind (coast of Aber- 
 deenshire) with a fair wind and dark foggy 
 weather.' ' 
 
 On Tuesday the 5th, they arrived off Shields, 
 where a pilot, on the look out for vessels for 
 the Tyne, boarded them, and when he left, 
 John Skinner, second mate — in consequence, 
 it is said, of some quarrel with the master — 
 jumped into the boat, and left the ship. By 
 this singular act of waywardness, though he 
 forfeited his wages, his life was preseiTed. 
 
 The following morning, September 6th, 
 though the wind was against them, they had 
 advanced towards the opening of the River 
 Tees, — a position, under favourable circum- 
 stances, only two or three hours' sail distant 
 from their port. It was a situation in which 
 excited hopes and animated confidence were ^ 
 peculiarly calculated to render even an ordinary 
 disappointment an irksome trial. Having en- 
 dured the severities and escaped the perils of 
 a tedious Arctic voyage, they anticipated, doubt- 
 less, that before another sun should have run 
 its daily course, the fathers, and husbands, a^4 
 
 ^ti 
 
 
 it 
 
 
 -v-A^^. 
 
I 
 
 ( 
 
 !> 
 \ 
 
 f :■ 
 
 V 
 
 v; 
 
 v' 
 
 ■■V- .. 
 
 ■1>.' 
 
 '1 
 
 •<• . 
 
 v.. 
 
 148 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 sons, among them, would be participators in 
 the sweet and joyous re-unions of their seve- 
 ral relative conditions. But, alas ! how uncer- 
 tain and delusive are the events of human 
 happiness. The expectations, which they so 
 naturally indulged, were never to be realized ; 
 the hope, excited by proximity to their port 
 into the feeling of certainty, proved but a 
 vain shadow, the substance ileeing from their 
 grasp at the moment when fruition was anti- 
 cipated. A few hours might have landed 
 them in safety ; but the edict had gone forth, 
 and the decree to the many was — * This night 
 shall your souls be required of you !' At the 
 very period when danger seemed to be at an 
 end — the swift travail of nature, for the dis- 
 embodying of the spirit, was at hand ! 
 . Early in the day of w^hich we speak, the 
 Esk reached in by Hartlepool, with the wind 
 from the southward and eastward, very varia- 
 able, carrying royals. At eleven a.m. they 
 tacked and stood off. After about an hour 
 and a half they tacked again, and reached in 
 towards the land, with a view of gaining the 
 advantage of the first of the flood- tide, which, 
 as is well known to sea-faring persons, com- 
 mences running to the southward on these 
 coasts, at least two hours earlier in-shore than 
 it does in the offing. Approaching the land 
 
 ,.' >. 
 
NARRATIVE OF THE SIIirWRECK. 
 
 149 
 
 ipators in 
 ^heir seve- 
 low uncer- 
 of human 
 li they so 
 3 realized ; 
 
 their port 
 
 ^'ed but a 
 
 from their 
 
 was anti- 
 Lve landed 
 gone forth, 
 This night 
 !' At the 
 ) be at an 
 )r the dis- 
 xn J ! 
 
 speak, the 
 
 h the wind 
 
 very varia- 
 
 A.M. they 
 
 It an hour 
 
 reached in 
 gaining the 
 tide, which, 
 rsons, com- 
 d on these 
 -shore than 
 g the land 
 
 
 as near as they prudently might, they tacked 
 between one and two p.m. and then stood off. 
 
 Tliough the weather was dark and hazy, and 
 even threatening, yet, anxious to reach their 
 port, only about seven leagues distant, in time 
 to save the spring-tides, which were already 
 l)ast their height, they put about on the lar- 
 board t '^k. stand to the southward. Pre- 
 suming upon the capabilities of the ship for 
 carrying sail, and never expecting, at this 
 season, such a gale as should put them past 
 their canvas, they unfortunately kept their 
 reach in this direction, notwithstanding the 
 bad appearance of the weather, until, by an 
 unfortunate veering of the wind to the eastward, 
 and the commencing of a fierce and unex- 
 pected gale, they were betrayed into that 
 situation from whence there was no escape* 
 But it may be interesting to follow them in 
 their progress towards the fatal catastrophe. 
 
 When they tacked, on the last occasion, 
 (between four and five p.m.) the wind, it ap- 
 pears, was still from the south-eastward, and 
 had considerably freshened, so that they sent 
 down the royal-yards, and found occasion to 
 reef the topsails. The ship, soon afterwards, 
 from the wind eastering, beginning to lie up 
 along the land — though from the haziness of 
 the weather they were unable to see it — they- 
 
 flu , 
 
 I 
 
 *^ 
 
,^r- 
 
 ""■PiRPHP 
 
 150 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 1 
 
 
 carried a pressure of canvas against an in- 
 creasing gale, with some expectation of fetch- 
 ing to windward of Huntcliff and Rawcliff, 
 the two principal intervening headlands, so as 
 to reach up into Whitby Roads. And this 
 was now the chief hope they had, for escap- 
 ing the danger in which they were unexpect- 
 edly involved. But before they got so far 
 along the coast, their progress was fatally sus- 
 pended by the loss of some principal sails ; 
 for, about eight or nine o'clock, the main-tack 
 gave way, and, whilst hauling the sail up, the 
 main-topsail split. This unfortunate event put 
 a stop to the shij>'s head- way — she could no 
 longer be kept to the wind — and her progress, 
 from this period, was almost bodily towards 
 the land. Soon after this, they saw lights 
 on the shore to leeward, from which, mis- 
 taking them for the lights of a coaster, they 
 were in hoj)es that they had a fair offing. 
 Yet the gale being now tremendously heavy, 
 with the wind dead upon the land — ^having 
 veered to the northward of east — the sea 
 making rapidly, and the ship having become 
 immanageable, they could neither have main- 
 tained their situation, nor have effected their 
 escape, had their offing . ^en as considerable 
 as they were led to believe. But they did 
 not remain long in suspense : for about half- 
 
 
an iii- 
 if fetch - 
 Elawcliff, 
 Is, so as 
 .nd this 
 »r escap- 
 nexpect- 
 
 so far 
 ally sus- 
 il sails ; 
 lain-tack 
 [ up, the 
 svent put 
 could no 
 progress, 
 
 towards 
 LW lights 
 Lch, mis- 
 iter, they 
 ir offing, 
 ly heavy, 
 I — ^having 
 —the sea 
 Of hecome 
 Lve main- 
 cted their 
 iisiderable 
 they did 
 30ut half- 
 
 NARRATTVE OF THE SHIPWRECK. 
 
 151 
 
 past ten the liiminousness, so fearful to the 
 sailor, of breakers to leeward, was discovered 
 by the Captain. They instantly attempted 
 to wear, and the ship readily fell ofif before 
 the wind; but from the want of sail on the 
 main-mast (a main-top-sail that was got upon 
 deck to replace the one that was split not 
 yet being bent) the ship could not be brought 
 to on the other tack, but ran, with the wind 
 on the quarter, among the breakers, and pre- 
 sently struck and grounded. It was frightfully 
 dark : the shining of the broken water and 
 occasional lights on the shore, were the only 
 objects that were visible. It was nearly low 
 water — the worst time of the tide — because, 
 unless the ship should bear the violent surges 
 that she now experienced, until the next fall- 
 ing tide, and should beat up considerably 
 higher on the beach, there was no chance of 
 the crew escaping except by assistance from 
 the shore. The people were well aware of 
 this additional peril, yet indulged, for some 
 time, considerable hope of preservation from 
 the extraordinary strength of the ship. 
 
 Meanwhile, made forcibly to feel that they 
 were in a situation probably bordering an 
 eternal world, the whole of the people seem 
 to have conducted themselves with that deco- 
 rum and devotion which were most becoming 
 
 \ 
 
 f 
 
^■?«H»1WM 
 
 152 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 ■\ ^ 
 
 . j- : 
 
 in odch an awfiil condition. The greater part 
 of their number betook themselves to the 
 'tween-decks, as opportunities occurred, and 
 there sought, individually, as well as collectively, 
 that mercy and protection which the Hearer 
 and Answerer of prayer could alone bestow. 
 
 The position of the ship, at first, was 
 almost beam to the sea, with a fearful heel 
 towards the shore. Fearing that she might 
 fall over on her broadside, they cut away the 
 main and mizen masts, on which the ship 
 righted, and soon afterwards slewed with her 
 head to the sea. The risk of immediate des- 
 truction being thus overcome they fired a gim, 
 and burnt a blue-light, to excite the attention of 
 the people on shore, and continued, subsequent- 
 ly, to make repeated discharges of powder for a 
 considerable time. The cabin was also lighted 
 up, the stern being towards the shore. Whilst 
 a part of the crew was thus employed in 
 making signals of distress, another part was 
 occupied in fastening down the 'tween-decks, 
 by placing numerous stanchions from deck to 
 deck, with the view of retaining the empty 
 casks in the hold, so that by their buoyancy 
 they might lift the ship, on the returning 
 tide, higher up on the shore. But this ex- 
 pedient, which seemed, at the time, a most 
 judicious one for their preservation, appears 
 to have hastened their destruction. 
 
 \i 
 
er part 
 to the 
 [1, and 
 ctively, 
 Hearer 
 tow. 
 st, was 
 Lil heel 
 I might 
 yay the 
 le ship 
 ith her 
 ate des- 
 l a gim, 
 jntion of 
 sequent- 
 der for a 
 lighted 
 Whilst 
 oyed in 
 )art was 
 n-decks, 
 deck to 
 e empty 
 juoyancy 
 returning 
 this ex- 
 a most 
 appears 
 
 ^' 
 
 1 
 
 
 NAURATIVE OF THE iriHIPWllECK. 
 
 153 
 
 Nothing now remained that thoy coukl do 
 . for their better sccnrity — or for cfl'ecting their 
 escape — miless they had had encouragement 
 to have endeavoured to reach the sliore in 
 their own boats ; but, with the exception of 
 one or two, all the rest of the boats had 
 either been forced from their tackles, when 
 the masts were cut away, or washed away 
 by the sea. Besides — being imable to see the 
 shore, and unconscious of the nature of the 
 beach, — they judged, and perhaps rightly, that 
 it was more prudent to abide by the ship 
 until day-light. And until then, they tnisted 
 that the strength of the ship would be able 
 to resist the violence of the beating, when 
 they hoped they might, at all events, receive 
 succour from some one of the life-boats kept 
 at different stations along the coast. '' 
 
 The carpenter, and carpenter's mate, (the 
 latter being one of the three eventually saved) 
 having done what they could for securing 
 the 'tween-decks, went together into the cabin 
 — when, looking down the gun-room hatch- 
 way, they found the ship fast filling with 
 water. This so disappointed their expectations 
 of safety from the firm build of the ship, in 
 which so much reliance had been placed, that 
 they were greatly dismayed. The carpenter, 
 Richard Sleightholm, — a man of great integ- 
 
 H 2 
 
 fi-t^- 
 
 rtWhl 
 

 154 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 rity and excellence of character, and one who 
 appears to have been acquainted with " the 
 truth in Christ'* in the love of it, — immedi- 
 ately fell down upon his knees in the cabin, 
 and earnestly soug-ht the mercy of the Lord 
 in their terrible extremity ; and in this be- 
 coming" exercise he was joined by the Captain 
 and some others that were present. 
 
 It was, probably, about the same time, that 
 the rest of th0 crew retired once more into 
 the 'tween-decks for the purpose of prayer, 
 where they continued in their supplications 
 before a throne of grace, until by the rising* 
 of the tide and increase of the sea, the 'tween- 
 decks began to burst upward, and the water 
 to pour in such quantities down the hatch- 
 ways as to threaten them with suffocation 
 below. There was, therefore, one general rush 
 to leave the place, and all hands, excepting 
 two, pressed aft to the quarter-deck, which 
 seemed to offer the best retreat. 
 
 Hitherto, before two in the morning, the 
 waves had broken but little over the ship ; 
 but, as the tide rose, the sea made more and 
 more fiercely, and the ship struck tremendously 
 heavy. And even after part of the bottom was 
 beaten out, the sea, by its action upon the 
 empty casks, to which it then had free access, 
 8till lifted the ship, and caused her to strike 
 
 ^'''*^ 
 
1 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE SHIPWRECK. 
 
 lo5 
 
 lie who 
 1 "the 
 minedi- 
 3 cabin, 
 e Lord 
 his be- 
 Captaiii 
 
 ne, that 
 >re into 
 
 prayer, 
 lications 
 e rising 
 ! 'tween- 
 lie water 
 hatch- 
 focation 
 
 al rush 
 icepting 
 which 
 
 ing', the 
 ship ; 
 Hore and 
 endously 
 torn was 
 pon the 
 e access, 
 to strike 
 
 '2 
 
 and hibour in a most extraordinary manner. 
 The casks, by their buoyancy, at length burst 
 through every resistance, — tearing up the decks 
 fore and aft, — and were seen flying about in all 
 directions. Some of them, the survivers asserted, 
 flew up the companion hatch- way, as if fired 
 from an engine ! In this awfid situation — 
 with casks and other apparatus dashing from 
 side to side among the p:^ople, and threaten- 
 ing their frequent destruction — they had to 
 endure the remaining interval of darkness. All 
 survived the tedious hours till tlie ar iously- 
 looked-for day began to dawn. But the tirie 
 to which they had looked wi ,h such hope, 
 proved the period of accelerating peril. The 
 ship was now so weakened, that she no longer 
 resisted the waves, but flexibly gave way to 
 every surge. The retreat of the crew was nar- 
 rowed to a small portion of the larboard side 
 of the quarter-deck, and this was often invaded, 
 not only by the fier<-j'lv breaking sea and 
 numerous oil-casks, but also by the main-mast, 
 which had washed iii board, and was occasion- 
 ally found ranging with terrible violence fore 
 and aft the deck. 
 
 The breaking day disclosed the shore for 
 which they panted, and they saw many persons 
 walking the beach and the cliff, at Marsk, in 
 safety, whilst themselves were in momentary 
 
156 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 expectation of destniction. They had the heart- 
 sickening consciousness of an impassable giJf 
 between ! But despair was exchanged again 
 for hope, by an appearance, the most intensely 
 interesting to the penshing mariner, of the 
 Life-boat afloat near the shore. Mercy again 
 seemed to smile upon them, when succour thus 
 appeared to be at hand. They shouted in re- 
 newed expectation and waved their hats in 
 encouragement. Their soids, which had been 
 cast down unto death, revived, and they again 
 looked for deliverance. It was a fallacious 
 hope. The boat struggled in vain to make 
 progress; — being imperfectly manned, it was 
 incapable of rcc^ching the wreck, but was con- 
 tinually driven back on the shore. 
 
 It was now five o'clock, and the tide was 
 near its height ; but there was no chance of 
 the ship remaining together much longer. Two 
 of the crew had taken refuge in the fore- 
 rigging — the rest, twenty-three in number, were 
 partly seated in the larboard quarter-boat, which 
 yet remained suspended in the tackles, ana 
 were partly clinging about the stern and 
 quart- i -rail They marked, with anxious ap- 
 prelieusioii fh' weakened condition of the ship 
 — the violent workings of her shattered frame — 
 and otlicr iiitUcations of her boing about to 
 bn ik up. About a quarter past live, ihc final 
 
9 « 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE SHIPWRECK. 
 
 157 
 
 e heart- 
 o\e giilf 
 1 again 
 nlensely 
 
 of the 
 y again 
 our thus 
 d in re- 
 hats in 
 ad been 
 3y again 
 iallacious 
 to make 
 
 it was 
 vas con- 
 
 ide was 
 lance of 
 (r. Two 
 [he fore- 
 )er, were 
 [t, which 
 les, antt 
 ivn and 
 lous ap- 
 Ithe ship 
 frame — 
 Lbout to 
 Ihc final 
 
 f 
 
 --%..Jtr 
 
 catastrophe suddenly occurred. The ship di- 
 vided amidships — two or three succeeding seas 
 completed the ruin ! The stern-frame fell over 
 to port (parily to seaward) and the bow in 
 the opposite direction. The Avhole of the 
 panting crew were simultaneously plunged be- 
 neath the waves — and, with the many, it was 
 the brief vain struggle with death ! 
 
 The assembled crowd on the shore — who 
 had been apprized of the stranding of the ship 
 by the guns and lights during the night — were 
 near enough distinctly to observe this fatal 
 consummation of the melancholy event. I'hey 
 watched the pieces of floating timbers, as, at 
 intervals, they became visible on the tops of 
 the waves ; imaginative sympathy peopled the 
 wreck with many a survivor; but three only, 
 out of the ill-fated crew, came on shore alive ! 
 The Captain, who was washed on shore among 
 the first, aj)i)eared to have survived to the very 
 verge of safety. But the commission of death 
 had gone forth ! A severe blow received from 
 a piece of floating wreck, it is said, when he 
 was within a few fathoms of the beach, extin- 
 guished the remaining spark of life. Poor 
 lamented ship -mate ! He that writes this nar- 
 rative has mourned thy loss as the loss of a 
 brother — he knew and valued thy bravery and 
 manly virtues — and has wept over thy melan- 
 choly fate ! . . i 
 
 <*' 
 
 "•w.. J* 
 
wmm 
 
 ■MM 
 
 158 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 It may be interesting, as belonging to this 
 melancholy naiTative, still to trace the progress 
 of the survivers, in their most providential 
 escape, through a tremendous surf, and a dis- 
 tance of more than a quarter of a mile, to 
 the shore. 
 
 When the shi]) broke up, William Leach, 
 (carpenter's mate) one of the three survivers, 
 was seated, with some of his anxious com- 
 rades, in a boat that was hanging over the 
 quarter.* They were all thrown out as the 
 stem fell over ; but Leach providentially 
 grasped a spar that floated by him. He 
 maintained his grasp of it during the whole 
 of the time he was in the water, (above 
 half an hour) though every wave washed over 
 his head. Once, indeed, it had nearly es- 
 caped him ; but afterwards he got it under 
 his chest, with both hands over it, and there 
 he retained his position, and also his recol- 
 lection, though he took in a considerable 
 quantity of water, until he reached the shore. 
 
 William Pmrson, another that was saved, 
 reached the shore, before Leach, upon a piece 
 of the wreck ; and, as he touched the ground 
 with his feet, he called out to his fellow 
 adventurer, by the way of encoiuragement ; 
 
 * Most of the rest Mrcre clingiog about the railing of the quarter* 
 deck, and to one another. The Captain held by the hand of one of the 
 
 sailors. 
 
 5i!* *»«* 
 
 
to this 
 progress 
 i^idential 
 d a dis- 
 [iiile, to 
 
 « 
 
 I Leach, 
 ;urvivers, 
 us corn- 
 over the 
 t as the 
 identially 
 m. He 
 le whole 
 r, (above 
 led over 
 early es- 
 it under 
 lid there 
 IS recol- 
 siderable 
 e shore, 
 us saved, 
 a piece 
 ground 
 s fellow 
 gement ; 
 
 the quarter- 
 Lf one of th« 
 
 ,1 
 
 NARKATIVE OF THE SlIirWRECK. 
 
 160 
 
 ] 
 
 for just before, one of their companions had 
 yielded, exhausted, to his fate, and sunk in 
 the waves. Pearson suffered less than the 
 others, and walked up the beach ; but Leach, 
 after he reached the ground, and became 
 conscious of his safety — on two or three men 
 rushing into the water and dragging liim 
 out — immediately sunk into insensibility. He 
 remembered nothing more until about eleven 
 o'clock, when, awaking as from a sleep, he 
 found himself in bed, in an inn at Marsk. 
 He was then very imwell, but after a few 
 days gradually recovered. 
 
 Mattheuy Boyes-, another of the survivers, 
 was a cripple at the time of the accident, 
 having received a severe injury in his leg, 
 many weeks before, during the operation of 
 flensing a whale. He left the deck, and re- 
 tired to his bed, about sun-set of the day on 
 which the ship was stranded. About ten p.m. 
 he was called by one of the people, a land- 
 man, who, being apprehensive of danger, de- 
 sired him to " turn out." Finding the ship 
 was falling into a heavy sea, and fearing that 
 there might be too much ground for appre- 
 hension, he immediately arose. He had just 
 crawled up the hatch-way and made his 
 way aft, when the ship struck. There were 
 heavy breakers all round them, as if from 
 rocks. 
 
 l( 
 
r 
 
 ..«.«■-*. ..^j . 
 
 I '«< IMP 111 
 
 ICO 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 r 
 
 I: 
 
 Boyes accompanied his comrades into the 
 'tvveen-decks to prayers, and on their hm'rying 
 up, when the casks began to break away 
 from the hold, he took his station upon the 
 taifrail, standing upon one leg, and clinging 
 to a davit passing across the after-part of 
 the deck — by which davit one end of the 
 larboard quarter-boat was suspended. In this 
 difficult position he remained until the final 
 catastrophe. All hands, as we have said, 
 were aft, except two, the mate and another ; 
 these took refuge forward, and were never 
 seen after the ship parted. At this dreadful 
 juncture, Boyes clinging to the davit, as the 
 steni-lrame fell over, was submerged, and in a 
 few moments found himself afloat along with 
 the same piece of timber, which, in a most 
 unaccountable manner, had freed itself both 
 from the bolts which fastened it to the ship, 
 and from the tackle, as well as other entangle- 
 ments, by which the quarter-boat was partly 
 suspended. One end of the davit sunk in the 
 water ; the higher end was directed towards 
 the sea. On this portion Boyes obtained so 
 firm a position, that, during the whole of his 
 perilous progress, he was enabled to retain his 
 grasp, notwithstanding repeated entanglements 
 with pieces of wreck ^\hich he encountered. 
 For a considerable time there was a compa- 
 nion with him, but he had suffered more 
 
NARRATIVE OF THE SHIPWRECK. 
 
 161 
 
 Qto the 
 lurrying 
 k away 
 poll the 
 clinging 
 -part of 
 of the 
 In this 
 :he iinal 
 ive said, 
 another ; 
 ire never 
 , dreadful 
 ^t, as the 
 and in a 
 oiig with 
 Li a most 
 self both 
 the ship, 
 entangle- 
 as partly 
 Ilk in the 
 towards 
 tained so 
 ►le of his 
 Iretain his 
 Liglements 
 ountered. 
 a compa- 
 ed more 
 
 \ 
 
 than Boyes, who anxiously observed his coun- 
 tenance change to a death -like appearance ; 
 the next heavy sea swept him away. Nearer 
 to the shore, Pearson, the man already men- 
 tioned among the suiTivevs, seized upon Boyes 
 as he rested upon the davit, and had nearly 
 dragged him from his hold. A heavy sea 
 released him from this companion, by washing 
 him oif and carrying him to another spar, 
 which he grasped. A piece of the wreck, 
 with some nails in it, endangered him still 
 more. He got entangled with this, by one -i 
 of the nails sticking into his foot. He 
 struggled in vain to disengage himself, until 
 it gave way by a violent action of the waves. 
 The sea, meanwhile, was driving him con- 
 stantly towards the shore. He saw every 
 wave as it approached, and took in much 
 water ; but he was relieved from the oppres- 
 sion of it by vomiting. He retained his 
 recollection until he came pretty near to the 
 beach — the seas then washed over him in 
 such rapid succession, that he became insen- 
 sible. Ikit his hands had a convulsive grasp 
 on the davit, and he instinctively retained his 
 hold, until he was rescued, apparently lifeless, 
 by some of the spectators of the melancholy 
 scene. For two or three hours he was as 
 one dead — and then awoke to the happy con- 
 sciousness of existence and safety. 
 
 mi I ■ii'iiiii T J i_ 
 
 r 
 
 / 
 
f. --: 
 
 "^^ 
 
 i 
 
 \\ 
 
 .\\ 
 
 162 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 The three survivers of this awful dispensa- 
 tion were kindly assisted by the people at 
 Marsk. Lord Dundas sent them refreshments, 
 clothing, and other relief; and the visitors, 
 who had taken up their summer's residence 
 there, it is scarcely necessary to say, showed 
 knuch kind commisseration. 
 
 t 
 
 i i> 
 
 i( 
 
 111 
 
 M 
 
 \ 
 
I 
 
 Chapter III. 
 
 OBSERVATIONS ON THE LOSS OF THE ESK, AND A COM- 
 PANION WHALER, WITH CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS. 
 
 The situation in which the once admired 
 Esk, with her gallant crew, encountered this 
 fatal adventure, was in the bay betwixt 
 Redcar and Huntcliff, directly opposite the 
 town of Marsk. The sand here is exceed- 
 ingly hard, and in some places pierced with 
 scars or rocks. But there is no proof that 
 the Esk was upon rocks, — for the hardness of 
 the sand is such, that there is scarcely an 
 instance of a ship holding together through a 
 whole tide, when grounded there with a heavy 
 sea. It is a flat strand, drying, with the 
 falling tide, for a quarter of a mile. The Esk, 
 doubtless, struck much fmther out than this — 
 probably near half a mile from high water 
 mark — but, with the tide of flood, she washed 
 up to low-water mark before she parted — the 
 fire hearth and some other \veighty stores 
 being found about that line. After the hull 
 parted, however, the bottom di'ifted by the ebb- 
 tide neafly half-way to Redcar, when it finally 
 grounded, and was left dry by the retiring tide. 
 
 
 I' : 
 
 I 
 
164 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 The ^'vcatcr part of the cargo was saved, 
 and some of the stores. The Captain's log- 
 book washetl up very nearly at the same time 
 that the body of its lamented writer came to 
 the shore. It is thought that he had placed 
 it some where about his person. 
 
 The causes from which this melancholy oc- 
 currence resulted, are, it is presumed, clearly 
 made out from the preceding narrative. There 
 was too much reliance upon certain qualities 
 of the ship — too little apprehension either of 
 so nnfavourablc a shift of wind, or of so tre- 
 mendous a gale at such a time — and a too 
 great anxiety to complete the voyage in time 
 to save water into the harbour. And trifling 
 as this latter cause may appear to those unac- 
 quainted with nautical affairs, and especially of 
 shipping concerns in a tide-harbour, it no doubt 
 had a very great influence in contributing to 
 the catastrophe. For, independent of the ex- 
 pense of a ship being detained for a week or 
 more during the neap-tides, — which expense a 
 prudent captain is ahyays anxious to save his 
 owners if he can — there is ever some danger 
 attached to the remaining so long in an ex- 
 posed roadstead, like that of Whitby These 
 considerations — together with the annoyance felt 
 by the sailor, after an adventvuous voyage, in 
 
possible exe : 1 f ^ "' --"^' -e,y 
 
 -^' -«e risk I,': "f ' ""V" j"-'»'^^- 
 
 ^-Ko ship approac fsur™ ""' "''"' « 
 «fter the hefght of thT ^'"" "' ^''"''> 
 
 ■-»-'« be the sain^ of^ "^ "'' "" ''-"• 
 Such, doubtless :.LJ7 "-" -^ -ek. 
 the Captain of the fI "' ''^ "'"''h 
 
 the„,a„.uv,.eso he hlf^TT'-'"''" 
 haJ the .i„a continld i'^^^^^^^^ ^^"^ 
 
 as U commenced, or harl ♦!,„ ^ '■'"""^' 
 
 .noderate-he w^ Jd ^ '''^"'"- <^«n«""ed 
 
 eommendable rnt- 'r r •:' '" '"^ ■»-' 
 Had the ship Teen Lfr f "''"^ ""'' P^^^"^-- 
 top-sail gave wavlhr . * ''^^" *''« '"»'"- 
 ^eendelt,ed:h:;,' ^f^-'-'-^Jthave 
 whatever that tho . , "* Pfobability 
 
 connected with thirii "'"°'^*''' ^''^'its, 
 
 " little remalwr 'S'':^ ' ^''-'' ^^ - 
 "t any other time orZ , ^ ' """"'^'^ 
 situation i„ which tl, • ! ""'' ''"^ ^'^er 
 
 '>een placed ;-ha,. If, '""^ ' ^^''^''^y ^^^'^ 
 
 eastnLl and then t "'°'' ^'"^'^'^ '<> the ' 
 
 then somewhat to the northward 
 
 ;I 
 
 ! '.^ 
 
1(56 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 as it did; — and had not their sails been blown 
 away ^t that very juncture, the ship might have 
 been saved. And there was a fatality, in 
 respect to the crew, which was equally strik- 
 ing". The many chances for the escape of 
 the ship, by a difference in any one of the 
 circumstances, were equally chances for them. 
 But there were others. Had the ship struck, 
 in the place she did, two or three hours earlier, 
 the tide would have ebbed away so that they 
 might have escaped : — had she struck two or 
 three hours later, she would have held together 
 until past high-water, and their safety would 
 no doubt have resulted : — or, had the life- 
 boat been fully manned, there seems to be no 
 reasonable doubt but all the crew might have 
 been rescued ! But the time for the coming 
 of the Son of Man had arrived, and — however 
 natural means might incline, or probabilities 
 point to another result — we know that the 
 result was according to the will of Him who 
 reigneth over the earth, and "worketh all 
 things after the counsel of his own will.'* 
 And whilst we mourn the sad calamity and 
 grieve for the fate of our friends — we must 
 acknowledge the hand of God in the calamity, 
 and justify his distressing dispensation — g "ured, 
 as well from reason as from inspiration, that 
 the Judge of all the Earth must do right! 
 
 T 
 
 I 
 
 ;•»»•■.-•■ 
 
 \ r 
 
 .*■•' 
 
-■"ff tide, the son of t,L ^""^ ^^ '^e 
 
 •^Je.frhthol,„, ,,„, enccnt..-'''''''"''''' ^^'"'••^•« 
 '%* «' on„Wather r„7; ^ -M-nl sin,iW 
 
 »>"laWe, within t«o T , "^'^'■'''•'""'r as for. 
 
 ^^me place I His preso '■''""■ "''^'' °^ '''« 
 .;*- respects, ren.S ■ 'IV'"'"^' ^-« - 
 
 «« loose-harpoonor int. p^' '^'^ ^h'-pped 
 
 '^' .mailed on her caTaLftr^"'"""^^ ''^^'re 
 meeting with an old ! '"'^'''»«,- but 
 
 r^ °^ "^ »-4 slo pTV"" '" -- 
 '^ho wanted a W J^' *''^ -^"^^e of York, 
 
 "^ ^''-'e his ship, l^d eJr/'"""^^'^ "Po» 
 coaster. ^' ""'' ^'"I'ari i„ t^j^ j.^^j^ 
 
 Towards the close r>f i, 
 '-ere on their way from kit! '""""''' *ey 
 "hen they encoume eT tt ^ '" ^'''%. 
 
 "'^ September. Thev , ^""^^ "'^ the 3th 
 
 ^«ftW eventful d^fJ:^^^^ 
 
 ^^o^^ng a hard gale wh IV '"'"'' ""' ^-^-E. 
 
 Jey bore away for l^Jj'' « P'a-e of it. 
 *e^e in time enough fof^l ''^^f""^ '"^ »>« 
 -eather becoming extrel, !, ''."^^ ' ''"* ^^e 
 .'-"h rain, they LnTttT^. ^"'^ ^''^ thick 
 ^'"I'our inipracticabTe 1'^^^' *<> «»d the 
 
 "y the time, however, 
 
 f. 
 
 -» 
 
A 
 
 iifift 
 
 LOSS OF THE ESK. 
 
 
 If 
 
 r 
 
 1^ !' 
 
 lliis result was discovered, they had beer, led 
 so near the shore, that to escape it, ■ rdc 
 tlieir necessarily diminished sails, they knew 
 to 1)e impossible. They iiauled to the wind, 
 with the sloop's head to the northward, and 
 patiently awaited the fate which tlireatened 
 them. Between two and three o'clock in the 
 moniing, they^w land, lofty clifl's, close be- 
 neath their lee. They let go both anchors; 
 but one of them parted, and the oilier, being 
 on a rocky bottom, took no hold. As such 
 they judged it best to slip tlie cable and 
 make at once for the shore. About three a.m. 
 running before a tremendous sea, they entered 
 -the breakers, and immediately afterwards stnick 
 the ground, — the bold i)reci2)itous face of Hunt- 
 cliff Foot, rearing its frightful crags vertically 
 over their heads. The master, Mr. Thomas 
 Page, immediately attempted to reach the land 
 by swimming, tying a lead line round his 
 body ; but after contending against the vio- 
 lence of the breakers, and the fury of the 
 back-sweep, till his strength was exhausted, and 
 his body and limbs much bruised by the 
 rocks, he called out to the crew to haul him 
 back, and was replaced in the sloop. About 
 twenty minutes aftenvards, the vessel having 
 turned with its head in-shore, William Sleight- 
 holm made a similar attempt from the bow- 
 
 t 
 
 fi V 
 
 
\1 
 
 INCIDKNTAL NAKRATIVK. 
 
 171 
 
 ./ 
 
 The Lively, an old whaler of forty-two years 
 slaii(hiig, sailed upon the same voyage as the 
 Esk, on the 7tli of Mareh, lH!>(i. Like the Esk, 
 she took only her oftieers and meehanies from 
 Whitby, and eompleted her erew in Shetland. 
 She sailed earlier than her eompanion, with a 
 view of i)ursuing the seal-lishery in the springs 
 and, it is supposed, had lieen verj' successful. 
 The seal-fishery is a danp^erous service, being 
 conducted at a season sul)jeet to tremendous 
 gales — often sudden in their commeneenient 
 and long in their duration — and at a time when 
 there is a considerable interval of night, and in 
 a situation exposed to great and peculiar risks 
 from being upon the skirts of the ice. To 
 the Lively, it unhappily proved a fatal ad- 
 venture. On the 18tli of April she was over- 
 taken by a tremendous gale, and was seen 
 that evening, it is believed, for the last time, 
 by Captain Oyston, of the Mary, of Peter- 
 head. The night was dreadful — the sea moun- 
 tains high — and the Mary escaped with great 
 difficidty and hazard, having drifted through 
 a heavy stream of ice, by which the ship 
 was very much damaged. When the weather 
 moderated and cleared, the Lively was not 
 to be seen ; but the sea, to a considerable 
 extent, was covered with biscuits and other 
 ship's stores ; and several casks, known to 
 
 r.' 
 
'■ :.." V J ! Si -rr :^ f m^ m. i j 
 
 
 
 A 
 
 lis , 
 
 Y 
 
 ;^ 1 
 
 •t 
 
 l#. ^ 
 
 fW 
 
 rf 
 
 17-2 
 
 LOS.-i OF THE ESK. 
 
 liiivc l)cloii|:ycd to the liivcly, l)y thC marks 
 uj)<)n them, were picked up by the Hanseatt, 
 of liremei^j and other foreigfii whalers. 
 
 Hopes of a more happy result, indeed, re- 
 sjicotiiig- the fate of the Lively's crew, were 
 long- entertained hy the afflicted and anxious 
 connections of the sailors on board. Unhap- 
 pily for tliemselvcs, they indulged "the hope 
 which keeps alive despair." They considered 
 it possible that the crew, or a })art of the 
 cre\v, might have escai)ed in their boats to 
 Iceland ; and a rumour to this effect was, 
 tor some weeks, current in Whitby. But the 
 interval of time that would have resolved 
 such an event, at length elapsed, and even 
 ho])e was constrained to yield to the fatal 
 truth. 
 
 There was something peculiarly touching in 
 the very condition of the catastrophe with these 
 unhap])y adventurers. Their last conflict was 
 in desolate remoteness. There was no spec- 
 tat(jr of tlie dismrd scene — no heart to grieve 
 with the helpless sufferers ; no eye to shed 
 the sympathizing tear ! The terrible struggle 
 Avas personal and solitary among them ; it was 
 a conflict unknown but to them and their 
 God ! Whilst their unconscious kindred, per- 
 haps, were engaged in ordinary conversation 
 or vain enjoyment — or jjcrhaps involved in 
 
 r' 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE SIIU'WUECK. \7:i 
 
 sleepy insensibility — they were passing the dark 
 valley of the shadow of death. W hilst those 
 slept and awoke to renew their worldly or eare- 
 less pursuits, these slept and suddenly awoke 
 to an immortal existence ! To those, the time 
 of their toils and pleasures was yet continued — 
 the interval of their i)robation for eternity was 
 further prolonged ; but to these adventurers ou 
 a sea of peril, the period was anticipated con- 
 cerning which it is said " that there shall he 
 time no longer." 
 
 ])y these two awful dispensations sixty-hve 
 persons perished; twenty-six sorrowing ibmales 
 ])elonging to Whitby and its neighbourhood 
 were left in destitute widowhood, and eighty 
 children became orphans, besides the families ol 
 twenty-one of the sufferers from Shetland. 
 
 To the honour of the inhabitants of Whitby, 
 aided by some extraneous contributions, it 
 should be stated, that a sum, amounting ab 
 together to <£825, was raised by subscription, 
 and applied with such philanthropic care, as 
 to be made available, during a period of two 
 or three years, for the relief and assistance 
 of the bereaved families of the sufferers. 
 
 It is a very remarkable fact, especially 
 when put in connection with these melancholy 
 shipwrecks, that during a jieriod of seventy- 
 
:k 
 
 174 
 
 LOSS OF TIIK ESK. 
 
 three years, (with an interval only of six or 
 seven years wherein the trade was suspended,) 
 in which the whale-fishery had been cjjrried 
 on from Whitby, not one instance of the loss 
 of a whole crew at a time occurred. And the 
 only considerable loss of men, out of any ot 
 the whalers of this port, heretofore on record, 
 happened almost fifty years previous to the pre- 
 sent events, when about one-half of the crew 
 of the Peggy suffered, on occasion of that vessel 
 being wrecked at the " west ice'' — the sealing 
 station betwixt Iceland and Spitzbergen. l^ut 
 in this one year to which the present me- 
 morial relates, the only two Greenland whalers 
 proceeding from the port were lost; and, as we 
 have seen from the foregoing narratives, all the 
 people on board both of them, except three, 
 perished ! 
 
 What need have sailors, almost above all 
 other chisses of men, to be habitually prepared 
 to meet their God I How important, that they 
 should be better festructed as to the course 
 necessary to be pursued through the voyage of 
 life, in order to reach safely the haven of eternal 
 rest ! ^^ 
 
 So thoroughly miconscious are multitudes 
 among them of the condemnatory nature of sin 
 ■—0 ihe^Tiocessity of holiness for seeing the Lord 
 
 *- 1^^ 
 
 / 
 
 t 
 
 I 
 
CONCLLDING REFLECTIONS. 
 
 175 
 
 of 
 lal 
 
 »s 
 in 
 d 
 
 U-k-v. 
 
 I 
 
 — of the imjiortance of being prepared for llic 
 coming" of Christ — that it is not uncommon for 
 them to assert^ that though they shouhl be ever 
 vso suddenly called into an etemal world, if 
 they should have time only to say — " The Lord 
 have mercy upon us T' even then they woidd 
 have, no fear about the safety of their soids ! 
 And one, if not more, of the poor surferers in 
 the Esk, was known to have entertained this 
 dangerous idea. He was heard to say, shortly 
 before the fatal hour of their final calamity, — 
 " I know I have been a wicked man ; but I 
 hope the Lord will have mercy on me." So 
 would we hope in the mercy of the Lord, — not 
 only on poor perishing sailors, but on perish- 
 ing sinners of every class. But, alas ! we dare 
 not indulge even hope, in what tlie sacred 
 Scripture forbids us to hope — that is, in the 
 exercise of mercy towards an linpenitent siii- 
 ner ; — and if we hope for peniter^' v in the hour 
 of death, it must be with excei^d.'ng great fear 
 and trembling. There is, indeed, one such in- 
 stance recorded in Scripture, i\\ regard to the 
 thief upon the cross, that the dying sinner 
 may have hope ; but there is only one such 
 instance, that the lirin(j sinner may fear. Little, 
 alas! do most men think of the powerful and 
 extensive operation — the renewing and sancti- 
 fying nature — of that faith in the Son of God, 
 
 t 
 
 
 I 
 

 !■■ 
 
 
 -,-\. 
 
 170 
 
 LOSS OF THK ESK. 
 
 which is ahmc iiiiluontial unto salvation ; and 
 little do they understand the deep-felt and ac- 
 tuating influence of that " repentance, which 
 needeth not to he repented of." 
 
 How ini})ortant then, we rei)eat, tliat sailors 
 should be better instructed, and better taught, 
 to know the danger in which they hold their 
 immortal souls ! How important that they * 
 should, like their more privileged brethren 
 on Lhore, have the means of learning that 
 the^' arc under a sentence of c(mdenniation, 
 even as others, — and that, wliilst they allow 
 themselves the free gratification of their pas- 
 sions, they are giving themselves up to the 
 destructive action of human nature, which, 
 as a current always setting to leeward, will, 
 if they make no suflicient effort, inevitably 
 cause them to suffer shipwreck of their souls 
 upon the rocks of unbelief and despair! 
 
 It is time, therefore, that sailors should be 
 effectually warned of their danger, and be 
 exhorted to " pre])are to meci their Go<l." 
 Yet until very recently, whilst their exposure 
 to premature de-ith was greater than (jtlier 
 men, their fitness to meet it was less. Theii 
 profaneness — their thoughtlessness — and their 
 ignorance of etenial things, have been pro- 
 verbial among us, — and yet we have viewed 
 these sad exhib^itions of carnal nature, rather 
 
 T 
 
 'I 
 
 t 
 
be 
 l)e 
 I." 
 lire 
 ler 
 oil 
 eir 
 :o- 
 cd 
 or 
 
 ( OXCLl'DI^G HKFLKCTIONS. 
 
 \77 
 
 1 
 
 
 with complacent commiseration, than with 
 eflorts to remove them. Conduct and haliits 
 that woidd have shocked us in otlier chisses., 
 have been tolerated and palliated as charac- 
 teristic of the sailor. Most persons, indeed, 
 have been in the hal)it of considerin^r the 
 immoralities oi seamen as insc[)arable iVom 
 tlieir profession, rather than as the conse- 
 (pience of the Hurcstrdutcd (jrou'th <»f the 
 ip.nk weeds of our common nature. 
 
 Antl even the religious public, alive as it 
 was to the deplorable condition of the heathen 
 world, and active as it was in the various 
 branches i)f Christian j^^^il^^i^tl^^'^^^py? seemed, 
 until of late years, to wink ut the ignorance, 
 carelessness, and depravity of their seafaring 
 coimtrymen, or to forget that they also were 
 of that responsible order of beings who must 
 render an account of iheiri:-elves unto God ! 
 At length, however, a small sense of our ne- 
 '^dects and obligations in icspect to sailors has 
 mercifully been felt, and considerable elforts 
 are now being made in various sea-ports in 
 the United Kingdom, and still more extensive 
 efforts in the commercial towns of America, 
 for the improvement of the moral and religious 
 condition of seamen. Thc^se etiort? are chiefly 
 made through the insirumentality of org-anized 
 associations of benevolent individuals, and the 
 
 I 2 
 
"-VT-j-fii ,ti 
 
 smmm 
 
 ••- w 
 
 h i. 
 
 !'. I 
 
 
 'W 
 
 ^ M 
 
 178 
 
 LOSS OF THE KSK. 
 
 necessary expenses provided for by voluntary 
 contributions: and, as but little suitable accom- 
 modation is to be found in our churches and 
 chapels, for the numerous seamen frequenting 
 the more considerable sea-ports — the providing- 
 of churches, and other places of worship tw- 
 pressly for them^ has become a characteristic 
 feature in the operations of the various societies 
 established for their spiritual benefit. 
 
 Previous to the institution of the several 
 places of worship provided in our prircipal 
 s(a-ports by these important societies, the 
 scumen amongst us, for the most part, were 
 not only peculiarly destitute of the public 
 t; frustrations of religion, i)ut, as regarded the 
 Establishment, they were almost excluded from 
 the pale of the church. J^ut when the Esta- 
 blishment made provision for their restoration, 
 experience immediately proved that she was 
 well calculated to be a faithful and efficient, 
 yea, and an acceptable, nursing-mother to her 
 seafaring sons. 
 
 During a period of five years, indeed, in 
 which I had the i riv^'lnge of labouring pro- 
 fessionally in the '\5arinerH' Cl.urch at Liver- 
 pool, this experience was most encouragingly 
 verified, in the striking attention and unva- 
 rying decoiinu of the numerous congregations 
 which assembled there. There was, indeed, 
 
 
 r 
 
fly 
 
 a- 
 
 )ns 
 
 i) 
 
 '. 
 
 f 
 
 CONCLUDING IIEFLECTIONS. 
 
 17!) 
 
 an intcnscness of interest— an openness of ear 
 and heart — a tenderness and simplicity of 
 feeling, so remarkable, as to be often dee})ly 
 affecting^, and to form an uniform character- 
 istic of the interesting- coni^regation. 
 
 Wherever, indeed, mariners' churches or 
 chapels have been established in any country, 
 their influence has been cpiickly manifest and 
 strikinp^ly beneficial. No sooner is the Word 
 preached, than there are signs of life — the dry 
 bones begin to shake, and are clothed upon, 
 as it were, with new llesh. No sooner is the 
 seed sown, than the fields appear white with 
 the hopeful produce, and a bounteous harvest 
 is invariably reaped. To ordinary observation 
 they may seem, peradventure, like the trees of 
 the field in a, cold and i)rotracted spring — not 
 only leafless, but lifeless ; but when brought 
 under the genial influence of the Gospel, re- 
 freshed with its living waters, and acted upon 
 by the bright invigorating rays of the Sun 
 of Righteousness, a rich luxuriance of vegeta- 
 tion bursts forth with almost magical rai)idity. 
 And why ? Because with them the soil is 
 ready for the seed, rich in quality; and under 
 proper culture — as observation, I think, satis- 
 factorily testifies — abundant in its produce. 
 
 Having taken occasion, from the circumstances 
 of this memorial, to digress into the subject 
 
 Sir. 
 
 11 
 
t ' 
 
 ISO 
 
 Loss Of TUK KSK. 
 
 I! 
 
 of the religious iiistruftion of seamen, I will 
 venture to luld a few further observations on 
 the immense importance of such instruction ; 
 and that not on tftcir account alone, but as 
 it bears upon the i)ropagation of the Gospel 
 throughout the world. 
 
 T/ie huK'fiil influence of unf/odlij satmen in 
 foreign hinds exhibits powerfully the exceeding 
 importance to Christian philanthropy of the 
 imi:)rovement of their religious condition. Time 
 was, and that not long since past, when through- 
 out whole shii)s' companies, even throughout 
 whole fleets together, almost every soul was in 
 nature's darkness, each one careless, thought- 
 less, ungodly — "dead in trespasses and sins." In 
 such a state — corrupt and putrid with filthy vices 
 — did this numerous body of nominal Christians, 
 embarked in the swdft ships, j^roceed to the most 
 distant shores of foreign lands, inoculating with 
 their own peculiar and deadly inilueiices the 
 heathen world. They carried forth in their 
 own infected persons a mortal germ, which 
 acted u})on the unhappy heathen as a deadly 
 and terrific scourge. And still, alas ! do they 
 too commonly convey their morbid qualities 
 and prevailing vices far and wide — making the 
 corrupt heathen more corrupt, and hindering 
 the progress of the kingdom of Christ. Still 
 dt> they too prevalently go forth with infec- 
 tious influence, marring the eflbrts and spoiling" 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
CONCLI'DIXO UKFLr:CTfONS. 
 
 181 
 
 in 
 
 the 
 Time 
 
 aost 
 
 ith 
 
 the 
 
 lieir 
 
 lich 
 
 [ey 
 ies 
 he 
 
 
 11 
 
 l"' 
 
 I 
 
 J 
 
 
 the work of G )crs own servants, who are aj)- 
 pointed to i>roclaim in distant lands the glad 
 tidings of salvation ! 
 
 Then, as to the Iwneficial ivjhumce of rvlUjloudij 
 iauijht seamen^ how extensive is such influence 
 compared with that of any otlier class! — These 
 who hear the Gospel amongst us to-day, are 
 voyagers on the ocean, perhaps, to-morrow. 
 The Word, under the hlessing of God, takes 
 root, and hrings forth fruit, and sheds its 
 seed, hut it is in a far distant land. Through 
 seamen, the seed receives wings to sustain it 
 and carry it ahroad into every j^art of the 
 earth ; and, though it may not now appear, 
 it is literally *' Inead cast upon the waters, and 
 shall api>ear after many days !" How im- 
 portant, then, the sailors' influence ! The 
 influence of ordinary men is confined to those 
 immediately around them ; hut of these, the 
 influence has no limits either for good or 
 evil, hut the limits of the navigahle globe. 
 Through them, hath the Word a vast excur- 
 siveness. It flies through the midst of the 
 ocean; it penetrates the region of heathen 
 darkness ; it sweeps the outline of every con- 
 tinent ; it visits oil the isles of the sea ! 
 
 May the hearts of the Lord's people 
 throughout our land be more and more im- 
 pressed with these weighty considerations; 
 
 *• 1 
 

 irTiiTiiritiTi 
 
 182 
 
 LOSS OF TIIK ESK. 
 
 and, ill Christian sympathy for the poor 
 neglected sailors themselves, as well as in 
 compassion for the souls of the heathen 
 which arc injured by their example, laay we 
 be more active and zealous in the ** work 
 of faith and labour of love" for the evange- 
 lizing of our maritime population ! 
 
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 MEMORIALS 01' THE SEJ 
 
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 A GLANCE AT ICELAND.* 
 
 - 
 
 "from the lttermost tarts op thk earth have we heard songs, ^ 
 
 EVEN GLORY TO THE RIGHTEOUS." — ISAIAH XXIV. 16. 
 
 -..v. 
 
 >& 
 
 I 
 
 After the scientific researches of ISTr George 
 Mackenzie, and the peculiarly interesting in- 
 vestigations of Dr. Henderson, in this extra- 
 ordinary country, little is to be expected from 
 an occasional and unpremeditated visit of a 
 few hours. And little that is new will pro- 
 bably be found in this memorial. Nevertheless, 
 in a country where everything is peculiar— rin 
 which Nature has stamped her province with 
 the wildest and most terrific impressions, and 
 in which Providence, with wonderful contrast, 
 has moulded its dominion >vith the most primi- 
 tive, artless, and virtuous features, — researches, 
 otherwise common-place, obtain, from locality 
 and association, a degree of importance that may 
 excuse their being recorded. The narration 
 which I have to give of my visit to this island 
 comes recommended neither bv adventurous 
 
 * This Memorial was written, originally, for the ' Winter's Wreath ;' 
 but as it happens to suit my present object, and may, probably, be new to 
 most of the readers of this volume, I have ventured to rc-publiah it. 
 
 

 ~'>>*^«snt^^^Mkw^a!iiiMu. 
 
 186 
 
 A GLANCE AT ICELAND. 
 
 I# 
 
 •I 
 
 incident, nor by the discovery of strange phe- 
 nomena ; but merely by an example of that 
 beautiful simplicity of character and moral pro- 
 priety for which the inhabitants, so far as they 
 have been preserved from foreign contamination, 
 have long been justly celebrated. 
 
 Returning from a whale-lishing voyage on 
 the coast of West Greenland, in the summer 
 of 1820, we were deflected from our course, 
 by a prevalence of easterly winds, towards 
 the northern shores of Iceland. On the morn- 
 ing of the 3rd of August, our position, as 
 calculated from recent observations for lati- 
 tude and longitude, Avas found to be close 
 upon the coast of this interesting region ; 
 and at eleven a.m., the wind blowing a brisk 
 gale from the south-eastward, with dark foggy 
 weather, we came suddenly in sight of land 
 in the south-west quarter, the exact situation 
 in which we expected it. Soon after mid-day, 
 the fog clearing away a-head of the ship and 
 on either bow, a mountainous country to the 
 south-west and west of us became visible, and 
 also a long narrow point of land to the 
 south-eastward, jutting far into the sea. This 
 was the peninsidar promontory of Langaness, 
 the north -easteru extremity of Iceland, which 
 stretches its rugged headland within reach of 
 the midnight rays of the Arctic sun. Coast- 
 
 
 .. 
 
 L 
 
■ 
 
 A GLANCE AT ICELAND. 
 
 187 
 
 ^B&J 
 
 land 
 
 ition 
 
 day, 
 
 and 
 
 the 
 
 and r 
 
 the 1 
 
 This 
 
 ness, 
 
 licli 
 
 I of 
 
 ast- 
 
 ing the western side of the promontory towards 
 Thiselsfiord, we fell into a smooth sea, under 
 circumstances exceedingly tempting- for visiting; 
 the contiguous land. About three r.M. we 
 tacked, being in fourteen falhoms water, about 
 a mile from the shore, and made a signal for 
 a pilot, Avith the hope of obtaining some in- 
 formation as to the safety of the navigation 
 about us, of which we had no chart ; — but none 
 came off. x\t six in the evening, being abreast 
 of a hamlet, and within three-quarters of a 
 mile of the beach, I took a boat, and, leaving 
 the ship in charge of the chief-officer, proceeded 
 to the shore. As we approached, several per- 
 sons were obsened watching us by the side of 
 the hamlet, who, on waving our hats to them, 
 came running towards us. We landed on a 
 beach of large rounded stones, where there 
 was some surf, the Icelanders awaiting our 
 arrival within call. They received us by 
 taking off their hats and bowing, and unexpec- 
 tedly, at the same time not a little agreeably 
 to us, by shaking our offered hands, instead of 
 the usual salute. Then, unasked, they gave us 
 a hearty and effectual pull with the boat, by 
 which it was secured from the action of the 
 surf. 
 
 Totally ignorant of each other's language, 
 so that our intercourse at first was mere dumb 
 
 
■ ■^m m m^ s 
 
 ;r?*^-!te*«^w«i»«.„ , 
 
 If '\ 
 
 M ii 
 
 (if 
 
 > "i 
 
 lw8 
 
 A GLANCE AT ICELAND. 
 
 i 
 
 show, wc proceeded directly towards the liamlet, 
 both for the gi'atification of a natural curiosity 
 in visiting a strange country, and with the hope 
 that the sight of new or tangible objects would 
 afford us means, however im])erfect, of more 
 satisfactory communication. In this we were 
 not disappointed. 
 
 On reaching the hamlet, which, on exa- 
 mination, resolved itself into two or three 
 humble habitations, we Avere met by all the 
 inmates of the principal cottage, consisting 
 of a good-looking middle-aged female and 
 four or five children, who, with three men 
 that accompanied us from the beach, formed, 
 to us, a curious and interesting group. 
 Knowing the scarcity of bread on the island, 
 a bag of biscuits was brought along with us, 
 which I requested a young gentleman of our 
 party, who had accompanied me on the 
 voyage, to empty within the hut. The good 
 housewife seized his hand and kissed it in 
 thankfulness ; but on its being intimated to 
 her that I was the principal of the party, 
 she ran up to me with a peculiar expression 
 of lively gratitude, and, kissing my hand, 
 challenged, by a token at once modest and 
 intelligible, the customary salute. She was 
 a prepossersing person, rather short of stature, 
 with an animated and good-tempered ex- 
 
 t 
 
*■ ■• l'-» 
 
 the 
 |good 
 t in 
 to 
 
 ision 
 (and, 
 
 and 
 iwas 
 lure, 
 
 ex- 
 
 I 
 
 A GLANCE AT ICELANP. 
 
 iHiJ 
 
 pvession of countenance. Hei' dress was tln^ 
 common domestic or working liahit of the 
 Iceland popuhition ; a costume which, like 
 tlieir language, manners, and sim})licity of 
 character, has continued unchanged for at 
 least a period of nine centuries. It consisted, 
 externally, of a petticoat of a white woollen 
 cloth, of native growth and manufacture, 
 called icadmel; a skirta, or shift, of the same 
 material, visible above the waist; and a coarse 
 blue jacket, imperfectly meeting in front. 
 These articles, with coarse worsted stockings, 
 and seal skin or sheep skin shoes, completed 
 her dress ; the head, on this occasion, being 
 uncovered. — The dress of the male peasants 
 consisted of a woollen shirt, with jacket, 
 breeches and stockings, of the same material, 
 a piece of undressed seal-skin bound over 
 each foot for shoes, and a well-worn hat of 
 the ordinary form. The dress of the female 
 children was similar to that of their mother, 
 but neither whole nor cleanly. Indeed, many 
 as the virtues of the Icelanders are, absolute 
 cleanliness is not included among them. 
 
 Having obtained leave to examine the cot- 
 tage, I penetrated the four several ramifica- 
 tions which its peculiar form, being that of 
 a cross, produced. The interior had a dis- 
 agreealde atmosphere ; a large quantity of 
 
 11 
 
,. jr»ftt fc jiwnnt ii | ii afi iii .,«. .*a »j» »»:,■.., V 
 
 t 
 
 I' 
 
 VM) 
 
 A (JLAXCr, AT ICELAND. 
 
 sca-birds hanging from the roof or lying 
 about the floor, and a tub of train oil stand- 
 ing in the midst of one of the compartments, 
 so contaminated the air, where there was a 
 very imperfect ventilation, that it required na 
 little curiosity and perseverance to pursue the 
 examination. There were no windows in the 
 sides, and only two openings in the roof, 
 which served, in a measure, the double pur- 
 pose of emitting smoke and admitting light. 
 In the first or entrance compartment, there 
 was lying a heap of " lums,^^ or young kitty- 
 wakes (Larus RissaJ which, from the numbers 
 collected and dried, seemed to forn a consi- 
 derable article of summer subsistence. In the 
 same place a girl of ten or twelve years of 
 age was employed churning, with an appa- 
 ratus not unlike that in common use in 
 England before the introduction of the barrel 
 churn. The compartment on the left ^Avas 
 used as a kitchen, having at this time a fire 
 made of drift wood ; and that on the right 
 was the sleeping apartment, containing a long 
 bench covered with hay, &c., but no bed- 
 clothes were visible. Connected with the 
 cottage were two little huts with distinct en- 
 trances, one of which was employed as a 
 wareroom, and contained all their stockings, 
 mittens, flocks, sheep-skins, and other articles 
 
 \ 
 
 r 
 
 J 
 
A GLANCE AT If ELAND. 
 
 191 
 
 m 
 
 Irrel 
 
 ^vas 
 
 Ifire 
 
 ^ht 
 
 )ng- 
 
 ?d- 
 
 the 
 
 kn- 
 
 a 
 
 rs, 
 
 les 
 
 M 
 
 of like nature intended for trade. The cot- 
 tage and contiguous huts were built of a 
 framing of wood, filled in with clay ; the 
 roofs were covered with sods, and the floors 
 were mud. 
 
 To the extent of their ability the good 
 l^eople were disposed to be hospitable, though 
 the only article of refreshment they seemed 
 to have at hand was a bowl of butter-milk, 
 Avhich we tasted. Sea-fow^l, fish, and the 
 milk of cows and sheep, with meal obtained 
 from the factories established on different 
 ^/iords on the coast, appeared to be their 
 princij^al food in summer. The fish, how- 
 ever, from the exposed nature of the coast 
 at Langaness, must be an uncertain supply ; 
 but they render it applicable to their con- 
 stant necessities by drying their surplus catch 
 into stock-fish. The ground here ngularly 
 sloping to the beach, and rising to the east- 
 ward to a considerable elevation, afforded, 
 near the hamlet, some good pasture for their 
 sheep and cows, which appeared in consi- 
 derable numbers all around us. The grass 
 had been recently cut, and, though the wea- 
 ther was now unfavourable, promised a tole- 
 rable crop of- hay. 
 
 Interesting as it was to land in this re- 
 markable country, we were not fortunate at 
 
 . / 
 
Ki r 
 
 lifT— B n I 
 
 102 
 
 A GLANX'E AT ICKLANH. 
 
 K 
 
 i J 
 
 ! 
 
 the place we visited, in fiiulinu: any of those 
 peculiar natural phenomena, which call forth 
 the astonishment or admiration of the most 
 incurious traveller. The rocks al)out us were 
 all hroken and detached ; and the beach was 
 composed of lar^^e rolled masses. Some of 
 these were of the trap kind, and one mass 
 was observed to be vesicular lava ; in gene- 
 ral, however, there were few signs of the 
 action of volcanic hre. A little to the east- 
 ward, indeed, I observed a very interesting 
 spot, which I intended to visit ; but the re- 
 currence of foggy and squally weather ren- 
 dered the attempt imprudent. It consisted of 
 a splendid range of high, and apparently re- 
 gular basaltic columns, in a perpendicular 
 arrangement. In point of height, as well as of 
 regularity and beauty, they appeared equal to 
 anything of the kind in the north of Ire- 
 land. The view from the ship with a good 
 telescope, at the distance of two miles, Avas 
 striking and beautiful. 
 
 The boisterous state of the weather, and our 
 entire ignorance of the nature of the coast as 
 to concealed dangers, somewhat interfered with 
 our enjoyment on shore, and prevented that 
 deliberate research which might have led to 
 more interesting results, and hastened our de- 
 parture to the ship. 
 
 i 
 
 ' 
 
 ^. ^^ — , — 
 
A GLaNCK at ICELAND. 
 
 193 
 
 good 
 was 
 
 our 
 it as 
 with 
 ithat 
 11 to 
 
 de- 
 
 1 
 
 Before wc left, however, I intimated a wish 
 to purchase a coui)le of sheep of our Iceland ac- 
 quaintances, and invited them to hfing them off 
 to the ship ; a request which they evidently under- 
 stood, and with which they readily acquiesced. 
 
 Leaving" this humble and contented people to 
 make their own arrangements, we proceeded to 
 our boat, which we found fast aground, and, 
 in consequence of the ruggedness of the beach 
 and the action of the surf, in a critical con- 
 dition for launching : fortunately, however, we 
 all re-embarked in safety, and arrived, without 
 any other adventure, at the ship. 
 
 We had not been long on board before we 
 observed a boat, in which the Langaness family 
 were embarked, push off from the beach. Not- 
 withstanding the mutual civilities that had 
 passed, and the apparent confidence which had 
 hitherto prevailed, they approached the ship 
 with manifest caution ; and it was not till a 
 second or third attempt, on our repeated en- 
 couragements, that they succeeded in getting 
 alongside. The party was found to consist of 
 the principal peasant, his wife (the female be- 
 fore mentioned), their son (a fine active lad of 
 about twenty years of age), and an elderly 
 relative ; and the cargo of the boat consisted 
 of a small sheep and a lamb, with a quantity 
 of mittens and stockings. 
 
 K 
 
 f 
 
 \ 
 
I I 
 
 ini 
 
 A (JLANti: AT in; LA Ml. 
 
 i 
 
 m 
 
 't> 
 
 i 
 
 »ti 
 
 The dress of the foinalc peasant had been 
 altered and inipn^ved lor this visit. In mhhtion 
 to the skirtd (jacket), and juttieoat of intthftrif 
 it now comprised a striped a})ron with a co- 
 hmred border, a 'kerchief abont the neck, a pair 
 of mittens, and a bhie cap, like a hussar's forag-- 
 ing cap, with its pointed extremity, terminated 
 by a little various-coloured tassel, hanii;-ing down 
 on one side of the head. 
 
 Ileceivin^'- them at the ganj^-w ay, I endeavour- 
 ed to dissipate the timidity which the sight of 
 iifty men, crowding with excited curiosity as 
 near as they might, seemed to have up(m t^hem; 
 and after giving them a cursory view of the deck, 
 with which, and the various objects around, 
 they were exceedingly astonished, they were 
 conducted below. It was evident, from the 
 amazement they manifested on observing the 
 magnitude of the masts, sails, and other parts 
 of an ordinary naval equipment, that they had 
 never before visited a ship so large, — 2)robably 
 they had seen nothing beyond the dimensions 
 of the little coasting vessels which trade for 
 the factories around the island. Nor was 
 their astonishment lessened on proceeding 
 into the cabin. Every object excited their 
 attention, especially articles of use, — some of 
 w'hich, as was natural, they seemed particu- 
 larly desirous of purchasing. Linen was an 
 
 1 
 
was 
 
 A GLANCE AT ICELAND. 
 
 100 
 
 article of first iiujuiry l)y our fcinalo visitor ; 
 and a sttrk (a shirt) was the price she {no- 
 posed for the lamh, and a shirt and liandker- 
 ehicf the price asked for tlie sheej). Three 
 shirts, three or foiu* cotton Iiandkerchiefs, a 
 pocket-knife, and a few other small articles, pur- 
 chased, at their own modest arranj^omcnt, the 
 little store of things they had brought for trallic. 
 After each exchange, instead of artfully wishing 
 to enhance their own goods, or to depreciate what 
 they received in return, they expressed undisguis- 
 ed satisfaction. Our female visitor especially, 
 who was the chief manager of the business, (to 
 whose talent, in this way, her husband paid com- 
 plete deference,) indicated her entire approbation 
 of what she received, by respectfully kissing my 
 hand, accompanied by the word tak^ or takkcr; 
 and after each little present that we made them, 
 she repeated the same action with every ex- 
 pression of delight and gratitude. The singu- 
 larly delicate manner in which they noticed 
 any article that was shown them, when they 
 had no longer the means of purchasing it, 
 was very remarkable. At first, whilst their 
 sheep and woollens were in their own pos- 
 session, they admired, with eager curiosity, 
 every thing that was set before them. Plates, 
 and knives and forks, w4th the rest of tho 
 table utensils, seemed peculiarly attractive, as 
 
■-m^sm^.^ 
 
 'iHimvTViZiS^am 
 
 190 
 
 A GLAN'CE AT ICELAND. 
 
 ' I 
 
 , I 
 
 ,-] I 
 
 well as hammers, (of one of which they became 
 possessed,) and other tools ; hut no sooner had 
 they expended their little store of goods, than 
 they passed over the same articles, as if they 
 valued them not, with the most striking self- 
 denial. I never before saw needy persons so 
 easily satisiied, or selfishness, in such a people, 
 so obviously and delicately subdued. To this 
 remark there was but one exception, and that 
 a justifiable one. In the course of the visit, I 
 ofl'ered to them, as a memorial of our inter- 
 course, a slip of paper, upon which I wrote 
 the name of the ship, with my own name, and 
 some brief observations. The writing utensils 
 proved so attractive as to overcome that delicate 
 self-denial which, in regard to other things, they 
 had so strikingly evinced. It was clear that our 
 female acquaintance was anxious to possess 
 them. I therefore presented her with the ink^ 
 bottle, pens, and a little paper, which she re- 
 ceived with the liveliest expression of thank- 
 fuhiess. She read the paper I had written, and 
 was delighted to find that my Christian name 
 was the same as her son's. Then, at my request, 
 she wrote with a ready hand the names of her- 
 self and friends. The character was somewhat 
 peculiar and antiquated. But to these circum- 
 stances is to be ascribed the remarkable fact 
 stated ])v Dr. Henderson, that whereas " our 
 
 
 m»iL' niwwww^eiCTwwn 
 
fl 
 
 A GLAN'CE AT ICELAND. 
 
 197 
 
 ablest antiquaries are often puzzled in endea- 
 vouring to decipher certain words and phrases 
 in writings which date their origin only a few 
 centuries back ; there is not a peasant, nor in- 
 deed scarcely a servant girl in Iceland, who is 
 not capable of reading with ease the most an- 
 cient documents extant on the island." The 
 general intelligence and literary acquirements of 
 the inhabitants of this remote, frigid, and for- 
 bidding country, have been the subject of in- 
 variable admiration of travellers ; particularly 
 where the only means of education, except occa- 
 sional catechising by their clergy, is, for the most 
 part, confined to domestic tuition, there being 
 (recently at least) but one school in the whole 
 island. 
 
 The writing utensils being done with, our fe- 
 male visitor disposed of the acceptable present, 
 by placing it along with a number of other arti- 
 cles, received as personal property, in the sleeve 
 of her skirta, under her arm, which seemed the 
 usual depository, answering the purpose of a 
 pocket. And it was amusing to observe what a 
 quantity and variety of articles disappeared in the 
 same receptacle. 
 
 After receiving some refreshment, which they 
 partook of with moderation, I showed the whole 
 party the different compartments of the cabin and 
 steerage, respecting which they evinced no little 
 
198 
 
 A GLANCE AT ICELAND. 
 
 curiosity. ]3ut my "state-room" proved the 
 place of greatest attraction. Being fitted uy» with 
 considerable neatness, its comforts and conveni- 
 ence formed such a contrast with their humble 
 bench, that it called forth, above every thing else 
 they had seen, their unbounded admiration. The 
 furniture of the bed, a chest of drawers, bookcase, 
 &c. were examined with the minutest attention ; 
 and nothing could be more striking than the pecu- 
 liar action and, to us, otherwise unintelligible 
 words, by which our female friend vividly ex- 
 pressed her conceptions of the happiness of the 
 possessor of so much comfort and splendour ! 
 
 Though at our first meeting we were not 
 aware that our languages had anything in com- 
 mon, and never thinking of the facility of com- 
 munication that we might have derived from the 
 Latin, we soon found that the dialects of York- 
 .shire and Scotland afford numbers of words ex- 
 actly according with the Gothic language of 
 Iceland. But independent of this assistance, 
 which aided us only in substantive words, the 
 quantity of intelligible intercourse afforded by 
 the imperfect medium of communication we pos- 
 sessed, was surprising. After the supj)ly of our 
 wants in fresh stock, there was little we wished 
 to communicate, but much we wished to observe, 
 for which their abundant expression, unrestrain- 
 ed and natural, afforded ample means. And with 
 
 ' t 
 
 'i 
 
 1 
 
■^■^'- :.-v^ 
 
 H 
 
 A GLANCE AT ICELAND. 
 
 lOJ) 
 
 111- 
 
 ith 
 
 them also, in so brief an intercourse, tlie know- 
 ledge of where we came from, or what we were, 
 proved secondary to the interest of the various 
 novelties before them. Theirs was not an en- 
 joyment of words — but of seeing, admiring, and 
 possessing. Therefore it was not words, but the 
 expressive indications of the interest they expe- 
 rienced, that conveyed to us any knowledge of 
 their feelings and character. And these specific 
 signs of feelings were sufficiently intelligible in 
 the language of nature, which indeed ever speaks 
 more forcibly to the heart by expression than by 
 words. Hence the foundation of all real affect- 
 ing eloquence is the exhibition of nature. Of 
 this we had a striking piX)of when our visitors 
 left us. It was to us a touching scene ; and 
 though simple and common-place, I shall at- 
 tempt to describe it : for I could not but feel, 
 on the occasion, the loss we sustain, of that which 
 is singularly delightful, by living in society re^i- 
 dered artificial by perpeaial intercourse, where 
 nature with its most bold as well as touching 
 traits, is either softened down or lost in cul- 
 tivation. 
 
 The weather having become again foggy, and 
 the night drawing in gloomy, though not dark, I 
 was not anxious to detain our visitors when they 
 moved to depart. As they arose from the table, 
 each one took my hand in succession, respect- 
 fully bowing and pronouncing the word Uikker, 
 
 , t 
 
t 
 
 200 
 
 A GLANCE AT ICELAND. 
 
 •■ Is 
 
 I then accompanied them on deck, prepared only 
 to expect a hasty repetition of the same acts on 
 taking" leave. But it was a more interesting 
 scene — especially Avith om* female friend. As 
 the others were about to embark, she came up 
 to me on the quarter-deck, her face beaming with 
 an extraordinary expression of gratitude and 
 affection ; and seizing my hand, she kissed it 
 with unrestrained but modest fervour. Accom- 
 panying the action with words full of earnest 
 eloquence, she pointed in the direction of the 
 hamlet, to assure me of a welcome there, — and 
 then, with a combined expression of dignity, 
 solemnity and devotion, she raised her hands, 
 and lifting up her face towards heaven, exhibited 
 her elevated feelings in a fervent and ardent 
 prayer ! Altogether, the scene was so peculiarly 
 touching, that one of my officers who stoud by, 
 unable to resist the impression her conduct in- 
 spired, exclaimed, in feeling accents, " Poor 
 thing ! poor thing 1" whilst he wiped with the 
 sleeve of his jacket the liberal tears of sympathy 
 that burst from his eyes and rolled down his 
 manly cheeks. How much Ave lose of the most 
 elevated enjoyments of the heart, by the stunted 
 subdued graft of sophisticated society supersed- 
 ing the animated lovely blossom of nature, and 
 too prevalently monopolizing the entire stem 
 upon which it is implanted! 
 In the scene before us, pleasing touches of 
 
..^it^mft-'tr.' 
 
 A GLANCE AT ICELAND. 
 
 201 
 
 As 
 
 of 
 
 L 
 
 nature appeared in others of the party as well as 
 in the person just spoken of. Her son was their 
 shepherd : the two sheep that were sold to us 
 were now to he resigned, — perhaps the first they 
 had sent away by the hands of strangers from 
 their pasture. As far as the elders of the family 
 were concerned the surrender had been made ; 
 but not so as to the generous youth. When the 
 party was ready to push off, the lad was missing. 
 Injury to the boat being hazarded by its repeated 
 striking against the side of the ship, an impa- 
 tient cry was raised for him, and search about 
 the decks immediately made. He was disco- 
 vered in one of our boats wherein the surren- 
 dered part of his flock w as deposited. He was 
 seen hugging them alternately round the neck, 
 and kissing them severally with mournful fer- 
 vour. He did so repeatedly ; and when he obvi- 
 ously tore himself from them, his eyes were cast 
 towards them with sorrowful longing glances as 
 he retired to the boat. 
 
 I have endeavoured to describe these simple 
 scenes, not only because to me they were inter- 
 esting and affecting, but because I trust they 
 were not unprofitable. Many of the most impor- 
 tant lessons of instruction taught us by our 
 adorable Saviour > are drawn from the ordinary 
 events of life ; and some of the most touching, 
 from scenes of unsophisticated nature. His own 
 
 k2 
 
 
Aitlwa,- 
 
 .! 
 
 I 
 
 f*' 
 
 f 
 
 S 
 rf 
 
 <■•' 
 
 lir 
 
 if •.: 
 
 i 
 
 :'!' 
 
 i : 
 
 ] 
 
 fi it 
 ^,1 ' 
 
 202 
 
 A GLANCE AT ICELAND. 
 
 pastoral office and character, our Lord often 
 illustrates under the figure of a Shepherd. He 
 calls himself the " Good Shepherd'* who knows 
 liis sheep, and is known of them, — who calleth 
 his sheep hy name, and leadeth them out, — and 
 who so loveth them, that he lays down his life 
 for them. These characteristics, however, of the 
 tender care and wonderful compassion of the 
 Redeemer of the world, striking and touching- as 
 in reality they are, too little impress our hearts. 
 We must visit scenes of unaftected nature like 
 these, to enable us to enter into their full mean- 
 ing, and to feel their force as we ought. 
 
 As soon as our interesting visitors were fairly 
 embarked, and had been carefully directed by us 
 in their return to the shore, we made sail and 
 stood out to sea. 
 
 I considered myself happy, by the opportunity 
 afforded me in this brief visit to northern Ice- 
 land, of giving the inhabitants of this remote 
 region a favourable impression as to the charac- 
 ter of my country. For it must be obvious to 
 those who are acquainted with the habits of 
 British seamen abroad, that they are generally 
 too regardless of this. Whilst no men have more 
 national pride, — none, perhaps, are less careful 
 of meriting the superiority they claim. Some 
 from levity — some from depraved habits — others 
 from mere thoughtlessness, (but the whole from 
 
 i' 
 
I 
 
 ■ Ij'-' ■ 
 
 1 
 
 A GLANCE AT ICELAND. 
 
 203 
 
 the general want of religious instruction, till 
 of very late years, among their class) have been 
 too apt to throw off all restraint in a foreign 
 land; and claiming to themselves an imperious 
 and unwarranted superiority, liave not unfre- 
 quently afforded a degrading specimen of the 
 inhabitants of the country to which they be- 
 long, and a miserable contrast to the character 
 of Christians, whose holy name they assume. 
 And as persons in general are naturally disposed 
 to form their opiinon of the character of a na- 
 tion rather from a few individual examples, than 
 from an enlarged view of the people, the miscon- 
 duct of a single ship's company has often, pro- 
 bably, done more to degrade the national charac- 
 ter, and to bring reproach upon the Christian 
 religion, than the labour of many years of zealous 
 exertion, on the part of the missionaries of our 
 holy faith, has been able to eradicate or restore. 
 But the time, it is ardently hoped, has arrived, 
 when, by the religious instruction of sailors, 
 under increasing efforts on their behalf, this evil 
 will begin to give place to the influencial ex- 
 hibition, through the means of pious seamen, 
 of real Christianity to the remotest regions of 
 the earth. 
 
 The character of the Icelanders, with whom 
 We were fortunate in meeting, — favourable &$ 
 

 i 
 
 1, 
 
 204 
 
 A GLANCE AT ICELAND. 
 
 these specimens might appear to be, — is consi- 
 dered by those most competent to give an opinion, 
 as but little above what may be considered the 
 type of the national character. For, with the 
 exception of Reykiavik, and one or two more of 
 the principal trading ports visited by foreigners, 
 — where unhappily foreign vices have had their 
 pernicious inoculation, — the general population 
 of Iceland, in their habits and dispositions, are 
 considered to be " a very moral and religious 
 people." Important and interesting is the en- 
 quiry, both with the moral philosopher and the 
 Christian, as to the origin of these characteristic 
 excellences. The enquiry, however, is easily 
 answered. The character of the Icelanders is 
 not a mere influence of nature, developed by 
 fortunate circumstances — not a mere happy ex- 
 hibition of heathen virtues ; but the result of 
 Scriptural tiiith, communicated, under favourable 
 influences, on the principles of the Reformation. 
 For from the earliest period of life at which the 
 mind can receive the blessed knowledge, their 
 youth are carefully instructed in the principles of 
 Christianity, and made regularly to attend to the 
 public and private exercises of devotion. Doubt- 
 less, there are many exceptions to the generally 
 exhibited consistent profession of Christianity, 
 and among the outwardly moral, as well as 
 those of hopeful profession, the usual examples 
 
 ! 
 
 V 
 
 
% 
 
 A GLANCE AT ICE LAN I). 
 
 20;i 
 
 I 
 
 V 
 
 of unsaving formality : but still, tlirough the 
 operation of the appointed instrumentality for 
 the regeneration of the world, — under the fa- 
 vourable circumstances of a scattered population , 
 freed from the many temi)tations and pernicious 
 effects of large societies, — a general character 
 is developed, singularly striking in its natural 
 beauties, and in no small degree blessed with 
 the inward and influential reception of that 
 Gospel which maketli wise unto salvation. 
 
 [ty, 
 
 as 
 
 les 
 
 At the time of the brief visit to the north of 
 Iceland now described, but little snow remained 
 upon the land : only here and there a patch on 
 the sides of the mountains, so far as we could 
 observe. Indeed the summer heat of the inte- 
 rior of the country is very considerable. And 
 on this occasion, when the coast was enveloped 
 in fog, we could perceive, on occasional breaks 
 through the external obscurity, that there was 
 a clear sky and bright sunshine in the region 
 of the Krabla ; indicating, that, whilst with us 
 there was a damp cool air, in the interior there 
 was dryness and warmth. Even at Langaness, 
 which, from its peninsular form and exposure to 
 cutting winds and frequent fogs, must present 
 an indifferent specimen of the country, there 
 was, in many places, near the shore a refreshing 
 verdure. 
 

 ft 
 
 k 
 
 I l-l' 
 
 1 1 
 
 it 
 ill 
 
 |i '! 
 
 20G 
 
 A (i LANCE AT I (ELAND. 
 
 The resources of tlic i)0(>i)le here, for subsis- 
 tence, are cattle and sheep, with fish and sea- 
 fowl. Their occupations, besides attending to 
 their cattle and fishing, are, on the part of the 
 females, extended to the manufacture of stock- 
 ings, mittens, and ivadmel, with the dressing of 
 skins, &c. ]3ut the knitting is undertaken rather 
 for winter amusement than for benefit ; as they 
 receive little or nothing more for this part of 
 their disposable property at the factories, than 
 for the raw material. 
 
 From the general haziness of the w^eather 
 whilst we remained near Langaness, we had but 
 a slight view of the interior of the country. For 
 a short time, indeed, the dense screen of cloud 
 that generally shrouded the interior dispersed ; 
 and the appearance of Krabla, among the sur- 
 rounding mountains, afforded associations of the 
 mighty powers of the volcano, and recalled the 
 vivid descriptions of Dr. Henderson and other 
 travellers, as to the devastations and w^onders 
 performed by these mightf subterranean furnaces. 
 Dr. Henderson visited Mount Krabla ; and there 
 is one circumstance so curious respecting it, 
 which he describes, that I cannot refrain from 
 mentioning it. This circumstance was, the re- 
 markable preservation of a church, in the terrific 
 irruption of the Leirhnukr and Krabla about a 
 century ago. The quantity of lava that flowed 
 
 i 
 
 ii 
 
m 
 
 A OLANCr: AT ICELAMl. 
 
 207 
 
 re 
 
 it, 
 
 m 
 
 ic 
 a 
 
 i 
 
 from these mountains was enormous, and the 
 devastation g-reat and extended. It was at 
 lleykiahlid, one of the farm-houses overrun by 
 the fiery stream, — but which was afterwards re- 
 built nearly on the s])ot — that the attention of Dr. 
 Henderson was directed to the church, which, in 
 almost a miracidous manner, escaped the p^eneral 
 conflagration. He thus describes this curious 
 circumstance : — " Keachinj^ the north-west cor- 
 ner of the low earthen wall by which the church- 
 yard is inclosed, the lava has been arrested in 
 its progress within about two feet of tiiC wall, 
 where, as if inspired with reverence for the con- 
 secrated ground, it has divided into two streams, 
 and jiursuing its course till it advanced about 
 twenty yards, when the streams have again 
 united, and left the chmcli completely unhurt in 
 the midst of the surrounding flames ! Some 
 parts of the stream, close to the wall, are more 
 than double the height 0/ the church P'' I relate 
 not this event superstitiously — nor do I comment 
 u2)on it; but I leave it with the observer's own 
 reflection. "Who knows," adds the writer, 
 " but the effectual fervent prayer of some pious 
 individual, or some designs of mercy, may have 
 been the cause fixed in the eternal purjDose of 
 Jehovah for the preservation of this edifice !"* 
 This i^ious reflection suggests, in the aptness of 
 
 * Henderson's Iceland, vol. i. p. 158, 
 
 

 ?08 
 
 A OLANCK AT ICELAND. 
 
 appropriali()n, a cheering tlioup^htj conccrninjj^ 
 the safety of our revered Church in this day of 
 her fiery trial. Under the prevalence of j)rayer 
 among her pious and devoted mcmhers, for the 
 peace and prosperity of their temporal Zion, we 
 have a consoling hope, yea, a confiding reliance — 
 and God grant that the reliance may be the more 
 confirmed by the pouring out amongst us of more 
 of the spirit of prayer ! — that the vehement 
 efforts directed against her may be graciously 
 frustrated. For notwithstanding the threatening 
 aspect of our enemies ; notwithstanding that the 
 various elements of infidelity, combined with 
 sect and party of professing Christians, appear 
 now, like the dissimilar materials in the volcanic 
 caldron, assimilating into a common mass, and 
 threatening with their destructive torrents the 
 walls of the Establishment, — yet our confiding 
 hope, under the good providence of God, is this, 
 — that the fiery stream will either be restrained, 
 or, if it must still further be poured out, directed 
 aside ! 
 
) 
 
 idiiig 
 this, 
 hied. 
 
 MEMORIALS OF THE SEA. 
 
 
 ^Ijt JHail) 3UU8SCII. 
 
p^^" 
 
THE xMARY RUSSELL. 
 
 "suppose ye that these oaml,t?avs were sivners above am. t»k 
 oalili^axs, because they suffered such thivos ? i tell you, 
 xay : but, except ye repent, ye shat-l alt likewise perish." 
 — Luke xm. 2-3. 
 
 Chapter I. 
 
 NARRATIVE OF THE VOYAGE OF THE BRIG MARY RUSSELL ON 
 
 THE HOMEWARD PASSAGE FROM BARBADOES TO CORK ; 
 
 WITH THE TRAGICAL PROCEEDINGS THEREON. 
 
 m 
 
 Section I. — Iniroduciory Remarks. 
 
 The Novelist, professing to give a story in re- 
 semblance of real life, is limited, in the excur- 
 sions of his imagination, by the bomicls of proba- 
 bility ; or, when ministering even to a morbid 
 taste for the marvellous — if he would preserve a 
 due respect for his own judgment, or for the inte- 
 rest of his Avork — he is obliged to keep within the 
 limits of what may aj^pear to be reasonahly jws- 
 sihle : the narrator of truth, however, has no such 
 limitations, either from probability or apparent 
 possibility, but only the limits of the facts. For 
 in this case truth determines the possibility, and 
 not possibility the truth. A reference to rational 
 
212 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 possibility, indeed, may serve as a check upon 
 deception, mistake, or wilful exaggeration ; but 
 can have no influence on facts, however extra- 
 ordinary. 
 
 These remarks on the independency of facts 
 on the ordinary limits of credibility are not pre- 
 sented, as introductory to the present memorial, 
 because any question can arise respecting the 
 truth of statements rigidly substantiated as these 
 have been ; but because of the im^^ression on my 
 own mind, on the first intimation of the event, 
 that it was altogether incredible. 
 
 The case I refer to was the unexampled mas- 
 sacre on board the brig Mary Russell, of Cork, 
 in the summer of the year 1 828 ; — a transaction 
 so extraordinary in its nature, so horrific in its 
 details, and so tragical in its results, as to outrage, 
 as it seemed, all common credence ; a transaction 
 likewise, if estimated with reference to the num- 
 ber of persons engaged in it, and to the instru- 
 mentality by which it was accomplished — calcu- 
 lated to set the ordinary misfortunes and calami- 
 ties to which human life is subject, in the distant 
 shade. 
 
 This vessel — the Mary Russell — was brought 
 into Cork Harbour on the evening of Wednesday 
 the 25th of June, with the greater part of its 
 crew and passengers lying dead on the cabin 
 floor ; and, strange and unprecedented as the fact 
 
m 
 
 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 
 
 213 
 
 ction 
 
 n its 
 
 rage, 
 
 tion 
 
 um- 
 
 Istru- 
 
 Icu- 
 
 ,mi- 
 
 tant 
 
 ight 
 iday 
 its 
 ibin 
 fact 
 
 
 may seem, all this horrid carnage was accom- 
 plished, with some little preliminary help from 
 the boys on board, by the hands of one indivi- 
 dual, less robust than any of his victims — the 
 Captain ! 
 
 On the morning of Thursday, about twelve 
 hours after the arrival of the vessel in port, being 
 myself on a visit at Corkbegg, on the harbour of 
 Cork, at the time, I happened to be crossing the 
 water to Cove, when a gentleman in the boat, 
 pointing to a brig at anchor, remarked, that 
 * that, he believed, was the vessel of which the 
 crew was reported to be murdered.' Such an 
 intimation, of course, produced an intense and 
 painful desire to ascertain the fact. After land- 
 ing one of the party, a lady, at her destination 
 near Cove, we returned with excited, anxious, 
 and incredulous feelings, towards the anchorage. 
 The rippled water reflected the bright rays of an 
 unclouded sun in playful sparklings, and there 
 was nothing in outward nature accordant with a 
 scene of blood ; neither w as there anything in 
 the external appearance of the vessel calculated 
 either to indicate mortal conflict, or to justify the 
 rumour which we had heard. One solitary man, 
 like an Officer of Customs, was seen pacing in 
 ordinary form and step the starboard side of the 
 deck. We hailed, as we approached the gang- 
 way ; and, too much excited to speak in measured 
 
 % 
 
rt»**i**jaSu»ss%5!,i -;; 
 
 •214 
 
 THE MARY RCSSELL. 
 
 #«; 
 
 words, abruptly asked, * whether a murder had 
 been committed there ?' The answer of the 
 person in charge was prom2:»t and accordant, — 
 " It is too true; — and here they are, all lying 
 dead !" On ascending the deck we were pointed 
 aft to the cabin skylight, where a scene of car- 
 nage so api^alling was exhibited, as to render, by 
 sympathy, association, and memory combined, 
 the impression indelible. Whilst contemplating 
 the dreadful spectacle — two boys, who had been 
 witnesses of all its circumstances, made their 
 appearance, and freely communicated the leading 
 ^particulars of the sanguinary transaction. Two 
 surviving seamen, severely wounded, whose lives 
 hac' ^een almost miraculously preserved from the 
 fate of their comrades, were then, we found, on 
 board of an adjoining vessel — the schooner 
 Mary Stubbs — ^by the crew of which the ill- 
 fated Mary Russell had been brought into port. 
 These, with two more boys, constituted the rem- 
 nant of the persons embarked at Barbadoes 
 who had escaped the massacre. The author of 
 this frightful desolation and misery had, for the 
 time, escaped. 
 
 Whilst the heart sickened at the scene we 
 contemplated, the thoughts naturally turned to 
 the mystery of Providence in permitting so dread- 
 ful a carnage. But overwhelmed with the ap- 
 palling spectacle, and bewildered by the extent , 
 
 ■ 
 
 ..^..••Xft - 
 
i 
 
 Two 
 
 lives 
 the 
 
 I, on 
 
 oner 
 ill- 
 ort. 
 
 L'em- 
 
 oes 
 
 r of 
 
 the 
 
 we 
 to 
 lead- 
 
 ap- 
 itent 
 
 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. 
 
 •215 
 
 of misery in murdered men, and widowed wi\ e«, 
 and fatherless children, — the mind found present 
 rejiose only in the consideration of the infinite 
 perfection of His ways, however inscrutable, who 
 reigneth over all the earth ; and shrinking, at the 
 time, from other conclusions, reflection resulted 
 in the apostrophe, after the manner of an inspired 
 apostle, — ' O the depth of the mystery of the 
 Providence of God ! — how unsearchable are His 
 judgments, and his ways past finding out.' 
 
 But not to anticipate farther the facts and 
 reflections to which, in the progress of this Me- 
 morial, we shall be more directly guided, I pro- 
 ceed to narrate such particulars of this memorable 
 voyage, as may serve to elicit the causes which 
 led to the frightful transaction, and to explain the 
 marvel how this extensive massacre was accom- 
 pl'shed by such apparently inadequate power. 
 
 Section II. — Preparations for, and progress 
 on, the homeward voyage : Captain'' s suspi' 
 clons of an intended mutiny. 
 
 • 
 
 The brig Mary Russell, commanded by Wil- 
 liam Stew^art, an inhabitant of Cove, had sailed in 
 the winter of 1827-8 from Cork for Barbadoes 
 with a cargo of mules, which were safely landed 
 at their destination. Sugar, hides, and other ; > 
 produce of the island, to the value, exclusive of . 
 
 fri.- 
 
S5HBS 
 
 |i 
 
 ! 
 
 
 
 ■I 
 
 I 1 
 
 J 
 
 n 
 
 •f 
 
 I 
 
 i i 
 
 'V 
 
 216 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 duty, of about £4000, were then taken in as their 
 homeward cargo for Cork. 
 
 The crew of the vessel, on this occasion, con- 
 sisted of the Captain, six men, and three boys. 
 There were also on board, two muleteers, or 
 ostlers, who had gone out in charge of the mules 
 constituting the previous cargo ; a delicate boy, 
 who had accompanied the vessel throughout 
 the voyage for his health ; and a sailor, Cap- 
 tain Raynes, who had embarked at Barbadoes 
 as passenger. 
 
 ., The following is a list of all the persons on 
 board : — William Stewart, of Cove, master of the 
 brig; William Sraith, chief-mate ; William Swan- 
 son, second mate ; John Cramer, carjoenter ; John 
 Howes, seatnan ; Francis Sullivan, seaman ; John 
 Keating, seaman ; James Raynes, passenger ; 
 Timothy Connell, an ostler, passenger ; James 
 Murley, an ostler, passenger; John Deaves, senior 
 apprentice, aged about 15 years; Henry Rickards, 
 apprentice, aged about 10 or 12 ; Daniel Scully, 
 apprentice, aged about 13 ; Thomas Hammond, a 
 boy, passenger. 
 
 Captain Raynes, whose pi f^nce on board the 
 Mary Russell seems to have t en the occasion, 
 however blamelessly on his part, of the subse- 
 quent tragical events, had gone out to Barbadoes 
 in the capacity of chief-mate of a vessel, having 
 been deprived of his commaud uii account of a 
 
 
 c 
 
^^ 
 
 HOMEWARD VOYAGE. 
 
 217 
 
 their 
 
 con- 
 boys. 
 s, or 
 nules 
 ;boy, 
 ^hout 
 Cap- 
 tadoes 
 
 ns on 
 of the 
 Swan- 
 John 
 John 
 nger ; 
 ames 
 senior 
 kards, 
 cully, 
 ond, a 
 
 Ird the 
 lasion, 
 
 Isubse- 
 )adoes 
 laving 
 it of a 
 
 recently acquired habit of intemperance. It 
 would appear that he and his Captain did not, 
 on trial, agree, which induced them to sepa/ate 
 after their arrival out ; and Raynes sought for a 
 passage home in the Mary Russell. At first his 
 application was peremptorily refused ; but Cap- 
 tain Stewart unfortunately finding that he could 
 not get a passage elsewhere, subsequently 
 yielded to his request, and kindly permitted him 
 to embark in the brig for Cork. 
 
 Whilst the vessel remained in port, no appre- 
 hension of disagreement among the persons on 
 board was at all entertained ; but early in their 
 homeward voyage, which commenced on tlie 9th 
 of May, 1828, Captain Stewart began to harbour 
 a strong and increasing suspicion of a mutiny 
 being meditated, on the part of his passenger, 
 Raynes, and some of his crew. This suspicion 
 seems to have been first excited by a dream, 
 which, on a mind naturally and habitually su- 
 perstitious, had a very powerful effect. He com- 
 municated the circumstance to his chief-mate, 
 obseiTing, ' that God Almighty had warned him 
 in a dream that Raynes meditated his destruction 
 and the seizure of the vessel, in order, as he sup- 
 posed, to avoid the mortification of returning to 
 a port where he had ceased to be respected, and 
 from whence he had no longer the expectation of 
 obtaining a command.* 
 
 L 
 
 I 
 
 if 
 
 1 1 
 
 u 
 
 It 
 

 » 
 
 
 I! 
 
 H 
 
 I 
 
 .-if! 
 
 Si 
 
 J ! 
 
 218 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 Through the medium of this strong im- 
 pression, distortive in its operation as the jaun- 
 diced eye, Captain vStewart suspiciously examin- 
 ed everything that passed in the vessel, and 
 construed circumstances and conduct, which 
 would otherwise have been passed over as per- 
 fectly indifferent, into the assurance of proof. 
 Among the early occurrences after his dream, 
 which excited his observation, was the circum- 
 stance of Raynes associating a good deal with 
 the crew, to whose compartment of the vessel he 
 was in the habit of retiring to shave himself, and 
 with some of whom he was occasionally heard 
 conversing in Irish, a language which Stewart 
 did not understand. This, under the influence 
 of awakened suspicion, annoyed the Captain 
 greatly, and he seriously remonstrated with his 
 passenger ujion the impropriety of his conduct; 
 but it does not appear that he afterwards gave any 
 real occasion for complaint, either in this or in 
 any other respect. The mind of Captain Stewart, 
 however, was strongly and extravagantly im- 
 pressed with the conviction of an intended 
 mutiny; and this extravagance of apprehension 
 was no doubt augmented, by the fostering of his 
 suspicion, and the want of repose which ensued. 
 In order to guard himself against a surprise, 
 the Captain, about a week after sailing, called 
 SwansoUj the second mate, to sleep in the cabin! 
 
SU.SriCIOXS OF AN INTENDED >ri:TINY. 219 
 
 im- 
 
 |aun- 
 miii- 
 
 and 
 v'hicli 
 i per- 
 proof. 
 ream, 
 rcum- 
 l with 
 isel he 
 If, and 
 
 heard 
 tewart 
 
 hience 
 
 aptahi 
 
 th his 
 
 nduct ; 
 
 ,ve any 
 
 or in 
 
 ewart, 
 
 y ^^' 
 ended 
 
 ension 
 
 of his 
 
 nsued. 
 
 rprise, 
 
 called 
 
 cahin 
 
 for his protection; and he siihsequently *- "ployed 
 Sullivan and Council in the same service : whilst 
 the chief mate, — who, from his confession of an 
 unjustifiahle transaction in which he once bore a 
 ])art, had destroyed his Captain's confidence in 
 his fidelity, — was sid)sequently ordered out of his 
 berth in the cabin, to sleep in the half-deck. For 
 his personal defence he armed himself with a 
 harpoon, an axe, an instrument called granes, 
 and a crow-bar. 
 
 His conduct now became more and more par- 
 ticidar. He was agitated, watchful, and increas- 
 ingly suspicious. He ordered the mate to walk the 
 deck armed with the granes and a knife. He took 
 alarm from the most trilling circumstances. The 
 seaman Howes having asked for instruction as 
 to the method of taking lunar observations, with 
 which the Captain was very familiar, excited the 
 apprehension that he wished for this knowledge 
 for a bad j)urpose. Keating again having put to 
 him the unfortunate question, whether Captain 
 Raynes was a good navigator } suggested the 
 thought, that the crew were looking to the object 
 of his suspicions for their future master. 
 
 About midway home, these suspicious inter- 
 pretations of what passed around him, had 
 arisen to such a height, that he called all hands 
 aft, and told them that * from the various circum- 
 stances above mentioned, which he had noticed. 
 
 ) 
 
220 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 I 
 it 
 
 N 
 
 '3 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 he had strong reasons to suspect some harm 
 was m tended him ;' but the unqualified denial on 
 the part of the men of any such intention, Avith 
 their apparent sincerity in their professions of 
 duty to him, seemed to operate favourably on his 
 mind. The result of this proceedingj therefore, 
 was at first to allay, in a considerable degree, his 
 previous apprehensions ; — the partial restoration 
 of confidence, however, was but of short duration. 
 His anxiety and watchfulness returned ; and the 
 exciting feelings being encouraged and fostered, 
 naturally increased to a baneful extent the irri- 
 tation of his mind. 
 
 Confirmed in the idea of a mutiny being de- 
 signed — he endeavoured to repel the danger, not 
 only by personal watchfulness and vhe appointing 
 of guards, but also by the careful removal of most 
 of the apparatus and instruments generally con- 
 sidered essential in practical navigation. And 
 that this latter precaution might have its full 
 effect on the minds of the persons about him, 
 he called the chief-mate," with Captain Raynes 
 and a boy, into the cabin, and said * he would 
 shew them something they had never seen be- 
 fore.' Then, after charging Raynes with speak- 
 ing Irish, as a proof of a design to corrupt the 
 crew, he ordered the log-reel and glasses to be 
 thrown overboard through the cabin window, 
 which was done. He afterwards threw his box of 
 
 
 
\ 
 
 1, 
 
 iarm 
 lion 
 with 
 IS of 
 a his 
 ifore, 
 5, his 
 ation 
 xtion. 
 d the 
 tored, 
 3 irri- 
 
 [g de- 
 r, not 
 mting 
 most 
 con- 
 And 
 ts fuU 
 him, 
 Laynes 
 iwould 
 m he- 
 ^peak- 
 )t the 
 to be 
 |ndow, 
 
 )0X of 
 
 SUSriCIONS OF AN INTENDED M iiNV. . H 
 
 charts overhoard ; ohserving', in reply to a remark 
 of the mate, — " they are my own, and I can make 
 more." And lastly, he openly tore the leaves out 
 of the log-book, commanding his of!icei*s, as they 
 stood by in amazement, not to keep any more 
 reckoning. All this was done for producing an 
 impression among the persons on board, and with 
 a view of perplexing them should they attempt 
 to seize the vessel. 13ut he had a sufficient and 
 secret reserve, as he himself afterwards told me, 
 of a log-glass and some spare line, the last leaf 
 of the log-book, and also a chart belonging to 
 Captain Raynes, which he secreted under his bed, 
 lest he should afterwards get into difficulty for 
 the destruction of property not his own. With 
 these things in reserve, therefore, he had the 
 means, as occasion might enable him to employ 
 them, for keeping an imperfect kind of reckoning 
 from day to day. Being himself, however, an 
 expert navigator, he relied chiefly, for the deter- 
 mination of the position of the ship, on celestial 
 observations, which he continued sedulously at 
 every opportunity to take and calculate, up to the 
 very day preceding the final catastrophe. 
 
 Such was the excited and harassing condition 
 of mind in which the commander of the Mary 
 Russell pursued his homeward voyage. Looking 
 only to himself for preservation against the sus- 
 pected designs of a whole conspiring crew, he 
 
c. ' --1- 
 
 '^ 
 
 
 Rj 
 
 j 
 
 
 TIIK MAllV KLSSCLL. 
 
 was neccssarilv intciiselv anxious ; whereas had 
 he had a confiding reliance un that watchful and 
 gracious Providence ruling over the earth, in 
 which he firmly helieved — a Providence irresistihly 
 powerful in controlling the wrath of men, and 
 minute even to the exercise of a distinctive i)er- 
 mission before the insigniiicant sparrow can fall 
 to the ground, — then he might have retired to his 
 cabin in the consoling assurance that no decree 
 of man, contrary to the Divine will, could possi- 
 bly prosper, and that all things must be wisely 
 ordered concerning him. Had such a nse of his 
 belief in a superintending and guiding Providence 
 now been happily made, — not only would his mind 
 have received consolation amid all his apprehend- 
 ed perils, but he would have been preserved, in 
 all probability, from that awful perversion of 
 what he supposed to be " the linger of God," by 
 which he was incited to such a tremendous inflic- 
 tion of misery upon his fellow-men, as to revert 
 in horror and woe upon himself. 
 
 Were the doctrine of Providential superin- 
 tendance and special guidance reduced to ge- 
 neral practice among mankind, — what an amazing 
 amount of misery, as well as of sin, would be 
 saved to the world at large ! For if in all things, 
 by prayer and supplications, with thanksgivings, 
 our requests were made known, and our. ways were 
 committed, believingly, unto God, doubtless this 
 
1 
 
 mn- 
 ge- 
 
 vAug 
 be 
 
 Hgs, 
 
 ^ere 
 this 
 
 captain's rRECArTioN>;. 
 
 
 A 
 
 dcclarod result of Sacred Writ would 1)C one of 
 jj^eiieral experience — the enjoyment of the ' })eacc 
 of'Ciod which ])a.ssetli all understanding;", keeping 
 our liearts and minds through Jesus Christ'! 
 
 SlXTiON III. — Preen N/ionfi of ilir Captaiti for 
 scl/'-prcscrrafion, — C/iuf OjU'iccr puf utidcr re- 
 ft/rrtuff^ — sHCcess/'tfl device for securuKj the 
 vtojoriltj of Ihe crew. 
 
 Approaching now the period of the fatal trans- 
 action, a more minute record of each day's pro- 
 ceedings will be recpiisite. 
 
 On the night of Wednesday (18th, 10th June), 
 the chief-mate, Mr. Smith, having charge of the 
 middle watch, had occasion, soon after he went 
 upon deck, to go down to the nail locker, situated 
 in the steerage, or 2:)assagc to the cabin, to obtain 
 oil for the binnacle lamp, which seemed to be 
 burning out. After a very short interval the 
 light again became dim, and he went down a 
 second, and then a third time, to the nail-locker, 
 for materials or implements with which to trim 
 the lamp. The repeated footsteps of the mate in 
 his passage to and fro, betwixt the deck and the 
 steerage, were anxiously observed by the wakeful 
 Captain, who, ignorant of the real cause, supr 
 posed that the midnight trespasser there must be 
 in search of some deadly instrument, whereby 
 
•■v:ii«^4,**;ia««iiiiii.*»^ii^ , 
 
 224 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 m 
 
 ■h 
 
 ■' fi 
 
 to prosecute the suspected murderous purpose 
 against himself. And so powerfully was this 
 conviction impressed on his mind, that, when he 
 arose in the morning, he proceeded forthwith to 
 the half-deck hatchway, (beneath which the mate 
 at that time slept,) to ascertain whether or not the 
 then object of his suspicions was in his berth. 
 Smith, who had retired to his hammock immedi- 
 ately at the close of his watch, responded to the 
 call of his name ; on which the Captain remark- 
 ed, that ' it was well for him, after the proceed- 
 ings of the night, that he was there ; for if he 
 had found him forward amongst the crew, he 
 should have put him to death as a mutineer !' 
 The supposed culprit, who had always professed 
 to be the Captain's trusty friend, expressed a very 
 natural surprise at this declaration, — a feeling 
 which was not a little increased on his being 
 menaced with a blow from a harpoon which the 
 Captain pointed to his breast, whilst charging 
 him with being the ringleader of a mutinous party 
 arrayed against him. The appearance of the 
 crew gathering about the hatchway at his sum- 
 mons, induced frequent appeals to them, as to the 
 truth of his suspicions : and so far was he satisfied 
 with the apparent sincerity with which they 
 spumed uie charge as applying to themselves, 
 that at length he shook hands with them indi- 
 vidually, and declared that * they were all honest 
 
 
CHIEF OFFICER PUT UNDER RESTRAINT. 2'25 
 
 rging 
 
 )arty 
 
 the 
 
 Isum- 
 
 lo the 
 
 isfied 
 
 they 
 
 felves, 
 
 lindi- 
 
 mest 
 
 t 
 
 men, except the mate, who, he was satisfied, 
 designed evil against him.' Under this conviction 
 of the guilt of Smith, he ordered the men ahout 
 him to seize him, and tie his hands behind his 
 back. This, however, they all hesitated to do, — 
 Sullivan remarking, " If we lash the mate with- 
 out reason, he will take the law of us when we 
 get home." Howes also made a similar obser- 
 vation ; and added, that * he did not see any- 
 thing the matter with the mate.' Unwilling, 
 therefore, to obey the order, as if by one consent, 
 they walked away ; and the mate himself, who 
 had joined his comrades on deck, whilst the par- 
 ley was going on, retired below. 
 
 The effect of this resistance of the will of the 
 Captain was speedily manifest. His suspicions, 
 by the disobedience of his crew to what he 
 considered a necessary order, were the more con- 
 firmed, and he became greatly enraged. With a 
 view of pacifying the anger which the crew had 
 thus excited, three of them — K<.dting, Connell, 
 and Swanson, — united in the endeavour to prevail 
 upon the mate to set the mind of the Captain at 
 ease, by submitting to be bound. And to this he 
 at length consented. On ascending the deck, he 
 found the Captain walking about now armed 
 with a brace of pistols, which he had obtained on 
 board the Mary Harriet, — a vessel from New York 
 to Liverpool, from which they had just before re- 
 
 l2 
 
f 
 
 \f 
 
 
 
 
 \^ 
 
 1'! 
 
 
 ■ >; 
 
 • 
 
 'I 
 
 it 
 
 226 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 ceivcd supplies. Approacliiii^ his agitated com- 
 mander, the yielding officer presented his united 
 hands, and accosted him, saying, "Here! tic 
 away !" His hands were accordingly secured ; 
 and he then retired, in submission to the Cap- 
 tain's orders, into the lazaretto, a com])artment 
 beneath the cabin floor. There breakfast was 
 brought to him, — the only nourishment he re- 
 ceived for that and the two following days. 
 During this period of three days, indeed, he re- 
 mained in solitary conhnement ; the Captain 
 only having visited him occasionally to examine 
 the security of his lashings, and once, accompa- 
 nied by the carpenter, who was directed to make 
 a hole in the cabin deck for the admission of 
 air to the almost exhausted prisoner. 
 
 The Captain's suspicions, however, were by no 
 means allayed. So far, indeed, were his anxious 
 apprehensions from being removed by the mea- 
 sure of security he had already adopted, that, on 
 the contrary, he became strongly impressed with 
 the necessity and practicability of the confine- 
 ment of his whole crew, — an attempt, apparently, 
 so unlikely and absurd, as to set the ordinary fear 
 of personal danger, — in the case of nine able- 
 bodie>d men against one individual of inferior 
 strength to almost any of them, — completely at 
 rest. But in this case, as in some of the most 
 extraordinary results of adventure in warfare, 
 
DEVICE F\3R SECURING THE CREW. 
 
 007 
 
 •y no 
 
 LlOllS 
 
 iiea- 
 |t, on 
 »vith 
 ne- 
 
 tly, 
 
 fear 
 
 ble- 
 
 rior 
 
 at 
 
 ost 
 
 are, 
 
 « 
 
 ? 
 
 the apparent madness of the attempt it was, 
 which, by 2>reventing anticipation 1)y suspicion, 
 rendered the attempt possible ! 
 
 At noon on Saturday, the 21st of June, the 
 brig had reached the latitude of 50"^ N., lonj;i- 
 tude 19° 50' W., about 400 miles to the W.8.W. 
 of Cape Clear. They were at that time steering, 
 with a fair wind and line weather, for the entrance 
 of the English Channel. As, however, there 
 was too much sail on the vessel for her navii* ation 
 into port single-handed, the Captain commenced 
 the execution of his astonishing plan, by order- 
 ing the head-sails to be furled, and the main- 
 top sail to be close reefed. Strange as this order, 
 under existing circumstances, was, the yielding 
 crew, — not questioning the reason, if any reason 
 was given, nor caring to speculate on the conse- 
 quence, where there were no signs of danger, 
 — began to put it into execution. J kit they never 
 suspected, — for it was not likely to enter into the 
 imagination of man, — that they were preparing 
 for a work of carnage on themselves, so extraor* 
 dinary as to prevent anticipation by the most sus- 
 picious mind, yet so certain in its operation as to 
 defy resistance by the most herculean strength. 
 
 For so it was, whilst thus the unconscious sea- 
 liien ^\ ere shortening sail, a scheme designed to 
 betray them into helpless confind&ent, was be- 
 ginning to be carried secretly into eJBfect, and 
 
 
■'^■fri'i^i'mmsitmi,^ 
 
 228 
 
 THE MARY IIUSSKLL. 
 
 
 with such consummate art and arrangement, 
 that nearly the whole of the people on hoard 
 were brought completely under the power of their 
 Captain, for life or death, before they became 
 at all aware of personal danger. And e> ory step 
 of the proceeding was effected with such surpris- 
 ing address, that each one, almost to the very last 
 man who remained upon deck, was utterly un- 
 conscious of the condition of his comrades, who 
 had previously disappeared, until he himself 
 being pinioned, (for aught he knew or suspected 
 alone,) was ushered into the interior of the cabin 
 apartments, among his similarly subdued ship- 
 mates ! 
 
 Though the Captain, in all principal matters, 
 was the sole and unaided instrument in the exe- 
 cution of his own amazing plan; yet, in his 
 preparatory measures, he found it necessary to 
 endeavour to obtain the confidence and aid of 
 some of the boys. And in this attempt, unhap-. 
 pily for his devoted crew, he experienced no 
 disappointment. Having first succeeded in im- 
 pressing their minds with a belief in his own 
 suspicions as to an intended mutiny, he then 
 enforced his claims upon them chiefly by these 
 two considerations : — he threatened them, on the 
 one hand, with instant death, by means of the 
 pistols with which he w as armed, in the event of 
 their betraying himj and he persuaded and 
 
 f 
 S 
 
 
■ji-^rt-raMPi 
 
 DEVICK FOU SECUIUN(i TIIK CREW. 
 
 2-2& 
 
 lent, 
 loard 
 their 
 came 
 
 step 
 •pris- 
 f last 
 y un- 
 
 who 
 mself 
 ected 
 cabin 
 ship- 
 
 .tters, 
 exe- 
 his 
 ry to 
 id of 
 hap-, 
 no 
 im- 
 own 
 then 
 hese 
 the 
 the 
 t of 
 and 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 it 
 
 bribed them, on the other hand, by the assiu*anee 
 of * great pecuniary reward, sufficient to make 
 them gentlemen, from the mider-writers of 
 Lloyd's, for their brave exertions, should they 
 give him effectual aid in his purpose of subduing 
 the contemplated mutiny.' By the influence of 
 these considerations his purpose was ctfectually 
 gained ; the boys, unfortunately for themselves 
 and for humanity, proved too faithful to their 
 desperate leader. The plan, thus feebly and 
 critically to be supported by the steadfastness 
 of mere children, succeeded, as already inti- 
 mated, in so astonishing a manner, that not 
 one of the ten thousand chances which might 
 have defeated it either in limine or in its pro- 
 gress, occurred. Mysterious as the dispensation 
 of God therein must be fe.t to be, so much at 
 least was manifest, — that His special restraining 
 Providence was mainly suspended — that Satan 
 was let loose with murderous power — that what- 
 ever the subtlety of man's great enemy could de- 
 vise, and the carnal depraved heart of a misguided 
 man be made to receive, was allowed, with little 
 abatement of purpose, to be successfully carried 
 into effect ! 
 
 In order to explain the practicability, however, 
 of a purpose so astonishing being accomplished 
 upon such a body of men, whilst they retained a 
 single spark of common instinct, much more of 
 
'* ■^"■'^''"~^i'%'mmv»i*i ^- 
 
 r 
 
 1 
 
 1 ■ 
 
 .'I 
 
 n 
 
 . 
 
 h 
 
 
 
 230 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 common reason, it will be needful to give some 
 description of the cabin of the brig, and to enter 
 more into the detail of the proceedings in this 
 unprecedented transaction. 
 
 The cabin of the Mary Russell, which I visited 
 and examined minutely on the arrival of the ves- 
 sel at the Custom-house quay, at Cork, measured 
 about 12 feet across, by 8 or 9 feet fore and aft, 
 on the floor ; and the height was about 5 feet 
 10 inches clear of the beams of the upper deck. 
 The entrance to the cabin was by a staircase on 
 the larboard side of the quarter deck, shieldetl 
 by a small " companion" oj^ening towards the 
 stern, and situated far aft, very near the taff- 
 vail. Such was the position and construction of 
 the companion, that no person on the main-deck, 
 or forward, or aloft in the rigging, could perceive 
 anything that was going on either in the steerage 
 or in the cabin. The cabin was lighted both by 
 windows in the stern, and by a small skylight in 
 the quarter deck. On each side of the cabin was 
 an open berth, in one of which, — that on the 
 starboard side, — young Hammond, the invalid 
 boy, slept; a position which he occupied, without 
 shield or screen, during the most terrific period 
 of the subsequent transactions. At the fore part 
 of the cabin, near the sides, were entrances into 
 the master's and mate's berths ; and betwixt the 
 two, amidships, was an enclosed space of about 
 
f 
 
 1 
 
 this 
 
 is the 
 [ taff. 
 on of 
 deck, 
 ceive 
 erage 
 hby 
 ht in 
 was 
 11 the 
 alid 
 hout 
 riod 
 part 
 into 
 the 
 out 
 
 
 DF,VICE FOR SFXrRING THE CREW. 231 
 
 six feet square on the floor, usually employed as 
 a hread-room. 
 
 After this description, we shall be prepared to 
 comprehend the process by which the commander 
 of the Mary Russell was enabled to accomplish 
 his extraordinary purpose. 
 
 Whilst part of the hands, — consisting of 
 Kaynes, two seamen and a boy — were employed 
 about 2 r.M. of Saturday, in putting* the vessel 
 under a snug sail, according to the orders of the 
 Captain already described, the deeply-laid plot 
 against the liberty of the unconscious crew and 
 passengers was thus commenced. The Captain 
 himself, whilst standing by the companion, re- 
 quested Timothy Connell, one of the ostlers, 
 (whom he called familiarly by name,) to come 
 down with him into the cabin ; an order which 
 was promptly and unsuspectingly obeyed. A far 
 different reception, lioweve , from what he had 
 imagined, awaited him there. A pistol was 
 pointed to his breast by the hand of his now 
 resolute Captain, who called upon him 'to con- 
 fess the truth, or he would blow his brains out.' 
 Then, under the charge of being a party in an in- 
 tended mutiny, which his confused anr* alarmed 
 manner was considered as verifying, he was 
 ordered, by directions given to one of the boys, 
 to be forthwith bound. Fearing the conse- 
 quences of a refusal, before one so armed and 
 
 » -,;, 
 
ir«>^t<*~>-'*rt«5«j^saj,jj^,. 
 
 fi32 
 
 THE MAllV RUSSELL. 
 
 V I 
 
 apparently so determined, the man submitted ; 
 and when properly secured, he was forthwith 
 removed into one of the interior cabins, out of 
 sight ! 
 
 No sooner was this first attempt in the plan 
 fairly accomplished, than the boy Deaves was 
 sent forward to call one of the seamen, John 
 Keating, into the cabin, with a view to similar 
 treatment. And in a manner so usual and natu- 
 ral did the boy deliver his message, that the first 
 consciousness the poor fellow had of any thing 
 particular in the summons, was suddenly awak- 
 ened as he came to the foot of the staircase, by 
 the appalling sight of a brace of pistols clapped 
 to his head ! Thus unexpectedly assailed, and 
 sternly charged, like the former individual, with 
 a design of mutiny and murder, he was likewise 
 commanded, under the penalty of instant death, 
 to submit to be bound. Bewildered by the sin- 
 gularity and peril of his situation, and overawed 
 by an authority not to be resisted, this second 
 subject of the deep-laid scheme became a ready 
 and yielding victim. Whilst the now self-confi- 
 dent commander stood over his prisoner with his 
 deadly weapons, the boy, Deaves, obedient to the 
 orders given him, temporarily tied his hands be- 
 hind his back ; when — being thus incapacitated 
 from rising against his opponent, and being pre- 
 vented from giving any alarm by the threat of 
 
DEVICE FOR SECURING THE CREW. 
 
 233 
 
 tted ; 
 iwith 
 ►ut of 
 
 ! plan 
 3 was 
 John 
 imilar 
 natu- 
 le first 
 thing 
 awak- 
 Lse, by- 
 lapped 
 d, and 
 with 
 iewise 
 death, 
 e sin- 
 awed 
 econd 
 ready 
 ■confi- 
 h his 
 to the 
 s be- 
 itated 
 pre- 
 jat of 
 
 n 
 
 
 being shot if he did so — the Captain took upon 
 himself the business of applying more effectual 
 lashings, and then conveyed him, as he had done 
 his comrade, into an interior apartment. 
 
 Thus triumphantly successful in these begin- 
 ning operations, the Captain was encouraged, by 
 increasing expectations, in the progress of his 
 plan. Forthwith, therefore, another victim was 
 sent for to be called by name, — the boy Rickards, 
 in this instance, being employed as the mes- 
 senger. He also performed his allotted part with 
 such address, that Captain Raynes, who had by 
 this time returned from his labours aloft, was be- 
 trayed, as unexpectedly as the others, into similar 
 toils. On his arrival at the foot of the staircase, 
 he was received in the usual manner by the Cap- 
 tain with his pistols, charged by him with parti- 
 cipation in the crime of mutiny, and imperatively 
 called upon to submit to be bound. Overawed 
 by a sense of the impossibility of successful 
 resistance, and unconscious of the nature of the 
 evil that eventually awaited him, he yielded, with 
 little remonstrance, to the peremptory command, 
 and suffered the elder boy, Deaves, partially to 
 secure his hands : then, being sufficiently lashed, 
 both hands and feet, by the Captain himself, he 
 was dragged away, out of sight, into one of the 
 cabins within. 
 
 In this manner, with scarcely a single varying 
 
 I 
 
234 
 
 Tin: MAUY RUSSKLL. 
 
 circumstance, and without exciting either ahann 
 or suspicion in the l)reasts of those who remained 
 behind, no less than six out of the eight men, to 
 whose liberty the scheme extended, were success- 
 fully assailed. 1'hus Connell, Keating, Raynes, 
 Sw^anson, Cramer, and Sullivan, w^ere successive- 
 ly called ; and at intervals of from fifteen to 
 twenty minutes each, were all secured, — Howes 
 and Murley l)eing the only two men then at 
 liberty. 
 
 
 Before we proceed to describe the result of tliis 
 strange proceeding, it may not be out of i)lace to 
 offer a remark or two on the circumstances and 
 motives which influenced all these six prisoners 
 to remain in silent resignation, without any one 
 of them venturing to raise his voice to alarm his 
 unsuspecting comrades, before they were betrayed 
 into the like helpless condition. 
 
 The fear of death had, no doubt, a considerable 
 influence in restraining the tendency of natural 
 feeling from giving the alarm ; but such a fear 
 would scarcely have been sufficient to preserve 
 uninterrupted silence, for the length of time in 
 w hicli the plan was in progress of execution, had 
 the unhappy captives had any idea of the mortal 
 perils to which they had become exposed. The 
 evidence of the survivors, indeed, sufficiently veri- 
 fies the rational inference — that, the surrender of 
 
i)i:viri' FOR sKciniNf; tiii; crkw. 
 
 2.]5 
 
 :ayecl 
 
 li'cable 
 
 Ltural 
 
 fear 
 
 Iserve 
 
 le in 
 
 had 
 
 Lortal 
 
 The 
 
 veri- 
 
 ier of 
 
 their li])erty, in the case of so many individuals, 
 to one man, with their siUnit onchirance of their 
 bondaf^e for siicli a considerable time and under 
 such peculiar circumstances, could scarcely have 
 occurred, had they entertair.ed any serions a})j)re- 
 hensions of further evil being likely to result. 
 And however the early captives might have been 
 surprised and alarmed, in iinding so many of 
 their comrades successively brougiit into a simi- 
 lar bondage, by the singularly successful artifice 
 of their commander, yet the degree of ap])rc- 
 hension, which otherwise might naturally have 
 arisen in contemplation of their helpless condi- 
 tion, was prol)ably diminished l)y their consci- 
 ousnriss of the fact, — that Ciii)tain Stewart was in 
 the habit of tying his men as a i)unishment ; 
 whilst the repeated assnrances which he gave 
 them, that, if they submitted quietly to be bound, 
 no further injury should accrue to them, doid^t- 
 less contributed towards the maintenance of that 
 general quietude among the prisoners, which was 
 so important a condition for the success of the 
 plan. Besides, it is not impossible but that a con- 
 sideration of prudence in the breasts of some, 
 of which the evidence of the survivors gives 
 decided indications, might have had its measure 
 of influence — the consideration, that quietly to 
 yield to their misguided Captain, especially 
 Avhere resistance had become so difficult and 
 
 \>i 
 
y**»- 
 
 m 
 
 
 m 
 
 u 
 
 n 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 23G 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 hazardous, was the most likely way of soothing 
 his anger and allaying his suspicions. 
 
 Section IV. — Adventure in suhduimj the remain- 
 der of the men, with mcdsures adopted for the 
 effectual security of the cabin prisoners. 
 
 Six individuals, together with the chief mate, 
 — previously put under restraint, and confined in 
 the lazarettOj as we have particularly descrihed, — 
 were now, through the successful artifice of their 
 Captain, brought into the same condition of 
 bondage. Of the two men yet remaining on deck, 
 John Howes, a powerful and courageous sea- 
 man, was the next whose libertv the adventurous 
 captain assailed. A messenger was sent to him, 
 after the manner of the rest, to call him down 
 into the cabin. Knowing nothiiig of the ex- 
 traordinary transactions which had been passing 
 below, and suspecting nothing whatever of the 
 real intention of the summons, — for he imagined 
 that the Captain, as he had frequently done 
 before, merely wished to speak with him along 
 with hi^ companions that were already there, on 
 the subject of his apprehensions about the faith- 
 fulness of his crew ; and thinking, that, instead of 
 a perilous adventure, the result, according to the 
 usual issue, would be the boon of some ardent 
 spirits as a cup of peace, — he promptly turned 
 
HESISTANCE OF THE SEAMAN HOWES. 2^37 
 
 thing 
 
 mam- 
 for the 
 
 mate, 
 led in 
 bed, — 
 f their 
 ion of 
 11 deck, 
 IS sea- 
 iturous 
 o him, 
 down 
 e ex- 
 ^assing 
 lof the 
 igined 
 done 
 along 
 ere, on 
 faith- 
 tead of 
 to the 
 irdent 
 turned 
 
 after the messenger, and foUowed hiui along the 
 deck. On reaching the entrance of the com- 
 panion he called out to the Captain, and asked 
 him whether he wanted him below, — who replied 
 that he did ; and, in his usual manner, desired 
 him to come down. With a reckless noisy step 
 he began to descend ; but before he had got more 
 than half way down, the Captain, fearing too 
 close a proximity to one so energetic and daring, 
 suddenly appeared at the foot of the stairs, with 
 his ready pistols in his hands, and stopped the 
 careless seaman, crying out — ** Avast there ! not 
 so fast !" Astonished as Howes must have been 
 at this extraordinary reception, he was not dis- 
 mayed ; but, as if ignorant of peril even from such 
 deadly weapons, asked, in a manner accordant 
 with the hardihood of his nature, "What do you 
 intend to do with your pistols ?"— *' I have found 
 you out," sternly returned the Captain, " and 
 have heard all about it." And then, in language 
 which no one of his predecessors had dared to 
 dispute, peremptorily commanded him to come 
 down and be tied. The strength of the lashings 
 by which the others were bound might have 
 availed, doubtless, for the restraint of the daring 
 Howes; but the peril of life, which had in all 
 previous cases invariably succeeded, was spumed 
 at by him as a reason for submission. He turned 
 suddenly on the staircase to run off ; when the 
 
 I 11 
 
 t '-■^r 
 
^^■^JiK^ 
 
 MPMn^ 
 
 238 
 
 THE MARY RUSSKLL. 
 
 Captain attempted to arrest him by drawing- the 
 triggers of his jiistols, which were pointed at him ; 
 but they both missed fire. Howes, on reaching 
 the top of the staircase, paused for a moment 
 ■whilst he called ujjon liis Ca2:)tain * to remember 
 that he had snapped two pistols at him, for 
 which he would have satisfaction when he got to 
 Cork, if it cost him his life.' The Captain 
 pursuing him, whilst he then ran forward along 
 the deck, muttered that ' he would satisfy him,' — 
 when, having cocked again one of his pistols, he 
 discharged it at the retreating seaman, but missed 
 him. Before the other Aveapon could be brought 
 to bear, Howes had reached the forecastle, and 
 jumping down the open hatchway, aj^prised his 
 only free comrade, Murley, who happened to be 
 there, that the ('aptain wanted to shoot him; — on 
 which both of them rushing towards the side of 
 the ship, retreated out of sight. 
 
 The Captain pursued as far as the hatchway ; 
 but too prudent to descend into the obscure 
 region below, attempted now to attain by parley, 
 that in which he had failed both by artifice and 
 arms. The object of his pursuit being still 
 within hearing, he endeavoured to prevail upon 
 him to submit to his demands by every variety 
 of consideration. which his imagination could 
 suggest. He tried threats, — declaring that he 
 must shoot the opposer of his will, or, in the 
 
THE REMNANT OF THE CREW SUBDUED. 239 
 
 [^ the 
 , him ; 
 ching 
 miciit 
 ember 
 n, for 
 got to 
 aptain 
 along 
 im,' — 
 ols, he 
 missed 
 rought 
 e, and 
 ed his 
 to be 
 1 ; — on 
 side of 
 
 iway ; 
 
 )scm'e 
 
 )arley, 
 
 ^e and 
 
 still 
 
 upon 
 [ariety 
 
 could 
 mt he 
 in the 
 
 event of his being able to escape this calamity, 
 then would he brand, and call to justice, the 
 resisting sailor, as a ringleader in the mutiny. A 
 strong appeal was likewise made to Howes' 
 better feelings. Lamenting that he had had no rest 
 for several nights i^revious, the Captain earnestly 
 entreated him to submit, pledging his word that 
 no harm should accrue to him, and piteously 
 urging that ' if they were all tied, then he might 
 get sleep, and all would be well again' ! 
 
 The appeal was too successful. Whilst Howes 
 remonstrated against what he declared to be an 
 uncalled-for severity, yet, to convince his harassed 
 commander of his own innocence, and to prove to 
 liim that he neither feared the threatened bond- 
 age, nor the consequences of the charge preferred 
 against him, he requested his comrade Murley to 
 tie his hands behind him. This being done, 
 he went upon deck, when the Captain re-secured 
 his hands, and likewise tied his feet together, 
 justifying himself for the act by stating to his 
 prisoner, who urgently protested against his pro- 
 ceedings, * that Cajitain Raynes and Timothy 
 Connell had acknowledged their piratical inten- 
 tions/ Howes, in his remonstrance, asserted 
 his ignorance of any such intentions, as well as 
 his own innocence of any personal crime; and 
 called upon his master, if he thought him guilty 
 and deserving of death, to shoot him at once. 
 
 ; <l 
 
 It 
 
 i 1 
 
j»»ij» ■*,,,;. 
 
 240 
 
 THE MAllY RUSSELL. 
 
 The Captain applauded his bravery, and added 
 * that he had no wish to injure him ; for it was 
 his anxious desire to take him, above all others 
 on board, with a whole skin to Cork.' After this 
 he searched his prisoner's pockets for his knife, 
 which he took from him, lest he should by any 
 means employ it either for his own liberation or 
 for that of his companions in bondage. Then 
 he called upon Murley, the last of his victims, to 
 come up to be bound, who, — not having resolution 
 to resist an influence to which the hardiest and 
 most determined man in the ship had just yield- 
 ed, — fatally, for his own safety, obeyed the com- 
 mand, and was forthwith firmly bound. 
 
 The whole of the crew and passengers (nine in 
 number), with the exception of the boys, were 
 now in a state of similar subjugation and help- 
 less bondage. The boys, meanwhile, partici- 
 pating in the feelings and views of the Captain, 
 were seen occasionally pacing the deck, armed 
 with destructive weapons ; frequently they were 
 placed near one or other of the prisoners to 
 watch them, and to give notice of any attempt to 
 escape. 
 
 After the securing of Murley, the Captain re- 
 visited his prisoners in the cabin, and minutely 
 examined their condition. Finding one of them 
 — John Keating — in a fainting state, he took 
 him upon deck, and untied his arms, at the stoe 
 
 r 
 
THE REMNANT OF THE CREW SUBDUED. 241 
 
 added 
 it was 
 
 others 
 ter this 
 ; knife, 
 by any 
 tion or 
 
 Then 
 ims, to 
 olution 
 3st and 
 : yield- 
 le com- 
 
 aine in 
 1, were 
 I help- 
 >artici- 
 aptain, 
 armed 
 y were 
 lers to 
 mpt to 
 
 lin re- 
 inutely 
 f them 
 e took 
 e sdme 
 
 time lashing liim securely to the staple of the 
 companion. 
 
 There were now three of the prisoners above, 
 Keating, Howes, and Murley, who were placed 
 about the after-part of the deck, a few feet from 
 each other. Howes, with characteristic hardi- 
 hood and recklessness, solicited the boon of a 
 pipe of tobacco, which, being prepared for him, 
 and put into his mouth, he contrived to retain 
 between his lips, and smoke. 
 
 One of the boys was now apj^ointed to the 
 special duty of watching over the deck jirisoncrs, 
 to give the alarm if any one stirred from his place, 
 "V ^ilst the captain was engaged in the general 
 •*'-.ct, of maintaining his advantage over the 
 whole party. 
 
 Having so recently left a troj^ical climate, the 
 prisoners, who were kept without exercise on th^ 
 deck, soon became painfully susceptible of the 
 chill temperature of the night air. On their 
 comj)laining of the cold, the captain, with consi- 
 derable effort, dragged two of them into the 
 cabin ; but Howes, who, from his determined cha- 
 racter, was not to be risked among the other pri- 
 soners, he retained on the aflcr-hatch, covered 
 with a blanket. Subsequently, however, the poor 
 fellow complained so feelingly of his sufferings 
 from the cold, that permission was given him to 
 retire into the half-deck, — a change of position 
 
 M 
 
 
** -i'4.t-i,i^:ti .v.^.i-Htnuw 
 
 04 T» 
 
 TIlC MARY IirSSELL. 
 
 which, with the assistance of the boys, he was 
 enabled to accomplish. 
 
 After an interval of about three hours, in which 
 Howes had been left alone, — the night being then 
 draw n in, — the captain returned to him accom- 
 panied by one of the boys, who held a lantern, 
 whilst the tightness and security of the prisoner's 
 fastenings were increased to such a degree, that he 
 declared that, in such a state, he coidd not live an 
 hour. The captain endeavoured to reconcile him , 
 became familiar, and jested about the alarm 
 which two of the prisoners in the cabin evinced, 
 remarking, that, ' as they were aware of their in- 
 nocence, they ought not to be afraid. ' Promis- 
 ing, then, to return to Howxs in an hour, he left 
 him to a solitary endurance, which was not in- 
 terrupted by any visit during the whole night. 
 Though, to the loneness of his condition, he was 
 easily reconciled, to the endurance of his painful 
 bonds he was not willing, unless by irresistible ne- 
 cessitv.to submit. For in a short time after the de- 
 parture of the captain, his limbs got into such a 
 .state of torture, that he was impelled to put forth 
 every eflort of body, and ingenuity of mind, to en- 
 deavour to release himself from the severity of his 
 lashings; and having succeeded in liberating one 
 of his hands, and thereby relaxing the tension on 
 the other, he determined not to allow himself to 
 be aerain bound, though death should be the con - 
 
 1 
 
 
 M 
 
 J 
 f 
 
 /• 
 
dc- 
 
 t 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 ^ 
 
 ULTIMATE SrX'URIXG OF CABIN PRISONERS. 243 
 
 sequence of his resistance. In a state of ease and 
 comfort, therefore, in comjiarison with his former 
 agonies, he passed the night of Saturday. 
 
 With the prisoneij in the cabin, however, it 
 was a night of gradually augmented suffering and 
 apprehension. At first, * none of them exhibited 
 the smallest symjDtom of anxiety ; ' but, ere long, 
 the tightening and increasing of their lashings, 
 and the consequent increase of pain, until it 
 amounted to absolute torture, afforded just cause 
 for serious alarm. For when the prisoners were 
 already in a very painful condition, the captain 
 made one of the boys assist him, in guarding 
 against any efforts for escaping, whilst he care- 
 fidly altered and strengthened their lashings. 
 The carpenter's hands becoming shockingly in- 
 flamed, the tension of the cord on his wrists was 
 slightly relaxed. 
 
 Round the neck of Murley, a rope was closely 
 adjusted and secured, which threatened him, aS he 
 declared, with strangulation ; but Stewart, not 
 apprehending such an issue, yielded him no re- 
 lief. Raynes was securely bound ; but though in 
 extreme torture, he was not heard to complain. 
 
 All the prisoners being thus, apparently, well 
 secured against any immediate risk of their ef- 
 fecting their release, the captain ordered all the 
 boys to rest: but too anxious in his own mind 
 to rely entirely upon his measures of security, he 
 himself sat up to keep watch. The 
 
 (1 
 
 '»? 
 
 mean-k 
 
244 
 
 THE MARY IIUSSELL. 
 
 'SN hilc, continued lying-to, under a very low sail, 
 with the helm lashed a-lee. 
 
 At day -break, on Sunday morning, the boys 
 were called up, and found the seven prisoners still 
 lying- in the cabin, as they left them the prece- 
 ding evening. The captain, harassed by his 
 feelmgs, and more and more disordered in body 
 and mind by his continued watchings, then set 
 about, in their presence, the further securing of 
 his already helpless crew. And the manner of 
 his final proceedings was as extraordinary as it 
 was fatally effectual.* Out of the "downhaul" 
 of the mainsail, — a rope of about the thickness of 
 a person* s fore finger, — he carefully consti*ucted 
 seven gi'ommets, or circles of rope, calculated, in 
 diameter, just to pass over a man's head. He next 
 dra\ ^ into the cabin deck, in places suited to the 
 position of his prisoners, either a staple, or, when 
 that article failed, a spike nail, near the neck, 
 and another at the feet of each individual. Then 
 passing a grommet over the head of his prisoners 
 severally, as far as the neck, he lashed the under 
 part of it to the staple in the deck, so as to render 
 it impossible, without suffocation, for any one of 
 them to move at all from his place: but in order 
 to prevent accidental strangulation, he passed 
 a line, or thick cord, from the upper part of the 
 
 * This description I had from Capt. Stewart's lips, as well as many 
 otlicr portions of the general narrative. 
 
 T 
 
 •t-. 
 
tmtm 
 
 rnnrATK sKfrnixo of cibtx rnisoNERs. -215 
 
 p^rommct near the chin, to the lower part of the 
 l)0(ly, which, on beinp^ drawn tight, l)rouglit the 
 pressure <^f the gronnnet downwards towards the 
 chest. In this service a new lead-line was em- 
 ployed, which was likewise used for pinioning 
 the arms, as well as for other occasional lashings 
 on the limbs. The general extent of lashing, on 
 each individ'^^ prisoner, was as follows: — The 
 neck, b} ..leai^. of the grom. c^ enveloping it, 
 was fastened down to a staple as above descri- 
 bed. The arms were first pinioned behind, and 
 then the hands were lashed together across the 
 breast, — the end of the cord used for this pur- 
 pose being subsequently carried downward to the 
 thighs. The thighs were then lashed together 
 about their middle ; another portion of the lash- 
 ing went round the ancles ; and, ultimately, the 
 extremity of the cord was firmly secured to the 
 foot-staple, or nail, driven into the deck. And 
 for the more efTectual security of the lashings, 
 those on the limbs were " frapped," or twitched 
 together, by cross lashings ; and where any ends 
 of the cords appeared in sight, these w^re usually 
 "seized" together with twine or rope yarn, to 
 prevent their being unloosed. 
 
 Thus were the jpoor victims of an unestublish- 
 ed suspicion rendered more helpless than 1)abes, 
 and deprived of the power of moving a single 
 inch, though the momentous issue between life 
 and death depended on so doing! 
 
:r?SS»**i!*i 
 
 rail 
 
 I. 
 
 :! 
 
 216 
 
 THE MARY IITSSELL. 
 
 During the progress of this distressing and 
 ahinning operation, which occupied some hours 
 in its completion, various jn'oposals were made 
 by one or other of the parties, as conditions for 
 the hberation of the severely tortured prisoners. 
 With the exception of the chief mate, — who was 
 within hearing of the parley, and who, at inter- 
 vals, was consulted in respect to the conditions of 
 their release, — the whole party, in their now des- 
 perate condition, w^ere willing to be tunied adrift 
 in an open boat, to encounter all the risks and 
 severities of such an exi)osure, upon the wide 
 Atlantic. And in this arrangement the anxious 
 commander fervently acquiesced, — offering them 
 the long-boat, with provisions, compass, sails, and 
 other requisites for accomplishing their passage 
 to land. But, when the execution of the plan be- 
 gan to be discussed, an unhappy difficulty arose as 
 to the method of getting out the boat. The captain 
 did not dare to let more than one of them loose at 
 a time, the strength of whom, in conjunction with 
 that of himself and the boys, he did not consider 
 adequate to the task of hoisting out the boat, 
 and getting her afloat. In consequence of this 
 dilemma, which became perhaps more fatal from 
 the want of acquiescence on the part of Mr. 
 Smith, — the comparatively mercif arrangement 
 was unhappily abandoned, and the devoted pri- 
 soners were given up to their terrible doom. 
 
 1 
 
 T 
 
 } 
 

 EXTnAORDINAllY ( OMLK 1 . 
 
 247 
 
 pp and 
 hours 
 made 
 ms for 
 soners. 
 lo was 
 inter- 
 ions of 
 sv des- 
 adrift 
 ks and 
 J wide 
 ixious 
 ' them 
 s, and 
 issage 
 an be- 
 ose as 
 iptain 
 oseat 
 with 
 isider 
 boat, 
 this 
 from 
 Mr. 
 nient 
 pri- 
 
 Section V. — Extrdordinarii Coujlicl hctwi.vt iJic 
 Cftpt(ii?i and the setiinnH I /ones. 
 
 IlaNing abandoned all hopes of gettinj^ rid of 
 his prisoners by means of the lonj,'--l)oat, there 
 was nothing-, — mdess he should receive Provi- 
 dential relief by any passing* vessel, — to which 
 the anxious Captain considered it possible to 
 look for self-preservation, but the secure reten- 
 tion of his prisoners in helpless bondage. Those 
 in the cabin he now felt to be so secure that no 
 possible efforts, on their own part, could be made 
 available for their release ; but there was yet 
 one individual, more dreaded by him than any of 
 the rest, of whose security he was by no means 
 .so certain — and that was the manly Howes, 
 whom he had deposited alone in the half-deck 
 the preceding evening. To him, therefore, 
 Stewart's attention was now particularly di- 
 rected; and the result was, a conflict with this 
 bold and spirited fellow, so very remarkable, 
 that his ultimate escape can only l)e ascribed 
 to a special interposition of Providence, next 
 to miraculous. 
 
 It was about ten o'clock in the moniing of 
 that sacred day of the Lord aj^pointed for de- 
 votion and repose from labour, — but in this in- 
 stance, alas ! what a contrast was the experience 
 of the wretched crew of the Marv Russell to 
 
 

 ! ■ 
 
 ^248 
 
 TJIE MATIY RUSSErr. 
 
 that of a Sabbath-day's blessing"! — when Captain 
 Stewuit ai)proachc(l the depository of the sea- 
 man Howes, to examine into liis condition, and 
 to provide for his more effectual security. 
 
 Removing the hatch of the half-deck, whicli 
 remained exactly as he himself had placed it, 
 he called out to his prisoner, wlioni he perceived 
 in the obscurity beneath the side of th(^ deck, — • 
 " John, are you there r — are you tied r — turn 
 your back that I may see." Howes turned him- 
 self cautiously and slightly, but so that the quick 
 anxious eye of his master perceived that his 
 lashings were relaxed, lleiterating the cliarge 
 of mutinous designs against him, as a reason for 
 his being retained in bonds, Stewart then pe- 
 remptorily ordered him to come forth under the 
 hatch-w ay to be better secured, threatening him, 
 in case of disobedience, with immediate death. 
 Whilst the sailor remonstrated, and kept aside in 
 the obscurity, an endeavour was made to elicit 
 from him, by strong appeals to his honesty and 
 manliness, a confession of his mutinous designs. 
 Howes, however, most positively denied any 
 such intention, and, on the ground of his in- 
 nocence, resisted the authority by which he 
 was addressed, — declaring, at the same time, 
 that the torment he had already endured " was 
 worse than the Spanish ruck," and *that, sooner 
 than, he woidd submit to be so tied again, he 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 ,r^ 
 
EXTrvAoRDINAUV ( ONM.U T. 
 
 ^\{) 
 
 pe- 
 the 
 
 1 
 
 » • 
 
 he 
 
 "ivouM siiircr deiUh.' The ('ivptaiii, stivtoluiijj: 
 himself over the open hatch-way, hehl out a 
 j)istcrt towards hiin,aiul liereely answered — '' then 
 I must shoot you, it' vou don't." " I see nnndcM- 
 in your h)oks," replied the luisuhdued and deter- 
 mined sailor, ^' hut as I am the oldest of your 
 crew, I shall he the least missed — lire awav — 
 you're worse than a 'link or a 'I'artar, or any 
 other harharian — you will yet meet a day [of 
 reckoning] for this — death is no terror to me, 
 whatever it may he to others !'' 
 
 For a moment, the murderous act was re- 
 strained hy the holdncss of the victim. Stewart 
 charged the ]K)or irritated sailor with falsehood 
 in respect to the character he had given him, 
 appealing to him, — as to that which was indeed 
 true, — ' whether he had not always been con- 
 sidered a humane man by those who had sailed 
 with him V But the present moment, in the 
 apprehension of the resolute commander, in 
 which he himself must be either vancpiished or 
 vanquisher, was not a time for the exercise of 
 humanity ; — his ready-charged pistol was therefore 
 presented, and, whilst Howes nnshrinkingly wait- 
 ed the issue, was lircd with an agitated hand, and 
 missed its object. xVnother shot, however, from 
 the second pistol, (piickly succeeded it, and struck 
 the stretched out hand of the defenceless seaman, 
 and lodged in the fleshy part within the thumb. 
 
 M 2 . > 
 
250 
 
 THE MARY RlSSKI-r. 
 
 .'■ 
 
 '-"••Sm.X 
 
 Not knowiiio- the extent of the injury thus in- 
 flicted — but apprchcndini^ from the snialhicss of 
 his pistols, iind the aj)pear{ince of the sailor, that 
 he was not suflicicntly suhducd — the ('a})tain 
 hastily charged his wea])ons for another attack, 
 to which, without a moment's delay, he pro- 
 ceeded. A third time he fned, and the ball 
 penetrated the jacket and grazed the side of the 
 seaman, who fell over upon his back, under the 
 persuasion that he was mortally wounded, liut 
 the discharge of the other i)istol aroused him 
 again to consciousness — he cried out ' that these 
 two balls had penetrated his entrails' — and, after 
 struggling for a while, apparently in mortal ago- 
 nies, he became motionless, as if life were extinct. 
 The Cajitain, anxiously watching the effect of 
 his pistols, observed this result, and remarked to 
 the boys — three of whom, armed with various 
 weapons, were in close attendance upon him all 
 the time — * that he was dead !' That he might 
 not be deceived, however, by temporary insensi- 
 bility, or assumed lifelessness, he ordered one of 
 the boys, from time to time, to look down the 
 hatch-way, to ascertain whether he moved ; but 
 his report was — "he is quite dead!" And this 
 was the impression which the still surviving, but 
 wounded sailor, anxiously designed to convey; and . 
 considering that his only hope of escape depend- 
 ed upon the maintenance of the impression, he so 
 
 
* 
 
 EXTHAOllDINAIiV ( ONII.K T. 
 
 2.>1 
 
 lius in- 
 
 liicss of 
 
 or, thai 
 
 (•ai>tain 
 
 • attack, 
 
 ho pvo- 
 
 hc ball 
 
 e of the 
 
 idcr the 
 
 (1. liut 
 
 scd him 
 
 lat these 
 
 md, after 
 
 ►rial ago- 
 
 e extinct. 
 
 effect of 
 
 larked to 
 
 1 various 
 
 n him all 
 
 he might 
 
 f insensi- 
 
 ed one of 
 
 lown the 
 
 r'ed ; but 
 
 And this 
 
 ving, but 
 
 ivey ; and 
 
 3 depend - 
 
 ion, he so 
 
 exposed the blood nnIiIcIi was running from his 
 liand, that the Captain, when he next came to 
 the hatch-way, observing it, remarked — " He has 
 got i)lenty : he nuist soon be thrown over- 
 board !" 
 
 'J'hc attention of the Captain, and his young 
 associates, was now diverted from the object of 
 their sanguinary attacks, by the appearance of a 
 vessel in the western horizon, ^lost anxious to 
 be relieved from their i)resei:t painful di\ inma, a 
 signal of distress was hoisted in ilie rigging, 
 which, as the vessel came nenr, was-' evidently * ob- 
 served ; but, when ho})es of relief had I . on ex- 
 cited to the utmost, by an a])proj'^*h so close -is 
 to be actually hailed l)y Captaiu Stewart, tiie 
 stranger, in a manner altogether unaccountable, 
 bore away on a change of course, and left the 
 nnhapi^y adventurers, on the deck of the Mary 
 Ilussell, in a state of increased perplexity. 
 
 Throbbing under the effects of this deep dis- 
 appointment, Stewart returned to the scene of 
 attack upon the hapless 1! /vves. The interval of 
 quiet meanwhile afforded the poor sailor, had 
 enabled him to discover that the sources of life 
 were not materially injured ; but in his natural 
 anxiety to ascertain the nature of his wounds, a 
 slight change was unfortunately made in the 
 position of his bleeding hand. The movement 
 was observed by one of the boys, of which 
 
 
 H'li t yrw in t ifffft j 
 
ii 
 
 I 
 
 '2C)'2 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 Howes became immediately conscious ; and, an- 
 ticipating the worst results, started from his pros- 
 trate position, and was just looking round for 
 some means of defence in his miserable dilemma, 
 Avhen the Captain, under very different expec- 
 tations, presented himself at the hatch-way. 
 " This fellow is not dead," said he, as he drew 
 out his pistol ; which he instantly fired, and 
 lodged the ball in his victim's thigh. Howes 
 cried out, on receiving the shot, — " that will 
 do !" " No," replied his determined assailant, 
 " it will not do — your voice is too good, — but I'll 
 soon make it do !" In furtherance of this threat, 
 he called upO'i the boys — who were all armed 
 with instruments- calculated for inflicting mortal 
 injury, — Rickards having an axe, Scully the 
 granes, and Deaves, a harpoon — and urging 
 them to the attack of the now desperate man, 
 himself led the way, and jumped down the 
 hatch-way. 
 
 It was a terrible moment even for this hardy 
 veteran. Nevertheless, wounded, unarmed, and 
 partially fettered as he was, his determined na- 
 ture urged him, however hopeless the attempt, to 
 resistar.je. Though his wounded hand was his 
 only unfettered lii.ib, he employed it, during the 
 few moments of interval yielded to him in the 
 course of circumstances, in endeavouring to re- 
 h^ase his legs from their lashings, which, by a des- 
 
 ifl^^t 
 
t 
 
 IIXTIIAORDIXARY COXFLK I. 
 
 '2o^ 
 
 ^ncl, an- 
 lis pros- 
 )und for 
 ilemma, 
 t expec- 
 tcli-way. 
 he drew 
 L'cd, and 
 Howes 
 hat will 
 issailaiit, 
 -hut I'll 
 is threat, 
 11 armed 
 ig mortal 
 ullv the 
 urging 
 rate man, 
 lown the 
 
 his hardy 
 med, and 
 lined na- 
 ttempt, to 
 d was his 
 uring the 
 lim in the 
 ng to re- 
 j hy a des- 
 
 1 
 
 peratc and agcmizing effort having accomplished, 
 he jumped upon his feet: in a monu^nt more 
 he obtained the release of liis other hand ; and 
 then set himself, as well as in his contracted po- 
 sition betwixt the deck and the cargo he possi« 
 bly might, to give desperate battle. 
 
 l^ut how, alas ! could he hoi)e, in such a de- 
 fenceless condition, to maintain the unequal con- 
 flict ? It is one of the characteristics of a nature 
 truly brave, when enga<i;-ed in justiiiable defence, 
 never to yield life to a foe, whilst there is life to 
 resist. And by such a purpose of determination, 
 multitudes of brave men, resisting opposition 
 apparently irresistible, and hoping even against 
 hojie, have nobly triumphed over might and 
 peril, before which the timid and irresolute 
 could not but fall. And so in the Christian war- 
 fare, in which the spiritual life of man is assailed 
 by the combined might of 'principalities and 
 powers, of the rulers of the darkness of this 
 world, and of spiritual wickedness in high places' 
 — before which "the fearful and unl)elieving" 
 shrink away and j)erish, — he who is " of good 
 courage," being " strong in the Lord, and in 
 the power of His might," not only triumphs, 
 but comes off " more than conqueror through 
 Him who hath loved us !" For the foruun' 
 triumph, the physical bravery of the hardly 
 pressed Howes, was, ])y the good Providence of 
 God, destined. 
 
 »<v 
 
 *f0*L 
 
\h 
 
 in 
 
 I' 
 
 
 ,1 
 
 I 
 
 !• 
 
 254 
 
 THE MARY rJ'SSELL. 
 
 The boys, impelled partly by threats, and i»art- 
 ly by promises, and stimulated to the mm-derous 
 work by the perseverance and determination of 
 their leader, obeyed his call to join him in the 
 arena of conflict, and advanced, hesitatingly, at 
 his bidding-, to the attack. The only means of 
 defence which lay within the reach of Howes, 
 was a small packing-case containing- books : on 
 this he seized ; and, retreating into the side of the 
 ship, held it up as a shield to his body, when the 
 Captain again iired, so as to ward oft" the shot. 
 On this failure, the boys were urged the more 
 earnestly to commence battle : the Captain loudly 
 and authoritatively cried out — " Strike, my brave 
 boys! — push your harpoons into him!" Juntas 
 they hesitatingly menaced him, Howes appealed 
 to their better feelings, and in treated them with 
 the earnestness of one in mortal conflict, not to 
 be instrumental in the murder of an innocent 
 man. Deaves and Scully were considerably 
 affected, and drew back. The former, under the 
 influence of a softened feeling, began to plead for 
 him, intreatin"- the Captain to spare him : but 
 liis answer was as chilling- to their feelings as it 
 was awakening to their fears — " Do you want me 
 to spare this man's life," said he, '* and allow 
 ourselves to be butchered r" At this crisis, when 
 all hope from sympathy on the part of the boys 
 Imd been so suddenly extinguished, Howes, with 
 characteristic and desperate energy, rushed sud- 
 
 i 
 
 I'i 
 
 
 i 
 
 »»*t= 
 
EXTRAORDINARY (ONFLK T 
 
 '2-')'') 
 
 ) 
 
 I part- 
 ilcrous 
 Lion of 
 ill the 
 rly, at 
 aiis of 
 iowcs, 
 ks : on 
 » of the 
 len the 
 c shot, 
 ic more 
 I loudly 
 y brave 
 IVit as 
 pcaletl 
 m with 
 not to 
 nocent 
 tlerahly 
 Icr the 
 ead for 
 1 : but 
 as it 
 mt ine 
 allow 
 when 
 e boys 
 with 
 sud- 
 
 SZ'j**-^ 
 
 •1 
 
 
 
 dcnlv into the midst of his assailants; and, like 
 tne tij^er, singling out the victim on wliichhis eye 
 is lixed, regardless of surrounding numbers, ho 
 seized with a tremendous grasp his astonished 
 Captain ! A terrible struggle ensued — which 
 the Captain, by his activity and energy, for some 
 moments maintained against the superior mus- 
 cular strength of his opponent. But resistance, 
 under the determined grasp of one wrestling for 
 life, was not to be continued : Stewart staggered 
 under the pressure of the overpowering arm, 
 dropped his charged pistol, and fell defenceless. 
 The knee of Howes was forthwith planted on 
 the breast of his now prostrate foe, whilst his 
 ready and powerful hand seized the pointed 
 weapon with which one of the timid supporters 
 of the conflict was threatening him, and thus he 
 was prepared for the mastery. Against the ex- 
 ercise of his newly-ac(piired advantage, an 
 extraordinary influence in swift-winged thought 
 l)re vailed, — for Howes assured the writer of this 
 narrative, on occasion of a long personal inter- 
 view with him, that he had, for a moment, his 
 foe completely in his jiower ; but, as nothing less 
 than a mortal blow of his weapon could be relied 
 on for securing his pre-eminence, he hesitated 
 on the impulse of this singular reflection — 'that 
 were he, who was charged with being the ring- 
 leader in a mutiny, to kill his Captain, he should 
 
 .^ 
 
 4 H\ 
 
 /^•r 
 
 
 < 1 
 
 t 
 
 »3*i< 
 
\1 J 
 
 Q5r> 
 
 TlIK MAKY RUSSKLL. 
 
 only, by such an act, prolong' his life for a more 
 disgraceful end !' 
 
 More rapid, however, must have been the 
 reflection than the moment required for the 
 perusal of the sentence, for Hickards, who seems 
 to have been the only willing abettor of his 
 desperate master, flew to his su])port, and w'th 
 repeated blows of his axe on the defenceless head 
 of the struggling sailor, obliged him to relinquish 
 liis grasp, and arrested, by the act, any pur])ose 
 of retribution, by the stream of blood which 
 rushed over his face, completely intercepting his 
 sight. At this last and desj^erate issue — when 
 the hardihood of Howes had of necessity given 
 way under the deadly blows he had received, and 
 when another, even the smallest, efi'ort must have 
 been fatal to his existence — the alarmed Captain 
 sprang aside, retreated from the conflict, and, 
 followed by the boys, fled from the scene of blood. 
 Thus terminated, with a result more favourable 
 to the severely assailed seaman than could well 
 have been anticipated, this extraordinary conflict. 
 The bleeding Howes retreated again into the side 
 of the vessel, out of sight of those on deck, and 
 with liis little remaining strength crawled i^vvay 
 upon the tiers of sugar-hogsheads, forming the 
 cargo, into the fore-hold, where he was enabled 
 effectually to conceal himself throughout the 
 day I 
 
 1 
 
 t' 
 
 f 
 
mK 
 
 ^Mn 
 
 SUFFERINGS OF THE FKISOXEUS. 
 
 257 
 
 Section VI. — Traffical hsne with fitc Cabin 
 
 Prisoners. 
 
 !il 
 
 and 
 nave 
 (tain 
 and, 
 ood. 
 •able 
 well 
 iflict, 
 side 
 
 and 
 Lway 
 
 the 
 Ibled 
 
 the 
 
 t' 
 
 T 
 
 The desperate and unsuccessful battle with the 
 seaman Howes, af»*gravated, still further, the ir- 
 ritation of Stewart's mind. With anxious pertur- 
 bation, he returned to his prisoners in the cabin, 
 to examine into their condition, and to assure him- 
 self of their safety. From the closeness and secu- 
 rity of their numerous lashings, they were found 
 in a state of excruciating- agony, which, — though 
 hardy in constitution, and indignant in feeling, as 
 many of them were, — they could not refrain from 
 intimating by affecting^ moanings. Stewart himself 
 seemed greatly touched with the view of their 
 sufferings. Justifying this infliction of severity, 
 on his part, by reference to their supposed muti- 
 nous i^urpose, he earnestly called upon them to 
 pray to God to send a ship in their way, to re- 
 lease him from the charge of so many prisoners, 
 and them from their painful endurance. He was . 
 greatly agitated, and anxious. The sincerity of 
 his desire for deliverance from his harassing si- 
 tuation became strikingly obvious, when he 
 threw himself upon his knees among his suffer- 
 ing crew, and, w ith a prayer-book in his hand, 
 solemnly sw^ore, that, if they would leave the 
 ship, he would give them the long-boat for their 
 preservation, l^ut the merciful purpose was* not 
 
 »v. 
 
 ! 
 
 \ 
 
258 
 
 TIIK MAUY RUSSELL. 
 
 accomplished. Either the recklessness of des- 
 pair, or the want of unanimity of consent, or, as 
 before stated, the impracticahility, under the re- 
 quisite restrictions, of getting out the boat, 
 prevented them from availing themselves of 
 this last chance of escape. 
 
 Under the depression of feeling arising from 
 the hopelessness of his situation in respect to 
 immediate relief — the Captain found some con- 
 solation in observing the boy llickards standing 
 near him, whose brave interference, in his life- 
 struggle with Howes, had been the sole means, 
 as he believed, of his preservation. With warm 
 commendations for the timelv act, he kissed him 
 affectionately in gratitude, and declared that, *lie 
 should be rewarded by a hundred guineas for 
 saving the ship, and be a gentleman all his life' ! 
 
 
 After the Toregoing details of extraordinary 
 severities, it may appear inconsistent and impro- 
 bable to assert, that Captain Stewart, the instru- 
 ment of these very severities, was not only a man 
 of humane character, but, profefisedhj, of religious 
 feelings. To reconcile, however, his conduct on 
 this calamitous occasion with such a personal 
 character, it must be borne in mind, that he acted 
 r under the firmest and most decided conviction of 
 an intended mutiny ; a conviction such as to 
 render, in his estimation, the course of severity, 
 
 i 
 
 -' 
 
for 
 
 Ited 
 of 
 to 
 
 fty, 
 
 \ 
 
 7 
 
 ; 
 
 •w>.\ 
 
 DANGERorS ENTIirSIASM OF THE CAPTAIN. '259 
 
 and the purpose of death, which he had l^eeii led 
 to pursue, both justifiable and indispensible. 
 
 Several marks of the religious turn of his 
 mind — religious, T mean, in i)opular language 
 only, according to the feeling and experience of 
 men unenlightened by the Spirit of (iod, and 
 unacquainted with the true source of godliness — 
 were elicited amid the sanguinary transactions of 
 this eventful day. * 
 
 On the occasion when the shi]^, whose near 
 aj^proach we have described, was first discovered, 
 an instance of Stewart's attenti(m to a most im- 
 portant, profitable, and essential matter in prac- 
 tical religion, w^as strikingly marked — a matter 
 however, it w^is, by a singular perversion of 
 which, at a later period of the day, that the final 
 result of this terrible adventure was in no small 
 degree forwarded. To his knowledge and obser- 
 vation of a special Providence, I here refer. For 
 Captain Stewart had evidently received this doc- 
 trine, and was in the habit of obsening its 
 passing indications ; but for want of * taking 
 heed thereto, according to the Word of God,' he 
 was led, under the influence of a harassed body 
 and highly excited feeling, into a dangerous 
 enthusiasm, so as, he believed, to be divinely 
 directed, in the dreadful massacre which he 
 eventually perpetrated. Evidence of his being 
 ^ actuated by a superstitious enthusiasm, had been 
 
 <i 
 
 
 4 '•- 
 
•2()0 
 
 Tin: MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 previously ol)sovve(l by those avoimd him. lie 
 had stated to Howes ^ that God had tohl him, 
 that Cai)tain Rayiies desij^ncd to cut his throat ;' 
 and his first suspicion of an intended mutiny, 
 was derived, as we have seen, from a dream. So 
 ill the case of the sail which hove in sight after 
 Wis first attack upon Howes, he ascribed its ap- 
 pearance to an interposition of Providence on his 
 behalf, — " Almighty God," said he to the boys, 
 who cordially sympathised with him in anxiety 
 for its approach — " has sent a ship to rid me of 
 my people." liut the feeling which, mider 
 really spiritual guidance, would have been truly 
 indicative of a pious mind, and which, luider a 
 Scriptural direction, would have led to a bene- 
 ficial result, became, by unhappy perversion, as 
 we shall soon have occasion to show, the spring 
 of a devilish purpose, and the occasion of tre- 
 mendous woe ! 
 
 The particular bearing of these remarks will 
 now be seen. In the afternoon of this memo- 
 rable, but melancholy day — so nnlike a Sabbath 
 " the holy of the Lord" — after the final commu- 
 nication of Stewart with his sufl^ering crew, 
 above described, another vessel came in sight. 
 ]3eing to leeward, and, when first seen, at no 
 great distance, Stewart attempted to eff'ect a 
 junction with her by trimming his scanty can- 
 vas, and steering in advance of her course. The 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
lit. 
 
 no 
 a 
 m- 
 he 
 
 -i 
 
 I)AN(Ji;iU)rs ENTHUSIASM OF Till- fAITAIN. •2(»l 
 
 Mary Ilussell, however, soon Le^jin to l)e out- 
 sailed, and the heart of her anxious Connnander 
 was fast sinkinf^ within him, when, to his jj^real 
 joy, the stranger tacked, and, on a signal of dis- 
 tress being dis^dayetl, as formerly, on hoard the 
 hrig, hove-to. The two vessels were soon so 
 near together that the waving of hats in the one 
 was expected to be observed in the other ; but 
 the singular ai)])earance of the brig, inider so low 
 a sail, with a gentle breeze and line weather, 
 seemed to excite sus])icion — a suspicion, per- 
 haps, that she might be a pirate, attempting, 
 under pretext of distress, to decoy the unwary ; — 
 for the stranger, without waiting to ascertain the 
 nature of their necessity, bore up, and made all 
 sail away from them. 
 
 By this second disappointment, severely ag- 
 gravated by the unbounded hoi)es which had 
 been excited of obtaining speedy relief, the mind 
 of the unhappy Stewart was wrought up to a 
 condition of frenzied desperation. Whilst, with 
 intense anxiety, he had watched the nearing of 
 the stranger, he reasoned on the seasonable oc- 
 cuiTence, as a manifest indication of providential 
 interference. He thought that God w^ < certainly 
 providing for his deliverance out of his anxious 
 and perilous condition. But when his highly 
 excited hopes were so suddenly and uhijxpectedly 
 destroyed, and the inference on the designs of 
 
 '>! 
 
2(;i 
 
 Tin: MARY IIUSSKM,. 
 
 I 
 
 ^a^ 
 
 I'lovideiico, which he had been so sanguine in 
 drau'inj^, was so thoroup^hly disproved, he forth- 
 with turned his interpretation of the providence, 
 by a sinnidar iatality of reasoning::, into a sen- 
 tence of judjiinent against his induippy prisoners. 
 For as two of his ])risoners, he believed, had 
 distinctly admitted their guilt, so as to render 
 the fact of their mutinous intentions unquestion- 
 able — this abandonment of them by Providence, 
 under such peculiar circumstances, was, in his 
 mind, a proof of the guilt of them all 1 And 
 then it was — between the hoius of 1 and ."> r.M. 
 of this day of woe — that, under tliis fatal reading 
 of the l^ook of Providence, he conceived the hor- 
 rible design of executing, himself, the judgment 
 of God upon' his prisoners, and putting thejn all 
 to death ! I'or, according to his own freely - 
 tendered account of the nuu'derous transaction, 
 he had no design whatever against the life of any 
 one in the vessel, with the exception of Howes, 
 till within ten minutes of the time of the execu- 
 . tion of his dreadful jau'pose. Satan, who vainly 
 tried aforetime his hellish power against the 
 Saviour of the world, by an insidious abuse of the 
 promises and declarations of the Divine Word ; 
 now tempted, too successfully, the infatuated 
 captain of the Mary Russell, by a subtle perver- 
 sion of the leadings of Divine Providence. The 
 process of thought, whereby he was brought to 
 
 \ 
 
 ( 
 
I>AN(Ji:Uurs IINTHUSIASM Ol' THE ( APTAiiN. '2C):i 
 
 tod 
 
 lor- 
 
 [he 
 
 to 
 
 + 
 
 ihc lecjuisite dctcnniiiatioii for the sai)^"ii)naiy 
 issue, deserves to be recorded. For althoui^h his 
 case was one of extraordinary occurrence, — and 
 altlioiiiifli there was a niorl)id inihience, as ulti- 
 mately determined, under which he was uncon- 
 scioiisly acting;-, requiring, for the examination 
 of his conduct, a peculiar standard, — nevertheless, 
 inasmuch as his reasoninj^^s, with reference to 
 their premises, were, in no mean dep'ee, jdausi- 
 ])le, the record of these, which had such a power- 
 ful bearing upon the ultimate catastrophe, may, 
 |)eradvcnture, under the Divine blessing", serve as 
 a warning beacon to others who mightlx^ tempted 
 to acts of severity or homicide by similar reason- 
 
 nigs. 
 
 I'his was the tenor of the reasonings of the 
 iniiituated commander. If the sailors, whose 
 imagined plot he had hitherto been so successful 
 in counteracting, were really guilty of a design 
 of mutiny — as their abandonment by Providence 
 seemed to prove — then, according tf) the law of 
 all maritime nations, they must be deserving of 
 death; whilst their being abandoned of Heaven 
 was, he believed, a further indication that God 
 designed them for this punishment. For had the 
 j)ur])ose of God concerning them been otherwise ; 
 in such ease, he thought, that God woidd cer- 
 tainly have caused one or other of the neighbour- 
 ing ships to come to their relief, according to the 
 
 ^^ 
 
 V. 
 
I 
 
 ' 
 
 2(U 
 
 Tin: M\nv rt-ssem.. 
 
 j)ray<'r which lie had called upon his j.ii-nnci's to 
 
 iiijiko 
 
 Hy such a train of false and danpfcrous reason- 
 ing, he satisfied his conscience as to ihc JHsfice of 
 the act to which he was tenii)ted : and then, as 
 to the ucccssihi of it, he reasoned on similar j)rin- 
 ciples to the confirming of his purpose, — a i)ur- 
 posc to which, however rash, the harassed static 
 ^►f his mind, and his worn out strength for want 
 of rest, gave immediate and reckless sanction. 
 And thus was the dreadful design con finned, and 
 his mind steeled against nuMc merciful feelings, 
 whilst he proceeded to the deliberate act of cold- 
 blooded butclierv ! 
 
 Now throwing aside his ])istols, as ineilicacious 
 weapons, he seized ui)on a crowhar, which, in the 
 outset of the adventure, he had ])rovided as an 
 implement of defence; and calling upon the boys 
 to follow him, he rushed down into the midst of 
 his dismayed prisoners. To them, the warning, 
 and the execution, in point of time, were as one. 
 The first announcement thev received of the 
 sanguinary purpose determined against them, 
 was conveyed in the Captain's ominous and em- 
 phatic exclamation as he entered the cabin — 
 "The curse of God is upon you all!" — and forth- 
 with began, with ruthless energy, the dreadful 
 work of death. The ])onderous crowbar fell 
 w ith mortal blows, on the defenceless heads of 
 
 
 •>.' 
 
 r 
 
TRAGICAL issn:. 
 
 2fl5 
 
 lOllS 
 
 the 
 an 
 |l)oys 
 t of 
 
 one. 
 
 the 
 lem, 
 eni- 
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 rth- 
 ai'ul 
 
 fell 
 s of 
 
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 -'• 
 
 ! 
 
 llie helpless victims. One heard and saw the 
 hiitchery of his connade : — for a moment he cried 
 to I fcaven for hclj), or screame<l in piteous despair, 
 or hlessed the murderous hand, or su])i)licatcd his 
 merciless destroyer ; when nattu'c's plea, put forth 
 as it was with such fervid earnestness, was sud- 
 denly cut short l)y the resistless hlow. Thus, 
 with unwavering mind, the infatuated Connnander 
 went the deadly round of six of his miserahle 
 crew heforc him -. Tlie seventh, and last of tlie 
 cahin prisoners involved in the round of carnaj^e, 
 was Cai)tain Raynes — the cause, api)arently, how- 
 ever innocent of the crime with which he was 
 charg-ed, of all this frightful destruction. Over 
 this devoted man — who, engaged in fervent 
 prayer, was expecting the mortal issue — Stewart 
 for a moment paused, and said, — " James, I put 
 a heavy curse upon you, hut now I take it off!" — 
 and the death-hlow instantlv followed. Whilst 
 in progress of the work of carnage, he was 
 heard, in hoarse mutterings, to say, — " Ye ruf- 
 fians — I'll kill you all ;" and, as the last hlow 
 was struck, he justifyingly added, — "Ye ruffians — 
 you wanted to take my life — I have taken yours 1'' 
 Some of the boys, wJ^o had supported their 
 Captain up to this unexpected termination, were 
 terror-stricken spectators of the murderous scene : 
 
 ♦According to the evidence given before the Coroner, it appsarc, thai 
 Swanson was the first victim,— then followed in rapid succession, Murlefi 
 Cramer, Sullivan, Keating, and, last of all, Rayues. 
 
 N 
 
 • 
 
i-v-t*; 
 
 1 1 
 
 -206 
 
 TIIK MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 I 
 
 I I 
 
 
 and little Ilaiiimond, who, it will ho romcmbcrecl, 
 liiy on a sick-bed open to the shi lighter before 
 him, intreated the Captiiin to spare * some of them 
 to taVo the ship home' — ii:t<nccdin<i; at every 
 paii^^..', and particuhirly for the chief-mate, that 
 he mi'^ht be saved. 
 
 The liiurdovous deed, however, was not only 
 recklessly pmsued ; but, after a f«_w moments' 
 pause, ^^ as enacted ap;ain. I or whiLsl the mortal 
 panic's, anioiij^ liie \ictiuis, were cmpliaticrlly 
 declared in suiibcaiiiiii: i;i*(^)inis, Stevrart — as if 
 doubtful v^hethei' tlie work were complete — seized 
 H\i axOj and, with deliberate and determined 
 pmpose, repc\atcd the round of horrid butchery ; 
 till, as to the whole of the seven individuals be^ 
 fore him, the v.ork of death was done! 
 
 Another intended victim still remained un- 
 scathed — the chief officer, Smitln. Whilst the 
 ftoul-sickeninp^ work of dostructicn was p^oing 
 on in the cabin, the throbbing- prisoner lying 
 beneath tlie deck — through the air-opening of 
 wliich the ample blood of hl:^ hapless comrades 
 was ]M)ared,- — heard the passing murders, and, 
 in awful suspense, awaited his turn among 
 the victims. Not unnecessarily prolonged were 
 the moments of isuspense. Ihc executioner of 
 his own wrath, whilst yet panting from recent 
 cfloits, now changing the axe for the crowbar, 
 ^Ijjiictod this fonuidable instrument through th<5 
 
 i 
 
 V 
 
 f • 
 
 
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l<r of 
 
 .adcs 
 
 and, 
 
 Inong 
 
 Kvcre 
 
 ;r of 
 
 'cent 
 
 bar, 
 
 the 
 
 1 
 
 \ 
 
 -4- 
 
 TRAGICAL ISSUE. 
 
 267 
 
 
 i 
 
 hole in the cabin deck, against his prisoner in 
 the lazaretto. Favoured beyond the others by 
 the obscurity of his position, the pointed end of 
 the crowbar, which was fiercely aimed at hiin^ 
 glanced by the side of his liead, penetrating the 
 collar of his shirt and the les: of his trowsers. 
 Not satisfied, however, with tlie sufficiency of 
 this first attempt — though Stewart conceived, 
 from the resistance exp( rienced in the strolce, that 
 it must have talvcn effect — a sharper instrument, 
 along-handk'd luirpoon, was talvcn up to complete 
 the work here conniienced. I'rom this des- 
 tructive weapon, which the Cai)tain rei)eatedly 
 plunged witli a 1 his might in the direction of 
 his pris(3ner, Smith received successive cuts in 
 his head, ears, t^nd side, besides having one of 
 his eyes nearly forced from its socket. Hut the 
 determined Captain, boing still dou1>ti'ul \\liether 
 his attack had been quite ciFcctUiil, broke up, 
 with his axe, another p^ortion of the cabin deck, 
 in order to get a better stro];c at his victim ; and 
 then repeated his staf)s with the liarpoon. A 
 slight Literal movement, providentially, had 
 meanwhile been accom})lislicd Ijy Sniitli, so that 
 the newly-directed blows still glanced past him ; 
 whilst a peculiar soft resistance, met by the 
 instrument at the extremity of the blow, from a 
 nii'ss of hides — which was mistaken for the 
 jsabstauce of the mate's body — happily aUorded 
 
 
•268 
 
 THE MAUY RUSSELL. 
 
 f - 
 
 the conviction that the mortal deed imist now bo 
 complete. To assure himself, however, that this 
 was certainly the case, he thrust his hand through 
 the opening ui)on the neck of Smith, which, 
 having" been long bare, had become so cold that 
 Stewart was satisfied witli what he had done, 
 remarking, — '' lie is dead, for good !'' And 
 thus, through the obscurity of his position, under 
 the preserving care of a gracious Providence, the 
 pali)itating sailor still escaped without any mor- 
 tal wound, when the murderous strokes, from the 
 weapon ^of his assailant, were suspended. 
 
 And so the work of death was finished ; and 
 * the wicked ceased from troubling, and the 
 weary were at rest.* So the life of j)robati(>n 
 was brought to a close ; and the wicked went to 
 his place, and the righteous to his ! 
 
 Hut why — the inquisitive, and not sceptical 
 mind, may naturally ask — was all this reckless 
 destruction of human life permitted ? AVhy did 
 the special Providence of Him which regardeth 
 the sparrow falling to the ground, allow the 
 murderous hand to work its purpose ui)on these 
 hapless beings r Of the mystery herein, we 
 sliall not stay our narrative, at present, more 
 particularly to speak, except to say— so much, at 
 least, we certainly know% that ' their liour was 
 come' — that this was the hour of their misguided 
 
 i 
 
 4- 
 
 ) 
 
 { 
 
 1 
 
atiou 
 !nt t(» 
 
 )tical 
 
 kless 
 
 y did 
 
 rdcth 
 
 the 
 these 
 
 wc 
 more 
 3I1, at 
 
 was 
 aided 
 
 ) 
 
 1 
 
 REFLECTIONS ON THE TRAGICAL ISSUE. 269 
 
 foe, and " the i)owcr of darkness." But it may 
 be further a^^ed, — Were iltese sinners, more than 
 other men, who so miserably perished ? We find 
 in the words of our blessed Lord a satisfactory 
 answer to this inquiry, when, in reference to a 
 circumstance sufficiently analogous for appropri- 
 ation here, he said, — '' I tell you, nay ; but, 
 except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish!" 
 Speaking then as he was wont, as never man 
 spake, he stopped all useless cavilling respecting 
 the comparative condition, as sinners, of the 
 unhappy party of Galileans, "whose blood Pilate 
 had mingled with their sacrifices," by a season- 
 able warning, calcidated for general and personal 
 edification to all who might at any time hear of 
 such melancholy dispensations. For if the hea- 
 vier calamities of life, only temporally considered, 
 are found to excite such sympcthy and horror in 
 those who merely hear of the events, or read 
 their descriptive records, — how ^»aght the grand 
 catastrophe of mortality, in ic/jrencc to its issue, 
 to be seriously laid to hean, ^vhon ^rom unques- 
 tionable authority we are assured, that, without 
 the personal experience of the soul-renovating 
 work of repentance, ' we must all likewise 
 perish !' 
 
 Truly, the world at large is not to be com- 
 plained of for lack of sympathy for the vic- 
 tims of heavy calamities in this life ; but, as to 
 
 I 
 
>• 
 
 :'''■•>■-» -'j'jt.a 
 
 270 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 i 
 
 S ! 
 
 the victims of eternal woe — tlic miiUltiules wlio 
 die without repentance — what lamentable in- 
 difference do we find! Calamitous events in life 
 are regarded with general interest; crowds has- 
 ten to look at the scenes of disolation and mi- 
 sery ; but how few, alas, lay to heart the personal 
 lesson which these dispensations are designed to 
 teach us! We are ai)t to be satisfied with the 
 feeling ot commiseration over the melancholy 
 fate of the sufferers by calamity, or with the ge- 
 nerous contribution for the relief of the necessi- 
 ties of the bereaved dependants of tliose who 
 may have prematurely perished; but how few 
 amongst us are in the habit of improving any 
 dispensation of Providence by which others may 
 have suffered, as a warning voice enforcing the 
 solemn truth, — "Except ye repent, ye shall idl 
 likewise perish !'' 
 
 Under the full impression of the sad catastro- 
 phe which we have just recorded, the reader nuiy 
 have feelingly entered into the woes of the suf- 
 fering sailors, or. peradventure, may hiive slied 
 the sympathising tear ; — Ikit hast thou, () man, 
 applied the admonition taught by Him who came 
 to die for thee, for the solenni enquhy as to 
 thine own eternal hopen? The fate of these poor 
 sailors, who so unexpectedly, so prematurely, so 
 cruelly perished — was, as to the mere mortal 
 catastrophe, truly pitiable ; but; consider what 
 
 ) 
 
 t 
 
11 all 
 
 slicd 
 man, 
 caino 
 as lo 
 poor 
 ', so 
 ortal 
 what 
 
 ) 
 
 REFLECTIONS ON THE TRAr.ICAL ISSt E. 57^ 
 
 lln/ fate must ctcvnally be, if tliou dicst impoai- 
 lent! 'Ihev pitiably })orislie(l; but, oxcopt thou 
 repent — throiiiih that d(Oi> and poweil'ul and vc- 
 geneiatina^ operation of the S})iiit of (lud by 
 which the fallen, degenerate man becomes a new 
 creature in Christ Jesus — thou nmst likewise 
 perish; and that, not merely under the power of 
 the grave, but before the triumphing of hell and 
 nnder everlasting woe! It was miserable so to 
 perish as did the suH'erers in the Mary llussell ; 
 but to perish hereafter ! — is that innneasurable 
 extreme ol woe, which neither the immortality 
 of existence of the soul of man can exceed in 
 enduring, nor can the dark mind of the master- 
 spirit in tiuM'egion of despair surpass in devising! 
 \\ ould to (iod, that thej)roiitablc a})pro])riati(m 
 uf calamitous events — an appropriation to which 
 we have been directed by the words of Him who 
 came dov, n from the realms of glory to save a 
 23erishing world — might be now so made by every 
 reader of this memorial of niaritimc sulfering, as 
 tobecome the occasion with him of heart-searching 
 examination as to his eternal prospects ; and, if 
 not already born of (xod, that the ai)propriation, 
 by Divine g^race, might be so improved to his^ 
 timely and eH'ectual con version, that, Cvscaping 
 the general doonr of the impenitent, he shoiild- 
 ?/(?/ " likewise j)erish 1'* 
 
 
lil 
 
 
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 ■i ! ( 
 
 i 1 
 
 V ! ! 
 
 
 ii! 
 
 Hi 
 
 
 ^1 
 
 1 B i 
 
 H 
 
 272 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 Section VII. — Conclmioji of the calamitous 
 
 Voyage. 
 
 The awful transactions recorded in the fore- 
 going section of this memorial, are calculated to 
 impress on us the humhling doctrine of Re- 
 velation — as to the inability of man to resist 
 the temptations of his powerful spiritual adver- 
 sary, when deserted by the restraining grace of 
 God. And the frightful infatuatiou in tlie reso- 
 iute commander of the Mary Russell, is further 
 calcuuited to evince — to the mind at least of the 
 sincere believer in Revelation — the wonderful in-, 
 iluence of Satanic agency. A man, accustomed 
 to be beloved by his sailors for his prevalent 
 humanity and kindness, becomes, under an 
 exaggerated apprehension of a series of sus- 
 picious circumstances, first the betrayer, and 
 then the murderer of his helpless crew 1 Wliat 
 a wretcl\ is man, when deprived of the S])irit of 
 God ! If forewarned of the wickechiess into 
 which it is possible for him, under the temptation 
 of Satan, to iall, lev HI start at the very sugges- 
 tion with horror, nfter the mi.anor of one of old, 
 and say, — ' Am i a dog, that I should do this 
 great wickedness ?' Or even when he hath by a 
 slow and insidit^us progress fallen into the snare, 
 he will often be so insensible to the real nature 
 of his own vileness, as to condemn himself uncon- 
 
CLOSE OF THE TRAGIC SCKNE. 
 
 273 
 
 ;-gCS- 
 old, 
 this 
 by a 
 lare, 
 ,ture 
 con- 
 
 >j« i*». 
 
 sciously, if his character be figuratively described, 
 as David did under the parable of Nathan, when, 
 of his own crime, he said, — '' the man that hath 
 done this thing" is not fit to live." 
 
 But suspending further reflections to a more 
 convenient place, we proceed with our narrative 
 towards a conclusion. 
 
 After the close of the tragic scene which we 
 have endeavoured faithfully to represent — Caj)- 
 tain Stewart, as if reb ased from an intoleralde 
 anxiety, became unnaturally animated and ex- 
 cited. He evinced an incongruous satisfaction, 
 and seemed to indulge in a feeling of triumph. 
 Having been without nourishment throughout 
 the day, he now ordered meat to be brought out 
 to him, of which, with some spirit and water, he 
 partook in the midst of the scene of carnage, and 
 then deliberately smoked his pipe over the bodies 
 of the dead ! As he held up his glass, before 
 drinking, he bade the awe-stricken boys remark, 
 that his hand was as steady as before the deed 
 was done ; whilst with vaunting self-approval he 
 added, that ' he thought no more of the bodies 
 before him, than if they were a parcel of dead 
 dogs.' He then encouraged his youthlul abet- 
 tors with the renewed assurance, that, for the 
 manly part which they had acted in the brave 
 adventure, they would each recei\e a reward of 
 at least a hundred guineas ; whilst he himself, 
 
 
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 I f' 
 
 ^\ 
 
 ?i ■ 
 
 ( 
 
 274 
 
 THE MARY mSSELL. 
 
 he supposed, would not only be recompensed with 
 a very lar^e sum of money from his under- 
 writers, for savin<^ the i)ropert r entrusted to iiis 
 care, but would doulnlcss ojtain the eommand of 
 a superior ship.. 
 
 Night was now drawing on ; and, thongli the 
 earnage of the unhappy crew liad been so exten- 
 sive and so nearly total, the cautious connnandcr 
 began to reflect on the chance of personal danger 
 from the wounded sailor, Ifowes, who, he sus- 
 pected, miglit yet be alive, lie proceeded, there- 
 fore, to guard himself against a sur])rise during 
 the night, and in the precautions made use of, 
 exhibited his nsual tact and subtlety. The sky- 
 light of the cabin he lashed iirndy down, and 
 barricadoed the entrance-staircase by a trans- 
 verse bar, secured by staples and nails. And 
 then, as akindof aLirum,hesuspended aspeaking- 
 . trum])et in the passage l)ctwixt the companion 
 and the cabin, to warn him of the approach of 
 his dreaded and venturous foe. Tims defended 
 against any secret intrusion, he sent the boys to 
 rest in an inner cabin, and he himself retired to 
 sleep, in another of the compartments opening 
 into the chamber of the dead. 
 
 With these arrangements, our narrative is 
 biouirht down to the close of the adventurous 
 Sunday, a day, which — instead of being dedi«- 
 
 r 
 
 if 
 
 -- — »-^ 
 
ESCAPE OF IIOWF.S AND SMITH. 
 
 273 
 
 catcd to ^ orlvs of inorcy, and to cxovcisos of 
 devolitin teiuliiit;* to liciiveidy jioacc — was pol- 
 luted l)v a .series of transactions at which the 
 feelings of hunumity sicken, and wherchy the 
 dcep-wronght liorrois of n^niancc arc too aniplj 
 rivalled. 
 
 ms- 
 ind 
 
 IS 
 
 )US 
 
 idi. 
 
 i 
 
 r 
 
 The interval devoted to repose will a fiord us a 
 convenient o]>p()rtunity for considering the con- 
 dition of the two wounded sailors. 
 
 Howes, after the tevril)le cnnllict witli the cap- 
 tain and his jiivendo supporters, narrated in the 
 foregoing' pages, crept away, as v.e have remark- 
 ed; along the toj) of the cargo, iiito the fore-hold, 
 where he hound up his hleeding hcjul witli the 
 kerchief taken frcnihis neck, iiis violent exer- 
 tions, and i?e\ere suii'crings iVoiu pain and anxiety 
 during the ]>recedii.g night, together with the 
 loss of hlood from his numerous wounds, occa- 
 sioned a most excruciating tliivsi. Great as was 
 the peril of his life in exposing himself to oh- 
 scrvation, his thirst hecvime so agonizing that he 
 ventured, in the dusk of the evening, to exert his 
 little remaining strength, in crawling upon deck, 
 in search of something to diink. There was no 
 token of conflict, — all was silent, — his companions 
 in adventure seemed to be now at jicacc ; — hut 
 little did he imagine the desolation that had 
 contributed to this solemn repose. He rcachedi 
 
1 
 
 ill 
 
 Q76 
 
 THE MAUY UrsSELL. 
 
 !1 r I 
 
 II 
 
 the water-cask, where he had expected the much 
 needed refreshment, hut it was empty, lie cau- 
 tiously i^ursued his anxious search ahout the (l<^ck, 
 and also in the quarter of his recent frip^htful 
 adventures, when, at length, he was successful in 
 his ohject : he ohtained a supj)ly of wiitcr sufli- 
 cient for his present need, and ^atlu «d together 
 a few cocoa-nuts which fell in his way. The 
 pistol which the Captain lost in their conclu- 
 ding s.truggle he also met with, which, with a 
 carpenter's axe, he secured, and carried along 
 with him into the fore-hold, where he settled 
 himself in a posture of defence. Nothing ap- 
 peared, however, to molest him throughout the 
 night. 
 
 In the morning of Monday, Smith, his fellow- 
 sufferer — participating also with him in a like 
 providential interference — made his way towards 
 the same retreat. His escape he described as 
 being in this wise : — The Captain having given 
 him up for dead, had fortunately nailed a piece 
 of board over the opening in the cabin deck 
 through which he had Ijeen assailed. Under the 
 concealment thus afforded him, he ventured, after 
 he heard the Captain retire from the place which 
 for some time he occupied directly over his head, 
 to attempt to release himself from his bonds, in 
 order that he might flee from his dangerous po- 
 sition. Happily he was enabled, after various 
 
:hc much 
 
 He cau- 
 
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 fiip^htful 
 
 cessl'ul in 
 
 Iter siifli- 
 
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 LV. The 
 
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 'arious 
 
 CAPTAIN S irRTIIKU ANXIKTIKS. 
 
 277 
 
 and considerable efforts, so to extend one of his 
 hands, as to reach liis j)ocket knife, with wliich 
 he cut his lashings, and pronii)tly obtained his 
 liberation. A narrow s])are being here, as well 
 as elsewhere, occasionally left l)etwixt the cargo 
 and the beams above, he contrived, after the 
 manner of Howes, to find a tortuous ))assage, 
 enabling him to crawl away from the scene of 
 slaughter. And in th nanncr, to their mutual 
 comfort and surprise, tliese two distinguished 
 subjects of the Divine mercy, hacked and 
 maimed as they were, and severe sutterers as they 
 both had been, were yet able to relate to each 
 other the frightful scenes of the preceding day. 
 Then it was that the manly Howes, who had 
 borne so nuich in his own person with such sin- 
 gidar hardihood, was made to shudder in dismay 
 under the details of the slaughter of his seven 
 comrades. 
 
 After a sleep of some hours — a repose rendered 
 necessarily perturbed aiul harassed by the im- 
 pressive influence on the mind, of the recent 
 events — the Captain arose from his bed, and to 
 his surprise and alarm he found, as he supposed, 
 the brig under-way. For looking through the 
 cabin-windows, he observed that the brig was 
 going fast through the water, and, according to 
 the position of her head by the compass, on a 
 
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 278 
 
 THE MARY KUSSELL. 
 
 v.\ 
 
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 course very nearly in the direction for Cape 
 Clear. Supposing'- that Howes must have sur- 
 vived his nndtii)lied wounds, and had taken the 
 helm, he cried out, with a view to the verifica- 
 tion of his ai)prehensions, — "John, keep her a 
 point more to leeward!" ]^ut there was no 
 answer. The helm w^as lashed as he had left it; 
 the head-way of the vessel hein<:!; merely the ac- 
 cidental eli'ect of a gust of variable wind in the 
 sails. 
 
 Being soon assured that this was the case, and 
 that all was quiet above, the attention of Stewart 
 was now turned to the several boys around him, 
 respecting whose continued lidelity he began to 
 have strong misgivings. Lest therei'ore, from 
 apprehensions as to their own safety, or from any 
 other cause, they might take advantage of any 
 unguarded moment to injure him, — he deter- 
 mined to secure himself by binding them. 
 " God Almirifhtv," he said — commencing- in a 
 style now very usual to him — "has told me 
 something" — and that "something" he seems 
 to have superstitiously inferred fi'om some im- 
 pression imconsciously produced, in the first 
 instance, on his mind ; but subsequently con- 
 firmed, in his ai)prchension, by the curious acci- 
 dental circumstancn of an old watch, Vvhich was 
 hung by the side of his bed, and had long been 
 stopped, being found to be going. This circum*- 
 
 J 
 
 
 #^ 
 

 captain's FURTIIFll ANXIF.TIES. 
 
 279 
 
 stance he considered as a proof that the boys 
 were not so passive and sid)dued as tliey oiijilit to 
 be, inasmuch as 'they must have been meddling 
 with the watch during his sleep.' Satisfied, at 
 all events, that his personal safety might be en- 
 dangered by their being all at liberty, he pro- 
 ceeded to take the instruments, with wliich they 
 were armed, from them, and to tie their hands. 
 Having so recently witnessed the tragic result 
 of a similar commencement of treatment, they 
 naturally became much alarmed, and the invalid, 
 Hammond — for whom the Captain always 
 manifested the respect due to a passenger, and 
 especially to a son of an owner of the brig under 
 his command — earnestly and anxiously inter- 
 ceded for them. Stewart, with manifest sincerity, 
 repelled the insinuation of any harm being de- 
 signed against them, and confirmed his assu- 
 rances to the contrary by taking an oath on the 
 Bible for their safety ; and for their perfect 
 assurance of the integrity of his professions, he 
 put a loaded pistol into the hands of Hammond 
 — whose liberty was left unrestrained, because, 
 as the Captain said, ' he knew him to be an 
 innocent chikV — anthorizing and directing the 
 trembling lad to shoot him, if he should attempt 
 to hurt his youthful comrades. 
 
 This measure of precaution was scarcely com- 
 pleted, and the boys secured to his satisfaction,: 
 
 
 
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 'HI 
 
 ! ,1 
 
 ■it! 
 
 ffi 
 
 280 
 
 THE MAUY RUSSELL. 
 
 by tying them both hands and feet, when the 
 sound of a distant voice, as of one hailing the 
 ship, excited the most interested attention of the 
 whole party. The repetition of the voice, from 
 a direction astern of the brig, assm*ed them that 
 some vessel must be close at hand. Stewart 
 liastened to look abroad, and jmtting his head 
 out of the cabin window, saw the stranger, 
 whose assistance he feelingly supplicated, saying, 
 ■ — "For God Almighty's sake come to my assist- 
 
 ance. 
 
 ?? 
 
 On being asked ' what was the matter ! ' 
 
 he replied, that * there had been a mutiny on 
 board his vessel — that he had killed eight of the 
 men — and that one had made his escape :' he 
 then repeated his intreaties for assistance, de- 
 claring, * if it was refused, that he should jump 
 overboard.' The remembrance of what had 
 occurred in the case of two former vessels, 
 served, no doubt, to make him increasingly 
 anxious. He rushed upon deck, and jumping 
 upon the taffrail, in his earnestness for the de- 
 sired relief, appeared ready to fulfil his declared 
 intention ; when the Captain of the supposed 
 stranger, recognizing in Stewart an old ac- 
 quaintance, called to him to * hold on, and he 
 would come to his help.' 
 
 As the friendly boat approached, the now over- 
 joyed Captain encouraged the men embarked in 
 it * to come on board, and not to be afraid,' on 
 
 
 i 
 
"1 
 
 « 
 
 SUCCOURED BY CAPTAIN CALLENDAR. 281 
 
 on 
 
 i 
 
 ) 
 
 the ground Hliat all the mutineers were dead, but 
 one.' The first person whom Stewart greeted 
 on the deck of the brig, was a personal friend, 
 Captain Callendar, to whom he handed a pistol ; 
 and then taking;- him aft, he stamped his foot 
 through the cabin sky-light, and showed him the 
 bodies of his slaughtered crew. He next led 
 him down into the cabin, where the astonished 
 visitor recognised among the dead, the body of 
 Captain Raynes ; he also remarked the bodies 
 of some of the sailors whom he remembered to 
 have formerly seen on board the brig. Stewart, 
 feeling both justified in what he had done, and 
 self-satisfied wuth the success of his extraordi- 
 nary attempt, remarked to his friend, * that he 
 could trample over them, like a parcel of dead 
 sheep ;' and then asked, ' whether he were not a 
 valiant little fellow to kill so many men ?' 
 
 To Captain Callendar' s enquiries into the par* 
 ticulars of the dreadful spectacle he then wit- 
 nessed, Stewart informed him — 'that Captain 
 Raynes, and the seaman .John Howes, had raised 
 a mutiny on board, and were going to take the 
 vessel from him; that he had been obliged to 
 break his instruments and throw his charts over- 
 board, that they might be discouraged in their 
 purpose ; and that he had adopted various other 
 measures, lest they shoidd succeed in their object 
 and murder him.' In proof of their wicked inten- 
 
 \ 
 
 '.• f 
 
 -"\. 
 
282 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 lions, he observed, 'that he had a paper, signed 
 by the senior apprentice, certiiyin<^ thiit a mutiny 
 had arisen in the sliip;' and, in siii)port of his 
 claim for' sympathy, he added, that ' he was so 
 dreadfully harassed that he had not slept for 
 twenty-seven days and nij^hts!' In ccmclusion of 
 his statement, he besou<:;ht Captain C'allendar's 
 protection against the infuriated seaman, Howes, 
 in case he should be yet alive, — which was readily 
 promised him, as also tliat he should be taken 
 home in safety to his wife and family. 
 
 It was now proposed that they should proceed 
 to look for the so much-dreaded Howes ; a j)ur- 
 pose which Captain Callendar undertook rather 
 mr.villing'ly ; for hitherto he had not felt the least 
 doubt of the facts of the case, in regard to the 
 mutiny being really such as had been stated to 
 him. The whole party, however, entered ujion 
 the search; in progress of which Ca2:)tain Stewart 
 himself discovered the wounded seaman, in his 
 concealment beneath the fore-hatchway, his per- 
 son being covered with a bag, and his features, 
 as to their expression, being almost obliterated 
 by a mask of blood! ''Is that Captain Callen- 
 dar?" asked the now poor spirit-sunk sailor, as 
 he fastened his eves on a countenance less de- 
 structive in its expression than that of him whom 
 he had so much reason to dread. — "It is," was 
 the Dromut rei:iv: anu tnenwas added an order to 
 
 I 
 
 i''. 
 
 ' 
 
 s'm- 
 
 ■am 
 
SrCCOFRED BY CAPTAIN CALLKNDAR. 283 
 
 , as 
 de- 
 
 1^ 
 
 ' 
 
 get up aiul go along with the uncxpectetl visitor, 
 wliich, on an assurance of protection, Howes im- 
 mediately obeyed. IJef'ore he left the place of his 
 retreat he called upon liis conn)anion hi tribula- 
 tion, ]\h\ Smith, who came forth from the obscu- 
 rity beyond, covere<l only by an old shirt. 
 
 At the sight of Sniilh, ( 'aptain Stewart started 
 back in amazement. "I thought you were dead!" 
 said he: — then, as if rellecting on the extraordi- 
 nary fact of his preservation, he paused for an in- 
 stant, and added, — "I now" believe you were in- 
 nocent ; I am sorry for having hurt you ; it was 
 God spared your life!" Stewart then appealed to 
 him, in justification of what he had done, as to 
 the fact of the miserable slain having, within his 
 hearing, confessed themselves guilty.^ Th(|mn- 
 swcr of Smith seemed to imply, that, he consi- 
 dered, ' tliey had confessed their guilt.' But 
 whether Smith ailirmod to the appeal of his 
 Captain from apprehension of further mischief to 
 himself, or whether the unhapj^y men, under the 
 torture of their bonds, had been constrained to 
 make such an avowal, is dilhcult to determine; 
 tliough from a carefid weighing of the evidence 
 bearing upon this point, it would rather appear 
 that some of them, whatever might have been 
 their motive, had acquiesced in the charge 
 brought against them. 
 
 Though Captain Stewart must '\ave been sa- 
 
 il 
 
 V 
 
 ^^; 
 
^Si 
 
 THE MARY IIUSSELL. 
 
 
 tisficd with the result of his appeal to Smith, as it 
 bore on his own justification, he was hy no means 
 sure that vengeance would not he wreaked against 
 him by the survivors of the general massacre. 
 He expressed himself so greatly anxious, espe- 
 cially respecting what Howes might attempt in the 
 way of retribution, that Captain Callendar pre- 
 vailed on Howes to submit again to restraint, to 
 the extent of a slight lashing on his hands, for the 
 relie of his Captain's distressing apprehensions. 
 
 Arrangements were now made for getting the 
 brig under-way. To assist in navigating her 
 homeward, two fresh hands were left on board ; 
 whilst, for Stewart's satisfaction, his two wound- 
 ed seamen were taken away by Captain Callen- 
 dar to his own vessel. 
 
 This friendly vessel was the Mary Stubbs, 
 schooner, belonging to Campobello in North 
 America. She had sailed from Barbadoes on 
 the 10th of May — the day after the sailing of the 
 Mary Russell — ^bound for Belfast, under the com- 
 mand of Robert Callendar of St. Andrews, New 
 Brunswick. About 8 a. m. of Monday, 23rd of 
 June — the day to which our narrative has just 
 been brought — the steward of the Mary Stubbs 
 descried the brig, at no very great distance, lying- 
 to, which he pointed out to his Captain. Being 
 then about 300 miles from the southern coast 
 of Ireland, Callendar was much surprised to per- 
 
 
 laaMB 
 
• m 
 
 CONCLUSION OF THE VOYACJK. 
 
 •285 
 
 ceive a vessel under siicli circumstances: he sup- 
 posed that they must have mistaken their })Osi- 
 tion, and be trying for soundings; at which, how- 
 ever, he expressed his astonishment, seeing that 
 they were yet so far from land. J^ut, oti nearing 
 the brig, this conjecture was dispelled; an ensign 
 half-mast high, and union downwards — the usual 
 signal of distress — being discerned flying in the 
 rigging. Captain Callendar now directed his 
 course straight towards her, with a view to her 
 relief; and, on his close approach, not perceiving 
 any person on deck, hailed, repeatedly, as, in pro- 
 gress of sailing round her, he ranged up along- 
 side, and finally crossed her stern. Then it was 
 that his call was answered from the cabin, — 
 Stewart stretching himself out of the window with 
 a bottle in his hand — which was afterwards found 
 to contain snuff — and urgently soliciting his 
 assistance as we have already described. 
 
 I'. 
 
 '1 
 
 The two vessels now proceeded in company, 
 before a favourable breeze, towards Cape Clear; 
 and nothing worthy of observation transpired till 
 the morning of Wednesday, the 25th, when, 
 drawing near the Irish coast, Captain Callendar 
 went on board of the Mary Russell, to inquire 
 into the state of his seamen, and others there. 
 He found Stewart in a very fretful and harassed 
 
 ■ 4 
 
 < '1 
 
 n 
 
 
i 
 
 r\ 
 
 *>86 
 
 TTTE MARY KUSSELL. 
 
 State of mind — anxiously a])pveliensivc lest the 
 strangers who liad been sent to liis assistance 
 should revenge the act he had ccimmitted, and 
 murder him. Tlie cause of his present fears he 
 mentioned to his friend ; hut Captain Callendar 
 assured him that he was perfectly safe, his men 
 having no ohject whatever, hut to take the vessel 
 into port. ]5ut so strongly had this apprehension 
 taken liold of his mind, or so jiainful were his 
 misgivings as to the sanguinary work he had per- 
 petrated, that shortly afterwards he hurried into 
 the main-chains, and crying out, "Lord, help 
 me ! '' jumj)cd overboard. Happily, for his present 
 preservation, the schooner's boat was towing 
 astern, which, being promptly manned, Stewart, 
 who buoyantly su})}>orted himself by swimming, 
 was picked up, and brought back. Captain Cal- 
 lendar having strongly remonstrated vrith him 
 upon the recklessnes-; of his conduct, which had 
 so greatly perilled his life, conceived that he had 
 become so subdued under a sense of his radi 
 folly, that, without any apprehension of a repe- 
 tition of the act, he walked towards the forccaslle, 
 with the object of looking out for land. 13ut 
 no sooner was Callendar out of the vvav, than 
 the opportunity was embraced by the unhappy 
 Stewart for throwing himself a second time into 
 l-kc sea; he was, however, as promptly succoured 
 
 ''^¥^' 
 
 ^^^^. 
 
 ui... 
 
CONCLUSION OF THE VOYAGK. 
 
 287 
 
 as before; and, beinp^ ap'ain rccovorcd, was now 
 secured, by tbc tyinu: of his le^j^s, aj^ainst present 
 renewal of his attempts at self-destruction. 
 
 (.'onsiderablc uneasiness was now manifested by 
 the two seamen belonj^i-inj:;' to the Mary Stubbs, in 
 liaving- with them so danp^erous a character — one, 
 wlio it now a])peared, was as free to sacrifice his 
 own life, as he had l)een darinj^ and successful in 
 taking the li\ es of others. To relieve them from 
 their embarrassment, as well as for his better 
 security, ('aptain C-allendar took Stewart aloug- 
 with him on his return to Iiis own vessel. On 
 his arrival there, lie took some colfee, and was 
 then prevailed upon to seek tlic nuich-needed 
 rel'reshmcnt of his wearied body, and the sooth- 
 inc^ of his aj^itated feelings, by rej^ose. l)ut the 
 harassed condition of his mind prevented any 
 continued (piiescence. He soon left his retreat, 
 and appeared ai;'ain upon deck. l>ut there, a 
 renewed source of excitement awaited him, in 
 the persons of his tv/o woiuided sailors, Smith 
 and Howes, v.hom his earnest gaze immediately 
 encountered. Aj^prehensivc that they would 
 now take vengeance on him for his {ittemj^ts 
 against their lives, he went into the cabin to seek 
 for some instrument of defence, and returned 
 anned with a case knife and fork. 
 
 With the expectation of j^acifying him, the 
 sCaptain of the schooner ordered the two sailors 
 
 
 \\ 
 
 I 
 
 \ 
 
) 
 
 288 
 
 TIIK MARY UUSSELL. 
 
 b( low, and afTccted to fasten them down : but, 
 though Stewart was evidently satisfied that his 
 attack upon them was fully justified by the neces- 
 sity of his condition, he could not get rid of his 
 dread of their vengeance. 
 
 After Stewart had been but a veiy few hours on 
 board the Mary Stubbs, the weather, which had 
 j)reviously been dark and hazy, cleared up, and 
 three hookers — small Irish sloops — were seen, 
 one of them within a very short distance. 
 Stewart requested that the schooner might be 
 hauled up for one of the hookers, that they might 
 ascertain the position of the land. As they were 
 in progress of compliance, Stewart, taking ad- 
 vantage of the moment when all the people 
 around him were occupied in trimming the sails, 
 again jumped overboard, and was seen exerting 
 all his energies in swimming towards the hooker. 
 The two vessels having shortly afterwards ap- 
 proached within hail of each other, Captain 
 Callendar pointed out to the people in the 
 hooker the exposed adventurer in the water, who 
 immediately directed their efforts for his rescue, 
 and picked him up. The Mary Stubbs was now 
 hove-to, with the expectation of receiving back 
 their difficult charge ; but, to the surprise of all 
 on board, the hooker made sail from them, and 
 stood away to the westward. 
 
 Nothing was left, therefore, to Captain Cal- 
 
 1 
 
 V 
 
 ( 
 
I 
 
 ^n: but, 
 that his 
 e neces- 
 (l of his 
 
 loiirs on 
 ich had 
 ip, and 
 e seen, 
 stance, 
 ^'"ht be 
 might 
 y were 
 ig ad- 
 Jeople 
 sails, 
 3rting 
 )oker. 
 s ap- 
 ptain 
 the 
 who 
 scue, 
 now 
 back 
 fall 
 and 
 
 al- 
 
 s 
 
 •a 
 
 CONCICSTON OF THE VOYAGE. 
 
 289 
 
 ,e„aar, Lut to pursue his voyage to us d^^^^^^^^ 
 tion- and this he did so successfully, lluU, about 
 ^LUt of the saiuo day, he amved safely, 
 wlth^c Mary Russell iu charge, at uu auchoraga 
 in Cork Harbour. 
 
 A 
 
 -^- 
 
 'Y^ 
 
 iiiSii'i.'i ..... 
 
Chapter II. 
 
 INVESTIGATIONS, PERSONAL AND LEGAL, OP THE CASE OT 
 
 CAPTAIN STEWART. 
 
 Section I. — Personal Examinalion of the Mary 
 Russell, and of the Survivors of her Crew. 
 
 }A 
 
 With the foregoing details of the tragical pro- 
 ceedings on board the brig Mary Russell, T could 
 only become acquainted by means of testimony 
 derived from others; we now come to the period, 
 however, embracing the domestic circumstances 
 connected with the present memorial, the records 
 of which, for the most part, were derived from 
 personal inquiries or observations. 
 
 It was in the morning of the 26th of June, but 
 a few hours after the arrival of the Mary Stubbs 
 and her convoy at their anchorage at Cove, when, 
 accompanied by Colonel Fitz Gerald — my late 
 lamented brother-in-law — and another friend, I 
 visited these now remarkable vessels. The Mary 
 Russell, as I have said, was in charge of a civil 
 officer ; he, and two of the apprentice-boys, bi^iD^''' 
 the only persons then on board. Through the 
 
 ./. 
 
 :^_ 
 
 -» 
 
 "ftf- 
 
 / 
 
PERSONAL EXAMINATIONS. 
 
 291 
 
 :ase op 
 
 • T 
 
 open hatch of the cabin sky-light, to which we 
 were directed as we reached the deck, we had an 
 unobstructed view of the sickening scene beneath. 
 Five swollen bodies, lashed on their backs, 
 " mangled with ghastly wounds," and clotted 
 with gore, were lying conspicuously visible 
 beneath, with the lower extremities of two 
 others, seen projecting from the mate's cabin, or 
 larboard state-room; the whole of which had 
 remained, I believe, undisturbed, from the hour 
 of the massacre. The body of the unhappy 
 llaynes, with the head and face shockingly 
 mangled, lay almost immediately beneath the 
 opening, — a frightful object; and the rest, in 
 various degrees of conspicuousness, combined in 
 the completion of the appalling spectacle.-^' It 
 required more than an ordinary nerve and 
 habit of self-possession, to contemj)late un- 
 sickened the dreadful charnel-house ; whilst the 
 depth of the impression on the mind has been 
 
 f* 
 
 * Thomas Sharpc, Esq. the Surgeon who inspected the bodies at the 
 time of the inquest, stated— that the seven persons (so often referred to la 
 this narrative), had each of them " extensive fractures on the skull. 
 James Raynes had a mortal fracture on the anterior part of the skull and 
 face. William Swanson, a mortal fracture on the right side of his head, 
 James Murley, a mortal fracture on the right side and back part of the 
 head. Francis Sullivan's head, on the left side, was extensively fractured. 
 John Cramer had the anterior part of his skull beaten in. Timothy 
 Connell, had a mortal fracture on the left side of his head j and John 
 Keating's head, on the left side and anterior part, was mortally fractured 
 and beaten in,— all which fractures must have been occasioned by some 
 very weighty pointed instrument, — a crow-bar, as he had been informed — 
 and must have produced almost instant death." All the men were 
 strongly tied by the arms, legs and thighs, and partly by the neck, and 
 were lying on what appeared to be matticsses. 
 
 :^'" 
 
 ■y^..^ 
 
292 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 ! 
 
 i< <i 
 
 \ 
 
 Strikingly marked, in the case of the writer of 
 this record, by the small approach to oblivion of 
 the sad exhibition, notwithstanding the opera- 
 tion of the considerable interval of time which 
 has since then elapsed. 
 
 Colonel FitzGerald, being the first magistrate 
 who had visited the vessel, examined, at con- 
 siderable length, the two boys, then on board the 
 Mary Russell, as to the i:)articulars of the trans- 
 action, the dreadful result of which was at the 
 moment before us. The investigation, which 
 occupied a considerable time, being completed, I 
 proceeded to the schooner Mary Stubbs, which 
 was lying in a contiguous berth, for the purpose 
 of seeing the residue of the ill-fated crew, and 
 making further inquiries into the details of the 
 calamity. 
 
 Another of the apprentices belonging to the 
 Mary Russell was here met with, besides Smith 
 the chief mate, and the seaman Howes. The 
 appearance of these men — monuments as they 
 were of preserving Mercy — excited fc lings of 
 intense and anxious interest. Both of them, 
 more particularly Howes — though able to come 
 upon deck — were shockingly mutilated. Their 
 wounds were yet undressed ; and their whole 
 persons and clothing bore affecting indications, 
 . oth of the terrible conflict through which they 
 L 1 recently passed, and of the vehement efforts 
 
 
 IHX- I JI.J 
 
PKRSONAL EXAMINATIONS. 
 
 293 
 
 riter of 
 ivion of 
 opcva- 
 wliich 
 
 ^istrate 
 
 at con- 
 
 lard the 
 
 trans- 
 
 at the 
 
 which 
 
 leted, I 
 
 which 
 
 purpose 
 
 Qw, and 
 
 of the 
 
 to the 
 
 Smith 
 . The 
 IS they 
 ngs of 
 
 them, 
 come 
 
 Their 
 
 whole 
 
 ations, 
 
 h they 
 
 efforts 
 
 which had hccn made to involve them in the 
 general slaughter. 
 
 Mr. Smith was freely communicative of all the 
 particulars of the eventful day ; and Howes, 
 thougliJic spoke cautiously — ajipearing to liave 
 been put upon his guard against exposing him- 
 self to personal risk by any perverted evidence — 
 yet answered distinctly to the point, and with a 
 manner characteristic of his determined hardi- 
 hood, whatever questions I put to him. 
 
 Imagination instinctively summoned up, as the 
 hardy sailor stood leaning against the bulwark of 
 the vessel, a most lively picture of the frightful 
 scenes in whic^i he had been at once so great a 
 sufferer, and so distinguished an object of Provi- 
 dential preservation. He was a man in wliosc 
 appearance there was an intelligible indication 
 of the firmness and perseverance in resistance, 
 which he had been enabled so profitably to bring 
 into exercise in the hour of his extraordinary trial. 
 His face was considerably weather-beaten, and his 
 countenance, as it appeared to me, was strongly 
 marked, if not harsh, — combining, with some 
 severity of expression, an indication of straight- 
 forward manliness of character. He was the 
 very man one would have picked out of a whole 
 s]ii})'s company as likely to be the foremost in 
 any act of daring — the man one coidd suppose 
 capable of boldly avowing himself vigorously 
 
 n\ 
 
Q94 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 
 
 y 
 
 r 
 
 alive, when the only chance he seemed to have 
 of escape was the maintenance of the opinion, 
 come to hy his formidable foe, that he was dead. 
 He S'^.emed the very character whom one could 
 believe capable of saying to his determined 
 commander, when standing over him armed with 
 deadly weapons — " I will die before I will again 
 submit to be tied 1" 
 
 The other survivor of the dread calamity — the 
 companion of Howes in mercy now, as he had 
 recently been in peril — though not associated 
 with such circumstances of incident, adven- 
 ture, and developemcnt of character, as had ren- 
 dered Howes so conspicuous, — yet was not to be 
 looked upon without feelings of both commi- 
 seration and interest. The tremendous violence 
 attempted against him, had left very impressive 
 marks. His wounded eye, and cheek, and head, 
 net only bore testimony to the truthfulness of his 
 account of his own adventures, but evinced like- 
 wise, as an unquestionable fact, this measure of 
 his peril, that there had been but a hair's-breadth 
 betwixt him and death. 
 
 The examination of the boys on board of 
 the brig, by Colonel FitzGerald, elicited, under 
 the guidance of occasional questions, a circum- 
 stantial detail of the proceedings which had led 
 to the fatal catastrophe ; whilst the infonna- 
 tion derived from the survivors on board the 
 
 I 
 
 
TERSOXAL EXAMINATIONS. 
 
 295 
 
 I to have 
 opinion, 
 ^'as dead, 
 nc could 
 ermincd 
 led with 
 ill again 
 
 ity — the 
 he had 
 sociated 
 adven- 
 lad ren- 
 ot to be 
 commi- 
 ^iolence 
 pressive 
 cl head, 
 s of his 
 d like- 
 isure of 
 H'eadth 
 
 )ard of 
 under 
 ircum- 
 ad led 
 foima- 
 rd the 
 
 -I 
 
 ^ 
 
 Mary Stubbs, afi'orded, altogether, a very com- 
 plete view of the chief events of the whole 
 calamitous voyage. Notes of the various par- 
 ticulars I made on the spot, which I had oppor- 
 tunity, subsequently, in repeated and unreserved 
 commuwications with the chief in the sanguinary 
 adventure, of amply verifying and filling up. 
 From these memoranda, — assisted by the pub- 
 lished evidence before the Coroner, and very 
 minute, and, I believe, accurate reports of the 
 trial given in the local papers of the day, together 
 with a few other facts occasionally derived from 
 other quarters, — the particulars of this memorial 
 were derived. And although there were a few 
 minor circumstances, necessary to be introduced, 
 as to which, because of little discrepancies in the 
 evidence, I have felt some doubt ; — yet as to the 
 great body of the facts, so amply testified '^ .id 
 abundantly verified, no such doubt could exist. 
 And in regard to the occasional variations in the 
 evidence on unimportant points, these I have 
 endeavoured to reconcile with the general facts, 
 either by giving the preference to the testimony 
 of the more intelligent witnesses, where such an 
 adaptation would answer, or by reference to the 
 probabilities, which a clear understanding of the 
 nautical and other circumstances, sometimes 
 enabled me satisfactorily, to myself, to es- 
 timate. 
 
296 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 .' . 
 
 lu the beginning of the following week, I had 
 again an opportunity, under new circumstances, 
 of visiting the Mary Russell; — the brig then 
 lying at the Custom-house Quay at Cork, and 
 being in progress of the discharging of her cargo. 
 
 The cabin, though now cleared of the bodies, 
 and of their more offensive extravasations, bore 
 abundant and indelible marks of the sanguinary 
 deed which had so recently been perpetrated 
 there. In the blood-stained floor were conspi- 
 cuously visible, the places of the nails and staples 
 whereby the prisoners had been secured dov/n ; 
 together with the hole broken through the floor 
 into the prison-room of the chief mate, Smith, 
 which yet remained unrepaired. 
 
 Besides these more permanent marks of the 
 recent transactions, other objects and places of 
 melancholy interest, referred to in our memorial, 
 were met with at every step, eliciting associations 
 intensely impressive. In one place w^ere seen the 
 granes, and the axe, with other instruments of 
 destruction which had been used in the massacre, 
 or in its attendant circumstances; in another 
 place, was met with, the case of books [or shells.?], 
 which Howes had used as a shield against the 
 pistol-shot of his master, extensively bespattered 
 with blood. In the half-deck, — the scene of the 
 extraordinary conflict betwixt Captain Stewart 
 and Howes, — the original arrangements were 
 
 on 
 
 3 
 
 i^M 
 
PERSONAL EXAMINATIONS. 
 
 297 
 
 k, I had 
 
 1 stances, 
 ig then 
 )ik, and 
 )Y cargo. 
 
 bodies, 
 
 IS, bore 
 
 guinary 
 
 petrated 
 
 conspi- 
 
 staplcs 
 
 down ; 
 le floor 
 
 Smith, 
 
 of the 
 aces of 
 morial, 
 iations 
 3en the 
 3nts of 
 issacre, 
 nother 
 lells?], 
 >st the 
 ittered 
 of the 
 tewart 
 were 
 
 
 t 
 
 I 
 
 undisturbed; a hammock and bedding yet re- 
 mained, -whilst the suriiice of the sugar-casks, 
 forming the platform of the compartment, still 
 exhibited abundant traces of the blood which 
 bad flowed out there. 
 
 The fassage'from the deck to the cabin, with 
 its nail-locker, and tiic marks of the barricading 
 therein, w\as a position rendered interesting by 
 the circumstances connected with it; and the 
 diff'erent berths and interior compartnuMits of the 
 cabin yielded, severally, their portion to the ge- 
 neral impression. ]k\sidcs these things, as mat- 
 ters of melancholy interest, — the presence of one 
 of the monuments of preserving Mercy, together 
 with one of tlie youtliful abettors of the infituated 
 Captain, greatly cnh-mccd the impression pro- 
 duced on the feelings by the general survey of 
 the Mary Russell. All these things being strong- 
 ly associatcvl wilh the recent events, produced, 
 together, such an extraordinary measure of ex- 
 citement and perturbation, as no mere record 
 or descri])t:on could possibly yiold the conn- 
 terpart of, — for the imagination, assisted and 
 stimulated by these various striking objects, 
 was so powerfully brought to the apprehension 
 of the whole course of carnage, as to occasion 
 sensations of dismay and horror in the mind of 
 the conscious examiner, — sensations so vivid and 
 
 distinct, as only to be exceeded by real recol- 
 
 02 
 
^ 
 
 •298 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 lections, or by the actr 1 witnessing of the ori- 
 ginal dreadful scenes. 
 
 \' 
 
 Section II. — Coroner's Inquest. 
 
 t 
 
 i;'v 
 
 11 
 
 «ii 
 
 
 In the afternoon of the day of my first visit to 
 the Mary Russell, a Coroner and Jury came 
 down from Cork to enquire into the origin 
 and results of this unprecedented transaction. 
 After inspecting the state of the bodies of the 
 dead, and making such investigations as time 
 permitted — not being able to finish their exami- 
 nation of all the witnesses — they adjourned till 
 the following day, and agreed to meet in Cork. 
 
 At the opening of the second day's investiga- 
 tion, the Coroner read two letters, communi- 
 cating the intelligence of Captain Stewart being 
 in custody at Skibbereen. They were as follow. 
 
 " BallincoUig, 27th June, 1828. 
 
 Friday morning — Seven o'clock, 
 
 *^ My Lord — I have this instant received the 
 enclosed letter from Chief Constable Brownrig, 
 superintending the constabulary force in Car- 
 bery West, East Division, detailing one of the 
 most dreadful acts ever committed. 
 
 " Wheii your Lordship has done with the en- 
 
 l^ 
 
 .1 
 
 A 
 
coronek's inquest. 
 
 509 
 
 tlic ori- 
 
 t visit to 
 ry came 
 ; origin 
 isactioii. 
 5S of the 
 as time 
 • exami- 
 med till 
 Cork, 
 ivestiga- 
 )mmuni- 
 rt being 
 follow. 
 
 3. 
 
 t o'clock, 
 
 ved the 
 •ownrig, 
 in Car- 
 i of the 
 
 the en- 
 
 closed communication, I request you will he so 
 good as to return it by post. 
 
 "I am, my Lord, &c. &c., 
 "John Galway, 
 Local Inspector County Cork Constabulary." 
 "To the Mayor of Cork." 
 
 " Skibbcrccn, June 2G, IS 28. 
 " Sir — I beg leave to acquaint you, that a man 
 named William Stewart, Master of the brig 
 Mary Russell, bound for Cork from Barbadoes, 
 was brought in here a prisoner, a few hours since, 
 by the Constable Station at Baltimore, to whom 
 he had been given up, at alate hour last night,by 
 the Coast Guard, charged, upon his ow'n confes- 
 sion, of having killed six [seven] of his crew, and 
 wounding two, all of whom he alleges mutinied. 
 It further appears by his statement, that his brig 
 was boarded by the Captain of the brig [schooner] 
 Mary Stubbs, of CamiDo-bello, New Brunswick, 
 bound for Belfast, who took charge of her ; but on 
 his being roughly treated by the Captain of the 
 sloop, he leaped overboard from his brig, 
 and swam to the sloop. Still feeling that an 
 attempt would be made on his life, he again 
 leaped over-board, and swam to a fishing-boat 
 (off Cape Clear), which picked him up and gave 
 him in charge to the Coast Guard. The above 
 unfortunate man is well known here, and was 
 
 
300 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 ■ 'I 
 1, ■ 
 
 always considered extremely liuiiKinc ; he is very 
 respectably connected, being nephew to Dr. 
 Stewart, of Clonakilty. 
 
 *'At first I considered tlie statement a mere 
 fabrication ; but now I fear it is but too true : 
 and if lie destroyed his unfortunate crew in the 
 manner he says he did, it is one of the most hor- 
 rible cases which has ever come before the public. 
 
 " The above vessels having proceeded, as I 
 understand, for Cork, I deem it proper to give 
 you the earliest intelligence of the above la- 
 mentable circumstances; — and in order that you 
 may apprise tlic authorities in Cork, of Wm. 
 Stewart, the Master of the Mary Russell, being 
 in custody, about whose apprehension they are 
 no doubt anxious. 
 
 *• I have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 J. Brownrig, C. C. of Police." 
 " To Capt. Gal way, Local Inspector." 
 
 H 
 
 After the reading of these communications, the 
 cxannnation of tlio survivors of the dreadful car- 
 
 naf;o vv'r.s r.);'ii ,v.!:m1, nnd completed, — the leading 
 partioula;.« •• i ^ ]/ s" evidence have already been 
 inc()rpor</t' ' •* f':; (jvogoing narrative. The 
 result of t'nr- Oi' J n.v 1? -f^j^ve the Coroner, it is 
 so 110 «ut^:i;.,:;!'. ii 1/ i.. . :.M- Jo siiy, — botli for the 
 i:ik<.i of ?M:ninc'iy: t:-fl i'oi ih.j ^<Mnpnral safety as 
 V(;li Ji^; iiWiJi-iihop'::' oi Ui»» uul :M)py perpetrator 
 
 <fe: 
 
 t 
 
coiicN'i:u s inq::est. 
 
 301 
 
 c IS very 
 to Dr. 
 
 a mere 
 00 true : 
 V in the 
 ost hor- 
 3 i)iiblic. 
 ed, as I 
 
 to give 
 jove la- 
 th at you 
 bf Win. 
 
 11, bei 
 
 mjr 
 
 they are 
 
 f Police." 
 
 ions, the 
 dful car- 
 leading 
 dy been 
 . The 
 cr, it is 
 1 for the 
 afety as 
 pctrator 
 
 lit 
 
 of tlic drcadfid caniap^o, — was the following" qua- 
 lified verdict, — '' Tluft Ihc several Sdi/ors and 
 Passoif/ors wcro kiUvd />,y tho luimh of Captain 
 Sfeirarf, hcht// ///rv/, (uid /'or some days before, in a 
 slate of meiflal denuKjeinenl.'''' 
 
 Though there are sufilciont indications, in the 
 narrative before us, of the incorrect state of mind 
 of Captain Stewart, — admitting what ai>pears to 
 be the truth, that there were no retd ijroumls 
 for the sus]>icion of a:iy mutiny being intended by 
 the passengers or crew, — yet it is very astonishing 
 that no serious conviction, of his being under the 
 influence of this malady, seems to have been en- 
 tertained by any person on board. For though, 
 on the trial, intimations of this knowledge were 
 given by some of the v itncsscs, yet, on the ar- 
 rival of the vessel, not the sUrjhtcst suspicion to 
 this effect was stated to me by any of the survi- 
 vors, all of whom, cxce])t the boy Hammond, I 
 Baw, and questioned most particularly as to their 
 opinion of the cause of the Captain's dread- 
 ful proceeding. If, indeed, any serious ap- 
 prehension had been entertained of his insanity 
 — would the people have so prom;Hly obeyed the 
 extraordinary orders for lying the ship to, when 
 approaching, with a favom*able wind, so near her 
 port ? Would the chief officer, in the first place, 
 and then the rest of the crew, have submitted 
 
 *i 
 
li 
 
 302 
 
 Tin: MARY lU'SSKLL. 
 
 S 
 
 inider any thrcatciiiiifrs, to bo Loiuul in the way 
 they were secured, and to reniahi a whole night 
 in this condition, without attomptinp^ eilher to 
 release themselves or one another ? Would the 
 Captain of the Mary Harriett have funii.>hed 
 him with pistols for his defence against a mu- 
 tinous crew, if he had perceived any indications 
 of a disordered mind ? 
 
 But these interrogatories are not intended to 
 cast any doubt on the correctness of the verdict 
 agreed to by the Coroner's jury ; but are merely 
 put forth as representing the kind of reflections, 
 which were made by myself and others, on our 
 first acquaintance with the extraordinary trans- 
 actions. For, when the question was started, as 
 to Stewart's soundness, of mind, it was re- 
 peatedly urged amonfijMtlie. persons with whom 
 I happened to be aJBciated, that, if either 
 party were deranged, the natural inference would 
 rather be — that the nine mihappy men, compris- 
 ing the crew and passengers, who allowed them- 
 selves to be overcome by a single individual, less 
 robust than any among them — these, if any, must 
 have been the madmen ! 
 
 The doubts, however, which in the first in- 
 stance might have existed in regard to Stewart's 
 state of mind, and measure of criminality, were, 
 subsequently, sufficiently cleared away — so that 
 hig real condition will, we trust, appear free from 
 
rKKSONAL INVKSTICJATIONS. 
 
 303 
 
 tlic way 
 le night 
 -Itlior to 
 niUl the 
 uuishcd 
 t a mu- 
 licatioiis 
 
 uncertainty, oven ou consideration, hut of a very 
 brief record, of the trial. 
 
 Section III. — Personal inter cicna with Ctipt/iin 
 Stewart J and further invest iijations concerning 
 the lamentable transactions on board the Manj 
 Russell. 
 
 ndcd to 
 J verdict 
 5 merely 
 lections, 
 , on our 
 Y trans- 
 ited, as 
 vas re- 
 li whom 
 either 
 c would 
 ompris- 
 1 tliem- 
 al, less 
 y, must 
 
 irst in- 
 B wart's 
 . vvere, 
 50 that 
 e from 
 
 The principal actor in the appalling tragedy, 
 of which the foregoing pages aflord a detailed 
 record, was speedily conveyed to a place of secu- 
 rity — the county gaol of Cork. A few days 
 subsequently — on the 5tli of July, 18-28 — I had 
 an opportunity, through the assistance of one of 
 the Magistrates on the Gaol Committee, of visit- 
 ing this extraordinary cliaiacter. Capt. Stewart 
 being acquainted with ni» friend, — who was re- 
 sident in the neighbournood of Cove, where 
 Stewart's family lived, — received him kindly, and 
 even welcomed his visit; but on me, being a total 
 stranger, he looked with an eye of suspicious 
 objection— evidently considering my presence as 
 intrusive. My friend, however, having made mc 
 known to him, hi such a way as to remove the 
 impression of my visit being intended in idle 
 curiosity, he at length permitted me to enter his 
 cell, where, the jailor having left us, we spent 
 nearly a couple of hours, whilst he related to ui , 
 
iN 
 
 304 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 i 
 
 with increasing confidence and openness, the 
 leading circumstances of the fatal voyage. There 
 was an evident candour cf manner wliich im- 
 pressed us with the decided cojiviction, that he 
 felt himself justified in all that he had done ; for, 
 whilst he avowed himself ready to meet his trial, 
 he declared himself ])rcpared to establish the ne- 
 cessity of the act wliich lie had committed. 
 
 Unless it were a certain sharpness of expres- 
 sion in the eye, and quickness of manner, we 
 perceived scarcely any other indications, that the 
 person before us v.as of unsound mind. He 
 seemed to be in the full possession, indeed, of all 
 his ordinary faculties, and related his proceed- 
 ings, on the adventurous voyage, with such con- 
 sistency, minuteness of detail, and apparent 
 accuracy, that — had his suspicions been well 
 founded, as to which he made out a clear and 
 forcible case — one would have been led, certainly, 
 to palliate, if not to justify, on principles of self- 
 preservation, a very considerable proportion of 
 his course of treatment of his unhappy crew. 
 
 It was not possible to contemi^late, without 
 peculiar emotions, the singular character before 
 us ; — feelings of astonishment becoming predo- 
 minant on the reflection, that a person so evi- 
 dently inferior in bodily strength to the muscular 
 power of most of the individuals of his slaugh- 
 
 S 
 
 ■1 
 
PERSONAL INVESTIGATIONS. 
 
 805 
 
 )cnness, the 
 age. TJiere 
 wliich im- 
 011, that he 
 I done ; for, 
 'ct his trial, 
 lisli the ne- 
 tted. 
 
 of cxpres- 
 uinner, we 
 ts, that the 
 lind. He 
 (^cd, of all 
 > proceed- 
 such con- 
 apparent 
 »eeu well 
 "lear and 
 certainly, 
 Js of self- 
 ortion of 
 ?revv. 
 
 without 
 r before 
 : predo- 
 
 so evi- 
 luscular 
 slaugh- 
 
 tered people, could have performed a deed, from 
 which the most powerful of his species might 
 have shrunk, as apparently impracticable. 
 
 His appearance, at the time of this interview, 
 was remarkable, chiefly, by association. His 
 figure appeared slight, and below the middle 
 stature, but evidently smart and agile. With 
 features somewhat sharp, complexion fair, liair 
 red, and a proiile straight, and indicative of in- 
 telligence, he exhibited a moral physiognomy not 
 so much characteristic of any thing bad or rcpid- 
 sive, as of a temperament excitable, ardent, and 
 passionate. The lire of the eye, and quickness 
 of movement in the body, to which I have 
 already alluded, were the only apparent charac- 
 teristics which struck me as being peculiar. 
 
 Feelings of repulsion and distrust were for- 
 cibly excited by being locked uj) v.ith a man 
 who had been the agent of such a terrific slaugh- 
 ter ; and it was not without shuddering from the 
 very heart, that I received, at the close of this 
 first interview, the now freely oiTered, but not 
 obtruded, murderous hand. 
 
 Very unexpectedly, a second opportunity, un- 
 der most favourable circumstances for hearing 
 more particulars on the subject of this Memorial, 
 was aflbrded me a few days after the interview 
 just recorded. Captain Stev i\rt; in natural anx- 
 
 ^ 
 
300 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 'I 
 
 iety as to the grounds of his defence on his 
 expected trial, requested an audience with Capt. 
 Hoare, r.n., — one of the very efficient and dili- 
 gent memhers of the Gaol Committee, and a 
 brother-in-law of mine — in order to lay before 
 him a statement of his case, and to take his 
 opinion, under the supposition of an intended 
 mutiny, as to the justifiableness of the act which 
 he had committed. Fortunately, I was on a visit 
 at Captain Hoare's at the very time when the 
 message reached him, and thus obtained, in 
 his company, admission again to Stewart's cell, 
 which would not otherwise have been permitted, 
 because of a strict prohibition, by the magis- 
 trates, against the admission of visitors to this 
 particular prisoner, whose unexampled case iiad 
 been productive of a degree of interest and 
 excitement from which no small measure of in- 
 convenience had been found to residt. 
 
 We found the object of our visit in the com- 
 mon-room of his ward, engaged in writing, for 
 the information and satisfaction of his uncle, the 
 
 Reverend Dr. S , a detailed account of the 
 
 melancholy transaction. Having led us to the 
 privacy of his own cell, he read to us his memo- 
 rial at length — which, we found, was drawn up 
 with great clearness, and with a peculiar regard 
 to unity. In every thing, indeed, excepting what 
 related to his notion of an intended mutiny, his 
 
 kvH 
 
encc on ]iis 
 e with Capt. 
 ^nt and dili- 
 ittce, and a 
 lay before 
 to take his 
 tn intended 
 e act wliich 
 IS on a visit 
 when tlie 
 stained, in 
 mart's eel], 
 permitted, 
 f^e magis- 
 >i's to this 
 f case had 
 forest and 
 ure of in- 
 
 the com- 
 ting-, for 
 ncle, the 
 It of the 
 ' to the 
 memo- 
 awn up 
 
 regard 
 S what 
 ny, his 
 
 CAPTAIN Stewart's statement. 
 
 307 
 
 narrative stnick us as being strikingly consistent, 
 and as characterized by all the ordinary marks of 
 truthfulness and accuracy. He then proceeded to 
 detail to us, in regular series, many additional par- 
 ticulars, so as to give a complete and connected 
 view of tlK) various events of the melancholy voy- 
 age, especially of tliosc Avhich had a bearing on, 
 and were influential in leading to, the fatal tragedy. 
 The whole of his relation, occupying nearly two 
 hours in the commimication, he went through 
 with singular attention to chronological order, 
 dwelling, most minutely and pointedly, on the 
 different circumstances of suspicion in the beha- 
 viour of his crew, which he esteemed corrobo- 
 rative of his apprehension of their mutinous 
 designs, and on which, indeed, all his exi)ec- 
 tatioiis of personal justification, seemed to rest. 
 
 These circumstances of suspicion, which have 
 been already stated in detail, he summed up after 
 the following manner; — "Captain Raynes," 
 said he, "whom I took on board from charitable 
 motives at Barbadoes, was the cause of the whole. 
 He tampered with the men, to stir up a mutiny. 
 I consulted with the mate, who said, he did not 
 fear them. But," added Stewart — after describing 
 a daring transaction in which his chief officer 
 acknovdedged himself to have been once engaged 
 — " when the mate made that confession, I lost 
 all confidence in him. Howes had been in a 
 
 1 
 

 IG 
 
 I 
 
 V ' "" 
 
 
 1 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 ■ 
 
 
 1 "1 
 
 
 
 
 i\ ■ y.' 
 
 
 
 .1 
 
 
 'I 
 
 i 
 
 308 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 situation both a.s cvlh ,' "'""'a^"'? J^>^t Ws 
 '"0 hopes of a 12; "'''"' '"^ ^""''' ^^--^ 
 
 ti'at he wanted oT' •""^"'•''"' """' "'"'^f™-^. 
 ^ >>antea to turn pii-ate- .,n.] ,,.]. t 7 
 
 over-board the chart,, and h^, ' T " IT" 
 co«ft..io„ and disappointment' ' ""''"' ''" 
 
 Alter tins g-oneral sum.aarv of ,i,„ • 
 Etanecs of snsnie'nn " cn-cnm- 
 
 Stewart as T d 1 ~ '^"''""""' ^''1''°'" 
 
 on,eIpIessboS;;^':i;"-'' "!-''- 
 their rovciiov ,^^,.^ ,., . ^^^^I'^taiicc, imd 
 
 ho said, 'from ],;, T ■ '°^'"' **'^ »'=lief,' 
 
 ve«selU rth^f'""'"^'J''-^'-'-f'''cseco„d 
 hut when she r^ "" ^""''«>- «ft"»oo„; 
 
 was .x:;i t:, h?""' "r '''^"^'^-"-- 
 
 ^'e-iaHndieati:;:,::*^^ 
 
 of their bcin, designed tfZ^''T'''T' 
 
 uLciui. .1 10111 these 
 
CAPTAIN STEWART S STATEMENT. 
 
 309 
 
 discontented: 
 lo denied all 
 «, was seen 
 ^^J^Gcted Iiim 
 tliat Jvnow- 
 dis^i^racc at 
 '"igln.sthis 
 could have 
 J therefore, 
 en I threw 
 narked his 
 
 le circnni- 
 
 Littino- ijfs 
 
 tch a state 
 "ce, aijci 
 
 ^ei' His 
 >f" relief,' 
 lad been 
 'ie second 
 tcrnoon ; 
 ointment 
 a ])ro vi- 
 pers, and 
 '1 these, 
 
 ial. The>» 
 and by no 
 ed Iiim. 
 
 ' f 
 
 i 
 
 and various other considerations, ho intimated, 
 * his mind was wrought up to a state of reckless 
 despair. Dreading the revenge of Howes, then 
 adrift in the hold, who had sworn he would have 
 his life; seeing night coming on, which would 
 expose him to unseen attacks; being so worn 
 out from fatigue, anxiety, and want of rest, that 
 he could no longer keep his eyes open ; suspect- 
 ing the fidelity of the boys, some one of whom, 
 he believed, must have loosed Howes, he being 
 better tied than any of the rest, — and fearing, 
 therefore, lest they should liberate the other 
 prisoners whilst he slept, — he saw no alternative 
 but either putting them all to death, or falling a 
 sacrifice himself to their revenge' ! " Therefore," 
 he concluded, " I was under the 7}eccssity of killing 
 them / " " But,' ' he added, " if that fellow Howes 
 had not been adrift in the hold, I would not have 
 put them to death; but I was afraid of him." 
 
 Captain Stewart having thus finished his sin- 
 gular and appalling statement — in which how- 
 ever, Uie more dreadful circumstances were passed 
 slightly over — and having exhausted every ar- 
 gument that he could think of to make out a case 
 of necessity for the deed he had committed, — he 
 anxiously appealed to Captain Hoare for his 
 opinion on the subject. Captain Hoare candidly 
 told him, that although the mutiny which was 
 
310 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 'nl ^ 
 
 •(■ 
 
 imagined, had l)een really intended — with the 
 proofs of which, however, he was not at all ':a- 
 tisfied, — he should not think the act to have been 
 justifiable, especially considering the very perfect 
 manner in which he had effected their security. 
 Stewart seemed greatly disappointed and affected, 
 anxiously exclaiming — " I'm sorry for it!" — ^*'I'm 
 very sorry for it !" He still, however, persisted 
 in his own conviction 'that he was compelled 
 by necessity to commit the act;' buthe once avow- 
 ed, that* when he thought of the sixth Command- 
 ment, he felt some misgivings of conscience.' 
 
 As we retired from the ward of the prisoner, 
 we found his almost heart-broken wife, awaiting 
 our coming out, that she might visit her unhappy 
 husband. We spoke to her as we passed, and 
 truly sympathized with her deep-seated, remedi- 
 less grief. ** Poor sufferer 1" as the heart's sym- 
 pathy would have urged its expression of feeling, 
 — " thy woes, alas ! admit, from human sources, of 
 but small relief; for, whether thy imprisoneu 
 husband be designed for life or death, to thee the 
 verdict speaks only sorrow ! Seek then, from 
 Heaven, thy comforts, and remember how it is 
 consolingly written, that, whilst " the sorrow of 
 the world worketh death," "godly sorrow work- 
 eth r^^pentance to salvation not to be repented 
 of:'' seek, for thy sorrows, the enriching trans- 
 
 ■ .jj | .,-:i ' ! i i! ' -i 
 
 JiJU'.? -!-"-■■■ 
 
 r ■ "^d 
 
TRIAL OF CAPTAIN STEWART. 
 
 311 
 
 —with the 
 >t at all :a- 
 ) have been 
 'ery perfect 
 ir security, 
 id affected, 
 t!"— "I'm 
 , persisted 
 compelled 
 nee avow- 
 'Ommand- 
 mce.' 
 
 prisoner, . 
 awaiting 
 imhappy 
 sed, and 
 remedi- 
 's sym- 
 feeling, 
 irces, of 
 risoned 
 lee the 
 from 
 V it is 
 'ow of 
 work- 
 rented 
 trans- 
 
 forming influence of heavenly love, remembering 
 the Scriptural assurance, "that all thintjs work 
 together for good to them that love G od 1" 
 
 Section IV. — Arraignment and Trial of Captain 
 
 Stewart. 
 The verdict of the Coroner occasioned some 
 doubt as to the legality of trying Captain Stew- 
 art on a charge of " Murder" ; but after a length- 
 ened deliberation of the City Grand Jury, assem- 
 bled at Cork on the 4th of August, 1828, the 
 prisoner was duly arraigned on their returning a 
 true bill against him for the capital charge. The 
 indictment — charging the prisoner for the several 
 murders committed on board the brig Mary 
 Russell, on the high seas, within the jurisdiction 
 of the Court of Admiralty, whereupon he was to 
 be tried by Commission at Cork, — having been 
 read to Captain Stewart, — ^lie answered, by his 
 solicitor, to the usual question — " Not Guilty." 
 " He was then removed from the bar, having 
 preserved an uninterrupted silence during the 
 whole proceedings, and having borne, with the 
 utmost composm-e, the ardent gaze of the multi- 
 tude which crowded the Court, the case having, 
 as might be suj^posed, excited a most intense in- 
 terest in the public mind." * 
 
 * For the particulars here given respecting the trial of Captain Stewartt 
 I have been indebted chiefly to the ample, and I believe correct, reports 
 given of the proceedings in the local papers of the day. The passages her« 
 distinguished by quotation marks T^ere takeu from tb« 'fSouthera 
 Reporter," 
 
 5(lt".:4 
 
 ■' ■ • .' 
 
 ^r- 
 
312 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 Sif !■ 
 
 '\ 
 
 On the morninp^ of the Monday following, 
 August Uth, according to the arrangement made 
 at the time of Captain Stewart being brought to 
 the bar, he was put upon his trial in the City 
 Court at Corlv, before the Lord Chief Baron 
 O'Grady and Baron Pennefather, the Com- 
 missioners appointed by the Admiralty Court for 
 the trial of this cause. Such was the interest 
 produced by this extro ordinary case, which had 
 been almost the absorbing subject of public at- 
 tention throughout the country, during the six or 
 seven preceding weeks, that it was with the ut- 
 most difficulty, notwithstanding the admirable 
 an'angements that had been made for the occa- 
 sion, that the sheriff's and city officers could re- 
 tain the i^laces appointed for the barristers, and 
 other persons w^ho had the claims of business for 
 authorizing their presence. 
 
 The prisoner "was dressed in a black coat, with 
 white waistcoat and cravat. His face appeared 
 fresh and healthy, and his features exhibited 
 composure and firmness. Whilst the pannel was 
 calling over, he looked attentively at the several 
 individuals as they answered to their names." 
 Having been informed that he had the privilege 
 of challenging any number of the proposed jury, 
 not exceeding twenty, and as many more as he 
 could show any reasonable ground of objection to, 
 — several gentlemen were challenged on the part 
 of Captain Stewart, and several more at the sug- 
 
 li 
 
 •mfi. 
 
TTIIAL OF CAPTAIN STKWART. 
 
 313 
 
 y following, 
 cement made 
 ?• brought to 
 
 in the City 
 ^hicf Baron 
 ', the Com- 
 ty Court for 
 the interest 
 
 which had 
 f public at- 
 g* the six or 
 vith the nt- 
 
 admirable 
 ^r the occa- 
 s coidd re- 
 isters, and 
 usiness for 
 
 coat, with 
 appeared 
 exhibited 
 annel was 
 le several 
 names.'* 
 
 privilege 
 sed jury, 
 5re as he 
 action to, 
 the part 
 the sug- 
 
 ^ 
 
 gestion of the Crown Solicitor. Among the 
 number that was left, two objected to serve; one, 
 because " he was acquainted with all the circum- 
 stance s of the case, and had formed an opinion 
 which he feared was unalterable;" and the other, 
 on still stronger grounds, — because * he had been 
 engaged in making a collection for the benefit of 
 the families of the sufferers, and had formed an 
 opinion so decided that he had not hesitated to 
 express it in different places.' The Lord Chief 
 Baron, however, refused to admit these considera- 
 tions as legal grounds of objection; on which the 
 two gentlemen >vere severally challenged by the 
 prisoner's solicitor and himself. 
 
 Thus having cleared the jury of such persons 
 as were known to hold opinions unfavourable to 
 the prisoner's safety, he entered upon his trial 
 with every possible advantage. Mr. Sergeant 
 Goold, and Messrs. George Bennett, Quin, and 
 Plunkett, were engaged in the Prosecution ; along 
 with whom Mr. O'Connell was likewise retained, 
 but did not appear. Messrs. O'Loghlin, Free- 
 man, Croke, Pigott, and Barrington appeared for 
 the Defence. 
 
 The Jury being all swom, and the prisoner 
 given in charge " for the murder of James Goold 
 Raynes, on the high seas, about a hundred 
 leagues off the land, on Sunday, the 22d of June 
 last," — Mr. Sergeant Goold opened the case for 
 the prosecution, on behalf of the Crow^n. After 
 
 
 
311 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 H 
 
 a clear, but brief, detail of tbe facts of tbe case 
 expected to be proved by the subsequent evi- 
 dence, — wherein he remarked with pleasing 
 manifestation of piety of feeling, on the " won- 
 derful interposition of a superintending Provi- 
 dence," by which Howes and Smith still remain- 
 ed among the living, to tell the manxllous story, 
 — the Learned Gentleman, according to the report 
 of the trial, concluded in words to this effect: — 
 " Gentlemen of the Jury, I don't think it neces- 
 sary for me to trouble you further. The facts of 
 the case are briefly as I have detailed them. 
 They fiu'nish a history unequalled, I believe, 
 even in the annals of romance. How seven men 
 should allow themselves to be tied and butcher- 
 ed in this way, seems a very extraordinary thing. 
 Why the prisoner should have murdered those 
 persons, it will be for him, or for the Learned 
 Gentlemen who appear as his Counsel, to ex- 
 plain. If there was a mutiny on board the vessel, 
 it is for the Learned Gentlemen opposite to show 
 it. If the defence intended to be set up is, that 
 the prisoner, when he committed the murder, 
 was in a state of mind which made the act 
 excusaVilo in law, it is necessary that this defence 
 shoidd be made out to your perfect satisfaction. 
 In order to make out that defence, it must appear 
 that the prisoner was in a state of such derange- 
 ment, that he was incapable of knowing what lie 
 was doing ; that he was incapable of appreci-* 
 
 
 W " ' J- * t.iJg i 
 
 
 iiisrr - grrrgp eiii 
 
L. 
 
 ts of the case 
 ibsequeiit evi- 
 i^ith 2)lcasing 
 m the " won- 
 mding Provi- 
 1 still remain - 
 vellous story, 
 ;• to the report 
 this effect: — 
 link it neces- 
 
 The facts of 
 tailed them. 
 i> I believe, 
 V seven men 
 tnd butcher- 
 inary thing, 
 dered those 
 le Learned 
 isel, to ex- 
 
 the vessel, 
 
 te to show 
 wp is, that 
 
 e murder, 
 the act 
 is defence 
 tisfaction. 
 ist appear 
 
 derange- 
 
 ^vhat he 
 
 appreci. 
 
 TRIAL OF CAI'TAIN lEW uiT. 
 
 315 
 
 ■/. 
 
 atiTHT the c* .Lseqiiences of Mh ^^- a acts , and, in 
 short, that ne w incaj bio oi' distinguishing 
 between right ar wrouf 1 need not advert to 
 the cases which iij jx^ar i^. the books, nor to those 
 cases where the circunibiancc of 2)ersons having 
 been previously confined in mad-houses, was not 
 considered an excuse for the commission of a 
 I need not point the attention of their 
 
 crime 
 
 Lordships to the cases of BcUingham and others; 
 it is enough for mo to say, under the correction of 
 the Court, that derangement of mind is not con- 
 sidered a sufficient excuse, unless the party is 
 totally incapable of distinguishing between right 
 and wrong. We shall examine all the survivors, 
 gentlemen ; and it is our wish, as indeed it is the 
 duty of the Crown, by whom this prosecution is 
 undertaken, to put forward every thing that can 
 be considered favourable to the prisoner, as well 
 as every material fact connected with the trans- 
 action. And I pray to God, for the sake of 
 human nature, that i^ vill appear that the pri- 
 soner is innocent; and that you, by your con- 
 scientious verdict, will relieve him, and relieve 
 our country, from the imputation which this hor- 
 rible transaction, more horrible than fancy could 
 have created, has thrown on it." 
 
 The Learned Sergeant's statement was listened ;, 
 to by the crowded audience in unbroken silence ; 
 and the prisoner betrayed no other emotioa i 
 but a slight hectic, which might, indeed, have 
 
 • >w« 
 
f 
 
 rt; 
 
 it 
 
 ' t 
 
 i ' 
 
 3ir» 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 l)ccn an cfToct of the heat of the Court, instead of 
 a disturbance of mind. 
 
 After a hrief address from the Lord Chief 
 Haron to the Jury, chargiu^^ them to dismiss 
 from their minds the opinions they had already 
 formed on this case, that they might follow the 
 evidence now to be adduced, so as to arrive at a 
 just verdict, — the witnesses for the prosecution 
 were severally called, and examined. These were 
 Daniel (or Denis J Scully, one of the boys; Wil- 
 liam Smith, the chief mate; and John Howes, one 
 of tliG seamen of the Mary Russell, — which were 
 the only survivors examined on the part of the 
 Crown : then, Captain Callendar, of the Mary 
 Stubbs, and William Delamj, one of his seamen, 
 who assisted in bringing the Mary .tlussell into 
 port ; and Mr, Thomas Harvey, of Cork, who gave 
 evidence as to the value of the cargo of the 
 Mary Russell, as well as of the vessel. John 
 Deaves, another of the boys, was likewise called, 
 and cross-examined in this part of the trial ; 
 but it was by one of the prisoner's Counsel. 
 
 The fact of the murder of the seven men by 
 Captain Stewart, and the innocence of these men 
 as to any intention of mutiny, being equally ad- 
 juitted by both the prosecuting and opposing 
 Counsel, the only defence attempted to be set up 
 was the plea of insanity. For establishing this 
 plea, Dr. St. John Gierke, of Skibbereen ; Dr. Ed. 
 Tounsend, Local Inspector of the County Gaol ; 
 
Lirt, instead of 
 
 Lord Cliief 
 fi to dismiss 
 ' had already 
 It follow the 
 aiTivc at a 
 prosecution 
 These were 
 boys; TVH. 
 i> Howes, one 
 ■which were 
 part of the 
 f the Mary 
 his seamen, 
 Hussell into 
 k, who gave 
 rgo of the 
 ssel. John 
 vise called, 
 ' the trial i 
 )unsel. 
 3n men by 
 these men 
 equally ad- 
 opposing 
 ) be set up 
 shing this 
 ^;Dr.Ed, 
 oty Gaol ; 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 I 
 
 TRIAL OF CAPTAI.V STEWART. 
 
 .SI 
 
 J)r. OshornCy of Cork ; and Mr. Richard Ma<mh'e, 
 Medical Attendant of the City and County (iaolji, 
 were severally examined ; as also some others, 
 not being professional persons, who gave evidence 
 in respect to the unsound state of the prisoner's 
 mind, either at the j)resent, or at former periods. 
 In the evidence of Dr. Townsend, it is reported 
 to have been stated, that the disease of Captain 
 Stewart seemed to be what is called monomania^ 
 the peculiar feature of which is, * that the person 
 afflicted might be pcrf jtly sane on all other sub- 
 jects, but a particidar one ; until that cord be touch- 
 ed, the individual might manifest correctness of in- 
 tellect.' * To distrust others, is a symptom com- 
 mon to every species of insanity. Extreme anxiety 
 about plots might be an attendant, and also ex- 
 citability and impatience ;' ' but there is more of 
 bodily excitement in general mania than in mono- 
 mania :' hence Capt. Stewart * never exhibited 
 in his countenance a symptom of insanity.' 
 
 The Lord Chief Baron's charge to the Jury, 
 after the close of the case on both sides, included, 
 in substance, according to the local reports, these 
 important remarks: — * Gentlemen of the Jury^ 
 I am very sorry,' said the Learned Judge, * that 
 a great and most responsible duty has fallen upon 
 us — perhaps I should rather have said, on you — 
 for it devolves more on the Jury than on the 
 Comt, in this instance, there being very little of 
 Jaw in the case ; and the whole rests upon the 
 
318 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 
 ^^i! 
 
 
 opinion which you shall deliberately foim, upon 
 a consideration of the evidence, as to the pri- 
 soner's state of mind at the time of this trans- 
 action.' ' That the prisoner has been unfortunate 
 enough to commit the act, admits of no doubt.' 
 ' The question, therefore, is, whether he acted 
 deliberately by the instigation of the Devil, or 
 whether he acted under the visitation of God 
 which impaired his senses. When it pleases 
 God to deprive a man of his understanding, it 
 belongs not to any human tiibunal to bring 
 that man to punishment. Hence you are to 
 consider. Gentlemen, whether the prisoner acted 
 malo animo, or whether he acted under the visi- 
 tation of God.' * If I myself had found that he 
 was always considered a man of sound mind, 
 and never had shown any signs of aberration 
 until a week before this transaction, and that it 
 commenced with a dream, I should have been 
 disposed to have viewed the case with much 
 jealousy ; but I find by the evidence (of persons 
 whom he named) that the prisoner was subject to 
 aberration more than once.' ' The question, I 
 again repeat, is, whether the prisoner acted by 
 the instigation of the Devil, or under the visita- 
 tion of God, w Inch left him no longer master of 
 himself at the time he committed the offence. 
 If, on the whole case, you have a rational ground 
 for doubt, it is the duty of the Court to direct you 
 on this, as on all other occasions, to lean to the 
 
 l n 
 
 
VERDICT. 
 
 3U) 
 
 ly fonn, upon 
 3 to the pri- 
 of this trans- 
 n unfortunate 
 >f no doubt.' 
 ^er he acted 
 he Devil, or 
 tion of God 
 1 it i^leases 
 rstanding, it 
 al to bring- 
 you are to 
 soner acted 
 ler the visi- 
 und that he 
 )und mind, 
 
 aberration 
 and that it 
 have been 
 vith much 
 of persons 
 
 subject to 
 uestion, I 
 
 acted by 
 the visita- 
 master of 
 3 offence, 
 al ground 
 lirect you 
 m to the 
 
 I 
 
 side of mercy ; if, on the other hand, your minds 
 are made up as to the prisoner's, guilt, you are 
 bound to pronounce him guilty without hesita- 
 tion. It is right for me to warn you, that you arc 
 not to suffer your feelings to be operated on by 
 the magnitude of the crime : in the deplorable 
 carnage which has taken place, and in the enor- 
 mity of the crime, there is, certainly, I conceive, 
 some presumption in favour of the prisoner, and 
 some reason why we should suppose him inno- 
 cent. If he acted deliberately, and by the in- 
 stigation of the Devil, he is one of the most 
 celebrated of all those monsters who have dis- 
 graced their country and human nature ; for he 
 has been guilty of one of the foulest and most 
 brutal acts which was ever committed by man, 
 and one which must render him most obnoxious 
 in the eyes of God.' 
 
 After consulting about an hour and a half, the 
 foreman of the Jury delivered the following ver- 
 dict : — " Guilty ; but we believe he was labour- 
 ing under mental derangement when he com- 
 mitted the act." This verdict, however, being 
 objected to by the Lord Chief Baron, as not 
 affording a legal decision, the jury, under his 
 directions, agreed to the following, which was 
 finally recorded : — 
 
 " Not Guilty ; — hecause we believe tluit //*e 
 prisoner was lahouring under mental de- 
 rangement when he committed the act.'''* 
 
320 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 * The prisoner continued apparently unmoved, 
 and without evincing any symptoms ( ' mental 
 or corporeal weakness, throughout the trial, 
 which lasted from 10 o'clock in the morning, 
 until 7 in the evening.* Before he was removed 
 from the dock, however, he expressed his gra- 
 titude to Mr. Bennett, his Solicitor, and to his 
 Counsel, for their able exertions, and requested 
 that information might immediately be given to 
 his wife of the result of the trial. Just as he 
 was about retiring, he lifted up his hands, and 
 with great apparent fervour, said, " I have great 
 reason to bless God; for if I had committed the 
 murder wilfully, I would not have wished to live 
 myself, — ^but I did not !" This concluding act of 
 the prisoner excited the attention, and seemed to 
 awaken, in his behalf, the better feelings of the 
 great body of the audience, — producing, no doubt, 
 in many who had attended the proceedings of the 
 day, a substitution of commiseration and com- 
 passion, for the previous feelings of repugnance 
 and horror. 
 
 <i 
 
 Under the directions of the Lord Chief Baron, 
 Stewart was conveyed back to the City Gaol — to 
 which he had been removed from the County 
 Prison, a few days before his trial — to be kept in 
 safe custody till further orders. His sentence 
 was, — that he he kept in close confinement during 
 lifcy or during his Majesty* s pleasure. 
 
tly unmoved, 
 US ( ' mental 
 Jt the trial, 
 he morning*, 
 ivas removed 
 ised his gra- 
 , and to his 
 id requested 
 be given to 
 
 Just as he 
 
 hands, and 
 
 [ have great 
 
 nmitted the 
 
 shed to live 
 
 iding act of 
 
 [ seemed to 
 
 ings of the 
 
 , no doubt, 
 
 ings of the 
 
 and com- 
 epugnance 
 
 ief Baron, 
 Gaol — to 
 
 e County 
 
 je kept in 
 sentence 
 
 nt during 
 
 I 
 
 1^ 
 
 Chapter III. 
 
 CAPTAIN STEWART S CHANGE OP MIND, AND SUBSEQUENT 
 
 CONDITION. 
 
 Section I. — Cautionary Reflections. 
 
 Having stated so much at large, in the pre- 
 ceding pages, the various circumstances con- 
 nected v^ith the frightful massacre perpetrated by 
 the hands of Captain Stewart, it becomes my 
 duty now to append some other matters, of a 
 palliative nature, which came immediately within 
 my own knowledge and observation, after the 
 foregoing naiTative was completed. And though 
 the outward acts of this extraordinary man, con- 
 fined for life within the walls of a Lunatic Asy- 
 lum, must be comparatively uninteresting, yet by 
 no means so his religious experiences ; for in re- 
 gard to these experiences, he appears to nave be- 
 come not less the subject of astonishing mercies, 
 than formerly he was an instrument of cruelty 
 and an object of horror! For the miserable man, 
 who under the influence of temporary derange- 
 ment destroyed the lives of seven of his unotf end- 
 ing sailors, has not only escaped that violent mortal 
 
 p2 
 
32-2 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 IM') 
 
 punishment which he himself inflicted on others, 
 hut has ohtained, as far as human judgment, 
 assisted by Scriptural evidences, can determine, 
 mercy and pardon at the hands of an infinitely 
 merciful God. 
 
 In thus speaking, however, of Captain Stew- 
 art's condition of mind after the commission of 
 the horrible act herein recorded, I consider it 
 right to admit, that both the interests of our holy 
 faith, and the due reprobation of the wicked 
 courses of criminals, require very clear and de- 
 cisive evidence to justify such a statement. For 
 great injury, I conceive, has been done to the 
 cause of good morals among the lower classes, 
 and a stumbling-block, against the reception of 
 the Gospel, in its peculiar doctrines, placed in the 
 way of others, and very false views presented to 
 the world in regard to the nature of the deep, 
 and heart-renewing work of repentance, — by the 
 frequent and unguarded putting-forth of state- 
 ments declaratory of the godly dying of the 
 W'Orst of criminals. In regard to the repentance 
 of the condemned cell — like that of a brief death- 
 bed — ^however much the power of the Gospel, 
 the mercy of Jehovah, and the plenitude of re- 
 demption in Christ Jesus, may yield to Christian 
 Charity ground for hope, — the prev^us neglect 
 of the Gospel and the just provoking of the Divine 
 indignation, with the trampling under-foot the 
 
 ^u- 
 
1 on others^ 
 judgment, 
 determine, 
 1 infinitely 
 
 tain Stew- 
 mission of 
 onsider it 
 »f our holy 
 le wicked 
 r and dc- 
 ent. For 
 ►ne to the 
 3r classes, 
 option of 
 2ed in the ' 
 sented to 
 ^lie deep, 
 • — by the 
 of state- 
 ;• of the 
 pentancc 
 3f death- 
 Gospel, 
 e of re- 
 'hristian 
 neglect 
 3 Divine 
 foot the 
 
 CAUTIONARY REFLECTIONS. 
 
 3t23 
 
 * 
 
 m 
 
 blood of the Cross, must geiiorally give cause, 
 the rather, for doubt and fear. Whilst the appa- 
 rent repentance, then, not being capable of any 
 satisfactory trial, must, in the case of executed 
 criminals, be always uncertain ; it is surely most 
 unwise to yield to the depraved pursuers of a like 
 course of iniquity, the doubtful, if not most falla- 
 cious, jjrospect, that their course of iniquity 
 leaves them still the final and confident refuge of 
 a prison repentance ! To encourage the con- 
 demned criminal to make trial of the all-suffi- 
 cient blood of Atonement, is at once the duty 
 and the consolation of the Minister of the Gos- 
 pel ; but to give encouragement to the wicked 
 in their ways of vice, ])y the publication of 
 unproved cases of penitenry among hardened 
 criminals, is alike injurious to the system of the 
 Gospel, and perilous to the souls of men. 
 
 But the case now under consideration is es- 
 sentially different from those referred to. As 
 the foregoing records sufficiently show, Stewart 
 Avas not a murderer. And as to his spiritual con- 
 dition, subsequent to his trial, we shall find, I do 
 believe, in these additional particulars, satis- 
 factory indications — to the minds at least of those 
 who themselves know by experience in what 
 saving faitjji, and soul-renewing repentance con- 
 sist — that Stewart did really become a converted 
 character 1 
 
;i 
 
 f I 
 
 if ■ ' 
 
 ! ! 
 
 A 
 
 324 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 Introductory to the favourable character now 
 to be exhibited of Captain Stewart, — I feel called 
 upon to make a few observations, in justification 
 of the claim, which may herein be made on the 
 sympathy of the readers of this memorial, on his 
 behalf. For there is a sentimentality of compas- 
 sion for criminals, now prevalent in the civilized 
 world, very plausible in its amiableness, but 
 most mischievous in its tendencies, — betwixt 
 which, and the call for commiseration, in the 
 case of Captain Stewart, I should wish clearly to 
 discriminate. The feeling to which I refer is of 
 a truly morbid character, seeming, in many in- 
 stances, to rise in measure with the criminality 
 of the criminal. So far from its being honour- 
 able to Christian kindness, it actually confounds 
 and inverts the Christian distinctions betwixt the 
 objects of pity and of blame — bestowing the un- 
 deserved commiseration on the culprit, and 
 slighting the unmerited sorrows of those who 
 have been injured by him ! Whilst the Chris- 
 tian should maintain the obligation of charity to 
 all men, and of pity, in a Scriptural sense, to- 
 wards the sufferers among men, though even 
 they suffer from the effects of their own iniquity ; 
 yet such pity should be so guarded and directed, 
 as neither to supersede that reasonable and well- 
 attempered justice, which is both requisite as " a 
 terror to evil doers," and as a defence of the 
 
CAUTIONARY REFLFXTIONS. 
 
 3-25 
 
 racter no^r 
 [ feel called 
 ustification 
 lade on the 
 rial, on his 
 >f compas- 
 e civilized 
 eness, but 
 , — betwixt 
 m, in the 
 I clearly to 
 refer is of 
 many in- 
 iriminality 
 g honour- 
 confounds 
 3twixt the 
 g the un- 
 prit, and 
 liose who 
 he Chris- 
 harity to 
 ense, to- 
 gh even 
 iniquity ; 
 directed, 
 nd w^ell- 
 te as " a 
 e of the 
 
 I 
 
 good order of society, nor to abstract from that 
 salutary odium of vice, always existing in a 
 healthful condition of the public mind, which is 
 at once an honour and a protection to a nation ! 
 
 Though such are the views of the author of 
 these memorials, as to the pernicious tendencies 
 of the sentimental pity for the objects of moral 
 delinquency, in the present day so popular and 
 fashionable ; yet he ventures to put forth the case 
 o^ the once awfully misguided commander of the 
 Mary Russell, in the aspect of interest and com- 
 miseration, not only because the law of the land, 
 as well as public avowal, has acquitted him of 
 criminality in the perpetration of his fearful mas- 
 sacre ; but because, likewise, of his having so long 
 survived the period of deceptive first impressions, 
 as now to have evinced, through a series of se- 
 veral years, the reality, as far as human judgment 
 can discriminate, of the work of repentance in ' • s 
 heart, by a consistent, well-defined, and satisfac- 
 tory profession of godliness. It is true that the 
 penitency of his condition has not been tried by 
 exposure to the usual temptations of the world 
 and the flesh ; but that the spiritual tokens of his 
 state are nevertheless characteristic of real con- 
 version, — the following details of his conduct, 
 e> ^)eriences, and sentiments, derived from per- 
 sonal intercourse or correspondence with him, 
 may serve to testify. 
 
i I 
 
 320 
 
 THE MARY IIUSSELL. 
 
 Section II. — Cammunicaimhs with Captain 
 Stewart^ exhihitivQ the chamje in his condition 
 of mind. 
 
 Being on a visit in the South of Ireland in the 
 summer of 1829, I found, on enquiring after 
 Captain Stewart, that he was at that time in con- 
 finement in the City Gaol of Cork. The prox- 
 imity to this city of the residence of the friends 
 with whom I was residing, afforded me the 
 opportunity of again seeing the principal cha- 
 racter of this memorial ; the condition of whose 
 mind, after a lapse of a year from the period of 
 his trial, I was anxious to enquire into, con- 
 ceiving that it might now be investigated, far 
 more satisfactorily, than under the circumstances 
 of peril and excitement when I had before had 
 intercourse with him. 
 
 It was on the 1 8th of August of the year re- 
 ferred to, when I paid my first visit. The go- 
 vernor of the gaol, who, in tenderness to the 
 feelings of his prisoner, admitted no one to his 
 cell without his permission, intimated to Captain 
 Stewart my wish to see him. I was invited in ; 
 and being instantly recognized, he gratefully 
 welcomed me to his apartment. His appearance 
 now differed from what I had formerly observed, in 
 his complexion being less florid, the expression 
 of his eye less sharp, his manner more subdued, 
 
I Captain 
 ? concUti(tn 
 
 land in the 
 iring after 
 ime in con- 
 The prox- 
 the friends 
 1 me the 
 icipal cha- 
 1 of whose 
 } period of 
 into, con- 
 igated, far 
 umstances 
 jefore had 
 
 le year re- 
 The go- 
 !ss to the 
 ne to his 
 ;o Captain 
 nvited in ; 
 gratefully 
 
 ^pearance 
 )served,in 
 xpression 
 subdued, 
 
 COMMUNICATIONS WITH CAPTAIN STEWART. 827 
 
 and liis dress, from tlie effects of oonstant wear, 
 less respectable. The governor having kindly put 
 him by himself into one of the better wards, not 
 then required, he had abundance of space and 
 convenience. Here his wife was allowed to 
 visit him; and in this apartment, his children, 
 two together, were permitted to spend their time 
 during the day. Two boys of his were present 
 when I entered, with whom he had just been en- 
 gaged in teaching them writing and arithmetic, 
 which, with the communication to them of reli- 
 gious instruction, was, I found, a part of his daily 
 occupation. 
 
 In welcoming me to his apartment, he gave 
 me a ready assurance that he well recollected me, 
 by referring to my former visits to tiim, and then 
 al^ad — " I knew your father also : was he not 
 a great ship-owner ?" On my answering that 
 he was a ship-owner, he said, " I knew him when 
 he was fitting out the John, about — years ago ; 
 she was a teak-built ship. Your father wished 
 mo to have gone as his mate to the whale fishery, 
 but I had another engagement which prevented 
 
 me. 
 
 17 
 
 After this, Stewart began at once to speak of 
 his religious feelings and anxieties, when I was 
 not a little astonished to find, a man, who twelve . 
 months before had had very erroneous views of 
 the principles of the Gospel, now speaking on 
 
ii 
 
 .. '■ 
 
 . I 
 
 r \ 
 
 328 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 the leading matters both of Christian doctrine and 
 practical godliness, and that with such a degree of 
 accuracy, and with such an extent of knowledge 
 of the sacred Scriptures, as nothing but the most 
 persevering study, under the special teaching of 
 the Holy Ghost, could, in my opinion, have 
 qualified him to do. He soon explained to me 
 the causes, instrumentally, of this astonishing 
 progress. The pious ministrations of the ex- 
 cellent and talented Chaplain and Inspector of 
 the Gaol, Dr. Quariy, — of whom Stewart spoke 
 with the most feeling and affectionate gratitude, 
 — ^had first opened his mind to the errors of his 
 former pharisaical views, and directed him to the 
 true simplicity and perfection of religious doc- 
 trine, in the appropriation to the sinner, by faith, 
 of the blood and righteoumess of Christ. 
 
 And these views of Divine truth, which, under 
 the blessing of God, had first been opened to 
 him by the Chaplain's teaching, had been pro- 
 gressively carried forward, under the same bless- 
 ing, by the assiduous and prayerful reading of 
 the Scriptures, to the surprising measure of ad- 
 vancement to which he had now attained. 
 
 The ordinary extent of his religious exercises, 
 I ascertained, in the course of my visit, to be as 
 follows : — Twenty Chapters of the Scriptures, in 
 succession, he had for some time been in the 
 habit of reading tipon Ms knees, daily ; besides 
 
 "\. 
 
ioctrinc and 
 I a degree of 
 
 knowledge 
 )ut the most 
 teaching of 
 inion, have 
 lined to me 
 astonishing 
 of the ex- 
 ^nspector of 
 jwart spoke 
 e gratitude, 
 Tors of his 
 I him to the 
 igious doc- 
 er, by faith, 
 ist. 
 hich, under 
 
 opened to 
 
 been pro- 
 same bless- 
 reading of 
 sure of ad- 
 ned. 
 1 exercises, 
 
 t, to be as 
 iptures, in 
 ;en in the 
 
 : besides 
 
 i 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 COMMUNICATIONS WITH CAPTAIN STE^yART. 3-20 
 
 what lie read upon his bed, and in the presence 
 of his children. And in addition to his own 
 private prayers, which seemed, when he was 
 alone, to have been almost perpetual, he always 
 commenced his labour with his children by 
 reading the " Morning Service," out of the book 
 of Common Prayer, to which he was wont to add 
 some parts of the " Commination Service," be- 
 cause peculiarly applicable to his individual 
 case. The hftv-first Psalm, which occurs in 
 that service, he particularly pointed out to me, 
 and with much feeling repeated the passages, — 
 " Make me a clean heart, O God ! and renew a 
 right spirit within me." " Deliver me /rout 
 hlood-guiltincsfi, O God!" 
 
 Besides these exercises, he usually concluded 
 his course of daily instruction, by reading the 
 " Evening Prayer ;" and then, after his children 
 left him, he devoted the rest of his waking hours 
 to reading, meditation, and prayer. That this 
 was really his daily habit, and that his whole 
 time, at this period, was accustomed to be spent 
 in devotional exercises, or in the instruction of 
 his children, was confirmed to me both by the 
 Governor, and by one of the medical officers 
 belonging to the gaol, as also by the Chaplain. 
 
 His views of religion, I have intimated, were 
 greatly changed. In respect to this, he thus 
 expressed himself. " I used to think," said he, 
 
330 
 
 THE MARY UUSSELL. 
 
 li 
 
 " that my being moral and sober, and having 
 prayers in ray ship on Sundays, was enough 
 for my salvation ; but now I sec tlie error. 
 All that man can do is nothing, without 
 faith and repentance. I used to think, that 
 because so many were worse than myself, 
 I should have little to fear; and that God 
 would not surely condemn such multitudes of 
 people who were thoughtless and wicked, but 
 spare them from his infinite mercy. But now 
 I see that if he condemned Sodom and Gomor- 
 rah, and also the world before the flood, exactly 
 as he had threatened, he would surely condemn 
 every sinner that did not repent and believe the 
 Goopel." 
 
 In answer to the question — * whether he was 
 comfortable in his present situation' ? he assured 
 me that he was, and also perfectly resigned and 
 content; yea, that he had no desire to be re- 
 leased, but had rather live and die in the place 
 he now occupied ! " For," said he, with a dis- 
 tinct perception of the disadvantages he must 
 ever endure, " I am better and safer for my soul's 
 good where I am : if I should be released — 
 every one would point to me, and say, There goes 
 that miserable man who killed his sailors ! If I 
 were to go to a place of worship, people would 
 point at me there. And,*' with a peculiar energy 
 he added, " I might be tempted to deny that I 
 
 I 
 
COMMUNICATIONS Willi CAPTAIN STEWART. 3.'31 
 
 nd having 
 IS enough 
 die error. 
 , without 
 link, that 
 ti myself, 
 that God 
 titudes of 
 eked, but 
 But now 
 d Gomor- 
 d, exactly 
 condemn 
 elieve the 
 
 r he was 
 e assured 
 picd and 
 to be re- 
 he place 
 ;h a dis- 
 he must 
 ny soul's 
 leased — 
 ere goes 
 s! If I 
 e woiUd 
 r energy 
 that I 
 
 was the unfortunate Stewart, — and I would rather 
 die than tell a lie !" 
 
 As in all this there was every indication not 
 only of a sound mind, but also of "a wise and an 
 understanding heart,'' I was anxious to ascertain, 
 by a well-known touchstone in his case, whether 
 tlie monomania, with which ho had been afflicted, 
 was entirely removed. To this end, I asked him, 
 *what his present views were respecting the un- 
 happy transaction in the Mary Russell?' With- 
 out either hesitation or apparent excitement, he 
 replied, that * his mind, on that subject, had alto- 
 gether changed; for he now saw that his poor fel- 
 lows were innocent, and that he committed the act 
 he had done, under the influence of derangement: 
 *he was now convinced,' he proceeded to say, 
 * tliat his mind had been wrong, from the curious 
 visions which he fancied he saw after he came 
 into confinement. Yet one of these visions,' 
 which he described as consisting of seven lights 
 tliat appeared in his cell, 'had given him comfort. 
 He fancied he perceived in it a token, that his 
 poor fellows, being innocent, had found mercy. 
 And this hope,' he added, 'was his chief comfort, 
 — that God had heard their earnest prayers at the 
 hour of death ; and if so, he had then little to 
 regret concerning them, as what had happened 
 would be their gain.' In regard to his culpable- 
 ness in what he had done, *he hoped,' he said, 
 
832 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 * that God would pardon him, and receive him, be- 
 cause he had done it in ignorance ; for he coidd 
 appeal unto Heaven for his veracity when he 
 said, that he did it under the strongest conviction 
 that he was driven to it by the greatest necessity 
 — firmly believing, at the timC; that there was no 
 other means in the world of saving his own life.' 
 In the course of my conversation with him, he 
 brought forward a great number of passages of 
 Scripture, in which he had met with difficulties, 
 asking me for explanations. Several of these, I 
 perceived, were the leading texts on which differ- 
 ent errors of the Roman Catholic Church are 
 attempted to be maintained ; with which errors, 
 he had formerly been tinctured, from the circum- 
 stance, probably, of his wife being a papist, or of 
 his constant intercourse with the members of the 
 Romish Church. * Hence, though he was a Pro- 
 testant,' he confessed, * he could not help some- 
 times praying for the souls of his poor men : — it 
 could do no harm, he thought, and he found com- 
 fort in doing so.' The passages bearing upon the 
 doctrine of Purgatory most perplexed him ; and 
 he appeared much relieved and delighted when I 
 explained to him the case of the raising of 
 Samuel, by the witch of Endor; for, from that 
 case being made so satisfactory to him, 'there 
 could be no doubt,' he inferred, ' that all the rest 
 might be equally well explained.' 
 
EXTRAORDINARY PRESERVATION. 
 
 333 
 
 ?eive him, be- 
 for he could 
 ity when he 
 ;st conviction 
 test necessity 
 there was no 
 lis own life.' 
 mhhim, he 
 passages of 
 1 difficulties, 
 of these, I 
 rhich differ- 
 Church itie 
 hich eri'ors, 
 the circum- 
 apist, or of 
 hers of the 
 was a Pro- 
 help some- 
 r men : — it 
 found com- 
 g upon the 
 him; and 
 ed when I 
 'aising of 
 from that 
 m, 'there 
 U the rest 
 
 Understanding that his life had been a very 
 adventurous one, I referred to what I had heard ; 
 and he related the following instance of an as- 
 tonishing deliverance which he had experienced 
 from shipwreck. 
 
 In the month of December, 1825, he was 
 attempting^to bring a small schooner, of only 30 
 tons burden, and five hands, across the Atlantic 
 from America, deeply laden with deals. Soon 
 after leaving the coast, they encountered so heavy 
 a gale, as to oblige them to heave-to. The per- 
 sonal attendance of the crew on deck, where they 
 were greatly exposed, being now useless, all 
 hands, excepting one, retreated to the cabin. 
 Providentially, the one who was left in turn 
 to look out, had occasion to go below, when, 
 at the very moment, the vessel was struck by 
 a heavy sea, which threw her so completely over, 
 that a large chest, belonging to one of the crew, 
 was pitched from the cabin floor against the 
 coamings of the sky -light, and some papers that 
 lay on the Captain's bed were struck up against 
 the roof of the state-room ! In this awful con- 
 dition they remained but a few moments — the 
 closeness of the hatches and sky-light, with the 
 solid constmction of the stem, preventing their 
 being at once inundated — when the deck cargo 
 having separated, the vessel righted. They all 
 now rushed upon deck, terrified at the extraordi-* 
 
 I 
 
334 
 
 THE MAKY RUSSELL. 
 
 I?! 
 
 i 
 
 nary event that had occurred. After the first 
 alarm had subsided, two men were set to clear 
 the wreck about the decks, whilst the rest went 
 to some requisite duty below, — when another 
 heavy sea was shipped. This struck the main' ^ 
 mast, near the deck, with such violence, as not 
 only to carry it away, but to hurl, by the re-action, 
 the head of the mast over the side to windward ! 
 It also broke all the deck beams, and washed 
 overboard two poor fellows who were exposed to 
 its action. One of them, however, after going 
 under the vessel's bottom, got entangled in the 
 wreck of the mast, as he rose to windward, 
 and was hauled safely on board ; — the other pe- 
 rished! 
 
 The vessel, after th^s. trained so much, that, to 
 prevent her falling to p t ^; they set themselves 
 to work to swifter the sides together with a haw- 
 ser, (an operation described, in the account of St. 
 Paul's tempestuous voyage towards Rome, as 
 " under-girding the ship ;") and in this they so 
 far succeed'ed as to prevent the threatened cala- 
 mity. They also let go their anchor, though in 
 deep water, allowing the cablf to run out to the 
 end; by the resistance of which, the schooner's 
 head was kept somewhat towards the sea, so as to 
 preserve them from being overwhelmed with the 
 waves. For six days they continued in a state of 
 extreme peril, the gale not having subsided during 
 
 1.1 iiiinii 
 
EXTRAORDINABY TEESERVATION. 
 
 335 
 
 fter the first 
 set to clear 
 he rest went 
 hen another 
 ck the main' ^ 
 ence, as not 
 he re-action, 
 ) windward ! 
 and washed 
 3 exposed to 
 after going 
 igled in the 
 windward, 
 3 other pe- 
 
 uchjthat, to 
 themselves 
 ith a haw- 
 ount of St. 
 
 Rome, as 
 lis they so 
 ened cala- 
 thoiigh in 
 out to the 
 chooner's 
 a, so as to 
 
 with the 
 
 a state of 
 
 d during 
 
 the whole of that time; when, b *ng reduced to 
 the last extremity of suffering and despair, they 
 descried a ship approaching them. Providentially 
 the schooner lay directly in her track, so as to 
 .'bring the two vessels within hail of each other. 
 At no small risk of his masts and sails, the kindly 
 stranger hauled suddenly to, and after making 
 a tack to windward, hoisted out his long-boat. 
 But the highly excited hopes of the little crew 
 were almost sunk into despair, when they ob- 
 served, that, from the heavy sea that was still 
 running, the boat filled along-side. The perse- 
 vering benevolence of the Captain, however, 
 prevailed over this discouragement. With very 
 masterly address, he recovered his boat; and, 
 having again beat up to the foundering schooner, 
 suddenly dropped it into the sea, secured by a 
 hawser, and passed it clear astern. It was then 
 manned over the stern, and speedily came within 
 reach of the a.ixious little party — all of whom 
 were thus rescued from their desperate condition. 
 In remarking upon this extraordinary deliver- 
 ance. Captain Stewart observed, * that he ascribed 
 his subsequent misfortunes to his neglect of this 
 providential warning, and to the breaking of the 
 vows which he then made. He had vowed before 
 God, in his extremity of despair, that if He would 
 this time spare him, he would live to his service 
 and glory: but when safety was attained, he soon 
 
: 
 
 If; 
 
 B 
 
 W 
 
 
 HI 
 
 !f f 
 
 I . 
 If : 
 
 A i 
 
 ! 
 I 
 
 /' 
 
 386 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 forgot his vows, and therefore a worse thing 
 came upon him I* 
 
 It 
 
 Captain Stewart expressed himself so much 
 relieved and comforted by my conversation with 
 him, — so grateful for this little attention — * I being 
 
 the only person except Mr. to whom, he 
 
 said, he could freely unbosom himself " — and so 
 anxious to see me again, that I was induced to 
 repeat my visit the next day. In the interval, I 
 had some conversation, respecting Stewart, with 
 the Kev. Dr. Quany — with whom I had become 
 accidentally acquainted, immediately after leaving 
 the gaol, — who corroborated the opinion I had 
 formed as to the improved religious condition' of the 
 prisoner. He stated it to be his then decided con- 
 viction, from what he had observed in the case of 
 Stewart, that 'a saving change had taken place 
 in his heart!' The governor also spoke of his 
 good behaviour, of his unwearied diligence in 
 instructing his children, and of his constancy in 
 religious exercises. By all of which evidence I 
 was more and more confirmed in the hope and 
 belief, that this extraordinary man had found 
 mercy at the hands of a merciful God. And such 
 was the influence of this conviction on my own 
 mind, that the man on whom I had at first looked 
 with an indescribable feeling of horror, I now 
 beheld in sympathizing kindness, — with mixed 
 
COMMUNICATIONS WITH CAPTAIN STEWART. 337 
 
 worse thing 
 
 i 
 
 elf so much 
 ersation with 
 ion — ' I being 
 to whom, he 
 elf "—and so 
 as induced to 
 he interval, I 
 Stewart, with 
 I had become 
 y after leaving 
 ►pinion I had 
 ondition'of the 
 n decided con- 
 n the case of 
 d taken place 
 spoke of his 
 diligence in 
 s constancy in 
 ch evidence I 
 the hope and 
 an had found 
 )d. And such 
 >n on my own 
 at first looked 
 
 lorror 
 
 I now i 
 I 
 with mixed 
 
 emotions of compassion, admiration, and os- 
 tonishment, 
 
 Stewart himself, speaking in an humble and 
 Christian-like manner of the tokens of rege- 
 neracy in his own heart, made this remark, — 
 *that one of the evidences from which he derived 
 much comfbrt was, his being able freely to for- 
 give his greatest enemies, some of whom, (the 
 friends of the poor men he had killed,) he knew 
 were thirsting for his blood ; and he did not 
 blame them, but could earnestly pray for them, 
 which he did almost daily, that God would for- 
 give them, and turn their hearts. This, he hoped, 
 was a favourable sign, as he thought a man in 
 his unconverted state could not love his enemies 
 as he did I' Another corroborating observation 
 was, * that he found every part of Scripture ap- 
 plying personally, as if written for himself,' which 
 he very aptly illustrated by a reference to the 
 histories of Saul and Hazael.* * Men ignorant 
 of the nature of conversion,' he also remarked, 
 * would wonder at Jiis hopes, who had been so 
 great a sinner, and would say they surely need 
 not despair : but,' he justly and scripturally ex- 
 plained, adding, — " no extent or depth of sin can 
 be too great for the efficacy of the blood of Christ, 
 in wliich is all my hojie." 
 
 •Acts xxvi. 10, and l Timothy i. 13 j 2 Kings viii. 13, 
 
33S 
 
 THE MARY KPSSELL. 
 
 1^ ■'. 
 
 As I parted from liim, lie anxiously intreated 
 my prayers, and then, with an afTecting and ele- 
 vated excitement, spoke in tins remarkable 
 manner ; — " You see before you, Sir, the greatest 
 curiosity in the world, — a man who has had the 
 misery of killing seven of his fellow-creatures, 
 and yet God has given him the hope of salvation 
 through the blood of Christ, and permits him to 
 remain here in safety, and to sleep in peace ! 
 Because I did it in ignorance, n. d ler a de- 
 ranged mind, the Lord hath had mercy on me !" 
 
 Section III. — Farther communications, person- 
 ally, and hy correspondence, with Capt. Stewart, 
 after a relapse of his former disorder. 
 
 Within a twelvemonth of the time of the com- 
 munications with Captain Stewart just recorded, 
 I became again a temporary resident in the 
 neighbourhood of the place of his confinement. 
 In the mean time the pitiable prisoner had re- 
 lapsed, I found, into a state of violent derange- 
 ment. At the period of my former visits to him, 
 he appeared to me to be in a sound condition of 
 mind, and, in the opinion of some of those more 
 immediately around him, had been so for several 
 months previous to that time. The lucid interval 
 seemed to have been permitted to him in special 
 luercy, — the Lord having distinctly shown him 
 
 Vi 
 
COMMUNICATIONS WITH CAPTAIN STEWART. 339 
 
 sly intreated 
 ing and ele- 
 rcmarkable 
 the greatest 
 has had the 
 iW"Creatiires, 
 of salvation 
 tnits him to 
 
 f 
 
 p 111 peace 
 
 . ler a de 
 
 :y on me!'* 
 
 'ons, person- 
 ipt. Steivarty 
 
 T. 
 
 of the com- 
 st recorded, 
 ent in the 
 oiifinement. 
 ner had re- 
 it derange- 
 sits to him, 
 ondition of 
 those more 
 
 for several 
 3id interval 
 
 in special 
 hown him 
 
 his error and delusion, in respect to the frightful 
 slaughter of which he had been the instrument, 
 and likewise had made known to him, apparently, 
 His great salvation, through the power of His 
 grace. Then again was the afflictive dispensa- 
 tion of his former pitiable malady renewed. 
 But it was* fur more severe and decisive. On the 
 former occasion of his mental abeiTation, so 
 much of sound sense, and of rational powers 
 was, on the great majority of subjects, retained, 
 that many persons greatly questioned the reality 
 of his derangement. Now, however, the matter 
 was placed beyond the possibility of a doubt. 
 His disease was no longer mere monomania, but 
 absolute madness ! He was obliged to be put 
 under restraint, and, for a time, secured to his 
 bed. A spirited and remarkable sketch, now in 
 my possession, was taken of him during this 
 attack, by a fellow-maniac in the Cork Lunatic 
 Asylum, to which Stewart had been previously 
 removed. It represents him throwing oflf his 
 blanket — his sole covering — and stretching out 
 his arms, with his uplifted countenance, towards 
 Heaven — whilst he energetically and solemnly 
 protested his innocence of the crime with which 
 he had been charged ! 
 
 Having passed through this violent attack, 
 Stewart, for some time previous to my return to 
 Ireland, had been slowly recovering. His pre- 
 

 310 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 vious excitement and violence had changed, by 
 ordinary re-action, into anxiety and depression. 
 And still, on some points, he continued decidedly 
 insane. 
 
 Such was his condition when I was informed, 
 that, having heard of my being in the country, he 
 had expressed an earnest desire to see me. In 
 accordance with this wish, as well as from a real 
 feeling of commiseration towards him, I paid 
 him a visit, at the Asylum, on the 7tli of August, 
 1830. ApiDroaching him without any previous 
 intimation, I found him kneeling on the stone 
 floor of his cell, apparently quite absorbed, read- 
 ing the Bible. Instantly recognizing me, he 
 arose from his knees, earnestly seized my hand, 
 and blessed God for the privilege of seeing me. 
 'God was angry with him,' he said, 'one evidence 
 of which, he had long been thinking, was, that 
 neither myself, nor the Rev. Doctor Quarry,' to 
 whom he was much attached, ' came near him. 
 There was no one about him,' he added, ' to 
 whom he could unbosom himself, or, being like- 
 minded, from whom he could obtain instruction or 
 comfort ! He rejoiced exceedingly on seeing me, 
 and thought that God had sent me to console 
 him in his affliction.' His mind was greatly 
 harassed, I found, with similar fears of personal 
 injury being designed against him, as had pos- 
 sessed him when he committed the dreadful act 
 
anged, by 
 cprcssion. 
 decidedly 
 
 informed, 
 oimtry, lie 
 e me. In 
 rom a real 
 m, I paid 
 of August, 
 y previous 
 the stone 
 L'bed, read- 
 ig me, he 
 I my hand, 
 eeing me. 
 e evidence 
 was, that 
 luarry,' to 
 near him. 
 idded, ' to 
 )eing like- 
 truction or 
 seeing me, 
 to console 
 as greatly 
 f personal 
 s had pos- 
 eadful act 
 
 COMMrXICATlOXS WITH CAPTAIN STEWART :U1 
 
 for which he was incarcerated. I\Iy decided as- 
 surance that he was under a mistake, seemed 
 greatly to relieve him ; for instead of rejecting 
 the oj^inion, with the usual tenacity of the 
 maniac, he seemed to receive it confidingly, and 
 to take the comfort of it. But lunatic, as he 
 evidently was, — liis tenderness of conscience, his 
 knowledge of the Scriptures, and his habit of 
 applying their contents practically to himself, 
 Avere even at this time such, as might have served 
 both for example and edification to many wlio 
 are accounted to be of the religious world ! An 
 example of his tenderness of conscience, was on 
 this visit indicated — affording a striking proof of 
 his innocence from llood-f/iillliiiess in the sad 
 transaction so often referred to, — which may hero 
 be properly adduced. ' One circumstance,' he 
 informed me, * pressed heavily upon his con- 
 science, wdiich, though it might affect his life, if 
 known, he would freely reveal to me. l^efore 
 God he could solemnly aver, that, when he com- 
 mitted the melancholy deed upon his poor men, 
 he thought himself fully justified in it — yea, 
 driven to it by necessity, and directed cO it, as he 
 then thought, by the finger of Providence. Jhit 
 yet in respect to the man Howes, whom he so 
 severely w^ounded, he confessed he was guilty. 
 "When I found him loose in the hold," said he, 
 " and thought it necessary either to secure him or 
 
342 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 i ^ 
 
 ■■ 1' 
 
 to kill him, the thought passed through my mind 
 that he might possihlf/ he innocent ; hut when he 
 threatened my life if he could get at me, I was 
 urged to fire at him, in order to save my own life 
 by taking his ! But," added he, ** I know I did 
 wrong in attacking him when such a thought 
 crossed my mind. For this, God, I fear, is angry 
 with me ; and for this I should j^erhaps yet suffer 
 if it was known, — and I think I ought to suffer ! 
 If it he the will of God, I am ready to die. 
 God surely requires my life. For the Scripture 
 says — * He shall have judgment without mercy, 
 that hath showed no mercy:' — I showed no 
 mercy, and I fear I shall find none !" 
 
 Another circumstance likewise harassed his 
 mind. * In detailing the events of his adventu- 
 rous voyage to the Governor of the Asylum, he 
 had asserted,' he said, *his innocence hefore 
 God ; and he had improperly declared, that he 
 did not think that God held him guilty for the 
 blood which he had shed, seeing he had done it 
 in ignorance. — " But," in words to this effect, he 
 added — " there I was wrong ; I spoke presump- 
 tuously, and men might think that I boasted in 
 what I had done : and the Lord has been dis- 
 pleased with me for it. I ought to have been 
 hmnbled for my sins, and spoken with more low- 
 liness and self-abasement." 
 
 His conscience was also pained, he said, by 
 
! 
 
 f 
 
 my mind 
 t when he 
 me, I was 
 y own life 
 now I did 
 a thought 
 r, is ixiig;ij 
 3 yet suffer 
 t to suffer ! 
 ly to die. 
 
 Scripture 
 out mercy, 
 howed no 
 
 rassed his 
 
 s adventu- 
 
 Lsylum, he 
 
 ice before 
 
 d, that he 
 
 ty for the 
 
 id done it 
 
 effect, he 
 
 presump- 
 
 joasted in 
 
 been dis- 
 
 lave been 
 
 more low- 
 
 D said, by 
 
 COMMUNICATIONS WITH CAPTAIN STEWART. 343 
 
 another circumstance : " When poor Rayncs lay 
 bound in the cabin, he mentioned the name of 
 (lod ; but thinking it was hypocrisy, I then re- 
 proached him, saying', The devil is your God !" 
 
 He was further distressed by the belief that an 
 opinion had gone abroad that he was a vile 
 mttrderer—ix report so unjust to himself, and so 
 injurious to his family. I told him that I had 
 taken notes respecting his case, which, if pub- 
 lished, might serve to remove such an impression 
 wdiere it unhappily prevailed. 
 
 His love and reverence for the Holy Scriptures, 
 as evinced by his manner of reading them, 
 with his knowledge of the words o ? inspiration, 
 and of Divine things, were, on this occasion, 
 found to be as remarkable as on my previous 
 visits. 
 
 After the manner of the Psalmist, seven times 
 a day he was now wont, I found, to bow himself 
 before God ; and to the extent of about twenty 
 chapters each day, he was in the habit of reading 
 the Scriptures on his knees, besides the reading of 
 the Morning and Evening Prayers of the Church. 
 And in proof that he read not as a mere self- 
 righteous performance, it may be satisfactorily 
 urged, that numerous Scriptures, applying to his 
 own peculiar case, were quoted to me in succes- 
 sion ; and diat large portions from the Prophets, as r 
 well as from the Evangelists and Apostles, w^ere , 
 
 r 
 
344 
 
 THE MAIIY R(SSr:i,L. 
 
 repeated from memory, witli strict and verbal 
 accuracy; and, f^cncraliy, with a due reference, 
 and often with a striking apjdication, to the sub- 
 ject of conversation. 
 
 ' lie knew that he had been mad,' he said; and 
 he lamented the absurdness of his \ iews and the 
 presumptuousness of his declarations when in 
 that state. ^ He thought he had seen visions, 
 and even now he fancied he saw strange things ; 
 but it was very shocking for him to state such 
 tilings as he had !' 
 
 ]]csides his fears respecting his life, another 
 apprehension was, at this time, greatly destress- 
 ing him, lest his re2>entance should not have 
 been real, and his sins, therefore, not forgiven. 
 On this subject, indeed, his anxiety seemed bor- 
 dering on despair. This feeling, I thought it 
 right to endeavour to counteract, by recalling to 
 his mind the evidences he had formerly had 
 of the reality of his faith — by appeals to his pre- 
 sent convictions, whether his views and feelings 
 were not in real accordance with the Scriptural 
 characteristics of a believer in Christ .? — and by 
 suggesting the enquiry, whether the deep depres- 
 sion, res2)ecting his spiritual state, under which 
 he now suffered, might not be the result of the 
 machinations of the Enemy of Souls attacking 
 his comforts through the delusion of hi; mind ? 
 
 On recapitidating these considerations, as I 
 
(1 vcvhal 
 cfoi'oncc, 
 the sub- 
 said; aiul 
 s aiul the 
 >vheu in 
 1 visions, 
 e things ; 
 tate such 
 
 }, another 
 \f destrcss- 
 not have 
 , forgiven, 
 cmed bor- 
 hought it 
 calling to 
 merly had 
 o his pre- 
 d feeling's 
 Scriptural 
 — and by 
 p dcpres- 
 der which 
 ult of the 
 attacking 
 li; mind ? 
 Ions, as I 
 
 i 
 
 k 
 
 COMMrMCATIOXS "WITH CAPTAIN STI^WAUT. 315 
 
 was about to depart, I urged him, as frccpiently 
 aforetime, with a view to his spiritual comloit and 
 well-being, to look more to that Almighty Saviour, 
 who is the sinner's only refuge, and less to him- 
 self in despondency for sin ; to remember in his 
 looking to Christ, that "the Wood of the cross" is 
 of unlimiteil eflicacy, cleansing from all sin, nd 
 surely suflicient for the cleansing of ///,v ; to 
 strive, rather, to fix the anchor of his sovd on the 
 consolations of the Gospel, than to allow himself, 
 imresistiijgly, to drift away in the current of de 
 spair ; to recall his former evidences of a saving 
 condition, so as by God's present dealings with 
 him lo dra * thih- appointed consolation — that his 
 affliction-, vere not to be viewed as the punish- 
 mev' of an an^:>y God, but rather as the chas- 
 tisement of a heavenly l-'ather. 
 
 Grasping my hand, when I concluded my 
 address to him, his eyes iilled with tears, as, 
 witii affecting earnestness he spoke to this effect, 
 — " May God bless you : you have done me 
 much good : I know that God has sent you to 
 me in mercy : you have spoken by the Spirit of 
 God, for I feel it in my heart" ! 
 
 Surely the reflections — the devotions — the 
 studying of the Scriptures of this extraordinary 
 inmate of a Lunatic Asylum, might read a power- 
 ful and profitable lesson to many who arc already 
 
 esteemed wise among Christians ! 
 
 Q2 
 
 I, 
 
 
 n 
 
346 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 
 1 
 
 i u • 
 
 1 fi 
 
 !j 
 
 ml ^ 
 
 ' » i. 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 
 II i 
 
 On the 16th of November, in the following 
 year, I had again an opportunity of visiting" the 
 Cork Lunatic Asylum. Stewart was at that time 
 calm, and comparatively rational, and had been so, 
 I was told, for some months previous. He ^vas 
 employed rigging and fitting up a large model of 
 a ship — five or six feet in length — which he had 
 nearly completed ; it was in good taste, of cor- 
 rect proportions, and of really clever workman- 
 ship. He hoped by the sale of it, he informed 
 me, when finished, to obtain some help for his 
 almost starving family.* As on former occasions, 
 he appeared much delighted to see me, and soon 
 entered into those usual subjects of conversation 
 which evidently came most directly from his 
 heart. He spoke of his own religious expe- 
 riences and temptations, which he illustrated 
 and explained by numerous, correct, and appro- 
 priate quotations from the scrijitures. He recalled 
 to my remembrance several suggestions which I 
 made, and admonitions which I gave to him, 
 
 * Should any of the readers of this Memorial, in commiserition for the 
 subject of it, and for his truly pitiable family, feci disposed to assist them 
 by any pecuniary contiibution ; tlie aiUlior will most cheerfully take 
 charge of their benevolence, and transmit it to its destination. — The 
 case of Captain Stewart, as herein set forth, tiic author takes advantage of 
 this note to explain, has been drawn up, he trusts and believes, y ithout 
 cither prejudice on the one iiand, or uncluc partiality on the other. As to 
 his religious condition, to which the author ninrc particularly relers, he 
 TTould wish the records of the various conversations held with him, 
 together with the consistency of his behaviour b<>fore others, and his 
 pious habits and dovntional exercises in private, simply and directly to 
 speak : fcr whilst Gnd alone knowcth the secrets of the heart, man must 
 be content to Judge of the state cf the heart by the fruits which a^jpcar. 
 
LETTERS FROM CAPTAIN STEWART. 
 
 317 
 
 following 
 [siting tlie 
 that time 
 id been so, 
 He was 
 c model of 
 icli he had 
 ;te, of cor- 
 workman- 
 e informed 
 lelp for his 
 r occasions, 
 lc, and soon 
 onversation 
 ^ from his 
 ious expe- 
 illustrated 
 and appro- 
 He recalled 
 nis which I 
 avc to him, 
 
 niiser^tion for the 
 sed to assist them 
 
 cliccrfiilly take 
 destination.— The 
 akcs advantage of 
 believes, T ithout 
 the otlicr. As to 
 icularly refers, he 
 
 lield witli him, 
 a others, and his 
 y and directly to 
 c heart, man must 
 p which appear. 
 
 when I first saw him in the City Gaol after his 
 trial, and showed mc that he had really and 
 satisfactorily applied them. ' Having now,' he 
 said, * an humble yet confident hope of obtaining 
 forgiveness at the hands of God, through the 
 blood of the Cross, he was very desirous of de- 
 parting from this earthly state.' But whilst he 
 thus spoke, the whole tenor of his conversation 
 showed, that he was willing, whether for life or 
 for death, that the good pleasure of God should 
 be done. 
 
 Having given my former conversations with 
 Caj^tain Stewart so much in detail — to an ex- 
 tent, I fear, which some of my readers may have 
 felt tedious — and having recorded sufficient facts 
 for the ground-work of a decided judgment on 
 his case, — I shall conclude these records with 
 a few ciJvtracts of letters, received from him sub- 
 sequent to the period of my personal communi- 
 cations, which will serve, I trust, to confirm and 
 establish the opinions concerning him previously 
 put forth. 
 
 The first letter addressed to me by this extra- 
 ordinary character, bearing date the 21th of 
 June, 1833, includes, — besides much that is cha- 
 racteristic of a pious condition, and some things 
 indicative of the remains of mental excitement—' 
 the following passage j — " Oh, how thankful am 
 
p 1 
 
 hi t's 
 
 H 
 
 r 1 ii . 
 
 i^; 
 
 Ub 
 
 THE MAHY russkll. 
 
 I to the Almighty lor his beloved Son coming into 
 the world to save sinners, of wliom I am chief, 
 and for the comfort he has left iis in his Gospel. 
 But were it not for the goodness of God leading 
 us to rej^entance, we should be left in the dark. 
 How careful and cautious should we be not to 
 believe in vain, by letting go the greatest of all 
 gifts, the Truth, — the knowledge of which, 
 nothing can equal ; for Solomon juslly observes, 
 that rubies are not to be compared to it." 
 
 In his next letter, dated " Lunatic Asylum, 
 4th July 1833," — after referring to my answer to 
 his former communication, he writes, — " You 
 will now be truly gratified when I can assure 
 you that every earnest wish you expressed in it, 
 respecting my spiritual consolation and welfare, 
 has been bestowed on mc by the Loud, so that I 
 earnestly intreat yoiu* kindest acknowledgments to 
 the Lord for his mercies, who has not only ren- 
 dered my lot easy, but truly happy, — for I enjoy 
 the comforts of the spirit of love which worketh 
 by faith, and which has cast out all fear ; so that 
 the life I now live is by faith in the Son of God, 
 who loved me, and gave himself for me ; and I 
 iim filled with that comfort which the world can 
 neither give nor take awny." 
 
 " When I was out in the world, and had, I 
 may say, what the world terms all things, I 
 thought I wanted nothing ; ut the same time I 
 
LETTERS PROM CARTATN STEWART. 
 
 349 
 
 oiniiig into 
 am chief, 
 lis Gospel. 
 0(1 leading 
 11 the dark, 
 e be not to 
 alest of all 
 of which, 
 [y observes, 
 it." 
 
 ic Asylum, 
 y answer to 
 tes,— " You 
 can assure 
 L'cssed ill it, 
 nd welfare, 
 D, so that I 
 cdgmentsto 
 ot only ren- 
 for I enjoy 
 ch workcth 
 .^ar ; so that 
 >on of God, 
 nic ; and I 
 world can 
 
 and had, I 
 |l thing's, I 
 lame time I 
 
 i 
 
 
 was actually naked and destitute of all things- 
 that tend to make us haj)py ; "' — but since the 
 Lord lav his heavy hand on me, I found out tliis 
 great secret, and I hx)k back on llie diirk days of 
 my distress now, as the best spent moments of my 
 life : fur I have been 'ounKellcd by the Lord, and 
 have been buying gold tried in the fire, and white 
 raiment that I may nut a])pear naked in the great 
 day of need, f 
 
 " W hat an inexj)ressil)le blessing it is for mc 
 that the liord caused [causes] me at all times to 
 hunger and thirst after righteousness, and to be- 
 lieve his word, that I should be filled — which I 
 am, blessed bo his Holy Name — and that this 
 wine and milk are to be bought without money 
 and without price. 
 
 " Though I am separated from my family, still 
 the Lcn'd does not suft'er me to re2:)ine at it, since 
 it is his blessed will ; and I think often of St. 
 Paul's words — They that have wives, be as 
 though they had none, for our time here, com- 
 paratively speaking, is so short, that wc cannot 
 make too good a use of it. 
 
 " As the Lord inclined my heart to seek^rs^ 
 the kingdom of heaven, so He has been gra- 
 ciously pleased to add all temporals for the body 
 to mc. I am now as resj)ectably clothed as when 
 I was out in the world; and as for eating, 
 
 y 
 
 4- 
 
 V- 1 
 
 * S'"'e Revelation iii. 17. 
 
 fW. cb. iii. 18. 
 
 i 
 
350 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 t i ! . 
 
 m 
 
 Dr. Osborne lias never let me know the want of 
 comfortable diet, and I enjoy great privileges 
 from the Governor still, for which I am truly 
 grateful to God and them. 
 
 " You will be pleased to hear that my little 
 mechanical works, which you directed me to pur- 
 sue, have added many pounds to the support of 
 my family, for Avhich I am truly grateful to the 
 Docto^' and Governor, who have at all times 
 encouraged me and greatly assisted me." 
 
 In conclusion of his letter he adds, — " I have 
 believed Christ's word, and he has fulfilled his 
 blessed promise, by letting me know the truth, 
 and the truth has made me free ;* and He that 
 hath begun a good work in me will not forsake 
 me,t for no man can come to Him but by his 
 lieavenly Father; and him that cometh to me, 
 fiaith He, I will in no wise cast out. J Neither 
 shall any be able to pluck us out of his hands,§ 
 for he has paid the debt for us, and the Enemy 
 of Souls can have no further claim on us." 
 
 Li another letter, from the same place, dated 
 September 3rd, 1831, are the following remarks: — 
 
 " My dear reverend friend — It behoves ns all 
 to attend to what our blessed Saviour says to all 
 — Watch! for it is certain we know not the hour 
 of his coming. AVhat a blessing it is when the 
 Lord takes us in hand to chasten us for our profit! 
 
 • See Jojin viU, 31, 32.— f Phil, i, e.—j Jolin vi. U, 3T,-j John x, 28. 
 
LETTERS FROM CAPTMX STEWART. 
 
 351 
 
 be want of 
 
 privileges 
 
 am truly 
 
 , my little 
 me to pur- 
 support of 
 ;cful to the 
 all times 
 
 , — " I have 
 fulfilled his 
 the truth, 
 nd He that 
 not forsake 
 but by his 
 eth to me, 
 J Neither 
 iiis hands,§ 
 the Enemy 
 .s." 
 •lace, dated 
 ircmarks: — 
 ves us all 
 says to all 
 lot the hour 
 [S when the 
 [our profit 1 
 
 S Jolmx.28. 
 
 I 
 
 Though human nature thinks no t hastening for 
 the present joyous, but grievous; nevertheless 
 afterward it yiclclcth the jicaceable fruits of 
 righteousness to tl:em that are exercised thereby. 
 I am truly thankful to the liOrd, who has in the 
 clearest manner verified this jiassago of Scripture 
 in me. And not only this, my beloved Sir, but I 
 really feel all those blessed promises to tlie peni- 
 tent sinner, fulfilled in me, and can truly say, I 
 never knew what true happiness was until I 
 came to Christ." ^'The Lord in much mercy 
 melted me down to a proper sense of my ingra- 
 titude, and suffered me to feel the absence of his 
 reconciled 2)resence, that I may [might] know 
 with the prodigal son, the dreadful folly of parting 
 with a kind and indulgent heavenly Father, and 
 the better how to appreciate liis merciful and 
 bountiful favours to me the Chief of Skinners! — 
 who has by blessed experience been restored to 
 His favour, through the merits and interc ssion 
 of our ever blessed and adorable Redeemer.'* 
 
 Comparing himself further with the prodigal 
 " when clothed and received kindly by his earthly 
 father," he adds — "which is so beautiful an 
 emblem of our heavenly Father's willingness to 
 receive us, if we will be only willing to accept 
 his merciful favour, on the glorious Gospel terms." 
 
 Speaking of his own comforts in religion, he 
 says — " I feel the Scripture truly verified in mc — 
 
 ■ s 
 
 I 
 
 i 
 
 '%>\ 
 
 "■11 
 
 !! 
 
 til 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 'A 
 
' 
 
 ■ ■ "1 
 I 'I 
 
 ii 
 
 I 
 
 Ii 
 
 i 
 
 ^1: 
 
 
 
 i' 
 
 i '11 
 I.' I 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 Ii 
 
 352 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 *Tliou wiltkeeii lliat man in perfect peace, whose 
 
 raind is stayed upon tliec' — this is my happy 
 
 state; — always bearing" about in the mind the 
 
 dying of the Lord Jesus — feeling no confidence 
 
 in the flesh — and that without Christ I [can] do 
 
 nothing, but with Him all things! Probably the 
 
 earth does not produce one whom the Lord has 
 
 dealt more mercifully with than with me ; for he 
 
 has inclined my heart and soul, constantly to be 
 
 looking to Him, through Jesus, the author and 
 
 finisher of our faith. And [through] his loving 
 
 Spirit, he has added another great blessing, by 
 
 putting his fear into my heart, that I may never 
 
 again depart from him." " Sm*ely no one 's\ho 
 
 has sufi'ercd what T have, but would part with 
 
 his life much rather than with the Spirit of 
 
 Christ, which alone is able to make us happy, 
 
 both throughout time and eternity." 
 
 To these extracts, I add no comments. By 
 those readers who are themselves living in the 
 sincere, and devoted spirit of godliness, they will 
 ])e felt, I think, to be indicative of a state of mind, 
 in no small measure accordant with the scrip- 
 turally described characteristics of one sincerely 
 repentant. 
 
jace, whose 
 my liappy 
 
 mind tlie 
 
 confidence 
 I [can] do 
 L'obably the 
 3 Lord has 
 me ; for he 
 antly to be 
 author and 
 
 his lovinq^ 
 Icssing, by 
 
 may never 
 
 J one ^%ho 
 
 I part with 
 
 Spirit 01 
 
 us happy, 
 
 lents. By 
 
 iKc* m 
 
 the 
 
 they will 
 
 Ite of mind, 
 
 the scrip - 
 
 [c fsincerely 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 
 REFLECTIONS AXD OBSERVATIO.VS ON THE 
 
 OF THE Mary russell." 
 
 MEMORIAL 
 
 Section I. — On llie N<Uure and Discrimination 
 A of Providcn/ial Guidance. 
 
 That the Creator of the Universe should 
 regard with special care the works of his own 
 hands, we might have inferred from the mere 
 light of reason. That lie doth so regard this 
 lower world in which we have our habi- 
 tation, in the exercises of a special Providence — 
 governing or guiding, controuling or restraining, 
 impelling or iniiuencing the actions and destinies 
 of mankind — is a truth, written, as by a sun- 
 ])eam, in almost every page of the sacred volume. 
 In a former memorial — "SAiiiiATiis in the Arc- 
 tic Regions" — we have endeavoured to illustrate 
 the doctriue of a special Providence, and have 
 advocated its observance : — in the circumstances 
 of the present jNIemorial, however, we find occa- 
 sion for guarding the doctrine against enthusiastic 
 perversion, or dangerous presumption. 
 
 
 I 
 
 
 f 1 
 
 ,'i 
 
 M 
 
 ', M> 
 
 I 
 
 
 
 .i^ 
 
354 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 There are few cluiractcristics of a pious con- 
 dition of mind more satisfactory, than the ha- 
 bitual observing and conscientious following of 
 " the fmger of God" in Providence. For in pro- 
 j)ortion as men advance in spiritual knowledge 
 and experience, their watchfulness of^ and regard 
 to. Providential indications, arc found to increase. 
 The spiritually enlightened mind perceives a 
 Providence in every trouble or trial, perplexity 
 or vexation, loss or disappointment, as well as in 
 every blessing or happy endowment. lie re- 
 alizes a voice, as it were, either instructing or 
 warning, admonishing or rebuking, in every 
 passing event of life. In brief, as he knows that 
 the hand of God is either directingly or permis- 
 sively in every thing, he believes that in every 
 thing there must be some lesson, and, if his 
 piety be truly elevated and practical, he endea- 
 vours to learn it. 
 
 But if such be the habit of mind characteristic 
 of elevated piety, it is a characteristic, we may 
 perceive, for which superstition may possibly be 
 mistaken — a habit which may, possibly, be be- 
 trayed into enthusiasm. Our security against 
 fatal mistakes, or presumptuous abuses of the 
 external leadings of Providence, is the strict and 
 rigid trial of our ways or j^urposes by the word of 
 Revelation ; and that not by particular precepts, 
 which may have only a j)artial application ; not 
 
'11 
 
 ON rUOVIDENTIAL GUIDANCK. 
 
 355 
 
 pious con- 
 iian the ha- 
 following of 
 
 For in pro- 
 
 knowlcdgc 
 \ aiul regard 
 [ to increase. 
 
 perceives a 
 , perplexity 
 as well as in 
 it. He re- 
 istructing or 
 r, in every 
 3 knows tliat 
 ly or permis- 
 lat in every 
 
 and, if Ins 
 d, he endea- 
 
 liaraeteristic 
 tic, we may 
 
 possibly be 
 
 dbly, be be- 
 
 rity against 
 
 uses of the 
 
 le strict and 
 
 the word of 
 ar precepts, 
 cation ; not 
 
 
 by peculiar cases in Scripture history, which may 
 have resulted from special appointment ; not by 
 insulating passages which are only to l)c under- 
 stood in their whole connection ;--but l)y the 
 broad and unequivocal rule of Divine Truth. If, 
 accordiu": to our rcndoviuir of the book of Pro- 
 vidence, we arc directed, on the one hand, to that 
 which is clearly and obviously good — so that our 
 zeal be inflamed, our diligence be excited, our 
 benevolence encouraged, our holiness be ad- 
 vanced, our usefulness, humility, self-denial, or 
 heavcnly-mindedncss be promoted — let us strictly 
 attend to the suggestions we receive, and dili- 
 gently follow them in the name of the Lord ! 
 But if, by apparent Providences, we are encou- 
 raged, on the other hand, to fulfil the wayward, 
 selfish, or revengeful propensities of our na- 
 ture — to do evil that good may come — or, like 
 Captain Stewart, to commit acts of severity un- 
 der the semblance of justice, or to take away 
 the lives of others under a questionable appre- 
 hension of personal danger, — let us be on our 
 guard ; the beacon-light is not that of God's 
 Providence, but an ignis fatuus of Satan, calcu- 
 lated only to mislead and betray us. If, more- 
 over, the word of Truth, as interpreted with the 
 stricter*: regard to moral rule and Gospel prin- 
 ciple, do not sanction the reading of the outward 
 signs, the reading must be false, or the signs 
 
 f 
 
 ii) 
 
 *■% 
 
 
 
 '' I 
 
 Si , 
 
 III 
 
 i 
 
J 
 
 350 
 
 THE mauy rttssei.l. 
 
 I* . »i 
 
 I fc.I 
 
 lliomselvcs not of God. If the indications, 
 therefore, Lc doubtful, let us pause and pray for 
 heavenly guidance ; if their tendency he evil, let 
 us unhesitatingly reject tlieni. In either case it 
 is dangerous to follow them. 
 
 And these observations api)ly nr t merely to 
 the trial of outward Providences — such as in the 
 case of Jonah, when having found a ship sailing 
 to Tarshish, he imagined he had there gained 
 his purj^ose, as if Providence were assisting him 
 in fleeing from the presence of God — Init also to 
 inward impressions, suggestions, im2)ulses, moni- 
 tions. For as such inward imi^ressions may he de- 
 rived eitlier from the Spirit of God or from Satan 
 — their tendency will depend on the source from 
 whence they spring, whilst the source will in 
 some measure he determinable by the nature of 
 the tendency. The inward impressions from 
 God, will certainly be for good — His suggestions, 
 for guidance and assistance in the way of duty 
 or safety ; but the thoughts and impulses from 
 Satan will as certainly tend to evil — his in- 
 fluences, proving the iri'evalent sources of tempta- 
 tion, and incitements to ungodliness. Hence 
 whilst from such mental monitions, when really 
 from God, feelings and suggestions may be de- 
 rived, calculated for our spiritual furtherance and 
 well-being ; yet, from similar impressions, other- 
 wise produced, the most false and ruinous mis- 
 
ox rUOVIDKNTIAL GriDANTF;. 
 
 357 
 
 indications, 
 Liid pray for 
 y be evil, let 
 iither case it 
 
 t merely to 
 Lich as in the 
 ship soilinc^ 
 there gained 
 ssisting him 
 — Ijiit also to 
 pulses, moni- 
 es may he de- 
 ^r from Satan 
 source from 
 )urce will in 
 le nature of 
 essions from 
 suggestions, 
 way of duty 
 ipulses from 
 vil — his in- 
 :s of temi>ta- 
 ss. Hence 
 when really 
 may be de- 
 herance and 
 sions, other- 
 ruinous mis- 
 
 guidance may unliai)pily result. Ilxamplos of 
 tlie two kinds of impressions, among a variety 
 of others in the sacred writings, we find in the 
 cases of Nehemiah and Ananias. As to Xehe- 
 miah, when influenced to rebuild the walls of 
 Jerusalem for the security and well-being of the 
 returning Israelites, we iind it scripturally de- 
 clared, that ^ God ])ut it into his heart to do it :'* 
 and as to Ananias, when he attempted to deceive 
 the Apostles of our Lord by a false return of the 
 ])rice of a property winch he had sold, we are in- 
 formed by St. Peter concerning the inlhience 
 under which he acted, ' that Satan had filled his 
 heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost.'f Where, 
 therefore, the mind of man is susceptible of im- 
 pressions so dissimilar, both as to their sources 
 and tendencies — all such impressions shoidd be 
 well scrutinized, and rigidly tested, before they 
 are received as principles of action. For whilst 
 many persons, no doubt, have in such wise been 
 "moved by the Holy Ghost" to great and ex- 
 cellent purposes ; others, even among sincere 
 Christians, have been temjited, if not to the per- 
 formance of acts like that committed by Caj^tain 
 Stewart, at least to unjustifiable courses, or un- 
 godly severity. The only absolute guide, as to 
 im])rcssions of a doubtful origin, or (piestionable 
 tendency, is the word of Revelation. All Scrip- 
 
 ts ' 
 
 n 
 
 • Nohemiah ii. 12. 
 
 t Acts V. 3. 
 
358 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 i I?'/: 
 
 J 1. 
 
 ii-Ji 
 
 turc Lcinp^ given l)y tlic inspiration of the Holy 
 Ghost — ail suggestions to the mind, by the Holy 
 <'j host, will necessarily bear a strict accordance 
 .and i)crlcct parallelism with such Scripture. 
 And it should be "vvell remembered, that the Holy 
 Spirit doth not, in His usual influences, give new 
 inspirations ; but operates chiefly, through these 
 two media — the nnhnal conscience and the worth 
 of Rcirhilion, With those to whom Revelation 
 has been made known, there is a solenni resjion- 
 sibility to verify every inward impression, by 
 this standard; and for those who think they 
 have received any comnuuiication direct from 
 God, there is a simple rule for testing it scrip- 
 turally laid down, — * to the law and to the tes- 
 timony ; if it speak not according to this word, 
 it is because there is no light in it.'* 
 
 Though the melancholy misguidance of Cap- 
 tain Stewart, by an erroneous reading of the book 
 of Divine Providence, may claim, as appears from 
 the issue of his trial, a reference to a j)eculiar 
 rule ; yet as many other persons, when under 
 excitement rather than unsoundness of mind, 
 have, in diff'erent well-known instances, been 
 acted upon, apparently, by similar impressions, 
 and parallel reasonings, with a most baneful ten- 
 dency,t — I have thought it not irrelevant to 
 
 • Isaiah viii. 20. 
 
 tOf the pernicious effects of uncontrouled excitements in religious pro- 
 f^Bora,aad of the evils resulting from an untested adnussioa of mental 
 
 i < 
 
ON THE mystfuy of rnOVIDENCE. 35D 
 
 of tlic Holy 
 by the Holy 
 t accordance 
 h Scripture, 
 hat the Holy 
 jes, give licw 
 
 I rough these 
 lul the tvords 
 
 II llevclation 
 eiiin rcspon- 
 iprcssion, by 
 ) think they 
 
 direct from 
 :ing it scrip- 
 d to the tcs- 
 to this word, 
 
 iice of Cap- 
 of the book 
 appears from 
 o a peculiar 
 when under 
 ss of mind, 
 ances, been 
 impressions, 
 baneful ten- 
 relevant to 
 
 s in religious pro- 
 [xissioa of mental 
 
 bring" forward these reflections to which the cir- 
 cumstances of the present Memorial have given 
 rise. 
 
 Section II. — On Ihc Mt/stcri/ of Providence 
 in the awful Transactions described in this 
 Memorial. - 
 
 Though we have already glanced at the 
 mystery of the Divine government in the 
 catastroplie we have been considering, and of 
 the bcnelit which we ought to seek from such 
 dispensations ; yet a few further observations 
 
 * may not be unprofitably bestowed, with a view 
 to the clearing away of a portion of the difTiculty 
 which such subjects are supposed to present 
 against the doctrine of a special Providence. 
 
 The indications of a difference in the issues of 
 life with the various individuals among men, — tiie 
 cutting short, ofttimes, as by a mere breath of air, 
 of the life of the most vigorous, and the prolong- 
 ing, through extraordinary perils and hardships, 
 of the lives of others com])aratively feeble, — are 
 so perpetually, and manifestly exhibited, that 
 
 ' both heathens and sceptics have been constrained 
 
 impressions, as being the direct influence of the Holy Ghost,— we havo 
 melancholy evidence among the disciples of the late Rev. Edward Irving. 
 Mr. Robert Baxter's *' Narrative of Facts characterizing the supernatural 
 manifestations in members of Mr. Irving's congregation." and others — 
 exhibits both the mischief, and the peril, of a superstitious following of 
 mere monitions, by a great variety of examples. 
 
3G0 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 I 
 
 to Jidmlt, tliat some mysterious power beyond the 
 confroul of man mu.'-t be in operation affecting 
 the destinies of our species — which power these 
 have designated Jitfe. But the indications of a 
 secretly controuling-, restraining, and infhiencing 
 power, which lieathens and sceptics, in their igno- 
 rance or unbelief, refer to an arbitrary fate, we, by 
 t!ie revelation of God, do certainly know to belong 
 to a wise and particular l^rovidence. And, however 
 inexjdicable the preservation of one rather than 
 another may appear — however mysterious it may 
 seem, when some are prematurely cut off in sj)ite 
 of :i thousand chances of escape, ^^hilst others 
 are delivered notwithstanding the most comjdi- 
 cated and mortal perils — yet the cause of the 
 difference, with the explanation of the jiheno- 
 mena, are most assuredly involved in the doctrine 
 of Divine Providence. For whilst, to this con- 
 clusion, the general tenor of the sacred Scriji- 
 tures bears unecpiivocal testimony, — numerous 
 distinct propositions of Ilevclation, unequivocally 
 assert the important truth. Thus is it written — 
 " it is appointed unto men once to die, but 
 after this the judgement :" again ; there is " a 
 time to be born, and a time to die." But this 
 determination of the time and circumstances, 
 under which mankind must encounter the re- 
 sistless power of death, seems to be of a two- 
 fold nature, being cither hf/ the direct appoint^ 
 
ON THE MYSTERY OF ^^vOVIDE^'CE. 
 
 361 
 
 beyond tlic 
 311 affecting 
 )o\ver these 
 nations of a 
 
 (T 
 
 influencin 
 I their iso- 
 late, we, by 
 3W to belong 
 auljhowever 
 rather than 
 prions it may 
 Lt off in si)ite 
 •hilst others 
 iiost compli- 
 aiise of the 
 the pheno- 
 the doctrine 
 to this con- 
 iacred Scrip- 
 numerous 
 luccpiivocally 
 it written — 
 to die, hut 
 I there is " a 
 ■" lUit this 
 I'cumstances, 
 liter the re- 
 le of a two- 
 cct appoint^ 
 
 vwnt of Goily or hj/ lifi special permission. A\'hc- 
 
 i fruitful 
 
 th 
 
 tb 
 
 (late 1)0 to th( 
 
 e, lue niauoaic ho to tlie uulruil 
 lig-trce, — "Cut it down, why cuniborcth it the 
 g-rouiid" : or whether it Ijc to tlio ri^'litcous, — 
 * Take him awav from llic evil to come,' it is 
 equally the act of (iod. And whether the 
 method or iu^itiunuMit of death he disease or old 
 ag'C, accident or calamity ; whether it be by the 
 judgmeut of the law, or by nuuderous violence ; 
 yet there is a sense in which the sentence may be 
 said to be executed by Divine appointment. 
 Hence tlie Trophet Amos asks, — '• fchall there be 
 Ci'il in a citv, and ilie Lord hath not done it?'* 
 — whilst Jehovah himself directly asserts the 
 same doctrnio, saying-, — "I make peace, and 
 create evil; [that is natural, not itujral evil;] 
 I the J.ord O^o all these thiuLis. ' \\ here- 
 fore we couehuh, tiiat in every stroke of 
 death, the hiind of God is there, in natiu'al 
 deaths, or iu ueatlis by unavoidable accident, avo 
 seem to have the direct appointment of (u)d; 
 and in deaths by our own fault and i»resunii)tiious 
 dariu'j^, or by the hands of wicked men, \\q dis- 
 cern again a l)i\ iiu^ appointment in a pennisi'ire 
 Providence. Though, however, we thus decide 
 that there is a Providence in every mo<le of 
 death, both good and b;ul, as well when life is 
 taken by the murderous hand of ruiliau nian, as 
 when the visitation comes by disease or decay of 
 
 M 
 
 ■m 
 
 
 R 
 
30-2 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 nature, — yet wc must 1)0 careful not to ascribe to 
 God the sinful acts, ^vhicll hasten, beyond the 
 speed of nature, nature's dissolution. T;) God 
 pertains the Providence, as well as the (lesiG;'n 
 of f^ood ; to Him belonji^s the ultini'^ic end — the 
 advancement of the Redeemer's Kingdom, with 
 the promotion of the Divine Glory; but to us, as- 
 sailed by Satan's influence, and wrought upon by 
 a corrupt nature, belongs the sin. The event is 
 permitted, controuled, or directed by wisdom and 
 mercy, infinite ; but the sinfid act, connected 
 with the event, is the act of sinful man. Does 
 any professed believer in Kevelation say, then, 
 tluit these great events, which involve the eternal 
 interests of immortal souls, are events of chance ? 
 A sparrow falls not to the ground by chance — 
 a hair of our head perishes not by chance, — 
 How then shall the lives of those immortal 
 beings, for whom the w^orld, with all its beauties, 
 was created, and for whose redemption the Son 
 of God came down from Heaven and died u])on 
 the Cross, be less the objects of our Heavenly 
 Father's care, than the sparrows, which he feeds, 
 or the hairs oi our liead, which are all numbered? 
 Shall such a precious endowment bo permitted 
 to be ilung to and fro, like a mote on the wings 
 of the wind, by a Idind and reckless chance ? 
 No ! whatever man may do to us — however ac- 
 cident may injure us — whatever evil may assail 
 
 I 
 
ON THE MYSTERY OF PROVIDEN'CE. 
 
 363 
 
 ascribe to 
 leyond the 
 . ^ T.) God 
 the design 
 t end— the 
 ;dom, >vilh 
 At io vs, as- 
 lit upon by 
 he event is 
 A'isdom and 
 , connected 
 nan. Does 
 I sav, then, 
 i the eternal 
 ? of chance ? 
 jy chance — 
 chance, — 
 immortal 
 Its beauties, 
 (.n the Son 
 1 died upon 
 1 leav enly 
 ch he feeds, 
 numbered ? 
 [c permitted 
 In the wings 
 ;ss chance ? 
 however ac- 
 
 c 
 
 i 
 
 I 
 
 may a 
 
 ssail 
 
 us — however disease mtiy attack us — w^hatever 
 danger may threaten us, — it is not — it cannot be 
 — cither the effect of fate or chance. For the 
 I>ord ruleth in the earth, and * our times are in 
 his hand' ! 
 
 In the appalling subject that we have been 
 considering," we have a powerful illiistrati(m of 
 these Scriptural truths, lor in this unparalleled 
 transaction we iiud a maniac overcoming, and 
 then putting to death, seven individuals, every 
 one of them apparently more ])owcrful tlian him- 
 self. We find the subjects of his daring pur- 
 poses, unsuspicious of his suspicious dealings 
 with them ; unapprchensi\ e when he reefed and 
 furled the hails in prcj)aration for his artful de- 
 signs ; scarcely alarmed when he atteuipted to 
 tie them, and lunesisting when he placed them 
 in helpless bondage. No one previously bouud 
 attempted to warn his unsuspcctiug comrades 
 yet at liberty ; no one freed liimself, or tried, 
 apparently, to ii'ec his neighbour ; no one pro- 
 ^t ided any means ot self-defence in case of being 
 assailed ; no one reserved, or could reserve, a 
 hand ut li])erty to cover his defenceless head ! 
 What can we understand from such an unac- 
 countable infatuation, but that their time was 
 now fulfilled, or else that thev were more insane 
 than their maniacal Captain ? Surely the (head- 
 ful carnage was permitted by the Providence of 
 
 k 
 
 ■-"J 
 
 i 
 
364 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 ' ^« j' 
 
 Heaven, becau^^e llicir hour wasi come : yet it 
 was a mysterious, as well as a dreadful, visitation, 
 and we must speak of " tlio miuflit of God's 
 terrible acts" with luiuiility and reverence. 
 
 I'he g-eneral jnopi^sition, already i)ut forth, 
 with reference to the ai)pointnient of death, is — 
 that whatever he the means of death, the hand 
 of God, cither directin*;ly or permissively, is 
 there. If the instrument be the arm of the 
 wicked, it is ' the Lord's sword,' and can ac- 
 comi)lish no more than he allows ; if the means 
 be the ordinary apparatus of national conilicts, 
 then these are * His battle-axe and weapons of 
 war, wherewith the Lord breaketh in [>ieces the 
 nations, and destroyeth the kin<:^doms' devoted to 
 destruction.* Thus, sometimes the instrument is 
 the sea, — as in the overthrow of the hosts of 
 Pharaoh in ancient times; and as in the present 
 destruction of our sailors, by thousands, in every 
 year that passes. Sometimes it is the battle 
 
 i 
 
 * Sec Isaiah x. 5, 15; xiii. 5; xiv.5,6; xxxvii. 26; Jeremiah ^ 23; 
 li. 20, 23; Micah iv. 13; Zt'chariah \x. 13, 14; Matthew xxii. 7. — 
 On tlie iloctrine indicated hy these various texts, the Rev. Thomas Scott. 
 in hih adniirahlc Commentary on tlie Bible, maives tlic foUowii'g^, anionp 
 many other, wise observations-. — "Tlie Lord selects and set; apart the 
 weapons of his wrath, wlio are of thenifstlres dl-po^oil to the work in which 
 hi: purposes to employ Ihom ; and while they rejoice in gratiiyins their 
 Keifisli passions, tlicy unintentionally perform his rishtcons judgments. 
 He invests them with power, alVords them fnvonrn'ie i>|)i)ortuiutie«, p-ifcs 
 ihem liclpcrs, and endues them Avith intrepidity ; and thuo the Lord of 
 Hosts * mustcreth the hosts of the bnttlc :' witb fiiri nis tumult they march 
 from the ends of the earth to assault their enemies, and they are not 
 aware that they are otily the weapons of his indisnatian."' — Fraclical 
 Ob$eroation» ou Isaiah xiii. 
 
ON THE MYSTERY OF PROVIDENCE. 
 
 365 
 
 ic : yet it 
 visitation, 
 of God's 
 cncc. 
 
 put forth, 
 death, is — 
 1, the hand 
 issivcly, is 
 irm of the 
 nd can ac- 
 thc means 
 al coiilhcts, 
 weapons of 
 I pieces the 
 ' devoted to 
 istriinient is 
 10 hosts of 
 the present 
 ds, in every 
 the hattle 
 
 Jorcniifxli V 23 ; 
 liilthevv xxii. 7.— 
 lev. Thomas Scott, 
 Ifolh-wii'e:, anions 
 Ixnd stti apjirt tl\e 
 Itlic work in which 
 ii RriUifylns their 
 litt'ons judgments. 
 i])ortiiMitie«, p»es 
 thiia the Lord of 
 fnniuU they march 
 and thej- are not 
 \ation."'-Praclical 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 fulfillinpf the Divine will, as the sword of the 
 Cliildren of Israel nirainst tlie ori^-inal natitnis 
 of Canaan; — sometimes it is the famine, the pes- 
 tilence, the whirlwind, the eartlupialve, the li«,^ht- 
 ninp:, or the storm ; and sometimes the murderous 
 liand of reprohate man. 
 
 Jhit it miLiht he ohjeeted, that such a doctrine 
 concernini'- tlie appointment of premature death, 
 seems to chari;e the (iod of Heaven with par- 
 tiality or inequitahle severity. And, ir might be 
 asked, would not the unrep-encrate soul, suddenly 
 liurvied into the juesence of its Creator hy mur- 
 derous hand, or hy unavoidable calamity, he able 
 to say — '' I had not fime to repent : though I 
 was a barren lig-trce, had I bceu spared anotlier 
 vear, I miL>]it have become fruitful" ? Migflit 
 not the impenitent youth, cut olf in the prime 
 of life, be able to plead, — '' If I had been spared 
 till mature vears, T should have seen m\ follv, 
 and repented" ! 
 
 \\ liatever be the truth as to the doctrine of a 
 particular Trovidcnce, this proposition is unques- 
 tionable, — that ^ the Judge of all the earth must 
 do right.' And of this, doubtless, will the 
 wicked of cverv rank and of evcrv acfc be so- 
 lemnlv convinced, when thev shall be called * to 
 stand before the judgment-sent of Christ, to give 
 an account of the deeds done in the body' ; yea, 
 rather then contend before that awful tri])unal^ 
 
 \\ 
 
 \ 11 
 
303 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 i. '« 
 
 V < 
 
 t-- 
 
 l! IW 
 
 either as to the inequitablcness or hardship of 
 their case, — self- condemned and abased they will 
 call on the momiUiins, sayinpf, " fall on us, and 
 hide us from the face of Him that sittcth on the 
 throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb." For, 
 not only must the great Jehovah do right, but, 
 no doubt, his conduct will condcsccndiugly be 
 justified before assembled worlds ; so that unques- 
 tionable proof will be given, that " the Lord is 
 good to all, and his tender mercies are over all 
 his works" ! 
 
 That all the dealings of Jehovah in Providence 
 are consistent with his perfections, whether we, 
 in our short-sightedness, can perceive it or not, is 
 certain. ]>ut a.i enlarged view of Providence, 
 with reference to an eternal world, will enable 
 US to discover, in many cases otherwise myste- 
 rious, not merely this necessary consistency, but 
 a glimpse of tlie wisdom which we know 7mfst 
 be involved even in these ai)parently dark dis- 
 pensations. As in the economy of Providence 
 *' it is appointed unto men once to die, but after 
 this the judjvicnf,^'' we cannot doubt that the 
 fixing of , the period of death must have a special 
 reference to that momentous ordeal. Whilst, 
 therefore, we consider death to be always, in the 
 sense explained, a Divine ap})oii?tment, both as to 
 its method and as to its time ; this we hold to be 
 by no means an arbitrary apjpoiniment. But, both 
 
 flt '?^ 
 
ON THE MYSTKHY OF TROVIDKNCE. 
 
 307 
 
 rdsliip of 
 they will 
 11 us, and 
 !tli on the 
 b." For, 
 'i<j^ht, but, 
 ilingly be 
 at unques- 
 le Lord is 
 e over all 
 
 ),. 
 
 ovidcnce 
 
 lethcr we, 
 
 t or not, is 
 
 rovidence, 
 
 ill enable 
 
 sc myste- 
 
 cncy, but 
 
 now must 
 
 dark dis- 
 
 rovidence 
 
 but after 
 
 that the 
 
 a special 
 
 Whilst, 
 
 ys, in the 
 
 both as to 
 
 lold to be 
 
 But, both 
 
 from Scriptural testimony, and iVoni the unques- 
 fr tionable goodness of God, we may safely con- 
 
 I elude, that the time of death is an appoinhncnt of 
 
 (joodness (uul niercy : so that there is more mercy, 
 even to the sullerer by calamity or violence, in 
 the divinely a})pointed stroke, than there would 
 be in the prolon;^iuj^ of his life to future years. 
 This proposition, I a})i)rehend, may be rendered 
 at least intellii;il>le, by a mere reference to the 
 forcknoii'li'dijc of a merciiul God. By reference 
 to this doctrine we can casilv understand, how 
 the Lord hkuj lix a period to his iorbearance or 
 mercy, so as to be most consistent with the real 
 good of the disobedient as well as of the right- 
 eous and, at the same time, the most conducive 
 to the advancement of His own glory. 
 
 In this way \n e can conceive how the (/oodness 
 of God may be manilested, as well by the death 
 of the wicked as by the death of the righteous. 
 The righteous, we know, are often 'taken away 
 from the evil to come' — and that is in merev : so 
 the wicked, if prevented from accomplishing 
 more and grosser iniquities, will be spared a 
 deeper condemnation, and that is a mercy. Those . 
 sinners, the Amalekitcs, were commanded to be 
 destroyed; and their destruction was not only in 
 judgment, but, doubtless, in mercy. The ap- 
 pointment that neither }?iun nor ivoman should 
 
 i4i 
 
i 
 
 >m 
 
 i 
 
 ! 
 
 (:H 
 
 f yy\ 
 
 U M^ 
 
 or>8 
 
 THE MAIIY llUSSELr. 
 
 be spared,"'' was, porliu] s, bcraiisc God foresaw 
 that by sparing llicm, it would be to aggravate 
 tbcir gui^t, tbcrefore to destroj- tbcm was mercy. 
 The appointmciit for the dcstriiction of llic help- 
 less bdhcs which had not attained to reason »^r 
 "conscience of sins,'' might be this: because Infi- 
 nite Wisdom discerned, j)crhaps, that if they were 
 spared to grow nj), they would follow the courses 
 of their fathers in wickedness : to save them, 
 therefore, from otherwise inevitable woe, tlicy 
 were taken away, and their removal was a dis- 
 pensation of mercy. And so, from the analogy of 
 faith, we humbly infer, that when tlie (lOil of 
 Mercy foresees that to spare the sinners yet longer 
 would be for their greater condemnation — that 
 they would grieve still more his Holy Spirit, and 
 reject still further his offers of mercy — that they 
 would mar the spiritual pvos])crity of their rela- 
 tions and connections, or otherwise hinder the 
 progress of the Gosjiel in the world; then, to 
 save fhem from a more aggravated punishment in 
 a future state, and olhcrs from injury by them, 
 their removal, whatever be the means, may be, 
 • in the fullness of truth, an act of mercy ! 
 
 And such, we mav rcasonablv, and I trust not 
 unscripturally, conclude, might be the j^urpose of 
 God in permitting the terrible calamity which 
 
 * I Samuel XV. 3. 18. 
 
 1 
 
 « 
 
 LV 
 
ON THE MYSTERY OF PROVIDENCE. 
 
 369 
 
 foresaw 
 ggravate 
 s mercy. 
 lie help- 
 casoii or 
 iiisc III ft - 
 [icy wore 
 c courses 
 re tlicm, 
 oe, tlicy 
 LIS a tlis- 
 Lialogy of 
 ; God of 
 ct longer 
 on — that 
 )irit, and 
 lat they 
 cir rela- 
 ulcr llie 
 I hen, to 
 nncnt in 
 )y ill cm, 
 may be, 
 
 rust not 
 'rpose of 
 |y which 
 
 % 
 
 wc have been considorini**. For, friLrhtful as the 
 result was, the revelation of the day of judgment 
 will doubtless show, that it was a dispensation, 
 viewed with reference to eternity, not inconsis- 
 tent with goodness and moroy. The sufferinc^ 
 and the horror, indeed, were assuredly a weight 
 of woe, as compared witli the bliss of life ; but 
 they were only as a drop in the ocean, when 
 compared with the boundless expanse of hap])i- 
 ness in a future world. The scvvrih/ was but a 
 momentary insulated sj)eek on the stream of 
 lime, whilst the mcrc}j becometh constant as the 
 overflowing river, and as endless as the range 
 of eternity 1 Hence, inscrutable as the ways of 
 Providence in some dispensations necessarily 
 are, yet, by the guidance of Kcvelation and the 
 analogies of Taith, we may in many cases discern, 
 a purpose of goodness, and an act of mercy. 
 Those among the helpless suflercrs, in the 
 catastroidic before us, who, by 'repentance toward 
 God, and faith toward the Lortl Jesus Christ,' 
 had been previously secured against the terrors 
 of a final judgment, experienced in the murder- 
 ous act, a release from a life of toil and sullerinr, 
 to be advanced 
 
 spec 
 
 ity 
 
 those who were not so iuT})arcd, if such were 
 
 among them, were at least delivered from further 
 
 evils. However man may stand in the great day 
 
 of account — the God of Heaven must stand jus- 
 
 u2 
 
 I 
 
 m 
 
 r. 'I 
 fi>l 
 
 '.I 
 
 11 
 
370 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 tified ; and this sentiment of inspiration con* 
 cerning Jehovah, hoth men and angels will then 
 fiilly realize and attest, — 
 
 " Thy Justiit'y like tlu; liills, remains, 
 
 Unf.ithoiuM depths thy iad^Mnents are i 
 Thy Providence the worhl sustains j 
 The whole creation is thy care. 
 
 Since of thy goodness all partake, 
 With what assurance slntuld the Just 
 
 Thy shelt'rinjj; wings their refuge make, 
 And Saints to thy protection trust. 
 
 With thee the springs of life remain ; 
 
 Thy presence is eternal day : 
 O let thy Saints thy favour gain ; 
 
 To upright hearts thi/ truth displat/,** 
 
 FsALM xxxvi. fi, 7, 9. 
 
 N 
 
 Section III. — On the ref^ponslhility of Maniacs. 
 
 Whilst the jiidicatiu'e of our country, in its ap- 
 plication to the acts of maniacs, proceeds on the 
 wise and mercifid principle — that the unhappy 
 being whom it has pleased the l^estower of rea- 
 son to deprive of his reason, is no longer amenable 
 to any human tribunal; yet it is by no means to 
 be admitted, as a principle, that the maniac has 
 no responsiblity towards God. On the con- 
 trary : — so far as there may be a conscious predis- 
 position to the fearfid malady of insanity, and so 
 far as that predisposition may be under the indi- 
 vidual's controul, there must be a correlative 
 
 t^\ 
 
i 
 
 RESP0NS1B1LIT\ OV MANlAti. 
 
 871 
 
 ion con- 
 will then 
 
 vi. 6, 7, 9. 
 
 Maniacs. 
 
 n its ap- 
 s on the 
 unhappy 
 cr of rea- 
 amenahle 
 means to 
 aniac has 
 the con- 
 is predis- 
 y, and so 
 the indi- 
 orrelative 
 
 i 
 
 rcsponsihiHiy. For if the diimhard he considered 
 ri<;i(lly aecuiiiitahle to tlie violated hiw of man 
 for the acts done hy him in the teiiipoiary ^i^ad- 
 ness whieh he has hroujiht upon himself by luj 
 wilful selt-iudulL'enee; the huiatie may, in some 
 measure, he deemed aecounlahle to the violated 
 hiws of (iod, for any evil couimitted hy him 
 whilst in a state of disease, so iar as that disease 
 may have heen reeklessU- developed hy his own 
 conseious iudiscietioij. 1 or as the moral mania 
 which results Jrom ihe excessive indul«^aniee of 
 any passion or vice, inii^ht, under a due resistance 
 of the cause, hy Divine ^race, have heen pre- 
 vented; so it is presumed that the mental or 
 physical mania, to whieh our constitution may he 
 liahle, might, in many cases, he likewise prevent- 
 ed or suhdut^d hy proper persona/ resistance and 
 discipline. It is undouhtedly possihlc — as in many 
 analogous cases experience verifies — that peculiar 
 acts or meditations, which are usually considered 
 as the effects of disease, may, from their excessive 
 mdulgence, hecome really the occasion of insanity, 
 — hecause, from the sympathy existing hetween 
 the mind and hody, the indulgence of any ir- 
 ritating feeling, or any violent passion, first pro- 
 duces an injurious effect on the condition of the 
 body, and then that influence reacts on the mind. 
 Hence the philosophy of that treatment of luna- 
 tics, medically, which has been attended with 
 
 I 
 
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372 
 
 THE MARV RUSSET.L. 
 
 such cncoiiraj^ing success — the endeavour to pro- 
 duce quiescence of rMud, {done;' with an improved 
 condition of body; and through an improved 
 habit of body, to correct the excita])ility and aber- 
 rations of the mind. And, except in cases where 
 a defective or permanently deranged organization 
 of the system renders the application of this 
 jn'incijile necessarily inefficacious, the results are 
 generally found to be eminently successful. 
 
 Now if these observations be correct ; — if the 
 indulgence of vice can produce a mania so deter- 
 mined and vicious, that neither regard to worldly 
 interest, nor to future hap])iness, can restrain it; if 
 the giving way to angry and unchristian passions 
 canbei^roductive of a mania of malice or revenge, 
 which nothing but a fellow-creature's blood can 
 satiate; — it may surely be inferred, on reasonable 
 and admitted principles, that the indulgence of 
 improper feelings, and stdf-provoked excitement, 
 in a mind constitutionally disposed to aberration, 
 may occasion the development of such a morbid 
 derangement, as shall no longer leave to the un- 
 happy subject of it, either moral consciousness or 
 strength. 
 
 If so, must not this order of lunatic be in some 
 measure responsible for his acts ? Does he not, 
 bv the cherishing? of irritating or unhallowed 
 passions, wliich, by God'^ help, he might at first 
 controul, subject himself to that dominion of pas- 
 
) 
 
 RESPONSIBILITY OF MANIACS. 
 
 373 
 
 to pro- 
 proved 
 proved 
 d aLer- 
 5 wlicro 
 li/ation 
 of this 
 ults are 
 1. 
 
 -if the 
 o dcter- 
 worklly 
 liu it; if 
 :)assions 
 •evcnge, 
 3od can 
 lisoiiable 
 once of 
 tcment, 
 ration, 
 morbid 
 the un- 
 sness or 
 
 in some 
 he not, 
 alh)wed 
 t at lirst 
 1 of pas- 
 
 i 
 
 sion, which, imdor his feeble toimre of sanity, 
 may overcome all i)ossibility of resistance? Does 
 he not, by facilities voluntarily yielded in way- 
 ward indul<>'onces to an unsomid constitution, 
 prejKire the mansion of the breast for satanic pos- 
 session, even as if it were swept and varnished ? 
 In the case of madness resulting' from drunken- 
 ness or sensualitv, we mav conceive of Satan 
 bein2; ])ermitted to become the instrument of re- 
 tributive chastisement, or the powers of darkness 
 beinii'let loose Ibr the scour^'inc: of the sinner. 
 
 Havinp;- in the present " MemoriaV"* dime full 
 justice to Captain Stewart, I trust, in regard to 
 his innocence of " Idood-guiltinoss" in the 
 fearful massacre of which he was the agent, — 
 it would neither be candid nor faithful to with- 
 hold from liim the application of those princi- 
 ples, which reflection on his case has suggested. 
 Fully, therefore, as he stands justified from all 
 legal crime, we would by no means assert, that, 
 in the circumstances of the calamitous voyage, 
 he was without moral rcsj)onsibility or blame. 
 If the principles herein laid dcnvn be correct, he 
 was no doubt blameable, and that especially in a 
 self-indulgence to which he is said to have been 
 addicted — the taking of stimulants. It does not 
 appear, indeed, that he drank to the extent of 
 intoxication ; but he was certainly in the habit 
 of using ardent spirits, at different periods, daily; 
 
 
 'I 
 
 
374 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 and in this, if aware of his excitable constitu- 
 tion, and predisposition to insanity, hiy, it would 
 seem, his principal blame in that melancholy 
 voyage. He was not conscious, perhaps, of the 
 pernicious tendency of this self-indulgence ; cer- 
 tainly he could have no conception of " how 
 great a matter a little fire kindleth ;" whereas it 
 might he, that this apparently harmless enjoy- 
 ment was the spark which developed ' the world 
 of iniquity within ; setting fire to the course of 
 nature, and that being set on fire of hell.'* 
 
 We here speak of Captain Stewart with refer- 
 ence to the days of his spiritual ignorance and 
 impenitence : but whatever blame then attached 
 to him for a self-indulgence calculated to pro- 
 voke the development ol the malady which led 
 to the fatal catastrophe, we can now only con- 
 template him as an object of interest and com- 
 miseration. 
 
 These reflections, I trust, will not be received 
 as a censure on the subject of this Memorial ; 
 nor will tlie foregoing observations on the re- 
 sponsibility of maniacs, I hope, be considered as 
 intended in judgment against these truly pitiable 
 objects : for all we have here advanced has been 
 primarily designed by the way of caution and 
 warning to persons of excitable temperament, 
 or having constitutional predisposition to insa- 
 
 * James iii. &,0. 
 
 
RESPONSIBIHTY OF MANIACS. 
 
 375 
 
 onstitu- 
 t would 
 anclioly 
 , of the 
 ;e ; cer- 
 " how 
 lereas it 
 1 enjoy- 
 le world 
 3urse of 
 
 th refer- 
 nce and 
 attached 
 . to pro- 
 lich led 
 Illy con- 
 id corn- 
 received 
 morial ; 
 the re- 
 dered as 
 pitiable 
 as been 
 ion and 
 nament, 
 to insa- 
 
 nity. When insanity, indeed, results from dissipa- 
 tion or sensuality — which of all the developing 
 causes of this dreadful malady arc unquestionably 
 the most prevalent and certain — we may venture, 
 without fear of being charged with severity of 
 judgment, to ascribe it to its blameablc origina- 
 tion ; but when it is a disease of constitution, 
 developed by the visitation of God, both principle 
 and feeling must require for it the tenderest and 
 most compassionate consideration. Surely no- 
 thing can be more melancholy, nor any disease 
 to which our suffering nature is liable, more 
 pitialde, than that exhibition of the wreck of 
 man's disting .ishing characteristics, which is 
 displayed in the vacant stare, the incoherent 
 words, or the wild unconscious laugh of the un- 
 happy maniac ! Such a case, when resulting 
 from the nature of the constitution, and brought 
 out by the Providence of God, is one most 
 compassionahle ; but far more deplorable is the 
 condition of that miserable maniac, who, by 
 a course of sensual dissipation, hath expelled 
 his reason, and hath put himself helpless into 
 the hands of Satan, to possess him, as with a 
 legion, and to make his destruction certain, both 
 of body and soul ! As an earnest warning 
 against so dreadful a catastrophe, this section 
 of our Memorial is mainly designed. 
 
 »i 
 
m 
 
 376 
 
 THE MARY RUSSELL. 
 
 
 1 
 
 '^W 
 
 ( 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 ) 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 Thonp^h the observations now brought forward 
 have their primary ajiplication to j^hysical con- 
 stitutions and conditions of mind, analogous to 
 that of Captain Stewart, yet they have a far more 
 extensive bearing. They might, indeed, be phi- 
 losojdiically extended in practical adaptation, to 
 the moral responsibility of all persons of excitable 
 passions, or of unequal or incorrect mind. And 
 in such wise — to whom would they not in some 
 measure or other apply ? If incorrectness or ine- 
 quality of mind on any one point be monomania, 
 it would appear that this disease is far more ex- 
 tensive in its prevalence among our sjiecies, than 
 mankind in general are aware of, or willing to 
 allow. For how few men, comparatively, do we 
 find, whose mind contemplates the various objects 
 of pursuit, or endowments of life, in their ratable 
 proportions } How few among mankind can 
 claim to have * a right judgment in all things' ? 
 So common is the occurrence of an inequality of 
 mind, as to its estimate of some peculiar object, 
 that few persons are without their favourite or 
 absorbing pursuit or prepossession ; few are free 
 from an undue, often unreasonable dislike or 
 aversion ; few, therefore, are entirely free from 
 the leading symptom of monomania ! But as a 
 certain measure of inequality is, from the very 
 nature of the human mind, almost universal, — it 
 
/1-. .^ 
 
 nKSPONSIDIUTY OF MANIACS. 
 
 377 
 
 forward 
 al con- 
 gous to 
 ar more 
 be plii- 
 ition, to 
 xcitable 
 I. And 
 in some 
 s or ine- 
 omania, 
 [lore ex- 
 es, than 
 illing to 
 k^5 do we 
 -i objects 
 • ratable 
 nd can 
 bings' ? 
 Liality of 
 ' object, 
 urite or 
 are free 
 ilike or 
 cc from 
 But as a 
 the very 
 rsal, — it 
 
 is only when the inequality extends beyond 
 some aibitrarv and ill-dclincd limit, that it is 
 considered as morbid ; but the exact point where 
 the malady Ix^i^'ins cannot be determined. Well 
 would it be, l.owcvcr, if* mankiud at large were 
 fully aware how mueh they are inilucnced, and 
 how liable to be betrayed into crroucous acts and 
 false decisions of judgment, by natural constitu- 
 tion, and original mental partialities. 
 
 AVhatcver be the extent of the iufdicctnal 
 aberrations amonq- mankind, there is a moral 
 mania of the mind, wliieh is as general as the 
 depravity of our species. For, from Scri})tural 
 declarations and dcscrijitions, we are justified in 
 the statement — that every unconverted sinner 
 throua^hout the vrorld — tliat every man in 
 whom religion has not become the ruling 
 and actuating principle of his life — that every 
 one, however moral, humane, or benevolent 
 he may be, whose heart is not given up 
 to the dominion of Chris^t, and to the discipline 
 of the Gosi)cl, is beside himself, at least on 
 one subject, as utterly as Captain Stewart 
 was ; and that is on tlie matter of vital religion, 
 with its bearing on, and its connection with, a 
 future state ! And if the effect of this spiritual 
 malady should not be so destructive to others, as 
 that of the monomania in the frightful instance 
 before us, — though no one can tell the mischief. 
 
 
 :!• 
 
378 
 
 THE MARY RUSSKLL. 
 
 ? 
 
 in spiritual murder, lliat is i)erpctrated tlirouj^h 
 the iniluence of a wicked example,— yet it will 
 not be less destructive to himself, if he do not, by 
 the j^race of God, recover from his disease ; for it 
 will betray him to become the murderer of his 
 own soul I And herein is every man's solemn 
 responsibility — to watch against the tendencies 
 of, and to seek the Gospel remedy for, this de- 
 structive malady of our si)iritual nature. Were 
 the malady as essentially irremediable, as the 
 tendencies of it arc necessarily ruinous to our 
 future happiness, then would this melan- 
 choly characteristic of our fallen natin*e be 
 rather our misfortune than our blame : but be- 
 cause of the fulness, adequacy, and attainableness 
 of the reraedy, we become reasonably answer- 
 able for the consequences of this evil of our 
 nature. For inasmuch as the atoning* sacrifice of 
 Christ is revealed to us in the Gospel, as a re- 
 medy, when received by faith, against the future 
 penalty of our sins ; and as the sanctifying" 
 influence of the Holy Ghost is exhibited to us in 
 Scripture, as the corrective, when applied for 
 according to the Gospel appointment, for the 
 spiritual mania and corruption of our original 
 nature, — we are not only responsible both for our 
 sins and our corruptions, with all their conse- 
 quences, but shall certainly be left, if so be we 
 reject or neglect the remedies, without excuse I 
 
*.* .-' 
 
 t it will 
 
 not, by 
 se ; for it 
 er of his 
 i solemn 
 indencies 
 
 tins de- 
 i. Were 
 ), as tlic 
 IS to our 
 mcliin- 
 Litiive be 
 
 but bc- 
 lablcness 
 
 answer- 
 l1 of our 
 icrifice of 
 , as a re- 
 he future 
 notifying 
 
 1 to us in 
 plied for 
 , for the 
 : original 
 th for our 
 ;ir conse- 
 so be we 
 vcuse I 
 
 ^MEMORIALS OF THE SEA. 
 
 Clje '^wxximxt. 
 
 ' 
 
 •( 
 

THE HURRICANE. 
 
 •* THRT THAT 00 l»nWM TO TIIK SKA IV SHIPS ; THAT DO nDSIVII«« IW 
 
 GRKAT WATKKS ; TIIKSK SKK TIIK WORK-! OP TUB LOHU, ANU Ml* 
 
 WONUEUS I.V THE DKEJ'. '— I'SUllU CVii. '2.i, Z\. 
 
 As, in the practice of war, deeds of desperate 
 daring arc often crowned with sij::nal success, so, 
 in the peculiar adventures of sea-life, bold, and 
 apparently inipracticahle attenij^ts, urged by the 
 impulses of generous feeling, and carried into 
 effect by personal bravery, arc not unfrequcntly 
 prospered beyond all imaginable probability, lii 
 this latter case, indeed, — where the lives of beings 
 appointed for immortality are at stake, and where 
 the nature of that immortality, as to happiness or 
 misery, is determinable by the present attainment 
 of a certain religious condition, — wc can well 
 conceive of a gracious Pro\'idence specially inter- 
 fering, with a view to the benefit of the creatures 
 of His tender care, for their preservation from a 
 premature destruction. And Scriptural princi- 
 ples applied to a case of this kind will justify the 
 inference, that the Lord of heaven and earth 
 may and doth give occasional manifestations of a 
 signal interference in rescuing, for the purpose of 
 
 fi 
 
382 
 
 THE IITinmCANE. 
 
 5 
 
 U 
 
 i i 
 
 filill further trifils of grace, some of those men of 
 the sea, too often ill -prepared to meet their God, 
 who, when engaged in an adventurous calling, 
 become exposed to mortal perils through the 
 fury of the elements and tempest-tossed waters. 
 
 An instance of extraordinary daring, attended 
 with such a manifestation of Providential fur- 
 therance and blessing, forms the subject of this 
 "Memorial of the Sea."* Through the impulse 
 of generous sympathy, and a self-forgetfulness 
 truly ]5ritish, during the perils of a most disas- 
 trous hurricane in the West Indies, this adven- 
 ture was undertaken, and with such a measure of 
 success, as, by the most sanguine of those at all 
 able to appreciate the dillicultics of the attempt, 
 could scarcely have been anticipated. 
 
 Captain Atkin, a near connection in my own 
 family, being in command of a remarkably fine 
 West Indiaman, the Ann, of between six and 
 seven hundred tons burden, was on his home- 
 ward voyage in the month of August, 1800, in 
 company with a considerable fleet of shipping, 
 laden with sugar and rum from Jamaica, under 
 
 * This Memorial was drawn up from Uic statement of an individual 
 who witnessed the whole transaction, and who himself now holds one of 
 the medals, described io conclusion, coiumenioiative of the remarliable 
 adventure. The circumstance seemed to the Author so particularly en- 
 COW"gi"e to efforts ot humanity, as well as so accordant with the nature 
 'of these Memorials, as lo justify bim in giving it a place in the preseot 
 Tolume. 
 
Mtg^Jk^^ 
 
 3 men of 
 icir God, 
 calling, 
 •u^li the 
 waters, 
 attended 
 [itial fur- 
 It of this 
 D impulse 
 rctfuhiess 
 ost disas- 
 lis advcn- 
 iicasuvc of 
 losc at all 
 \ attempt, 
 
 my own 
 
 al)ly fine 
 
 1 six and 
 
 lis homc- 
 
 1800, in 
 shipping, 
 ica, under 
 
 an individual 
 holds one of 
 lie remarkable 
 irticnlarly en- 
 ,'ith the nature 
 \\\ the present 
 
 TIIK HURRICANE. 
 
 38 
 
 \> 
 
 convoy of llivcc l^ritish ships of war. Whilst 
 just issuing from ihe (nilf of Florida, the fleet 
 was uncx])ccte(lly snhjectcd to the fury of one 
 of those torrilic hurricanes of not unfrcqucnt 
 occurrenec, at certain seasons, in tliat tropical 
 region. Its commencement hoing sudden, and at 
 night, most of the ships were overtaken with it un- 
 awares — with royal yards, and other llying-gear, 
 aloft. In hrief space, the whole fleet was hrought 
 under hare-polos, — some hy the regular process 
 of reeling, others hy the summary vchemerce 
 of the wind. The opening of day exhihited a 
 disastrous scene ; — shi])s dismasted, or otherwise 
 cripi)led, ajipeared widely scattered abroad, and 
 tokens of distress were visible in every direction. 
 But it was not in appearance merely, nor in the 
 matter of masts and spars, to which the distress 
 was confined : some of the deep-laden ships 
 strained, so heavily as to become speedily water- 
 logged ; and, whilst yet early in the day, several 
 of the gallant fleet (amounting to the fearful 
 number of 10 or 12 sail!) were seen by the la- 
 menting survivors to founder before their eyes, 
 without the possibility of their holding out a 
 helping hand to rescue a single life from a 
 water v frrave ! 
 
 Among the endangered and crippled ships was 
 
 the F , one of the men-of-war in charge^oi 
 
 the fleet, which had lost her foremast, bowsprit, 
 
 
384 
 
 THE nURRICANE. 
 
 1 
 
 I 1 
 
 ^i 
 
 t 
 
 i\ I 
 
 and main-topmast. But licr safety was cliicfly 
 perilled by the brei king* adrift, through the full 
 of the foremast, of one of her anchors, which, 
 having hooked some portion of the fore rigging, 
 then hanging overheard, was suspended out of 
 reach in such an unfortunate position, that the 
 ship on ])lunging, frequently received from it 
 heavy and dangerous concussions. Tlie risk, 
 indeed, occasioned by this circumstance vras such, 
 that the Ann was called, by telegraph, under 
 the lee ol the frigate, and Captain Atkin was 
 directed to remain as near to her as possible, as 
 she was in imminent danger of going down! 
 
 The Ann, being a particularly iine "sea-boat," 
 and having altogether escaped damage, kept her 
 appointed station under the lee of the frigate, for 
 several hours afterwards. Whilst in this position, 
 in the afternoon of the same day — the gale yet 
 blowing with considerable vehemence — another of 
 the shattered convoy, at some distance to leeward 
 of the Ann, exhibited obvious tokens of ap- 
 proaching annihilation. Anxiously observing 
 her, and trembling for her dec})ly-pcrilled crew. 
 Captain Atkin ordered two men aloft — one into 
 the maintop, and another into the forctop — to 
 watch the fate of the sinking vessel ; for the sea 
 was so high as frequently to intercept the view 
 of the neighbouring shipping from the deck. 
 About 4 p, M., whilst the oliiccrs were below 
 
vas chiefly 
 ^•h the fall 
 n's, Avhicb, 
 
 >rc rigging, 
 ded out of 
 11, that the 
 ed from it 
 
 The risk, 
 :c v.'as such, 
 \ph, under 
 
 Atkin was 
 possible, as 
 >• down 1 
 "sea-boat," 
 re, kept her 
 
 frigate, for 
 lis position, 
 le gale yet 
 
 -another of 
 to leeward 
 
 ens of ap- 
 ob serving 
 
 rilled crew, 
 -one into 
 
 |f ore top — to 
 
 I for the sea 
 
 l)t the view 
 
 the dock. 
 
 ,'ere below 
 
 THE IIURRICANIl. 
 
 385 
 
 taking needful refreshment, a cry aloft was raised 
 — "The ship has gone down"! A rush was 
 simultaneously made, from both the cabin and 
 the 'tween-decks, by the sympathiziug crew of 
 the Ann, and every anxious eye naturally directed 
 to the quarter which the ill-fated vessel had 
 previously occupied. No tall mast was to be 
 seen, now pointing into the heavens, and anon 
 sinking to the verge of the wave ; but only the 
 shattered remains of the wreck, becoming mo- 
 mentarily visible, as one spar or another, with 
 various human beimi^s clin^inu^ thereunto, was 
 successively poised on the top of the rolling 
 mountainous waves ! The thought was 2)rovi- 
 dentially suggested to the spirited Captain of i iie 
 Ann, that it was unmanlv and cruel to suffer so 
 many fellow-adventurers to perish, without an 
 effort, at least, for their rescue. And the gene- 
 rous impulse was promptly obeyed. The wreck 
 being at some distance on the lee quarter, the 
 order was install taneously given "to wear ship :" 
 the order, however, involved an attempt exceed- 
 ingly doubtful as to its practicability, and, if found 
 practicable, in no small dt^gree hazardous. But 
 the predominance of the feeling of humanity 
 excited to the most vigorous efforts to accomplish 
 the object. The storm fore-stay-sail was forth- 
 with hoisted, — not a stitch of can \ as being 
 
 ♦ 
 
r^ 
 
 f 
 
 I ' (i 
 
 ■1 
 
 ■ * 
 I* 
 
 386 
 
 THE HURRICANE. 
 
 seen elsewhere spread tliroui^hout the fleet ; — but 
 so fierce was yet the gale, that, in a few moments, 
 it split, and was exhibited, as if in sympathy for 
 the smi'ounding desolation, in numerous shreds. 
 The vessel, however, by its powerful action, fell 
 broad off with the wind abaft the beam, when ad- 
 vantage of the position was instantly taken by the 
 prompt weathering of the helm, and the simul- 
 taneous order to " man the fore-rigging" for aiding 
 the evolution. Happily the well-timed measures 
 became influential : the ship, feeling their com- 
 bined power, veered rapidly before the wind ; and 
 then, being steered in the direction of the wreck, 
 bounded with amazing velocity over the foaming 
 waves. Suddenly " there was a cry from the 
 rigging — "Men under the bows 1" " Down with 
 the helm," was the Captain's bold and instan- 
 taneous respond; and the helm flew to starboard: 
 and, whilst the quivering ship whirled as upon a 
 centre, heeling over till her yard-arms made con- 
 tact with the element on which she was borne, 
 and, then, with terrific momentum, darted wind- 
 ward into the threatening waves — the stout heart 
 of many an experienced seaman trembled for the 
 result. But the gallant ship recovered her posi- 
 tion ; and the good providence of God timed the 
 manoeuvre without encountering the fatal surge. 
 To man a boat suspended at the stern, was the 
 
 ,. 
 
fi-A/i**-, 
 
 ;ct ; — but 
 noments, 
 pathy for 
 s shreds. 
 ;tion, fell 
 >vhen ad- 
 2X1 by the 
 le simul- 
 br aiding 
 measures 
 leir com- 
 ind; and 
 le wreck, 
 foaming 
 rom the 
 •wn with 
 I instan- 
 arboard : 
 s upon a 
 ade con- 
 ,s borne, 
 ed wind- 
 3ut heart 
 d for the 
 her posi- 
 imed the 
 1 surge, 
 was the 
 
 f 
 
 , 
 
 THE HURRICANE. 
 
 387 
 
 next generous impulse — at another time it woidd 
 have appeared the impulse of madness, — in which 
 daring adventure the Captain led the way. Axes, 
 which had been laid ready for other service, 
 were, in a moment, brought to the place of sus- 
 pension, ready to cut the knots of the " tackle- 
 falls" when the boat should touch the water; and 
 with the same promptness half-a-dozen of the 
 generous-hearted crew jumped into the boat to 
 join their brave Commander. Happily, self-pos- 
 session, with some of them, was not entirely lost. 
 For even at that excited moment, it was observed 
 and remarked that not a single officer was left 
 on board. All, forthwith, urged the Captain to 
 retire from among tlicm, to direct their move- 
 ments and take charge of the ship. Though the 
 boat was in the act of being lowered, a rope was 
 instantly dropped by the anxious men on the 
 poop ; and at the same instant that he was hauled 
 up on board, the gallant little band of adven- 
 turers was afloat on the furiously rushing waves. 
 
 That a small boat of this description — a mere 
 *^ jolly-boat," not 20 feet in length — should swim 
 for a moment, under circumstances in which the 
 stoutest ships were absolutely in the act of foun- 
 dering, could scarcely have been expected; but 
 that it should be able to traverse a considerable 
 interval between its shij) and the several portions 
 
 \> '< 
 
 '{ 
 
 \ \ 
 
388 
 
 THE IlJ'llRICANr:. 
 
 > . 
 
 of the wreck, seemed scarcely less than miracu- 
 lous. Doubtless the good liand of God was willi 
 them, disposing and guiding every stroke of 
 their oars ; so that not one of the fierce roaring- 
 surges, \\hicli were perpetually breaking around 
 them, was encountered. 
 
 With beating hearts and keen watclifid cyes^ 
 the progress of the boat was anxiously followed 
 by the crew on board. Now to^^ering on the 
 acuminated top of the mountain surge, and then 
 dropping out of sight, as if engulphed in the 
 deep waters, it wended its venturous way till 
 the scattered wreck of the foundered vessel was 
 reached, and six of the all-but-lost and despair- 
 ing mariners were saved from a watery ^rave ! 
 Encumbered and laden as the little boat was 
 with such an accession to its burthen, it yet re- 
 tained a due measure of buoyancy ; and a few 
 minutes spent in skilful and manly exertion on 
 the part ol its crew, brought it within reach of 
 ropes thrown from the ship, by which the whole 
 of the now rescued persons were safely hauled 
 on board. But the philanthropic effort was yet 
 incomplete. The daring spirit which had urged 
 the lirst attempt, and the kind Providence which 
 had so wonderfidly succeeded it, encouraged a 
 ssccond attempt; and once more the brave adven- 
 turers set forth on their mission of mercy. One 
 
 J 
 
THE nUKRICANE. 
 
 SbO 
 
 js llian mivacu- 
 f God was "with 
 ^vcij stroke of 
 c fierce roaring- 
 reakin^'- around 
 
 watchful cvcSs 
 iouslv followed 
 >\\eriiig on tlie 
 surge, and then 
 L^'ulplied in the 
 ^urous way till 
 cred vessel was 
 St and despair- 
 watery j^rave ! 
 ittle boat was 
 hen, it yet re- 
 :'y ; and a few 
 ly exertion on 
 vithin reach of 
 hich the whole 
 
 safely hauled 
 effort was yet 
 dch had urged 
 •vidence which 
 
 encouraged a 
 e brave adven- 
 
 niercy. One 
 
 after another was again picked up from masts, and 
 other floating pieces of wreck, till personal safe- 
 ty reluctantly obliged them to desist; but not till 
 five more of the panting seamen were snatched 
 from the jaws of death. With these they plied 
 their way to the ship, and again were marvellously 
 preserved and prospered, by the safe landing of 
 every one of them upon the deck of the Ann. 
 
 The Captain of this now distinguished wreck — 
 being the only wreck out of ten or twelve from 
 which a single man had been rescued — with a 
 small remnant of other survivors, was yet within 
 sight considerably to windward. Humanity 
 again prompted the endeavour to add him to tlic 
 number of saved ; but the distance of his posi- 
 tion, with its windward direction, and, above all, 
 the closing in of the day, — for it was now nearly 
 dark, — constituted such a series of untoward 
 circumstances, as to render any additional at- 
 tempt at once imprudent, and hopeless. J3esides, 
 there w^ere others to be cared for, whose safetv, 
 notwithstanding the excitement of such an oc- 
 casion, had strongly awakened the anxieties of 
 their comrades on board the Ann. The voice of 
 humanity, therefore, was now turned in favour 
 of the brave little party who had so generously 
 and so perseveringly hazarded their own lives for 
 the preservation of others ; so that the Captain 
 
ii 
 
 ^ 
 
 I 
 
 IS' 
 
 ' r 
 I' 
 
 i 
 
 if 
 
 390 
 
 TIIH IininTCAXE. 
 
 fomul himself painfully imi)olled, in jusiice to 
 iheni, to command a cessation of their toil of 
 mercy. And through the same gracious favour 
 of Heaven, ihc last great risk of boarding- their 
 own ship was encountered not o)dy without the 
 loss of a single life, but even without the least 
 personal injury to any individual among the 
 noble-spirited adventurers ! 
 
 Thus at a time, and under circumstances, when 
 large and well-found ships were in imminent 
 danger from the fierceness of the yet but partial- 
 ly subdued hurricane — eleven individuals were 
 marvellously rescued from i)ortions of floating 
 wreck. They proved to be a piirt of the crew of 
 the Africa, West Indiaman, of Liverpool; and 
 all of them, it was singular, were taken up entirely 
 naked, having, as if siclmmuHj under such ex- 
 treme circumstances could have been expected 
 to avail them, stripped themselves for the ex- 
 ertion ! 
 
 The escape of a little boy, one of the number, 
 was curious, and, considered w ith reference even 
 to his fellow-adventurers, extraordinary. He was 
 picked up out of a sort of wooden box — the light- 
 section of the floating binnacle — in which he was 
 found completely encased. In describing his mar- 
 vellous adventure to some of the wondering youths 
 ol the Ann, he quaintly rcnuirked, ' that when he 
 
 ii 
 
THE IIUrvKICANE. 
 
 391 
 
 justice to 
 eir toil of 
 ous favour 
 ding their 
 ithout the 
 the least 
 nong- the 
 
 ices, when 
 imminent 
 Lit partial- 
 uals were 
 )f floatini;* 
 he crew of 
 3ool ; and 
 ip entirely 
 such ex- 
 expected 
 r the ex- 
 number, 
 pnce even 
 He was 
 the light- 
 ch he was 
 •• his mar- 
 ng youths 
 when he 
 
 first found himself afloat in the i)lacc where ho 
 had stowed himself away, he found his sJup 
 rather dei^p in the water, on which he contrivc^l, 
 in order to lighten her, to throw overboard one 
 of the compasses.' " ])ut this," said he, " I 
 found, had made her hipskled : — I therefore hove 
 overboard the other compass, and then she rode 
 like a duck uj)on the water." The seamen who 
 rescued him having observed a half-hour glass 
 grasped between his teeth, questioned him as to 
 the meaning of it — ^' A\ by," said he, " it was 
 to sec how long I should live 1" Poor thought- 
 less boy ! Greatly is it to be feared that, of the 
 merciful interposition of Provi^nce in his won- 
 derful preservation, he was totally unconscious ; 
 and greatly is it to be lamented how many mar- 
 vellous escapes from death arc experienced by 
 poor reckless seamen, without a thought being 
 realized of the hand l)v wdiich they arc rescued, 
 or the duty which gratitude to Heaven involves 
 with those who have experienced such great deli- 
 verances ! Oh, that these adventurers 'wlio go 
 down to the sea in ships, and do business in great 
 waters — who see the works of the Lord, and his 
 wonders in the deep — would j^raise the Lord for 
 his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the 
 children of men' ! " Let them," as bchoveth 
 the recipients of such distinguished mercies, 
 
\V 
 
 I- 
 
 W^ 
 
 k 
 
 k 
 
 392 
 
 I'HK nuRnivxyE. 
 
 '^sacrifice the sacrifices of th i • 
 
 preservers u- r ' : f '"«^ ''^"'''"'l'- ^^ his 
 
 ^enaoiousl, ba C re hti :; ""•^'""' ''<= ^""^ 
 their strono-ct cfforK *'•' ' ''""'"' '"°™«"*«' 
 
 f d -Ivor watch, of Zy itl t ""^""^ ""^ 
 had there securer wi '''^"''' ^hich he 
 
 -- cast off , J "" "■? '■^••"«^<= «f elothin,. 
 freely abanlr' , "' '""' "' '"'^ ""'« P-Pe^ 
 
 able effort of Ci"! ''"' "'""' "' »'"« >emari- 
 tion- At once to T ''' ''''''"'' ''^'^'^^^ ««™- 
 
 — staj;^;:~^^^^^^^^ 
 
 "mediate adventurers in t "T of t ""'' ™- 
 
 «Peeial and handsome go! Tnelirr^' ^ 
 «ction, I believe, of ^"'"''""''•^-"nder the di- 
 
 ^. A spoci^el?;^^ ~ ?r---- 
 
 t IS larger than an English crX„ o '''" •" 
 
J:iM<0k^ 
 
 E. 
 
 THE IIURRTCANK. 
 
 3f)3 
 
 lanksgiving, and 
 
 ^g- 
 
 u 
 
 en, the first mate, 
 'cncoop. As his 
 'ing him to haul 
 "•prise, he hung 
 several moments, 
 cmpt indeed did 
 ir solicitude had 
 the hencoop an 
 value, which he 
 tide of clothing 
 ! little property 
 
 England, the 
 n this remark- 
 leserved atten- 
 lemarkable a 
 the more im- 
 humanity, a 
 under the di- 
 Society— -was 
 I have seen : 
 On one side 
 torm, with a 
 ves proceed- ' 
 inscription, 
 
 — "Tin: iiKWARD OF mmuit; ciiVEN BY Tin: 
 owNEiis or TiiK Ann of London, and thi-: 
 Afkicv of LivFUi'ooL." On the other side is 
 the inscription following; — 
 
 Presented to 
 
 John Co wen, 
 
 teaman of the SJup Ann of London y 
 
 Walter Aikin, Master ; 
 
 who with Peter Frazer, Chief Mtitc ; 
 
 John Day, Second Mate; John Troy, Third Mate; 
 
 and Georye On ton, Seaman ; 
 
 Provident i(dly hy their exertions, were the mea)is 
 
 of preserviny the lives of Eleven men, 
 
 part of the crew of the Ship Africa 
 
 of IJverpool, which foundered 
 
 on the 2'2d of Any list, 
 
 1806. 
 
 To each of the brave little party who manned 
 the l)oat, and were mainly instrumental in res- 
 cuing the portion of the Africa's crew, was pre- 
 sented one of these medals,^ — the name of tlic 
 individual, to whom it was given as a memorial, 
 being in each case engraven, like that of John 
 Cowen, in the second line. 
 
 Woolmer aud Co., Printers, Exeler.