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 THE LOSS 
 
 KENT EAST INDIAMAN 
 
 IN THE BAY OF BISCAY. 
 
 NARRATED IN A LETTER TO A FRIEND 
 BY 
 
 GENERAL SIR DUNCAN MACGEEGOR, K.C.B. 
 
 jv/:ir EDITION, WITH ADDITIONS. 
 
 THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY, 
 
 56, PATERNOSTER Row ; 65, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD ; 
 AND 164, PICCADILLY.
 
 AUTHOR'S NOTE. 
 
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 X
 
 THE LOSS OF 
 
 THE KENT EAST INDIAMAN, 
 
 MY DEAR E , 
 
 You are aware that the Kent, Captain 
 Henry Cobb, a fine new ship of 1,350 tons, 
 bound to Bengal and China, left the Downs 
 on the 19th of February, with 20 officers, 
 344 soldiers, 43 women, and 66 children, 
 belonging to the 31st regiment ; with 20 
 private passengers, and a crew (including 
 officers) of 148 men in all, 641 persons 01? 
 board. 
 
 The bustle attendant on a departure for 
 India is calculated to subdue the force of 
 those deeply painful sensations to which few 
 men can refuse to yield, in the immediate 
 prospect of a long and distant separation 
 from the land of their fondest and earliest 
 recollections. With rny gallant shipmates, 
 indeed, whose elasticity of spirits is remark-
 
 8 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 ably characteristic of the professions to 
 which they belonged, hope appeared greatly 
 to predominate over sadness. Surrounded 
 as they were by every circumstance tbat 
 could render their voyage propitious, and in 
 the ample enjoyment of every necessary 
 that could contribute either to their health 
 or their comfort, their hearts seemed to 
 beat high with contentment and gratitude 
 towards that country which they zealously 
 served, and whose interests they were cheer- 
 fully going forth to defend. 
 
 With a fine fresh breeze from the north- 
 east, the stately Kent, in bearing down the 
 Channel, speedily passed many a well-known 
 spot on the coast dear to our remembrance ; 
 and on the evening of the 23rd we took our 
 last view of happy England, and entered the 
 wide Atlantic, without the expectation of 
 again seeing land until we reached the 
 shores of India. 
 
 With slight interruptions of bad weather, 
 we continued to make way until the night of 
 Monday, the 28th, when we were suddenly 
 arrested in lat. 47 30', long. 10, by a violent 
 gale from the south-west, which gradually 
 increased during the whole of the following 
 morning.
 
 A Storm. 9 
 
 To those who have never " gone down to 
 the sea in ships, and seen the wonders of the 
 Lord in the great deep," or even to such as 
 have never been exposed in a westerly gale 
 to the tremendous swell in the Bay of Biscay, 
 I am sensible that the most sober description 
 of the magnificent spectacle of " watery hills 
 in full succession flowing" would appear 
 sufficiently exaggerated. But it is impos- 
 sible, I think, for the in experienced mariner, 
 however unreflecting he may try to be, to 
 view the effects of the increasing storm, as 
 he feels his solitary vessel reeling to and fro 
 under his feet, without involuntarily raising 
 his thoughts, with a secret confession of 
 helplessness and veneration that he may 
 never before have experienced, towards that 
 Being whose power, under ordinary circum- 
 stances, we may have disregarded, and 
 whose incessant goodness we are prone to 
 requite with ingratitude. 
 
 The activity of the officers and seamen of 
 the Kent appeared to keep ample pace with 
 that of the gale. Our larger sails were 
 speedily taken in or closely reefed ; and 
 about ten o'clock on the morning of the 1st 
 of March, after having struck our top-gallant 
 yards, we were lying to, under a triple-
 
 io The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 reefed maintop-sail only, with the dead- 
 lights in, and with the whole watch of 
 soldiers attached to the life lines, that were 
 run along the deck for this purpose. 
 
 The rolling of the ship, which was vastly 
 increased by a dead weight of some hundred 
 tons of shots and shell that formed a part of 
 its lading, became so great about half-past 
 eleven or twelve o'clock, that our main 
 chains were thrown by every lurch consider- 
 ably under water ; and the best cleatcd 
 articles of furniture in the cabins and the 
 cuddy were dashed about with so much noise 
 and violence as to excite the liveliest appre- 
 hensions of individual danger. 
 
 It was a little before this period that one 
 of the officers of the ship, with the well- 
 meant intention of ascertaining that all was 
 fast below, descended with two of the sailors 
 into the hold, where they carried with them, 
 for safety, a light in the patent lantern ; and 
 seeing that the lamp burned dimly, the 
 officer took the precaution to hand it up to 
 the orlop deck to be trimmed. Having after- 
 wards discovered one of the spirit casks to 
 be adrift, he sent the sailors for some billets 
 of wood to secure it ; but the ship in their 
 absence having made a heavy lurch, the
 
 Origin of tlie Fire. 1 1 
 
 officer unfortunately dropped the light ; and 
 letting go his hold of the cask in his eager- 
 ness to recover the lantern, it suddenly 
 stove, and the spirits communicating with 
 the lamp, the whole place was instantly in a 
 blaze. 
 
 I know not what steps were then taken. 
 I myself had been engaged during the 
 greater part of the morning in double-lashing 
 and otherwise securing the furniture in my 
 cabin, and in occasionally going to the cuddy, 
 where the marine barometers were sus- 
 pended, to mark their varying indications 
 during the gale, in my journal ; and it was 
 on one of those occasions^ after having read to 
 
 Mrs. , at her request, the twelfth chapter 
 
 of St. Luke, which so beautifully declares 
 and illustrates the minute and tender provi- 
 dence of God, and so solemnly urges on all 
 the necessity of continual watchfulness and 
 readiness for the "coming of the Son of 
 man," that I received from Captain Spence, 
 the captain of the day, the alarming informa- 
 tion that the ship was on fire in the after- 
 hold. On hastening to the hatchway, 
 whence smoke was slowly ascending, I 
 found Captain Cobb and other officers giving 
 orders, which seemed to be promptly
 
 12 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 obeyed by the seamen and troops, ,who used 
 every exertion by means of the pumps, 
 buckets of water, wet sails, hammocks, &c., 
 to extinguish the flames. 
 
 With a view to excite among the ladies as 
 little alarm as possible, in conveying this 
 intelligence to Colonel Fearon, the command- 
 ing officer of the troops, I knocked gently at 
 his cabin door, and expressed a wish to 
 speak with him ; but whether my counte- 
 nance betrayed the state of my feelings, or 
 the increasing noise and confusion upon 
 deck created apprehensions amongst them 
 that the storm was assuming a more serious 
 aspect, I found it difficult to pacify 3ome of 
 the ladies by repeated assurances that no 
 danger whatever was to be apprehended 
 from the gale. As long as the devouring 
 element appeared to be confined to the spot 
 where the fire originated, and which we 
 were assured was surrounded on all sides 
 by the water casks, we ventured to cherish 
 hopes that it might be subdued ; but nc 
 sooner was the light blue vapour that at 
 first arose succeeded by volumes of thick, 
 dingy smoke which speedily ascending 
 through all the four hatchways, rolled over 
 every part of the ship than all further
 
 Progress of the Flames. 1 3 
 
 concealment became impossible, and almost 
 all hope of preserving the vessel was aban- 
 doned. "The flames have reached the 
 cable tier," was exclaimed by some in- 
 dividuals, and the strong pitchy smell that 
 pervaded the deck confirmed the truth of 
 the exclamation. 
 
 In these awful circumstances, Captain 
 Cobb, with an ability and decision that 
 seemed to increase with the imminence 
 of the danger, resorted to the only alter- 
 native now left him, of ordering the lower 
 decks to be scuttled, the combings of the 
 hatches to be cut, and the lower ports to 
 be opened, for the free admission of the 
 waves. 
 
 These instructions were speedily executed 
 by the united efforts of the troops and sea- 
 men ; but not before some of the sick 
 soldiers, one woman, and several children, 
 unable to gain the upper deck, had perished. 
 On descending to the gun deck with Colonel 
 Fearon, Captain Bray, and one or two other 
 officers of the 31st regiment, to assist in 
 opening the ports, I met, staggering towards 
 the hatchway, in an exhausted and nearly 
 senseless state, one of the mates, who in- 
 formed us that he had just stumbled over
 
 14 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 the dead bodies of some individuals who 
 must have died from suffocation, to which it 
 was evident that he himself had almost fallen 
 a victim. So dense and oppressive was the 
 smoke, that it was with the utmost difficulty 
 we could remain long enough below to fulfil 
 Captain Cobb's wishes ; which were no 
 sooner accomplished, than the sea rushed in 
 with extraordinary force, carrying away, in 
 its resistless progress to the hold, the largest 
 chests, bulk-heads, etc. 
 
 Such a sight, under any other conceivable 
 circumstances, was well calculated to have 
 filled us with horror ; but in our natural 
 solicitude to avoid the more immediate peril 
 of explosion, we endeavoured to cheer each 
 other, as we stood up to our knees in water, 
 with the faint hope that by these violent 
 means we might be speedily restored to 
 safety. The immense quantity of water 
 that was thus introduced into the hold had 
 indeed the effect, for a time, of checking 
 the fury of the flames ; but the danger of 
 sinking having increased as the risk of 
 explosion was diminished, the ship be- 
 came water -logged, and presented other 
 indications of settling previous to her 
 going down.
 
 A Scene of Horror. 1 5 
 
 Death in two of its most awful forms now 
 encompassed us, and we seemed left to 
 choose the terrible alternative. But always 
 preferring the more remote, though equally 
 certain crisis, we tried to shut the ports 
 again, to close the hatches, and to exclude 
 the external air, in order, if possible, to 
 prolong our existence, the near and cer- 
 tain termination of which appeared in- 
 evitable. 
 
 The scene of horror that now presented 
 itself baffles all description ; 
 
 " Then rose from sea to sky the wild farewell ; 
 Then shrieked the timid, and stood still the brave." 
 
 The upper deck was covered with between 
 six and seven hundred human beings, many 
 of whom, from previous sea-sickness, were 
 forced, on the first alarm, to flee from below 
 almost in a state of nakedness, and were 
 now running about in quest of husbands, 
 children, or parents. While some were 
 standing in silent resignation, or in stupid 
 insensibility to their impending fate, others 
 were yielding themselves up to the most 
 frantic despair. Some on their knees were 
 earnestly imploring, with significant gesticu- 
 lations and in noisy supplications, the mercy
 
 1 6 The Loss of Ike Kent. 
 
 of Him whose arm, they exclaimed, was at 
 length outstretched to smite them ; others 
 were to be seen hastily crossing themselves, 
 and performing the various external acts 
 required by their peculiar persuasion ; while 
 a number of the older and more stout-hearted 
 soldiers and sailors sullenly took their seats 
 directly over the magazine ; hoping, as they 
 stated, that by means of the explosion which 
 they every instant expected, a speedier ter- 
 mination might be put to their sufferings. 
 Several of the soldiers' wives and children, 
 who had fled for temporary shelter into the 
 after cabins on the upper decks, were en- 
 gaged in prayer and in reading the Scrip- 
 tures with the ladies ; some of whom were 
 enabled, with wonderful self-possession, to 
 offer to others those spiritual consolations 
 which a firm and intelligent trust in the 
 Redeemer of the world appeared at this 
 awful hour to impart to their own breasts. 
 The dignified deportment of two young 
 
 Captain Cobb, with great forethought, ordered the deck to 
 be scuttled forward, with a view to draw the fire in that direc- 
 tion, knowing that between it and the magazine were several 
 tiers of water-casks ; while he hoped that the wet sails, etc., 
 thrown into the after-hold, would prevent the fire from com- 
 municating with the spirit-room abaft.
 
 Calmness in Prospect of Death. 1 7 
 
 ladies, in particular, formed a specimen of 
 natural strength of mind, finely modified by 
 Christian feeling, that failed not to attract 
 the notice and admiration of every one who 
 had an opportunity of witnessing it. On the 
 melancholy announcement being made to 
 them that all hope must be relinquished, and 
 that death was rapidly and inevitably ap- 
 proaching, one of the ladies above referred 
 to, calmly sinking down on her knees, and 
 clasping her hands together, said, "Even 
 so, come, Lord Jesus," and immediately pro- 
 posed to read a portion of the Scriptures to 
 those around her. Her sister with nearly 
 equal composure and collectedness of mind 
 selected the forty-sixth and other appro- 
 priate Psalms, which were accordingly read, 
 with intervals of prayer, by those ladies 
 alternately to the assembled females. 
 
 One young gentleman, of whose promising 
 talents and piety I dare not now make fur- 
 ther mention," having calmly asked me my 
 opinion respecting the state of the ship, I 
 told him that I thought we should be pre- 
 pared to sleep that night in eternity ; and I 
 
 * The late Lady MacGregor, and the late Mrs. Pringle, of 
 Yair, Whytbank, Selkirk, N.B., who are also mentioned to 
 the letter on page 23.
 
 1 8 7 Lc Loss of the Kent. 
 
 shall never forget the peculiar fervour with 
 which he replied, as he pressed my hand 
 in his, "My heart is filled with the peace 
 of God ;" adding, "yet, though I know it 
 is foolish, I dread exceedingly the last 
 struggle." 
 
 Amongst the numerous objects that struck 
 my observation at this period I was much 
 affected with the appearance and conduct of 
 some of the dear children, who, quite uncon- 
 scious, in the cuddy cabins, of the perils 
 that surrounded them, continued to play as 
 usual with their little toys in bed, or to put 
 the most innocent and unseasonable ques- 
 tions to those around them. To some of 
 the older children, who seemed fully alive to 
 the reality of the danger, I whispered, " Now 
 is the time to put in practice the instructions 
 you used to receive at the Regimental School, 
 and to think of that Saviour of whom you 
 have heard so much." They replied, as the 
 tears ran down their cheeks, " Oh, sir, we 
 are trying to remember them, and we are 
 praying to God." 
 
 The passive condition to which we were 
 all reduced by the total failure of our most 
 strenuous exertions, while it was well calcu- 
 lated, and probably designed, to convince 
 us afterwards that our deliverance was
 
 Approach of Death. 19 
 
 effected, not by our own might or power, 
 but by the Spirit of the Lord, afforded us 
 ample room at the moment for deep and 
 awful reflection, which, it is to be earnestly 
 wished, may have been improved, as well 
 by those who were eventually saved as by 
 those who perished. 
 
 It has been observed by the author of the 
 Retrospect, that " in the heat of battle, it is 
 not only possible but easy to forget death, 
 and cease to think ; but in the cool and pro- 
 tracted hours of a shipwreck, where there is 
 often nothing to engage the mind but the 
 recollection of tried and unsuccessful labours, 
 and the sight of unavoidable and increasing 
 harbingers of destruction, it is not easy or 
 possible to forget ourselves or a future state." 
 
 The general applicability of the latter part 
 of this proposition I am disposed to doubt ; 
 for if I were to judge of the feelings of all on 
 board by those of the number who were 
 heard to express them, I should apprehend 
 that a large majority of those men, whose 
 previous attention has never been fairly and 
 fully directed to the great subject of religion, 
 approach the gates of death, it may be with 
 solemnity, or with terror, but without any 
 definable or tangible conviction of the fact 
 that after death cometh the judgment.
 
 2O The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 Several there were who vowed in loud and 
 piteous cries, that if the Lord God would 
 spare their lives, they would thenceforward 
 dedicate all their powers to His service ; and 
 not a few were heard to exclaim, in the bit- 
 terness of remorse, that the judgments of 
 the Most High were justly poured out upon 
 them for their neglected Sabbaths, and their 
 profligate or profane lives ; but the number 
 of those was extremely small who appeared 
 to dwell either with lively hope or dread on 
 the view of an opening eternity. And as a 
 further evidence of the truth of this observa- 
 tion, I may mention that when I afterwards 
 had occasion to mount the mizen shrouds, I 
 there met with a young man, who had 
 brought me a letter of introduction from our 
 excellent friend, Dr. G n, to whom I felt it 
 my duty, while we were rocking on the 
 mast, quietly to propose the great question, 
 " What must we do to be saved ? " and this 
 young gentleman has since informed Mr. P. 
 that though he was at that moment fully 
 persuaded of the certainty of immediate 
 death, yet the subject of eternity, in any 
 form, had not once flashed upon his mind 
 previous to my conversation. 
 
 While we thus lay in a state of physical
 
 Loss of the Compass. 21 
 
 inertion, but with all our mental faculties in 
 rapid and painful activity with the waves 
 lashing furiously against the sides of our 
 devoted ship, as if in anger with the hostile 
 element for not more speedily performing its 
 office of destruction, the binnacle, by one 
 of those many lurches which were driving 
 everything movable from side to side of the 
 vessel, was suddenly wrenched from its 
 fastenings, arid all the apparatus of the com- 
 pass dashed to pieces upon the deck ; on 
 which one of the young mates, emphatically 
 regarding it for a moment, cried out with 
 the emotion so natural to a sailor under such 
 circumstances, " What ! is the Kent's com- 
 pass really gone ? " leaving the bystanders 
 to form, from that omen, their own conclu- 
 sions. One promising young officer of the 
 troops was seen thoughtfully removing from 
 his writing-case a lock of hair, which he 
 composedly deposited in his bosom ; and 
 another officer procuring paper and pens, 
 addressed a short communication tc his 
 father, which was afterwards carefully en- 
 closed in a bottle, in the hope that it might 
 eventually reach its destination, with the 
 view, as he stated, of relieving him from the 
 long years of fruitless anxiety and suspense
 
 22 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 which our melancholy fate would awaken, 
 and of bearing his humble testimony, at a 
 moment when his sincerity could scarcely 
 be questioned, to the faithfulness of that 
 God in whose mercy he trusted, and whose 
 peace he largely enjoyed in the tremendous 
 prospect of immediate dissolution.* It was 
 at this appalling instant, when " all hope 
 that we should be saved was then taken 
 away," and when the letter referred to was 
 about being committed to the waves, that it 
 occurred to Mr. Thomson, the fourth mate, 
 to send a man to the fore-top, rather with 
 the ardent wish than the expectation, that 
 
 * This bottle, left in the cabin, was cast into the sea by the 
 explosion that destroyed the Kent. About nineteen months 
 afterwards the following notice appeared in a Barbadoes (West 
 Indian) newspaper : 
 
 " A bottle was picked up on Saturday, the 30th September, at 
 Bathsheba (a bathing-place on the west of Barbadoes), by a 
 gentleman who was bathing there, who, on breaking it, found 
 the melancholy account of the fate of the ship Kent, contained 
 in a folded paper written with pencil, but scarcely legible." 
 The words of the letter were then given, and a facsimile of it will 
 be found on the nest page. The letter itself, taken from the 
 bottle thickly encrusted with shells and seaweed, was returned 
 to the writer when he arrived, shortly after its discovery, at 
 Barbadoes, as Lieut. -Colonel of the 93rd Highlanders, and the 
 interesting relic is still preserved by his son (at that time called 
 " little Bob Roy "), who is not mentioned in the letter, but was 
 saved as related in page 33.
 
 A Ship Sighted. 25 
 
 some friendly sail might be discovered on 
 the face of the waters. The sailor, on mount- 
 ing, threw his eyes round the horizon for a 
 moment a moment of unutterable suspense 
 and waving his hat exclaimed, "A sail 
 on the lee bow ! " The joyful announcement 
 was received with deep-felt thanksgivings, 
 and with three cheers, upon deck. Our 
 flags of distress were instantly hoisted, and 
 our minute guns fired ; and we endeavoured 
 to bear down under our three top-sails and 
 fore-sail upon the stranger, which afterwards 
 proved to be the Cambria* a small brig of 
 200 tons burden, Captain Cook, bound to 
 Vera Cruz, having on board twenty or thirty 
 Cornish miners, and other agents of the 
 Anglo-Mexican Company. 
 
 For ten or fifteen minutes we were left in 
 doubt whether the crew of the brig perceived 
 our signals, or perceiving them, were either 
 
 * Two shipwrights, dismissed from their situation because 
 they would not work on Sunday, were employed by the father of 
 a friend of the writer. He engaged them to build their first 
 vessel, the Cambria, and this was her first voyage, starting from 
 Deptford before the Kent sailed from Gravesend. 
 
 Captain Cook many years afterwards commanded in the 
 disastrous " Niger Expedition." He was a splendid sailor, and 
 a humble Christian, whose death-bed, long years after, was 
 attended by the youngest passenger he had helped to save frora 
 the burning Kent.
 
 26 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 disposed or able to lend us any assistance. 
 From the violence of the gale, it seems that 
 the report of our guns was not heard ; but 
 the ascending volumes of smoke from the 
 ship sufficiently announced the dreadful 
 nature of our distress ; and we had the 
 satisfaction, after a short period of dark sus- 
 pense, to see the brig hoist British colours, 
 and crowd all sail to hasten to our relief. 
 
 Although it was impossible, and would 
 have been improper, to repress the rising 
 hopes that were pretty generally diffused 
 amongst us by the unexpected sight of the 
 Cambria, yet I confess, that when I reflected 
 on the long period our ship had been already 
 burning on the tremendous sea that was 
 running on the extreme smallness of the 
 brig, and the immense number of human 
 beings to be saved, I could only venture to 
 hope that a few might be spared ; but I 
 durst not for a moment contemplate the 
 possibility of my own preservation. 
 
 While Captain Cobb, Colonel Fearon, and 
 Major MacGregor of the 31st regiment, 
 were consulting together, as the brig was 
 approaching us, on the necessary prepara- 
 tions for getting out the boats, etc., one of 
 the officers asked Major MacGregor in what
 
 SAVED FliOM THE WBKCK.
 
 Painjul Partings. 29 
 
 order it was intended the officers should 
 move off ; to which the other replied, "Of 
 course in funeral order ;" which injunction 
 was instantly confirmed by Colonel Fearon, 
 who said, " Most undoubtedly, the juniors 
 first ; but see that any man is cut down who 
 presumes to enter the boats before the means 
 of escape are presented to the women and 
 children." 
 
 To prevent the rush to the boats as they 
 were being lowered, which, from certain 
 symptoms of impatience manifested both by 
 soldiers and sailors, there was reason to 
 fear, some of the military officers were 
 stationed over them with drawn swords. 
 But from the firm determination which these 
 exhibited, and the great subordination ob- 
 served, with few exceptions, by the troops, 
 this proper precaution was afterwards ren- 
 dered unnecessary. 
 
 Arrangements having been made by Cap- 
 tain Cobb for placing in the first boat, pre- 
 vious to letting it down, all the ladies, and 
 as many of the soldiers' wives as it could 
 safely contain, they hurriedly wrapped them- 
 selves up in whatever articles of clothing 
 could be found ; and I think about two, or 
 half-past two o'clock, a most mournful pro-
 
 3O The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 cession advanced from the after cabins to 
 the starboard cuddy port, outside of which 
 the cutter was suspended. Scarcely a word 
 was uttered not a scream was heard even 
 the infants ceased to cry, as if conscious of 
 the unspoken and unspeakable anguish that 
 was at that instant rending the hearts of 
 their parting parents ; nor was the silence 
 of voices in any way broken, except in one 
 or two cases, where the ladies plaintively 
 entreated permission to be left behind with 
 their husbands. But on being assured that 
 every moment's delay might occasion the 
 sacrifice of a human life, they successively 
 suffered themselves to be torn from the ten- 
 der embrace, and with that fortitude which 
 never fails to characterize and adorn their 
 sex on occasions of overwhelming trial, were 
 placed, without a murmur, in the boat, which 
 was immediately lowered into a sea so tem- 
 pestuous as to leave us only to hope against 
 hope that it should live in it for a single 
 moment. Twice the cry was heard from 
 those on the chains that the boat was swamp- 
 ing. But He who enabled the apostle Peter 
 to walk on the face of the deep, and was 
 graciously attending to the earnest aspira- 
 tions of those onboard, had decreed its safety.
 
 A Precious Boat. 31 
 
 Although Captain Cobb had used every 
 precaution to diminish the danger of the 
 boat's descent, by stationing a man with an 
 axe to cut away the tackle from either ex- 
 tremity, should the slightest difficulty occur 
 in unhooking it ; yet the peril attending the 
 whole operation, which can only be adequately 
 estimated by nautical men, had very nearly 
 proved fatal to its numerous inmates. 
 
 After one or two unsuccessful attempts to 
 place the little frail bark fairly upon the sur- 
 face of the water, the command was at length 
 given to unhook ; the tackle at the stern 
 was, in consequence, immediately cleared ; 
 but the ropes at the bow having got foul, 
 the sailor found it impossible to obey the 
 order. In vain was the axe applied to the 
 entangled tackle ; the moment was incon- 
 ceivably critical, as the boat, which neces- 
 sarily followed the motion of the ship, was 
 gradually rising out of the water, and must, 
 in another instant, have been hanging per- 
 pendicularly by the bow, and its helpless 
 passengers launched into the deep, had not 
 a most providential wave suddenly struck 
 and lifted up the stern, so as to enable the 
 seamen to disengage the tackle. The boat 
 being thus dexterously cleared from the ship,
 
 32 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 was seen after a while from the poop, bat- 
 tling with the billows, now raised, in its 
 progress to the brig, like a speck on their 
 summit, and then disappearing for several 
 seconds, as if engulfed " in the horrid vale " 
 between them.* 
 
 The Cambria having prudently lain to at 
 some distance from the Kent, lest she should 
 be involved in her explosion, or exposed to 
 the fire from her guns, which, being all 
 shotted, afterwards went off as the flames 
 successively reached them, the men had a 
 considerable way to row ; and the success 
 of this first experiment seeming to be the 
 measure of our future hopes, the movements 
 of this precious boat incalculably precious, 
 without doubt, to the agonized husbands 
 and fathers immediately connected with it 
 were watched with intense anxiety by all on 
 board. 
 
 The better to balance the boat in the 
 raging sea through which it had to pass, and 
 to enable the seamen to ply their oars, the 
 women and children were stowed promis- 
 
 * I was afterwards informed by one cf the passengers on 
 board the Cambria for from the great height of the Indiaman 
 we had not the opportunity of making a similar observation 
 that when both vessels happened to be at the same time in the 
 trough of the sea, the Kent was entirely concealed by the inter- 
 vening waves from the deck of the Cambria.
 
 Ladies and Children Saved. 33 
 
 cuously under the seats, and consequently 
 exposed to the risk of being drowned by the 
 continual dashing of the spray over their 
 heads, which so filled the boat during the 
 passages that before their arrival at the brig 
 the poor females were sitting up to the waist 
 in water, and their children kept with the 
 greatest difficulty above it. 
 
 However, in the course of twenty minutes 
 the little cutter was seen alongside the ark 
 of refuge ; and the first human being that 
 happened to be admitted, out of the vast 
 assemblage that ultimately found shelter 
 there, was the infant son of Major Mac- 
 Gregor, a child of only a few weeks old, 
 who was caught from his mother's arms and 
 lifted into the brig by Mr. Thomson, the 
 fourth mate of the Kent, the officer who had 
 been ordered to take charge of the ladies' 
 boat. 
 
 But the extreme difficulty and danger pre- 
 sented to the women and children in getting 
 into the Cambria seemed scarcely less immi- 
 nent than that which they had previously 
 encountered ; for to prevent the boat from 
 swamping or being stove against the side of 
 the brig, while its passengers were disem- 
 
 * " The Bob Boy Canoe on the Jordan " (Murray) gives some 
 other experiences of watery dangers in after life.
 
 34 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 barking, required no ordinary exercise of 
 skill and perseverance on the part of the 
 sailors, and of self-possession and effort on 
 that of the females themselves. On coining 
 alongside of the Cambria, Captain Cook 
 very judiciously called first for the children, 
 who were successively thrown or handed up 
 from the boat. The w^omen were then 
 urged to avail themselves of every favour- 
 able heave of the sea by springing towards 
 the many friendly arms that were extended 
 from the vessel to receive them ; and, not- 
 withstanding the deplorable consequence of 
 making a false step under such critical cir- 
 cumstances, not a single accident occurred 
 to any individual belonging to the first boat. 
 Indeed, the only one whose life appears to 
 have been placed in extreme jeopardy along- 
 side was one of the ladies, who, in attempt- 
 ing to spring from the boat, came short of 
 the hand that was held out to her, and 
 would certainly have perished, had she not 
 most happily caught hold at the instant of 
 a rope that happened to be hanging over 
 the Cambria s side, to which she clung for 
 some moments, until she was dragged into 
 the vessel. 
 
 I have reason to know that the feelings 
 of oppressive delight, gratitude, and praise
 
 Lowering Women by Ropes. 35 
 
 experienced by the married officers and 
 soldiers on being assured of the comparative 
 safety of their wives and children, so entirely 
 abstracted their minds from their own situa- 
 tion as to render them for a little while 
 totally insensible either to the storm that 
 beat upon them, or to the active and gather- 
 ing volcano that threatened every instant to 
 explode under their feet. 
 
 It being impossible for the boats, after the 
 first trip, to come alongside the Kent, a plan 
 was adopted for lowering the women and 
 children by ropes from the stern, by tying 
 them two and two together. But from the 
 heaving of the ship, and the extreme diffi- 
 culty in dropping them at the instant the 
 boat was underneath, many of the poor 
 creatures were unavoidably plunged repeat- 
 edly under water ; and much as humanity 
 may rejoice that no woman was eventually 
 lost by this process, yet it was as impossible 
 to prevent, as it was deplorable to witness, 
 the great sacrifice thus occasioned of the 
 younger children the same violent means 
 which only reduced the parents to a state of 
 exhaustion or insensibility, having entirely 
 extinguished the vital spark in the feebler 
 frames of the infants that were fastened to 
 them.
 
 36 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 Amid the conflicting feelings and disposi- 
 tions manifested by the numerous actors in 
 this melancholy drama, many affecting proofs 
 were elicited of parental and filial affection, 
 or of disinterested friendship, that seemed to 
 shed a momentary halo around the gloomy 
 scene. 
 
 Two or three soldiers, to relieve their 
 wives of a part of their families, sprang into 
 the water with their children, and perished 
 in their endeavours to save them. One 
 young lady, who had resolutely refused to 
 quit her father, whose sense of duty kept 
 him at his post, was near falling a sacrifice 
 to her filial devotion, not having been picked 
 up by those in the boats until she had sunk 
 five or six times. A man, who was reduced 
 to the frightful alternative of losing his wife 
 or his children, hastily decided in favour of 
 his duty to the former. His wife was accord- 
 ingly saved, but his four children, alas ! 
 were left to perish. A fine fellow, a soldier, 
 who had neither wife nor child of his own, 
 but who evinced the greatest solicitude for 
 the safety of those of others, insisted on 
 having three children lashed to him, with 
 whom he plunged into the water ; not being 
 able to reach the boat, he was again drawn
 
 Attempts at Self -Preservation. 37 
 
 into the ship with his charge, but not before 
 two of the children had expired. One man 
 fell down the hatchway into the flames, and 
 another had his back so completely broken 
 as to have been observed quite doubled fall- 
 ing overboard. These spectacles of indi- 
 vidual loss and suffering were not confined 
 to the entrance upon the perilous voyage 
 between the two ships. One man, who fell 
 between the boat and brig, had his head 
 literally crushed to pieces ; and some others 
 were lost in their attempts to ascend the 
 side of the Cambria. 
 
 Seeing that the tardy means employed for 
 the escape of the women and children neces- 
 sarily consumed a great deal of time that 
 might be partly devoted to the general pre- 
 servation, orders were given that along with 
 the females, each of the boats should also 
 admit a certain portion of the soldiers, 
 several of whom, in their impatience to take 
 advantage of this permission, flung them- 
 selves overboard, and sank in their ill-judged 
 and premature efforts for deliverance. 
 
 One poor fellow of this number, a very 
 respectable man, had actually reached the 
 boat, and was raising his hand to lay hold 
 on the gunwale, when the bow of the boat,
 
 38 T/te Loss of the Kent. 
 
 by a sudden pitch, struck him. on the head, 
 and he instantly went down. There was a 
 peculiarity attending this man's case that 
 deserves notice. His wife, to whom he was 
 warmly attached, not having been of the 
 allotted number of women to accompany 
 the regiment abroad, resolved in her anxiety 
 to follow her husband, to defeat this arrange- 
 ment, and accordingly repaired with the 
 detachment to Gravesend, where she ingeni- 
 ously managed, by eluding the vigilance of 
 the sentries, to get on board, and conceal 
 herself for several days ; and although she 
 was discovered, and sent ashore at Deal, 
 she contrived a second time, with true 
 feminine perseverance, to get between decks, 
 where she continued to secrete herself until 
 the morning of the fatal disaster. 
 
 While the men were thus bent in various 
 ways on self-preservation, one of the sailors, 
 who had taken his post with many others 
 over the magazine, awaiting with great 
 patience the dreaded explosion, at last cried 
 out, as if in ill-humour that his expectation 
 was likely to be disappointed, " Well, if she 
 won't blow up, I'll see if I can't get away 
 from her ;" and jumping up, he made his way 
 to the boats, which he reached in safety.
 
 Three Boats Swamped. 39 
 
 I ought to state that three of the six 
 boats we originally possessed were either 
 completely stove or swamped in the course of 
 the day, one of them with men in it, some of 
 whom were seen floating in the water for a 
 moment before they disappeared ; and it is 
 suspected that one or two of those who went 
 down must have sunk under the weight of 
 their spoils, the same individuals having been 
 seen eagerly plundering the cuddy cabins. 
 
 As the day was rapidly drawing to a close, 
 and the flames were slowly but perceptibly 
 extending, Colonel Fearon and Captain Cobb 
 evinced an increasing anxiety to relieve the 
 remainder of the gallant men under their 
 charge. 
 
 To facilitate this object a rope was sus- 
 pended from the extremity of the spanker- 
 boom, along which the men were recom- 
 mended to proceed, and thence slide down 
 by the rope into the boats. But as, from the 
 great swell of the sea, and the constant 
 heaving of the ship, it was impossible for the 
 boats to preserve their station for a moment, 
 those who adopted this course incurred so 
 great a risk of swinging for some time in 
 the air, and of being repeatedly plunged 
 under water, or dashed against the sides of
 
 4O The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 the boats underneath, that many of the lands- 
 men continued to throw themselves out of 
 the stern window on the upper deck, pre- 
 ferring what appeared to me the more pre- 
 carious chance of reaching the boats by 
 swimming. Rafts made of spars, hencoops, 
 etc., were also ordered to be constructed, for 
 the twofold purpose of forming an inter- 
 mediate communication with the boats a 
 purpose, by the bye, which they very imper- 
 fectly answered and of serving as a last 
 point of retreat, should the further extension 
 of the flames compel us at once to desert the 
 vessel. Directions were at the same time 
 given that every man should tie a rope 
 round his waist, by which he might after- 
 wards attach himself to the rafts, should he 
 be suddenly forced to take to the water. 
 While the people were busily occupied in 
 adopting this recommendation, I was sur- 
 prised, I had almost said amused, by the 
 singular delicacy of one of the Irish recruits, 
 who, in searching for a rope in one of the 
 cabins, called out to me that he could find 
 none except the cordage belonging to an 
 officer's cot, and wished to know whether 
 there would be any harm in his appropriat- 
 ing it to his own use.
 
 EJfut of Discipline. 41 
 
 The gradual removal of the officers was at 
 the same time commenced, and was marked 
 by a discipline the most rigid, and an intre- 
 pidity the most exemplary ; none appearing 
 to be influenced by a vain and ostentatious 
 bravery, which, in cases of extreme peril, 
 affords rather a presumptive proof of secret 
 timidity than of fortitude ; nor any betraying 
 an unmanly or un soldierlike impatience to 
 quit the ship ; but, with the becoming deport- 
 ment of men neither paralyzed by, nor pro- 
 fanely insensible to, the accumulating dan- 
 gers that encompassed them, they progres- 
 sively departed in the different boats with 
 their soldiers ; those who happened to pro- 
 ceed first leaving behind them an example 
 of coolness that could not be unprofitable to 
 those who followed. 
 
 But the finest illustration of their conduct 
 was displayed in that of their chief, whose 
 ability and presence of mind, under the com- 
 plicated responsibility and anxiety of a com- 
 mander, husband, and father, were eminently 
 calculated, throughout this dismal day, to 
 inspire all others with composure and forti- 
 tude. Never for one moment did Colonel 
 Fearon seem to forget the authority with 
 which his sovereign had invested him, nor
 
 42 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 did any of his officers as far as my observa- 
 tion went cease to remember the relative 
 situations in which they were severally 
 placed. Even in the gloomiest momenfs of 
 that dark season, when the dissolution of 
 every earthly distinction seemed near at 
 hand, the decision and confidence with which 
 orders were issued on the one hand, and the 
 promptitude and respect with which they 
 were obeyed on the other, offered the best 
 proofs of the stability of the well-connected 
 system of discipline established in the 31st 
 regiment, and the most unquestionable 
 ground for the high and flattering commend- 
 ation which his Royal Highness, the Com- 
 mander-in-chief, has been pleased to bestow 
 upon it. 
 
 I should, however, be guilty of injustice 
 and unkindness if I here omitted to bear my 
 humble testimony to the manly behaviour of 
 the East India Company's cadets, and other 
 private passengers on board, who emulated 
 the best conduct of the officers of the ship 
 and of the troops, and equally participated 
 with them in all the hardships and exertions 
 of the day. 
 
 As an agreeable proof, too, of the subordi- 
 nation and good feeling that governed the
 
 Mental Condition of Passengers. 43 
 
 poor soldiers in the midst of their sufferings, 
 I ought to state that towards evening, when 
 the melancholy groups who were passively 
 seated on the poop, exhausted by previous 
 fatigue, anxiety, and fasting, were beginning 
 to experience the pain of intolerable thirst, 
 a box of oranges was accidentally discovered 
 by some of the men, who, with a degree of 
 mingled consideration, respect, and affection, 
 that could hardly have been expected at 
 such a moment, refused to partake of the 
 grateful beverage until they had offered a 
 share of it to their officers. 
 
 I regret that the circumstances under which 
 I write do not allow me sufficient time for 
 recalling to my recollection all the busy 
 thoughts that engaged my own mind on that 
 eventful day, or the various conjectures 
 which I ventured to form of what was pass- 
 ing in the minds of others. 
 
 But one idea was forcibly suggested to 
 me, that instead of being able to trace 
 amongst my numerous associates that 
 diversity of fortitude which I should have 
 expected would mark their conduct 
 forming, as it were, a descending series, 
 from the decided heroism exhibited by some, 
 down to the lowest degree of pusillanimity
 
 44 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 and frenzy discoverable in others, I 
 remarked that the mental condition of my 
 fellow-sufferers was rather divided by a 
 broad but, as it afterwards appeared, not im- 
 passable line ; on the one side of which were 
 ranged all whose minds were greatly 
 elevated by the excitement above their 
 ordinary standard ; and on the other was to 
 be seen the incalculably smaller but more 
 conspicuous group, whose powers of acting 
 and thinking became absolutely paralyzed, 
 or were driven into delirium, by the unusual 
 character and pressure of the danger. 
 
 Nor was it uninteresting to observe the 
 curious interchange, at least externally, of 
 strength and weakness that obtained between 
 those two discordant parties, during the day. 
 Some whose agitation and timidity had, in 
 the earlier part of it, rendered them objects 
 of pity or contempt, afterwards rose, by some 
 great internal effort, into positive distinction 
 for the opposite qualities ; while others, re- 
 markable at first for calmness and courage, 
 suddenly giving way, without any fresh 
 cause of despair, seemed afterwards to cast 
 their minds as they did their bodies, pros- 
 trate before the danger. 
 
 It would not, perhaps, be difficult to
 
 Eternal Things. 45 
 
 account for these apparent anomalies ; but I 
 shall content myself with simply stating the 
 facts, adding to them one of a similar descrip- 
 tion that sensibly affected my own mind. 
 
 Some of the soldiers near me having casu- 
 ally remarked that the sun was setting, I 
 looked round, and never can I forget the in- 
 tensity with which I regarded his declining 
 rays. I had previously felt deeply impressed 
 with 'the conviction that that night the ocean 
 was to be my bed ; and had, I imagined, 
 sufficiently realized to my mind, both the 
 last struggles and the consequences of death. 
 But as I continued solemnly watching the 
 departing beams of the sun, the thought 
 that that was really the very last I should 
 ever behold, gradually expanded into reflec- 
 tions the most tremendous in their import. 
 It was not, I am persuaded, either the retro- 
 spect of a past life, or the direct fear of death 
 or of judgment, that occupied my mind at 
 the period I allude to ; but a broad, illimit- 
 able view of eternity itself, altogether ab- 
 stracted from the misery or felicity that flows 
 through it a sort of painless, pleasureless, 
 sleepless eternity. I know not whither the 
 overwhelming thought would have hurried 
 me, had I not speedily seized, as with the
 
 46 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 grasp of death, on some of those sweet 
 promises of the gospel which give to an im- 
 mortal existence its only charms ; and that 
 naturally enough led back my thoughts, by 
 means of the brilliant object before me, to 
 the contemplation of that blessed city, 
 " which hath no need of the sun, neither of 
 the moon to shine in it ; for the glory of 
 God doth lighten it, and the Lamb is the 
 light thereof." 
 
 I have been the more particular in record- 
 ing my precise feelings at the period in ques- 
 tion, because they tend to confirm an opinion 
 which I have long entertained in common, 
 I believe, with others, that we very rarely 
 realize even those objects that seem, in our 
 every-day speculations, to be the most inte- 
 resting to our hearts. We are so much in 
 the habit of uttering the awful words 
 'Almighty,' 'heaven,' 'hell,' 'eternity,' 'divine 
 justice,' ' holiness,' etc., without attaching to 
 them, in all their magnitude, the ideas of 
 which such words are the symbols, that we 
 become overwhelmed with much of the 
 astonishment that accompanies a new and 
 alarming discovery if, at any time, the ideas 
 themselves are suddenly and forcibly im- 
 pressed upon us ; and it is, probably, this
 
 A Cheerless Scene. 47 
 
 vagueness of conception, experienced even 
 by those whose minds are not altogether un- 
 exercised on the subject of religion, that 
 enables others, devoid of all reflection what- 
 ever, to stand on the very brink of that pre- 
 cipice which divides the world of time from 
 the regions of eternity, not only with 
 apparent, but frequently, I am persuaded, 
 with real tranquillity. How much it is to be 
 lamented that we do not keep in mind a 
 truth which no one can pretend to dispute, 
 that our indifference or blindness to danger, 
 whether it be temporal or eternal, cannot 
 possibly remove or diminish the extent of 
 that danger. 
 
 Some time after the shades of night had 
 enveloped us, I descended to the cuddy, in 
 quest of a blanket to shelter me from the 
 increasing cold ; and the scene of desolation 
 that there presented itself was melancholy 
 in the extreme. The place which, only a few 
 short hours before, had been the seat of 
 kindly intercourse and of social gaiety, was 
 now entirely deserted, save by a few miser- 
 able wretches, who were either stretched in 
 irrecoverable intoxication on the floor, or 
 prowling about, like beasts of prey, in search 
 of plunder. The sofas, drawers, and other
 
 48 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 articles of furniture, tlie due arrangement of 
 which had cost so much thought and pains, 
 were now broken into a thousand pieces, 
 and scattered in confusion around me. Some 
 of the geese and other poultry, escaped from 
 their confinement, were cackling in the 
 cuddy ; while a solitary pig, wandering from 
 its sty in the forecastle, was ranging at large 
 in undisturbed possession of the Brussels 
 carpet that covered one of the cabins. Glad 
 to retire from a scene so cheerless and affect- 
 ing, and rendered more dismal by the smoke 
 which was oozing up from below, I returned 
 to the poop, where I again found, amongst 
 the few officers that remained, Capt. Cobb, 
 Colonel Fearon, Li cuts. Ruxton, Booth, and 
 Evans, superintending, with unabated zeal, 
 the removal of the rapidly diminishing 
 sufferers, as the boats successively arrived 
 to carry them off. 
 
 The alarm and impatience of the people 
 increased in a high ratio as the night ad- 
 vanced ; and our fears, amid the surrounding 
 darkness, were fed as much by the ground- 
 less or exaggerated reports of the timid as 
 by the real and evident approach of the fatal 
 crisis itself. With a view to ensure a greater 
 probability of being discovered by those in
 
 Spiritual Comfort. 49 
 
 the boats, some of the more collected and 
 hardy soldiers (for I think almost all the 
 sailors had already effected their escape) took 
 the precaution to tie towels and such like 
 articles round their heads, previously to their 
 committing themselves to the water. 
 
 As the boats were nearly three-quarters 
 of an hour absent between each trip which 
 period was necessarily spent by those in the 
 wreck in a state of fearful inactivity abun- 
 dant opportunity was afforded for collecting 
 the sentiments of many of the unhappy men 
 around me ; some of whom, after remaining 
 perhaps for a while in silent abstraction, 
 would suddenly burst forth, as if awakened 
 from some terrible dream to a still more 
 frightful reality, into a long train of loud and 
 desponding lamentation, that gradually sub- 
 sided into its former stillness. 
 
 It was during those trying intervals of 
 rest that religious instruction and consola- 
 tion appeared to be the most required and 
 the most acceptable. Some there were who 
 endeavoured to dispense it agreeably to the 
 visible wants and feelings of the earnest 
 hearers. On one of those occasions, espe- 
 cially, the officer to whom I have already 
 alluded was entreated to pray. His prayer
 
 50 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 was short, but was frequently broken by the 
 exclamations of assent to some of its con- 
 fessions, that were wrung from the afflicted 
 hearts of his auditors. 
 
 I know not in what manner, under those 
 circumstances, spiritual hope or comfort 
 could have been ministered to my afflicted 
 companions by those who regard works, 
 either wholly or partly, as the means of pro- 
 pitiating divine justice, rather than the evi- 
 dence and fruits of that faith which pacifies 
 the conscience and purifies the heart. But 
 in some few cases, at least, where the indi- 
 viduals deplored the want of time for repent- 
 ance and good works, I well remember that 
 no arguments tended to soothe their troubled 
 minds but those which went directly to 
 assure them of the freeness and fulness ot 
 that grace which is not refused, even in the 
 eleventh hour, to the very chief of sinners. 
 And if any of those to whom I now allude 
 have been spared to read this record of their 
 feelings in the prospect of death, it will be 
 well for them to keep solemnly in mind the 
 vows they then took upon them, and to seek 
 to improve that season of probation which 
 they so earnestly besought, and which has 
 been so mercifully extended to them, by
 
 Danger of Delay. 51 
 
 humbly and incessantly applying for acces- 
 sions of that faith which they are sensible 
 removed the terrors of their awakened con- 
 sciences, and can alone enable them hence- 
 forward to live in a sober, righteous, and 
 godly manner, and thereby give the only 
 unquestionable proof of their love to God, 
 and their interest in the great salvation of 
 His Son Jesus Christ. 
 
 If, on reading this imperfect narrative, 
 any persons beyond the immediate circle of 
 my companions in misery (for within it I can 
 safely declare that there were no indications 
 of ridicule) should affect to despise, as con- 
 temptible or unsoldierlike, the humble devo- 
 tional exercises to which I have now referred, 
 I should like to assure them, that although 
 they were undoubtedly commenced and pro- 
 secuted much more with an eternal than a 
 temporal object in view, yet they also sub- 
 served the important purpose of restoring 
 order and composure amongst a certain 
 limited class of soldiers, at moments when 
 mere military appeals had ceased to operate. 
 
 * This narrative has been translated into the French, Spanish, 
 Swedish, Italian, German, and Russian languages, and the author 
 (born March 16, 1787) still enjoys good health (1880) while 
 writing the preface to this edition, of which a facsimile is 
 given at the beginning of the book.
 
 52 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 I must state that, in general, it was not 
 those most remarkable for their fortitude 
 who evinced either a precipitancy to depart, 
 or a desire to remain very long behind the 
 older and cooler soldiers appearing to possess 
 too much regard for their officers, as well as 
 for their individual credit, to take their hasty 
 departure at a very early period of the day, 
 and too much wisdom and resolution to hesi- 
 tate to the very last. 
 
 But it was not till the close of this mourn- 
 ful tragedy that backwardness, rather than 
 impatience, to adopt the perilous and only 
 means of escape that offered, became gene- 
 rally discernible on the part of the unhappy 
 remnant still on board, and that made it 
 not only imperative on Captain Cobb to 
 reiterate his threats, as well as his entreaties, 
 that not an instant should be lost, but seemed 
 to render it expedient for one of the officers 
 of the troops, who had expressed his inten- 
 tion of remaining to the last, to limit, in the 
 hearing of those around him, the period of 
 his own stay. Seeing, however, between 
 nine and ten o'clock, that some individuals 
 were consuming the precious moments by 
 obstinately hesitating to proceed, while 
 others were making the inadmissible request
 
 A Dangerous Operation. 53 
 
 to be lowered down as the women had been, 
 learning from the boatmen that the wreck, 
 which was already nine or ten feet below 
 the ordinary water mark, had sunk two feet 
 lower since their last trip ; and calculating, 
 besides, that the two boats then under the 
 stern, with that which was in sight on its 
 return from the brig, would suffice for the 
 conveyance of all who seemed in a condition 
 to remove ; the three remaining officers of 
 the 31st regiment seriously prepared to take 
 their departure. 
 
 As I cannot perhaps convey to you so 
 correct an idea of the condition of others as 
 by describing my own feelings and situation 
 under the same circumstances, I shall make 
 no apology for detailing the manner of my 
 individual escape, which will sufficiently 
 mark that of many hundreds that preceded 
 it. The spanker-boom of so large a ship as 
 the Kent, which projects, I should think, 16 
 or 18 feet over the stern, rests on ordinary 
 occasions about 19 or 20 feet above the 
 water ; but in the position in which we were 
 placed, from the great height of the sea, and 
 the consequent pitching of the ship, it was 
 frequently lifted to a height not less than 
 30 or 40 feet from the surface.
 
 54 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 To reach the rope, therefore, that hung 
 from its extremity was an operation that 
 seemed to require the aid of as much 
 dexterity of hand as steadiness of head. 
 For it was not only the nervousness of 
 creeping along the boom itself, or the ex- 
 treme difficulty of afterwards seizing on 
 and sliding down by the rope that we had 
 to dread, and that had occasioned the loss of 
 some valuable lives by deterring men from 
 adopting this mode of escape ; but as the 
 boat, which one moment was probably close 
 under the boom, might be carried the next, 
 by the force of the waves, 15 or 20 yards 
 away from it, the unhappy individual, whose 
 best calculations were thus defeated, was 
 generally left swinging for some time in 
 mid-air, if he was not repeatedly plunged 
 several feet under water, or dashed with 
 dangerous violence against the sides of the 
 returning boat or, what not unfrequently 
 happened, was forced to let go his hold 
 of the rope altogether. As there seemed, 
 however, no alternative, I did not hesitate, 
 notwithstanding my comparative inexperi- 
 ence and awkwardness in such a situation, 
 to throw my legs across the perilous spar ; 
 and with a heart extremely grateful that
 
 A Narrow Escape. 55 
 
 such means of deliverance, dangerous as 
 they appeared, were still extended to me ; 
 and more grateful still that I had been 
 enabled, in common with others, to dis- 
 charge my honest duty to my sovereign and 
 to my fellow-soldiers, I proceeded, after 
 confidently committing my spirit, the great 
 object of my solicitude, into the keeping of 
 Him who had formed and redeemed it, to 
 creep slowly forward, feeling at, every step 
 the increasing difficulty of my situation. On 
 getting nearly to the end of the boom, the 
 young officer whom I followed and myself 
 were met with a squall of wind and rain so 
 violent as to make us fain to embrace closely 
 the slippery stick (without attempting foi 
 some minutes to make any progress), and to 
 excite our apprehension that we must relin- 
 quish all hope of reaching the rope. But 
 our fears were disappointed ; and after rest- 
 ing for a little while at the boom end, while 
 my companion was descending to the boat, 
 which he did not find until he had been 
 plunged once or twice over head in the 
 water, I prepared to follow ; and instead of 
 lowering myself, as many had imprudently 
 done, at the moment when the boat was in- 
 clining towards us and consequently being
 
 56 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 unable to descend the whole distance before 
 it again receded, I calculated that while the 
 boat was retiring I ought to commence my 
 descent, which would probably be com- 
 pleted by the time the returning wave 
 brought it underneath ; by which means I 
 was, I believe, almost the only officer or 
 soldier who reached the boat without being 
 either severely bruised or immersed in the 
 water. 
 
 But my good friend Colonel Fearon had 
 not been so fortunate ; for after swinging for 
 some time, and being repeatedly struck 
 against the side of the boat, and at one 
 time drawn completely under it, he was at 
 last so utterly exhausted that he must in- 
 stantly have let go his hold of the rope 
 and perished, had not some one in the boat 
 seized him by the hair of the head, and 
 dragged him into it, almost senseless and 
 alarmingly bruised. 
 
 Captain Cobb, in his resolution to be the 
 last, if possible, to quit his ship, and in his 
 generous anxiety for the preservation of 
 every life entrusted to his charge, refused to 
 seek the boat until he again endeavoured to 
 urge onward the few still around him, who 
 seemed struck dumb and powerless with
 
 Departure of the Captain. 57 
 
 dismay. But finding all his entreaties 
 fruitless, and hearing the guns, whose tackle 
 was burst asunder by the advancing flames, 
 successively exploding in the hold into 
 which they had fallen, this gallant officer, 
 after having nobly pursued, for the preser- 
 vation of others, a course of exertion that 
 has been rarely equalled either in its dura- 
 tion or difficulty, at last felt it right to 
 provide for his own safety by laying hold 
 on the topping-lift or rope that connects 
 the driver boom with the mizen-top, and 
 thereby getting over the heads of the infa- 
 tuated men who occupied the boom, unable 
 to go either backward or forward, and ulti- 
 mately dropping himself into the water. 
 
 The means of escape, however, did not 
 cease to be presented to the unfortunate indi- 
 viduals above referred to, long after Captain 
 Cobb took his departure ; since one of the 
 boats persevered in keeping its station 
 under the Kent's stern, not only after all 
 
 * Some of those men who were necessarily left behind, 
 having previously conducted themselves with great propriety 
 and courage, I think it but justice to express rny belief that the 
 same difficulties which had nearly proved fatal to Captain 
 Cobb's personal escape were probably found to be insur- 
 mountable by landsmen, whose coolness, unaccompanied with 
 dexterity and experience, might not be available to them in 
 their awful situation.
 
 58 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 expostulation and entreaty with those on 
 board had failed, but until the flames, 
 bursting forth from the cabin windows, ren- 
 dered -it impossible to remain without 
 inflicting the greatest cruelty on the indi- 
 viduals that manned it. But even on the 
 return of the boat in question to the 
 Cambria, with the single soldier who availed 
 himself of it, did Captain Cook, with charac- 
 teristic jealousy, refuse to allow it to come 
 alongside until he learned that it was com- 
 manded by the spirited young officer, Mr. 
 Thomson,"" whose indefatigable exertions 
 during the whole day were to him a suffi- 
 cient proof that all had been done that 
 could be done for the deliverance of those 
 individuals. 
 
 The same beneficent Providence which 
 had been so wonderfully exerted for the 
 preservation of hundreds, was pleased, by a 
 still more striking and unquestionable dis- 
 play of power and goodness, to avert the 
 fate of a portion of those few who, we had 
 all too much reason to fear, were doomed to 
 destruction. It would appear for the poor 
 men themselves give an extremely confused, 
 
 * I ought to state that the exertions of Mr. Muir, third mate, 
 were also most conspicuous during the whole day.
 
 THE MAGAZINE EXPLODED.
 
 A Miraculozis Preservation. 61 
 
 though I am persuaded not a wilfully false 
 account of themselves that shortly after 
 the departure of the last boat they were 
 driven by the flames to seek shelter on the 
 chains, where they stood until the masts fell 
 overboard, to which they then clung for 
 some hours, in a state of horror that no lan- 
 guage can describe ; until they were, most 
 providentially, I may say miraculously, dis- 
 covered and picked up by Captain Bibbey, 
 the humane commander of the Caroline, a 
 vessel on its passage from Egypt to Liver- 
 pool, who happened to see the explosion at 
 a great distance, and instantly made all sail 
 in the direction whence it proceeded. Along 
 with the fourteen men thus miraculously 
 preserved were three others, who had ex- 
 pired before the arrival of the Caroline to 
 their rescue. 
 
 * See page 83. One of the men saved after the explosion 
 (which had burned off both his feet) was met thirty years after- 
 wards by the individual who was first saved in the Cambria. 
 This man was wheeling himself in a go-cart on the race-ground 
 at Lanark, dressed in sailor's costume, and selling papers with 
 a picture of the Kent upon them and some doggerel verses below. 
 As honorary secretary of the " Open- Air Mission" (which 
 provides preachers for streets in towns, and for races and fairs 
 in the country), the " first saved " from the wreck and burning 
 then preached the Gospel to the "last saved "from the scorched 
 embers, and to a large and motley crowd, all of whom will 
 assuredly meet once more " at that day."
 
 62 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 The men on their return to their regiment 
 expressed themselves in terms of the live- 
 liest gratitude for the affectionate attentions 
 they received on board the Caroline, from 
 Captain Bibbey, who considerately remained 
 till daylight close to the wreck, in the hope 
 that some others might still be found 
 clinging to it an act of humanity which, 
 it will appear on the slightest reflection, 
 would have been madness in Captain Cook, 
 in the peculiar situation of the Cambria, to 
 have attempted. 
 
 But when I recollect the lamentable state 
 of exhaustion to which that portion of the 
 crew were reduced, who unshrinkingly per- 
 formed to the last their arduous and peril- 
 ous duties, and that out of the three boats 
 that remained afloat, one was only prevented 
 from sinking, towards the close of the night, 
 by having the hole in its bottom repeatedly 
 stuffed with soldiers' jackets, while the other 
 two were rendered inefficient, the one by 
 having its bow completely stove, and the 
 second by being half filled with water, and 
 the thwarts so torn as to make it necessary 
 to lash the oars to the boat's ribs, I must 
 believe that, by those who thus laboured, 
 all was done that humanity could possibly
 
 The Explosion. 63 
 
 demand, or intrepidity effect, for the preser- 
 vation of every individual. 
 
 Quitting, for a moment, the subject of the 
 wreck, I would advert to what was in the 
 meantime taking place on board the (7am- 
 bria. I cannot, however, pretend to give 
 you any adequate idea of the feelings of 
 hope or despair that alternately flowed, like 
 a tide, in the breasts of the unhappy females 
 on board the brig, during the many hours 
 of torturing suspense in which several of 
 them were unavoidably held respecting the 
 fate of their husbands, feelings which were 
 inconceivably excited, rather than soothed, 
 by the idle and erroneous rumours occa- 
 sionally conveyed to them regarding the 
 state of the Kent. But still less can I 
 attempt to portray the alternate pictures of 
 awful joy and of wild distraction exhibited 
 by the sufferers (for both parties for the 
 moment seemed equally to suffer), as the 
 terrible truth was communicated that they 
 and their children were indeed left husband- 
 less and fatherless ; or as the objects from 
 whom they had feared they were for ever 
 severed, suddenly rushed into their arms. 
 But these feelings of delight, whatever may 
 have been their intensity, were speedily
 
 64 'J-lie Loss of the Kent. 
 
 chastened, and the attention of all arrested, 
 by the last tremendous spectacle of destruc- 
 tion. 
 
 After the arrival of the last boat the 
 flames, which had spread along the upper 
 deck and poop, ascended with the rapidity 
 of lightning to the masts and rigging, form- 
 ing one general conflagration, that illumined 
 the heavens to an immense distance, and 
 was strongly reflected by several objects 
 on board the brig. The flags of distress, 
 hoisted in the morning, were seen for a con- 
 siderable time waving amid the flames, until 
 the masts to which they were suspended 
 successively fell like stately steeples over 
 the ship's side. At last, about half-past one 
 o'clock in the morning, the devouring ele- 
 ment having communicated to the magazine, 
 the explosion was seen, and the blazing 
 fragments of the once magnificent Kent 
 were instantly hurried, like so many rockets, 
 high into the air ; leaving, in the compara- 
 tive darkness that succeeded, the deathful 
 scene of that disastrous day floating before 
 the mind like some feverish dream. 
 
 Besides 500 barrels of gunpowder, there was on board 
 several hundredweight of highly explosive percussion powder. 
 The brig was about three miles distant when the Ecnt exploded,
 
 Kindness of Captain Cook. 65 
 
 Shortly afterwards, the brig, which had 
 been gradually making sail, was running at 
 the rate of nine or ten miles an hour towards 
 the nearest port. I would here endeavour 
 to render my humble tribute of admiration 
 and gratitude to that gallant and excellent 
 individual, who, under God, was undoubtedly 
 the chief instrument of our deliverance ; if 
 I were not sensible that testimony has been 
 already borne to his heroic and humane 
 efforts, in a manner much more commensu- 
 rate with, and from quarters reflecting infi- 
 nitely greater honour upon his merits, than 
 the feeble expressions of them which I 
 should be able to record. I trust you will 
 keep in mind that Captain Cook's generous 
 intentions and exertions must have proved 
 utterly unavailing for the preservation of so 
 many lives, had they not been most nobly 
 and unremittingly supported by those of his 
 mate and crew, as well as of the numerous 
 passengers on board his brig. While the 
 former, only eight in number, were usefully 
 and necessarily employed in working the 
 vessel, the sturdy Cornish miners and York- 
 
 * Captain Cook afterwards rendered distinguished services in 
 the Niger expedition, and died in London a true Christian 
 sailor, after several visits from one he had helped to save. 
 E
 
 66 The Loss oj the Kent. 
 
 shire smelters, on the approach of the 
 different boats, took their perilous stations 
 on the chains, where they put forth the 
 great muscular strength with which Heaven 
 had endowed them, in dexterously seizing, at 
 each successive heave of the sea, on some 
 of the exhausted people, and dragging them 
 up on deck. 
 
 Nor did their kind assistance termi- 
 nate there. They and the gentlemen con- 
 nected with them cheerfully opened their 
 ample stores of clothes and provisions, 
 which they liberally dispensed to the naked 
 and famished sufferers ; they surrendered 
 their beds to the helpless women and chil- 
 dren, and seemed, in short, during the 
 whole of our passage to England, to take 
 o other delight than in ministering to all 
 our wants. 
 
 I Although, after the first burst of mutual 
 gratulation, and of becoming acknowledg- 
 ment of the divine mercy for our unlooked- 
 for deliverance, had subsided, none of us 
 felt disposed to much interchange of thought, 
 each being rather inclined to wrap himself 
 up in his own reflections ; yet we did not, 
 during the first night, view with the alarm 
 it warranted, the extreme misery and danger
 
 Miseries of the Survivors. 67 
 
 to which we were still exposed, by being 
 crowded together, in a gale of wind, with 
 upwards of 600 human beings, in a small 
 brig of 200 tons, at a distance, too, of 
 several hundred miles from any accessible 
 port. Our little cabin, which was only cal- 
 culated, under ordinary circumstances, for 
 the accommodation of eight or ten persons, 
 was now made to contain nearly eighty indi - 
 viduals, many of whom had no sitting room, 
 and even some of the ladies no room to lie 
 down. Owing to the continued violence of 
 the gale, and to the bulwarks on one side 
 of the brig having been driven in, the sea 
 beat so incessantly over our deck as to 
 render it necessary that the hatches should 
 only be lifted up between the returning 
 waves, to prevent absolute suffocation below, 
 where the men were so closely packed to 
 gether that the steam arising from their 
 respiration excited at one time an appre- 
 hension that the vessel was on fire ; while 
 the impurity of the air they were inhaling 
 became so marked, that the lights occa- 
 sionally carried down amongst them were 
 almost instantly extinguished. Nor was the 
 condition of the hundreds who covered the 
 deck less wretched than that of their com-
 
 68 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 rades below ; since they were obliged night 
 and day to stand shivering, in their wet and 
 nearly naked state, ankle deep in water :- 
 some of the older children and females were 
 thrown into fits, while the infants were 
 piteously crying for that nourishment which 
 their nursing mothers were no longer able 
 to give them.f 
 
 Our only hope amid these great and ac- 
 cumulating miseries was that the same com- 
 passionate Providence which had already so 
 marvellously interposed in our behalf would 
 not permit the favourable wind to abate or 
 change until we reached some friendly port ; 
 for we were all convinced that a delay of a 
 very few days longer at sea must inevitably 
 involve us in famine, pestilence, and a com- 
 plication of the most dreadful evils. Our 
 hopes were not disappointed. The gale 
 continued with even increasing violence ; 
 and our able captain, crowding all sail, at 
 
 In addition to those who were naked on board the Kent at 
 the moment the alarm of fire was heard, several individuals 
 afterwards threw off their clothes to enable them the more 
 easily to swim to the boats. 
 
 t One of the soldiers' wives was delivered of a child about 
 an hour or two after her arrival on board the brig. Both 
 survived, and the child received the appropriate name of 
 "Cambria."
 
 The Goodness of God. 69 
 
 the risk of carrying away his masts, so 
 nobly urged his vessel onward, that in the 
 afternoon of Thursday, the 3rd, the delightful 
 exclamation from aloft was heard, " Land 
 ahead ! " In the evening we descried the 
 Scilly lights ; and running rapidly along 
 the Cornish coast, we joyfully cast anchor in 
 Falmouth harbour, at about half-past twelve 
 o'clock at night. 
 
 On reviewing the various proximate causes 
 to which so many human beings owed their 
 deliverance from a combination of dangers 
 as remarkable for their duration as they 
 were appalling in their aspect, it is impos- 
 sible, I think, not to discover and gratefully 
 acknowledge, in the beneficence of their 
 arrangement, the overruling providence of 
 that blessed Being, who is sometimes pleased, 
 in His mysterious operations, to produce the 
 same effect from causes apparently different ; 
 and on the other hand, as in our own case, 
 to bring forth results the most opposite, 
 from one and the same cause. For there is 
 no doubt that the heavy rolling of our ship, 
 occasioned by the violent gale, which was the 
 real origin of all our disasters, contributed 
 also most essentially to our subsequent pre- 
 servation ; since, had not Captain Cobb been
 
 70 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 enabled, by the greatness of the swell, to 
 introduce speedily through the gun ports the 
 immense quantity of water that inundated 
 the hold, and thereby checked for so long a 
 time the fury of the flames, the Kent must 
 unquestionably have been consumed before 
 many, perhaps before any, of those on board 
 could have found shelter in the Cambria. 
 
 But it is unnecessary to dwell on an insu- 
 lated fact like this, amidst a concatenation of 
 circumstances, all leading to the same con- 
 clusion, and so closely bound together as to 
 force us to confess, that if a single link in 
 the chain had been withdrawn or withheld, 
 we must all most probably have perished. 
 
 The Cambria, which had been, it seems, 
 unaccountably detained in port nearly a 
 month after the period assigned for her 
 departure, was early on the morning of the 
 fatal calamity pursuing at a great distance 
 ahead of us the same course with ourselves ; 
 but her bulwarks on the weather side having 
 been suddenly driven in, by a heavy sea 
 breaking over her quarter, Captain Cook, in 
 his anxiety to give ease to his labouring 
 
 * There were lost in the destruction of the Kent, 54 soldiers, 
 1 woman, and 20 children, belonging to the 31st Kegiment ; 
 1 seaman and 5 boys total, 81 individuals.
 
 The "Cambria" 71 
 
 vessel, was induced to go completely out of 
 his course by throwing the brig on the 
 opposite tack, by which means alone he was 
 brought in sight of us. Not to dwell on 
 the unexpected, but not unimportant facts of 
 the flames having been mercifully prevented, 
 for eleven hours, from either communicating 
 with the magazine forward, or the great 
 spirit room abaft, or even coming into con- 
 tact with the tiller ropes any of which 
 circumstances wo^ld evidently have been 
 fatal, I would remark that, until the Cam- 
 bria hove in sight, we had not discovered 
 any vessel whatever for several days pre- 
 vious ; nor did we afterwards see another 
 until we entered the chops of the Channel. 
 It is to be remembered, too, that had the. 
 Cambria, with her small crew, been home- 
 ward instead of outward bound, her scanty 
 remainder of provisions, under such circum- 
 stances, would hardly have sufficed to form 
 a single meal for our vast assemblage ; or 
 if, instead of having her lower deck com- 
 pletely clear, she had been carrying out a 
 full cargo, there would not have been time, 
 under the pressure of the danger and the 
 violence of the gale, to throw the cargo 
 overboard, and certainly, with it, not suffu
 
 72 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 cient space in the brig to contain one-half 
 of our number. 
 
 When I reflect, besides, on the disastrous 
 consequences that must have followed if, 
 during our passage home, which was per- 
 formed in a period most unusually short, the 
 wind had either veered round a few points, 
 or even partially subsided which must have 
 produced a scene of horror on board more 
 terrible if possible than that from which we 
 had escaped ; and above all, when I recol- 
 lect the extraordinary fact, and that which 
 seems to have the most forcibly struck the 
 whole of us, that we had not been above an 
 hour in Falmouth harbour, when the wind, 
 which had all along been blowing from the 
 south-west, suddenly chopped round to the 
 opposite quarter of the compass, and con- 
 tinued uninterruptedly for several days after- 
 wards to blow strongly from the north-east, 
 one cannot help concluding that he who 
 sees nothing of a Divine Providence in our 
 preservation must be lamentably and wil- 
 fully blind to "the majesty of the Lord." 
 
 In the course of the morning we all pre- 
 pared, with thankful and joyful hearts, to 
 place our feet on the shores of Old England. 
 
 The ladies, always destined to form our
 
 Welcome on Land. 73 
 
 vanguard, were the first to disembark, and 
 were met on the beach by immense crowds 
 of the inhabitants, who appeared to have been 
 attracted thither less by idle curiosity than 
 from the sincerest desire to alleviate in every 
 possible manner their manifest sufferings. 
 
 The sailors and soldiers, cold, wet, and 
 almost naked, quickly followed ; the whole 
 forming, in their haggard looks and the end- 
 less variety of their costume, an assemblage 
 at once as melancholy and grotesque as it 
 is possible to conceive. So eager did the 
 people appear to be to pour out upon us the 
 full current of their sympathies, that shoes, 
 hats, and other articles of urgent necessity 
 were presented to several of the officers and 
 men before they had even quitted the point 
 of disembarkation. And in the course of the 
 day, many of the officers and soldiers, and 
 almost all of the females, were partaking, in 
 the private houses of individuals, of the most 
 liberal and needful hospitality. 
 
 But this flow of compassion and kindness 
 did not cease with the impulse of the more 
 immediate occasion that had called it forth. 
 For a meeting of the inhabitants was after- 
 wards held, where subscriptions in clothes 
 and money to a large amount were collected
 
 74 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 for the relief of the numerous sufferers. The 
 women and children, whose wants seemed 
 to demand their first care, were speedily fur- 
 nished with comfortable clothing, and the 
 poor widows and orphans with decent 
 mourning. Depositories of shirts, shoes, 
 stockings, etc., were formed for the supply 
 of the officers and private passengers ; and 
 the sick and wounded in the hospital were 
 made the recipients, not only of all those 
 kindly attentions and medical assistance 
 that could remove or soothe their temporal 
 suffering, but were also invited to partake 
 freely of the most judicious spiritual consola- 
 tion and instruction. This march of charity 
 was conducted by the ladies of Falmouth, 
 who were zealously accompanied on it by 
 the whole body, in the vicinity, of that 
 peculiar sect of Christians, who have ever 
 been as remarkable for their unassuming 
 pretensions and consistent conduct, as for 
 unostentatiously standing in the front ranks 
 of every good work. And so strong is 
 the reason which I, in particular, have to 
 associate in my mind all that is sincere, con- 
 siderate, and charitable with the society 
 of Friends, that the very badge of Quakerism 
 will, I trust, henceforward prove a full and
 
 Thanksgiving Service. 75 
 
 sufficient passport to the best feelings of 
 my heart. 
 
 On the first Sunday after our arrival, 
 Colonel Fearon, followed by all his officers 
 and men, and accompanied by Captain Cobb, 
 and the officers and private passengers of 
 his late ship, hastened to prostrate them- 
 selves before the throne of the Heavenly 
 grace, to pour out the public expression of 
 their thanksgiving to their almighty Pre- 
 server. The scene was deeply impressive ; 
 and it is earnestly to be hoped that many a 
 poor fellow who listened, perhaps for the 
 first time in his life, with unquestionable 
 sincerity and humility to the voice of in- 
 struction, will be found steadily prosecuting, 
 in the strength of God, the good resolutions 
 that he may on that solemn occasion have 
 formed, until he be able to say, as one of the 
 greatest generals of antiquity did, that " it 
 was good for him to have been afflicted ; for 
 before he was afflicted he went astray, but 
 that afterwards he was not ashamed to keep 
 God's word." 
 
 In the course of a few days the private 
 passengers and most of the sailors of our 
 party were dispersed in various directions ; 
 and the troops, after having incurred to the
 
 7 6 The Loss of tlie Kent 
 
 excellent inhabitants of Falmoutk, and the 
 adjacent towns, a debt of gratitude which 
 none of them can ever hope to repay, were 
 embarked for Chatham. 
 
 I think you must be already sensible that 
 the circumstances of our situation on board 
 the Kent did not enable us conscientiously to 
 save a single article, either of public or 
 private property, from the flames ; indeed, 
 the only thing I preserved with the excep- 
 tion of forty or fifty sovereigns, which I 
 hastily tied up in my pocket handkerchief, 
 and put into my wife's hands, at the moment 
 she was lifted into the boat, as a provision 
 for herself and her companions against the 
 temporary want to which they might be 
 exposed on some foreign shore was the 
 pocket compass, which you yourself pre- 
 sented to me.* 
 
 But I would have you to be assured, that the 
 total abandonment of individual interests on 
 the part of the officers of the ship, and of 
 the 31st regiment, was occasioned by no 
 want of self-possession, nor even, in all cases, 
 of opportunities to attend to them ; but to a 
 
 * A little Testament was also saved. Only one officer's sword 
 wae saved, and that belonged to him who afterwards led the 
 81st regiment in the battles on the Sutlej.
 
 Observations. 7 7 
 
 sincere desire to avoid even the appearance 
 of selfishness, at moments when the valuable 
 lives of their sailors and soldiers were at 
 stake. And this observation applies with still 
 greater force to the senior officers in both 
 services, whose cabins being upon the upper 
 deck were accessible during the whole day ; 
 and where many portable articles of value 
 were deposited, which could have been very 
 easily carried off, had those officers been dis- 
 posed to devote to their own concerns even 
 a portion of that precious time, and of those 
 active exertions, which they unremittingly 
 applied to the performance of their profes- 
 sional duty. 
 
 Notwithstanding the unexpected length to 
 which I have already extended this narrative, 
 I cannot allow myself to close it without 
 offering to my late companions on board 
 the Kent, into whose hands it may possibly 
 fall, a few very plain and simple observa- 
 tions, which I think worthy of their serious 
 consideration, and the importance of which 
 I desire to have deeply impressed upon my 
 own mind. None of those soldiers who 
 were in the habit of reading their Bibles 
 can have failed to notice that faith in Jesus 
 Christ, the Son of God, is therein made the
 
 7 8 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 great pivot on which the salvation of man 
 hinges ; that the whole human race, with- 
 out distinction of rank, nation, age, or sex, 
 being justly exposed to the wrath of Al- 
 mighty God, nothing but the precious blood 
 of Christ, which was shed on the cross, can 
 possibly atone for their sins ; and that faith 
 in this atonement can alone pacify the con- 
 science, and awaken confidence towards God 
 as a reconciled Father. If, therefore, " he 
 that believeth in Christ shall be saved, and 
 he that believeth not shall be damned," be 
 the unequivocal language of Jehovah, either 
 expressly declared or obviously implied in 
 every page of that record which He has 
 vouchsafed to us of His Son ; is it not a 
 question of the deepest concernment to every 
 one professing any regard for divine revela- 
 tion, whether he really understands and be- 
 lieves that record, and whether he is able to 
 give, not only to others, but to himself, a 
 reason of this hope that is in him? 
 
 From the influence of education or ex- 
 ample, the absence of serious reflection, an 
 attention to the outward ordinances of re- 
 ligion, a regard to many of the proprieties 
 and decencies of life, and a forgetfulness 
 that the religion of the Bible is a religion
 
 Solemn Warnings. 79 
 
 of motives rather than one of observances, 
 minds easily satisfied on such subjects may 
 persuade themselves that they are spiritually 
 alive while they are dead that they are 
 amongst the sincere disciples of the blessed 
 Redeemer, and fully interested in His salva- 
 tion, while they may have neither part nor 
 lot in the matter. But if, at the hour of 
 death, when all external support shall slide 
 away, the soul shall be awakened to the 
 consciousness of its real condition ; if it 
 should be made to see, on the one hand, the 
 spirituality and exceeding breadth of the 
 divine law, and be quickened, on the other, 
 to a sense of its unnumbered transgressions ; 
 if the mercy of God out of Christ, in which 
 so many vainly and vaguely trust, should 
 become obscured by the inflexible justice 
 and spotless holiness of His character and 
 if the solitary spirit, as it is dragged towards 
 the mysterious precipice, is made to hear, 
 from a voice which it can no longer mistake, 
 *' Cursed is every one that continueth not in 
 all things which are written in the book of 
 the law to do them," how unspeakably 
 miserable must be the condition of the man 
 who thus discovers, for the first time, that 
 the sand which he had all his lifetime been
 
 8o The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 mistaking for the "Rock of Ages" is now 
 giving way under his feet, and that his soul 
 must speedily sink into that state in which, 
 "where the tree falleth, there it shall be ;" 
 where " he that is unjust, let him be unjust 
 still;" and where there is "no work, nor 
 device, nor knowledge," nor repentance. 
 
 But that I may not be misunderstood, or 
 be supposed to favour principles of barren 
 speculation, more delusive and dangerous to 
 their possessors, and to the best interests of 
 society, than absolute ignorance itself I 
 would remind the gallant men to whom I 
 am now more especially addressing myself, 
 that that faith which saves the soul not 
 only "worketh" invariably "by love," and 
 gradually " overcometh the world," but that 
 "it is the gift of God," implanted in the 
 heart by His Holy Spirit, even by that Spirit 
 which is freely given to every one that 
 earnestly asketh. And however unable the 
 simple soldier may be to explain either the 
 nature or the manner of its operation, he 
 must not deceive himself into the persuasion 
 that he is possessed of this precious grace 
 unless he feels it bringing forth in his life 
 and conversation the abundant fruits that 
 necessarily spring from it, and that cannot
 
 Conclusion. 8 1 
 
 indeed be produced without it. He will be 
 steady and zealous in the performance of 
 duty, patient under fatigue and privation, 
 sober amid temptation, calm but firm in the 
 hour of danger, and respectfully obedient to 
 his officers ; he will honour his king, be con- 
 tent with his wages, and do harm to no 
 man. His piety will be ardent but sober, 
 his prayers will be earnest and frequent, 
 but rather in secret than before men ; he 
 will not be contentious or disputatious, but 
 rather desirous of instructing others by his 
 example than by his precepts ; letting his 
 light so shine before them, in the simplicity 
 of his motives, the uprightness of his actions, 
 in his readiness to oblige, and by the whole 
 tenor of his life, that they, seeing his good 
 works, may be led, by the divine blessing, 
 to acknowledge the reality and power and 
 beauty of religion, and be induced in like 
 manner to glorify his heavenly Father. In 
 short, in comparison with his thoughtless 
 comrades, he must not only aspire to become 
 a better man, but, from the constraining 
 motives of the gospel, struggle to be also in 
 every essential respect a better soldier. 
 
 In conclusion, I would observe that ii 
 .any class of men, more than another, ought
 
 82 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 to be struck with awe and gratitude by the 
 goodness and providence of God, it is they 
 who go down to the sea in ships, and see 
 His wonders in the great deep ; or if any 
 ought to familiarize their minds with death 
 and its solemn consequences, it is surely 
 soldiers, " whose very business it is to die." 
 May all those then, especially, who thus 
 possessed the privilege, but rarely granted, 
 of being allowed, in the full vigour of health, 
 and in the absence of all the bustle and ex- 
 citement of battle, to contemplate, from the 
 very brink of eternity, the awful realities 
 that reign within it, as many of their de- 
 parting comrades were hurried through its 
 dreadful portals, be now led, in the respite 
 which has been given them, to remember 
 that this alone is the accepted time, and this 
 the day of salvation ; for while some may 
 defer the subject "to a more convenient 
 season," the message may come forth, at an 
 hour when it is least expected, " This night 
 thy soul shall be required of thee."
 
 Conclusion. 83 
 
 THE foregoing narrative may be fitly 
 supplemented by some particulars of the 
 events occurring after the departure of the 
 Cambria from the scene of the wreck : 
 
 " About twelve o'clock the watch of the 
 barque Caroline, on her passage from Alex- 
 andria to Liverpool, observed a light on the 
 horizon, and knew it at once to be a ship on 
 fire. There was a heavy sea on, but the 
 captain, instantly setting his maintop-gal- 
 lant-sail, ran down towards the spot. About 
 one, the sky becoming brighter, a sudden 
 jet of vivid light shot up ; but they were too 
 distant to hear the explosion. In half-an- 
 hour the Caroline, could see the wreck of a 
 large vessel lying head to the wind. The 
 ribs and frame timbers, marking the outlines 
 of double ports and quarter-galleries, showed 
 that the burning skeleton was that of a 
 first-class Indiaman. Every other external 
 feature was gone ; she was burnt nearly to 
 the water's edge, but still floated, pitching 
 majestically as she rose and fell on the long 
 rolling swell of the bay. The vessel looked 
 like an immense cage of charred basket- 
 work filled with flame, that here and there 
 blazed brighter at intervals. Above, and 
 
 * From All the Tear Bound.
 
 84 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 far to leeward, there was a vast drifting 
 cloud of curling smoke spangled with 
 millions of sparks and burning flakes, and 
 scattered by the wind over the eky and 
 waves. 
 
 " As the Caroline approached, part of a 
 mast and some spars, rising and falling, 
 were observed grinding under the weather- 
 quarter of the wreck, having got entangled 
 with the keel or rudder irons, and thus 
 attaching it to the hull of the vessel. The 
 Caroline, coming down swift before the wind, 
 was in a few minutes brought across the 
 bows of the Kent. At that moment a shout 
 was heard as if from the very centre of the 
 fire, and the same instant several figures 
 were observed clinging to a mast. The sea 
 was heavy, and the wreck threatened every 
 moment to disappear. The Caroline was 
 hove-to to leeward, in order to avoid the 
 showers of flakes and sparks, and to inter- 
 cept any boats or rafts. The mate and four 
 seamen pushed off in the jolly-boat, through 
 a sea covered with floating spars, chests, and 
 furniture, that threatened to crush or over- 
 whelm the boat. When within a few yards 
 of the stern, they caught sight of the first 
 living thing a wretched man clinging to a
 
 Conclusion. 85 
 
 spar close under the ship's counter. Every 
 time the stern-frame rose with the swell he 
 was suspended above the water, and scorched 
 by the long keen tongues of pure flame that 
 now came darting through the gun-room ports. 
 Each time this torture came the man shrieked 
 with agony ; the next moment the surge 
 came and buried him under the wave, and 
 he was silent. The Caroline s men, defying 
 the fire, pulled close to him, but just as their 
 hands were stretching towards him (latterly 
 the poor wretch had been silent), the rope or 
 spar was snapped by the fire, and he sank 
 for ever. 
 
 " The men then, carefully backing, carried 
 off six other of the nearest men from the 
 mast. The small boat, only eighteen feet 
 long, would not hold more than eleven 
 persons, and indeed, as it was, was nearly 
 swamped by a heavy wave. In half-an-hour 
 the boat bravely returned, and took off six 
 more. 
 
 " The mate, fearing the vessel was going 
 down, and that the masts would be swallowed 
 in the vortex, redoubled his efforts to get a 
 third time to the wreck. "While struggling 
 with a head sea, and before the boat could 
 reach the mast, the end came. The fiery
 
 86 The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 mass settled like a red-hot coal into the 
 waves, and disappeared for ever. The sky 
 grew instantly dark, a dense shroud of black 
 smoke lingered over the grave of the ship, 
 and instead of the crackle of burning timbers 
 and the flutter of flames, there spread the 
 ineffable stillness of death. 
 
 " As the last gleam flickered out, Mr. 
 Wallen, the mate of the Caroline^ with great 
 quickness of thought set the spot by a star. 
 Then, in spite of the danger in the darkness 
 of floating wreck, he resolved to wait quietly 
 till daylight, and ordered his men to shout 
 repeatedly to cheer any who might be still 
 floating on stray spars. For a long time no 
 one answered ; at last a feeble cry came, and 
 the Caroline's sailors returned it loudly and 
 gladly. What joy that faint cry must have 
 brought to those friendly ears ! With what 
 joy must the boatmen's shout have been 
 received ! 
 
 " When the day broke the mast was visible, 
 and four motionless men could be seen among 
 its cordage and top-work. They seemed 
 dead, but as the boat neared, two of them 
 feebly raised their heads and stretched out 
 their arms. When taken into the boat, they 
 were found to be faint and almost dead fronv
 
 Conclusion. 89 
 
 the cold and wet, and the many hours they 
 had been half under water. The other two 
 were stone dead. One had bound himself 
 linnly to the spar, and lay as if asleep, with 
 his arms around it, and his head upon it, as 
 if it had been a pillow. The other stood 
 half upright between the cheeks of the mast, 
 his face fixed in the direction of the boat, 
 his arms still extended. They were both 
 left on the spar. One of the Indiaman's empty 
 boats was also found drifting a short distance 
 off. The wind beginning to freshen and a 
 gale coming on, it was all the jolly-boat 
 could do to rejoin the Caroline. Thero could 
 be no doubt that when the Caroline hove-to 
 and luffed under the lee of the Kent, it must 
 have passed men drifting to leeward on de- 
 tached spars. They of course all perished 
 in the rising storm. 
 
 " A piece of plate was presented to Captain 
 Cook, of the Cambria, by the officers and 
 passengers of the Kent, and the Duke of 
 York publicly thanked him for his humane 
 zeal and promptitude. The Secretary of War 
 (Lord Palmerston) authorized a sum of five 
 hundred pounds to be given to the captain 
 and crew of the Cambria, and the agents of 
 the ship were also paid two hundred and
 
 QO The Loss of the Kent. 
 
 eighty-seven pounds for provisions, two hun- 
 dred and eighty-seven pounds for passengers' 
 diet, and five hundred pounds for demurrage. 
 The East India Company awarded six hun- 
 dred pounds to Captain Cook, one hundred 
 pounds to the first mate, fifty pounds to the 
 second mate, ten pounds each to the nine 
 men of the crew, fifteen pounds each to the 
 twenty-six miners, and one hundred pounds 
 to the ten chief miners for extra stores, to 
 make their voyage out more comfortable. 
 The Royal Exchange Assurance gave Captain 
 Cook fifty pounds, and his officers and crew 
 fifty pounds. The subscribers to Lloyds 
 voted him a present of one hundred pounds; 
 the Royal Humane Society awarded him an 
 honorary medallion ; and the underwriters 
 at Liverpool were also prominent in their 
 liberality."
 
 Full of Pretty Pictures andllnteresting Reading. 
 
 Child's Companion 
 
 VOLUME FOR 1885 contains a 
 
 NEW STORY by Mrs. 0. F. WALTON, 
 
 Author of " Christie's Old Organ," 
 
 "A Peep Behind the Scenes," " Little Dot," etc. , 
 
 entitled 
 
 "DO TRY." 
 
 With a beautiful Coloured Frontispiece, 
 from the Painting by the late John 
 Morgan, exhibited in the Royal Academy. 
 
 THIS little monthly for the young 
 folks claims a place in the front 
 
 rank of juvenile literature. No ex- 
 pense is spared in making it varied 
 and interesting, and in keeping it 
 well up with the many improvements 
 in engraving and printing of the 
 present day. A change, which is much appreciated, was made 
 last year in the addition of a wrapper to each number, thus 
 giving it a more presentable appearance, and serving to keep 
 it clean and in good condition till needing to be removed for 
 binding at the end of the year. 
 
 With the January number was issued a beautiful oleograph, 
 from a painting exhibited in the Royal Academy by John 
 Morgan, which has received very warm commendation. 
 
 The Daily News says of this Volume, " The Child's Com- 
 panion is a pretty little illustrated periodical, especially notice- 
 able for the editor's sensible practice of giving children credit 
 for being able to understand something better than mere 
 jingles and childish things."
 
 Cljil&'s Companion autt iuimtilf ^nstritrtor. 
 
 " The Child's Companion is renewing its }outh in its claim 
 to be the Magazine for the Children, and it improves every 
 year." Literary World. 
 
 "The Child's Companion is an especial favourite of ours, wiih its prelty 
 pictures, its useful articles with now and then a keen appreciation of the 
 frolicsomeness and fun so dear to children." Sunday School Chronicle. 
 
 ' ' The Child's Companion for the fir.^t month of the year comes with great 
 promise of the ftitur*, and will assuredly find favour with the litt'e ones. 
 We should advise those with whom it does not find a home to commence 
 at once. The old, old story is told in simple language, and on under- 
 current of purity is breathed through all its columns. The Midland Free 
 Press. 
 
 " Is very prettily done up. The contents are diversified and appropriate 
 for week-days and Sundays. Printing and illustrations are of quite a 
 superior order, so that it is as attractive as it is good." Qit en. 
 
 The following, amongst tnxny other Interesting Scries of Paper s t is noiv in 
 
 course of publication : 
 A new Serial Story, entitled " UNDER THE SNOW," by the Author 
 
 of" Tales of Heroes and Famous Men," &c. 
 Breakfast Table Talks. By T. S. MILLINGTON. 
 Birds and their Young. Drawn from Life. By CHARLES WHYMI-ER, 
 
 HARRISON WEIR, and others. 
 Stories of Home Life. By Mrs. WALTON, Miss MARY KEMHI.E 
 
 MARTIN, Mrs. WATERWORTH, and other popular Writers. 
 How to make Happy Homes. 
 Visits to the Zoo. With Illustrations from Life. 
 True Narratives of Explorers. 
 
 Listening to Jesus. A Series of Sunday Afternoon Talks. 
 Scripture Arithmetical Puzzles. By S. B. POWER. 
 
 (HTnmpamon 
 Full of Pretty Pictures and interesting Reading for Little Folks. 
 
 With a Coloured Frontispiece, is. 6d. coloured boards; as. cloth ; 
 as. 6d. cloth, full gilt, and gilt edges. 
 
 LONDON : 56, PATERNOSTER Row; 65, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD ; 
 
 AND 164, PICCADILLY. 
 May be hail of any Bookseller.
 
 THE 
 
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 PRESENTATION 
 
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 A large variety of Presentation Books at all prices may 
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 London: 65, St. Paul's Churchyard 
 
 (Oppotite the Northern Entrance to 
 
 the Cathedral) ; 
 
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 Brighton: 31, Western Road. 
 
 + 7
 
 +- 
 
 ILLUSTRATED TABLE-BOOKS. 
 
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 Inil>rriul 8vo. uiz? of page, 11 by 7J lin-licii.i 
 
 1'i-irr Eight Shillings in handsom' 
 
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 Shillings inmnrncco, elegant. 
 
 Australian Pictures. 
 
 Drawn with Penand Pen. -il. By 
 
 HOWARD WlLLOr&HHY, of " The 
 
 Melbi.urne Argus." With a large 
 M-irniiiil llln>trati.'i'<tr<iiM I'hci- 
 t "graphs anil >ketclii-s engraved 
 l.y K. \VHVMPKK, ami others. 
 Imp. 8vo. m. cloth, gilt edge* ; 
 i".:-. morocco. 
 
 "The literary portion of this 
 handsome volume forms a eon.-i^-. 
 yet Miipularlv complete account "1 
 Aii.-tralia. "To make thebooknearl) 
 perfect, it ii. enriched withanexeM- 
 
 lent niap.ntid mure thnu u limi'lred 
 praphir illustrations." St. Jame*' 
 Gaietr. 
 
 "A Imndsome volume, of wlik'h 
 phfcl'S and IKI *_-rpr\ ss comliinc to 
 furnish n wonderfully pood idea of 
 ili.-ii-huiili-on tin. nt." "-Tin draiihic. 
 
 " To the friends of those who r<- 
 eettU-d in tli' - ..lonies. 
 
 tlii book, with its short, but clear, 
 'i.ns.auri ils excellent illus- 
 tration*, will be most acceptable." 
 
 Norwegian Pictures. 
 
 Uncivil with 1'en aucl Pencil. 
 With a (fiance at Sweden and 
 theGotha Canal. By RICHARD LOVETT, M.A. With a Ma|i and VtZ lllustiatiMi,.., 
 engraved by E. WHYMFXB, K. TAVLOB, and others. Quarto. 8. cloth boards, gilt 
 edges ; 23*. morocco. 
 
 "A handsome table book, teeming with illustration*, and affording innrh nseftil 
 infonnation concerning tJiat northern land which is fast becoming a rival to Switzerland 
 as a playground for Europe." //.//. 
 
 Br THE MABQI'IS OF LOBXE. 
 Canadian Pictures. Drawn with Pen and Pencil. "With numerous 
 
 Bne Engravings by K. WnrstrEB, from Sketches by the MABUI-IH OF I.OBSE, SYDKET 
 HALL, and others, forming a handsome volume for the drawing-room table. 8s. extra 
 cloth boards, gilt ; or 23s. bound in morocco. 
 
 " It would be a mistake to regard the book as a mere ornament of the drawins-room 
 table. It will undoubtedly answer this purpose, and give a pleasing occupation to any who 
 may listlessly turn over ils leave*. But to the reader who takes it more seriously, it will 
 convey also a large amount of solid information." The Guardian. 
 
 Sea Pictures. ByDr.MACAULAY, Editor of the "Leisure Hour," &c. 
 
 Containing the Sea In Poetry, Physical Geography of the Sea, the Sea in l!i>t..r\, 
 au<l the Harvest of the Sea. Ks. in handsome cloth ; or 25s. in morocco, elegant. 
 Mr. RrsKix says" This heaiitif ul book is by far the best I have ever seen on itssubject, 
 and will be a most precious gift-book for me." 
 
 Indian Pictures. Drawn with Pen and Pencil. By WILLIAM 
 
 fBWK-K.M.v Profusely Illustrated with flne Engravings. 8s. in handsome cloth, 
 gilt ; or 25s. in morocco, elegant. 
 
 American Pictures. Drawn with Pen and Pencil. By Dr. 
 
 SiMrtr. MAXMX.; New Edition. Profusely Illustrated. 88- " handsuine cloth. 
 gilt ; or 25fc. in morocco, elegant. 
 
 THE RELIGIOUS TACT SOCIETY, Tx>stxm.
 
 ILLUSTRATED TABLE-BOOKS 
 
 THE "PEN AND PENCIL SERIES." 
 
 (CONTINUED.) 
 UNIFORM WITH 
 "AUSTRALIAN PICTURES." 
 
 Edition, Si. tiantlfome cloOi gilt. 
 
 CCOTTISH 
 ICTUB 
 
 Scottish Pictures. By 
 
 Dr. S. G. GREEN. Profusely 
 
 Illustrated by eminent Artists. 
 " An eicellent book for the drawing- 
 room table." St. James'* Gazette. 
 
 "'Scottish Pictures 'contains a large 
 number of admirable illustrations of 
 Scottish scenery and buildings, and 
 these are brought together by means 
 of a text which is always brightly 
 written. The volume will be prized 
 in Scotland as an evidence of what 
 .Scotland is, and out of Scotland as 
 affording knowledge of places and of 
 scenery of singular beuuty." 
 
 Scotsman. 
 
 " Those Holy Fields." 
 
 Palestine Illustrated by Pen 
 and Pencil. By the late Rev. 
 SAMCELMANXIXG, LL.D. "With 
 numerous Engravings. 8s. 
 cloth gilt ; or 25s. in morocco, 
 elegant. 
 
 "Dr. Manning writes in an unobtrusive, solid, and thoroughly interesting style, and his 
 facts help us to understand Judea and iu cities more completely than any amount of mere 
 declamation." Daily Xeu>. 
 
 The Land of the Pharaohs. Egypt and Sinai. Illustrated by 
 Pen and Pencil. By the late Rev. SAMUEL MANNING, I,L.D. With numerous 
 fine Engravings. 8s. handsome cloth, gilt ; or 25s. in morocco, elegant. 
 " As an introduction to a land which for the earnest Christian ranks second only in interest 
 
 to Palestine iisolf, Dr. Manning's handsome volume comprises within small compass as much 
 
 information as any work we have seen." Graphic. 
 
 Pictures from Bible Lands. Drawn with Pen and Pencil. 
 Edited by the Rev. S. G. GREEN, D.D. With Engravings by EDWARD 
 WHYMPER and others. 8s. handsome cloth, gilt ; or 25s. in morocco, elegant. 
 
 "Carefully compiled, beautifully illustrated, and introduces the reader to scenes of which 
 comparatively little is known. It is certaiulya volume of uncommon beauty and interest.'" 
 Eccletiattical Gazelle. 
 
 Imperial 8vo. 21*. handsomely bound, in cloth gilt. 
 
 The Lands of Scripture- Illustrated by Pen and Pencil. Con- 
 taining "Those Holy Fields" and '"The Land of the Pharaohs." by the 
 Rev. S. MANNING, LL.D. ; and "Pictures from Bible Lands," by the 
 Rev. 8. G. GREKN, D.D. 
 
 This elegantly bound and profusely illustrated volume forms a very suitable Presentation 
 Book to a Minister, Sunday-school Superintendent, or Teacher. It gives, in a conciK and 
 interesting form, a large amount of information about the places mentioned in Scripture, 
 uch as would prove of great service to every Bible student. 
 
 + r 
 
 THI KBLIOIOCS TBACT SOCISTV,
 
 ILLUSTRATED TABLE-BOOKS. 
 
 Uniform with "AUSTRALIAN 
 
 English Pictures. Drawn with Pen and Pencil. By SAMUEL 
 
 MANNING, l.l..i>.,and S.G. UKKKN. n.D. With Coloured Frontispiece nd numerous 
 Wood Engravings, fa. handsome cloth, or iaa. in morocco. 
 
 "Many a one who Is doomed to begin and end his days within a 'cribbed, cabined, and 
 confined ' circle, can roam, guided by such a book, at the will of fancy, through sunny glde*, 
 by babbling streams, or over the breesy moorlands." Timiv. 
 
 Italian Pictures. Drawn with Pen and Pencil. By SAMUEL 
 
 MANNING, 1,1.. D. Xew Edition. Revised. 8. handsome cloth, gilt :!.'. in morocco, 
 
 elegant. 
 
 ' The more we turn over the pages of this book, the more we like it. Italy is the theme 
 of a great deal of tine writing ami fine painting, but tlie plain description* and accurate 
 drawings here really tell us more about it than a library of inspired puems and a gallery 
 of ideal pa-'ntings." Time*. 
 
 Pictures from the German Fatherland. Drawn with Pen 
 
 and Pencil. By Dr. SAMI KI. (,. <; ISKKN. With line En^ravin^i.. *s. handsome doth , 
 gilt : S.'is. in mT ceo. elegant. 
 
 We can recommend the work as a capital and clitap ) r< eBt."- An .Innrnal. 
 
 French Pictures. Drawn with Pen and Pencil. By Dr. SAMI- EL 
 
 G. GBKKN. With fine Engravings. Sa. in handsome cloth. Kilt : .T :;.. in mon--,-.,. 
 elegan'. 
 
 "One of the most sumptuous of gift books. The perfection of wuod engraving and 
 descriptive letterpress.'' Court Journal. 
 
 Swiss Pictures. 'Drawn with Pen and Pencil. By Dr. MANNING. 
 
 With numerous Illustrations. b. handsome cloth, gilt : 1.'*. in morocco, elegant. 
 " In this third edition there are ao many additions and improvements that tl.i* beautiful 
 volume is still more attractive and beautiful than ever." Slan<lnrd. 
 
 Homes and Haunts of Luther. By the Rev. JOHN- STOUGHTON, 
 
 D.u. Xw and Revised Edition. Finely Illustrated. Quarto. Ss. handsome doth , 
 with gilt edges. 
 
 " Dr. Stoughton has done admirably well in telling the story with such picturesquen- m of 
 imagination and deep religious syrnpulhy." Chrintian H'arhl.' 
 
 Footprints of Italian Reformers. By the Rev. Jon x 
 
 STOUGHTON, D.D. Finely Illustrated. Quarto. Ss. liandsome cloth, gilt 
 " The book is profusely and beautifully ill'.stratcd. and will make a very charming and 
 useful pft book." t'onyreyationalut. 
 
 Spanish Reformers: Their Memories and Dwelling - place*. 
 
 By the Rev. JOHN STOL-GHTON, I>.D. With Illustrations, tw. cloth, gilt edges. 
 " Well suited for popular reading." Daily Xra-r. 
 
 " The vlewsof Spanish ecclesiastical architecture are very deciiledly above the average. ' 
 Tim**. 
 
 Past and Present in the East. By the Rev. HARRY JOXKS, 
 
 ItA., Prebendary of St. Paul's Cathedral. With fine Engr-vingnby EinvAUli WHY1IPKK. 
 Sn. cloth, gilt edge*. 
 
 " Wedo not knowof a volume of equally modest pretensions whi.'h gives so good an idi-a, 
 w regards both letterpress and illustrations, of its snbject."--.'>/w'';f<ir. 
 
 ' A narrative told in a lively, pleasant, chit-chat fashion." Knj/li'h ('hurr-hinnn. 
 
 Historic Landmarks in the Christian Centuries. By 
 
 RICHARD HKATH. With Kighty-foar Illustrations. Quarto. llJa. handsome cloth, gilt . 
 " Calculated at once to give a bird's-eye view of history, and to impress its most Important 
 events strongly on the memory." S'aixlnrd. 
 
 - Will prove a most acceptable gift-book." Wrtlem Momiim .V<. 
 
 ^t TK. R,t.o.ors T.arr So.-.rTV l^oo.
 
 Popular natural Ristory and ciei)ce, 
 
 The Handy Natural His- 
 
 By the Rev. J. G. WOOD, 
 
 of '" Homes without. Hands." etc.. et 
 With 221 Engravings. Small quarto. 5 
 cloth boards, gilt edges. 
 A capital book for young people. It giv 
 
 unt'of 
 
 id in 
 
 about the life ami habits 
 
 of animals and birds. 
 
 " An excellent book for the young, hansl- 
 sonieiy illustrated, and written iu fluent and 
 easy style." Saturitay Rtriru.: 
 
 The Honey Bee : its Nature, 
 
 Homes and Products. By W. H. HARRIS, 
 B.A., n.so. With eighty-two Illustra- 
 tions. 5. cloth. 
 " Even to those who liave no intention of 
 
 keeping bees, this volume, with its interest- 
 
 ing anecdotes and instructive information, 
 
 will be the means of much enjoyment." 
 
 Litcranj II'ivM. 
 
 Ants and their Ways. By 
 
 the Rev. W. FARUKX WlUTK, M.A. 
 With numerous Illustrations. 5s. cloth. 
 ' Will be of great assistance to any ento- 
 mologist wishing to commence the study of 
 our native ants ; while as an interesting 
 volume for the general reader, or as a gift- 
 book for young people with a taste for natural 
 history, it- may ho recommended as among 
 the very best of its kind." Nature. 
 
 The Chain of Life in Geological Time- A Sketch of the 
 
 Origin and Succession of Animals and Plants. By Sir J. W. DAWSON, KT., I.L.D., r.B.s., 
 etc. With numerous Illustrations. 6s. (id. cloth. Cornell's: Sources ami Extent of our 
 Knowledge Beginning of Life The Age of Invertebrates of the Sea The Origin of 
 Plant Life on the Land The Appearances of Vertebrate Animals The First Air- 
 brciitbers The Empire of the Great Reptiles The First Forests of Modern Type The 
 Reign o Mammals The Advent of Man, Hie Present and the Future. 
 
 Electricity and its Uses. By JOHN MUNBO, of the Society of 
 
 Telegraph Engineers nnd Electricians. With Engravings. 3s. 6d. cloth. 
 ' A popular hut clear and correct account of electrical science iu all its various branches." 
 -Journal ofSriencf. 
 
 ' More correct than is usually the case with attempts to popularise science." Electrician . 
 
 The Midnight Sky. Familiar Notes on the Stars and Planets. 
 
 By EDWIN IMTXKIV. F.n.s., of the Rova! Observatory, Greenwich. With thirty-two 
 Star Maps and numerous other Illustrations. Imp. Svo. Vs. 6d. cloth ; s. extra boards, 
 with gilt edges. 
 
 ' I find in it all the qualities of excellence as a book : lucid, perspicuous at a glance, 
 concise, correct ; completely fulfilling its purpose." Thomaf Carlyie. 
 
 FOR YOUNG PEOPLE. 
 
 Twilight Talks ; or, Easy Lessons ou Things around us. By 
 
 AuXKS GIBEH.XK. With Illustrations. Is. 6d. cloth boards. 
 
 Children's Flowers. The Friends of their Rambles and Play. 
 
 By Mrs. DYSON. With 111 ustratioug. 2s. 6d. cloth boards. 
 
 Apples and Oranges : Familiar Talks with Children on Fruits. 
 
 By Mrs. DYSox. 3s. fid. cloth gilt. 
 
 Swallow-Tails and Skippers. By DAKI.EY DALE. With a 
 
 Coloured Fron-isif<ce. Is. 6d. cloth. 
 
 Chapters on Every-day Things ; or, Histories and Marvels in 
 
 Common Life. Illustrated. 4s. cloth, gi'.t edges. 
 
 Our Pets and Companions : Pictures and Stories illustrative of 
 
 Kindness to Anima's. By MARY K. MAUTIX. Profusely Illustrated. 2s. cloth. 
 
 THE RKI.ICIOUS THAT SOCIETY, LONDON.
 
 DECENT BIOGRAPHY. 
 
 SHORT BIOGRAPHIES 
 
 FOB THE PEOPLE. 
 
 Bach I'olume, u-ith Twelve Portrait', 
 l.6d. cloUi board*. 
 
 " The choice in excellent ; the work 
 has been committed to competent hands. 
 In short, it is a happy idea happily exe- 
 cuted." Spectator. 
 
 "The series deserves to be widely 
 known." Saturday Review. 
 Tkete Biographic* can alto bt.had sepa- 
 rately, at Id.eni-ti ;<>r in6<l.pa<'ket.ttir/i 
 containing six different Bingraphive. 
 
 Volume I. contains Biographies and 
 Portnits of Luther, Gilvin. Farel, Me- 
 lau.-hihon, Rollock, WycHffe, Anseltn. 
 Wesley, Durcr, Dr. Johnson, Knoi, and 
 John Hns. Is. 6d. cloth boards. 
 
 Volume II. contains Biographies and 
 Portraits of Lord Lawrence. James Clerk 
 Maxwell, Paul Rabaut, Augustine, Eras- 
 mus. Latimer, Cowper. Tyndale, Baxter, 
 Dr. Bu;renhagen. firewater, and Carey. 
 In. 6<1. cloth boards. 
 
 Volume III. contains Biographies and 
 Portraits of Sidney, Wilburforce, Charles 
 Wesley, Shaftesbiiry, Chrysostom, How- 
 ard, Francis Bacon, Morrison, Kiii|< 
 Alfred, Judson, Whiteneld, and John 
 Bacon. Is. 6d. cloth boards. 
 
 The Life of the Rev. Charles Wesley, M. A. , sometime Student 
 
 of Christ Church, Oxford By the Rev. JOHN TEI-FOBD, B.A., author of "Wesley 
 Anecdotes," etc. With Portrait and Engraving*. 3s. 6d. cloih. 
 
 William Tyndale. A Biography. A contribution to the History 
 
 of the English Bible. By the Rev. R. DKMAC8, M.A., author of " Hugh Latimer : a 
 Biography." New Edition, carefully revised by RICHAK1) LoVKTT. si .A. With 
 Portrait, Illustration, and numerous fine Facsimile of the unique v.ilum.-s in the 
 British Museum and in St. Paul's Cathedral. Svo. 8s. cloth boards. 
 
 John Wycliffe and bis English Precursors. By Professor 
 
 LKCHLKli, n.l)., of the rniversity of Leipsie. Translated from the German by 1'KTKtt 
 LoniM Kli. D.I). New Edition, very carefully Heviswl, with a Supplemi nml Ckaptei ..n 
 the Successors of Wycliffe, by S. O. GllKEX, O.I). Portrait and Illustrations. New and 
 Cheaper Edition. 8s. clolh boards. 
 
 " The importance of this biography cannot be over-stimted. It is excellently produced, 
 and eminently deserves a large circulation." Time*. 
 
 Christ and the Heroes of Heathendom. By the Rev. JAMES 
 
 WKLLS, M. A., author of "Bible Echo 
 3. &1. cloth. 
 
 etc. With Five Illustrations. Crowu Svo 
 
 This volume give* a clear and attractive Sketch of .Eschylm, Socrates, Plato, and Epictctui. 
 It then sliows how Christ only can satisfy the longings felt by them- great men, and 
 accomplish truly the ends they sought. 
 
 St. Augustine: His Life and Timet. By the Rev. R. WHELBR 
 
 BUSH, M. A., Rector of St. Alphage, London Wall. Crown Svo. 3s. 6d. cloth. 
 
 Chrysostom: His Life and Times. By the Rev. R. WHELER 
 
 Br.su, M.\., H.R.O.S. Crown STO. is. cloth. 
 
 Mahomet and Islam. A Sketch of the Prophet's Life, from 
 
 original sonrcesi, and a brief outline of his Religion. By Sir WILLIAM Mr IB, K.O.s.l., 
 Ltj Ii . n.C.L., formerly Lieutenant Governor of the North-Went Provinces of India. 
 With Illustrations and a large Hap of Arabia. 4e. cloth. 
 
 Worthies of Science. 
 
 Crown Svo. 4g. cloth boards. 
 
 By the Rev. JOHN STOUGHTOX, D.U. 
 
 THB REUOIOUI Tucr SOCIBTY, L<>NII>.
 
 RECENT BOOKS. 
 
 The Life of Jesus Christ the Saviour. By Mrs. S. WATSON. 
 
 With many fine uj.'rnvin?s. Crown Svo. 5s. cloth, bevelled boards. 
 "Mrs. Watson's book is admirable. It tells the story with great simplicity anil ease of 
 style : but then is evidence that difficulties have been carefully considered, and much light 
 is thrown upon those poinU which, as they occur in the Gospels, are obscure to the unlearned 
 reader." Prctbyterian Mexteityer. 
 
 Winter Pictures. By Poet and Artist. An elegant book, most 
 
 appropriate {or a Christmas or New Year's Gift. Profusely illustrated in the flneststyle 
 of Wood Engraving. By EIMVAIUI WHYMJ'ER. Quarto. 6s. cloth boards, gilt. 
 " The wood engravings by Mr. Edward Whymper are designed in accordance with the 
 
 subject and tone of the poems sclecK-d by the editor, whose choice does credit to his taste and 
 
 judgment." lUmttrattd Luxdon .\~ra-f. " 
 
 The King's Windows ; or, Glimpses of the Wonderful "Works of 
 
 God. By th< late R-_-v. E. PAXTOX HOOD, authorof " Vignettes of the Great Revival." 
 
 etc. With forty-four Illustrations. Imp. 16mo. 6s. cloth. 
 
 " Well got up and well illustrated. . . Good selections of poetry, drawn from many 
 different sources, are freely interspersed, and add to the value and attractiveness of the 
 descriptions." Syectalor. 
 
 A Crown of Flowers : Poems and Pictures collected from the 
 
 pages of ' The Girl's Own Paper." Edited by CHARLES PETERS. With illustrations 
 by M. E. Edwards, Davidson Knowles, Frank Dicksee, AJI.A., R Cattcrson Smith, 
 '.Ames. Charles Green. John C. Staples, G. H. Edwards, (yKeily, J. McL. Ralston, 
 William Small. Frank Dadd, and other eminent artists, 6g. handsome cloth, gill. 
 " This book cannot fail to be most acceptable as a prize- or present to young ladies, who 
 will find in it at once a source of pleasure and profit.'' Queen. 
 
 Life's Pleasure Garden ; or, The Conditions of a Happy Life. 
 
 By W. HU>; Mn.LER. author of '"The Mirage of Life.'"'The Culture of Pleasure," 
 _-. With fine Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d- cloth boards, gilt edges. 
 
 MISSIONARY LIFE AND WORK. 
 
 Glimpses of Maori Land. By ANNIE R. BUTLER. With 
 
 Illustrations ami Map by E. WHYMPER. Crown Svo. 5g. cloth boards. 
 
 The Gospel in South India : or, Illustrations of the Religious 
 
 Life, Experience and Character of Hindu Christians. By the Rev. SAMUEL MATKKB, 
 K !,..., author of -The Land of Charity," '-Native Life in Travaucore," etc. With 
 Illustrations. Crown Svo. 3s. d. cloth. 
 
 Every-day Life in China ; or, Scenes along River and Road in 
 
 the Celestial Empire. By the Bev. EDWIX J. DCKF.B. With Illustrations from the 
 Author's Sketches. Crown Svo. 5s. cloth boards. 
 
 Work and Adventure in New Guinea, 1877 to 1885. By 
 
 .; \VK.S CHALMKRS. of Port Moresby, and W. WVATT GILL, B.A. With Map and 
 Illustrations. Crown bvo. 6s. cloth boards. 
 
 Among the Mongols. By the Rev. JAMES GILMOCR, M.A. 
 
 (of Poking). With Map and numerous Engravings. Demy Svo. fe. cloth. 
 
 Every-day Life in South India ; or, the Story of Coopooswamey. 
 
 An Autobiography. With many fine Engravings. 3s 6d. cloth boards. 
 
 Madagascar and France. With some Account of the Island, 
 
 it- Peopl*-. its Ri"io'trre and Development. By GKORGK A. SHAW, Y.I. s.. London 
 Mission, Tamatave. With many Illustrations and a Map. Crown Svo. 6s. cloth boards. 
 
 In Southern India. A Visit to some of the chief Mission Stations 
 
 in the Madras Presidency. By Mrs. MURRAY MITCHELL, author of ' In India : a 
 Missionary's Wife among the Wild Tribes of South Bengal," eto. With a Map and 
 many Illustrations. Crown Svo. 6. cloth board*. 
 
 Jottings from the Pacific. By the Rev. W. WYATT GILL, B.A., 
 
 author of " Life in the Southern Isles," and joint author of " Work and Adventure in 
 New Guinea." Illustrated. Crown Svo. os. cloth boards. 
 
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 The Child's Companion An- 
 nual. Is. 6d. coloured boards ; 2s. cloth ; 
 *s. 6d. handsome cloth, gilt. 
 
 The " Child's 
 Companion" Vol- 
 umes form very 
 nice gift Ixmkh 
 for children. 
 They are full of 
 pretty I'i. i .r> - 
 With a Coloured 
 Frontispiece. The 
 Volume for 1886 
 contains a story 
 by Mrs. Walton, 
 and a host of 
 other int4TiKtiiiK 
 reading. 
 
 THK RELICIOCS TRACT SOCIETY, LOKDUM.
 
 UCSR
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBWflY FACILITY