in a ›ninute, and operated on the fish, looking rather grave the while. berg; the long winter nights when the decks are as glass, and the sailor has to climb through icicles to bend the stiff sail on the yard! Think of their courage and their kindnesses in cold, in tempest, in hunger, in wreck ! Then he went on deck again; and this time was absent, it may be, three or five minutes, during which the fish disappeared, and the entrées arrived, and the roast beef. Say ten minutes" The women and children to the passed I can't tell after nine years. Then L-- came down with a pleased and happy countenance this time, and began carving the sirloin: "We have seen the light," he said. Madam, may I help you to a little gravy, or a little horse-radish?" or what not? I forget the name of the light; nor does it matter. It was It was a point off Newfoundland for which he was on the look-out, and so well did "The Canada" know where she was, that, between soup and beef, the captain had sighted the headland by which his course was lying. And so through storm and darkness, through fog and midnight, the ship had pursued her steady way over the pathless ocean and roaring seas, so surely that the officers who sailed her knew her place within a minute or two, and guided us with a wonderful providence safe on our way. Since the noble Cunard Company has run its ships, but one accident, and that through the error of a pilot, has happened on the line. By this little incident (hourly of course repeated, and trivial to all sea-going people) I own I was immensely moved, and never can think of it but with a heart full of thanks and awe. We trust our lives to these seamen, and how nobly they fulfil their trust! They are, under heaven, as a providence for us. Whilst we sleep, their untiring watchfulness keeps guard over us. All night through that bell sounds at its season, and tells how our sentinels defend us. It rang when "The Amazon " was on fire, and chimed its heroic signal of duty, and courage, and honor. Think of the dangers these seamen undergo for us the hourly peril and watch; the familiar storm; the dreadful ice boats," says the captain of “The Birkenhead," and, with the troops formed on the deck, and the crew obedient to the word of glorious command, the immortal ship goes down. Read the story of "The Sarah Sands : ' "SARAI SANDS. 'The screw steam-ship 'Sarah Sands,' 1,330 registered tons, was chartered by the East India Company in the autumn of 1858, for the conveyance of troops to India. She was commanded by John Squire Castle. She took out a part of the 54th Regiment, upwards of 350 persons, besides the wives and children of some of the men, and the families of some of the officers. All went well till the 11th November, when the ship had reached lat. 14 S., long. 56 E., upwards of 400 miles from the Mauritius. day a very strong smell of fire was per"Between three and four p.m. on that ceived arising from the after-deck, and upon going below into the hold, Captain Castle found it to be on fire, and immense volumes of smoke arising from it. Endeavors were made to reach the seat of the fire, but in vain; the smoke and heat were too much for the men. There was, however, no confusion. Every order was obeyed with the same coolness and courage with which it was given. The engine was immediately stopped. All sail was taken in, and the ship brought to the wind, so as to drive the smoke and fire, which was in the after-part of the ship, astern. Others were, at the same time, getting fire-hoses fitted and passed to the scene of the fire. The fire, however, continued to increase, and attention was directed to the ammunition contained in the powder-magazines, which were situated one on each side the ship immediately above the fire. The starboard magazine was soon cleared. But by this time the whole of the after-part of the ship was so much enveloped in smoke that it was scarcely possible to stand, and great fears were entertained on account of the port magazine. Volunteers were called for, and came immediately, and, under the guidance of Lieutenant Hughes, attempted to clear the port magazine, which they succeeded in doing, with the exception, as was supposed, of one or two barrels. It was most dangerous work. The men became overpowered with the smoke and heat, and fell; and several, while thus engaged, were dragged up by ropes, senseless. "The flames soon burst up through the deck, and running rapidly along the various cabins, set the greater part on fire. "In the mean time Captain Castle took steps for lowering the boats. There was a heavy gale at the time, but they were launched without the least accident. The soldiers were mustered on deck; - there was no rush to the boats; and the men | obeyed the word of command as if on parade. The men were informed that Captain Castle did not despair of saving the ship, but that they must be prepared to leave her if necessary. The women and children were lowered into the port lifeboat, under the charge of Mr. Very, third officer, who had orders to keep clear of the ship until recalled. Captain Castle then commenced constructing rafts of spare spars. In a short time, three were put together, which would have been capable of saving a great number of those on board. Two were launched overboard, and safely moored alongside, and then a third was left a third was left across the deck forward, ready to be launched. "In the mean time the fire had made great progress. The whole of the cabins were one body of fire, and at about 8.30 p.m. flames burst through the upper deck, and shortly after the mizzen rigging caught fire. Fears were entertained of the ship paying off, in which case the flames would have been swept forwards by the wind; but fortunately the after-braces were burnt through, and the main yard swung round, which kept the ship's head to wind. About nine p.m., a fearful explosion took place in the port magazine, arising, no doubt, from the one or two barrels of powder which it had been impossible to remove. By this time the ship was one body of flame, from the stern to the main rigging, and thinking it scarcely possible to save her, Captain Castle called Major Brett (then in command of the troops, for the Colonel was in one of the boats) forward, and, telling him that he feared the ship was lost, requested him to endeavor to keep order amongst the troops till the last, but, at the same time, to use every exertion to check the fire. Providentially, the iron bulkhead in the after-part of the ship withstood the action of the flames, and here all efforts were concentrated to keep it cool. "No person,' says the captain, 'can describe the manner in which the men worked to keep the fire back; one party were below, keeping the bulkhead cool, and when several were dragged up sense. less, fresh volunteers took their places, who were, however, soon in the same state. At about ten p.m., the maintopsail-yard took fire. Mr. Welch, one quartermaster, and four or five soldiers, went aloft with wet blankets, and succeeded in extinguishing it, but not until the yard and mast were nearly burnt through. The work of fighting the fire below continued for hours, and about midnight it appeared that some impression was made; and after that, the men drove it back, inch by inch, until daylight, when they had completely got it under. The ship was now in a frightful plight. The after-part was literally burnt out-mercly the shell remaining-the port quarter blown out by the explosion: fifteen feet of water in the hold.' "The gale still prevailed, and the ship was rolling and pitching in a heavy sea, and taking in large quantities of water abaft: the tanks, too, were rolling from side to side in the hold. "As soon as the smoke was partially cleared away, Captain Castle got spare sails and blankets aft to stop the leak, passing two hawsers round the stern, and setting them up. The troops were employed This conployed baling and pumping. tinued during the whole morning. The troops "In the course of the day the ladies joined the ship. The boats were ordered alongside, but they found the sea too heavy to remain there. The gig had been abandoned during the night, and the crew, under Mr. Wood, fourth officer, had got into another of the boats. were employed the remainder of the day baling and pumping, and the crew securing the stern. All hands were employed during the following night baling and pumping, the boats being moored alongside, where they received some damage. At daylight, on the 13th, the crew were employed hoisting the boats, the troops were working manfully baling and pumping. Latitude at noon, 13 deg. 12 min. south. At five p.m., the foresail and foretopsail were set, the rafts were cut away, and the ship bore for the Mauritius. Thursday, the 19th, she sighted the Island of Rodrigues, and arrived at Mauritius on Monday the 23d." On The Nile and Trafalgar are not more glorious to our country, are not greater victories, than these won by our merchant scamen. And if you look in the Captains' reports of any maritime register, you will see similar acts recorded every day I have such a volume, for last year, now lying before me. In the second number, as I open it at hazard, Captain Roberts, master of the ship "Empire," from Shields to London, reports how on the 14th ult. (the 14th December, 1859), he, "being off Whitby, discovered the ship to be on fire between the main hold and boilers: got the hose from the engine laid on, and succeeded in subduing the fire; but only apparently; for at seven the next morning, The Dudgeon' bearS. S. E. seven miles' distance, the fire again broke out, causing the ship to be enveloped in flames on both sides of midships: got the hose again into play and all hands to work with buckets to combat with the fire. Did not succeed in stopping it till four P.M., to effect which, were obliged to cut away the deck and top sides, and throw overboard part of the cargo. The vessel was very much damaged and leaky: determined to make for the Humber. Ship was run on shore, on the mud, near Grimsby harbor, with five feet of water in her hold. The donkey-engine broke down. The water increased so fast as to put out the furnace fires, and render the ship almost unmanageable. On the tide flowing, a tug towed the ship off the mud, and got her into Grimsby to repair." it prudent for the benefit of those con- Captain Coulson, master of the brig 'Othello," reports that his brig foundered off Portland, December 27; encountering a strong gale, and shipping two heavy seas in succession, which hove the ship on her beamends. Observing no chance of saving the ship, took to the long-boat, and, within ten minutes of leaving her, saw the brig founder. We were picked up the same morning by the French shipCommerce de Paris,' Captain Tombarel.” Here, in a single column of a newspaper, what strange, touching pictures do we find of scamen's dangers, vicisOn the 2d of November, Captain situdes, gallantry, generosity! The Strickland, of "The Purchase ship on fire the captain in the gale brigantine, from Liverpool to Yar-slinging himself in a bowline to stop mouth, U. S., “ encountered heavy the leak the Frenchman in the gales from W.N.W. to W.S.W., in hour of danger coming to his British lat. 43° N., long. 34° W., in which comrade's rescue the brigantine, we lost jib, foretopmast, staysail, top-almost a wreck, working up to the sail, and carried away the foretopmast barque with the signal of distress flystays, bobstays, and bowsprit, head-ing, and taking off her crew of thirteen sails, cut-water, and stern, also start-men. "We then proceeded on our ed the wood ends, which caused the course, the crew of the abandoned vessel vessel to leak. Put her before the wind and sea, and hove about twentyfive tons of cargo overboard to lighten the ship forward. Slung myself in a bowline, and by means of thrusting 24-inch rope in the opening, contrived to stop a great portion of the leak. assisting all they could to keep my ship afloat.' What noble, simple words! What courage, devotedness, brotherly love! Do they not cause the heart to beat, and the eyes to fill? This is what seamen do daily, and for one another. One lights occasionally upon different stories. It happened, not very long since, that the passengers by one of the great ocean steamers were wrecked, and, after undergoing the most severe | expedition, in the dangers and dreadhardships, were left, destitute and helpless, at a miserable coaling port. Amongst them were old men, ladies, and children. When the next steamer arrived, the passengers by that steamer took alarm at the haggard and miserable appearance of their unfortunate predecessors, and actually remonstrated with their own captain, urging him not to take the poor creatures on board. There was every excuse, of course. The last-arrived steamer was already dangerously full; the cabins were crowded; there were sick and delicate people on board sick and delicate people who had paid a large price to the company for room, food, comfort, already not too sufficient. If fourteen of us are in an omnibus, will we see three or four women outside, and say, "Come in, because this is the last bus, and it rains"? Of course not: but think of that remonstrance, and of that Samaritan master of " The Purchase brigantine! ful glories of which he shared; and the In the winter of '53, I went from Marseilles to Civita Vecchia, in one of the magnificent P. and O. ships, "The Valetta," the master of which subsequently did distinguished service in the Crimea. This was his first Mediterranean voyage, and he sailed his ship by the charts alone, going into each port as surely as any pilot. I remember walking the deck at night with this most skilful, gallant, well-it: and, having just read the bred, and well-educated gentleman, memoirs of LORD DUNDONALD, I and the glow of eager enthusiasm know who ought to have the first with which he assented, when I asked Grand Cross. him whether he did not think a RIBBON or ORDER would be welcome or useful in his service. Why is there not, then, an Order of Britannia? of Britannia? One day a young officer of "The Euryalus TORIES. may win Why is there not an ORDER OF ON SOME LATE GREAT VICBRITANNIA for British seamen? In the Merchant and the Royal Navy alike, occur almost daily instances and occasions for the display of science, skill, bravery, fortitude in trying circumstances, resource in danger. In the first number of "The Cornhill Magazine," a friend contributed a most touching story of the M'Clintock ON the 18th day of April last I went to see a friend in a neighboring Crescent, and on the steps of the next house beheld a group something * Prince Alfred was serving on board the frigate "Euryalus" when this was written. like that here depicted. A news-boy had stopped in his walk, and was reading aloud the journal which it was his duty to deliver; a pretty orange-girl, with a heap of blazing fruit, rendered more brilliant by one of those great blue papers in which oranges are now artfully wrapped, leant over the railing and listened; and opposite the nympham discentem there was a capering and acute-eared young satirist of a crossing-sweeper, who had left his neighboring professional avocation and chance of profit in order to listen to the tale of the little news-boy. when history relates that the fight was over. I do not know whose colors I wore the Benician's, or those of the Irish champion; nor remember where the fight took place, which, indeed, no somnambulist is bound to recollect. Ought Mr. Sayers to be honored for being brave, or punished for being naughty? By the shade of Brutus the elder, I don't know. In George II.'s time, there was a turbulent navy lieutenant (Handsome Smith he was called his picture is at Greenwich now, in brown velvet, and gold and scarlet; his coat handsome, his waistcoat exceedingly handThat intelligent reader, with his some; but his face by no means the hand following the line as he read it beauty)—there was, I say, a turbuout to his audience, was saying: lent young lieutenant who was broke "And now Tom coming up on a complaint of the French ambassmiling after his fall-dee-deliv-sador, for obliging a French ship of ered a rattling clinker upon the Beni-war to lower her topsails to his ship cia Boy's-potato-trap · but was at Spithead. But, by the King's ormet by a punisher on the nose which," &c., &c.; or words to that effect. Betty at 52 let me in, while the boy was reading his lecture; and, having been some twenty minutes or so in the house and paid my visit, I took leave. The little lecturer was still at work on the 51 doorstep, and his audience had scarcely changed their position. Having read every word of the battle myself in the morning, I did not stay to listen further; but if the gentleman who expected his paper at the usual hour that day experienced delay and a little disappointment I shall not be surprised. I am not going to expatiate on the battle. I have read in the correspondent's letter of a Northern newspaper, that in the midst of the company assembled, the reader's humble servant was present, and in a very polite society, too, of "poets, clergymen, men of letters, and members of both Houses of Parliament." If so, I must have walked to the station in my sleep, paid three guineas in a profound fit of mental abstraction, and returned to bed unconscious, for I certainly woke there about the time ders, Tom was next day made Cap- suppose you are bent on holding the ground, and dying there, if need be suppose it is life, freedom, honor, home, you are |