und die Damen links, but the bathing-machines must be moved to suit the wind. The passage across cannot be made when the weather is rough, and sometimes for two or three days the bathers must do without their dip. When the wind is rising, a sharp look out must be kept on the red flag, for when once it has been lowered, woe betide the loiterers on the Düne; many hours of captivity on this lonely weird-like spot may be the smallest penalty, and instances have occurred of persons having to remain there the whole night. There is a small 'Pavilion,' to furnish breakfast to those who prefer taking it here rather than return so early; this is the only building on the Düne. A part of the sandy hillocks is used as a burial place for poor sailors, whose drowned bodies are cast on the Düne; a sort of fence divides these resting-places from the rest of the islet, but there is no other mark to tell that the spot is consecrated to the dead. No simple cross, or weeping willow, to show where the loved and lost are laid; theirs is a more imperishable record; for them the swell of the mighty ocean chants an endless dirge. One of the most beautiful sights of this northern sea is the Meerleuchten, when the waters seem turned into a living mass of Nokteluken. The boats, as they move along on their silent course, through the dusky night, leave tracks behind them of such brilliant radiance as if they were steering their way through a sea of diamonds, and a fringe of the same lustrous gems is hanging from the uplifted oar, while the waves of the Northern Ocean are casting endless coronals of these rare jewels over the shores of the little island, and the lonely barren Düne. Or one could fancy that by some strange freak myriads of glow-worms had found their way here, and were bathing in the crystal waters; or that some unusually erring comet was following the boat of some Helgolander! Next to the Meerleuchten, and the sunsets, the Grottenbeleuchtung is the finest sight in Helgoland. About ten at night, the spectators embark in boats, accompanied by the band, and row all round the island. Bonfires are lighted in the principal caverns and hollows, and the effect is very grand; the red sandstone cliffs being converted into masses of a brilliant colour, and each fantastic shape of the caverns brought prominently forward. In some of the larger caves boys will pass and re-pass in front of the fires, and cast grotesque shadows on the deep red back-ground, forming scenes fit for the pencil of a Salvator Rosa. One boat carries Bengal lights and rockets, which are thrown up from time to time; and thus one goes round the island-one moment moving on through the dark night, with only the plashing of the oars to break the stillness, and the boats around looking like phantoms on the dusky water; in the next minute one is in a blaze of light, rockets tracking coloured lines in the air, the fires changing the dull dark cliffs into masses of burning red, and the gay music transporting one to some enchanted land.

The sunsets seen from the Nordspitze are grand, but to watch them while on the water is still more magnificent. When the sea is perfectly calm, the sun seems to rest on the bosom of the occan, and send a long

line of fire before it; and when one turns away from this dazzling light, and looks down into the transparent water, one seems to be floating over a submarine forest: here long palm-like leaves are waving to and fro; there the most exquisite fern-like fronds are resting in the glassy sea; and the colours are as beautiful as the forms. Gradually the line of light on the water becomes shorter, each time we look up we find it diminished, till at last the ball of fire rests alone on the ocean, then this loses its roundness, bit by bit it sinks into the deep; almost breathlessly we watch the last speck vanish, and exclaim, 'It is gone.' But one loses one beauty only to find another, for now the moon lights her silvery lamp, and makes things almost more lovely than they were before; she softens the red cliffs, the green sea, and the blue air-which, though gorgeous, are wanting in harmony, and her soft radiance tones the too glaring colours into subdued beauty; even our restless hearts seem calmed and softened by the spirit of repose and rest around us; the merry laughter and joyous voices gradually cease-and as we move on through the calm waters, we sink into thoughtful reveries, and involuntarily to one of the little party come the words of our glorious Benedicite, 'O ye Seas and Floods, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.'

B. H.

A SECOND VISIT TO SANDWELL.

(SEE MONTHLY PACKET, 1859.)

Ir is now eleven years since Miss Selwyn, the sister of the Bishop, then of New Zealand, now of Lichfield, in cordial co-operation with the beneficent designs of the Earl of Dartmouth, placed herself at Sandwell, the noble and spacious residence which he had resolved to make the seat of various charitable institutions.

In 1859, I wrote you a short account of my first visit there, and expressed the interest and expectations which the scheme inspired. A recent visit enables me with pleasure to affirm that when I run my eye over the circular which then spoke of things that might be, I can now declare that the five branches into which the admirably-devised scheme was then divided, have each grown and prospered, and been productive of much good to the class it was designed to benefit.

I will just enumerate the various objects, and give a short account of the manner in which each is being carried out. I see no plainer way in which I can render an idea of the present state of things, nor any more likely to stir the desire to aid in the cause. It may also convey to some weary, hopeless hearts the knowledge of a haven within reach.

I. A Home for Ladies. Of this Home, thirteen widows and twenty single ladies have availed themselves. Eight widows have brought with them children, to the number of fourteen, some of them old enough to

receive education, and others infants. At Sandwell they have enjoyed every means of health and comfort, and have received the most tender and considerate kindness from the Lady Superintendent, whose numerous acts of generosity, and devoted attention to the interests of the community, not even duly restrained by care for her own health and requirements, must have excited the liveliest gratitude in many hearts. I am happy to say she has found coadjutors, like-minded with herself, who give her untiring aid and judicious support.

II. A School for the Daughters of Clergymen and Others, of Limited Income. The school is now in excellent working. It began with the tuition of the children of ladies resident, and opened on a larger scale with a salaried governess in 1862. The number admitted has been ninety-three; the average number resident is twenty-eight. Of these pupils, thirty-eight were fatherless, four the orphans of clergy, and twenty-six clergymen's daughters have been placed there by living parents. I must say that nothing could be more agreeable than the impression made on me by the happy arrangements of this particular group. I spent Sunday and Monday under the roof, and it appeared to me that all the ingredients for health, cheerfulness, and progressive improvement one could desire in a boarding-school, were here combined in a very remarkable manner. The locality presents the advantages of England's fine old country homes. The garden, with its beautiful lake, the park, the farm, give scope for daily exercise and recreation, with variety and freedom which must contribute to health and merriment, and expansion of physical and mental faculties, far more than the regular town walk, which, however, may not be without its excitement, however dull and drilled it may appear to the passer-by. Here, the dress is simple, while unrestricted by vexatious rules, the fare good and sufficient; the sleeping chambers at the top of the house show the kind and thoughtful care which ministers to comfort, without creating a taste for, or need of, luxury and softness. There is nothing to unfit these young girls for a return to their own homes and the ordinary course of life before them; while if they seek means of self-maintenance, as many of them desire to do, they go forth well prepared for the effort, strengthened in mind and body by the healthy influences which surround them at Sandwell. The tuition is good and regular, as may be safely reckoned on when the scholastic acquirements and high natural endowments of the Lady Principal, and her singularly happy gift of imparting her stores to others, are taken into consideration. Masters attend from Birmingham to give lessons in those subjects not included in the daily instructions-German, music, and drawing, for example. It is a pleasant circumstance that the scenery affords very good exercise for out-door sketching. Besides the excellent governess and governess pupils, the ladies resident, as well as the Lady Principal, take classes. I shall not forget Miss Selwyn's Sunday class on the Christian Year, at which she kindly allowed me to be present, and to listen to reading,

which was in itself the best lesson that could be bestowed on that most valuable and rarely acquired art. The chapel is now fitted up for the accommodation of the whole household, out-numbering eighty; and the present arrangement with the Incumbent of West Bromwich, to provide the Services of the Church, affords him another curate in his thickly populated parish. We met morning and evening in the chapel for prayer, and I was delighted to find that Miss Selwyn continues her catechizing, which I remembered for its excellence. The Industrial girls and boys are present, and the special objects of her instruction; the upper school sitting in the gallery.

III. A Home for Young Governesses when not engaged in situations. Twenty have thankfully availed themselves of this privilege, finding their work and their improvement in assisting in the school; six of these were French and German. They have gratefully acknowledged the advantages they are now deriving from their improved education, and the power to fill higher situations than they could formerly seek.

IV. A Training Institution for Boys and Girls. This branch of the work has been carried on more or less efficiently from the very first entrance into Sandwell, by Miss Selwyn and the ladies resident; and about two hundred girls and sixty-six boys have passed through the establishment. Many girls were received from the factories during the great distress, and with lively gratitude obtained comfortable shelter in their time of greatest need, and training which fitted them for service, which some of them entered; but most returned to their factories sooner or later. In like manner, there are now many among the boys who were left orphans after the last visitation of cholera. Of the one hundred girls who have been sent out as servants, most have given satisfaction, and some have done remarkably well. Seventy girls have been confirmed, and a few of the children baptized. The labour of the boys, under a labour-master, has been very productive. Miss Selwyn rents about a hundred and twelve acres of land; fifteen are mown for hay, fourteen are arable. Cows, and of late sheep, are kept. The children are all trained and superintended by good upperservants and the ladies resident; and the

V. Object of the Institution, A Home for Young Servants during the intervals of their engagements, has also been profitable, both to those who needed a home, and those who needed training.

I have now given you a somewhat comprehensive sketch (it is but a sketch) of what Sandwell is. Beyond all the present work, there is a possible future, which engages the thoughts, and excites the earnest desire for accomplishment of all those who have a personal and practical acquaintance with Sandwell. Its noble buildings might afford accommodation to many more than now dwell in them, but are unavailable to increased numbers without extensive repairs and rearrangements. That these will ere long be set on foot, we need not, however, despair. Out-houses, stables, and other parts of the building,

once required by a nobleman's establishment, would now make excellent dormitories and school-rooms. The upper school might be extended to forty pupils. A middle school might be opened for the daughters of the tradespeople of the neighbourhood, who are greatly in want of such for their children, and it is believed would hail with delight such an opening at Sandwell. With respect to the Industrial School, on the contrary, it has been found that the admission of girls from the immediate vicinity is not desirable; they hanker for their homes, and the mischievous freedom enjoyed in them. There is also a difficulty in finding the relatives and friends of girls in any way capable of earning their bread, willing to pay for their training, with a view to starting them in superior situations, however well they know, however frankly they acknowledge the permanent injury done them, and to the whole class of servants, by sending them out untrained. One mode of remedy proposed, is the opening of an Orphanage, admitting the children at six years old, including boys and girls, who at a proper age would be drafted into the industrial classes, and be free of payment from the time they began to work. The industrial boys and girls could be admitted to the schoolrooms of the Orphanage at their hours of instruction, coming as they do now in detachments for that purpose. They are at present taught in combination with day scholars, who come from the lodges and cottages on the estate, whose parents thankfully accept this provision.

All the various classes we have enumerated might be brought into connection, to the mutual aid of each. By the adoption of these further plans, the benefits of a healthy home and a good education would rapidly be extended to a much larger number of persons than has yet been reached through the instrumentality of Sandwell. There is good cause to desire, and good reason to hope, that where so much has been effected, much more may be successfully undertaken. The same munificence, self-devotion, and unwearied exertions, which began these works, may by the blessing of God carry them out to an extent not yet to be measured; and all whose interest is awakened in the cause, will unite in a hearty prayer for those engaged in this arduous undertaking, that they, plenteously bringing forth the fruit of good works, may of Him be plenteously rewarded,' through Jesus Christ our Lord.

RECOLLECTIONS OF PAROCHIAL WORK
IN IRELAND.

My dear Friend,

I must not conclude this meagre record of my parochial recollections without some notice of the influence of the Irish language, in many parts of the country, on the relationship of the different classes of society. There are, I believe, about one hundred and sixty thousand