of the roughest nights we have had. The sight of the infuriated waves was awfully grand. Truly did the Psalmist say, "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in the great waters; these see the work of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep." The gale increased on the Sabbath, and we were unable to have any service. Seeing the Captain rushing on deck without overcoat or hat, I looked out of the cabin-door and saw that a large portion of the bulwarks had been washed away by an enormous wave which flooded the quarter deck to the depth of three feet. The boatswain and one of the seamen, who were standing on the forecastle at the time, were washed down on the main-deck; and the man at the helm was carried right over the wheel. It was a time of great danger; but, thank God, I am ever able to trust in Him. Hail, snow, and intense cold accompanied the storm, and this weather continued with little abatement for several days. One day the thermometer was as low as 179. I really cannot understand how the poor sailors stand the work day after day as they do. The passengers

feel the cold very much, and my daughter has been unable to leave her bed for several days. The cold has been so great that everything on deck is coated with ice. Boiling water has to be poured into the blocks before the ropes can be drawn through, and I saw the Cap'tain come into the cabin a day or two ago with icicles hanging to his beard.

My heart heaves with gratitude to God for His goodness in my preservation during the last sixty years. To-day is the sixtieth anniversary of my nativity, and I may truly say,

"Oft hath the sea confessed thy power, And given me back at thy command." Memory is active in recalling scenes of past years, and I am indeed humbled before Him when I reflect on the numerous manifestations of His goodness and mercy, and I may therefore well add,

"Oft from the margin of the grave, Thou, Lord, hast lifted up my head;

Sudden I found Thee near to save; The fever owned Thy touch and fled." These reflections are overpowering to my feelings, I hasten to conclude with the sincere prayer of my heart,

"Assist me still my course to run,

And still direct my paths to Thee." Lat. 52° 57' S. Long. 48° 7′ W.

Tuesday, 28th June. We have now passed three sabbaths without holding divine service, and I can say with the sweet singer of Israel,

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My soul thirsteth for Thee, to see Thy power and thy glory as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary." Since I last wrote, the rough weather has continued without much intermission, and to the great inconvenience of all on board, both the cook and the steward have been ill. My daughter is still very poorly, the cold seems to affect her lungs; and I myself have also been unwell.

I have just completed reading Macaulay's History of England. I never felt more grateful that my lot is cast in so favourable an age. I devoutly thank God for the great things Protestantism has wrought in my native land. I have also much enjoyed reading the "Power of Prayer."

There is now a great change in the temperature. Since we passed the Falkland Isles, we have had much more enjoyable weather; but our progress has at times been very slow. I have now nearly given up all hope of reaching the Conference. I will not say, "All these things are against me;" though at times I am tempted to say so; but I will hope that they are amongst the "All things working together for my good." Lat. 379 25' S. Long. 309 42' W.

Monday, July 11th. Yesterday was our twelfth sabbath on board. By this time we expected to be near the English Channel; but are now several hundred miles south of the Equator. Yesterday I conducted divine service, and found it good to be engaged in the Lord's work. On Sunday week the Captain read a sermon on Luke xi.24-26. The author tried to prove that backsliders never possessed true religion; but I

thought the arguments weak. I have been very poorly lately-restless in the night. On Tuesday, I had an attack of determination of blood to the head, to which I am subject, but I now feel much better. I am grieved to see the careless indifference of many of the passengers and crew to anything sacred. How true it is, the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God-neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." We have now very little wind, and are consequently making but little progress. Lat. 209 16' S. Long 15 9' W.

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July 23rd, Saturday. During the last ten days we have had beautiful weather, and favourable winds. On Wednesday, the 20th, we crossed the Line in Long. 209 17' W. and lately we have seen several ships, though we have been too distant to signal them.

On Sunday the Captain read a good sermon on the inquiry of the trembling gaoler, and the Apostle's reply. It was plain and pointed, and I hope it may have its desired effect. My first thoughts upon waking are generally with my family and friends, and in my dreams I am there also, and frequently find it difficult to dispel the illusion when I awake. This morning, my thoughts have been with my Brethren in the Stationing Committee. My prayer is that they may realize the presence of our common Lord, and that He may direct their deliberations to a right issue.

Monday, Aug. 1st. During the last week we have had a favourable breeze Yesterday week I greatly offended one of the passengers by a remark made in speaking from John ix. 4. After referring to the limited period of life, and urging the youth to improve the morning, I spoke of the noon and evening of life, urging those also who had advanced in years to attend at once to the claims of the soul, observing that "with some of us the morning and noon both had fled, and that our silvered heads and declining strength ought to remind us that our day was far spent, and that the shadows of evening

were mantling the sky." This portion gave offence to one gentleman, whose head was among the number of those turning grey. The next day, offering my hand as usual, he refused to take it. I hope that ere long the word may bring forth fruit. Yesterday, the Captain read a cold and cheerless discourse on Malachi iii. 2, which the author applied exclusively to the second advent of the Saviour. I have been much in spirit with the Brethren at Conference, and in the public services. I have shared, I trust, some of the heavenly influence which I hope has copiously descended upon them Nor can I forget that this is the day to which I had so fondly looked forward when, after an absence of fourteen years, I should again meet my beloved brethren in the ministry upon the Missionary platform. My earnest prayer is that God will send His blessing. Latitude 17° 1' North. Long. 21° 55′ W.

August 8th. Yesterday was our sixteenth Sabbath on the water. During the former part of last week I felt as if in constant communion with my Brethren at the Conference, and was often refreshed while pleading that God might be in their midst to direct their deliberations to a right issue.

For some time I have been pained to see the intemperance of one or two of our passengers. I cannot understand how the Captain, who is a professor of religion, and loud in his condemnation of the sin of drunkenness, can allow such quantities of liquor to be sold.

Yesterday was another dreary Sabbath. The Captain conducted the service, and read a sermon on Christian Contentment, not very suitable to the assembly. Perhaps it was designed to reconcile the passengers to the inconveniences of this long voyage. We are now

about two thousand miles from England. Latitude 299 53, N., Longitude 38° 16, W., we hope, therefore, another fortnight will terminate this tedious passage, bring us to the society of our friends and relatives, and satisfy our longing hearts with the privilege of again

entering the Lord's House with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.

August 15th. We have made little progress since I wrote last. Hope

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deferred maketh the heart sick." Yesterday was another cheerless Sabbath, the service cold and lifeless. I still enjoy sweet seasons in private, though I am at times severely exercised. We are now about seventeen hundred miles from London, but I am grateful to add, a fair wind after days of calm has just sprung up, before which we are running seven knots an hour.

Wednesday, August 24th. Last Friday evening the wind veered round to the East, and blew with terrific fury until Monday evening, when there was a slight abatement; consequently, no service could be held on the Sabbath. We have had three days and three nights of fearful tossings, the sea presenting a scene of awful grandeur. Many mishaps have occurred to the sails and rigging, some of the passengers have been terror-smitten, but thanks be to God, He who rides upon the stormy skies, and calms the roaring winds, has watched over us and preserved us; for which my heart heaves with gratitude, and also for the peaceful calm I enjoyed during the storm. We are still a thousand miles from London, and our hopes of being in time for the August mail to Australia have vanished. I am sorry to say that one or two of the passengers continue their drinking habits; one of them told me the other day, that he had spent in Australia £50 in two months, on intoxicating liquors, without being drunk, and laughs at my endeavours to persuade him to abstain. Latitude 49° 42′ N. Longitude 269 33' W.

August 29th. We are still on the deep, and in more than ordinary danger. On Friday morning, at 8 o'clock, on examining the pumps, as is customary every watch, the carpenter found there were five feet of water in the hold, clearly shewing we had sprung a leak during the last four hours. Since then, it has been necessary to keep the pumps in constant motion. My son, two of the other cabin passengers, and two of

the steerage, have joined the sailors in their laborious work, taking their regular turn at the pumps, four hours on and four hours rest, day and night, and their efforts have so far succeeded in keeping down the water. Another Sabbath has passed without any service, the pumps requiring constant attention. Several of the passengers are greatly alarmed, nor is this at all marvellous, for our position is a very perilous one; but thanks to the All-wise I feel I am in his unerring hands, and enjoy an unruffled calm. Saturday and Sunday there was a dead calm, which was of course very dispiriting to both the crew and passengers, as the former were wearing themselves out without making any headway. Towards evening on Sunday the wind began to spring up, and grave fears were entertained of another gale. About six o'clock I said to the Captain, "I hope we shall soon have a good breeze," to which he replied in a very unusual tone, "But don't you see, Mr. Way, it is coming dead against I saw at once by his manner the ground there was for fear. soon as possible I retired to my cabin, and prostrated myself before him whose ears are ever open to the prayers of his people. I soon found, weak and helpless as I was in myself, I had hold on him whose strength is unfailing, and was greatly encouraged in my supplication by the remembrance of that delightful declaration of Jehovah, 66 Before

us ?"

As

they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear." It was whilst still waiting at the throne of heavenly grace, before rising from my knees, that I heard some one say from above there was a fair wind, and I had a sweet realization of the truth of the blessed promise, to which I have referred. By eight o'clock we had a fair wind, just as much as was necessary to bear us along in safety, and it has continued, through mercy, up to the hour of my writing-3 p.m. Several of the passengers are fearful they may not reach land, but I trust we shall reach in safety one of the Irish ports, or Falmouth. From the latter place we are distant about five hundred miles. We might now

increase our progress by unfurling more sail, but the sailors are too fully occupied with the pumps to attend to anything else.

Friday, Sep. 2nd. Thank God, we have safely reached a port at last. We cast anchor in Falmouth harbour about six o'clock this morning. Since Monday last the wind and weather have continued as favourable as we could wish, though on Thursday our hopes were clouded for a short season by the breaking of one of the pumps, but it was mended and put to work again in about an hour, during which time the water gained considerably, and the countenances of several bespoke their alarm.

Monday, Sept. 5th. On Saturday we went on shore. I did indeed feel grateful for the opportunity (though but for a few hours) of treading my native shores once more. I was hopeful I might have fallen in with some preachers or friends, or have obtained the Minutes of Conference, but in all these I was disappointed.

We

returned to the vessel in the evening with spirits rather depressed. Sunday was a gloomy day, the pumps still at work, though the sailors and passengers are relieved by some twelve men brought on board from Falmouth, and therefore we had a service, conducted by the minister of the Harbour, who seemed very friendly and affectionate in his manner. Both the captain and myself prayed after the sermon, and offered our sincere thanks for our preservation amidst the dangers of the voyage. The quiet of the Sabbath was broken by some of the passengers preparing to leave, and the attendance of the Custom House officers to examine their luggage before leaving the vessel. We are still in suspense whether the "Indus" is to be unladen here, or be towed up the Channel by a steamer. I have, therefore, after due deliberation, determined to leave to-morrow. I feel, since I am safe in harbour, I should not be justified in exposing myself or children to any further danger by going on to London.

Saturday, Sept. 10th. We left the " Indus " on Tuesday, about

noon, and reached the station in time for the four o'clock train. Just then, I received from Br. J. Thorne a letter, the Minutes of Conference, the Magazine, and two months' letters from my dear family; so we were reading most of our way to Plymouth, where we arrived at seven p.m., but were disappointed of meeting any of the preachers or friends, through the delay of a letter I had sent on. However, we found very good accommodation at a Temperance Hotel. I felt truly grateful for a quiet resting-place, after one hundred and thirty days tossing on the deep. In the morning, the brethren, S. Thorne, R. Kinsman, J. Brown, E. Arkell, F. W. Bourne, and Miss Thorne, came to see us, and truly I may say our joy was mutual; and that neither time nor distance dissolves that sweet union of soul, which is founded on and cemented by the love of God in Christ Jesus. We were soon taken to Mr. Samuel Thorne's, where we were hospitably entertained. We spent most of Thursday with Mr. and Mrs. Kinsman. There I saw Br. Courtice, who is looking as well, and even better, than I expected to see him, I shall ever retain a grateful remembrance of my kind reception by my Plymouth friends. Оп Friday morning, we left for Exeter, and were met at the station by Br. Giibert. I found in him a kind and affectionate friend. Towards evening we took the train for Mor, chard-road station, where I was met by my brothers, and taken home

to my sister Horwill's. And now I find myself once more in my native village, after an absence of more than fourteen years. I am truly grateful, not only for my preservation but also that my brothers and sisters have been preserved, though I am affected when I see the great change time has made in their appearance. These meetings with relatives, and old friends greatly affect my shattered frame. My earnest prayer is that I may as safely outride the storms of life, and at length reach my Father's house, "The palace of angels and God."

JAMES WAY,