ralty, in which he ascribed the success of the action immediately to God as the disposer of all events. This document did not pass unnoticed. The light in which it was viewed, and the estimation which was formed of its spirit, we learn from an interesting volume, recently published, by a gallant officer not less known, in former years, for his deeds of daring, than he is now conspicuous for his unassuming piety and benevolence.* He thus writes: When this letter (announcing Captain Hillyar's success,) was first gazetted, it was much commented upon, particularly as Captain Hillyar had always been numbered with the serious men of the profession, and amongst some of the young officers of the day, it was thought that the success of a frigate action was not of sufficient importance to justify or call forth such strong expressions of gratitude to the Almighty, as they had very seldom been made use of, except after great victories. These officers did not reflect sufficiently that the final result of the action was of as much consequence to Capt. Hillyar and his gallant opponent Capt. Porter, as those of greater importance to the officers who were engaged in them; and that the King of kings was as much present in their engagement, as with Lord Rodney, or Nelson in Trafalgar. I heard the various opinions with great interest, and was pleased to find the old officers agreed with Capt. Hillyar, and at once made up my mind, that if I ever commanded in battle I would adopt the style of the above letter; and I feel confident that if the Almighty ever chastises our country with another war, it will be generally adopted; and, if it is not presumption in me, I, with all humility,of heart, strongly recommend young officers to follow the example of Capt. H. As I have spoken of the above letter, I cannot resist mentioning the circumstances in which Capt. H. was placed, and the honourable privation he suffered in seeking the American frigate, which, he heard, was upon the coast capturing our vessels, and destroying our commerce; indeed, she had three prizes in company when he fell in with her. He had been ordered on a specific service, and in a short time was to have returned to England with a freight of two millions of dollars, which would have given him twelve thousand pounds; but the moment he gained the above intelligence he avoided his specific orders, and perhaps endangered his commission by doing so, gave up the above freight, and with the 'Cherub,' Captain Tucker in company, made sail,—found the ‘Essex,'—fought her,—and the Almighty was pleased to give him the victory. So much for religious men and fighting, when the principle is loyalty, honour, and patriotism. What must the feelings of Capt. H. have been, had he not found the 'Essex!' And what enhances the value of his conduct is, that at the above period, he was a young officer, had a wife and family, and was far from being in independent circumstances. Captains Hillyar and Tucker each got £619 17s. Od. as their share of the prize. In this pious, gallant captain, now in the calm evening of life, and encircled with honour, we recognise the steady friend and worthy Vice-president of our Institution, Rear Admiral Sir J. Hillyar. * "Extracts from Holy Writ and various Authors:" By Capt. SIR NESBIT J. WilloughBY, R. N., C. B., K. C. H. For a more particular notice of this Volume, we refer to our Review department. NAUTICAL INFORMATION. Table of Wrecks, in which the Crews have all perished!! From Lloyd's List, and the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, from 10th August to 11th Nov. Exhibiting a wreck of ELEVEN SHIPS, and a probable loss of one HUNDRED AND TEN LIVES!! TABLE OF ACCIDENTS! Damaged Stranded. Foundered Abandoned. Sunk. Condemned. Wrecked. Not heard of. Total. * Calcutta, June 14th. The Mary Anne grounded in the lower part of Saugor roads, and carried away all her rudder braces, and is on her way to town for repairs. + Liverpool, 27th July, 3 P. M. Saw a barque on shore between Bishop's Reef and the S. E. point of the Island of Ineagua; masts gone, bowsprit standing, a white streak round her, with a great sheer, a plain stern with a white moulding round, the bulwarks all standing, appeared to have been long on shore; could not discern her name, or any person on board. The captain of the Jeanne d'Arc, of Bologne, reported that on the 1st. inst., (Sept.) being in lat. 55. 33. N., long. 19. 57. W., from Paris, he discovered a brig of 200 tons with a cargo of tim. ber, and deserted by her crew. The weather prevented her being boarded, but her name was read, and it was ascertained to be the Wicklow. Berwick, Sept. 28th. A vessel (supposed to be the Margaret, Simpson, of Perth,) is sunk off N. Sunderland, in the track of vessels. The wreck lies E. S. E. of S. Sunderland point; her bowsprit about five feet above water. Lowestoft, Aug. 9th. Some wreck and two dead bodies, supposed from a vessel run down Here we have a total of two hundred and sixty-two casualties; and on an average of one life being sacrificed in each casualty, an aggregate of two hundred and sixty-two lives!! Then by looking at the foot-notes, there will be found an actual loss of at least thirty individuals; making, from all causes, during the three months, a total loss of four hundred and two lives!! In closing these melancholy details for the year, we cannot, in casting our eye over the various tables which have been given, without being deeply affected by the extent of loss which has been sustained. Thousands on thousands have, during the brief period of twelve months, found a watery grave. But whither have they gone? What is now their state or destiny? It is not for mortal hand to lift the vail from futurity, and discover an unseen state. But the fact that so many have been summoned to eternity, and are now for ever beyond our reach, should penetrate every christian soul, and awaken to zeal and effort. by a steamer, and reported to be the Iris, Smith, of Lynn, were fallen in with this morning off this place. Fayal, July 29th. A vessel of about 140 tons, apparently new laden with deals, etc., dismasted and waterlogged, and with -T A. Halifax, painted in yellow on her stern, was towed into St. Matthew Rico, 13th inst. New York, Aug. 7th. The following is the copy of a paper found on the shore, near the East river Throgg's Neck, enclosed in a small phial, on the 29th of last month :---" The brig William and Mary of Norfolk, (Va) was wrecked on the 23rd of February, 1839, near the middle of the Atlantic, on her way to Liverpool. I, William Jones, being the last man left on board, wrote this." Fayal, Sept. 3rd. A vessel bottom up, of about 70 feet keel, coppered, and loaded with lumber, was passed off the Island of Flores a few days since. Littlehampton, Sept. 17th. The following portions of wreck have been washed on shore on this coast:- A bowsprit 27 feet long and 5 in circumference, a top-gallant-yard with sail attached, a flying jibboom apparently belonging to a vessel of 600 tons, a large piece of carved work off the stern painted black with white moulding.' Shoreham, Sept. 16th. Several pieces of a vessel, the stern of a boat painted black, red moulding outside, and Sophia of Liverpool, on a black ground and yellow letters on her stern; also a woman figure head, painted white, have been washed on shore opposite this place, and we hear some more parts of a wreck have been picked up to the westward. Dunkirk, Oct. 7th. Yesterday was picked up a sea-horse head, apparently having been fixed upon a vessel's rudder; also a boat withont a name, a windlass, and several pieces of wreck, supposed to belong to a foreign vessel, lost on our banks during the night of Saturday, it blowing at the time a heavy gale of wind from E. to S. E. Picton, Oct. 8th. The captain and crew of the barque Ocean, of London, wrecked on the Magdalen Island, in the gale of the 13th nlt., arrived here yesterday, in the schooner Calm. The ship is a complete loss, but part of the materials were saved. Captain Douglas reports the shore of Magdalen Island as literally covered with wreck of fishing crafts, but no large vessels besides the Ocean, had been wrecked in the gale or since. The entire crews of two American fishing schooners were drowned. THE CABINET. THOUGHTS FOR THE WISE. The finest spirits,-the most exquisite wines,-the nectars and ambrosias of modern tables, will be all spoiled by a few drops of bitter extract: and a bad temper has the same effect in life, which is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles, and kindness, and small obligations, given habitually, are what win and preserve the heart, and secure comfort. Every thing good in society has arisen from gradual and successive change. When the leaves of the tree are blighted, it kills the tree to pluck them off. Decaying leaves are better than no leaves at all. They should be suffered to perform their imperfect functions, till they are thrown off by the vigour of the young and healthy leaves. In minds of great power, there is usually a disposition to variety of pursuits; and they often attempt all branches of letters and science, and even of the imitative arts. But if they become truly eminent, it is by devotion to one object at a time, or at most two objects. This sort of general power is like a profusion of blossoms on a fruit tree,—a symptom of health and strength ;-but if all are suffered to become fruit, all are feeble and bad;—if the greater proportion is destroyed by accident or art, the remainder being properly nourished, become healthy, large, and good.-Davey Poetry. AUTUM N. The glory of summer is departing- The sire of seasons journies tardily, Nor soars aloft in meridian splendour, Through the ethereal vault, bright and refulgent! The velvet softness of the grass is gone, Fruitful fields, late " laughing with abundance," Save the sad ruins of their loveliness. These changes all proclaim-" Stern winter comes !" (Alike unwelcome as unsolicited) With a long train of dark and dreary hours. Now banished for a season from our view Is all remains of lovely Paradise All that surviv'd creation's direful curse, To draw our hearts to an unchanging state— A glorious, deathless immortality, By our Immanuel purchased and prepared, J. W. M. |