Imagini ale paginilor
PDF
ePub

sustain thee." I was preserved in great mental quietude, through almost half the meeting, though feeling much of a blank in mind, except as regarded this sense of dependence. When, at length, the passage, "Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?" was presented to my view, with an apprehension that it was my duty to express it.-I saw but little of the scope of these subjects, to what opened, as I gave utterance to them, and by which I was enabled to preach the new birth, Christ crucified, &c. Daniel Wheeler added a few sentences in the same strain. After I had given utterance also to prayer, on bended knees, the meeting separated. We felt thankful to Him who continues to be, to his dependent children, a present help in time of need, and who qualifies them for the labour to which he calls them, in such a manner as to prove, both to themselves and to others, that all the glory belongs unto Himself, and to Himself alone.

On returning to the Henry Freeling, the water was beautifully luminous, wherever it was agitated. This is often the case in calm nights. A train, like the tail of a comet, followed the boat; and each oar, as it dipped, became surrounded by a luminous patch, which became fainter for some time after the oar left the water, and at length died away. Sometimes brilliant shining points adhere to the oars, which may possibly be phosphorescent animalcules. The light, in the wake of the boat, and on the dip of the oars, is also probably occasioned by this race of minute, animated beings, or by phosphorescent matter disengaged from the water; and which may be formed by decomposing animal and vegetable substances.

4th. I had some conversation with Samuel Marsden, and with the Colonial Secretary, on the case of a New Zealander, who was on board the Henry Freeling a few days ago; he, and his wife and child, were brought away from their own country, as hostages, by a house in Sydney, that has a whaling establishment on that part of the coast of New Zealand, to which these people belong, and of which, this man is said to be a chief. The lives of the persons employed by this house were thought to be in danger, and this

expedient was adopted for their protection. There is reason to believe, it was with the consent of the man and his countrymen, that he and his wife became hostages, but they seem to have had no idea of being so long detained. The chief complains of the detention, and says, that, if an Englishman had been detained in like manner in his country, a man-of-war would have been sent to demand him. It is an important question, how far it is proper to allow of acts of this character, and one which merits the consideration of the British Legislature. In the evening George W. Walker and myself attended the committee of the Temperance Society. About a dozen persons were present. The cause of temperance appears to be gaining ground.

5th. We had a visit from a young physician, who was prevailed upon to join a ship at Liverpool, as the medical officer, with the understanding, that for his passage out, he was only expected to attend to the state of the crew; and that if his services were required by the passengers, they would pay him on their own private account. But he afterwards found, that the contract of the owners with the passengers, included medical attendance; and of this, the owners took care to apprize him, when the ship was on the point of sailing. Thus they availed themselves of his services for the whole ship's company, when he was unable to make a stand against their imposition. This is the second instance we have met with, of medical men being imposed upon, in connexion with voyages to these colonies. In the other case, the surgeon was invited to see the ship, when at Gravesend, and to sleep on board, and in the morning he found himself at sea!

Having believed it would be right for us, before proceeding to Norfolk Island, to hold a meeting with such of the crews of the numerous vessels, now lying in Port Jackson, as could be collected, application was made to John Hart, the master of the Henry Porcher, for the use of the deck of his vessel, for this purpose. This was readily granted, and arrangements were made accordingly.

8th. Notice of our intended meeting having been given on board all the ships, in the port, about a hundred and fifty

persons, chiefly masters of vessels and officers, assembled on board the Henry Porcher, this morning. It was a season in which Divine Mercy brought us under solemn feeling, and gave ability to preach the Gospel freely, without any compromise of principle, to the practices of men. When constrained by the love of Christ, to preach, it is a favour to be enabled to preach the Gospel fully, both with regard to faith and practice, even when we ourselves may feel, that we have not attained to the full measure of that which the Gospel requires; a feeling that ought to prompt to an increase of diligence, in making our calling and election sure. After the meeting, we distributed a number of tracts, confining ourselves, on this occasion, to those published by Friends, and those of the Temperance Society.-At our meeting on shore, in the evening, a long time of silence, preceded a lively testimony from Daniel Wheeler; I also addressed the company, and afterwards gave utterance to prayer, in the prospect of departing for a season from this land.

CHAPTER XXI.

Arrangements for visiting Norfolk Island.-Departure.-Adverse Winds.-Shark and Pilot-fish.-Seamen.-Spiritual Navigation.-Jelly-fish.-"The Elizabeth'' Whaler.-Tropic Bird.-Norfolk Island.-Departure of D. and C. Wheeler.Orange Vale.-Oak.-Geology.-Features of the Island.-Norfolk Island Pine and Tree-fern.-Fruits.-Description of Prisoners.-Assemblies for Worship. -Jail.

2nd mo. 12th. Ar the request of the Governor, we again waited upon him, to receive further instructions respecting our visit to Norfolk Island; and, by his order, the Colonial Secretary furnished us with the documents needful to secure us a reception, addressed to the Commandant. In order to be ready for sailing, the Henry Freeling was yesterday removed from her mooring, into the stream, where she lay close by the Government schooner, Isabella, also bound for Norfolk Island, with soldiers and prisoners. In the evening we took leave of our friends in the town, and returned on board the little vessel, which had been our dwelling-place during our sojourn, at this time, in N. S. Wales.

13th. The Isabella sailed early in the morning; and we took a pilot on board, who brought us to the Heads of Port Jackson, by noon. We had not been long at sea before we all fell sick. Though the distance to Norfolk Island is only about a thousand miles, this voyage occupied nineteen days. Adverse winds drove us far eastward, toward New Zealand, and we were much delayed by calms.

17th. Being pretty well recovered, we were able to read, and to take exercise on deck. A Shark, about seven feet long, followed at our stern, most of the day. It had been attracted by the offal of a sheep that was killed in the morning. Having had its hunger appeased, it could not be

tempted to take a nice piece of pork that concealed a large hook. Two little Pilot-fish were swimming fearlessly before the nose of this rapacious animal, and three larger ones in advance of the bow of the vessel, often almost in contact with it; but they darted nimbly forward, so as always to avoid a blow. To have the precedence of something larger than themselves, seems a pleasure to them; but I could not discover their inducement.

21st. We have lately spent a little time in reading, notwithstanding the motion of the vessel renders the head incapable of bearing much effort at one time, either in this exercise, or in writing.-It is pleasant to see the seamen instructing one another in nautical observations and calculations. The carpenter is a good navigator; he became awakened to the importance of eternal things on his voyage from England; since he became a steady man, he has taken pleasure in instructing the other sailors, who are improving in knowledge and conduct. On board the Henry Freeling, there is a happy exemption from the foolish mystery that prevails on board many other ships, respecting the course of the vessel, by which the sailors are kept in ignorance, to no good purpose.

22nd. We assembled twice on deck, with the crew. Some portions of Holy Scripture were read, and a considerable time was spent in silence. In the morning, I spoke to the seamen on the importance of having the attention constantly alive to the pointings of the Spirit, and on the necessity of daily, close self-examination, in order to maintain a steady course heavenward; illustrating these subjects, by comparing them with the necessity of attention to the compass, in steering the vessel, and with making daily observations of the sun's altitude, &c. by means of nautical instruments, to ascertain the exact place to which the vessel had attained in her course.

25th. The wind has generally been adverse, since we left Sydney; to-day it is light, and the swell is high from the opposite direction. A shoal of Black-fish passed us this morning. A Dolphin threw itself out of the water several times at our bow, being probably in pursuit of small fish.

« ÎnapoiContinuă »