Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

hollow sea, which continued all that night. The | from the same corner, with small rain. We were 28th, the wind the same; it began to snow very hard; we then shared half a pound of tobacco betwixt us, which was to be our allowance for a week. Towards evening, we went about together, to see whether we could discover anything worth our observation, but met with nothing.' To the like effect is their experience for many a weary day-cold, dreary days of sleet | and and storm, which differ little one day from another.

by this time reduced to a very deplorable state, there being none of them all, except myself, that were able to help themselves, much less one another, so that the whole burden lay upon my shoulders; and I perform my duty as well as I am able, as long as God pleases to give me strength. I am just now going to help our commander out of his cabin, at his request, because he imagined by this change to ease his pain, he then struggling with death.' For seven days this gallant fellow goes on striving to do his

On the 8th of September, they were 'frightened by a noise of something falling to the duty'-attending on his helpless comrades till ground-probably some volcanic disturbance, or descent of a loosened glacier. A month later, it becomes so cold that their linen, after a moment's exposure to the air, is frozen like a board. Huge fleets of ice beleaguered the island, the sun disappears, and they spend most of their time in rehearsing to one another the adventures that had befallen them by sea and land.' Ere long, this resource of story-telling fails, or the relation becomes bald by repetition. On the 12th of December, they have the fortune to kill a bear, having by this time begun to feel the effects of a salt diet. Slowly, drearily, the time goes by, and every day most weary seems the sea

they were all past help, and making entries in the journal as to the state of the weather, that being the principal object they were charged with when left upon the island; but on the 30th of April his strength too gave way, and his failing hand could do no more than trace an incompleted sentence on the page.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

Weary the wandering fields of barren foam. At last comes New-year's Day, 1636. After having wished each other a happy new year, and success in our enterprise, we went to prayers, say they, to disburden our hearts before God.' They had yet two months to wait before the reappearance of the sun. It was slight relief to the prolonged dulness when, on the 25th of February, they once more saw him rise. But now to dulness and the pains of cold succeed sickness and debility. By the 22d of March, they were suffering from the scourge of scurvy: For want of refreshments we began to be very heartless, and so afflicted that our legs are scarce able to bear us.' Alone on that dismal rock, they were out of humanity's reach;' slowly, miserably perishing, and in conscious dread of perishing, before help could come. On the 3d of April, there being no more than two of them in health, they killed for the others the only two pullets they had left; the sick men feeding pretty heartily upon them, in hopes it might prove a means to recover part of their strength.' 'We were sorry,' says the record, we had not a dozen more for their sake.' On Easter-day, Adrian Carman, of Schiedam, their clerk, dies. The Lord have mercy upon his soul, and upon us all, we being very sick,' is the entry on this sad occasion. During the next few days, they seem all to have got rapidly worse, only one being strong enough to move about. He had learned writing from his comrades since coming to the island, and it is he who concludes the melancholy story.

[ocr errors]

So, sinking one after another, the forlorn band had all fallen. As the season advanced, however, ships were getting ready; and on the 4th of June, up again above the horizon rose the sails of the Zealand fleet; but when search is made for those who it was hoped would have been found alive and well, lo! each lies dead in his own hut; one with the open prayer-book by his side; another with his hand stretched out towards the ointment he had used for his stif fened joints; and the last survivor with the unfinished journal still lying by his side.

Since this grim tragedy, Jan Mayen has had no inhabitants. Mount Beerenberg raises his head with an awful majesty above the storms, but looks down on voyaging adventurers who pass his borders with too inhospitable a frown to induce them to tarry long within his presence.

Nevertheless, the island has been occasionally visited by enterprising navigators, some of whom appear to have explored it more completely than its early Dutch discoverers. Twenty-two years ago, the late Dr. Scoresby effected a landing there, on his return from a whaling cruise. He had seen the mountain a hundred miles off, and on approaching, found the coast quite free from ice; and, by a subsequent survey, ascertained that the island is about sixteen miles long by four wide. The last and most complete account of this singular sea-mountain is given us by Lord Dufferin, who went in search of it in his yacht, in the summer of 1856. The particulars are given in his recently published voyage-narrative, entitled Letters from High Latitudes; from which very interesting work we select such passages as may serve to complete the picture of Jan Mayen, and to shew the difficulties and dangers of approaching it.

(To be continued.)

The Scotch have this proverb:
The 23d (April), the wind blew word is as soon said as an ill one."

"A gude

A CRUSADE AGAINST TOBACCO.

THE TWO BROTHERS.

The following beautiful Arabian legend we copy from the "Voice of Jacob:"

A friend has furnished us with several pamphlets, in which powerful arguments are employed against the use of tobacco. The writer contends that the habit is at war with religion; that it is deleterious to health, and that it is productive of many deplorable consequences. Among the facts and arguments employed are the follow-unmarried. They lived together, however, in ing:

Science says Tobacco is a posion, a rank posion, as really a poison as ratsbane, Prussic acid, or any other deadly thing, which takes the

name.

The Journal of Health says Tobacco is an absolute poison; a small quantity of which has been known to extinguish life very suddenly.

Rees's Cyclopedia says a drop or two of the oil, placed on the tongue of a cat, produces convulsions and death in the space of a minute.

A college of physicians has said that not less than twenty thousand in our land annually die by the use of this poison.

A German periodical says, that of twenty deaths of men between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five, one-half originate in the waste of the constitution by smoking. The same periodical says, Tobacco burns out the blood, the teeth, the eyes, the brains.

Dr. Shaw names some eighty diseases, and says they may be attributed to Tobacco.

Governor Sullivan says, "My brother, General Sullivan, used snuff, and his snuff lodged him permanently in the grave."

The French poet, Santeuil, was killed by a little snuff being thrown into his wine-glass, at the Prince of Conde's table.

Bocarme, of Belgium, was murdered in two minutes and a half, by a little nicotine, or alkali of Tobacco.

Dr. Twitchell believed that sudden deaths and Tobacco, among men, were usually found together, and he sustained this opinion by an array of facts altogether conclusive.

The foregoing has quite a formidable aspect, and yet will be read by the many who indulge in the use of Tobacco, either with indifference or contempt. An immense sum of money is paid in this country for tobacco in various forms. The weed has, indeed, become a necessity with many, and life would be a burden without it. Taste and habit are at once masters and tyrants, and this is especially the case in relation to tobacco.-Pennsylvania Inquirer.

The planets in the heavens have a two-fold motion-in their orbits and on their axes; the one motion not interfering, but carried on simultaneously and in perfect harmony with the other; so must it be that man's two-fold activities round the heavenly and the earthly center disturb not, nor jar with each other.-CAIRD.

The site occupied by the Temple of Solomon was formerly a cultivated field, possessed in common by two brothers. One of them was married and had several children; the other was

the greatest harmony possible, cultivating the property they had inherited from their father.

The harvest season had arrived. The two brothers bound up their sheaves, made two equal shocks of them, and left them on the field. During the night the unmarried brother was struck with an excellent thought. "My brother," said he to himself, "has a wife and children to support; is it just that our portion of the harvest should be as large as his?" Upon this he had took from his stack several sheaves, which he had added to those of his brother; and this he did with as much secrecy as if he had been committing an evil action, in order that his offering might not be rejected. On the same night the other brother awoke and said to his wife: "My brother lives alone without a companion; he has none to assist him in his labor, or reward him for his toils, while God has bestowed on me a wife and children; is it right that we should take from our common field as many sheaves as he, since we have already more than he has-domestic happiness? If you consent, we shall, by adding secretly a number of sheaves to his stack, by way of compensation, and without his knowledge, see his portion of the harvest increased." This object was approved and immediately put into execution.

In the morning, each of the brothers went into the field, and was much surprised at seeing the stacks still equal. During several successive nights the same contrivance was repeated on each side; each kept adding to his brother's store, but the stacks always remained the same. But one night, both having stood sentinel to divine the miracle, they met, each bearing the sheaves mutually designed for the other. It was thus that all was elucidated, and they rushed into each others arms, each greatful to Heaven for having so good a brother.

Now, says the legend, the place where so good an idea and simultaneously occurred to the brothers, and with so much pertinacity, must have been acceptable to God. Men dressed it, and Israel chose it, there to erect the house of the Lord.-Lamartine.

KNOWLEDGE. It is in knowledge, as in swimming; he who ostenatiously sports and flounders on the surface, makes more noise and splashing and attracts more attention than the industrious pearl diver, who plunges in search of treasures to the bottom.

A HOUSE FOUND EIGHTEEN FEET BELOW THE
EARTH'S SURFACE.

ing that number less. During the month this year 1.45 inches of rain have fallen, the same month last year 2.07 inches. During the three Fall months of this year 5.24 inches, and during the same period last year 7.36 inches.

The deaths in this city for the four current weeks of the Eleventh month of this year have During the excavation of a street in Evans- been 651, and (recording five weeks) for last ville, Indiana, last Tuesday, the workmen came year 1043. After deducting the proportion of across the remains of a cabin eighteen feet be- one fifth from last year, it will be seen there is a low the surface of the earth. This wonderful difference of 183 in favor of the present year, besubterranean house was about twelve feet in length, formed by upright posts set in the ground, and boarded up with split oak puncheons, secured by wooden pins. The posts, puncheons and pins were partially decayed, but still stuck together. Within the wall were found portions of an old fashioned spinning wheel, a wooden maul, several pairs of boots and shoes, and the identical charred stick which the former occupants, of the house had used to punch the fire with.-St. Louis Republican, Nov. 14.

Philada., 12th month 1st, 1857.

J. M. E.

PHILADELPHIA MARKETS.

FLOUR AND MEAL.-The price of Flour has fluc. tuated very little in price. Sales of standard and good brands are offered at $5 25 per brand, and at $5 25 a 5 75 for small lots for home consumption; extra family

DISCOVERY OF A LIBRARY IN THE TOMBS OF and fancy lots are held at $5 a 61. Nothing doing in

MEMPHIS.

M. de Sauley, a member of the French Institute, who has passed some time in Egypt, and is very conversant with its archæology, states in the Courrier de Paris that an important discovery has been made in one of the tombs of Memphis of a whole library of hieratic papyruses, which fortunately was saved from destruction by the agent of the British Museum, who bought the whole lot. Mr. Bird, of the Museum, has as yet only deciphered one of these curious manuscripts, which turns out to be a complete history of the Royal dynasties registered under the numbers 18 and 19 in Manetho's Chronological Canon. The celebrated Sesostris belonged to one of these dynasties, and the same period comprises the history of the occupation of Egypt by the Hyksos or Shepherds, who kept Egypt under their sway for ages.-London Paper.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Rye Flour or Corn Meal; we quote the former at $4 25 a $4 37, and the latter at $3.00 per barrel.

GRAIN. There is a light supply of Wheat offering, but the demand for it is limited. Sales of small lots good red at $1 20 a $1 22 per busel, afloat, and good white at $1 25 a $1 33 bushel. Sales of Rye at 75 a 78 c. Corn is in good request-sales of 2,400 bushels old yellow at 80 a 81 cts., and prime dry new at Oats-sales of Southern at 36 a 37c per 60 a 65 cts.

bushel.

CLOVERSEED is scarce at 5 12 a 5 25 per 64 lbs. Nothing doing in Timothy or Flaxseed.

HESTERFIELD BOARDING SCHOOL FOR
YOUNG MEN AND BOYS.-The Winter ses-

sion of this Institution will commence on the 16th of
11th month 1857, and continue twenty weeks.

TERMS $70 per session, one half payable in advance, the other in the middle of the session.

No extra charges. For further information address HENRY W. RIDGWAY, Crosswicks P. O., Burlington Co., N. J.

[blocks in formation]

FRIENDS' INTELLIGENCER.

VOL. XIV.

PHILADELPHIA, TWELFTH MONTH 12, 1857.

[blocks in formation]

In reviewing her late engagements, and alluding to the disturbed state of public affairs, she writes as follows:

No. 39.

| some public meetings in Clonmel, and places adjacent.

The unsoundness of principle, which about this time was distressingly evinced by many who had filled conspicuous stations in our Society, was a source of deep heartfelt sorrow to this true and loyal subject of the King immortal, for the increase of whose dominion she had long 'labored and not fainted.' The following letter will show how earnestly she desired the preservation and help of her fellow professors, as well as the clearness and consistency of her own views, with respect to the fundamental truths of Christianity.

"Suirville, Near Clonmel, 8th mo. 22nd, 1800. "Truly the signs of the times are awful, and "MY DEAR FRIEND,-În returning the manevery thing enforces, with emphatic language, uscript with which thou entrusted me, allow me the necessity of dwelling near, or within that to observe, that though the system therein laid impregnable fortress, where these things cannot down is, to the eye of reason, very plausible, it move us from the calming, consoling persuasion is one my understanding, or rather my best judgof divine sufficiency. May our minds be merci- ment, as sensibly revolts from as that of the fully stayed in holy quiet, while the potsherds writer did at the contrary. It is not written in strive with the potsherds of the earth. Often does the lines of my experience; and having from the my spirit long that we, as a people, may gather earliest opening of my understanding in spiritual more and more into this precious habitation, out things, endeavored simply to receive what in the of that spirit which produces tumult, or mingles light which maketh manifest might be revealed, with it; and thus exalt the pure, peaceable prin- I may add, that according hereto I conceive it ciple, which through all, I cannot but steadily to be an erroneous system, formed more by the believe, is making its own way even gloriously in many minds, and will spread in the earth, until men beat their swords into plough-shares, and their spears into pruning hooks.

"Never did a more convincing evidence attend my mind than of later times, that a great work is on the wheel of Almighty power in this favored nation; where there are truly many righteous, whose fervent intercessions are no doubt availing, and many others evidently enquiring the way to the kingdom of inward settlement. To these the gospel message is joyful, and precious is the liberty felt in proclaiming it; under the sense whereof, in seasons of close but truly relieving labor, my soul has been bowed in awful admiration of what the Lord is doing for the honor of His own name, and the advancement

of truth."

She returned with her family to Ireland early in the year 1800, and was not long at home before she manifested the renewal of gospel concern for the members of her own Monthly Meeting, by visiting them in their families: she also held

strength of the rational or natural faculty, than the clear unfolding of pure wisdom, in that spot where the creaturely judgment is taken away, and adopted by a part not yet fully subjected to the cross of Christ.

"My spirit will, if happily preserved, ever commemorate that mercy, which restrained from those speculative researches to which my nature strongly inclined, and which, as a temptation likely to prevail, in my first desires for certainty, closely beset me. Many a labyrinth might I have been involved in, in many a maze enveloped, had the various voices which are in the world (the religious world) been, in conjunction with these besetments, attended to. Were it needful I could tell thee much of the danger to which my best life has been exposed, but the standard at first erected being held steady in my view by divine power, even (I speak it with humble gratitude) I will know nothing but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified, proved a barrier to those wanderings in speculative opinions, which I believe would have to me, and have to many

C

for sharing in the active services of that solemnity.

mercifully enlightened minds, been the means of
obstruction to a progress in the way of redemp-
tion; and introduced into that circuitous path She afterwards attended the Quarterly Meet-
where the peaceful termination is not beheld. ings for Suffolk and Norfolk, as well as many of
"Wherein does our spiritual life consist? Is the Particular meetings in those counties, and
debate, speculation and reasoning the nourish- also in Essex; and held numerous public meet-
ment of the immortal part? Is it matured by ings, to the relief of her own mind and satisfac-
food so inferior to its nature? Rather will it tion of others. In these engagements she was
gradually weaken and come to decay, if not re- accompanied by her friends Mary Savory and
plenished from a source equal to its origin; the John Bevans, and occasionally by Samuel Alex-
She returned to London in time for the
pure milk of the eternal word. Mayest thou, ander.
my beloved friend, partake hereof and be sweetly Quarterly Meeting there, and was afterwards
satisfied any thing contrary to this is dangerous closely engaged for several weeks in the city and
food, strengthening only that part destined by neighborhood, visiting Particular and Monthly
sacred determination for subjection to that power Meetings; the families belonging to that of Rat-
which, if suffered to reign, will reduce into holy cliffe; and having a large number of public
order, harmony, and love.
meetings, wherein as among her fellow profes

she writes as follows:

"Never was there a more full and plain sys-sors, she was strengthened to exalt the testimony tem than that of the gospel; never can the of pure truth, and powerfully to advocate the strongest powers of the creature add to its clear-cause of her Redeemer. While thus employed ness and beauty, though the plainest truths may be rendered doubtful, and the way complex, by subtle reasonings and eloquent disquisitions. I repeat, let us be content; we have not as a people followed a cunningly devised fable, and there are, I trust those yet preserved who can go further and say it is truth and no lie;' having seen with their eyes, heard with their ears, and been permitted to taste of the word of life, and if required, could, through Almighty help, seal their testimony by the surrender of the natural

life.

"The line of my small engagements is no pleasant one, I assure thee, nor can it be so to the exercised traveller in this day of treading down and of perplexity. Life seems low every where, and perhaps there has hardly been a time when the opposition to its arising, and consequent struggle before liberty can be obtained, was so sensibly felt so that it is no wonder if through the prevalence of a wasting separating spirit, the communication in the line of ministry should be of a more searching kind than has been needful "Little did I expect to enlarge thus, and far in past times. Oh! how is the very life wounded is it from me to enter into controversy and de- by the Herod-like nature in the minds of many. It is indeed a favor to get to some quiet retreat, bate, a poor employment for one apprehending a more solemn call; but my heart earnestly longs where an excuse from feelings of this sort is afthat the Lord's children may stand firm in this forded, though only to partake of the fellowship day of shaking and great trial. Let none beguile, of suffering with the mourners in Zion, who are any of their promised reward, through leading greatly bowed down because of the things which into reasonings and perplexing uncertainty. I have happened and are happening. It is, howam the way, the truth, and the life,' is a compen- ever, a great mercy to find that under such exdious lesson, a holy limit, and no man cometh ercises a degree of holy certainty is vouchsafed, and the belief confirmed, that although unpleasant unto the Father, but by me.' bread may be given to distribute, it is of the Lord's preparing, who having graciously helped ought to be depended on through all. I hope I however small my ability for availing labor, or am endeavoring not to eat the bread of idleness, table." undeserving I feel of a crumb from the Master's

·

"I quarrel with none about forms, or differ"I quarrel with none about forms, or differing in non-essentials, but this is the one certain direction, the consecrated path to salvation, through the divine lawgiver; and if happily attended to, all will be well here and for ever!

"Thou and thine are dear to my best and affectionate feelings; write to me freely if so inclined; I should be glad to hear from and be remembered by thee, and am thy sincere friend MARY DUDLEY."

1802. Believing it her duty to pay a religious visit to some of the Eastern and Southern parts of England, my dear mother obtained the concurrence of her own Monthly and Quarterly Meetings; and leaving home the 8th of the 5th month, reached London on the 16th. She was favored to attend all the sittings of the Yearly Meeting, and often qualified by her great Master

tried with illness, and frequently confined after While in London my beloved mother was much any particular exertion for many days together, so that as the season advanced she began to be anxious for a return home, and was thankful when she felt easy to set forward about the middle of the 10th month.

Relative to her engagements after leaving London, she seems only to have preserved brief observations.

First day attended the two meetings at Bristol, where, in the evening, a little ability was

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »