A STORM-DOVE CAUGHT ON DECK.

hour of meditation, while employed at my needle, or reading my Bible, Sturm's Reflections, and other good and pleasant books, with which we have been provided. My time is fully occupied, and therefore does not appear so tedious as I expected. May 10th. Contrary wind; in the evening it rose to a strong gale, and the waves dashed with great violence. 11th. Still the storm continues. We are driven within eight miles of the coast of Barbary; the Captain, in giving me this information, added terrific accounts of what we may expect if we are so unfortunate as to be driven ashore; and what a relation of his own actually experienced, who, after much suffering, was barbarously murdered. The wind is so contrary, and so strong, that we are blown back within sight of Cape St. Mary.

12th and 13th. The storm is what is called a Levanter: still it rages with unabated fury, and was awfully tremendous during the night. We seem to be driven about, the sport of the winds and waves. May the Lord be our pilot not only through this watery deep, but over the more stormy and dangerous voyage of life, so shall we be guided safely into the peaceful haven where we would be. A few more struggles, and then there will be endless rest for all his redeemed.-A poor little dove was blown from the coast of Barbary, and sought refuge on deck. The cabin-boy easily caught it, and brought it to me. This day I got a little way

8

A STORM-REFLECTIONS.

up the ladder, to view the most sublime and tremend. us sight which can be imagined. I had seen paintings of the sea in a storm; but they indeed give but a faint idea of the wonderful reality. The black and lowering sky, the billows rolling furiously upon each other, like moving mountains, seemed as though they would and must overwhelm all before them; yet were we lightly borne up on the bosom of each as it advanced. It was a scene to make one feel the presence of Him who is omnipotent," who plants his footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm." Friday 14th. I find the constant and violent motion of the ship so fatiguing, that my health suffers materially. I am literally bruised, from being tossed about from side to side; and can neither read, write, nor work to amuse myself. This is a time of trial, yet if I have a happy meeting with my friends, it will appear of little consequence; and so we shall look back upon the trials of life, if Heaven be our resting place, and find them nothing.

My poor dove looks very sad, its little wings are drooping; it appears to mourn the loss of its companions, and reminds me of my own solitary situation; but unlike the dove, which will never again behold its mate, I look forward with cheerful hope to a day which will restore to me all whom I most love on earth. Like it I have mourned for my sweet Anny; may my affections never be so fixed on any thing earthly, as to prevent my attain

ing that perfect resignation to the Divine will which I so earnestly desire.

The wind being abated, I lay down with a thankful heart, and enjoyed a calm night's rest, of which no one can conceive the blessing who has not been tossed about as I have been, for nearly a week. During the storm, that sublime Psalm of David, frequently returned to my thoughts: "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters, these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the Heaven; they go down again to the depths; their soul is melted because of trouble. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad, because they be quiet: so he bringeth them to their desired haven. O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" The cessation of the storm has not tranquillized the captain's temper. I found him in a very discontented mood, complaining of the badness of our passage, the worst which he had ever experienced; he added, that we had now entered" an ugly bay ;" and had no wind to bring us out. I felt inclined to tell him, that the same kind Providence still watched over us, which had delivered us from our former dangers; but I checked

10

BAY OF ST. LUCAR-CADIZ.

myself, fearing that I should bring little conviction to his ruffled temper.

I have just been walking upon deck, very thankful to have the use of my limbs again, which were feeble and cramped from disuse. All the time of the storm I could not stand for a moment without support. We never sufficiently prize our blessings until we are deprived of them: and, when after a loss they are restored to us, we then feel their value. But again, habit soon makes us forget those grateful feelings; so truly may our goodness be compared to the morning cloud, and the early dew.

We have now a favourable breeze; and are sailing through the Bay of St. Lucar, near Cadiz. This evening my favourite stern sail was hoisted. I am always glad to see it, because it can only be used, when the wind is perfectly favourable. This is but the third time it has been up since the commencement of our voyage.

Sunday Morning, May 16th. Still we have prosperous gales, and have just passed Cadiz. A sleeping turtle floated past us on the surface of the water; the sailors saw a number of them this morning, and regretted not having gone out in the boat to take some. This is a serene Sabbath-day. The calm sea hardly rippled by any motion; the peaceful scene is well calculated to inspire holy meditation, and though I cannot join the general assembly in public worship, yet I may lift up my heart in

COAST OF SPAIN-TRAFALGAR.

11

prayer and praise, to my bountiful Creator and Redeemer, under the glorious canopy of Heaven, surrounded by this boundless prospect; with as much real devotion, as if within the walls of a Church. Last Sunday was such a day as this; but how little do we feeble mortals know what a day may bring forth. Then the vessel smoothly cut the waves, and glided on so rapidly that we promised ourselves a speedy termination to our voyage; but soon the blue sky became overcast, and the tempest roared around; we were driven about at the mercy of the furious elements, so that for four days our lives seemed in jeopardy. In the entire week we have not made sixty miles. We have just hailed a vessel from Newcastle, bound for Barcelona, which has been six weeks at sea, while we have been only four, yet we complain! All this day we have been near the coast of Spain, which appears verdant and woody; we have passed Conil, and are now sailing by Trafalgar, which is very rocky. The scenery is magnificent; the ocean is bounded by noble rocks and mountains. The captain pointed out Tariffa, in the Straits, and some dangerous rocks, against which many a vessel has foundered. As the shades of evening drew on, we saw many lights on shore; and a smart breeze brought us through the Straits of Gibraltar before two o'clock. I sat until very late on deck, watching the vivid flashes of lightning, and the glittering stars, which illuminated the sky.