brief showers falling occasionally, but, generally, to-day we have bright sunshine, and it is quite warm and pleasant after the rather severe cold of the last few days. Last night we were greatly annoyed with a sad drunken row in our cabin; some young men had been drinking until they were dreadfully uproarious. We were much disturbed for more than an hour. To-night we had a so-called concert on deck; we, however, held our prayer-meeting below as usual. On going on deck we found the wind had risen, and the ship was running perhaps fourteen knots; a most unpleasant night ensued-we had to hold on in our berths (so violent was the motion) to prevent being thrown out.

Sunday, May 25th (50th day). This morning I nearly met with a serious accident. On going on deck I stood by the small capstan in front of our companion, holding on by it as the vessel rolled alternately, her bulwarks nearly to the water, the wind being very strong and the sea high (the ship's log says, "smart gale and mountainous sea"). I had not observed that the iron top of the capstan was merely let into a socket, and not screwed or bolted; the ship gave a heavy roll, I held on to the top, which jerked out of the socket, and I flew backward, the deck being like a house-roof at the moment; two masts and a spar had been securely lashed to the deck along nearly the whole distance from the main to the mizen-masts; in falling, my head just missed the spar, and I fell on my shoulder with such an amount of way on me (to use a sea-phrase), that I was thrown sideways over spars and masts, and should have been dashed in another moment against the bulwarks, but a young man, who was standing or sitting by the spar, seized my arm, and brought me up sharp. It was a marvellous, and surely a providential thing, that violently as I was thrown down, I suffered no harm, beyond a very slight bruise on my shoulder, though I was a little shaken and a good deal startled.

Lat. 38 deg. 37 min.; long. 11 deg. 24 min. E.; run 296 miles. A good day's work.

It continued rough all day-no service attempted on deck-we held prayer-meeetings at half-past two and half past seven o'clock; solemn, earnest times, though under great difficulties from the rolling of the ship. The constant motion, the war of the wind, and the heavy buffet of the waves against the ship's side, with the occasional breaking of heavy bodies of water over the vessel, together with the impossibility of moving from one place to another without having hold of something, made most of us very uncomfortable. N.B. If I have any friends coming out here I recommend them not to sail so as to have to pass the Cape of Storms in winter. What a night of dread and inconvenience! I was obliged to hold on all night, and to get such snatches of sleep as I could, holding on even in sleep. I did, however, sleep a little, and awoke thankful we were not in a watery grave. I do not know that there was any imminent risk of this, but the noise and motion were terriffic; add to which, I knew that the pumps had been going several times during the day and night. The ship's log records, since noon, "furious gale and heavy sea.'

Monday, May 26th (51st day). The motion still great, but the gale somewhat moderated. The carpenter is busy repairing doors, tables, and berths which have been damaged, or shaken down. We are now in, or near, the longitude of the Cape of Good Hope. We have had a taste of its quality at the Cape of Storms.

Lat. 39 deg. 0 min. ; long. 17 deg.; run 262 miles. A good run again.

A terrible accident this afternoon; soon after dinner, as I was standing near the companion, I heard a cry of "a man overboard." There was a fearful rush aft, a lifebuoy was thrown overboard, and then another. The ship was brought up as quickly as possible, head to wind, and the larboard quarter-boat got out (the second mate, Mr. Abbott, and four or five men in her) and pulled off. It was a time of intense excitement. The captain was at dinner at the time of the man's falling overboard; he rushed on deck, and, springing on the wheel-house, directed operations. Alas! all was in vain! After awhile the boat was seen returning. Nothing had been seen of the poor fellow! It turned out to be a young seaman, named Parry, from Wales. He had been taking in some clothes which he had hung out to dry on, or near, the jib-boom, I believe, and his foot slipping, he had fallen into the sea. As soon as the boat was got in, the yard were braced to the wind, and we resumed our course. So the great business of life goes on, whoever drops away. Humbling thought! yet God overlooks none. Felt my chest rather sore this evening, suppose from my fall yesterday. Five men, while jumping last night, were knocked down by a wave.

Tuesday, May 27th (52nd day). A beautiful morning. Felt much better; no evil consequences of my fall remain-so far as I know; I have had an excellent night's rest. I was much exhausted by the loss of sleep during the last two nights. The sea is much abated, though there is a heavy swell. The wind is uncertain-blowing strong, slackening, and then rushing on again. We carry a good deal of sail, which, together with the swell, makes the great ship cockle about a good deal; pitching, as the breeze strengthens, and then rolling as it dies away. During the last night I awoke, and, judging from the roar of the sea and the heavy blows of waves which I could hear apparently breaking over the ship, I concluded that it had come on to blow hard again, which was the case; however, I felt sleep to be a necessity, and so committing myself to the most High, I turned over and went to sleep again. I find this morning that walking on deck is practicable, although it is not wise or safe to venture many steps without seeing that there is some rope or spar within reach, to hold on by in case of a heavier roll than usual. The temperature is low, but the sun is shining brightly, and there is a good deal of clear blue sky. We must have passed the meridian of the Cape last night. The gale I heard in the night was & sort of parting salute I suppose.

Lat. 40 deg. 10 min. ; long. 22 deg. 10 min. E.; run 232 miles. Log says, "strong breeze, and heavy squall."

Wednesday, May 28th (53rd day). On the whole a fine day, but cold, the vessel rolling about a good deal. Too cold to sit on deck; indeed, I have hardly sat down to-day, except to meals.

Lat. 40 deg. 44 min.; long. 29 deg. 21 min. E.; run 217. Log, "strong breeze, and clear."

Thursday, May 29th (54th day). A fine morning. The sea so smooth that, but for the temperature, I should have thought (had I not known otherwise) that we were in the tropics: indeed, it soon fell to a dead calm. Slept little last night; so as I lay I composed the following

"LINES ON THE DEATH OF POOR PARRY."

The gale is past, but the swell runs high,
And fast by the ship the foam wreaths fly;
All on board are cheerful, or gay;
Good is the speed, and fine the day.

Men come from below, from the mid-day meal,
And cheerily soundeth their laughter's peal;
But a cry rings out from the larboard bow,
And again it sounds from amidships now;
Then the voices of many, with one accord,
Burst with a wild cry, "A man overboard!"
From the cabin the Captain bounds on deck,
Shouting loud, and stern, as in hour of wreck,
"Down with the helm! Lay the sails aback!"
Round sweepeth the good ship from her track.
"Out with the larboard boat, good men all!
Off with the lashings! stand by each fall!"

Then on the wheel-house the Captain springs;
Regardless he how the vessel swings.
The chief mate leaps in the mizen shrouds ;
The passengers throng the deck in crowds,
And anxiously gaze at each watery dome,
And look for the sailor-boy 'mid the foam.
Mate Abbott springs in the quarter-boat,
Now soon with her gallant crew afloat;
"Pull with a will, my hearties brave!
Save the lad from a watery grave!"

Now far-abeam in mortal strife
Battles the boy 'twixt death and life;
Wheels o'er his head the albatross
(Scarcely above the foam crests toss),
With the piercing glance of his keen eye
Watching to see if the struggler die;
Tossed on the crest of some mighty wave,
Then sinking as in a yawning grave.

Striving-though feebly-still to swim,
His vision now with death-shades dim,
The sailor-boy struggles his last, in vain ;
Then slowly sinks 'neath the rolling main.

"Lay to your oars, my gallant men!
Pull till the strong blades bend again!"
In vain !-Ye cannot prevent his loss!
Away! Away sails the albatross!
Too late! Too late! O words of dread,
The sailor-boy is with the dead!

Back to your ship ye gallant crew
Vainly o'er the wild swell ye flew!
Ye could not snatch him from the deep,
Ye can but leave him now to sleep;
Ye've nobly done, though ye could not save
The doomed sea-boy from his ocean-grave:
As great is the courage to-day ye shew
As when warriors charge on a marshalled foe.

Ye sons of Ocean, hear my earnest plea!
O for words eloquent, and strong, and free!
Το you a voice speaks from the deep sea-yeast;
Ponder its lessons in each thoughtful breast.

O Sons of Ocean, hear the rod,
Turn from your sins, and turn to God!
Sailors! your lives in daily dangers spent,
Oft face to face with perils imminent:
When on the shaking yard ye furl the sail,
Flapping, and thundering, in the furious gale,
Or, as in death-grips, cling to rope, or mast,

While through the rigging shrieks the rushing blast.
Believe in Christ; be men of prayer!

And thus to meet your God prepare.

Then, if like Parry you shall find your grave

'Neath the mighty swell of the deep blue wave,

You shall hear a voice in your sinking ear,

Which shall chase your terror, and calm your fear.

"Son of the Ocean! Christ is thine!

Peace eternal, and love Divine!

Son of the Ocean, sink to rest!

Beneath the wild waves rolling breast!

Son of the Ocean, drop the clod!

Upward rise to thy Father, God!"

These lines were inserted in the "Lightning Gazette," and circulated a few days after through the ship. They excited considerable interest in our little community.

Connexional Affairs.

SUPERANNUATION AND BENEFICENT FUND.

MY DEAR SIR,

Will you allow me to remind the Members of the above Fund, through your Magazine, that their Annual Subscriptions are expected to be paid, for the current Connexional year, by the 30th of June next, and may be remitted to me either in one sum or in two half

yearly instalments? A portion of the "ministerial arrears may also be sent, at the same time. The arrangement for paying these arrears" is left to the convenience of each member, provided he conform to the resolution on this subject, contained in the printed "Minutes" of the Annual Assembly of 1863, p. 32. The time allowed must date from the Assembly of 1862, as "ministerial arrears" apply only to years preceding that date.

I may, likewise, state, that the Committee passed the following resolution at its last meeting-viz.: "That the year for receiving the Annual Subscriptions of the Members of this Fund shall begin and end, after the current year, on the 30th of March." I insert this resolution here that the members may have ample time to make their arrangements accordingly.

As several of our ministers have not yet connected themselves with this Fund, I may just remind them, that all Annual Subscriptions in arrear, for years subsequent to the Annual Assembly of 1862, will be charged with interest at the rate of four per cent. per annum. Nor will the Committee regard any person as a bona fide Member till he has made a payment to the Fund. I, therefore, hope that those brethren who have not remitted their Subscriptions will do so at their earliest convenience, that they may become entitled to the benefits of the Fund.

Norwich, Dec. 18, 1863.

Yours truly,

R. CHEW, Secretary.

Review and Criticism.

The Sabbath School Recitana. Consisting of Scripture Exercises, arranged for Boys or Girls at a Sabbath School Anniversary, and embracing the Numbers from One to Twelve. By the REV. JAMES WHITE. H. WEBBER, Paternoster Row.

THIS is an excellent book of its class. The exercises display considerable ingenuity; and those who will have recitations in connection with their Sabbath School Anniversaries, cannot do better than avail themselves of them. They had an extensive sale as they appeared in parts; we predict the same for them in their collected form.

The Mother's Friend. Edited by ANN JANE. Vol. 4. New Series. London: JACKSON, WALFORD, and HODDER, Paternoster Row. EVERY mother should have, read, and use this excellent volume; it is, indeed, "The Mother's Friend."

The Evangelical Almanac for the Year 1864. Embellished with a highly-finished Photograph of Eminent Puritan Divines. London: JACKSON, WALFORD, and HODDER.

In addition to the usual Almanac information, the "Evangelical contains a rich variety of Scripture Texts, Poetry, and "Gleanings from Religious Literature. The "Photograph of Eminent Puritan Divines" is well done.