spite upon any person, who may have happened to have fallen under their displeasure. Now there were two individuals, amongst us, who had unhappily incurred this great misfortune; the Reverend Minister was one, and poor Mr. Potts the other. Parson Roberts had rendered himself especially obnoxious to the men, by some coarse and clumsy attempts at, what he called, converting them from a state of existence, not only sinful, but full of abomination. For some time he was extremely assiduous in his task; teazing the men upon every occasion, and continually reprehending them. If a man uttered a simple oath in the Reverend gentleman's hearing, he was immediately overwhelmed with a volley of volubility, touching the horrid vice and wickedness of swearing; the Scriptures were ransacked for texts, which were tortured and twisted with no little ingenuity, to bear upon Jack's heinous sin of swearing. Of all men living, sailors are the most touchy upon any interference with their accustomed habits on the part of landsmen, and any attempt to take away his grog, or stop his swearing, is always received as an impertinent innovation upon long established custom. So it was with Parson Roberts's zealous interference; and as he, on more than one occasion, had obtained the stoppage of two or three of the men's grog, they were determined, if they could, to 66 sarve him out."

Mr. Potts's offence was of a much deeper dye. This man, who had more of the character of a needy adventurer than any other passenger, had, at a very early period, incurred the hatred of the sailors, by acting as a sort of spy upon them. His berth was next to the bulk-head, which separated the sailors from the passengers, and not a word was uttered by any one of the men, that was not swiftly conveyed to the captain's ears; occasionally much exagge rated, and always highly colored. Nothing serves to display a man's real disposition more forcibly than an indulgence in trifles. Old Potts, for the sake of a kind word from the captain-permission to come on the poop, and an extra glass of grog, became a regular and most vigilant spy upon the men, and really, the silly old body got at last so saucy, that I myself was compelled to turn him out of the cuddy more than once, for insolence to some of the ladies.

I was duly apprised of the dose that awaited these two persons, and, to speak the truth, I was glad of it; for both had rendered themselves so perfectly disagreeable, and were, withal, so inordi nately puffed up with vanity and conceit, that I really looked forward with wicked delight, to their discomfiture and punishment.

Early in the morning Neptune duly hailed us, and was received on board with the customary forms, and the fooling commenced. The parson had retired to his cabin, that his devout eyes might not be shocked at the sight of the profanation about to be performed; and Mr. Potts was likewise non est inventus. No notice was taken of the absentees, and the lads and youngsters, with those who were working their passage, were led in succession to the tub, shaved

and soused, to the infinite amusement of the old hands, who were officiating. I was standing on the poop with two or three other gentlemen, looking upon what was going forward, when I observed a cessation in the ceremony. Neptune rose up in his car, (formed of part of an old barrel,) with the lovely Amphitrite leaning most demurely on his brawny arm: "Where's the Parson? ̈ roared the God, through his speaking trumpet, "I don't see his Reverencewhere is he?" "He's saying his prayers in his cabin with Sally Phillips," (the young girl already alluded to) shouted one of Neptune's satellites. "Is he, by G! shouted his Godhead; “then go and fetch him here!" and forthwith_hastened two of Neptune's constables, each with a marlin-spike in his hand, to bring his Reverence to their master. Desirous to witness the result of this curious rencontre, I repaired to the cuddy, where I found the "constables" just thundering at the Parson's cabindoor. It was instantly opened, and its inmate, with a quarto volume in his hand, and a white cotton night-cap on his head, made his appearance, and asked, with a solemnity perfectly ludicrous, what was the meaning of that indecent disturbance. Please your honour's Reverence,” said one of the men, in a tone of mock respect, “Master Neptune have sent us to tell you he wants to spin a yarn with you."

"Insolent wretch!" exclaimed the incensed Minister, “What have I to do with your fooleries? I'll have you both severely punished, if you do not leave me to my meditations;" and he would have shut the door, had they not held it forcibly open.

“Yes, Sir," said one of the men, making a low bow, "but please your honour's Reverence, master Neptune is waiting for you."

"Waiting for me?" ejaculated the Parson, boiling with rage, "Where's the Captain ?"

"Please your honour's Reverence, he's gone overboard, and won't turn up till to-morrow.”

"You saucy scoundrel!" exclaimed Emanuel, “What do you mean by telling me such a palpable falsehood?”

"D-n my eyes!" said the other, 'constable,'"What's the use of all this jaw-work? Seize the sawney up, if he won't come fairly, and let us carry him for ard.”

"If you lay a finger upon me, I'll make you sorely repent it,” returned the Minister.

"You be dd for a loblolly fool!" growled the same man, and seizing the luckless Minister by the waist, he bore him, kicking and sprawling, towards the spot where Neptune held his court.

The man had just put down his burthen, when the Captain came up, and interceded-(command, it seems, he could not)—for the Reverend Gentleman's liberation; it was, of course, immediately acceded to, but not before a tub full of water from the main-top was accurately capsized over his person, and he slunk away to his cabin, like a cowardly dog, that had been well ducked; and I do

not believe there was a single person, that felt for him the slightest commiseration.

No sooner was the bustle caused by this little incident well over, than Mr. Potts was loudly called for by Neptune. No reply was made to the summons, and the constables' were again despatched to bring him before his Godship. They were absent a longer time than Neptune thought necessary, and the God began to grow fidgetty. A fresh lather, too, of lamp oil and tar was mixed up with other filth, which it is unnecessary to particularize. At length, however, a shout from the sailors announced the discovery and apprehension of poor Mr. Potts; and forth he came, led towards the fatal tub, by the 'constables,' as much dead as alive. He was stripped of his shirt, and his brawny back-for he was a stout, thick-set little man-gleamed shiningly in the sun-shine. He looked, for all the world, like a man going to be hanged-pale, trembling, haggard, and most awfully woe-begone. As the men were leading him on, up from between decks rushed his wife, his four daughters, and his two sons, and, with the most earnest supplications, they implored the men to spare him! The men "grinned horribly, a ghastly smile," and proceeded to shave poor Mr. Potts. And shave him they did with a vengeance! They shaved his face, his neck-and his arms and his back, and turned the poor devil out of their clutches, one complete mass of filth and abomination. I felt for the man's family, but for himself I could not feel a particle of pity. He richly deserved his doom, and I was not sorry that he had it.

The weather continued beautiful, and the delicious climate of the southern hemisphere sent into our hearts a feeling of gladness and elasticity; even Mrs. Timkins gradually dropped her complaints, and, for a short time, we really enjoyed a degree of comfort and peace. This, however, was of short duration. We got into a colder latitude; for Timmy Tarry was bent upon going as far to the southward as possible; and, in the mean time, the cuddy-windows had been smashed, and the cuddy doors unhinged—we had no stove, and we were really almost starved. Then our live stock was exhausted, and so badly was the ship furnished, that, at last, we had to subsist upon oatmeal gruel, and pea-soup, with an occasional hunch of salt pork, and as much salt beef (which, by the way, was perfectly uneatable) as we pleased. It was pleasant, however, to reflect, that this state of things could not last for ever. We were gradually approaching the land of our destination, and each succeeding day, by bringing us nearer, was regarded with deeper interest than the preceding. Day after day passed over, and still no land! We had been out more than four months, and, according to the Captain's sights,' ought to have made the Mewstone cleverly: no Mewstone, however, or indeed, any other stone met our longing and expectant eyes, and on we went, apparently in an unknown course. The passengers began to murmur, but this only made Timmy Tarry the more savage and unsociable. He

6

was now always "taking sights," and, then, referring with eager anxiety to his chart. Still no land! Not even the solitary and naked Mewstone was visible. At length, one morning, the cry of "land on the larboard bow!" resounded from the mast-head, and rushing on deck, we saw, skirting the distant horizon, on the left, a hazy, opake line, evidently indicating land.

All was now right, and the Captain, rubbing his hands, ordered a gun to be got ready to fire off Bruné Island for Kelly, the pilot. This order was promptly obeyed, and gun after gun was fired, greatly, as I thought, to the waste of good powder; but no Kellyno pilot-no answer, even, to our repeated signals. The Captain swore furiously against the pilots-the lazy rascals! Not even to answer our signals! Oh! he would report them to the Governor, that he would, and be d-d to them all!-an infernal set of idle scoundrels! In the midst of this comfortable confusion, a gale came on, and the first token of its respect was the splitting of five of our best sails. The next compliment it paid us, was to drive us on the land with fearful celerity. As soon as we came into decent anchorage, we let go both our best anchors. They held fast, but after a pitch or two, they parted, and away we went, under ragged top-sails, at the mercy of the wind and waves. Our gallant Captain had been stoutly applying himself to the brandy bottle, and as the danger increased, he grew very valiant and fool-hardy. At last, when we had scarcely a sail or an anchor left, he gravely summoned his cabin passengers together, and treated them with the following speech:-"I tell you what it is-here we are, knocking about at the mercy of the wind and waves-not a sail or an anchor left-and God knows how soon we may all be lost.—The ship is now almost a complete wreck,-and a short time may send us all to the bottom. What, gentlemen and ladies, would you advise me to do?" There was an awful pause. I took upon myself, after asking a question or two, to say-"Why, then, lower the boats-we may save some of the women, at any rate.' "Sa-ave the women!"-drawled out our doughty skipper. Aye! that we will! God bless 'em!-they shall."-"Master!" exclaimed the carpenter, rushing swiftly into the cuddy" there are breakers a-head!" "Then 'bout ship!"-instinctively and promptly shouted the Captain; and rushing on deck, I plainly saw our jeopardy. We were within about fifty yards-certainly not more of a reef, on which the breakers were bursting in terrific violence. But the gallant ship! Oh! how promptly she obeyed the order,—and, although, with scarcely a rag of sail upon her, she "turned her bosom" to the tempest, and then careered along the sea, "walking the waters like a thing of life," even amidst all the din and strife of the tempest. Away, then, we went, before the tempest, without anchor or sail. The land—a bold and rocky coast-on which the breakers broke with awful violence-was again right before usfor we were between two ranges of lofty hills, and we looked upon our inevitable approximation with a sort of stupid, benumbed, and

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paralized interest. We had now no sails to work the ship with, and our only dependence was upon the subsidence or shifting of the wind; to add to our misfortune, night was coming on, and the gale continued unchanged. About seven o'clock, it subsided a little, and, as we neared the land, we could discover that fires were lighted along the coast, evidently with a view of attracting our attention. We made for the spot as well as we could, and were fortunately enabled to steer in that direction. Following the line of fires, we found ourselves in a little sheltered bay, apparently land-locked, and as smooth almost as a quiet mountain-lake. We were now so close to the shore, that we could hear the voices of men, directing us how to steer; and it was to these men, that we owed our preservation-for the ship went aground upon a soft mudbank, where she lay as still and as quiet as a wild duck at roost on the water.

In the course of a day or two, we had a pilot and abundance of visitors, and we were eventually removed to Hobart Town in some small coasting vessels, leaving the Underwriters "to pay the piper."

T.

FILIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
No. II,

My beloved Mother,

To you-whose mind has been polished by extensive reading, a no less refining intercourse with intellectual society, and a long life's diversified experience of those countless springs, which originate the action of the heart's most exquisitely tender sensibilities,I need not observe that Britannia's freedom-loving sons, cannot wander within a land polluted by slavery, however grateful may be its productions, or however "sublime and beautiful" may be its scenery, without reverting involuntarily to their own (however bleak, still precious) sea-environed natal home, and most proudly feeling, a patriotic triumph.

Nor, will you be surprised that on my leaving Port a Praio, with a view to explore a portion of the interior, with Mr. J Capt. Kand his lady; each gentleman mounted on a pony, and Mrs. K on a long-eared descendant of the monitor which rebuked Balaam, I felt an insurmountable prejudice anticipate as impossible, the existence of much purely moral elevation, or, indeed, of even happiness; but I was pleasingly subjected, and I frankly own it, to a qualified, though very pleasing disappointment, and I was likewise taught, or (more properly to express the truth) reminded, of the extreme odium of injustice, that is in fairness