of rich melody from heaven's choristers, tuning their merry throats, -the evening song of the nightingale, and the morning call of the cuckoo, sinking deep into the soul of the deck-pacing mariner.

"O blithe new comer! I have heard,

I hear thee and rejoice;

O cuckoo ! shall I call thee bird,

Or but a wandering voice."

Northward, the broad peaceful meads of Essex, dotted with innumerable lowing cattle, stretched many a mile, the stubble fields telling of waving corn well housed; the Thames as a silver cord binding, yet ever separating, the two counties; while scattered over the river, moving and at rest, were emigrant ships and fishing boats, yachts, timber vessels and troop ships, Indiamen and colliers; the flags of all nations fluttering in the breeze.

On the opposite bank stands old Saxon Tilbury (Tilia, a hus

bandman; or Tigel, a tile; and burgh a town; being one of the earliest tiled cities in England. Tilbury was also the seat of

Ceadda, a London bishop, who converted the East Saxons to Christianity, in the seventh century,) celebrated in history as being the spot where the maiden Queen Elizabeth, and the gay and renowned Earl of Leicester, reviewed the English troops assembled to repel the threatened invasion of the Spanish Armada.

Our noble ship lay at anchor in mid-channel, as a racehorse held by the bridle, her cumbered decks being rapidly cleared by the crew, who seemed to have a magic power of packing away an endless supply of baggage in what appeared an already full hold.

Meantime inquisitive friends were reporting to passengers the result of their inspection of the vessel; commenting upon the abundance of the poultry, and the smallness of the pigs, hazarding an opinion, unaware of seamen's resources, that no one could milk the cow in that mere box; and declaring it impossible that so many sheep could live in such a small boat; wondering where so much luggage would be deposited, how we should all be fed, and fearing lest water should fail.

In one small cabin was an anxious mother, carefully arranging her only son's bed; another resounded with the smart strokes of a hammer, as nails and hooks were being driven into the beams for the suspension of all sorts of articles of sea convenience; the occupants of others were adjusting, altering, and finally fixing the position of boxes and drawers, ingeniously contriving how least to trench upon the

space.

66

Cabin'd, cribbed, confined"

Among the intending voyagers was a minister, who had been accompanied thus far by his friends; and, with emotion, many present joined in solemn prayer and the parting hymn.

"How are thy servants blest, O Lord!

How sure is their defence !

Eternal wisdom is their guide,

Their help Omnipotence.

When by the dreadful tempest borne
High on the broken wave,

They know thou art not slow to hear,
Nor impotent to save.

The storm is laid, the winds retire,
Obedient to thy will;

The sea that roars at thy command,

At thy command is still.

In midst of dangers, fears, and deaths,

Thy goodness we'll adore;

We'll praise thee for thy mercies past,
And humbly hope for more."

Rapidly followed the short click, click, click, of the windlass; the heavy clank of the cable as it slowly trailed inboard, like a giant snake made prisoner; the solid decisive orders of the pilot; the song and chorus of the seamen as they hauled the sheets home to the yards; the long strained look towards friends on shore and in boats, the last wave of hat and kerchief, and the Petrel

"Walked the water as a thing of life."

THE breeze blew fresh and fair, and the bright sunlight danced upon the shimmering water; and as we sailed down the channel, the villages dotting the verdant hills and valleys of Old England receded from view, and in the crisp autumn air the coast line stood out clear and well defined, the chalk cliffs sparkling brightly as a jewelled coronet on ocean's brow.

The bearings of Start Point were taken and duly registered in the log-book, and the men being divided into their respective watches the Petrel sped swiftly on her way, a tear rushing to

many an eye as it glanced towards the dim fading island home of our childhood—

The wind strengthened, and the hushing gurgle of the spray brushed up by the vessel gently turning aside the water under her bows, rose into a surging swell as the increasing impetus of the ship's way gave a larger and larger curve to the parted sea; and the wind grew stronger, and yet stronger, and one after another the sails were furled, and the entries on the log-slate told of increasing wind, strong wind, blowing hard, and heavy gales.

The stormy wind and raging sea contended in grim battle for the possession of the good ship; the lightnings darted down in fierce forky tongues, and the turbulent thunder rolled in distracting roar, volley after volley crashing overhead; the invisible spirits of the air whirred and whizzed and howled through the rigging, and the dense riven clouds charged furiously through the sky over the pale face of the moon, while at fearful speed the Petrel scudded before the driving blast.

Now we rushed up the huge swell and anon drove down into the deep sea valley, the masts rocked and swayed, and the hull of the vessel rolled heavily from side to side; few human sounds were heard, save that the vigilant officer of the watch, firmly, in short sentences, warned the steersmen to starboard, steady, port, or port-hard, as might be necessary to keep the ship straight before the wind, lest the heavy sea should strike her on the quarter, and cause the gallant bark to broach to; and the helmsmen as with strained muscles they grasped and moved the wheel, echoed the directions, steady, hard-a-port, Sir. Aud with all care a foaming sea would occasionally roll over the stern, and rushing forward, flood the decks, pouring out in torrents through the scupper holes.

*

The wild waves were hushed into quietude, and there was a

C