in the morning I attempted to laugh it off, and called myself a fool for being so fearful. But at the time of prayer, we were spoken to in a very kind, but faithful manner, and warned to flee from the wrath to come unto Jesus, the only security and peace of a perishing sinner.

"One scripture was repeated which went like a dagger to my heart, namely, this, 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.'* 'Ye would not' struck upon my heart all day long. I remembered how God had been calling to me by many providences, and still I would not.' The Lord Jesus seemed to say to me from the cross, 'Why will you not come to me?'-I could get no rest. I was horrified by my wickedness, and the abominable system I had embraced, and could not indulge a hope of mercy. But the Lord sent the same word time after time to my mind, and every time with more power-' Why will you not come to me?'-Thank the Lord!—after some days I found my mind humbling, and felt a stronger desire to know Jesus, whom I persecuted. I prayed as well as I could; and he, at length, did bring me to cast myself down, as it were, at his feet, and cry out, 'Lord save me, a guilty sinner!' I had for some time only a hope -and that very faint; but he soon lifted up upon

* Matt. xxiii. 37.

me the light of his reconciled countenance; and that brought peace to my mind, and which I still enjoy. And my earnest prayer is, that I may spend the remnant of my days as a true and humble follower of Jesus."

Such is the confession,-such a brief view of, I trust, the conversion of a Socialist. His spirit and conduct from this time, while he remained under my care and observation, were most unexceptionable in every respect, and in the highest degree satisfactory, not only to me, but to all the right-thinking men with whom he was perpetually mingling. Not the breath of a complaint affecting him ever reached me, or any of my petty officers, or other schoolmasters. As a teacher, he was most useful to me, and most exemplary. He became a diligent student of the Bible, and of other useful and devotional books. He appeared to grow in grace as well as in knowledge: his prayers evinced a pleasing acquaintance with the doctrines of redemption, and an experimental knowledge of his spiritual wants and necessities. And he now laboured more strenuously in throwing down the kingdom of Satan, than ever he had in building it up,-and was more zealous and unwearied in promoting the reign of Jesus in the hearts of his fellow-sinners, than he had ever been in opposing that blessed and promised reign.

Should this brief statement meet the eye of any one unhappily entangled by the debasing and destructive principles and practices of Socialism, we would pray and hope that it may arrest his atten

tion,-lead him to reflect most seriously on the fearful and ruinous tendency of that vile system of iniquity in which he has involved himself,-dispose him to commence at once, and without a moment's delay, the devout, candid, and diligent study of the writings of inspiration, the Sixty-six sacred books which God has graciously given to us as the only rule of our belief, our practice, and our hope; and if he begin and continue his inquiries into the divine revelation unfolded in these holy books, in a teachable and child-like, or, if he pleases, in a truly manly spirit, with an honest desire to know the will of God,―a desire, the honesty of which will manifest itself in a ready, cheerful, and consistent performance of that will, at whatever cost, the moment it is ascertained, and if he look up to the Father, through Jesus Christ, for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, and rely wholly on his teaching and guidance, he will assuredly be rescued from the entanglements, pollution, guilt, and wretchedness of Socialism, from the power of sin and Satan, and be found, like the maniac of old, sitting at the feet of Jesus, his divine and gracious Deliverer,— clothed, and in his right mind enjoying, that blessed and holy liberty wherewith he makes all his people free. He will find himself prepared for spending the remainder of his days in the service, and to the glory of God; a blessing to his country; and wise in winning souls to Christ, who will preserve him in the faith and obedience of the gospel, even unto his everlasting kingdom and joy.

CHAPTER IV.

Brief account of several prisoners, communicated by themselves -Remarks on their statements-Additional observations on the instruction and improvement of the people.

AMONGST the prisoners who embarked at Woolwich was one named W- B- about thirty years of age, a man, as it afterwards appeared, of a delicate constitution, and subject to a variety of bodily ailments. When proceeding down the English Channel, he was taken ill and confined to bed. Having inquired into his case, I was disposed to conclude that he was not a fit subject for entering upon a long voyage in a crowded ship, and resolved to apply for his debarkation on our arrival at Plymouth. When he was charged with acting in neglect, if not in defiance, of the advice which I had positively given to the whole of the prisoners on board their respective hulks, he assured me that from his knowledge of his constitution he was satisfied that removal to a milder climate would prove very advantageous to his health, and that he hoped soon to get well, and to make himself useful to me in any way I might think fit to employ him. I adhered, however, to my resolution to have him, in accordance with the spirit of my instructions, sent on shore, apprehensive that the voyage might

prove hazardous to his life. On the following morning he sent me a note, in which he implored me to allow him to remain in the Earl Grey, and made some statements which led to a still further investigation of his case, whereby my mind was ultimately satisfied that I might, with propriety, permit him to remain where he was, and proceed on the voyage. By the time we reached the latitude of Madeira, his health, as I had been led to anticipate, improved; he became one of my most useful teachers; and gave, in process of time, the most satisfactory and pleasing evidence that he was a true child of God by faith in Christ Jesus. He evinced talents of rather a superior order, had been pretty well educated; exhibited great manliness of deportment; and was possessed of a remarkably sound judgment, great discernment of character, and considerable acquaintance with Scripture and the peculiar doctrines of the gospel. His personal piety seemed deep, influential, abiding; his interest in the salvation of the souls around him ardent and practical. After he had been about two months on board, he never ceased to care for his fellow-prisoners,—was always ready to attend to my instructions, and to aid me in every possible way. When our voyage was well advanced, I requested him to give me in writing a few particulars of his past life, and received the following statement, which, I doubt not, will prove more interesting to my readers than anything I can say respecting the writer.