272 THE WHALEMAN'S ADVENTURES. 



good success in their capture, in order that he 

 might yet realize a profitable voyage for his 

 owners at its close, and enter port with a full 

 ship, after all its first losses and misfortunes. 

 Through no fault of his, however, this was not 

 so to be. But the voyage was productive to 

 him, personally, of a better portion than many 

 ship-loads of spermaceti, for he found, during 

 the course of it, and partly through the very 

 discipline of disappointment, the pearl of great 

 price, which he would not now part with for the 

 wealth of the Indies or all California's gold. 

 May he only keep it always, and find it to yield 

 him a constant revenue of peace and joy ! 



We prayed and laboured long in hope of a 

 work of grace in the forecastle : but the power 

 and mercy of God were not shown that way 

 men and officers, too, apparently remaining 

 dead in trespasses and sins / hardened, I fear, 

 by the very means of grace they slighted, and the 

 invitations and pleadings they neglected or 

 scorned. Alas ! it is they only that will be the 

 sufferers, as it is they only who are to blame for 

 neglecting so great salvation ! 



