270 THE WHALE AND 



A Pearl of great Price. Thankful Acknowledgments. 



the Indies or all California's gold. May he only 

 keep it always, and find it to yield him a con- 

 stant revenue of peace and joy ! 



We have prayed and labored long in hope of 

 a work of grace in the forecastle ; but the power 

 and mercy of God have not been shown that 

 way, and there the men remain, and officers too, 

 dead in trespasses and sins ; hardened, I fear, 

 by the very means of grace they have slighted, 

 and the invitations and pleadings they have 

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

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

 neglecting so great salvation ! 



We are trusting now, in God's good provi- 

 dence, to hail Boston Light by to-morrow even- 

 ing, rejoicing and thankful to say once more, 



This is my own, my native land ! 



To God be our grateful acknowledgments for 

 all the mercies of this pleasant voyage, two 

 hundred and thirty-six days to-morrow from the 

 Sandwich Islands, eighty from Rio de Janeiro, 

 where we put in for supplies. 



The engrossing earnestness with which our 

 captain, for a few days past, has studied the 

 chart and watched the soundings, in order to 



