26 UNPUBLISHED LETTERS OF THE 



this life. The pleasures and comforts, such as are allowed to 

 the rest of God's children — from them you are entirely excluded. 

 I sat musing upon it, looking round, but could find no single ray 

 of comfort upon earth, but what should come from the prospect 

 of the next world. After a little time I quietly looked upon 

 this as my portion, and my mind was made up to it. To my 

 surprise the thought was not so overwhelming, but it solemnized 

 me most exceedingly, and I felt weaned from the world in a 

 degree I never experienced before. 



Letter 8 — (Last Sheet of Letter) addressed to Mrs. T. M. Hitching, 

 Stoke, near Plymouth Dock. 

 Dated 15th Nov., 1805; received 24th Feb. 1806). 



^figures standing on the beach, and counted twelve or thirteen on 

 the top of the bank, which appeared to be green. Presently 

 after I saw a pole elevated with a hat or jacket on the top, and 

 a clump of people round it, some standing, others sitting : at 

 different places on the beach there were parties of two or three 

 together. The rocks and surf were frightful. About this time 

 several pieces of wreck floated by us, barrels, chest of drawers, 

 cabin doors, &c. This was the most affecting sight of all. One 

 of the frigate's boats coming within hail of us in her way to the 

 island, told us it was the King Greorge transj)ort lost — all saved 

 but 3 officers, one of whom was a general ; the other ship was 

 supposed to be the Britannia E. Indiaman. We were within a 

 mile of the fatal Eoccas, running directly upon it, when day- 

 break discovered our danger. 2. — Heard nothing more all day 

 — no ship near us. 3. — Preached on John iii, 14-15: the remark 

 made was, that I had been talking a great deal of nonsense. 

 This the first time they have understood enough to take offence 

 at the peculiarities of the G-ospel. Our detachment rejoined the 

 main fleet in consequence of our loss, and were soon left astern 

 by them. Captain much concerned at navigating in a place so 

 much out of the usual track alone, and fired a shot for the only 

 ship in sight to come down to us. She refused to do this, and 

 moreover, hoisted a signal of an enemy's being in sight, so that 



* See Journal and Letters, pp. 346-9, and Memoir, p. 135, for the 

 commencement of this narrative. 



