350 



GLOOMY PROSPECTS. 



[1829 



Nov. 5th. — On Thursday, the 5th, we were in latitude 26° 50' south, 

 long. 21° 30' west, about four hundred leagues east of the Isle of St. 

 Catharine, on the coast of Brazil. The fever still raged with great 

 violence among the unfortunate inmates of the Antarctic. Through 

 the mercy of Providence, my health yet remained unimpaired, not- 

 withstanding my continued watchfulness and anxiety of mind. I 

 acknowledged this favour with gratitude, as I did also that of moderate 

 breezes, fair weather, and a smooth sea, which attended us during this 

 period of affliction. 



Nov. 9th. — On Monday, the 9th of November, I was happy to per- 

 ceive that the fever had left Mr. Scott and two of the seamen, affording 

 reasonable hopes of their ultimate recovery. The rest still remained 

 in a very critical, if not hopeless situation. This day my wife sent for 

 and told me that she would no longer conceal from me the fact that 

 her hours were numbered, as she felt that she could not survive another 

 day. She therefore wished to communicate freely with me on the 

 subject, and charge me with some messages for her mother, father, 

 brothers, sisters, and our dear little boy, who would soon be a mother- 

 less orphan. She wished me to cut off some of her hair, and give 

 each of them a lock ; with an injunction to preserve it for the sake 

 of one who had loved them, and prayed for their happiness day and 

 night. 



" Tell my dear mother not to weep for me," said she ; " for I shall 

 die happy, and expect to meet her in heaven. Tell my brothers and 

 sisters to be kind to their mother, and to seek their Creator in the days 

 of their youth. Tell them to be kind to our dear little boy, and early 

 initiate him in the path of virtue, which alone leads to happiness. I 

 need not ask you, Benjamin, to be kind to your son, the pledge of our 

 mutual loves ; but I pray you to be so to my afflicted mother, and to 

 all the family. I know she will grieve on account of my not returning 

 with you, and make herself sick. But you will comfort her, Benjamin, 

 and assure her that I died happy. Do not fail to bring up our dear 

 little boy in the fear of the Lord. Have a locket made of my hair, 

 and tell our little William that he must always wear it about his neck ; 

 that when he looks at it, he may be reminded that he once had a fond 

 and doting mother, who blessed him with her dying breath ; and teach 

 him to pray that he may meet her in heaven." 



After a little pause, she continued : " There is only one thing, Ben- 

 jamin, that makes me feel unpleasant ; and that is, the idea of my body 

 being thrown overboard, after my departure, and becoming food for 

 sharks." On saying this, she was extremely affected, and wept aloud. 

 Were I to live till the day of general doom, the pang I felt at that 

 moment would be still fresh in my recollection. It was anguish un- 

 utterable — like cutting in twain the life-strings of my heart ; knowing, 

 as I did, that nothing but the purest affection for me had induced her 

 to accompany me on this disastrous enterprise. As soon as I could 

 command my voice, I assured her, in the most solemn manner, that if 

 her dear spirit was called hence by her Saviour, the mortal covering 

 which it must first put off should be carefully and sacredly preserved, 

 until it could be decently deposited in consecrated ground ; or, if such 



