SIII1 J BESET. 
61 
Sunday, May 19 th .—A slight relaxation of 
pressure took place on the Saturday evening, but 
a strong swell immediately intruding, the ice 
again collapsed, and remained close the whole of 
this day. The John, though, like us, immovcably 
fixed iu the ice, increased her distance from us 
nearly two miles during the two preceding days. 
Perhaps there is no situation of life in which 
an habitual reliance upon Providence, and a well 
founded dependence on the Divine protection and 
support, is of such sensible value, as it is found to 
be by those employed in seafaring occupations, 
and especially in the fishery for whales. These 
are exposed to a great variety of dangers, many of 
which they must voluntarily face,—and the suc¬ 
cess of their exertions depends on a variety of 
causes, over some of which they have no controul. 
The anxiety arising from both these causes is 
greatly repressed, and often altogether subdued, 
when, convinced of the infallibility and universa¬ 
lity of Providence, by the internal power of reli¬ 
gion, we are enabled to commit all our ways un¬ 
to God, and to look for his blessing as essential 
to our safety, and as necessary for our success. 
At half-past five o’clock, on Monday morning, 
I was awoke by the grinding of the ice against 
the side of the ship: on inquiring the cause, I was 
informed, that “ the ice was on the move,” having 
