PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE. 
261 
was seen at a distance, closely beset, in a situation 
which, in this advanced state of the season, when 
the ice was fast packing upon the shore, could not 
be considered in any light but that of great 
danger : it was a situation, indeed, from which, 
had a strong wind from the eastward arisen, there 
seemed to be little prospect of escaping. 
It is observable, in a personal review of the 
events of life, especially with those who pursue an 
adventurous occupation, that some of the most im¬ 
portant circumstances appear to result from a mere 
simple accident, or from a chain of contingencies, 
apparently of the most trivial nature. Thus, as 
an acute and judicious author observes, “ the most 
trivial events may determine our state in the 
world. Turning up one street instead of another, 
may bring us into company with a person whom 
we should not otherwise have met; and this may 
lead to a train of other events, which may deter¬ 
mine the happiness or misery of our lives*.” It 
was such a trifling circumstance as my rising from 
my bed at night, without being apprised of danger 
(a step which it might appear romantic, to repre¬ 
sent as having been taken in consequence of 
dreams of involvement and shipwreck), that be¬ 
came the means of our escape from a hazardous 
" Remains of the Rev. Richard Cecil, p. 104. 
