swam the billows of his native ocean, and the works of my watch as utterly ruined as if it had lain for six months at the bottom of a ditch.

Prior to the wave striking our ship, I have previously said that there were only five persons on deck, although the passengers, sailors, and soldiers, amounted to more than a hundred. This was a most providential circumstance. The poor third mate, who was near to me, too fully occupied in the important duties of his office to be on the look-out for dangerous waves, had not the remotest idea of what was about to occur. I was too busily employed with my own debates as to whether I was to take refuge in the cuddy, or scramble up into the rigging as high as I could get before the sea struck us, to apprise him of the danger. The captain, however, being on the look-out, cautioned the helmsman with the following remark, “Hold on, look out, a heavy sea coming." The other person on the main deck at this critical moment was a passenger carrying a bucket of water to the bulwark. The sea most fortunately struck him, for it knocked him down in a corner where he came in contact with some obstacle that prevented him being washed overboard. The bull's eye was washed from the quarter galley, and left on deck, as a convincing proof of the power of the wave that had caused such consternation on board. The skylight at the top of the cuddy was demolished, and the water had a ready entrée to the cabin and berths, suddenly filling it with water, where two or three lady passengers, not having the slightest warning of its approach, shouted out at the top of their voices all the horrors that a terrified imagination at the time pictured to them.

The captain instantly went down into the cuddy, appeased the affrighted ladies and other passengers as well as he could, by saying, "Don't be alarmed,

the worst has happened, it is one of those accidents that happen once in a hundred years."

The captain had seen me on the poop prior to the accident, and suddenly missing me, exclaimed to the helmsman, "The Doctor is washed over

board."

The helmsman said, "No, sir, he is not, for there he is in the rigging."

Old Bentinck the sturdy many weeks from the dock,
With her various passengers, and plentiful stock
Of all sorts of things, but especially sheep,
For the death of the latter I cannot but weep.
She has had ups and downs in the great briny ocean,
And has consequently given us plenty of motion;'
She has twisted and wriggled, and played many rigs,
But her worst trick of all was the loss of the pigs;
She has sailed fast and slow through various climes,
And has ducked us most sweetly several times.

Had she sailed a little faster when the sea came on board,

I for one should have thought her a much finer Lord.

To surmount ocean's wave she is generally able,

But she must have been drunk when she smashed the cuddy table.

But more prudent and wise I can't at her scowl,

When she drowned and destroyed so many tough fowl.
And whene'er the old ship again ploughs the main,

I hope she'll return to her home once again;
And her sailors so jolly accompany her there,

To see their dear friends and shake hands with the fair.
A moral lesson learn from this good old ship,
In all future voyages whene'er you make a trip,
To steer the straight course as she has now done,
And then you won't sorrow, but have plenty of fun.

JOHN SHAW.

CHAPTER XI.

A Look at the Continent-Alderney and its Race-Perilous Position-Rescue, and Arrival at Guernsey-Farewell to a Boarding House - Trip to Wollongong, New South Wales-Fine Qualities of Australian Wheat-Lost in the Bush-On the Road to St. Petersburg-Russian Opinion of England and the English-A Mistake about a Bad Leg -Visit to the Salt Mine of Halleim-Strange Thoughts during the Descent-Difficulties of a Want of Cash in St. Petersburg-Escape from the Dilemma.

IN the year 1833, after having travelled a good deal in England, a little in Scotland, and over several counties in Ireland, I had made up my mind to have a look at the Continent. I set out perfectly alone; a plan which has its advantages and its disadvantages like many other systems.

Having heard that the islands of Guernsey and Jersey were well worth seeing, and that the opposite coast of France was also worth the attention of the tourist in presenting him with many original and beautiful scenes, I determined to proceed to Paris by that route. I embarked at Southampton on board the steamer carrying the mail. on board several passengers, and, besides, the governor of the island of Guernsey, Lord de Sau

marez.

We had

We had passengers to land at Alderney, which is separated from the other islands by a very dangerous part intersected with numerous rocks, where a very rapid current is found, well known to mariners acquainted with those parts as the Race of Alderney, so named from the rapidity with which it flows. The captain, finding that a dense fog at that time prevailed, consulted with Admiral Lord

de Saumarez. They unanimously agreed not to land the passengers at Alderney until the fog had cleared off; consequently we let go the anchor, and waited for some time. After riding at anchor for some time the fog cleared off; we up with the anchor, and away we steamed into the dangerous Race of Alderney. During the French war Admiral Lord de Saumarez had captured three French vessels in this dangerous part, by enticing them into the race, there to give battle, where they were ignorant of the many rocks and the rapid current; consequently they became an easy prey to the gallant admiral: and strange to say, that very day was the anniversary of his victory. When in the middle of this dangerous part, with rocks on all sides, the fog suddenly became as dense as ever.

Lord de Saumarez was a fresh-coloured, fat, redfaced, elderly gentleman. At this critical moment he started up, pale as death, with a quivering lip, paced up and down the steamer in an agony of fright, uttering the fearful words, which struck terror into many of the stoutest hearts on board, "We are all at the mercy of Providence.”

I at that time, as a young traveller leaving my native land for the first time, felt very naturally an unusual degree of alarm, from having heard on board the history of Lord de Saumarez who had signalised himself by his valour, and who of course was esteemed a great authority, being at that time governor of Guernsey, and especially in nautical matters, and above all in that particular part where his superior knowledge of its many dangers had proved a source of victory and renown to himself. I instantly went to the head of the steamer to know the worst, and what might happen to us, at which part I found the mist so thick, that to use the sailors' phrase, "you might cut it," and there, anxiously watching and listening, expected every

moment to be dashed upon the rocks. Providence, however, ordained otherwise.

After taking our chance for some time, the mist cleared away; we landed our passengers at the island of Alderney; and afterwards arrived safe in the beautiful island of Guernsey, there to tell of our very narrow escape from the dangers of the sea.

I remember afterwards meeting with the captain of the steamer, who informed me, that seeing Lord de Saumarez in such a terrible fright, added to other fearful reflections at the time that we were threatened with a watery grave, produced such a shock upon his nerves that he was afterwards afflicted with a complaint, the cause of which he entirely attributed to the event of that memorable day.

Some years afterwards I told this story to a cousin of Lord de Saumarez, a man very similar in appearance to the Admiral from his rubicund countenance, who remarked, "I am ashamed to hear of such a cowardly exhibition of an old admiral, he ought to have known better." I, however, differ from his cousin, and make every allowance for the brave old admiral, well knowing that weak nerves and a particular state of health occasionally and temporarily turn many a brave man into an apparent coward, notwithstanding the assertion of a well-known man in the army, when allusion was made to the fear of the enemy, speaking of himself, perhaps unwisely and even boastingly, "I was born before nerves."

I have a few notes of my ramble to those beautiful islands of Guernsey and Jersey, with a farewell to Blanchard's Boarding House. When at the latter place I met with many agreeable people, and passed a very agreeable sojourn of a few weeks. Here is the farewell: