10. On the banks of Newfoundland; the wind dropped about noon to a perfect calm. This afternoon all were alive making lines to fish with; the ropes stolen from off all the boxes; the rope round my crate of pots stolen by my partner, a Scotchman, and brought to me, which caused a hearty laugh afterwards, to tie to our line, which, with about seventy yards of an old deep sea line lent me by the captain, made one about one hundred and fifty yards long; baited at first with fat pork, and caught a fine cod, about thirty pounds weight. There were a great many caught, some were very large, and were obliged to be struck with grains, or harpoons; also several large halibut. The cod fish were different to any I ever saw before, they were spotted all over like a leopard, and when drawn fresh out of the water, they really looked beautiful, the colours were so very bright; when caught, the sailors hung them on a hook, and cut them open for bait whilst yet alive, and they moaned most piteously. We found great quantities of small silver sand eels, and small crabs in them. I measured one, and it was five feet ten inches and a half long; a man's head would go into its mouth. They were all divided amongst the crew and passengers, and were a very great treat. We began to eat directly they were caught. I helped to draw one in with a piece of another in my mouth, which we had cut into slices and fried-it was 'delicious. 11. Wind sprang up again, and more rain, and fog so thick that we cannot see sixty yards from the ship; a man at the bow blowing a horn every minute, and one at each side. Very cold. All quite busy, good Sunday as it is, in cleaning and preparing their fish; everybody feasting, and all quite well, and in good spirits, notwithstanding it is so piercing cold and wet. Snuff all done-awful to look forward to, for the tobacco has been exhausted on board for the last three weeks, so that I cannot make any. 12. Wind good, but very foggy, cold and wet. A great many fishing vessels around us; a large American frigate in sight. A fine large cod caught this morning. 13. A perfect calm, the sails flapping against the masts; a fog so thick we are scarcely able to see from one end of the vessel to the other. 14. Wind in our favour, and very strong; been going all night at the rate of nine miles per hour. One of the passengers caught a small dolphin yesterday. 15. Wind still in our favour; several whales seen to-day, and three white fish, about the size of a very large porpoise; but we do not know the name of them, for no one on board ever saw any like them before. 16. Wind still in our favour; saw a vessel to-day that left Liverpool the same day that we did. One of the passengers found out to-day that his box had been broken open, and ten half sovereigns stolen out, and a satin scarf. 17. Very wet and cold, with sleet. Wind still good and favourable. Captain says that we were 500 miles out of our course at one time. 18. Saw land about seven o'clock this morning, very mountainous, and a great deal of snow on the mountains. The sun came out about eleven o'clock, and for about two hours we had fine summer weather; it was indeed a treat after the severe cold. The fog came on again, and we had once more the cold raw winter around us; and when, towards night, it cleared away for a short time, we had lost sight of the land again, (Newfoundland) and had nothing around us but the trackless waste of waters.• 19. Saw the Island of Breton early this morning, and some rocks, called the Magdalen Islands; they rise (we are now in the gulph of St. Lawrence) perpendicularly out of the water, and have the appearance, at a distance, of so many brick kilns; they are also called Bird Islands, from the immense numbers of a bird, called gannet, that frequent them. We were becalmed opposite to them for several hours. There were two men on them killing the birds, and several boats there collecting eggs; the islands, strictly speaking, are covered with them, and appeared, through the glass, one moving mass of birds. They do not seem at all alarmed at what is going on around them; nor do the foolish things stir, although they see their neighbours knocked on the head. There are twenty-seven sail in sight, mostly all outward bound; one passed close to us, with every sail set, and gave us three cheers, as a sort of welcome to America, though we have not yet seen the main land; we are close to it, and expect to see it in the morning. 20. Wind fair, and had a fine breeze all night; made one hundred and twelve miles in ten hours. Passed the island of Anticosta about eight o'clock this morning; several whales in sight, one a very large one; spoke the Elizabeth Jane, of Whitby, laden with timber. Fight between the steward and carpenter-the first mate stood by VOL. 8 No. 7-2 L. to see fair play; followed by one between the black cook, and one of the sailors. The jolly boat ordered out to take the man on shore who stowed himself away, but the women are going to try to beg him off. The boat ordered back. 21. A perfect calm, the sun very hot, the water like a glass; we are in the same place as we were yesterday morning. 22. Still calm, no wind, but are five miles further down than we were, being driven back by the current. This afternoon, about three o'clock, as the first mate and I were talking on the forecastle, we noticed a vessel about four miles to windward, driven all at once nearly on her beam ends. We had at that time every sail set that the vessel could carry; we were a complete cloud of canvass, the captain was gone to bed, the mate jumped down, ordered all hands up, and every sail to be taken in. The captain heard the noise, and came on deck, looked up, saw what was the matter, and in a few minutes we were under bare poles. The sun shining beautifully, and the water still smooth as molten lead; but the scene was soon to change. First came a gentle ripple on the waters, then a curl, which in its turn was soon followed by the angry-crested mountain waves. All this change, from imaginary perfect security, to the most imminent danger, took place in about half an hour. There was another ship, about three miles to leeward, which, of course, would not see the squall so soon as us. It was a strange sight to see the vessel to windward with her yards down to the water's edge in the midst of a fierce storm, and us under bare poles, expecting it coming over, and all quite gloomy around us, while the ship to leeward was in smooth water, the sun shining upon her, and all her sails set. A few minutes, and she also took in her sails; the gale lasted until midnight. 23. This morning brought us once more calm weather; the storm died away fortunately without doing us any damage. The two vessels are in sight, and do not appear to have suffered much. The black cook is once more to appear, but in a different character to the last. A passenger had persuaded him that one of the young women was in love with him, and wished to see him that night: he accordingly came about eleven o'clock; the girl shrieked out, and a few of us who were in the secret, made as much noise as possible, got lights and created as much uproar and confusion as anybody could wish to see or hear, it had nearly ended in a general fight, however, and I and the Scotchman were blamed for it. The cook escaped in the confusion with our assistance; if he had been caught he would have been flogged, and we did not wish to carry the joke that length. 24. Wind still calm We have only made nine miles since Tuesday. I threw a line over the side to day, and caught a fine mackerel, but my hook was not strong enough to hold him; he broke away, leaving part of his jaw fast to it. We can see the land quite plain, it is very hilly, and seems entirely covered with wood, down to the very water's edge; wind springing up towards night. 25. Had a famous wind in our favour all night, made above one hundred miles up the gulph, in ten hours; can see the houses at Fox Town and Fox Ville, and the fishing boats, and the fires on the shore for drying fish; for they are only fishing stations, notwithstanding their fine names. This morning the wind was so strong that the main jack, a rope about the thickness of your arm, broke, and hit the second mate on the side of the head, causing blood to fly from his ears and nose. Night wind still good. 26. Wind against us again; merely tacking to keep our ground, which we can scarcely do. The Island of Anticosta in sight. There is a light house upon it, and two stations belonging to the North West Fur Company, but no inhabitants; and even the Fur Company are only there in the summer months. In winter it is enclosed in the ice, and covered with snow, producing nothing at any time but wolves, bears, foxes, squirrels, &c., and its waters only seals, cod, halibut, and mackerel. 27. Still calm; the light house in sight all night; we are not three miles from where we were yesterday; five vessels close to us striving to get up to Quebec. 28. Still calm, no wind at all, and losing ground from the current of the St. Lawrence, the light house close to us yet. All in good health and spirits; went up to the main top gallants. The captain gave me a bottle of rum on the sly. Found four quarts of porter that I thought was drunk, gave that to my wife, and enjoyed myself with the rum. 29. No wind; the light house still in sight, begin to think we shall stay here: the provisions of the rest of the passengers are all done, and the ship's nearly so. I have sufficient left for three weeks yet; I have kept one poor fellow nearly a month, but he acts as my servant. Six o'clock, the wind has risen in our favour at last; adieu to the light house and Anticosta. 30. Wind still good. We are fairly in the mouth of the St. Lawrence; opened a case of ox tail soup for dinner, and thought I never tasted anything so good; drank the last of my rum, and finished with a pipe filled with green tea. July 1. Wind still good, and in our favour; the land on each side of us. It is here about thirty miles wide, as we tack; we have some very pleasant views; see hundreds of white porpoises rolling round us; beginning to look out for the pilot. 2. Wind dropped; but we move a little; a great many settlements in sight; the land has a pleasing appearance in the clearings, but every where else there is nothing to be seen but trees and rocks. The rest of the passengers are living entirely on the' coarse ship biscuits and water; they boil the biscuits in a cloth in water, for they are all crumbs, and then take and cut them in slices, and fry them in pork fat, which they get from the cook. The fat is what is skimmed from the top of the water the salt pork is boiled in for the sailors' use. 3. Very little wind. The captain says he was once detained here three weeks, which is very consoling. We have nothing to complain of if we look round us, for we have plenty of provisions yet, and my wife and son often dine and take tea with the captain; I play at draughts every night with him or the mate. Four o'clock. A large pilot boat in sight. Seven o'clock. The other vessels have got the pilots, for they are before us. 4. Wind gradually rising since eight o'clock this morning; weather getting very hot, the pitch running out of the seams on deck; the men are continually throwing water to keep them cool. A general overhauling of the whole ship, washing, scrubbing, and brushing; all the dirty cloths ordered to be washed, which, as we have no soap, will be rather awkward. 5. Wind good, but dare not take advantage of it, having no pilot on board. We dare not go much farther without incurring a very heavy fine; also liable to be fired at from Grose Island. 6. Pilot on board this morning; brought lots of tobacco—everybody smoking; wind good, but light; every yard of canvass in the whole ship up. Pilot, French; he wants one shilling a stick for tobacco, and we must have it at any rate. 7. Came to anchor at the quarantine ground; the doctor is to come on board to see if there be any sick; it is a small island in the centre of the river; there is a little church with tin roof and spire; a great number of small white houses among the trees, used as hospitals for the sick. There is also a great number of small islands all round us, all covered with trees more or less, some fifty, some with only one tree; everything around speaks of a foreign land; no English spoken, yet it looks to us a perfect paradise, after being so long at sea. The ship Liverpool, which sailed two days after us, and in which I intended to come out, dropped her anchor four hours after us. She had three hundred and forty passengers on board, the small pox had broken out among them, they had buried ten at sea; I saw them take three boat loads of sick on shore. The doctor has been on board of us, mustered all hands, passed us, and said we were the most healthy ship that had come out this season. 8. We sailed with a fair wind last night, every sail set, and are now in sight of Quebec. We passed the falls of Montmorency this morning; all in good spirits at the prospect of going on shore, and getting soft bread. I have been on shore, and made an arrangement to go up to Montreal in the morning in a steamer, distance about one hundred and eighty miles. 11. Landed this morning at Montreal, and have got into good quarters. It is dreadful hot. We roll about as we walk, the ground being steady, and we being accustomed to the rolling of the ship. THE LILY OF THE VALLEY. SWEET gem of the garden! fair child of the vale! Whilst thy sisters around thee are flaunting with pride. But little thou reckest how others may charm, Wellington Lodge, Manchester. MEDICUS. WHEN the earth has closed over the mortal remains of one, whose life had been devoted to the acquisition of wealth; his career, its termination, and the fleeting advantages derived from all his anxieties and exertions, are subjects which men of the world may fairly deem worthy of a little consideration. The grandeur, importance, and various luxuries purchaseable with riches, rarely, for any lengthened period, fall to the lot of those who have earned affluence. By the time they have realized the object of their ambition. if that be ever attained, they have arrived to that advanced age, when a very moderate competency would supply everything they are capable of enjoying. These are facts that everybody will admit, although few can appreciate their full force and truthfulness, for the imagination, in prospective, gives to wealth, so much of lustre, so much of the means of obtaining happiness, that scarcely any adoration is so fervent and sincere as that which is offered up to the golden calf. Mammon continues an object of idolatry, even with persons whose reputation for piety would induce us to believe that they were weaned from earthly considerations, and they divide their affections between human advantages and immortal aspirations. Perhaps, the pleasure derivable from the pursuit of wealth, far exceeds any gratification afforded by its dissipation; for the primary charm of life is excitement, and the mercantile man, intent upon the acquisition of property, experiencing all the various vicissitudes of profit and loss, continues in a condition of excitation, similar in kind, though milder in degree, to that which is felt in its utmost intensity by those who devote themselves to habits of gaming. People who seek happiness by the dissipation of riches, meet invariably with ennui, bitterness, and disappointment-the object of their search constantly recedes from them, as water from the lips of Tantalus; while the man to whom the pursuit of wealth is a passion, when his endeavours to acquire are crowned with success, the accumulation of his own creation is a continual source of exultation and happiness. "Ye who wonder that the miser should be sparing, Know not what visions spring from each cheese paring." Mr. Floyd, the honoured object of our consideration, was a devoted worshipper at the shrine of Plutus, but he was no miser; for although he was anxious to acquire, yet he was liberal in his expenditure. A favourite maxim with him was, "that merit consisted rather in making, than in saving, money." After his marriage, he remained some months with his father-in-law, without finding a situation that pleased him in which to commence business. During this time he contrived to ingratiate himself very much with Mr. Canaster, by making himself very useful in the tobacco business, with the details of which he soon became thoroughly acquainted; and the books, which had been previously kept in an imperfect and slovenly manner, he brought into that beautiful order which displays, in mercantile eyes, the highest result of human talent and intellectual acquirement. Mr. Canaster was of a convivial turn. In this there was an agreement between him and his son-in-law-they became inseparable companions, and were accustomed regularly to spend their evenings at some free and easy, or in some other manner equally respectable. Poor Mrs. Floyd being left continually by herself, used at times to feel rather lonely, but she never complained, for she was a most kind-hearted creature, and considered that anything done by her father and husband was in the regular course of events, and could not be wrong. On their return home, she always received them gladly, and with a smile upon her countenance. After living in this agreeable manner for a little more than five months, their nuptials were rendered still further happy by the birth of a son, which circumstance caused Mr. Floyd to be still more anxious for settling himself in business. He found premises vacant that he thought might answer for the purpose-he took Mr. Canaster over to them. The next consideration was how the necessary funds could be raised. Mr. Canaster was inclined to be liberal, but only in the same proportions as Mr. Floyd's own relations; therefore Mr. Floyd wrote a a most dutiful letter, which he said was intended for his own honoured parent, setting forth the importance of a considerable amount being advanced. After reading this letter to Mr. Canaster, he stated he had consigned it to the post; but whether it was merely written for the inspection of his father-in-law, without any intention of committing it to the post, or otherwise, is, at this distance of time, impossible to determine. One morning, however, a few days after the letter had been written, Mr. Floyd came into the warehouse, seemingly in a perfect paroxysm of grief, a shopman was looking on with much astonishment, but considering Mr. Floyd's sorrows no affair of his, remained perfectly quiet, evincing not the.slightest disposition to interfere, upon which Mr. Floyd called him, and said, "Go and tell Mr. Canaster that I have received a letter, andcrying.' The young man did as he was desired, and Mr. Canaster soon made his appearance. Mr. Floyd was pacing the room hurriedly, tearing his hair, and beating his head with apparent violence. The effect was striking, yet it is believed that neither his hair nor head sustained any serious injury. "Mr. Canaster," he blubbered out. "you are my only friend," at the same time holding out a letter which the other took, and read as follows: "My dear brother, -am "Your letter arrived too late for your purpose, as our poor father departed this life the day before we received it; but to save you any further trouble, I think it right to inform you, that for the last two years of his life he had given up house-keeping, and resided with me, having made over to me, in return for my kindness, the whole of his personal effects. The estates, I, of course, inherit as his eldest son. You will perceive by this that you have no interest in his affairs, therefore, your wearing mourning will be altogether a matter of feeling with yourself; as for attending his funeral, I think it hardly worth while putting yourself to that expense. "I am, "Your affectionate brother, "W. FLOYD." Mr. Canaster seemed astounded at reading this singular production; the unfeeling manner in which it was written excited his utmost indignation. He appeared for some time very much puzzled, then, after carefully rubbing his spectacles, he read it again, to make sure that he was not deceived by some optical illusion; and looking inquiringly at Mr. Floyd, he said,--“Why, this letter looks very much as if it had been written in your own hand writing, a little disguised." "Mr. Floyd replied, "I thought you would observe that. That unfeeling brother and I were brought up from infancy together, went to the same school, and were taught writing by the same writing master; we always wrote very much alike, excepting that he could not write quite so good a hand as myself." With that he seized the letter, and |