burden; and the aggregate tonnage at anchor on the morning of the 5th of October was 183,000. It was the highest spring tide of the year, and, unfortunately, during the height of the gale, the bore came rolling up with extraordinary violence. The wind then shifted to the south, and the storm-wave, rushing up from the sea, raised the billows twenty feet high, and the work of destruction commenced in fearful earnest. Vessels were speedily torn away from their moorings, and, owing to the loose alluvial soil of the bed of the river, in many cases carried their moorings along with them. The ships, tossed about like wherries, were thrown on each other, and matted together in groups of five and six; and as they were hurried along by the storm, carried away even the vessels which were endeavouring to ride out the gale, till the whole group was dashed on the shore. Twenty-one vessels went down at their anchors, a still greater number were cast on shore, and for the length of five miles the banks exhibited a scene of unparalleled destruction. The Howrah side of the river, opposite Calcutta, presented two dense masses of wreck; in one place fourteen, in another more than sixty steamers and ships, huddled together and tangled in inextricable confusion, some with a single mast standing, others with masts and booms and rigging hanging over in every form of ruin. The river, which in the morning had been crowded with noble ships, was in a few hours entirely bare of them, and of the hundreds of boats connected with this vast traffic not one was to be seen. Early in the day the gas-works had been disabled, and after the gale, which subsided about sunset, the City of Palaces was left in total darkness to meditate on the scene which was to be disclosed the next day. But in the morning the sun rose, bright and cheerful, as if in mockery of the desolation on which it shone.

BAPTIST MAGAZINE.

Inecdotes of the Great and Good.

BISHOP PORTEUS.-George IV., when Prince of Wales, appointed a grand military review to be held on the Lord's day. The pious and venerable Bishop Porteus, then Bishop of London, heard of it, and though confined to his habitation, by that illness which issued in his death five days after, yet he hastened to the palace, and sought an interview with the prince. Feeble and almost voiceless, he entered the royal apartment, supported by two attendants. The scene was very affecting. With the tenderness of a father, and with the earnestness of one expecting to appear before the King of kings, he represented the evil and sin of desecrating God's holy day, and urged upon the prince the consideration of the bad effects which the example of one in his exalted station would have upon the present and eternal destinies of millions. The good bishop closed with the expression of his regret that his infirmities did not permit him to advance and give his last blessing to the heir of England's throne. The prince, much affected, fell on his knees, while the venerable man of God implored the blessing of Heaven on his Royal Highness, rejoicing that the last act of his failing strength could thus be exerted in attempting to stop the progress of Sabbath desecration.

EDWARD VI.-At the coronation of this young king three swords were brought to be carried before him as signs of his being king of three kingdoms. "There is one sword yet wanting," said the king,-"the Bible. That book is the sword of the Spirit, and to be preferred before these other swords. Without that sword we are nothing, we can do nothing, we have no power." And when the pious young king had said this and some other like words, he commanded the Bible, with the greatest reverence, to be brought and carried before him.

WESLEY.-As this eminent minister was one day travelling on horseback down a road which was very narrow he was met by a young countryman who was also mounted. From the narrowness and badness of the road it became necessary that one of the riders should turn his horse out of the regular road, and the venerable minister reasonably expected the young man to turn aside. Finding, however, that he would not yield, Mr. Wesley turned his horse so as to allow his opponent to pass. Instead of expressing his thanks for the consideration shown him, the young man said very coarsely, "Did you think I would turn out of the road for a fool?" "Well," said Mr. Wesley quietly, "I always do."

DR. CHALMERS.-While very busily engaged one forenoon in his study, a man entered, who at once propitiated him under the provocation of an unexpected interruption by telling him that he called under great distress of mind. "Sit down, sir; be good enough to be seated," said Dr. Chalmers, turning eagerly and full of interest from his writing-table.

The visitor explained to him that he was troubled with doubts about the Divine origin of the Christian religion; and being kindly questioned as to what these were, he gave among others what is said in the Bible about Melchizedek being without father and without mother, &c. Patiently and anxiously Dr. Chalmers sought to clear away each successive difficulty as it was stated. Expressing himself as if greatly relieved in mind, and imagining that he had gained his end, "Doctor," said the visitor, “I am in great want of a little money at present, and perhaps you could help me in that way." At once the object of his visit was seen, a perfect tornado of indignation burst upon the deceiver, driving him in very quick retreat from the study to the street door, these words escaping among others, "Not a penny, sir, not a penny. It is too bad, it is too bad; and to haul in your hypocrisy upon the shoulders of Melchizedek."

Useful Statistics.

EMIGRATION. During the last forty-nine years the number of emigrants who have left the United Kingdom has amounted to 5,482,809, being an average of 111,894 per annum. The movement has been by no means regular, the average from 1815 to 1825 being only 19,283, while from 1845 to 1855 it reached the amazing sum of 2,669,145, or an average of 266,914 per annum. The greatest number of emigrants that ever left the United Kingdom in one year was 368,764, in 1852; and the smallest number within the last 20 years was in 1861, when only 91,770 sought a new and distant home. The chief attraction to these enterprising adventurers has hitherto been the United States, no fewer than 3,303,489 having gone to that country. One of the reasons for this preference has probably been the smallness of the cost of passage, compared with the cost to any of our own colonies, except British North America. The cost of a steerage passage from Liverpool to the United States is about six guineas, and cven at this low sum more than twenty millions sterling have been paid by emigrants. Before the war broke out in America the number of emigrants sank to 49,764, but in 1863 it reached to 146,813, being a larger number than had landed there in any one year since 1854. Within the last twentysix years 798,218 persons have emigrated to Australia and New Zealand; the latter colony receiving 80,224 of the number. The steerage passage to New Zealand is £19, so that more than a million and a half has been paid, even if all emigrants were steerage passengers. Among our Australian settlements Victoria has been most attractive, no fewer than 387,023 having preferred that thriving colony. For £16 a steerage passage to Victoria could be obtained, but for a cabin the charge would be £40, while those who preferred going by steamer must pay £150. The least attractive of our Australian colonies is the Swan River settlement, to which only 7,111 emigrants have gone in twenty-six years, though the newly-settled colony of Queensland drew 10,339 during last year.