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I will tell you, Mr. Editor, how I became acquainted with what I am about to describe. In conversation lately with an eminent surgeon (a Christian more than in name), the evil effects of Intemperance were described in a manner which induced a strong wish that the particulars were made more widely known. This brought on a proposal for a gratuitous Lecture; and my friend the surgeon, ever alive to whatever might benefit his fellow-creatures, and habitually acting under a sense of duty, consented. A very large room was obtained, free of any cost: notice was given that the evils of intemperance would be made manifest by an exhibition of some of the lamentable, the inevitable, and often the irretrievable horrors, which follow upon continued intemperate habits.

On the appointed evening the doors were opened to all comers, for all classes had been invited, and the place was crowded with a mixed multitude.

The Lecturer premised that he was not professedly a lecturer, but was a surgeon in private practice; that he was not a public advocate for a Temperance Society; but that, invited by friends, relatives, and neighbours, whom he esteemed, he came there to render such benefit as his professional knowledge might, under the Divine blessing, afford to those who should think it right to favour the subject with their attention.

He told them that he should have occasion to speak much of the wonderful formation of the human body; and he solicited their close regard to the description, although the matter might at first appear somewhat dry to ears unused to the subject of anatomy. After giving

a general outline, he began by describing the bones, their many forms, their varying joints, the oil (self-made as it were) by which friction was obviated, and all creaking prevented; the hinge form of some, the cup and ball, or ball and socket form in others, so exquisitely adapted to their several intended and distinct uses; he showed these by producing a skeleton arm, wrist, and hand. The heart of a human being was shown, and the action, and its most important uses were so pointed out as to be intelligible to all. The circulation of the blood was explained, the form and use of the human stomach were shown by the exhibition of two preparations, for the instruction of pupils; a skull to show the confined space allotted to the brain, and with it an admirably coloured

drawing of a human brain, both in a healthful and also in a diseased state.

Having thus prepared his way (and to do the assembly justice it must be said that it was exemplarily attentive), he entered more directly upon his subject. He showed the effects of intemperance in the disordering gradually, but surely, the whole of man's wonderful structure; that the action of the heart by constant stimuli from continued intemperance, whether by gluttony or by drunkenness and in the latter, whether by fermented produce of the vine, or of malt, and far more rapidly by spirits, the process of the still-became injuriously accelerated, till, at length, the brain and the whole machinery became out of their right state, and issued sooner or later in dreadful evils: the oppressed brain manifested its suffering by man's inability to think soberly, to speak accurately, or sometimes even intelligibly, or even to stand without assistance, or to be capable of comprehending the words of others; and then to fall into a similitude of death, as is understood by being dead drunk! Not unfrequently the surcharged vessels of the brain (or if but one of them) bursting under the compression, by unnatural fulness (for the hard skull will not give way), it is all over with the unhappy victim of intemperance. Then the liver, the lungs, the stomach, the heart, the bones, the limbs, all suffer: and diseases of large array, gout, consumption, delirium tremens (a dreadful state), insanity, suicide, or death in a fearful form, wind up the mortal existence; and so hurry the unreclaimed, habitual, intemperate, foolish, wicked man, to his sudden dreaded and final audit.

The Lecturer then exhibited two large coloured drawings, one of a stomach, the coats of which had been destroyed by the vicious habits of the agonized sufferer; and also a drawing known by the surgical profession as

THE GIN DRINKER'S LIVER!

White spotted and foul! a most disgusting representation, and which attracted great and serious notice. Would that it were more seen! Surely, it could not but be to many a beneficial warning! Were it once made a cheap coloured publication, and widely distributed, it would silently tell its tale to those who would not bear to be publicly warned.

The Lecturer then narrated some most interesting cases which had come to his knowledge, in his professional practice, where, from small and unsuspected indulgences, a habit had grown, which ended in the destruction of family peace, family and personal respectability, the miseries of absolute want, and a shortening of human life. His heart, here, seemed engaged in his subject; he felt sincerely for his fellow-men as to their temporal good; and, with some very striking remarks on the world to come, he warned, with zealous admonition, all who had heard him to be wise, to listen to truth, and to consider seriously their latter end!

Your last number, Mr. Editor, speaks of the American seamen, as being a more sober class of men than the British seamen. I believe it is so, but I hope and pray that the latter will rise from the stigma, and emulate those who act more wisely. The efforts making by the British and Foreign Sailors' Society will not be without success; and that they may be most eminently and gloriously successful, is the earnest wish of, Mr. Editor,

Your's and the Sailors' Friend,
MERCATOR.

NOBLE CONDUCT OF A FISHERMAN TO A SHIPWRECKED CREW.

Mr. Prynn, dear Sir,

YOUR obtaining the insertion of the following in the PILOT for February, will give publicity to an act of humanity and benevolence on the part of a fisherman, who was instrumental in the hands of a merciful Providence in saving the crew of the Esk, of Newcastle, Captain Armstrong, consisting of the captain, eight seamen, and four apprentices, in all thirteen lives. I shall relate the particulars as nearly as I can in the words of my friend John Bonner, who was a party concerned.

At about half-past eight o'clock, on the morning of Christmas day, we parted from our anchor, and struck on the heaps in the Swin, and in about twenty minutes the hull of the vessel was completely out of sight. As there was not sufficient time to hoist out the long-boat, we took to a small boat, in which thirteen were hastily crowded,

and crossed the middle ground in a heavy sea and broken water, and must in ten minutes more have perished on the Maplin Sand, had not a kind Providence sent a fisherman to our rescue, who took us all on board of the Prosperous, fishing smack belonging to Colchester, and treated us with the greatest humanity, generously giving up the whole stock of his provisions for our support. Nor did his goodness rest here, for instead of going home to enjoy his Christmas, he landed us in safety at Sheerness; and finding that the agent for the clubs would not procure us beds, he obtained beds for a part of our number at his own cost, and a night's lodging in the tap-room of a public house for the rest, refusing on the following morning any remuneration whatever. This honest, humane, and benevolent fisherman assured us, that upwards of one hundred seamen's lives had previously been saved on board of the said smack.

My friend further informed me, that so completely had he given up all hopes of his life, before he thought their situation was noticed by those on board the smack, that when he found himself stepping on board of her, he felt as if commencing a new existence, and immediately knelt down on the deck to return the Almighty his heartfelt thanks for his deliverance; in which act of gratitude, strange to relate, he was only accompanied by another brother sailor. This strongly reminds me of the history of the ten lepers who were cleansed, only one of whom returned to give the Saviour thanks.

In conclusion, I beg to say that it is my friend's desire as well as my own, that such humanity and generosity should not be hidden from a British public, and thankful should I feel if this communication should obtain the honest and praiseworthy fisherman a recompence for his goodness.

I remain, dear Sir,

Yours very respectfully,

THOMAS WHIte, Jun.

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL SOCIETY. EMIGRATION to a considerable extent has already commenced to the new colony of South Australia. That it will increase, to a very great degree, is most probable, on account of the facilities afforded by the Government

appropriating the produce of all the sales of land to provide a free passage to those who emigrate as labourers.

Ministers of the gospel and schoolmasters will be indispensable; and while the Colonial Missionary Society will provide the former, the latter will be supplied by the South Australian School Society.

The following donations have been received :

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£. s. d.

...... 20
20

John Rundle, Esq. M. P. Tavistock
Charles Hindley, Esq. M. P. Ashton.....
G. F. Angas, Esq. London

Christopher Rawson, Esq. Halifax
John Pirie, Esq. Alderman, London
Henry Kingscote, Esq. ditto

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Thomas Smith, Esq. Ramsbury Manor... 20

James Hyde, Esq. London

James Ruddell Todd, Esq. ditto

Henry Waymouth, Esq. ditto.....

Raikes Currie, Esq. ditto

Hon. Rev. T. M. Rous

J. Barrow, Esq, M. D. F. R. S. ditto.... 20 0 0

Stanfield Rawson, Esq. Halifax

Harry Hughlings, Esq. ditto

S. Smith, Esq. ditto

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Subscriptions and donations received by the Treasurer, G. F. Angas, Esq. 2, Jeffreys Square, St. Mary Axe, London.

SEAMEN WAITING FOR GOD'S SALVATION.

Designed for a Public Sailors Meeting, or Anniversary of a Sailors' Society.

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee."Isaiah LX, 1, 9.

Hail! ye faithful! God hath spoken!
Wondrous days are near at hand :
Lo! o'er earth and sea his token!

Both obey his blest command.
Crowds of seamen,

Joyful round his footstool stand!

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