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occasion those four fishermen became converted by the preaching of the Saviour; so that, when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him, verse 10. Hence these four sailors became disciples, and apostles of Christ."

LITTLE BEN BOWLINE SAVED AT SEA. DEAR SIR,-I think the following account of the extraordinary preservation of a child, from a ship on fire, will interest your young readers. It is worthy of record, as exhibiting the power of the Almighty to save, even by remarkable means, when in accordance with his will; also as exemplifying the faith and ingenuity of the parent in the hour of danger. The narrative is from "Duncan's History of Shipwrecks. I am pleased to hear of the increased circulation of your little magazine, and, with much esteem, am, dear sir, yours respectfully,

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R. B.

"At eleven o'clock in the morning on the first of May, 1795, a, fire broke out on board the Boyne, of 98 guns, at Spithead, commanded by Captain George Grey. The flames burst through the poop before the fire was discovered, and spread so rapidly, that, in less than half-an-hour, this noble ship was in a blaze fore and aft. Every exertion of the officers and crew to extinguish it became abortive; and, immediately on the fire being noticed by the fleet, all the boats were sent to her assistance, by which fortunate circumstance most of the crew were saved; eleven only were supposed to have perished. At the

time that the conflagration commenced, a marine was peaceably sitting in his berth with his wife and son, a boy about twenty months old, just beneath the place where the misfortune began; and finding every effort to escape the flames, in the ordinary way, ineffectual, he, with the greatest composure and presence of mind, took from the pens a sheep of the captain's live stock, and bracing his boy on the animal's fleecy back, dropped them into the sea. There,' said he, 'turn to the land, and God go with you!' Encouraged by her husband's resolution, his wife leaped into the brine, and the man followed, supporting his companion above water, till the boats got to their assistance, when they were taken up, little worse for the venture. The sheep with the greatest steadiness, was seen making for the shore, with young Ben Bowline riding upon his back, like an infant RIVER god, to the vast delight of the spectators on shore, who, from the tenderest motives, finding themselves interested in the boy's safety, rushed into the watery element to meet with the young navigator, whom they presently unsheeped, and succoured with tenderness, till he again fell into the arms of his adventurous parents.

"The singularity of this event attached the patronage of a most liberal lady near Fairy Hill, in the Isle of Wight, who, having prevailed on the mother of the child to leave his future fortune to her guidance, declared, in the most friendly manner, that as the boy had begun naval career on a lamb, she would never leave him till he was able to end it like a lion.'"

NEWLY INVENTED LIFE BOAT.

MR. EDITOR,-I have never seen a "Life Boat," though I have often wished it; for I think they must be very useful things in cases of shipwrecks, to save the lives of poor seamen and helpless passengers, especially females and children. As I heard the following account of a newly-invented “Life Boat” read from a newspaper, I have since copied it for your magazine, which I think you will approve of, and oblige, your constant reader,

ELIZA.

"NEW LIFE BOAT.-A new life boat, of сараbilities and safety never before obtained, was tried at Cowes, on Thursday, August 30th, in the presence of Captain Thornton, R. N.; Captain Nairne, honourable East India Company's service; and Mr. J. Allan, Director of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, for which Company she was built; and of Captain Sparkes, Superintendent; Captain Lewis, Captain Moresby, Mr. A. Lamb, and Mr. A. Bayler, the Company's principal officers; all of whom gave it their strongest approval. The boat was built by Messrs. White and Sons. It is thirty feet long; nine feet beam; has double sides, and air tight ends. 135 men were placed in her, and she took in all the water she could, gunwale under; and when she righted, gave a fifteen-inch side; in fact, it was found impossible to sink her. sails very fast, stays in thirty-two seconds, and weighs only seventeen hundred weight. She will carry in her lockers a month's provisions for fifty men. The novelty is principally in her form.

She

A more public trial is to be made at Southampton on Monday."

Pious seamen, when they see, or think, of a Life Boat, and its valuable uses, turn their minds to our blessed Saviour, who is the true life boat of the soul for all who trust in him are safe for eternity and the port of heaven. He is "the Captain of our salvation," who says of his disciples, "They shall never perish. I give unto them eternal life."

NEW YEAR'S ALMANACKS.

1. The CHRISTIAN ALMANACK for the year 1848. 2. The POCKET BOOK ALMANACK for 1848. 3. The SHEET ALMANACK for 1848.

These Almanacks are all by the Religious Tract Society, and that is saying enough to recommend them to all our readers. They are worthy of being adopted by every family, and by every Christian. The first is eightpence, gilt edges; the others are only one penny each.

EASTERN FEMALES LEARNING TO
READ.

HAPPY England! Here we enjoy advantages such as are unknown to the heathen; and very far superior to those which are possessed by any of the Mohammedan nations. It is well known to

many of our young friends that, generally, both the Pagan and Mohammedan females are not taught to read, much less to read the precious words of the New Testament. There are, however, some pleasing instances of alteration, improvement, and conversion, among such females. The following has excited grateful astonishment in the minds of some, and it will be read by others, as worthy of being sent on ship-board all the way from Turkey. A letter from Rev. Mr. Goodell, in the Missionary Herald, says:

"At evening prayers, in the female seminary (at Constantinople), I observed a little girl, four years old, a sister of one of the pupils, with a book in her hand. When some eight or ten of the girls had read, it came to her turn; and I found that she had not only kept the place, but was able to read with all readiness. Afterwards, I learnt, to my great astonishment, that she was the teacher of her mother! The mother is to be received into the church at the next communion, having been blessed with two teachersthis little babe teaching her to read the Bible, and an invisible Spirit teaching her to profit by it."

FRUITS OF BETHEL MEETINGS.

My dear young friend, -In reply to your inquiry, "What good do sailors gain from the Bethel meetings," I could write long letters; but, I will only give you, at this time, a part of a monthly report of Captain Prynn, one of the Thames missionaries. Show this to your uncle or your

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