like manuer did each one thus make his oral will, to which the writer was witness, and which last will and testament,' he caused to be executed to the very letter. It was about nine o'clock, on the night of the 4th of September, 1804, that this third and last attempt was made. The Nautilus had been ordered to follow the trepid closely in, to pick up and bring out er boat's crew, in case they should sucled in the exploit. Hence, though it was ry dark, we never lost sight of her, as I been directed by the first lieutenant, late gallant Washington Reed-who mmanded in the absence of Somers to constant watch of her for this pur e, with a night-glass. before setting her on fire confirmed us in this apprehension; still, we lingered on the spot till broad daylight-though we lingered in vain-in the hope that some one, at least of the number, might yet be rescued by us, from a floating plank or spar, to tell the tale of his companion's fate. To our astonishment, we learned next day, that Lieut. Israel, a gallant youth, who had been sent with orders from Commodore Preble to Somers, after he was under way in the ketch, had accompanied him in the expedition, and had shared his destiny. Such was the end of the noble fellows, who a few days only before, on board their own gunboat No. 1, had beaten six of the enemy's fleet, of equal force with themselves, immediately under the guns, and within a pistol shot of a shore battery; an achievement accomplished only, in their At the end of an hour, about 10 o'clock, M., while I was engaged in this duty, awful explosion took place. For a ment, the flash illumined the whole peculiar position, by backing astern, and wens around, while the terriffic concus- keeping up an incessant fire of canvass shook every thing far and near. Then bags filled with 1000 musket balls each, till our gallant Commodore, in the Constitution, stood in to take the fire of the battery, and thus enable us, under his cover, to obey the order, to come out of action,' a signal which had already been flying more than an hour, and which Somers, at first would not, and at last, (from the fierceness of the fight,) could not see. was hushed again, and every object led in a darkness of double gloom. On nd the Nautilus, the silence of death - med to pervade the entire crew; but kly the din of kettle drums, beating to with the noise of confusion and alarm, heard from the inhabitants on shore. ald in the escape of the boat, an order now given by Reed, to ' show a light' pon the appearance of which, hundreds cot, from an equal number of guns, of calibre, from the batteries near came tand around us. But we heeded them one thought and one feeling had posof our souls, the preservation of Cers and his crew! MICHAEL BLAKE AND HIS POCKET BIBLE. MICHAEL BLAKE was a godiy man, but sadly given to despondency. Michael had met with a disappointment in his business and though it was not likely to be of very great consequence to him, yet it had the effect of weighing down his spirit, so that he mourned inwardly and went along with his eyes fixed on the ground. What an unthankful being is man! let him be surrounded with mercies, if one advantage be denied on which his heart is fixed, or one possession taken away in which his heart delights, he thinks more of the denied advantage, or the removed blessing, than of all the good things which have been so abundantly bestowed upon him. Thus it was with Michael Blake, as he walked captured-so bravely determined upon, pointment that had so much depressed his he outset of the enterprise, had been as spirit. When he came to the low stile over which an oak tree spread one of its thickest branches, he sat himself down and gave way to a fit of repining, fearing he should come to poverty and want. After a time the balmy air so far revived him, that moment after moment passed by, bout bringing with it the preconcerted al of the boat, the anxiety on board me intense: and the men with lighted ins, hung themselves over the vessel, heir heads almost touched the wateration, in which an object, on its surcan be seen farthest on a dark nightthe hope of discovering something would give assurance of its safety. no boat came, and no signal was givand the unwelcome conclusion was at forced upon us, that the fearful alternaof blowing themselves up rather than across the fields, brooding over the disap ely put in execution. The fact, that Intrepid, at the time of the explo0. had not proceeded as far into the harby several hundred yards, as it was the ention of Captain Somers to carry her, he lifted up his head and gazed on the scene | bark of the oak tree, to remind him o around him. The clear blue sky above his infirmity; and to rebuke him at som head and the fresh green grass beneath his ture time, if again he gave way to des feet were pleasant to the eye; and a cot-dency. He then lifted up his eyes to he tage at no great distance, appeared the very abode of cheerfulness, contentment, and peace. Suddenly the sound of mirth burst from the cottage; and two lads, without shoes or stockings, ran forward, each with a crust in his hand, the one chasing the other across the field, hallooing and laughing; no sooner did they come to the little brook at the end than bending down on the grass, they drank a hearty draught, and then scampered on as before. Michael Blake felt a change taking place within him as he looked around. What had the poor bird to render it so happy? nothing but its own wings and the air of heaven; but they were enough to fill its little heart with joy, and its mouth with a song of rejoicing. The ducks that dabble in the pond fluttered their wings with feelings of joy because they could paddle about and skim with their beaks the stagnant pool. The poultry roamed at liberty, picking with delight the small seeds, and pecking at the green herbage. The old gray horse, though his ribs might be counted, and his hipbones stood up high. contentedly grazed in the pasture. Michael Blake felt that neither the soaring lark, the paddling ducks, the strutting fowls, nor the old gray horse had half his blessings, yet they repined not. The bare legged boys worked hard for their bread at a neighboring brickkiln, yet they could indulge in mirth. He was ashamed of his guilty ingratitude. His troubles grew less and less, and his thankfulness increased, until taking out his pocket Bible he read a few verses in the gospel according to St. Luke; "consider the lilies, how they grow, they toil not, they spin not, and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith. And seek not ye what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, neither be of doubtful mind. For all these things do the children of the world seek after, and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you." The heart of Michael Blake grew fuller as he read, and by the time he had finished the verses, his eyes swam with tears.Taking out his knife he cut a notch in the and walked onward with a cheerful ai peating the words, "The Lord is my herd, I shall not want." "Surely goo and mercy shall follow me all the de my life." The soaring lark, the ducks and the are all dead, the old gray horse and shaggy ass are no more seen grazing i field; the boys have gone forth from homes and the body of Michael Bla mouldering in the church yard, but notch of the oak tree remains still, it deed plainer than ever, for as the tree grown, the cuts in the bark have op wider and wider. Many who sit on stile, fix their eyes on the notch, and not what it means; but I, who do k never gaze upon it without thinkin Michael Blake and his pocket Bible! Churchm LUNAR INFLUENCES. A writer in the New-York Farmer has the foda up, remarks on the subject of the influence moon upon the weather : In the course of my observation, I could not refer at times to the remark of the Indians, the cient inhabitants of the country of my which there were a number of them living, and was, after the changes of the moon, if the c pointed up in the form of a dish, it would b weather that moon, but if one down and th it would be rainy or wet. Although astron knowledge taught me that this was without tion, still from repeated remarks, I was finally pelled to admit that there was some truth un servation; and in process of time, was led the following conclusion; that is, when the changes in high north latitude, it is general and dry; but if in extreme south latitude, wa wet, and apt to be stormy. It may be rel that when the moon changes in high north it makes the figure of the corners pointing extreme south the other figure, which ver measure, the truth of the old Indian's re Hence, although admitting that the sun and are the principal agents in governing the there seems to be other causes which at tim their influence, so that it is still an uncertain I have very rarely known it to fail that the extreme south latitude, denotes warm and weather, and in high north latitude, cold an and if we have ever so great prospect of sta the latter, they are apt to be of short duratio my limits will not allow me to go farther into it may suffice to remark, that if our almanac would give us the latitude of the moon at change, and quarters, with the course she whether north or south, might foretel the w for ourselves, or they might give it by thait judgment, from the moon's latitude in probali SUPPLEMENT TO THE CONNECTICUT COURANT. VOL. IV. THE ORPHAN. THE weary laborer homeward goes; The toils of day are past; The cradl'd babe to its repose Hath gently sunk at last. O'er childhood's couch the mother bends, The hymn and simple prayer are said"Good night-Good night"-they cry, And still the mother round the bed Is hovering watchfully. Their little gambols all are o'er,- The laugh, and song are heard no more- Sleep, blessed children, calm and free, Ye little reck what change would be, Poor Agnes in the church-yard stands; To heaven she lifts her little hands, And she is fill'd with grief and fear; To wipe away the bitter tear, When first her mother died, it seem'd JULY 4, 1836. As though her heart would break; And linger'd, linger'd round the bed, The parish took the orphan child,- Yet 'twas not only words unkind, And so, one night, when all was still, She stole away, and ran until She reach'd the wither'd tree. NO. 36. Though far the path her feet had trod, No shelter would she crave; She only wish'd to see the sod, That made her mother's grave. The winds of night came rushing by, It was a mournful sound But I, to night, my bed must take Oh, mother, your poor heart would break, While thus she made her childish moan, No;-not alone she slept. The One Ere the grey mist the hill forsook, A childless widow, she had none She took the orphan to her home, - A. M. W. FROM THE NEW-YORK OBSERVER. DR. HUMPHREY'S-TOUR.-NO. ΧΙΙ. MISSIONARY MEETING IN BIRMINGHAM. On my way to London, to attend the great May Anniversaries, I spent two or three days in Birmingham, just when the Wesleyan Auxiliary Missionary Society for that town and vicinity, was holding its annual meeting. My other engagements, and the shortness of my stay, did not allow me to see and hear so much, as I could have wished-but more than enough to satisfy me, that this is a very spirited and efficient branch of the General Society. would be no hope of finding a place for the 'sole of my foot,' on the lower floor, I might probably get a seat in the gallery, as none would be allowed to go up, but such as paid a fee for admission. This I was very willing to do, on every account. Though I went early, nearly an hour, I should think, before the time, I found such a crowd about the door, that I at first almost despaired of gaining admittance in any way. However, after a good deal of reconnoitering and hesitation, I threw myself into the current, and was borne slowly and painfully along towards the door, which leads to the gallery, where I hoped I should find convenient accommodations during the exercises. But I was disappointed. The galleries, as well as the vast hall below, were already crowded, far beyond the extreme limit of comfort, and so as almost to baffle the most strenuous efforts to force an entrance. A seat was not for a moment to be thought of. It was evident, as you looked in, that about the doors especially, a standing posture, with as great a compression as the human body can well sustain, was all that any one could expect. However, as I had taken so much pains already, and did not like to lose the pleasure of listening to the exercises. I made a great effort to advance, and after many a hard struggle, I gained a station behind the back seat, near the wall, where I could see the speakers on the platform, and what was more, where I could hear them. In the meantime, the pressure from myself, every moment arrived, and strove to gain admission. The meeting was opened, on Sabbath evening, with a missionary sermon, by the Rev. Mr. Newton, of Manchester, said to be one of the most popular preachers of the connection. The chapel, which is very large, was excessively crowded. Mr. N. is a tall, athletic man, and has a voice of extraordinary compass and power. In his delivery, he is greatly in earnest-speaks well, and has an uncommonly good command of language. His theme was that very appropriate and encouraging passage, Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him, let him know, that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.' With one or two slight exceptions, in the phraseology, which I thought might give a wrong impression, I was delighted with the sermon. It was methodical, rich in thought and highly evangelical. Mr. N. took special pains to keep the Holy Spirit distinctly before our minds, as the sole efficient agent in the work of regeneration, and guarded the text as cautiously throughout, against the more 'liberal' and flattering construction, as any Calvinist could wish. The discourse was listened to with great attention, and must have produced an excellent prac-without increased, as later comers than tical effect. It threw the responsibility of converting the world upon the church, at the same time, that it ascribed the excellency of the power wholly to God. It in effect called upon Paul and Apollos to plant and water, just as if they could make the good seed vegetate, and produce first the blade, then the ear, and after that the full corn in the ear'-while it insisted, on the other hand, that neither he that planteth is any thing, nor he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase.' Whenever and wherever I hear such truths and appeals, as fell from the speaker on this occasion, 'I therein do rejoice, yea and will rejoice.' My time was so occupied on Monday, that I did not attend either of the exercises preparatory to the great public meeting of the Auxiliary, which was to be held in the Lower Hall, at half past five o'clock, in the afternoon. Though this is one of the largest public halls in England, if not in all Europe, I was told it would probably be very much thronged; but that while there At half past five, precisely, the exerciser commenced, by the singing of Old Hundred, in the words, 'Before Jehovah's awful throne,' &c. aided by an organ of immense size and power, which has recently been put up in the Hall, for grand musical con certs and oratorios. The central pipes of this gigantic instrument, (I know not how else to describe it,) are more than thir ty feet in length, and twenty inches in diameter. Think, then, of the bursting out of thousands of human voices, assisted by such tones, as such an organ can command! The effect was overpowering. I am sure I never heard any thing like it. How could I help thinking of that scene, in the vision of Patmos. I looked and lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters and as the voice of a great thunder.' When the Pslam was closed, one of the came intolerable and even alarming. Eve- be drawn from the foregoing statement. es. g ministers on the platform, offered up a short and appropriate prayer, and then the High Bailiff of Birmingham, who, I believe, belongs to the Established Church, was announced as chairman of the meeting, amid the loud clapping of hands, and other similar greetings of the great and expectant multitude. On taking the chair he made a short and rather neat address, in which he Home alluded quite happily, to John Wesley, the great founder and apostle of Methodism, ne and complimented his followers, upon what they were doing to spread the gospel in bep heathen lands. The reading of TreasurEher's Report took up considerable time, and was loudly cheered from all parts of the house, including the platform itself. The dre first resolution was supported by a sensible ofert and serious speech, of moderate length. It was well received; that is, as they do these things at most of the English anniversaries, by hear, hear-clapping, &c. The second speaker was a minister from Bristol, and it was evident, the moment he rose, that something more than common Ewas expected. His speech contained some striking thoughts, and was very animated. He seemed to understand perfectly well, In that the audience expected now and then a bold and smart stroke, and their repeated cheers told him, that they were not disappointed. No sooner had he resumed his seat, than Mr. Dawson, an elderly preacher of the connexion, was announced; and so magical was the mention of his name, that the vast hall instantly resounded with peal upon peal, so that it was sometime before he could gain a hearing. And then it was, that the pressure which before had well nigh nailed me to the back of the seat, be duced to. And now the anxious question with me was, how to make my escape. I looked as well as the turning of my head, while my body was immoveably fixed, would allow, and said to the man who almost lay upon me, while others in their turn lay upon him, like a tier of bricks, at an angle something like sixty degrees-My y good good friend, if you will ease off a little, and let me get out, you shall take my place and welcome.' He seemed quite obliged to me for the proposal; but what could he do? Thero he was, and there I was, and there we all were. I began to struggle, however, as well as my strength would permit, and at last, by dint of perseverance and application, and almost exhausted, I extricated myself from the living Birmingham vice in which I had so long been flattened. But the skirts of my coat still felt the power of the screw, and I was literally obliged to pull it away, slowly and carefully, with my hand, to prevent its being torn from my back. circum I do assure you, Messrs. Editors, that in this statement there is no fiction-no exaggeration whatever. My object, however, in thus minutely mentioning the ci stances is not to represent the adventure as any thing very extraordinary here, but simply to show what extraordinary interest a missionary anniversary excites in the large manufacturing towns of England, and what extreme inconvenience thousands are willing to endure, hour after hour, for the sake of attending the exercises and hearing their favorite speakers. I cannot, in justice to our Methodist brethren, nor to my own feelings, close this letter without guarding against one or two wrong inferences, which may possibly ry body must and would both see and hear Mr. Dawson at all hazards; and it did seem, for a few moments, that those behind, would force us head-long, with all the seats in the gallery, down upon the dense mass of heads below. What to do, or which way to turn, I knew not. Mr. Dawson I The extreme rush and pressure which I have described, was not occasioned by the intrusion of the profane rabble at all. So far as I could judge, nobody came there either for sport or mischief. Those whom I saw around me, appeared to be sober and respectable people. They were evidently could not hear, owing partly to the cheers inclined to be civil, had it been in their powby which he was almost every moment in-er. Their remarks were not such as fall terrupted-partly to the noise and strug- from profane and vulgar lips, but such as gling immediately around me, and partly indicated a lively interest in the meeting. The other remark is, that if there was any fault in my not being better accommodated, as a stranger from a foreign land, it was my fault, and not theirs. Had the society known that the humblest individual to the pain and suffocation of the position in which I was fastened. The perspiration stood upon my hands and face in drops. My hat, in spite of every effort to protect it, was flattened down under my arm, and like its owner, compressed into as narrow from the United States, delegated to repa space as such an entity can well be re-resent some of our great benevolent Socie |