years; but my father being dead, and it being peace, I could not get promotion. I have been on this station, and in these seas, in and out of the service, altogether six years; and I think, without flattering myself too much, I know as much about it as any man now sailing out of Kingston. I would not have said so much," continued he, "only a man must say something for himself, when he is taken for a brat of a boy." I smiled, and stretching out my hand, asked his pardon, saying “ I doubt not, Mr. Drake, we shall in time be better friends. I engage you, if you please, at the same rate your friend there, is engaged to command the brig." He took me at my word, and he was captain of the schooner. "Now, gentlemen," resumed I," sit down, and let us consult together." I then opened to them the situation of the place to which we were going, its unknown longitude, its complete investment with reefs and shoals; and showed them, by sketches of the land, remarks, &c. After some consultation, it was agreed that Captain Drake should go in the Avon, with three white seamen belonging to the brig, and Purdy and the two New England blacks; while Captain Taylor, of the brig, should navigate the schooner, with his mate and the four other white seamen.

This being decided, I sent Diego for Purdy and 'his father-in-law, and stated these things to them. Purdy did not like it much; but his father-in-law, who had just seen the two vessels, was very glad ; and Purdy was easily persuaded to confide his wife to her own family, during the passage. I had still one object more to compass, and without loss of

time, for Monday would be occupied in settling and paying the accounts. I found it would be necessary to get a regular ship-carpenter to go out with me; for although Xavier was a clever fellow, yet his sufficiency could not be relied on where a regular repair might be wanted. I therefore sent for Mr. Finn, and, after desiring him to meet me next morning at Mr. Green's counting-house with his bill, I asked him if he knew of any one that would dispose of a ship-carpenter negro, whom he could recommend; and, as an inducement, I would buy wife and children, if there were any. He answered, he thought he did. And in the afternoon he brought a person to me, who was as much disposed to sell as I was to buy; for he was going home, he said—that is, to England. He seemed an honest man; for he said he would leave the price of the negro to Mr. Finn, or any one else. "No,” returned I;" it shall be left to yourself. Has the carpenter any family? how old is he?"" He is old, sir," was the answer; "I suppose nearly forty; he has no children with him; he has a wife, and she is nigh as old as himself."-" I should like to see them," I replied, "before we say any thing more about them." He then went for them, and they both pleased me. They appeared healthy, and did not seem at all the worse for wear, if I may so express it. I sent them to the back of the house, and asked him his price. "Give "me," said he, 1007. sterling for the man, and you may have the woman for what you please. "That is," replied I, "into the bargain, I suppose."-" Not quite that," said he; "but I will

take any thing in reason."-" Forty pounds," cried Finn. “Yes,” replied he, "that will do, though it is only the price of a new negro."-" Of a young one," I responded: "I think, sir," continued I, " if I give you 100l. sterling I should have man and wife; that is 100%. currency for the one, and 40l. currency for the other; and I will give you no more: take that, and I will pay you on delivery." He mused some time, and at last consented. The bill of sale was made, and the money paid: after which I called in Allan Derrick and his wife Priscilla, and told them I had purchased them; that I was sorry they were not younger, because in seven years I should give them their freedom, if they behaved well, and should desire it; but, in the mean time, I would treat them with the greatest kindness. To this promise my faithful Diego bore testimony, by saying "Yes, indeed, sir, you indeed, sir, all like one our father." I asked Allan if he had any property. He replied " Not too much, massa; have pig and goat, and few fowls, and some lilly tings in house."-" Well," I answered, “you may carry them all with you. Diego will take charge of them; and you shall have a house for yourself and your wife; and whatever you have shall not be injured."—" Tank you, massa," he said; "me see you good buckara massa." I now told Diego to go home with these two people, and to put them in the way of being ready to embark on Monday.

My dear wife had kept herself in her bedroom, all the while I was engaged in this morning's business; but she was not idle. She was making many

arrangements in her own department; and the brown lady, with a frank-hearted activity, very usefully assisted her. She had not left our new damsels to run about the negro yard; but had taken them into her room, and set them about unravelling some hanks of thread, and doing some other things that required neither skill nor knowledge. When dinner time drew on, the girls were sent out to walk in the yard; while we, too happy to be together again alone, talked over our affairs, and dressed for the hour of repast.

We had nearly dined when Diego came back, with a very satisfactory account of our ship-carpenter and his wife; who were also, he said, quite happy in all he had told them of their new home.

"Get your own dinner, Diego,” replied I; "then go on board the schooner, and make my compliments to the captain, saying, I wish the two young new negroes to come ashore with you to see their friends." Diego, who had a kind heart, was glad of the errand; and in a couple of hours we saw him return, with the two lads neatly dressed in white jackets and trowsers. I desired him to leave them standing near us; then to bring in the girls. It was truly delightful to see the meeting: true, there was no ecstatic burst of feeling; but all the evidence of joy their degraded condition was capable of, was elicited. My dear wife gave each of them an orange; and then signs were made to them to go into the yard. Diego accompanied them; and endeavoured, by pantomime, which he well understood, to make them comprehend that

they were all going together. He returned with the youths to the schooner before sunset; and twice, during the two following days, they were again brought to renew the meeting with their friends, which had the very best effect on the spirits and conduct of the whole.

As I sat smoking my cigar after coffee, my dearest Eliza gently said—“Edward, I feel that we are chosen vessels for the mercy of God to others, which also we ourselves have so largely shared : I do not repent that we are taking all this trouble, and putting our lives to risk, when so much good may be accomplished by the means placed in our hands. I own my natural inclination was to go to England; pay your uncle for the brig altogether, if required, and so be done with it; and then enjoy our fortune. But to enjoy," continued she, after pausing a little, "is the gift only of God; to possess, may be his gift also; or, it may be the gift of him who said, 'I will give thee all the kingdoms of the earth, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.'

"True, my own best gift!" I replied; "I should be the most ungrateful of men, to the good God who has bestowed all this on me, if I did not feel that this money, so wonderfully delivered into my hands, was for some especial purpose of stewardship. The providential arrival of the poor castaway negroes, and then of the schooner,-all- all working together to give us the means of providing every comfort, towards planting a colony of refuge in that blessed haven of our own preservation,seems to me, in solemn truth, as so many signs from the Divine Will, that it is our duty to fulfil