many occasions proved the seaman's grave! (as see the allusion to my correspondence with Mr Greathead, the inventor of the Life Boat, and other particulars, recorded in the volume of the Cheap Magazine, above quoted, under the saine head continued, pages 520 to 526.*)

But if, in either the one or the other of the particulars mentioned, I have been the first, I see that I have not been the last BOOKSELLER, who has interested himself in the matter of saving a fellow creature from a watery grave; for we have a very recent instance, in that of Mr William E. Reid, junior, one of the firm, and son of my worthy old acquaintance, Mr William Reid, senior, bookseller in Leith, who, I think, according to the account that appeared in the papers about the time, was standing in the shop door of the firm, on Friday, the 7th of September last (1832), and seeing a crowd collected, or collecting, apparently drawn together by some object in the Harbour, rushed forward, and having ascertained it to be a boy in the act of drowning, while he was borne downwards by the current, leaped in, from what, the bystanders seem to have viewed as rather an appalling height, the tide being almost gone, and had him in his arms before he had well time to recollect himself, in which condition, they were both picked up, after having drifted to a considerable distance, by a boat that landed them on the opposite side. Now, whatever construction the modesty of the performer may induce him to put upon it himself, I cannot consider the act of a person, risking his own life, to save that of another, otherwise,

* This makes it the more necessary, that the circumstance of the disposal of the boat, &c. (which took place on the 15th October, 1829,) and consequent want, of such a means of safety, to the distressed mariner, in danger of being shipwrecked on these shores, should be made as public and generally known as possible, for the idea, that there is still such a thing kept up here, in a state of readiness, may mislead others, as it appears to have done the master of a vessel, that was shipwrecked within these few years in this neighbourhood, who told Mr David Laing, (whose name has been already mentioned) that, when he found himself in danger, he expected the Dunbar Life Boat would have come to his assistance. On this account I would recommend it to my good friends, the Messrs Chambers, should they have occasion to put a new edition of their "Gazetteer of Scotland" to press, to attend to the circumstance of the disposal of the boat, in what, they may afterwards take occasion to say, on this head, under the article DUNBAR ;-and I know the suggestion, will be taken in good part, whether, in such a manner, they may have an opportunity of availing themselves of it, or not.

than as one of the most intrepid, disinterested, and devoted acts of humanity-in the performance of which, in this instance, Mr William E. Reid, junior, Bookseller in Leith, deserves justly, to rank high in the catalogue of, BRITAIN'S

NOBLEST DESCRIPTION OF HEROES !

To these, may be added, the several deprivations, and humiliating circumstances, in which I was placed, and was obliged, or considered it my duty, to submit to, in consequence of the misfortunes of my master, during the time of my apprenticeship, and the early period, at which I was thrown upon my own resources, by the death of my only surviving parent, ere, according to the natural, or usual, course of events, that apprenticeship should have expired.

These, with whatever else happened, either of an exhilarating or depressing nature, whether they bore the complexion of UPS and DOWNS, or JOYS and SORROWS, up to the commencement of the last division, or stage, of my sixty years pilgrimage, must be passed over for the present, although there is, no doubt, to be seen, in that part of the panorama, much variety,―much continued, and almost incessant, struggling, at the oar of life, and much to excite the sympathy, if my conduct should be deemed undeserving, the approbation of, my fellow-men.

CHAPTER VII.

The whole period of my existence, almost one continued struggle.-What else to be expected in a state of probation.-It would be therefore vain, as it would be impious, to complain.—Opinion of Plutarch, as deducible from the light of nature. Of old Friar Augustine, of the Convent of the Carmelites, in his interesting conversation with his impatient auditor, the young Englishman. Quotation from "The Benefits of Affliction," in the Cheap Magazine. Adversity, according to Lord Bacon, the blessing of the New Testament. Man is indeed born to trouble. His most becoming conduct in the present state. Examples of human suffering, or a thorn in the flesh, in the case of the good patriarch Jacob.-Of the upright man of the land of Uz.Of Socrates, Plato, Epicurus, Seneca. Of our own John Howard.-Other examples from among our own countrymen.-Goldsmith, Addison, Dr Young, Milton, Alexander Cruden, the poet Cowper, James Beattie, the author of the Minstrel ;-and of his successor in the art of minstrelsey, Sir Walter Scott, the apparent inheritor of the minstrel's grave.-Indication of sore and painful feeling, in a mind, long accustomed to give evidence of being otherwise affected. The pious and the virtuous,—the talented and the gifted,—are not exempted from the calamities of life.—The doctrine of the great Founder of Christianity, gives no reason to those who embrace that profession, to expect exemption from affliction, but the contrary." The Benefits of Affliction," again alluded to.-Tribulation, the Christian's legacy.-Its happy consequences, and final blessed results.-Comfortable hopes, and delightful anticipations.—Patience and resignation to the will of God, at once our wisdom and our duty.-Motives and reasons for bearing up under affliction.

THE whole period of my existence, indeed, from the cradle to the grave, from which I cannot be far distant, may be said to have been, almost one continued struggle betwixt hopes and disappointments---acquirements and losses---joys and sorrows--domestic enjoyments, of the most exquisite description, and family griefs of the most agonizing and excruciating nature ---successes in my pursuits, and in my humble endeavours to do good, and be useful in my generation to the best of my ability, in the use of the means Providence had put in my power, at times, beyond my most sanguine expectations; but only, to see some of the most favourite of these successes again blasted, and the result and effects of my well-meant endeavours pass away as an empty dream,-without a relic of their remembrance, but what memory, may be able to snatch from the

oblivious stream, in course of my retrospections and reminis

cences.

But what else, it may be asked, had I, more than others, reason to expect, in a state of trial and probation, such as this? Are not these the very materials of which human life, in general, is composed? Do not these constitute part and parcel of the conditions, upon which we hold our earthly tenure? Do they not form the frame-work of that intricate and mysterious machinery, by which, an all-wise and all-powerful, and evergracious Deity, overrules the events of time, and the affairs of men, bringing good out of evil---order out of seeming confusion---and permanent felicity in another world, out of the temporary, though often times grievous and distressing calami

ties of this.

It would be in vain, therefore, as it would be impious and unwise, to expect, in this life, an exemption from human suffering. Even PLUTARCH, without availing himself of other information than what was deducible from the light of nature, and the fitness of things, justly remarks, that, “In human life there is a constant change of fortune, and it is unreasonable to expect an exemption from the common fate. Life itself decays, and all things are daily on the change:"--

And old FRIAR AUGUSTINE, of the convent of the Carmelites at Augsburgh, who may be expected to have derived part of his information from another source, as an argument, to convince his youthful, inexperienced, and impatient auditor, that young but amiable enthusiast, who had visited and partaken of the hospitality of the convent, of the truth of his doctrine; and, in order to reconcile him, more fully, to the circumstances attending our respective lots, in this mortal state, (as will be found in my paper on "The Benefits of Affliction," in the Cheap Magazine,"*) emphatically observes to his astonished auditor, the young Englishman,--

"You fell into a reverie, produced by a contemplation of the happiness of a society existing without any difference, and where no human breath should be wasted in a sigh, nor ear

* See Cheap Magazine, No. 10, being the Number for October, 1813.

tortured with a groan-no tears to trickle, no griefs or calamities to wring the heart ?"

"Yes, father,' said I, catching the idea with my former enthusiasm; that would be my wish--that my greatest, first desire.' Then seest thou,' interrupted he, the extent of thy wish, suppose you could realize it, which, thank God! you cannot.'

"What! thank God that I cannot? are these your thoughts?"

"Yes, my son; and ere Madona marks the progress of ten minutes with her sceptre, they will be yours too.'

"Impossible !'

"Hear me, my son !---Is not death a horrible precipice to the view of human creatures ?"

66 6

6 Assuredly,' said I, the most horrible---human laws declare that, by resorting to it for punishment, as the ultimatum of all terrible inflictions.'

"When then,' said he, covered as we are with misery, to leave this world is so unsupportable to the human reflection, what must it be, if we had nothing but joy and felicity to taste in this life?

"Mark me, child!' said he, with an animated zeal that gave an expression to his countenance beyond any thing I had

ever seen:

"The miseries, the calamities, the heart-rendings, and the tears, which are so intimately interwoven by the Great Artist in our natures, as not to be separated in a single instance, are, in the first place, our security of a future state, and in the next place, serve to slope the way before us, and, by gradual operation, fit our minds for viewing, with some sort of fortitude, that hideous chasm that lies between us and that state---death. View those miseries, then, as the special acts of mercy and commiseration of a beneficent Creator, who, with every calamity, melts away a link of that earthly chain that fetters our wishes to this dismal world.

666

Accept his blessings and his goods when he sends them, with gratitude and enjoyment: receive his afflictions too, with as joyous acceptance, and as hearty gratitude. Thus, and not otherwise, yon will realize all your Utopian flights of de