This was the ship returning to that port again, to his great annoyance. He justly feared that he might be discovered and retaken, seeing that it was the custom for an officer from the penal settlement to board every vessel entering the harbour, and make inspection lest there should be any runaway convicts among the crew. His alarm was no way lessened when he saw the sergeant, who came on board, to be one who had had charge of himself for some time dur ing his captivity. The officer said he recognised his face, but could not remember his name, which was necessary to identification. On this the captain was glad to put an end to the proceedings; for he had found Potter a valuable sailor, and was unwilling to lose him. They remained a week in the harbour, during which time Potter never ventured on shore, and did not breathe freely till they resailed, when he resolved that he should not again visit Sydney of his own free-will.

It was after he had been at sea four years, that he joined at Greenock a vessel of that place; and it was on board this ship that he came finally to a real knowledge of the truth. He had in the town of Greenock enjoyed the privilege of attending the ministry of a godly and well-known divine in that place, which had had the effect of enlightening him to a certain extent. Some weeks after he had been quarrelling, in a state of intoxication, with one of the crew, which caused him, in a fit of sullenness, to be walking the deck by himself. Just then he began to reflect on the miseries which his dissipated and reprobate conduct had brought on him; the discomforts and the poverty-for he had sold his hammock and some other things, and had not even the ordinary equipment of a sailor. Then he determined that on landing again he would reform, and get married, and augment his sea-stock. tioned this to a sailor, who said there was something else needed; to which Porter said, "Yes," for he understood him. He added that there was a barrier between him and the truth, and that he would tell him by-and-by what he meant. However, he told him that very night. The sailor asked if the blood of Christ could not cleanse him. Potter replied that it could; but he could not feel it. But the time had come; and he was led to cast himself at the foot of the cross, and "with strong crying and tears" to implore mercy and grace. The answer came gradually; for it was ten months before he attained to peace of mind. During that time he was growing in knowledge and understanding, and to the stature of a perfect man in Christ.

He men

With other Gospel information he came to understand that Christianity requires from its subjects obedience to the civil authority. He became very unhappy to think that he had rebelled against that authority, in throwing off from him the penalty due to broken laws.

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He felt, that having transgressed the statutes of his country, and having so become liable to the punishment annexed to that transgression, it should have been his duty to have submitted himself to the execution thereof, and he became very unhappy to think that he had done otherwise. As the only reparation in his power he came to the determination, on the first favourable opportunity, to surrender himself to jus tice. Such a determination, however, as may well be supposed, was not come to without much anxious and painful meditation. idea of exchanging freedom for a renewal of bondage, was not one pleasing to his human nature, but was suggested by the Word of God, and brought to maturity at the throne of grace. At the close of the ten months above-mentioned, he, for the first time. told his captain his story, and his intentions. The captain dissuaded him, and so did others, but it was of no avail; he felt the Bible hedge him in.

The

Shortly after, his ship put in at Bombay. Here he immediately saw the Free Church missionary there, Mr. Nesbit, as likewise the police magistrates. The latter declared they could take no cognizance of his case, as it was quite out of their jurisdiction. The vessel was proceeding to Calcutta; so Mr. Nesbit gave him a letter to Mr. M'Donald, through whom ou this occasion he applied to the magistrates. The same answer was returned as at Bombay; to wit, that only in England or New South Wales could he be cognizable by justice. The plan was proposed of paying his passage to Sydney, but the captain refused to discharge him. The vessel was coming to England; so he was obliged to return unwillingly to his native country. He arrived in London about the middle of last winter.

Before leaving Calcutta, he had procured from Mr. M'Donald a letter of introduction, which it was his first care to deliver on land ing; and it was on this occasion that he made the visit to Mr. Hamilton, with an allusion to which our story opens.

The sight of a person in whom the power of conscience had manifested itself so strongly was very uncommon, and very interesting. No objection, of course, was offered to his plan of self surrender; and accordingly, in the course of a few days, he delivered himself up, and was lodged, in accordance with his own desires, in Newgate prison, as a step to his being returned to the scene of his captivity.

This, however, was not done till more than one were interested in his behalf. He was visited in prison by a lady, well-known for her zeal in alleviating the calamities of the wretched occupants of these places, who satis fied herself and her friends of the reality of his repentance and the truth of his recent good behaviour. The sheriff, also, was struck by the singularity of his case. At this time the session of the Presbyterian Church, Re

gent Square, bethought themselves of addressing to Government a memorial in his favour, which was transmitted to the Home Office in the month of January. At the same time a similar memorial was sent from Greenock; at which place, as was already mentioned, he had received much spiritual benefit some years before. In both of these were represented the peculiarly modifying circumstances of the case originally, the more than sufficient punishment he had already undergone, the great and satisfactory change in his noral character subsequently, and the meritorious self-accusal he had made, at a time when, in all likelihood, the offence would never otherwise have been discovered. After a short suspense, Mr. Hamilton had the gratification of receiving from the Home Secretary an intimation to the effect, that, considering the facts of the case, the Government had felt themselves warranted in recommending a favourable consideration of it to her Majesty, and that her Majesty had been graciously pleased to bestow a free pardon.

This was agreeable intelligence for all parties; and it was speedily followed up by Potter's dismissal from the prison. He gave thanks to God for this instance of His mercy; and desired, to the utmost of his power, to live, during the remainder of his days, a life becoming the Gospel. Having learned to like the profession of a sailor, he wished to embrace the earliest opportunity of returning to sea. He had, in the meantime, made some discoveries in regard to his connexions, which did not tend to make him desire to prolong his stay in this country. He abandoned the name of Potter, and adopted another, which was borne by some of his relations. To the name of Potter, indeed, he was in no way bound; for it was not that which had been given him in early life, nor that under which he was banished, but merely one he had taken on escaping from Sydney, the better to disguise himself; in which circumstances it was very natural that he should be glad to lay it down. But it is the only one we have thought necessary to record here. He soon obtained a situation in a vessel bound for the coast of India, where it was to ply for some years, and in which he sailed shortly after. By this time, if all is well, he is fulfilling his duties in that distant ocean.

This recital can hurt the feelings of no one, seeing that he is himself so far removed; and seeing also that he did not make himself known to his nearest connexions while he was yet here; and still farther, since we have not made public either the name he bears at present, or that of his early life. But it is hoped that this plain statement of a remarkable history may be interesting and instructive to those who acknowledge that there is a God, who worketh and ruleth all things marvellously to His own glory, in the course of His adorable providence.

Since the above was written, we have learned that the hero of our narrative has abandoned the sea; and, having entered into a new rela tion of life, has settled in business in town, i one of the distant colonies.

THE SABBATH AND ABRIDGED HOURS

OF LABOUR.

SUPPOSE that three hundred years ago, which was a time of great religious change, as everybody knows when much was written about the origin of the ob ligations for keeping the Sabbath sacred-suppos that in 1546, some politician had proposed that the people should abolish the Sabbath-how easily migh he have used all the language now employed by thos who opposed an abridgment of labour. How h might have said, "What an enormous increase o production-what an increase of wages-how many advantages you will gain over the other countries, b abolishing the Sabbath?" And suppose the Sabbati had been abolished three hundred years ago, and tha from that time till now the people of this country ha worked upon that day-and there are 15,000 or 16,000 Sabbaths included in that period; that oL every one of these days the hammer, and the spade. and the power-loom had been going; this would b an addition to our labours of fifty years. But what would fifty years of additional industry, in the course of three hundred years, do for us? Compare Englan fifty years ago with England now, and do you believe that if these fifty years of industry had been throwi into the mass of three hundred years labour, the bulk of the people of this country would have beer richer than now? I believe they would have beer poorer. I do not say that a man would not do mor in seven days than in six; but I doubt whether any man would do more in the course of years working seven instead of six. A man working so for ten years. I venture to say, will not do so much. Then if you apply this to a great society, going on generation after generation, is it not a most monstrous error to sup been increased by this expedient? What I say about pose that your three centuries of wealth would have days, I say also about hours. I do not say a mar will not do more in twelve than in eleven hours; bu this I say, that I believe a great society, in which the children should from an early age begin to work fit teen hours a-day, would not produce so much as society that labours much less; for, not to speak o man in any higher character than in a commercia aspect-to consider him simply as a machine for the production of goods, do not let us forget what machine he is, and how "fearfully and wonderfully he is made." If you wish to task the powers of strong horse, you do not oppose him to a steam engine and when you deal with a man, you surely would not work with him as you would with iron. Depressing labour-labour that begins too early in life-labour that is too long-continued the every-day labour tha: exhausts the body, saddens the spirits, and clouds the understanding-labour incompatible with good edumercial prosperity of a people. You will find that cation, will inevitably in no long time tell on the comthe mental inferiority of the population will be injurious to those daily interests which their moral and mental elevation would serve materially to promote. The day of rest occurring every week, and the hours of relief gained from every-day labours, tend to elevate the whole man, physically, intellectually. and morally, and his elevation again tells on the commercial prosperity of the country in ten thousand ways.-T. B. Macaulay.

PARENTS, PRAY!

To an exemplary conversation add faithful, fervent, humble, constant supplication. (Phil. i. 4; Col. i. 3.) Paul, without ceasing, makes mention of his "heart's desire;" and his "prayer to God for Israel was, that they might be saved." (Rom. x. 1.) Ministers, like spiritual priests, should not fail to offer their daily acrifices for their people, confess their iniquities, bewail their misery, and cry mightily to God for his 'nercy. All our instructions without prayer will do no good. Go to God to sanctify all. By prayer carry thy children, servants, to the blessed Jesus in he arms of faith, and beseech him to bless them, by aying his hands on them, as Isaac did. (Gen. xvii. 1-29, xlviii. 9, 14; with Matt. xix. 13; Mark 16.) How pathetically did Abraham plead with rod for Ishmael! "O that Ishmael might live efore thee!" (Gen. xvii. 18.) Bathsheba calls Solomon "the son of her vows." (Prov. xxxi. 1, 2.) Austin was the child of Monica's prayers and tears. ) pray, then, pray earnestly: "O that this my son, aughter, servant, might not die for ever! Thou, ord, art the Prince and Lord of life! O speak >owerfully to their poor souls, that these pieces of y bowels, that are now dead in trespasses and sins, nay hear thy voice and live!" Cry out to God, with that poor man in the Gospel: "Lord, have dercy on my son!" (Matt. xvii. 15.) If a mother, lo as the woman of Canaan did: "Have mercy on ne, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is rievously vexed with a devil." If he seem not to ear, and to be silent, go nearer to him by faith, and ry: Lord, help me! Lord, help me!" If his nswer seem to be a repulse, do not thou desist, but ather gather arguments from his denial, as she did; nd conclude, that if he once open his mouth, he will not shut his hand; and if importunity may prevail vith an unrighteous man, then much more it will btain with a gracious God. Never leave him, therefore, till, by laying hold on his own strength, thou hast overcome him. At last thou mayest hear that ravishing voice: "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt;" and see thy laughter "made whole from that very hour." (Matt. xv. 21-28.)—Lye.

FOR CHILDREN.

THE LITTLE BLIND BOY.

"To err, is human; To forgive, divine."

A LITTLE blind boy was asked what forgiveness was? He replied, "It is the odour that flowers breathe when trampled upon." Did not this sweet youth, to whom the world was dark, who could never more see the pleasant light of the sun, give the true idea of forgiveness? It is not difficult to feel kindly toward those that love you and confer favours upon vou; but to have a store of good wishes and kind leeds for those that abuse and treat you ill-to be ike the cinnamon tree, that sheds a sweet perfume round the axe-man that wounds it, this is hard! But it is what the meek and lowly Jesus did, and

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what his true children do. Here, then, little folks, is a test to know if you love Christ. "If ye love them" only "that love you, what thank have ye?" How do you feel when your playmates treat you ill? Can you return good for evil? Can you pray for those that injure you? If so, you are "the children of your Father which is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good." Remember, now, that one way to manifest the spirit of forgiveness is by kind words. A missionary in Jamaica was questioning the little black boys on Matt. v., and asked, "Who are the meek?" A boy answered, "Those who give soft answers to rough questions." This accords with what Solomon says. "A soft answer turneth away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger."

"Then deem it not an idle thing,

A pleasant word to speak;

The face you wear, the thoughts you bring,
A heart may heal or break."

- Watchman of the Valley.

A GOOD EXAMPLE.

A BOY was once tempted by some of his companions to pluck some ripe cherries from a tree which his father had forbidden him to touch.

"You need not be afraid," said they; "for if your father should find out that you had them, he is so kind, that he will not hurt you."

"That is the very reason," replied the boy, "why I would not touch them. It is true, my father may not hurt me; yet my disobedience, I know, would. hurt my father; and that would be worse to me than anything else." Was not this an excellent reason?

IMPERFECT SERVICES.

IT is a fallacy of Satan's, to argue, from the sinfulness of our duties, to the non-acceptance of them "Will God," says he, "take such broken groats at thy hand? Is he not a holy God?" Learn, here. to distinguish. There is a two-fold acceptance.-1. A thing may be accepted as a payment of a debt: or, 2. As a proof of love. God, who will not accept of broken money in a way of payment, will, nevertheless, kindly accept of it from his friends as a testimony of gratitude.

It is true, O Christian, the debt thou owest to God must be paid in good and lawful money; but here, for thy comfort, Christ, and Christ only, is thy paymaster. Send Satan to him; bid him bring his charge against Christ, who is ready at God's right hand to produce a clear account, and show his receipt in full for the whole debt. As to thy performances and obedience, they fall under a quite contrary class-as mere tokens of thy love and thankfulFather, that he accepts thy ben sixpence, and will ness to God; and so gracious is thy heavenly not throw away thy crooked, broken mite. Love refuses nothing that love sends.-Gurnall.

CHRIST, A GIFT.

HAST thou but a mind to Christ? Come and take the water of life freely. It is thine. It is given to thee. There is nothing looked for from thee, to take