widow, and a Father to the helpless infant. I have very often heard Mr. H. speak in the most affectionate terms of his wife, and am confident they were happy in each other. I recollect one of my Messmates asked him how he married without having it in his power to leave his wife and children a comfortable ubsistence after his deccase, should that take place soon? To this he replied (in a way that gave full proof of his faith and confidence), "He that made them, you may depend upon it, will provide for them in such a way as his infinite wisdom shall see fit." God grant that I may possess the faith of this eminent Christian. Wishing you health and happiness, 1 conclude, Rev. Mr. S. Dear Sir, &c. J. S. Thus an amiabic, stedfast, and zealous servant of our Lord Jesus Christ was suddenly snatched from a sphere of important usefulness, where his example, his admonitions, and instructions were peculiarly needed, and when scarcely a hope could be cherished of his loss being speedily supplied. His wife, his child, and aged relative, had doubtless hailed with joy his recent return from South America; in consequence of his promotion they were reasonably looking forward to a relief, gradual, but effectual, from the want to which they had been reduced by seeing him torn from a peaceful employment, and a decent, though not lucrative situation, to be subjected to the low rank and pay of a common sailor in a Man of War. His singular merit had rendered his preferment from so mean a station, rapid and highly promising; but there had not been sufficient time to make it productive to his family, of that support and comfort they certainly needed under the privation of his endeared and edifying society. Those friends of Christ, whose attention have been directed to the spiritual necessities of the British Navy, learned with grief, the sudden. and disastrous removal of an individual qualified, perhaps beyond any other, to have advised and assisted measures which they were concerting. The almighty-all-wise, and infinitely gracious Disposer of every event,in whose sight, "The death of his saints is precious," in this solemn and mysterious dispensation had also in view the ultimate advancement of his own glory as well as that of his faithful servant's felicity; and if the impression on the public mind, in behalf of the religious state of our Navy, be such as the substance of this memoir ought to produce, Mr. Hubback's death may prove the meaus of spiritual life to thousands, and may in time remove from us the National opprobrium, of having neglected the salvation of a class among our countrymen, who above all others need and merit our attention, while we have been looking out for objects for our spiritu al compassion to the precincts of the habitable globe. But our zeal for the eternal salvation of souls might justly be suspected, were we inattentive to their temporal necessities. The intimation contained in the preceding letter concerning the state of Mr. Hubback's bereaved family, instantly prompted those who became acquainted with it, to communicate a small temporary relief. This arrived most seasonably to alleviate their distress. By the latest enquiries, it has been ascertained that they have not yet derived, and are uncertain when they may obtain, any advantage from the pension that is customary to the Wi dows of Officers in the Navy. It will not (in his case) exceed £40 per annum, and of course will be incompetent to their future decent support, as well as utterly inapplicable to their re lief from embarrassments already and unavoidably incurred. We cannot therefore close this Memoir without submitting to our Christian Readers whether a case more deserving of their prompt and extensive beneficence can easily be imagined. "To visit" (to relieve) "the Widow and the fatherless in their distress," is represented by the word of divine inspiration, as an equally essential part of "pure and undefiled religion,' with that of "keeping ourselves unspotted from the world.” These "remain with us," while the only earthly friend to whom they looked for support, has joined his gracious Redeemer, who will hereafter say to us, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.' Mr. Hubback was removed into Eternity, November 17th, 1810, at the early age of 36 years and a half. The Officer of his last ship has obligingly drawn up the following view of his character, so far as he knew him. *Since which an eminent Dissenting Minister, well known in the religious world, has generously handed the writer of this Narrative ten pounds, as a donation from himself and family, to assist Mrs. Hubback's present exigencies, which Mrs. H. received with great thankfulness. Donations for the immediate relief, and future assistance, of Mr. Hubback's surviving family, will be gladly received by the Rev. G. C. Smith, Penzance; and applied in the most suitable and beneficial manner, by a Committee, whose names are annexed to a statement of Mrs. Hubback's circumstances. H. M. Sloop, Apelles, Dungeness, June 19th, 1811. Dear Sir, Accept my best thanks for the very affectionate manner in which you have pointed out to me the wonderful interference of divine Providence in delivering me from a premature death, at a time when I fear I was unprepared to die. 1 trust Ishall ever be sensible of this fresh proof of God's abundant mercy to me. I feel happy again to promote your views respecting my deceased friend Mr. Hubback. His moral character was invariably such as to do him honour as a man, and command universal esteem as a Christian. The name of God was never spoken by him but with the most profound reverence, and he never omitted, firmly and temperately, to reprove any of his messmates whenever an oath or any thing immoral, fell from them. He was both beloved and feared on board and on shore. His heart was anxious, I believe, to do good to all his fellow creatures, but he felt particularly for the deplorable state of our Navy, and lamented in the most impressive manner the ungrateful indifference of his country-men to the perishing souls of the thousands who night and day guard their shores, and protect their privileges. His exertions for our welfare were not confined to example and admonition, but he had in his possession a large number of Religious Tracts from London, which he read and distributed to the ship's company and Officers, with the hope of bringing them to a proper sense of their state, and effecting a radical reformation in their hearts and lives. He seemed quite at home when he was doing good, and never appeared more happy than at such seasons. I have some of these Tracts by me at present, which he gave me, and I purpose keeping them to refresh my memory of his virtuous principles, and as a mark of the great respect I had for him. I think he must have enjoyed a peculiar pleasure in the study of Religion (in which application he was remarkably assiduous) as I have known him after leaving his first watch, at 12 o'clock at night, to read until half past one or two, before he turned into his cott. It was impossible not to be comfortable in his company; with an open, chearful countenance his conversation was invariably of a pleasing, moral, and instructive nature. He evidently united all the feelings of a tender husband with the attachment and concern of an affectionate father. His temper was so remarkably even, that I do not once recollect to have seen it ruffled during the time he sailed in the Apelles. I have often walked the deck with him at midnight, for two or three Vol. III: 3 Q hours in his watch, and always found him ready to impart that valuable knowledge, which an unremitted attention to the Bible had furnished him with. Faith in Christ was often the subject of his discourse, under which I derived the most essential improvement. In his frequent addresses to his messmates, he would generally urge, in the most powerful manner, the absolute necessity of their being acquainted with their real state, and coming to the Lord Jesus Christ, while they were young and capable of searching for heavenly wisdom, and not wait until grey hairs overtook them, and the infirmities of the body rendered them insensible to every thing but pain and misery. Ah! sir, what a blessing would a few such Officers be to the depraved crews of our ships of war. Rev. Mr. Smith. 1 remain, &c. J. S. We shall close this Memoir with a brief summary of his ge neral deportment, by a Minister who was best acquainted with him, and who kindly forwarded some particulars respecting him. This statement will be found equally expressive, of his humility before God, as of his upright and edifying conduct towards his fellow creatures. "He was, I firmly believe, a man truly devoted to God. In all companies, and on all occassions, he was ready and eager to propogate the Gospel, with au affability and zeal that enlivened every word he spoke. In the different ships of war to which he belonged, he was greatly persecuted, yet nothing, neither the vulgarity of the common sailors, nor the violence of the Officers, could induce him to relax his energies, or refrain from prudently testifying the powerful efficacy of the blood of Jesus Christ, to cleanse from all sin. His general appearance was chearful and happy. He was always poor and altogether helpless in his own eyes. I remember once we were conversing respecting the leadings of Jehovah, and the effects of his grace on the heart of a sinner, he assured me that from the time that the Lord had been pleased to call him out of darkness into his marvellous light, he could not recollect one thing that he had done, either in public or private, that he was ashamed of before man, "But, ah!" said he, "I am daily a great sinner, yea the chief of sinners before my adorable God and Saviour." Christian Reader, adore that Supreme Being who made the subject of this memoir "A man after his own heart," and ardently pray that the chasm his death has made in the Navy, may be abundantly supplied by men of "like precious faith," whose lives shall adorn their profession, and whose usefulness shall ennoble and exalt their characters, when the deeds of the "immortal Nelson" shall be eternally buried beneath the "wreck of matter and the crush of worlds." Penzance, Cornwall. Thoughts on the Harvest. G. C. S. The Harvest is past, the Summer is ended, and we are not saved. JEREM. viii, 20. So changeable is the state of man; so fluctuating the world, and every thing therein; that new matter is continually afforded for contemplation and improvement; and, if our minds were truly spiritual, every season, every vicissitude, would sug gest some ideas calculated to promote the glory of God, the good of our own souls, and those of our connexions. Let us pray for such a frame while we meditate for a few moments upon the passage which we have cited. The Summer is now ended: its heat no more annoys, its beauties no more delight us. The sun begins to decline, the trees to wither and fade; and the chilling winds and lengthening evenings announce the speedy approach of Winter, with all her gloomy train. No longer we take our refreshing walks at the close of the day, by the cool meandering stream, or beneath the umbrageous shade of the venerable wood; but begin already to stir the expiring embers, and seek the social comforts of the fire-side. No longer the mower whets his scythe, or husbandman plies his sickle, no more the regularly piled shocks adorn the fields, or loosely scattered grains reward the industry of the humble gleaner. The Grounds are stripped, and the naked appearance of the country proclaims that the Harvest is past. But another Summer will also soon be past; another Harvest ended. Yes; the Summer of human hopes, and expectations; of Gospel promises, and gracious invitations, will soon close for ever! The Harvest of mortal activity and diligence fruitfulness and utility, will, ere long, be ended and thenO! my friends, there is one sentence in the verse which stands at the head of this paper, which, in such a connexion, seems to thrill through every fibre of the heart! The Summer is past -the Havest is ended, and--WE ARE NOT SAVED! What if this should be the case with any who read these lines? What if life, the season of labour and usefulness, the day of grace and |