too many of us I fear treat admonitions on this head with a careless indifference, because the study of the Bible is imagined to be one which it is time enough to turn to, when we have lost all relish for opportunities of enjoying the pleasures of this world-time enough, we say, when one of the three warnings visit us-this is a very delusive and too frequently a most fatal error;-turn to the army-list, for the last five-and-twenty years, and you will find death has been as busy with the young as with the old-turn to the number of your own acquaintance, of your own age-have you seen none of these, in the enjoyment of health and spirits, suddenly snatched away by his relentless grasp, and can you give one solid reason why you should suppose yourself exempted from as unexpected a visit? Remember now you are no longer a boy, you will be looked upon, treated, and be expected to act as a man; and as a man you should, at least, allow reason to have as much exercise on the subject of religion as you do on other subjects; let your mind fairly investigate the "why" you should make this subject paramount to all others, and if you have the spirit of a man, who is determined to act and think for himself, without allowing the fear of the world's opinion to fetter his judgment, I have no fears for the result; but, if you are one that can be laughed out of an opinion formed, from what you are convinced are just and correct data, or holding that

opinion, afraid to avow it for worldly or cowardly motives, you are in want of one of the first essentials either in a Christian or a worldly soldier. If, on the contrary, you are not afraid to seek the one thing needful, you may rest assured that although a few thoughtless or vicious young men may laugh at and quiz you, the greater and better portion of your comrades will have a higher respect for, and confidence in you, provided you are consistent in your general conduct; and even the very scorners of religious habits will, if involved

in

any serious scrapes, sooner appeal to you for advice and assistance, than to their own boon companions. On every account, therefore, study the Bible; a study which, if engaged in with a candid and teachable spirit, cannot but yield a joy which this world can neither give nor take away.

Whilst you are on board, you are, as far as the regulations of the ship are concerned, under the authority of the Captain; therefore, where you see he is only acting up to his own duty, although you may imagine it interferes with what you have a right to do, you should unhesitatingly yield to his wishes;-I allude to smoking, singing late in the evening, firing off guns, &c. &c.; and do not let any silly pride induce you to join with others in endeavouring to make what is termed "a party" against him or others on board, for setting aside the folly of the act, you may depend upon it he can make you far more uncomfortable on board

than you can him; and any serious complaint coming from a respectable Commander to the Commander-in-chief, might, in after years, operate strongly against you, should you, by any unfortunate circumstances, be brought under his

censure.

Be not too hasty in forming your acquaintances on board,-civility never loses a friend; familiarity has never gained one. Above all things avoid practical jokes or caricaturing; if there is one injury more than another, which men seldom or never forgive, it is that of holding them up to ridicule. It is as ungenerous, as it is the characteristic of a little mind to expose those who may not be so highly gifted as ourselves, or to hold them up as objects of our ridicule; there are few characters who are wholly devoid of some good qualities, it augurs little, therefore, for that man's sense or goodness of heart who will pass over these, and point out only the imperfections he detects. Practical jokes too frequently end in serious quarrels ;-in fact, there are very few people in the world who can take a joke.

Be particularly careful of your candle, and do not on any account whatever take it from the lamp, On ship-board it becomes tenfold more necessary to use extreme caution to prevent fire than on shore, for there is no escape, excepting through some extraordinary interposition of Providence, which we have no right to reckon upon;

and what must his feelings be, at such a moment, who is conscious that, through his carelessness, not only his own, but the lives of a whole ship's crew and passengers have been sacrificed.

Never go to bed without seeing that the scuttle or port in your cabin is well closed; a squall, or heavy breeze, may ere morning lay the vessel so much on her side as to cause you a cold bath you will little relish.

Get into a habit of early rising, and when you are in the warmer latitudes you will find a cold shower-bath a perfect luxury,-for this purpose you should have an old pair of white pantaloons, with the legs cut off a foot above the knees, a pair of strong canvas slippers, and a dressing-gown. Speak to the quarter-master of each of the watches, to call you when they commence washing decks in the morning, at which time your appearance in such a garb will not interfere with the rules of propriety. Do not fail, when first you appear at the tub, to give the men a trifle for each watch; a half-a-crown, or five shillings, thus bestowed, is not thrown

away.

One of the cuddy servants will bring you water, clean your shoes and cabin, make your bed, and any thing else you may require, for a present at the end of the voyage of £2 or £3; but recollect, never leave your keys or small articles about to put temptation in his way.

If you touch at any intermediate port, find out

from others who have been there, the objects most worthy your attention; and if you can procure any guide or history of the town at which you land, do so,—and make the most of your time in seeing and learning as much as you can of it; but, recollect hotels and taverns are most expensive places.

Always have a letter ready for an opportunity. Remember that when you are away from home, you are more likely to forget and neglect your parents and friends than they are to forget you; you are in new scenes, forming new acquaintances, -they stay at home,-they miss you at the table, and speak of you, they let no day pass without addressing their prayers to heaven in your behalf, and at night they send their thoughts away after you, and have a thousand anxieties about you which nothing but your letters can remove or alleviate. Write at least once a month, and, in your letters, speak out your feelings in the same easy, cheerful manner that you would use, were you at home, and entertaining the family circle with what you have seen and thought during a temporary absence. Such a periodical remembrancer of home and kindred will, on its receipt, be highly gratifying to your parents, and it will tend to keep alive some of the noblest and sweetest virtues of which the heart is susceptible. A neglect of this duty towards parents, whose anxiety you cannot but be assured of, evinces such a want of common