OLIN BX 7791 .W56x 1855 Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924089946994 3 1924 089 946 994 MEMOIRS OF DANIEL WHEELER.* Having frequently derived much valuable instruction from the perusal of ; narratives of those who have long' since exchanged, an earthly for a heavenly inheritance, the thought has at times occurred to me, that a short memoir of my own life, however evil, might, under the Divine blessing, be made, in like manner, useful to others. But, perhaps from the humiliating conviction that days, as without number, have been miserably devoted to mad- ness and folly, in forgetfulness of a long-suffering Lord God, the guilty mind would gladly hide the remembrance of these for ever in obhvion, and pass over them in silent abhorrence ; or, con- scious that there yet remains a stubborn and unsubdued residue of human corruptions, — a sense of unworthiness and unfitness i^ay have hitherto operated to retard the undertaking : lest the creature should in any degree be exalted, to whom shame only, with blushing and confusion of face, must ever belong. Whatever may thus far have impeded any attempt of the kind, I am induced, nat as a matter of choice, but as a duty, now in the sixty-first year of my age, to commence the work, as a faithful testimony for the advancement of our holy Redeemer's kingdom in the hearts of my fellow-creatures. I was born in London, the 27th day of the Eleventh month, 1771 : my parents, William and Sarah Wheeler, were members of the established religion of the country, and strict adherents to all its rites and ceremonies. They had a large family of children, whose minds they endeavoured to imbue at an early age with the fear of -their great Creator — ^taking them regularly to attend the performance of public worship, and also reading the Holy Scrip tures in the family at home^ portions of which I well remember reading aloud when very young. I have but a very indistinct recollection of my father's person, not being quite seven years old when he died, leaving five children, of whom I was the youngest. My mother was endowed with a large capacity, com- oining great sweetnessjvith firmness of mind. Of the loss of * The present pflblieatioh is revised from the edition published by Friends' Tract Association, London, with additions from the extended Memoirs and Journal of Daniel Wheeleb, republished in the 7th volume of " Friends' Library," edited by WilUam Evans and Thomas'Evans; Fhilada. 1843 at ( 3 ) such a parent, 1 was very sensible, being about twelve years old at the time. [D.. W. was engaged, for a time, as assistant to his father's successor in the wine trade ; — ^he thus comments upon the busi- ness :1 I should not feel easy without noticing, in this place, for the benefit of others, the manifold temptations to which young people are necessarily exposed, when brought up to trades similar to that in which I was then employed. From the nature of these trades, there is scarce a probability of escape from insensibly falling into habits (much more readily acquired than shaken off) of tasting different kinds of wine and strong liquors, which too oflen lead the way to intemperance. The injurious effects of these practices, and of such exposure, having been, felt and witr nessed by myself, make me the more desirous to warn others against the business. [He went to sea in the merchant service at an early age, and soon afterwards entered as a midshipman on board a ship of war. His narrative continues : — "} This change was to me as an introduction to a school, which is not often equalled, and but seldom surpassed, for vice and immo- rality. It was not long, before we sailed for the Isle of Man station. This was a stormy and dangerous passage, in which, through Divine mercy, we were favoured to witness a marvellous preser- vation from shipwreck, — ^the dawn of day just discovering to us in time the small island of Grasholm ; towards which the vessel was drifting in a direct course, and already within a short distance of the breakers. We were lying to, at the time, under two or three storm-sails ; but there happily being room to wear clear of the rocky crags, the danger was soon left behind. [During the following year] I was received on board a ship of the line, then bearijig the flag of a Rear-Admiral. Tids ad- vance, whilst it seemed to pave the way to promotion, opened at once a door to an extensive range of acquaintance with officers on board, whose [evil] example I endeavoured to follow, until nothing but the want of means prevented my going still greater lengths than the worst of them. Whilst in this ship, when about sixteen years of age, haying been unwell, and probably led to reflect a little on that account, I was made sensible p{ a Divine visitation oeing extended to me : disclosing with indubitable clearness the vanity and emptiness of every earthly station, tarnishing the pride and glory of this perishing world in my sight ; and which, though little understood and less regarded, at the moment, has since, at diiierent periods of my chequered lifej been brought, to ( 4 ) niy remembrance. When this occurred, although then entered into I^Q bo^d of iniquity, I had not launched so fully into its dreadful abyss, as was afterwards most lamentably the case ; and ffoiii what I have since witnessed of the strength and power of redeeming Ipve, a behef is induced, that if this warning voice, then sounding in the secret of my sinful heart, " Behold, I stand , at the door and knock," had been hearkened unto, arid waited u!pon, my footsteps, even mine, would have been conducted from the horrible pit to which they v/ere fast verging. I ( continued nearly six years in the navy : but were all the changes from ship to ship enumerated which took place during that time, and the great variety of incidents which befell me, they would swell this narrative far beyond the limits intended. It may suffice for me to say, that notwithstanding the many and great dangers I was exposed to, and the hardships and sufferings I had to endure, through all which I was preserved and sustained in a manner at this day inconceivable to myself; yet none of these things were sufficient to soften the rocky heart, or bring me to a sense of my lost condition ; for whether on board or on shore, in harbour or at sea, or in whatever country, if I could meet with associates prone like myself to evil, I was always ready to hasten with them to it, either in word or in deed. An expected war with a foreign power had occasioned an un- usually large fleet to collect at Spithead ; but after a time, the differences being adjusted, the ships were dispersed to their respective posts, and that to which I belonged was paid off. She was commissioned again the next day as a guard-ship, and I have no doubt that I might have resumed my station as one of her mates, had I made applicatiori ; for viath all my private faihngsv as a poor sinful creature, my public character had not suffered in any of the ships in which I had served, but rather the contrary ; for my pride and presumption had often prompted me in moments of extreme danger, m a daring manner to take the most hazardous post, even when duty did not require it, or warrant the risk. But instead of applymg to be reinstated in my former berth, I re- mained on snore in pursuit of sinful gratifications, with increased avidity; and going lip to LorldOn, so much time elapsed before' my return, that I never afterwards attempted to procure a situa- tion in the ship I had left, or in any other. In this way I left the service altogether; and would I could say, that I left the service of sin at the same time. I now found the disadvantage of liot having been regularly brought up to a trade^for want of this knowledge I was alike unfit for all employment. , Towards the latter part of the time of my being in the navy, it was suggested to my lost and bewildered mind, oy the subuQ (5) destroyer of men, that nothing short of making away with my- self, could extricate me frorrt the difficulties hy which I was sur- rounded, and shelter me from shame and disgrace ; and the method of its accomplishment was at seasons hinted at. But — blessed he the name of the Lord God of heaven and earth for ever ! — his invisible arm preserved me from this dreadful snare ; and in the greatness of his love and strength he hath at this dis- tant period put it into the heart of his unworthy creature to record his mighty acts, to his praiSe and to his glory, vidth humhle and reverend thankfulness. Greatly do I desire, that if this relation should ever fall into the hands of any poor sinners, servants of the cruel taskmaster, as was then my lot, that such may be hereby strengthened and encouraged to look unto the Lord their Grod for hel^, even though they may be plunged into the very gulf of despair : for " his compassions fail not ;" — ^his tender mercies are over all his works ; and he will give strength to them that have no might of their own, to resist this, and every other temptation of that wicked one, who was a liar from the beginning. [After remaining until all his resources were exhausted, and feeling unwilling to reveal his destitute circumstances to his friends, he entered the army as a volunteer. After all the paiils he had taken to, screen his fallen situation from notice, he was ordered to Plymouth, the place where, of all others, he had most acquaintance. " But," says he, " I was so completely metamor- phosed in appearance, that I was never, in one instance, found out by any whom I had formerly known, even when brought into close contact." * The regiment in which he had enlisted formed part of the gar- rison of Dublin, during the troubled period of the Irish rebellion.] Discontent increasing, and disturbances breaking out in the mterior of the country, small detachments of troops were de- spatched from Dublin, to strengthen the authority of the magis- trates in their endeavours to maintain public tranquillity, and to afibrd protection to the peaceable inhabitants from the nightly depredations of numerous gangs of misled and intoxicated despe- radoes, to which they and their property were constantly exposed, under a variety of pretences. It was my lot to be chosen with the first of the detached parties, to a share of this dangerous and harassing service; on which, such was at one time the emergency, that we were kept on the alert night after night, without any intermission, for a week together, with only such intervals of rest as could be procured in the daytime. Whilst on this expedition, on a particular enterprise with a constable, I was, to all appear- ance, reduced to the necessity of taking the life of another to save my own. The constable, perceiving the danger, had left me No. 84.— 1* (6 ) alone ; when I was suddenly attacked by a poor infuriated crea- ture, in a state little short of perfect madness from continued intoxication, supported by several others, but in a less outrageous condition. I kept liim at bay for some .time ; but at last he got so near, tha,t it became every moment more difficult to avoid being reached by the violent strokes he made with some kind of weapon, I think of iron, which were repeatedly received by the firelock in my hands, then loaded with ball. In this situation mere seemed left to me no other than the dreadful alternative of shooting him to save myself. I called in vain in the language of appeal to the other people to interfere : they stood by, as if to see how matters were likely to terminate, before they began to act or take a part of any consequence either way, which they nearly carried too far : but when they saw me actually preparing to shoot the man, they hastily cried out, " spare Ufe ! spare hfe !" — which I only wanted their help to enable me to accomplish. They then seized him, and in the midst of the struggle and con- fusion which took place amongst themselves, my escape was happily effected. I cannot suppose, at that time, when I wanted only the help of other men to enable me to spare life, that the principal motive was other than that of self-preservation. There- fore it is greatly to be feared (although that heart must be callous indeed, which in all such cases does not recoil from the horrid act) that it was not love to my fellow-creature which prompted the desire in me to save his life. Let none mistake it as such. I have frequently thought of this circumstance since it occurred, I hope with humble thankfulness to the great Preserver of men ; and now on committing it to record, as one of those many events in which there was but one step between me and the grave, and whilst shuddering at the strong recollection of it, my soul magni- fies that unmerited and amazing mercy, afresh-displayed to my uiiderstanding. Thus, as my history rolls on, the enormous load of debt which I already owe unto my Lord still accumulates : and verily it never can be liquidated, but in that infinite arid wondrous mercy, which delighteth to forgive every repenting sinner, who, in the depths of humility and abasedness of self, has indeed " nothing to pay" withal. [During his absence on this service, he was promoted and soon after chosen to assist in the writing department of the Com- mander-in-Chief at Dublin; — a situation which afforded him greater means and more leisure to plunge into the dissipations of that large metropolis.] Thus [he resumes], adding sin to sin, and making ferther woful work for repentance. Although at times, in the midst of these evil practices, I was, made sensible of convicting reproofs ( 7 ) sufficient to have awakened any one but myself; yet they onfy served to deter me for a short interval from persisting in them, or until another opportunity offered ; — such was their dominion over me. This course was, however, a^ last stopped, by the sudden march of the regiment to Granard ; but not before my health had begun to suffer from my folly. Our stay was not long at this place ; for the French revolution, which had occurred about two years before, now began to occa- sion more frequent movements and changes amongsLthe military. I was engaged in some hazardous enterprises whilst lying here ; and although the town was small, and our time in it short, yet there were sufficient temptations to be found for my unwary feet to fall into. From this place, a part of the regiment, consisting of two hundred picked men and a suitable number of officers, was drafted to serve in an expedition then preparing to act in the West Indies. The same quota was selected from every regimerit in Ireland, then seventeen in number, — and possibly from every regiment in England also. From all the information that I could ever obtain, the greatest part, if not the whole, of these poor devoted [men], then declared to be the flower of the British army, fell victims to the chmate and the war. A mention this lamenta- ble fact, although foreign to my subject, to perpetuate all in my power [the knowledge of] the ravages of this horrid and deso- lating scourge of the human race. At the same time, under a deep sense of my then sinful condition, my mind is struck with admiration, that I was not included in the above-mentioned draft, to which I was no less liable than others ; were it only as a pun- ishment which I so justly merited, for my unprecedented rebellion against a long-suffering and all-gracious Lord God. Our next remove was to Galway ; where, after some weeks, I was again promoted, from what cause I do not now remember ; but, as had been the case in the navy, so now, however profligate my conduct in the general, I still kept up a fair name, by being ready for all the duties that devolved upon me. [At this time, several new regiments were raising'by field- officers, for the purpose of prosecuting more vigorously the con- tinental war. To assist in the equipment and discipline of one of these regiments, Daniel Wheeler, with two others, was selected, and soon a,fter again promoted. From the pressure of his military duties, his course of life for n time was not, perhaps, quite so dissipated ; but tne evil- root still remaining did not fail in due time to bring forth those evi» and bitter fruits of which he afterwards so deeply repented. His narrative continues : — ] Such was the urgency of affairs just then, that, whilst in a raw (8) ajid incomplete state of discipline, almost beyond conception, from the wildness of character of .the class of people of which the principal part of the regiment was composed, immedwejiem- barkation was ordered. WJjen the time for sending, off these newly r^sed troops was fully come, the utmost despatch was necessary; for it was very evident, that had time been allowed for the information to spread to any materieil extent, fhe embarka- tion could scarcely have been effected without bloodshed. As it was, though the preparations commenced soon after three o'clock jn the mornmg, the concourse of people assembled together was immense, to behold their countrymen in every relation of fathers, Jiusbands, brothers, and sons, forced away from their native shores, — I may say forced away, for it was necessary to asseipble a strong military force from the garrison to insure the embarkation, which, after all, was not effected without some difficulty. From my own personal knowledge of the fate of many of these poor tmeni, and of the destination of those remaining after I left them, think it scarcely, probable that any of them ever returned. We were favoured with a fine passage to the Severn, and landed about six miles below Bristol ; in which city we remained one night, and then marched forward to an enoampment, where several other regiments were previously assembled, at Netley Abbey. From the undisciplined condition, with but small excep- tion, of the officers and men who composed our regiment, it was only reasonable lo suppose it had now reached its destination fpi the present ; but after a few weeks' training, it was numbered with the hne. We received a set of new colours, and embarked on Southampton river, with the other regiments which formed the camp at Netley Abbey, to join the British army then on tl^e con- tinent, under the command ;of the Duke of Yorjk,. We dropped down to Spithead next morning, and the same afternoon. Earl Moira, the commander-in-chief, having joined the expedition, we sailed, thirty-seven ships in company, under convoy, to thecoiast of Flanders. ! [After a rather tedious passage they reached Ostend. The number of British troops under the Earl of Moira was little more than 7,000, whilst the French force, through which they had to pass, was estimated at 80,000; and so posted as almost to pre- clude a junction with the Duke of York's army. The success and safety of the enterprise depended upon the ability to elude, in forced marches by night, the vastly superior forces of the enemy. To facilitate the landing at Ostend, a large float was con- structed, to be used in addition to the boats. This float was , ill-adapted for the purpose ; and. in the hurry, it was ovejladen C 9 ) with soldiel"s, and quickly overturned. Being encumbered with arms, baggage and provisions, many of these men perished. " I landed," says D. W. " on the main shore, and thus provi- dentially escaped."] • On the morning that we landed, I might doubtless have been supplied with a blanket, in common with others ; but as I occu- pied a station in which little rest could be expected, even when others sl6pt, and supposing that I should be able to borrow, this opportunity was lost ; but I afterwards regretted the non-accept- ance of it. From the day we left the transports, seversd lyeeks elapsed before I got to sleep under the cover of a tent ; as these, with the rest of the luggage and stores, were left on board the ships. We remained upon the sand-hills near Ostend three days and nights, and then commenced a march which could scarcely be equalled for fatigue and hardship ; as we were wholly unpro- vided with provisions, and every common necessary, with which the generality of troops are usually furnished at the opening of a campaign. It would be no very difficult task for me, at this day, to enter into minute detail of particular circumstances ; for, although so many years have rolled away since these miserable scenes were shared in and witnessed, yet such are the strong impressions stamped on my memory by the sufferings endured, and the mani- fold deliverances which followed, that while endeavouring to insert such incidents only as are needful to preserve the chain of history, transactions that have been long forgotten, though they once formed a prominent feature in the toils of the day, are recalled from oblivion in a remarkable manner. I must, how- ever, forbear to intrude them here, and proceed again with say- ing, that, on leaving the neighbourhood of Ostend, we penetrated into the country by way of Ghent. The first halting-pkce of the army, in the evening of the same day that it left the coast, was called the " Pigeon's Nest ;" but it did not prove a very quiet one, — ^for by two o'clock in the morning, the advance of the enemy was announced by the firing of the picquets, by which we were surrounded. Whether this attack was intended to alarm only, or to endeavour to take us by surprise, I never under- stood ; if the latter, it certainly failed, for the troops were literally sleeping on their arms, covered with their blankets, so that in a few minutes a line was formed, with the commander-in-chief present. It was, however, considered prudent to remain there no longer ; and in half an hour this post was abandoned, and the march contmued until noon the next day, when a stoppage oc- curred, from the French having occupied a bridge over wbch we had to pass. Notwitlistanding the men were almost ready to (;io ) faint for want of food, having scarcely tasted anything for twenty- four hours; yet, on its being proclaimed through the hne thai volunteers were wanted to force the passage over the bridge, a sufficient number immediately offered; apparently glad of such aji opportunity. After three hours' detention, the obstruction was removed.' The army then moved forward until midnight, although its course was much impeded by a tremendous storm of thunder, hghtning, and heavy rain, which commenced at nine, p. m., and continued several honrs. Notwithstanding the con- stant exposure to every shower of rain that fell, without covering over my head, and with no couch but the earth, and that at times soaked with wet ; whilst harassed with fatiguing marches night after night, and vidth httle rest by day ; amidst hunger and thirst, being often short of food for days together, 'and occasionally no [wholesome] water to be had, without digging a well to procure It; and although for several weeks together my clothes were never taken off, but to renew a shirt, and my shoes but seldom off my weary feet ; — ^yet, through all, my health was not materi- ally affected, till near the approach of winter. But in the above description, not one-half has been told of that marvellous mercy which was still extended for my preservation, when many fell by the sword, or were taken captives by the enemy, — ^when thou- sands were swept off by pestilence, — and whilst unhurt myself, I saw the wounds of others bleed. As the winter approached, the health of the troops began to fail to an alarming and awful extent, from exposure to cold rains which fell almost daily ; and yet we were compelled to keep the field, being constantly on the retreat before the greatly superior force of the enemy. As we drew near the walls of Nimeguen, the British forces made a stand, probably to afford time for pre- paring a floating bridge across the Waal, to secure our retreat behind that rivert- [|As the French used every effort in their power to prevent their retreat, and fresh forces were continually arriving, the con- test became more and more severe, and " on the last day the can- non scarcely ceased to roar from sunrise to sunset."] I had been going about in the wet for several days previous, \yithout the practicability of obtaining dry clothes ; and this day being colder and more rainy than usual, with the increased exer- tion necessary on account of the threatening aspect of things close upon us, might hasten an illness, the foundation of which had already been deeply laid, and which began with shivering fits, just in the interval of waiting for the expected courier to cafl us to the field of slaughter. About three o'clock in the after- noon, a light dragoon arrived with a despatch, but instead of its (11 ) hastening us to the scene of action, it proved to be an order for us to join the rear of another regiment, then retreating towards Nimeguen. Our army, after sustaining for many hours with great loss the unequal combat, was at length compelled to retire. After we had moved forward two or three miles, the coldness and shivering I had previously felt were succeeded by violent heat and fever ; my throat seemed almost closed up, and I be- came more and more affected with sometliing of the cramp kind, which nearly prevented my standing upright. £As they came in sight of the bridge before mentioned, being near the colours of the regiment, Daniel told the officer who carried one of them, he should never go over that bridge. The asser- tion proved correct — for as night drew on, and it became colder, nis illness so increased that he left the line, and leaned against the wall of a house, no longer able to proceed.] In this position I remained for some time ; and after having painfully beheld the last of the rear of the regiment pass on and leave me behind, there seemed to be no hope left, as the only men in the world from whom I could expect a helping hand were all out of sight. But, although apparently forsaken by all, and left to perish unseen and unknown, yet that ever-compas- sionate Arm, which had so often been with me in extremity, was again stretched out, and did not long allow me to remain in this deplorable condition ; but in adorable mercy, my gracious Lord was pleased to put it into the hearts of some of the regiment, who knew the real cause of my absence, to send two of the men back to endeavour to find me out, and render every assistance in their power. [[They left him with a picquet of cavalry.] Here the wife of a soldier gave me some ground pepper mixed with heated spirits ; and aldiough, from the state of my throat, I could scarcely swallow the fiery mixture, yet it proved useful, consider- ably relieving the pain in my stomach, and renewing the general warmth. Srhe next morning Daniel Wheeler was put on board a vessel, other sick and disabled soldiers ; the hold was crowded with men, in the various stages of a violent epidemic disorder. A party of French hussars appearing on the banks of the river, such of the sick as were at all able to stand, of whom he was one, were called on to aid the sailors. The French, however, could not bring any cannon to bear, until the rapid current of the Rhine had swept the vessels out of their reach. Soon after, returning to the hold, the dead body of a fellow- suflerer who had lain next but one to Daniel, was dragged past him. The night came on cold and frosty, and he became much worse, his strength having almost failed him. Notwithstaudingr ( 12 ) his deplorable case, with the assistance of three or four of the people, he was helped to reach the deck, preferring to pass the , night in that bleak situation to breathing the close and tainted air of the hold. In two days more they arrived at Rhenin, a town clos% to the bank of the Rhine, where an old monastery was fitted up as an hospital for the British sick. With the , assistance of an acquaintance he was conveyed to the hospital, and a surgeon procured to examine him, who, in answer to a suggestion for his relief, replied,] not aware, [continues D. W.,] that I heard all that was passing between them, — "He will, not want anything long." By this it was evident that mine was considered a hopeless case ; which could not be wondered at, the disorder having been Ro fatal, that those who had recovered were said not to average more than one in fifty ; and as my attack had been so long neglected, the conclusion was reasonable. In a few days I was so much recruited as to be able to walk about the town : but it was a distinguishing characteristic of this complaint, that having once had it, was no security whatever against a second attack, — » and that those who got well through it the first, or perhaps the second time, were frequently its victims on the third encounter. I found by experience that this report was not without foundation, for instead of being fully restored to health again, as for the first few days seemed probable, the disorder returned a second time, and with much more violent symptoms. As a state of high delirium soon came on, I was but a short time sensible of what transpired, after the apphcation of a large blister; except. the workings of a terrified imagination, some of the impressions of which, even at this distance of time, are not wholly obliterated from my memory ;— so deeply and strongly were they engraven^ From the treatment which followed when no longer delirious, the disorder must have been of the nature of typhus. I was wholly unable to move in any direction, from extreme weakness ;■ and so generally was this the case in this disorder, that a man was appointed in every ward to go round occasionally, to turn from one side to the other, such of the patients as were incapable of turning themselves. I was at length brought so near the brink of the grave, that, to all appearance, no alteration for the better could be expected. I am not aware that I had even a wish to Hve ; but my mind was so reconciled to the prospect of death, which then seemed near and inevitable, that I had given my watch into the hands of the person who had visited the galliot, with a request, that he would inform my family where I had elided my days. Indeed, when some expectation of recovery" was at last held out, I could not help looking forward with a ( 13 ) feeling of regret, to the probability of having again to encounter the series of hardships and distress, to which I should unavoid- ably be subjected. [As he regained a little strength, tbe horrors by which he was surrounded began to be more fully disclosed. Having daily heard the sound of the hammer, he found it to proceed from the nailing up of the coffins in the " dead-house," immediately oppo- site his windaws,] affording, he proceeds, full opportunity for my beholding the striking and affecting scene, which could not fail to excite feelings of horror and dismay, in one so much ener- vated by the very disease I now witnessed to be so fatal to others. When the deaths so increased that the Dutch could not supply coffins, the method of sewing up the bodies in the bedding they had occupied was resorted to.* [The regiment to which he belonged being quartered in a vil- lage, about , two miles from the opposite bank of the Rhine, he was recognised by some of the officers who were searching for their missing men among the sick. In his present situation, being in continual danger of a relapse, they solicited his release ; this the medical men refusing, as premature, D. W. left the hos- pital in a clandestine manner.] From this time I rapidly gathered strength, and at the end of a week was so much recruited, as to venture back to the hospital to see how those fared whom I had left behind ; at the same time, it is very probable, to show how I had fared myself; without any fear of being detained, as I was evidently much stronger than when under their roof. To lessen the fatigue, I procured a horse for the excursion, and proceeded accordingly towards the river- side. The risk I then ran, however unwarrantable, afforded me another opportunity of seeing the effect of a renewed attack of this dreadful disorder upon a Scotch sergeant of the Highland Watch, who had had the fever twice, and both times recovered from it. He was a very stout man, and when I left the hospital, appeared in perfect health and strength. In the interval of my absence, he had been seized with it a third time, and when I saw him, had nearly finished his course ; he was speechless, and sur- vived but a short time afterwards. I think this last time, he was ill only three days. Although I escaped any farther infection, yet I was punished for my temerity before getting back again to Kesteme. [His horse lay down with him in crossing a sheet of shallow * The accounts of the deplorable treiitment of the sick, and of the disasters of the British army, in their retreat to Bremen, as given in the Annual Re- gister of 1796, more than confirm t hundred tons burden ; this small size being considered best adapted for a voyage involving frequent disembarkation, and many short trips amongst the various clusters of islands. The outward passage proved remarkably long and tempestuous ; the operation technically called " lying-to" having been needful twenty-one times from leaving the coast of South America to arriving in Van Dieman's Land ; and for a time, " every returning day seemed to bring a fresh tempest with it." From the many vivid descriptions of their perils by sea, the following are selected : " The height of the waves compelled us again to ' lie-to,' under storm-canvas, for thirty hours. It did seem as if we were now cast off, and left to the fury of the winds and waves, and [not- withstanding the dehverances heretofore witnessed,] now the glorious presence was withdrawn, and so completely hidden, that no trace could be perceived to administer one glimmering ray of hope in the midst of our complicated distress. On look- ing at our forlorn situation, and the overwhelming appearance of the storm, the fury of which had been only aggravated by every change which had so far taken place, it now seemed too late for any thing to occur that could operate in our favour, as the sea was running in confused heaps, different ways, in a frightful manner, caused by the wind having shifted to different points, and from each point blowing furiously. About three o'ebck in No. 84.— 3 ' ' ' ^ ( 26 ) the aftetnoori, the mercury fell lower and lower, when we -weie overtaken' with a squall of wind, truly appalling and ' terrific, which in a short time afterwards was succeeded by a second, still more violent; but, through the medium of. these tTV-o dreadful blastsj Which at first threatened nothing but destruction, our de- Hverance was marvellously effected. Such was the fury of these two typhoons, that they actually, in a short space of time, changed the vdld and disfigured surface of the troubled ocean from unruly . mountains to a rugged level, by their boisterous breath, leaving nothing but a sea white as milk with foam. From this time the storm subsided, and at midnight we were again enabled to bear away foi: Van Dieman's Land, distant about four thousand seven hundred miles." 8 mo. 14th.—" We were again surrounded with all the hor- rors of a furious storm, which continued through the night with unabated fury. The wind shifted several points, in the coui-se of the gale, causing the white-crested foaming billows to run one against another, in fearful heaps, and breaking as they met, in every direction, to exhibit one vkst ocean of white foam, in con fused agitation, not to be described. As the principal weight of this mighty tempest was from the southward and westward ; the wind coming off such vast bodies of ice (near the pole), brought with it the most chilling cold, and heavy falls of hail and sleet, which added much to the already accumulated sufferings of our poor, drenched, and benumbed seamen." * ^ Our limits vvill preclude entering into many particulars of his labours in these parts, but it may be proper to mention, that after leaving Hobart Town, he sailed to Sydney, and from thence to * It may here be stated, that the "Henry Freeling" was strictly what is called " a temperance ship." For an allowance of spirituous liquors was substituted an increased and liberal supply of smaller stores — tea, coffee, cocoa, and weak beer made with hops and sugar. The remarks of intelligent observers speak of the healthy appearance and ruddy countenances of the crew, as contrasted with the wgrn look so common to sailors on their return from long voyages in ships where ardent spirits are used. Indeed it was said, the Henry Free- ling's men looked rather Hke farmers than a ship's crew who had been long at sea. The sailors were engaged in instructing each other in nautical obser- vations and calculations; and neitherthe captain Jior mate made a "foolish mystery" about the vessel's course. No swearing was to be heard on board. It may be well, also, to notice the power of endurance of these temperate men, under great privations and exposure : — " They had nothing but water for months together. It is a little remarkable, that, although they have been sometimes wet, and in wet clothes, not for a day or two, but for a week to- gether, — vvhen their teeth have chattered with cold, with no warm food, — the sea having put the fires out, even below the deck, — their beds wet, and not adry garmentito change ;" yet no instance of scurvy appeared, although some bore the marks of former attacks; nor, with the exception of a two hours' absence from the watch, was man or boy prevented from duty. ( 27 ) Tahiti ; afterwards visiting, in succession, the Society, Sandwich,' Harvey, a:nd Friendly Island groups. From the Friendly Islands, he proceeded to New Zealand, and returned home in the Spring of 1838. At these places, many meetings with the natives wpre held ; the missionaries, with very little exception, aiding as inter- preters, with much liberality and christian affection. Many of these assemblies were large, and appear tO have been highly fa- voured with the sensible evidence of the divine presence. He found an open door among all classes, both natives and foreigners, and as much as in him lay, and as he was put in trust therewith, he powerfully and freely preached the gospel, being careful in some cases where presents were made him, ta return their full value : — ^thus, with the Apostle, making " the Gospel of Christ without charge ;" and being enabled to say with him, " I have coveted no man's silver or gold," for " 1 seek not yours, but you." Consistent with his conduct herein, is the belief ex- pressed by him, " that if no money was permitted to circulate in connection with the outward performance of any religious service, the religion of Jesus would soon shake off the defilements with which it has been sullied, and again shine forth in primitive purity and lustre." Large and full testimonies to the weight and value of his reli- gious services were repeatedly given in writing by those amongst whom he laboured. Grateful acknowledgments were also re- ceived for the liberal supplies of. useful articles, furnished the natives and others, including rhedicine for the .sick, &c. At most of the islands, D. W. had occasion to deplore the devastating effects produced on the natives by the introduction of ardent spirits ; and by the immoral conduct of the crews be- longing to the ships which trade there. Notwithstanding the great exertions made by the missionaries, wherever their influence extends, to stop the overwhelming torrent of iniquity, their endea- vours are constantly frustrated, by the refusal of the captains and those in command of the ships, to co-operate with them. D. W. describes one of the islands as an almost complete wreck, from the effects of habits of intoxication. Many of the people had relapsed into their former idolatrous habits, converted even the bread-fruit into ardent spirits by distillation, and given way to the most disso- lute practices ; and, as might be expected, were in a miserable and famishing condition. His language respecting these poor people, may be quoted as expressive of his feelings towards the Islanders generally, whom he visited in the course of this long and toilsome voyage : — " great is the love I feel for them, as a stream in my heart, arid particularly towards the poor neglected children." In another of these islands, more sheltered from the evil influ- ( 38 ) ences of intercourse wj^th the shipping, in the moral and reli^ous condition of the native inhabitants, a pleasing contrast was ex- hibited. Firm in his reliance upon his Divine Master's promise, " where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them," it was Daniel Wheeler's practice, whilst on ship- board, besides assembling the crew twice on First days, for devo- tional purposes, to continue a mid-week meeting, even when the attendance was Hmited to his son and himself. Deeply instruc tive to the christian mind are the simple records of this acknow ledgment of their dependance upon Christ Jesus, as their teacher — the Shepherd and Bishop of their souls. Of these memorandums the following are transcribed, as affording encouragement to all by sea or by land, wherever situated, who are concerned thus to wait upon the Lord, in remembrance of his promise, to rencAV the strength of them that wait upon Him : "The 20th being 5th day, our usual meeting-day at home, my dear Charles and myself sat doyvn together to wait upon the Lord : but although we were scarcely able to retain our seats, from the motion of the ship, yet I humbly trust we were favoured, poor outcasts as we seemed to be, to look towards His temple, — to fear Him, and to think upon His name." " 30th, 5th day. — ^In the forenoon Charles and-myself sat down in the usual way ; but under a renewed sense of dryness and barrenness — ^which perhaps was the food most ' convenient' for us, to keep the creaturely part in subjection." " Although there was much noise upon cteck, being 5th day, we sat down together in the cabin, as usual ; it' served to make us sensible of our own weakness, and to awaken feelings of humility in commiserating the sufferings of others, in contriteness before the Lord." " This forenoon we held our little meeting, and. notwithstanding previously to sitting down I felt hemmed in outwardly and in- wardly by discouraging circumstances, yet as the struggle (of spirit) was maintained, a gleam of comfort seemed to sWne, as from the Sun of Righteousness, which can alone cheer the droop- ing traveller in the christian course, and strengthen him more and more to walk by faith, and not by sight ; and less and less to look for support and comfort from the perishing things that aie seen and only temporal." The following extracts are from his Journal, whilst in the South Seas :— 7th month, 6th, 1835. — " On landing at Hitea, we were shown to an empty house, like a large bird-cage in appearance It was ( 29 ) built with open lattice walls, and screens of cocoa-nut branches to keep out the wind. The floors were covered with withered grass, in a very dirty condition from long use, being laid upon loose earth, in a low and damp situation. There were latticed divi- sions, which made four apartments ; but not a door either within or without. The people soon brought us a supply of food, accord- ing to their custom of treating strangers ; and in due time, beds were prepared for us, consisting of frames of wood, supported on posts driven into the ground, and spread with clean mats. "We paid a visit to the resident chief, to whom I was no stranger, having seen him more than once on board the vessel. At his house a large 'feeding' was preparing, to which we were invited, but declined partaking of it, . . . As we proceeded with conversation, the large company more and more settled down into serious thoughtfulness. The important distinction was explained to them, between the Word which was in the beginning with God and was God, and the Bible ; a subject on which their ideas were confused, from having been accustomed to hear the Scriptures styled ' the word of God.' "After alluding to the memorable conference between the Sa- viour of the world and the woman of Samaria, who, when told she had had five husbands, &c., left her water-pot and went her way -into the city, and said, ' Come, see a man that told me all things that ever I did; is not this the Christ?' D. W. asked tliem if they had not, at seasons, felt something within themselves, which brought to their remembrance sins that had been long ago Committed ; things which they would be glad to forget, much father than remember with painful retrospect : inquiring whether they had not been sensible of this, long before they ever saw the face of a missionary, or heard his voice, — on this, to use D. W's ovm words, ' some of them shook their heads, and answered in the most satisfactory manner, with unequivocal simphcity and sincerity, — ^yes, that they had, long enough ago.' " D. W. also held many meetings with the crews of American and English ships he met at the various anchorages of the South Sea islands ; freely distributing the Holy Scriptures, and other religiouis books, among them. Having been liberally provided with school materials, he was enabled, also, very effectually to assist in the iniportant work of education. Not many months elapsed after his return from the South Seas, before he embarked on a religious visit to some parts of North America. " Shortly after leaving England," he says, " on my way to the islands of the Pacific, an evidence was granted to me that I should have to visit iSforth America, after the service on which I was then entering should be accomplished. Such a marvellous No. 84.— 3* ( 30 ) unfolding of the Divine will as to the future, so condescendingly youehsafed at so great a length of time befo»ehand, could not fail to support, comfort, and strengthen me, in every season of trial and conffict, both inward and outward, which 1 had afterwards to pass through; and although at seasons rny mind ^yas put closely to the test, it was again and again renewed, from the heavenly treasury of living faith, to strengthen my confidence in its noly Author and Finisher ; — for the brightest glearn of that soul-sustaining, loving kindness, which is better than life, soon loses its , lustre, unless renewed from time to time by Him in whose presence only there is life." In America, his attention seems to have been particularly directed to the Society of Friends, and to shipTOwners and persons connected with a sea-faring life. With the, latter, his main con- cern was, to point out the heavy responsibility of those whose falling brought, them in contact with uncivilized tribes; thus literally complying with the very striking request of a South Sea chieftain, " to tell the people of England and America to have mercy on them: because it was these countries that sent the poison fardent spirits] amongst them." . The latter years of Daniel Wheeler's life were marked with much domestic affliction. In addition to the loss of his wife, al- ready mentioned, he had to mourn the removal by death of the eldest and youngest of his children, which took place during his voyage tp the South Seas. And now, whilst prosecuting his reli- gious engagement in America, he was tried by the dangerous ill- ness of his son Charles, the faithful companion of his long labours in the Pacific. Naturally of warm feelings, and an affectionate disposition, these bereavements were severely felt ; yet was he enabled to bear them with much of the dignity of the christian rnourner, and whilst acutely suffering, to adopt, as his ovm, the language, " The Lord gave, and the Lord , hath taken away ; blessed be the name of the Lord." After visiting parts of New York, New England, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio,, Nova Scotia, and Qanada, in the winter of 1839, he felt himself at liberty to return once more to Europe. , Soon after witnessing the peaceful close of his son, he again quitted his native shores for New York. After being about a week. at sea, ^he, took, a cold, which terminated in severe inflamma- tion' of the pleura. There was , no surgeon on board, and the. disease' gained a fearful ascendancy i before he landed at New York (on the 28th of 4th mo.,1840) :— all the skill and kindness here enjoyed proved unavailiipig to arrest it. iA On being infprmed, soon after landing, of the amprobability of his recovery, ,he replied calmly, " All has been done that could be done "^-pnly write to my children how it is. The work has ( 31 > been going on with the day. It is a great thing to be free fron) pain. I want nothing hut the love of my heavenly Father ; and [ witness it." • In a few lines afterwards addressed to his distant family, written in a very tremulous and almost illegible hand, he ^marks, " I have been landed a very sick man in this lity ; bm tpy most gracious Lord hath borne me up in a marvellous man- ner, through a multitude of distress and difficulty, for His great name's sake, and for His dear Son's sake ; to His own everlasting praise be it spoken:" — thus evincing, that thankfulness and love to our heavenly Father, so conspicuously the covering of his mind in time of health, still pervaded it on the bed of languishing. After making some arrangements respecting his papers, &c., 'he said he had now done with the things of this world ; he had no wish to live, but for the sake of his family, and that the Lord Jesus might live in him. He had been his guide for years, and he had declared His name unto thousands : he had no hope but in Him. On another occasion, he received a visit from a beloved friend, which proved an occasion of deep interest. His mind seemed to overflow with admiration of the goodness of his dear Lord and Master, which had constantly attended him in his varied pilgrimage. He recapitulated briefly what had occurred since he left .^nerica, alluding to the consolation he received at the deathof his beloved Charles, when he was made to rejoice in the midst of grief. He added, " the Lord is good to them that love and fear His name. Great things hath he done for nae — things so wonderfully marvel- lous, that they would hardly be believed were I to tell of them. If I have experienced any shortness in my journey Zionward, it has been on my side, not the Lord's — for He has been faithful, and his promises have been and remain to be, yea and amen — for ever. Whilst I was on shipboard, and thought by some of the passen- gers to be nigh unto death, howj did the Lord appear for my help and consolation ; and since I have been in this chamber, how has He appeared for my comfort irvthe night season ; and I ha^ been enabled to sing hymns, o;^ praise ^and Jhafflfsgiving unto Him. When the ship made her soundings, I made my soundings upon that Rock, whose foundation is from everlasting to everlasting,—^! saw that I should be safely landed, though extremely weak in body; and I was enabled to say, should the Lord see meet to raise me up, and strengthen me still to show forth His wonderful works to the children of men, or cut the work short in righteousness, ' Thy willj O God, not mine, be done : I do not see how the end wiU be.' " At another time, on talcing leave of a friend from Ireland^ who was about returning to his home, he observed, that as to hiinself, he had no doubt he had the same faith, that had been with liim ( 32 ) '.hTough life, founded upon the Gospel of Christ ; arid which en abied him to say with the apostle, " Christ liveth in me ; and the hfe which I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himseJf for me." On another occasion, when two friends were seated by his bedj side, one of them remarked, " it was a great favour to see hii| preserved in such calmness and quietness." " Ah," he rejoined, " you would think so, if you knew all !" During his illness he could lie down but little, from difBcuJty of breathing : towards its termination, the little nourishment h« took was with pe^^" and difficulty ; and when an affectionate at- ..endant was urging him to take something, saying, she thought ne stood in need of it, he replied, — " I think not ; and whew Jiere is need, my heavenly Father will enable me to take it^ for here is not a pang I suffer, but what is known to Him ; and I have evidence, that though far from home and my native land, I am not forgotten,"- Thus mercifully was he sustained, and his faith and confidence, to the last, preserved unshaken, amidst the sink- .n^ of nature. On the 13th of 6th month, he appeared unusually feeble, and remarked to one of the family who had watched over him most affectionifely, " Perhaps this day will end all your cares and trou- bles." It was an unusual remark ; but as it was supposed to arise from the feehng of present w^eakness, it did not excite any particular apprehension. A young friend, who had been much vnth him, in his sickness, came in the afternoon to take leave, as he was going to attend a distant yearly meeting. Daniel acknow- ledged his kindness, adding, — " give . my dear love to all my friends. God reigneth over all ; His mercy arid goodness have never failed me.. The end I have not been able to see." The end, thus veiled from him, was, howeyer, near at hand. Ai^iout eight that evening, being offered some tea, he said that he coi^M not see it; it was evident that his sight had quite failed him; •Shortly af!Brv?^s Jie^fell asleep, but his breathing was more labotired th^'Tusu£tl,.,f^pi'this stoe he continued until a little after twelve at iMghl, wh^ri he gently passed away, without sigh or struggle. THE END. Printed b} J. & W. Kite.