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eighty-five men. At this period a singular circumstance took place. For the sake of encouraging his men, who were much worn out by sickness, as well as contending against a very superior force, Lieutenant Willoughby, with that prodigality of valour in which he probably too much indulged, used to take his meals in front of the battery, in a very exposed situation, although he compelled his men to take theirs under cover of the rampart. The earth,' says James in his Naval History,' was ploughed up all around, and one man, we believe, was killed close to the spot; but still, the chair and the daring officer who sat there were untouched. One afternoon an officer of marines was induced to make the hazard of sitting down in Lieutenant Willoughby's seat-an experiment for which there was no call in the way of duty. He did so, and almost immediately a shot came, took off his left arm, badly wounded the knee upon which it had been resting, and knocked the table to atoms.' It is only possible to glance at a few of his various other exploits, such as his running into the harbour of St. Martha, at Cuba, under the batteries, to cut out a corvette, or his extraordinary exertions and almost miraculous escape, when nobly engaged in 1807, in rescuing the crew of the Ajax eighty-gun ship, when enveloped in the flames by which she was destroyed. His coolness and determination at that period probably pointed him out to Sir T. Duckworth as the bearer of a flag of truce from the British Ambassador to the Grand Seignior after the passage of the Dardanelles, and the retreat of the English merchants. This, as may be easily imagined, was a service of peculiar danger. It was in the midst of the many affairs in which he was engaged at this period, that he was struck by two pistol balls, one of which cut his cheek in two, while the other entered his head, where it has ever since remained. He was at first left for dead, and was officially reported for three days as mortally wounded. But his services in the

Mauritius when Captain, first of the Otter, and then of the Nereide, demand special notice. At the taking of St. Paul's, in the Isle of Bourbon, he bore a most conspicuous part, and Admiral Bertie, in his official letter, observes, his many wounds are honourable testimonies of his former services, and on no occasion can he have distinguished himself beyond the present.' His brilliant services on this and other occasions in the Mauritius were described in Parliament as having materially paved the way for the most important. of our colonial conquests." His action off Port Louis was indeed disastrous to himself and crew. He was deprived of an eye and desperately wounded. Nearly all his officers and crew were either killed or wounded, and the Nereide was lost; but this was no fault of Sir Nesbit Willoughby, whose conduct on the occasion was above praise. For five hours was he engaged almost single-handed with the whole French squadron; for Captain Pym's ship, the Syrius, having run aground almost out of reach of shot, and neither of the two other English frigates being able to come to his assistance, the advantage which he at first gained was lost, and the Neride was overpowered by numbers. The whole of the French frigates were indeed driven on shore, and Captain Pym, in his official letter, states, that such was the gallantry with which Sir Nesbit Willoughby maintained his post, that nothing was wanting to make a most complete victory, but one of the other frigates to close with La Bellone.

Had Sir Nesbit Willoughby led the attack, the result would probably have been more successful. As it was, the damage done to the French squadron was most important; and Admiral Bertie, in reporting the loss of the Nereide, adds, ‘After a glorious resistance, almost unparalleled even in the brilliant annals of the British navy:' and observes that he had commissioned another frigate just taken by 'Captain Josias Rowley, under the name of the Nereide, ‘in commemoration of the gallant defence of his Majesty's late ship bearing that name.' When tried for the loss of his ship and most honourably acquitted, the Court expressed their opinion that Sir N. Willoughby's ship had been carried into action in a most judicious, officer-like, and gallant manner, and the Court cannot do otherwise than express its high admiration of the noble conduct of the Captain, officers, and ship's company during the whole of the unequal contest,' &c. The Governor-General of India (Lord Minto), in describing Sir N. Willoughby's conduct, says he had displayed a heroism almost fabulous, aud acquired a glory of a transcendent character,' &c.

"We have only glanced at the services of Sir Nesbit Willoughby, and have not space to pursue his career. We cannot therefore do more than notice his extraordinary energy and zeal on his return to England after his re-capture by Sir John Abercromby's expedition, when, finding no prospect of immediate employment at home, he obtained leave to volunteer in aid of our Russian allies in repelling the French invasion. He was finally taken prisoner, and although the Emperor Alexander offered any French officer in exchange, he was treated by Napoleon with extraordinaay rigour, until his release by the success of the allied armies."

This is the brief history of the officer whose volume of extracts we have before noticed; and we think our readers will agree with us, that there is something peculiarly interesting in an individual who, after he has fought his country's battles, and been adorned with numerous badges of distinction, is now at the close of life found sitting at the foot of the cross, and endeavouring to promote the spiritual welfare of those who are exposed to innumerable accidents and dangers. Among other results, it is calculated to shew that the most. devoted piety is not inconsistent with the possession of the most ardent zeal for the public, and of the most devoted heroism of conduct in the hour of danger.

THE VILLAGE CHURCHMAN'S SABBATH

MEDITATIONS.-No. XII.

THE COLLECT FOR CHRISTMAS DAY.

"ALMIGHTY God, who has given us thy only begotten Son, to take our nature upon him, and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin, grant that we, being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by thy

Holy Spirit, through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee, and the same Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen."

The general joy which pervades the land at this season seems to accord with the proclamation of the angelic messengers to the shepherds of Bethlehem, " peace on earth and good will to man." In very many circles Christmas-day is the point of re-union, when the scattered members of the family congregate around the parental hearth, and unite in communion at the table of the Lord; thus offering a type of that time, when, after a longer but yet brief separation, they shall assemble around the great white throne, and sit down at the supper of the Lamb, to go out no more for ever. Now, they take sweet counsel together before commencing, with the coming year, a fresh stage in the journey of life; then, they will recount the loving-kindness which conducted them in safety through all the dangers and difficulties of the way, and brought them to their heavenly Father's house in peace. But domestic joy, that sweetest portion of earthly happiness, is not confined to the dwellings of the superior classes of society. Christmas-day brings rest and peace to the home of the poorest cottager; and while the rich increase their own happiness by imparting comforts to their poorer brethren, they are led to feel that there is a rest which remaineth equally for high and low, and that both are alike dependant upon God for those spiritual blessings which he has promised to impart to the poor in spirit only.

The wisest cannot fathom the mystery displayed in a Saviour, at once perfect God and perfect man; but the most unlearned Christian feels that this is a truth which imparts comfort to his soul. We know we can rely for support and protection on one who is equal to the Father as touching his godhead; for what peril can threaten, which Almighty power is not able to avert? what danger assail, under which eternal love is not sufficient to support? or what temptations environ us, through which omniscience cannot penetrate, and make a way for our escape? Then when we look to Jesus as taking our nature upon him, sin alone excepted, as feeling all the pains and infirmities of manhood, aud being in all points tempted as we ourselves are, we are encouraged to repose on him as a Saviour, who is afflicted in our afflictions, who can feel for us and suffer with us. To such a Saviour the trembling soul will fly in the hour of weakness and apprehension, knowing that Jesus is both able and willing to save.

The collect teaches us to ask that we may be regenerate,

and made the children of God by adoption and grace. The unerring Word of God declares, that by nature we are all unclean, yet that without holiness no man shall see the Lord; and Jesus was born of a pure virgin, in token of the purity he came to bestow by the indwelling of his Holy Spirit. For the continual influence of that Spirit of holiness we must make our daily prayer. Christian perfection is of slow growth; yet as the fruitful tree, when planted in good ground, makes steady progress, so will holiness, when sown in our regenerated heart, take root downwards and bear fruit upward. The tree is dependant upon the sun, and dew, and refreshing breeze of heaven'; were they withheld, even for a brief period, it would wither and die. The heavenly plant is equally dependant on the Sun of righteousness, the dew of God's blessing, and the influence of that wind which bloweth where it listeth.

Let us then ponder on the blessings which our Church teaches us to ask this day :-to be made the children of God by adoption and grace-to be daily renewed while on earth in his likeness, and to feel that as his adopted children we become the heirs of heaven; such are the privileges purchased for us, and freely offered to all upon these terms, repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Do they seem too great for even God to give? Think then that he gave his only Son, to be born as at this time in humility and poverty; and surely God, who purchased man's redemption at such a price, will, with his Son, give us all things needful to salvation. Let us approach the throne of grace at this accepted time, let us place upon his altar the only offering that God requires a humble grateful heart, and and he will pour into it such peace, and joy, and love, as will prove an earnest and a foretaste of that Christian happiness to be perfected in heaven.

Papplewick.

META RILEY.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND SOCIETIES.-No. XII.

IN the preceding numbers of The Village Churchman, during the present year, we have been able to give short sketches of some of the societies in connexion with the Church, which are conducted exclusively by its members. There are other charitable institutions that deserve separate notice; but the series that have been given will prove that Churchmen have

always been foremost in works of this nature. We will, therefore, in conclusion, only mention a few.

"The Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy" may be justly considered as very important and useful. It was established in the year 1678. The Archbishop of Canterbury is the president, and the office is in Bloomsbury-place, London.

"The Clergy Orphan Society" is another institution, of which the Archbishop is the president, and the office is in Lincoln's-Inn-fields.

The Society for the Relief of the Clergy and their Widows" meet at Sion College, under the presidency of the Bishop of London.

The Patrons of the Charity Schools" also deserve particular reference. The children, instructed in those schools attend St. Paul's Cathedral once every year; and there is not in London a more gratifying sight than that which is exhibited on that occasion. One of the dignitaries of the Church preaches, and the sermon is published with the report of the "Society for promoting Christian Knowledge."

"The Corporation for the Conversion of Negroes" was established in 1794, of which the Bishop of London is president, and their office is in Dean's-yard, Westminster.

The Clergy Mutual Assurance Society," formed in 1829, whose office is in Parliament-street, Westminster, promises to be one of great utility.

It would be easy to add others to this list, but we trust that enough has been stated to shew both the friends and the foes of the Established Church, that Churchmen are really actuated by that "love which is the fulfilling of the law."

We readily confess that there are nominal Churchmen, who 66 care for none of these things," so that they remain uninfluenced by gospel principles. They contribute to none of our institutions. But these are the exceptions to the general rule. Let us be thankful that Providence has put such motives into the hearts of his people, and let us join our prayers and our endeavours in extending the benefits of these societies.

There are societies, conducted by Churchmen and Dissenters unitedly; and we venture to affirm that the greater part of the income, influence, labour, and efficiency proceed from Churchmen. It is not, however, our object to enter further into details. We leave the "Church Societies" to the consideration, the prayer, and the support of our readers.

Nov. 9, 1840.

W. M.

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