1227 Review-Captivity and Escape of Captain Knox. 1228 Gaoler asked St. Paul, "What must I do to be saved?" And he answered, saying, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; and thou shalt be saved, and thine house." means should fail. 21st of January, 1657, with a design to | tieth and one-and-thirtieth verses, where the trade one year from port to port, and then return to England. On taking in her cargo for this country, a violent tempest compelling them to cut away "The sight of this book at once so rejoiced their main-mast, and preventing them and affrighted me, that I cannot say which from pursuing their voyage, they sailed passion was greater; the joy, that I had got to Cottair Bay, on the eastern shores sight of a Bible, or the fear that I had not of Ceylon, to trade with the inhabit-da (Ss.) in the world, which I would willingly enough to buy it; having, then, but one pagoants, while their ship was undergoing have given for it, had it not been for my boy, repairs. On their arrival, they were who dissuaded me from giving so much; altreated with apparent kindness, until leging my necessity for money many other their suspicion was lulled to repose, for a far meaner price, provided I would seem ways; and undertaking to procure the book when being decoyed ashore, they were to slight it in the sight of the old man. This surrounded with the natives, made counsel, after I considered, I approved of; prisoners, and carried up into the in- my urgent necessities earnestly craving, and terior. Of the treatment which the my ability being but very small to relieve the author and his companions in misfor- same; and, however, I thought I could give tune received, during the long period my piece of gold at the last cost, if other of their captivity, their manner of life, The sight, indeed, of this bible, so overand various efforts to regain their li-joyed me, as if an angel had spoken to me from berty, we have a detailed account; but heaven; to see that my most gracious God had it is such as will admit of no epitome. prepared such an extraordinary blessing for On February 9th, 1660, the author's me, which I did, and ever shall look upon as father, who had previously command- own language, and that in such a remote part miraculous; to bring unto me a bible in my ed the vessel, died, and himself being of the world; where His name was not so sick and weak, and unable to bury much as known, and where an Englishman him, he applied to a native for assist- was never known to have been before. I ance; but the only aid he could pro- ture with the Ten Commandments, he had looked upon it, as somewhat of the same nacure without paying for it, was, to have given the Israelites out of heaven; it being a rope tied round the neck of the the thing, for want whereof, I had so often corpse, by which it was to be dragged mourned, nay, and shed tears too; and, than naked into the woods. This, how- the enjoyment whereof, there could be no ever, was refused; and by some trifling greater joy in the world to me. property a grave was procured, into which he placed the body with his own hands. Shortly after the death of his father, the author relates the following remarkable incident : "Provisions falling short with me, though rice, I thank God, I never wanted; and money, also, growing low, as well to help out a meal, as for recreation, sometimes I went with an angle to catch small fish in the brooks, the aforesaid boy being with me. It chanced, as I was fishing, an old man passed by, and seeing me, asked of my boy, if I could read a book? He answered, "Yes." "The reason I ask," said the old man, "is, because I have one I got when the Portuguese lost Columbo; and, if your master please to buy it, I will sell it to him." Which, when I heard of, I bid my boy go to his house with him, which was not far off, and bring it to me, making no great account of the matter, supposing it might be some Portuguese book. Upon the sight of it, I left off fishing; God having brought a fish to me that my soul had longed for; and now, how to get it, and enjoy the same, all the powers of my soul were employed. I gave God hearty thanks that he had brought it so near to me, and most earnestly prayed that he would bestow it on me. Now, being well towards evening, and not having wherewithal to buy it, about me, I departed home, telling the old man, that in the morning I would send my boy to buy it of him. "All that night I could take no rest for thinking of it, fearing lest I might be disappointed of it. In the morning, as soon as it was day, I sent the boy with a knit cap, he had made for me, to buy the book, praying in my heart for good success, which it pleased the boy brought it to me, to my great joy; God to grant; for that cap purchased it; and which did not a little comfort me over all my afflictions." To the narrative of Captain Knox, "The boy having formerly served the Mr. Harvard has prefixed a judicious English, knew the book; and as soon as he had got it in his hand, came running with it, preface, in which he has included such calling out to me, "It is a BIBLE!" I testimonies, as must remove all doubt startled me to hear him mention the name of a of the author's veracity. We cannot Bible, for I neither had one, nor scarcely could conclude our remarks in language ever think to see one; upon which, I flung more appropriate, than that which has down my angle, and went to meet him. The first place the book opened in, after I took it in already expressed the character of my hand, was the 16th chapter of Acts; and this work. The author's narrative exthe first place my eye pitched on, was the thir-hibits " a lively picture of the state of 1229 Sanctification.- Memoir of William Scoresby. the country, and the manners of the people; and the account which he has given of what relates more immediately to himself, and particularly of his extraordinary escape from such a vigilant enemy, and in such difficult circumstances, combines the accurate details of a real transaction, with the glowing interest of a romance." 1230 the ensuing number we should be able to furnish a memoir of his life. That wish, however, we were prevented from accomplishing, through causes in which the reader can have no particular interest. From that period until the present, we have been exerting ourselves to collect materials to redeem our pledge with the public; and although we have not been able to succeed to that extent which would at once gratify our subscribers and ourselves, we have been able to trace the general outline of his life; and we now present to our friends a narrative which we flatter ourselves will be neither destitute of interest, nor unworthy of their acceptance. So far as the fetters of the author's creed will allow, he every where inculIn our number for September, col. cates experimental and practical god- 780, we introduced a paper inserted liness throughout this pamphlet. He in the Transactions of the Wernerian informs his readers, that, "The high Society, written by this gentleman, on importance of sanctification appears the possibility and practicability of from its necessity to qualify us for reaching the North Pole. This paper eternal blessedness. A man may go is replete with sound and manly sense, to heaven without wealth, without containing observations founded upon power, without learning, without elo-actual experience, and conducting the quence, without all or any of those reader on the ground of analogical things by which secular and worldly reasoning, through the only practicable men estimate his character, but methods that appear to be placed with"without holiness no man can see the in the reach of man, of accomplishing Lord." But lest they should become that great object, which would be hailed righteous over much, he adds in the with joy by every nation in Europe. next paragraph, "that the holiness of In this paper, the necessary equipments saints in the present life is imperfect. for such an arduous undertaking are Perfection, though the ambition and aim of all the truly pious, is not the briefly given; and the various difficulties which the daring adventurers positive attainment of any. We have would have to encounter, so far as heard of some such pure, and perfect, and spotless beings; we have never seen any such; and we look in vain for them in the historical record of the Old and New Testaments. Where shall we find this boasted perfection?" -p. 5. These passages fairly develope the character of this discourse. It is a pretty little dish of Antinomianism, rendered palatable to the taste by the seasoning that has been used in the cookery. BRIEF MEMOIR OF WM. SCORESBY, In our number of the Imperial Magazine for June, 1821, we prefixed a portrait of this enterprising and scientific navigator. This was accompanied with the expression of a hope, that in probability can extend her views, are faithfully stated. Few papers contain fund of information, or display a more within the same compass a greater vigorous and comprehensive mind. In the life of such a man, every incident, however trifling, becomes interesting; and perhaps there is scarcely a reader who does not feel a wish to peruse the journals of his numerous voyages into the Greenland seas, to catch those emanations of science which associate with the various objects which arrested his attention, and excited his observations. Mr. William Scoresby, Jun. was born at the village of Cropton, near Pickering, in Yorkshire, October 5th, 1789. His grandfathers were both farmers; and his father was originally intended for an agriculturist: but his active and enterprising mind finding itself cramped in such a limited scene of employment, he left his paternal 1231 Memoir of William Scoresby, Jun. Esq. 1232 roof while yet a youth; and atWhitby, | privilege of an excellent seminary of At the age of three years, Mr. Scoresby, Jun. was removed from the place of his nativity to Whitby, in which town his father, from his maritime employment, had found it convenient to take up his abode. Here the son received the rudiments of his education; but this consisted only in the acquirement of such common branches of knowledge as are regularly taught in country schools. to Greenland, along with his father; The next year he repeated his voyage who having himself proved eminently successful in this occupation, was solicitous to train up his son to the same profession. sued it year after year, and was proHe accordingly purgressively entrusted with the important and arduous duties of chief-mate had an accidental opportunity afforded and harpooner. In his 16th year, he him of attacking an unentangled whale. He was successful in harpooning it by a throw of the weapon, and in this first adventure succeeded in the capture. professional duties, could only be proHis education, thus interrupted by moted during the winter of each year; his summer months being regularly spent among the icebergs and whales of Spitzbergen. In the year 1800, when the subject of this memoir was only in his 11th year, his father, then commanding a whale fishing vessel from London, put into Whitby Roads, and invited him off to see the ship; and he, not being unwilling to undertake the enterprise, remained on board throughout the voyage. The first consideration of his father was, to furnish him with suitable clothing for resisting the severities of the climate in the region to which they were bound. Fortunately, his voyages, he attended a school in In these intervals of there were several persons in the ship, Whitby; but his opportunities of imwho, previous to their engaging in the provement being very much abridged, sea service, had been regularly trained he was sent in 1806 to the university to different handicraft occupations. of Edinburgh, and again in 1809, These, being supplied with the re- where, for about two-thirds of each quisite materials, most of which session, he attended various classes, were on board, soon equipped the calculated for expanding the mind, young adventurer in a complete sai- and imparting philosophical knowlor's garb; and every thing being ledge. In this institution, the deveready, they departed on their hazard-lopment of his talents so far exous expedition. The voyage proved an arduous one. Owing to the uncommon perseverance of the commander, the ship became involved in the ice of Spitzbergen, where it lay immoveable, notwithstanding every exertion of the sailors to free themselves, for eight successive weeks. During this period the limit of the ice was never discernible from the mast-head; and the field into which the ship was frozen, accumulated to the thickness, in many places, of more than 14 feet. The following year Mr. Scoresby remained in England, to improve himself in learning, while his father navigated the Greenland seas. interval, however, afforded him no This other opportunity of improvement than what a common day-school regularly supplies. In 1802, Mr. S. joined his father in London, after his return from his usual voyage. During their stay, which was about 3 or 4 months, he enjoyed the cited the attention of the learned and there was a call made upon all British In the autumn of this year, (1809) seamen, especially upon those engaged in the Greenland trade, by the Government, for assisting in bringing the fleet captured from the Danes into seamen of Whitby being unwilling to a British port. On this occasion, the come forward, Mr. S. was the first to offer his services in the national cause. This stimulated many others the services which, on that memorable to follow his laudable example; and occasion, they rendered to their country, will not be soon forgotten. appointed to take charge of one of the |