rs on board acknowledged that they had never witnessed so
providential an escape. I said from the bottom of my heart, 'Our Father:
hallowed be Thy name.' The next day we were near foundering, for the sea
was exceedingly high, and our vessel, which was not intended for sailing,
laboured terribly, and leaked much. The pumps were continually working.
She likewise took fire, but the flames were extinguished. In the evening
the steam-engine was partially repaired, and we reached Lisbon on the
13th. Most of my clothes and other things are spoiled, for the hold was
overflowed with the water from the boiler and the leak.

The vessel will be ready for sea in about a week, when I shall depart for
Cadiz; but most of the passengers who intended going farther than Lisbon
have abandoned her, as they say she is doomed. But I have more trust in
the Lord that governeth the winds, and in whose hands the seas are as a
drop. He who preserved us at Finisterre can preserve elsewhere, and if
it be His will that we perish, the firm ground is not more secure than
the heaving sea.

I have seen our excellent friend Mr. Wilby, and delivered to him the
parcel, with which I was entrusted. He has been doing everything in his
power to further the sale of the sacred volume in Portuguese; indeed his
zeal and devotedness are quite admirable, and the Society can never
appreciate his efforts too highly. But since I was last at Lisbon the
distracted state of the country has been a great obstacle to him;
people's minds are so engrossed with politics that they find no time to
think of their souls. Before this reaches you, you will doubtless have
heard of the late affair at Belem, where poor Freire (I knew him well)
one of the ex-Ministers lost his life, and which nearly ended in an
affray between the English forces and the native. The opinions of the
Portuguese seem to be decidedly democratic, and I have little doubt that
were the English squadron withdrawn the unfortunate young Queen would
lose her crown within a month, and be compelled with her no less
unfortunate young husband to seek a refuge in another country. I repeat
that I hope to write to you from Cadiz; I shall probably be soon in the
allotted field of my labours, distracted, miserable Spain. The news from
thence is at present particularly dismal; the ferocious Gomez, after
having made an excursion into Estremadura, which he ravaged like a
pestilence, has returned to Andalusia, the who