long. 23 deg. W., observed a vessel with a signal of distress
flying. Made towards her, when she proved to be the barque 'Carleton,'
water-logged. The captain and crew asked to be taken off. Hove to, and
received them on board, consisting of thirteen men: and their ship was
abandoned. We then proceeded on our course, the crew of the abandoned
vessel assisting all they could to keep my ship afloat. We arrived at
Cork harbor on the 27th ult."

Captain Coulson, master of the brig "Othello," reports that his brig
foundered off Portland, December 27;--encountering a strong gale,
and shipping two heavy seas in succession, which hove the ship on her
beam-ends. "Observing no chance of saving the ship, took to the long
boat, and within ten minutes of leaving her saw the brig founder. We
were picked up the same morning by the French ship 'Commerce de Paris,'
Captain Tombarel."

Here, in a single column of a newspaper, what strange, touching pictures
do we find of seamen's dangers, vicissitudes, gallantry, generosity! The
ship on fire--the captain in the gale slinging himself in a bowline to
stop the leak--the Frenchman in the hour of danger coming to his British
comrade's rescue--the brigantine almost a wreck, working up to the
barque with the signal of distress flying, and taking off her crew
of thirteen men. "We then proceeded on our course, THE CREW OF THE
ABANDONED VESSEL ASSISTING ALL THEY COULD TO KEEP MY SHIP AFLOAT." What
noble, simple words! What courage, devotedness, brotherly love! Do they
not cause the heart to beat, and the eyes to fill?

This is what seamen do daily, and for one another. One lights
occasionally upon different stories. It happened, not very long since,
that the passengers by one of the great ocean steamers were wrecked,
and, after undergoing the most severe hardships, were left, destitute
and helpless, at a miserable coaling port. Amongst them were old men,
ladies, and children. When the next steamer arrived, the passengers by
that steamer took alarm at the haggard and miserable appearance of
their unfortunate predecessors, and actually REMONSTRATED WITH THEIR OWN
CAPTAIN, URGING HIM NOT TO TAKE THE POOR CREATURES ON BOARD. There
was every excuse, of course. The last-arrived steamer was already
dangerously full: the cabins were crowded; there were sick and delicate
people on board--sick and delicate people who had paid a large price
to the company for room, food, comfort, already not too sufficient