HERALD

OF THE KINGDOM

AND AGE TO COME

RICHMOND, JANUARY 1851.

We sailed from Liverpool in the Marathon on the 11^th October. This was a ship of about eleven hundred tons, chartered to convey emigrants to the United States. When her complement was complete there were stowed away in the upper and lower steerages five hundred and forty persons, principally from the Romish districts of Ireland. The lower steerage, which was a dark and loathsome hold, contained about three hundred, of whom not more than fifty had beds of straw to lie on. The filth and misery, as it appeared to us, seemed perfectly congenial to the subjects of them. The idea of getting to America was a panacea for all the inconveniences, and beyond that consummation nothing gave them the least concern.

Our cabin accommodation was excellent. Had all parts of the ship been judged of by this, it would have been deemed a comfortable and even elegant floating habitation. Its rosewood and gilded panels, its cushioned sofa and pier glass, however, were of but little concern to us who were wearied by a tedious voyage, and the incessant motion of the ship. Having been appointed physician to the Marathon, time did not hang so heavily upon our hands as upon our fellow-passengers; nevertheless it added to our discomfort, for we were often more in need of attendance than able to look after the sick of whom there were not a few.

We were thirty-nine days from port to port. During these we had many days of calm. Two heavy gales only arose to vary the scene, all the rest were light winds until we arrived off Sandy Hook. A strong wind and tide compelled us to come to an anchor here with about forty fathom of chain cable, upon which was a powerful strain. We rode thus from Sunday afternoon until Tuesday morning, when a steam tug undertook to tow us to New York. We accordingly weighed anchor and proceeded. We got round “the beacon,” but it soon became manifest that the steamer was not powerful enough to tow us round “the buoy.” The strong wind and tide were fast drifting us on the shore, which, when the pilot perceived, the anchor was again let go. Nor was this done too soon, for in a few minutes more we should have been aground. We lay in this position, about half the ship’s length from shore, exposed to a strong wind and tide, for four hours, when another steamer hove too and lent us its assistance. By this additional aid we were extricated from our perilous situation, and enabled to get round “the buoy,” after which we had a prosperous navigation into port.

One incident only occurred to vary the monotony of the voyage, and that had nearly resulted in a terrible catastrophy. One night about eleven o’clock, as we were about sitting down to supper, our attention was suddenly drawn off from the table to things on deck. A great noise over our heads, and a cry of “Down with the helm! Down with the helm!” started us all to our feet and up the companion with a rush. The wind was blowing fresh and the ship going at ten knots, surrounded by a considerable fog. The first mate had left the bows only three minutes before when all seemed to be right a head; but on the fog opening a little a large ship had been discovered by the watch bearing right across us. A collision seemed inevitable. The helm was put down “hard a-port,” which was all that could be done. The result was favourable. The ship answered to her helm, and the two vessels cleared each other within a stone’s cast. A cheer announced that the danger was over, and we returned to the cabin penetrated with gratitude to our heavenly Father, that instead of being a floating wreck, or buried suddenly in the depths of the sea, we were still in the land of the living to praise him and call him blessed.

We arrived then in the United States on the 19^th November, after an absence of two years and a half, in apparently good health; though, as the sequel has proved, with a latent predisposition within us to an almost fatal attack of disease. The clearance of five boxes of stereotype plates (from which Elpis Israel will be republished here) through the Custom House, and other matters, necessarily detained us a few days in New York. While tarrying here we accepted an invitation to lecture on “the things of the Kingdom of God.” Three discourses were all we had time to deliver, and these were submitted to the public in the Hall of the Physicians’ College, 67 Crosby street. On Lord’s Day morning we attended at “the Disciples’ Meeting House,” Seventeenth street. This is occupied by the congregation which met at 80 Green street, and whose elders so gratuitously testified to the “kind of gospel” we preached, though they had never heard a word we had to say. These are now the elders of the body, and as hard hearted towards us as ever. One refused to give out the notice of our lectures, and the other’s countenance fell like Cain’s when on meeting him in the street the kind friend with whom we were walking, informed him whom we were. The change of meeting house is greatly for the better. The new one is exceedingly comfortable. Dr. Shepard is their teacher at present. He is a kind, liberal, and worthy man. Of course if he hold Mr. Campbell’s views our faiths are wide as the poles asunder. Of this, however, we cannot speak particularly; suffice it to say, we spent some friendly and pleasant moments together, and our conviction is, that he is worthy of better company than the illiberal and narrow-minded overseers it is his lot to be associated with. There are some worthy and excellent people in the congregation, and far too intelligent for the oversight of such men. But time and the word will remedy many evils.

We left New York on Thursday morning and arrived in Richmond on Friday night, November 29. On the following Lord’s Day we spoke in the place where the brethren usually meet. A huskiness in the throat somewhat inconvenienced us, though otherwise our health seem tolerable firm. On Tuesday night, however, we were seized with a chill which introduced us to a sickness of a severer character than we have been the subject of for seven years. From December 3^rd to the time we are writing this article, (January 1,) we have not left our bed. A continued bilious fever is the form of disease which has laid us low. Its effect upon us has been almost fatal. A change, however, for the better has taken place; and although our weakness is extreme and our bulk reduced to mere bone and attenuated muscle, yet we feel that we are improving, and that with care we shall be enabled to leave our bed in a few days. We long to stand upon our feet again, for there is an important work to be done, and but a short time to do it in. The Gospel of the Kingdom of God in the name of Jesus Christ has to be defined, advocated and defended, that men believing and obeying it may through the faith of it become heirs of it. Moses and the prophets must be expounded, and the great things they testify concerning the crisis that has come upon the world made as familiar to the faithful as household words. But of these things at present we are too debilitated to write more; therefore we close these remarks abruptly, wishing health and happiness to the reader till we meet again.

This number of the Herald has been sent to all our old subscribers who have given no notice of discontinuance. The terms are TWO DOLLARS, in advance. They will perceive that its appearance and typography are improved. The secret of this is the Editor is at home. Those who decline the work will please return this number; while all who retain it will be kind enough to act as if they were agents, and do the best they can to send us new subscribers to our list.

This number of the Herald has been sent to some of our friends in Britain, that seeing it they may inform us whether any copies will be required there. It can be supplied to prepaying subscribers in any part of the country on the same terms as to subscribers in the United States—that is, at Two Dollars, or Eight Shillings and Fourpence sterling the volume, which at the cost of printing in this city, is the lowest at which it can be afforded. The particular direction of each individual subscriber must be furnished as the numbers must be separately mailed.