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Dear Sir,

THE HAPPY SEANER.

To the Editor.

I have sent you the following relation, which, if it meet with your approval, you are at liberty to insert in your useful Miscellany. As many may be unacquainted with the employ to which it relates, it may not be uninLeresting to prefix a short explanation of it. A Seaner is a person employed in the Pilchard Fishery. These fish, which much resemble herrings in size, annually visit the coast of Cornwall in immense shoals: they are inclosed in a net or sean, the dimensions of which are in length 212 fathoms; in depth 15. In addition to this, there is a smaller net, which is 120 fathoms long, and 18 deep; with this a part of the fish is taken out of the larger, or stop-sean. To each sean there are three boats: a small one, which carries two boys and the Master Seaner, who is generally an experienced fisherman, and whose business it is to discover the shoal, and to direct the others in enclosing it. The other two boats are much larger, and suited to taking a quantity of the fish to the shore these carry the two nets, and are managed by nine men each, who are persons of various occupations in the town. The fish is enclosed by shooting the net around the shoal, meeting it and stopping it in its progress. The lurker lying at the mouth of the sean, and beating the water to keep the fish in it, is by the other boats, with a windlass and rope affixed to each end of the sean, warped nearer the shore, where, after enclosing the mouth and fixing anchors at the bottom of it, it is left till all the fish is taken out of it. In this sean they are able to enclose a thousand hogsheads of fish, each containing about three thousand fish. This fishery continues about two months in the year; during which time the men employed in it have regular wages; and, as a stimulus to exertion, are entitled to a quarter part of the produce of the fish. In the prosperous state they have shared upwards of £ 20; but since it has been affected by the war, 12 is considered great. This, Sir, is the employ to which the following account relates: and my only motive in publishing it is, that it may, by the divine blessing, be useful to some of your numerous readers.

Mevagissey.

W. M.

THE evening was beautifully tranquil, and favourable to meditation; when seated on the prominent cliff, with the expansive ocean before me, my mind fell into the most pleasing train of reflections. No object in nature is more calculated to fix, to enlarge, or to entertain the thoughts, than the ocean: the wide extended sheet over which the eye stretches, presents a vast idea of the Divine immensity; and the diversity of objects which engage its notice, interests the mind with a variety of sentiment, and gives scope to its curiosity and enquiry. Noise is commonly an intruder on reflection, and hence the rural walk, the secret retreat is chosen to favour it; but there is something in the murmur of the ocean which lulls the mind

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into pensive thoughtfulness. So fixedly was my mind engaged, and so pleasantly was it interested by the objects around me. Below, on my right, lay buried, as in a dell, the humble spot of my residence, where the buz and clamour of activity reproved my listlessness in the things of God, and gave energy to the exhortation of the inspired preacher,' Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest.' On my left, lay fields laden with corn, and pregnant with the bounty of Him who giveth us rain (the former and the latter in its season) and reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of harvest. Before me stretched the ocean, teeming with creatures innumerable as the grains of sand washed on its shores. Here a diversity of objects presented themselves. In one part, the merchant vessel, richly fraught with grain, slowly moving through the calm :-yonder, in the offing, the war ship gliding with majesty, the mistress of the seas; and nearer, the boat skimming along the bosom of the sea with a party in quest of • pleasure; perhaps there mistaking the seat of happiness :—but the objects which occupied the largest share of my thoughtful moments were the Seans, which lay as so many spots in the ocean; some lurking for their prey, and waiting the desired shoal to call them to exertion; some skulling through the deep, watching the motions of the finny tribes; others shooting their net to enclose the shoal; and others, with the huzza of exertion, warping their sean inward to the shore. The different employments of these men led into contemplation on their characters and habits: in this annual engagement I beheld men of different stages in life, for a season laying aside their regular trades to attend to the fishery, the harvest of the neighbourhood; but what were their characters? I asked. Here and there, I saw one who bore a resemblance to the fiskermen of Galilee; but the major part, I feared, were inconsiderate and prophane. This brought to my recollection the life of one, whose occupation was of this kind, who fitly illus trated the character of the happy seaner; but who is now wafted to that ocean of bliss, where there is no sea of commotion, but an eternal calm of serenity and peace.

Happiness, in every character, is enjoyed only in propor tion as a release is obtained, through the riches of divine grace, from the oppressive burthen of guilt and the galling accusations of conscience; ease cannot possibly be possessed without it. This must especially be the case with those who tra verse the fluctuating ocean; for if we may speak of the lives of some men as more precarious than those of others, such are the lives of sailors or fishermen, whose business is on the deep waters: there is indeed, but a step betwixt them and death; but a narrow plank separates them from a watery grave, into which a hidden leak, or sudden squal, or a tremendous storm, may in a moment plunge them. Can a man in so dangerous a situa

tion be happy with an exposure to the condemnations of conscience? To a hardened Pharaoh, or a careless Gallio, it may be practicable; but it is impossible where the candle of the Lord is at all alive, and where the mind is at all susceptible of impression. How can they dare to commit themselves to the merciless waves, without first committing their immortal souls to the all-merciful Saviour, an interest in whom will enable us to triumph with the poet :

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Then let the wildest storms arise;
Let tempests mingle earth and skies,
No fatal shipwreck shall I fear;

But all my treasures with me bear.'

This was the enjoyment of the happy seaner; he was once alive in sin, and prejudiced against the gospel; his conscience felt no dread, but, elated by false hopes, he cried Peace, peace, when there was no peace. That God, however, who has the hearts of all men in his hand, commanded conviction to his mind. Business used to lead him to the shop of one who, in the infant state of the gospel here, opened his doors for the preaching of the gospel, and entertained the ministers of truth. Influenced to attend one of these services, the Lord met with our happy seaner, under a sermon preached by the Rev. John Clayton, of London. The impression which this sermon made, issued in his most determined conversion to the truth;-it led him to Jesus for salvation. Both in his experience and in his converse, Christ was all and in all; and for many years his house was open for the preaching of the gospel in the haven where he lived. His interest in Jesus was his security and his peace; for though brittle the bark, and tempestuous the ocean through which he sailed, yet, his hope cast within the veil, was as an anchor to the soul, and made him smile amid the storm.

Nothing is of such importance as the observation of the Sabbath. It is a peculiar mercy that our lot has been cast in a land where the observance of it meets with a civil sanction: yet my mind has often been pained at the awful manner in which it has been prostituted to the pleasure and business of men. On this day, sacred to the Lord, all the secular engagements of life should cease. 'Thou shalt do no manner of work therein,' was the divine command; and nothing but an evident act of necessity or mercy can justify a deviation from it. These observations originated in the painful reflection which the seans before awakened; it grieved me to think how many devoted the Sabbath to their employments, and attracted crowds to witness their operations. What, I enquired, can justify this Sabbath-work ? can the fear of losing certain success?-can the precarious nature of the fishery do it?-May not the farmer urge a stronger plea for attention to his harvest on that day?-may not every business frame its excuse when

gain is in view? But will the possession of gain prove a sufficient excuse before the pure and holy Judge, who will, with the exactest justice, weigh all human actions? Can prosperity be expected to attend that business which, without a sufficient reason, is connected with the wilful breach of that divine law, concerning which so many solemnly pray, Incline our hearts to keep this law? It has often powerfully impressed my mind that the Sabbath-fishery is its curse. It is pleasing, however, to reflect that there are several exceptions to this criminal traffic-such was our happy seaner; he dared to be singular in this good cause. The Sabbath was to him a delight; he was happy in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and felt a day in the courts of the Lord better than a thousand elsewhere; yea, better than the gain of wickedness, or the wages of unrigh

teousness.

How much of our misery is produced by our own depraved natures! What enemies are we to the peace and tranquillity of our own minds! This pride of our nature is ever jealous of its honour; and these restless passions are ever alive to defend it, and to resent any encroachment on it. Ah! how much is the justness of these sentiments evinced in the lives of many of these seaners! Often have my ears been vexed with their tumultuous quarrels. Jealousies are awakened, perhaps, respecting their power or skill, offences are taken, disputes arise; here the turbulent passions are roused, and scenes disgraceful to human nature, with language awfully shocking to the feelings of Piety, are the end. When I have witnessed such scenes I have trembled with concern. The important declaration of the Redeemer has struck me with peculiar force: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' How divinely just! thought I, how infinitely important is the sentiment! Is it possible these passions shall ever disturb those peaceful regions where the wicked cease from troubling, where the weary are at rest, and where not a discordant note disturbs the harmony of the blessed? What a mercy! How conducive to happiness here, when the corrupt passions are all under the government of divine grace. Such was the character of the happy seaner. The influence of grace had quelled the turbulence of those passions which in an unregenerate state, like the ferocious disposition of the lion, are easily roused :—and though, in common with other Chris tians, he could exclaim,' Oh! wretched man that I am!' mourning over the remains of corrupt passions and desires, yet they were so under the power of a nobler principle, that you never witnessed in him those evils which have disgraced others.

Such, I observe, are the leading habits of these men, and such the change made by grace in the happy seaner; the Lord encrease the number of the latter character! What a blessed influence it would have, even upon our trade, were all

who are employed in it under the influence of divine grace! I longed for the day when Holiness should be written, even on the bells of the horses.

Shortly this season of toil will cease; all will return to their regular avocations; and then an ample share may be divided among them; which will prove a sufficient remuneration for all their labour. With the prospect of such a reward I would say Go on, and may God prosper your exertions for the support and comfort of your families! But, remember my reader, Verily, there is a reward for the righteous,'-a reward not like yours, perishable in its nature and precarious in its enjoyment, but one that is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away: a reward partially enjoyed on earth; but the perfect frui tion of which is reserved in Heaven. Such a reward of grace is now enjoyed by the once happy seaner. His last moments, introductory to this state of blessedness, were tranquil and happy. On my visit to him the day before he died, he said' Here I am, Sir: what the Lord designs by this affliction I know not; but this I know, all will be well. My only trust is in the blood and righteousness of my blessed Jesus. I have not, for some years past, laboured under any painful doubts as to the safety of my state; for I know in whom I have believed; and am persuaded he is able to keep that which I have committed to him until that day. On the following morning, being taken by his earnest desire to visit the chamber which was the accustomed place of his retirement, a few minutes we were alone; and on the return of his friends, eating heartily and expressing much comfort of mind, he faltered, and in a few minutes departed, in his chair, without a struggle or a groan, in the 68th year of his mortal existence. You see, my dear reader, what imparts happiness to the mind in every situation of life. May this relation of the happy seaner lead you to the same Jesus, as your friend and pattern on earth, as your Saviour in the day of his appearing, and as your portion and triumph through an immeasurable eternity!

PLUS.

FRAGMENT FOR THE CLOSING YEAR.

THE AGED CHRISTIAN AND THE AGED SINNER
CONTRASTED.

SOBER reflection generally increases as life advances. As men necessarily retire from the active duties, or alluring pleasures of life, they have leisure, and perhaps inclination to reflect more on themselves and the world, than they were accustomed to do at an early period. Men, tho' totally opposite in character, naturally meditate on the past, the present, and the future. Yet, with respect to the practical amount and be

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