The night proved very uncomfortable on many accounts; the rain and wind were heavy, and the diftrefs of their fituation not a liule increased by the fear of the thip going to pieces, before they fhould be able to fave from her fuch neceifaries as might be useful to them. They hauled their boats on fhore, and iet a watch, left they might be furprized by any of the natives.

The weather proving more moderate in the afternoon, the boats were sent to the wreck to bring away some rice, and other provifion, as alfo to procure what neceffaries they could for the people, who flood in great need of them. But the chief mate and crew, who returned with the pinnace, brought the melancholy intelligence, that they did not conceive, from the badnefs of the weather, that the fhip could hold together till 1 morning.

They knew, nothing of the inhabitants of that country; ignorant of their manners and difpofitions, as well as of the hoftile fcenes they might have to encounter: they were cut off from the rest of the world, with little probability of ever getting away. Each individual threw back his remembrance to fome dear object that affection rivetted to his heart, who might be in vain, looking out anxiously for the return of the father, the hufband, or the friend, whom there was fcarcely the most diftant chance of their ever feeing any more. These reflections did not contribute to make the night comfortable; the weather was far more tempeftuous than in the preceding one; but the clothes they had procured from the wreck proved a great comfort to them all, who were thereby enabled to have a change.

Augu the 12th. At day break, as it blew exceeding hard, lo that the boats could not venture to fea, every one went to work, to dry the ftores and provifions between the fhowers; and many were busied to form tents with fuch materials as they had faved. About eight o'clock in the morning Captain Wilfon and Tom Rofe being on the beach, collecting water which dropped from the rocks, the people who were employed

in clearing away the ground, in the wood behind them, gave notice that fome of the natives werè approaching, as they perceived a canoe coming round the point into the bay. This gave so much alarm that the people all flew to arms; however, as there were only two canoes, and those having but few men in them, the people were defired to remain fill, and out of fight, until they fhould perceive what reception the Captain and Tom Rofe met with, whom they were convinced the natives had difcovered, as they converfed together, and kept ftedfaftly look-. ing towards that part of the thore where they were. Our people were defired to be prepared for the worst, but by no means to appear for the prefent, or fhew any figns of diftruftwhen they did, unlels the behaviour of the natives fhould render it neceffary.

In this fhort interval the canoes had advanced cautiously towards the fhore, where they ftood, when Captain Wilfon de-. fired Tom Rofe to speak to them in the Malay language, which they did not feem to underfland, but ftopped their canoes: yet foon after one of them fpoke in the Malay tongue, and afked who they were? and whether they were friends or enemies? Tom Rofe was directed to reply, "That they were unfortunate Englifhmen, who had loft their fhip upon the reef, and had faved their lives, and were their friends." Upon this they spoke a few words together (which was fince supposed to have been the Malay man explaining to them what had been faid;) and presently they ftepped out of the canoes into the water, and came towards the fhore, on which Captain' Wilfon waded into the water to meet them, and embracing them in a friendly manner conducted them to the fhore, and introduced them to his companions. They were eight in number, two of whom, it was afterwards known, were brothers to the king. They left one man in each canoe; and, as they were coming into the cove, feemed to look round with great watchfulness, as if fearful of being betrayed; nor would they feat themselves

1

1

near the tents, but kept clofe to the beach, that in cafe of danger they might eafily regain their canoes.

Our people now going to breakfast, they were prefented with fome tea, and fome fweet biscuits, made at China, of which two or three jars had been faved. Only Captain Wilson, and one or two more, with Tom Rofe the interpreter, breakfafted with them; for, they would probably have entertained doubts, had the English furrounded them to gratify curiofity. In our little conversation a wifh was expreffed to the Malay they brought with them, of knowing by what event he chanced to be there. This fellow, befide his own and the Pelew language, spoke a little Dutch, and fome words of English: he gave the following account of himself, * viz.-That he commanded a trading veffel belonging to a China-man at Ternate, had been on a trading voyage to Amboyna and Bantam, and had been caft away, about ten months before, upon an ifland to the fouthward, which was within fight of where he then was; that he escaped from thence to Pelew, and had been kindly received by the king, who, he told them, was a very good man, and that his people alfo

were courteous.

He further acquainted them, that a canoe having been out fishing, had feen the fhip's malt lying down; and that the king being informed of it, fent off these two canoes, at four o'clock that morning to enquire what was become of the people; that they knowing well this harbour, had come to it first, being a place where the canoes, when fishing, often fhelter themselves in hard weather.-They fat about an hour with Captain Wilson, tafted the tea, but feemed to like better the bifcuits, and appeared now to feel themselves relieved from every apprehenfion. They wished that one of our people might be fent in their canoes to the Rupack, or king, that he might fee what fort of people they were; which was agreed to by Captain Wilson,

* The future conduct and behaviour of this Malay gave reason to suspect there was little truth in the account he gave of himself.

who

who, after breakfast was ended, introduced to them feveral of his officers; these shook hands with the natives, who, being informed by the Malay that this was the mode of falutation amongst the English, went to every man prefent, and took him by the hand, nor ever after omitted this token of regard, as often as they met our countrymen.

[To be continued.]

REMARKS on PUBLIC SINGING.

[By J

S

Organist.]

H

AVING been a member of the Methodift Society twenty

fix years, I have had in the course of that time frequent occafion to make remarks upon their Singing. There have always been a few among us that could fing correctly; and while thefe kept together, and the congregation attended to them as a guide, we had good finging: but when we had no guide, we loft our way, and generally went wrong both in time and tune; and these being fo effential to good Singing, we may justly pronounce that bad, which is deficient in either.

I fhall take notice of the deviations which I have heard in our congregation; and I believe the fame defects will be found in most other places of public worship.

First, of time in three particulars.

1. Time in the bar.

2. Time in the piece of mufic.

3. Time in the body of voices.

N. B. The breach of one of these is a breach of all; yet, for the fake of order, it will be neceffary to confider them diftinctly.

First, Deviation from time in the bar, is, not giving to individual notes their juft length. This breach of time is more frequent than is generally observed, and is owing chiefly to

perfons

perfons introducing tunes into congregations, without a strict regard to time; and 'tis pity it fhould be fo, as it is much easier to fing in good, than bad time, and far more difficult to unlearn what is wrong, than to learn what is right at first.

Secondly, Deviations from time in the piece of mufic has been conftantly practifed among the Methodists. I mean that of paufing while the preacher gives out the hymn, either in one or two lines at a time. This is certainly a breach of time, in the piece of mufic; but, this being the leaft difagreeable, it is difpenfed with: efpecially as it anfwers a good purpose, to let those hear the words that have not books.

Thirdly, Deviations from time in the body of voices happen when one part of the congregation fing before the other. This is a breach of time, and is frequently occafioned by haftening the time of a tune after it is begun, without apprifing the congregation of fuch intention. This has a direct tendency to make a breach of time in the body of voices.

Note. Time and tune are fo connected in Public Singing, that a breach of time always, produces a breach of tune; but not vice verfa, a breach of tune doth not produce a breach of time.

Secondly of tune in three particulars.

1. Singing wrong mufical intervals.

2. Singing wrong notes.

3. Singing more notes than are required.

First, Deviations from true mufical intervals, happening chiefly, if not entirely, among those who have not mufical ears: and I know no remedy for this, as all people claim a right to join in public finging, perhaps we ought not to forbid them. Yet it is as great an abfurdity to expect good Singing from thofe, as to expect good music from an inftrument out

of tune.

Secondly, Deviations from right notes, or finging one note for another, as A. for B. &c. frequently happen by many learn