meetest with in family affairs, or otherwise: but still fly to Him who will take up thy burden for thee. Go thou on cheerfully, in obedience to His holy will, in the course He hath set thee. Peace shall come. I commend thee and all thine to the gracious protection and blessing of the Lord.

"Farewell, my good wife. I kiss and love thee with the kindest affection, and rest "Thy faithful husband,

"JOHN WINTHROP."

"1629.

"MOST LOVING AND GOOD HUSBAND,-I have received your letters. The true tokens of your love, and care of my good, now in your absence, as well as when you are present, make me think that saying false, 'Out of sight, out of mind.' I am sure my heart and thoughts are always near you, 'to do you good and not evil all the days of my life.' I rejoice in the expectation of our happy meeting; for thy absence has been very long in my conceit, and thy presence much desired. Thy welcome is always ready; make haste to entertain it.

"And so I bid my good husband farewell, and commit him to the Lord,

"Your loving and obedient wife,

"MARGARET WINTHROP."

After having decided upon coming to New England, Mr. Winthrop writes thus, in 1629:—

"I must now begin to prepare thee for our long parting, which grows very near. I know not how to deal with thee by arguments; for if thou wert as wise as ever woman was, yet it must needs be a great trial to thee, and the greater because I am so dear to thee. That which I must chiefly look at in thee, for a ground of contentment, is thy godliness. If now the Lord be thy God, thou must show it by trusting in Him, and resigning thyself quietly to His good pleasure. The best course is to turn all our reasons and discourse into prayers; for He only can help, who is Lord of sea and land, and hath sole power over life and death. So I kiss my sweet wife, and rest, "Thy faithful husband,

"Jo. WINTHROP." "February 14, 1629. “MY SWEET WIFE,-The opportunity of so fit a messenger, and my deep engagement of affection to thee, makes me write at this time, though I hope to follow soon after. The Lord our God hath oft brought us together with comfort, when we have been long absent; and, if it be good for us, He will do so still. When

I was in Ireland, He brought us together again. When I was sick here at London, He restored us together again. How many dangers near death hast thou been in thyself! and yet the Lord hath granted me to enjoy thee still. If He did not watch over us, we need not go over sea to seek death or misery; we should meet it at every step, in every journey. And is not He a God abroad as well as at home? Is not His power and providence the same in New England that it hath been in Old England?

66

'My good wife, trust in the Lord. He will be better to thee than any husband, and will restore thee thy husband with advantage. I bless thee and ours, and rest thine ever,

66

"Jo. WINTHROP." Thou must be my Valentine, for none hath challenged me."*

"MY MOST DEAR HUSBAND,-I should not now omit any opportunity of writing to thee, considering I shall not long have thee to write unto. But, by reason of my unfitness at this time, I must entreat thee to accept of a few lines from me, and not impute it to any want of love, or neglect of duty to thee, to whom I owe more than I ever shall be able to express.

"My request now shall be to the Lord to prosper thee in thy voyage, and enable thee and fit thee for it, and give all graces and gifts for such employments as He shall call thee to. I trust God will once more bring us together before you go, that we may see each other with gladness, and take a solemn leave, till we, through the goodness of our God, shall meet in New England, which will be a joyful day to With my best wishes to God for thy health and welfare, I take my leave, and rest thy faithful, obedient wife,

us.

66

"MARGARET WINTHROP."

"March, 1629.

"MINE OWN DEAR HEART,-I must confess thou hast overcome me with thy exceeding great love, and those abundant expressions of it in thy sweet letters, which savour of more than an ordinary spirit of love and piety. Blessed be the Lord our God, that gives strength and comfort to thee to undergo this great trial, which I must confess would be too heavy for thee if the Lord did not put under His hand in so gracious a measure. Let this experience of His faithfulness to thee in this first trial, be a ground to establish thy heart to believe and expect His help in all that may *The writer was past forty years old.

"Mine only best beloved, I beseech the good Lord to take care of thee and thine; to seal up His loving-kindness to thy soul; to fill thee with the sweet comfort of His presence, that may uphold thee in this time of trial; and grant that we may see the faces of each other again in the time expected. So, loving thee truly, and tender of thy welfare, studying to bestow thee safe where I may have thee again, I leave thee in the arms of our sweet Saviour. Ever thine, "JO. WINTHROP."

From the Arabella, riding at Cowes, he thus writes:"March 28, 1630. "MY FAITHFUL AND DEAR WIFE.-And now I must once again take my farewell of thee in Old England. It goeth very near my heart to leave thee. I know to whom I have committed thee; even to Him who loves thee much better than any husband can: who, if it be for His glory, will bring us together again with peace and comfort. Oh, how it refresheth my heart to think that I shall yet again see thy sweet face in the land of the living-that lovely countenance that I have so much delight in, and beheld with so great content!

"I hope the course we have agreed upon will be some ease to us both. Mondays and Fridays, at five of the clock at night, we shall meet in spirit till we meet in person. Yet if all these hopes should fail, blessed be our God, we are assured that we shall meet one day in a better condition. Let that stay and comfort thy heart. Commend my blessing to my son John. Tell him I have committed thee and thine to him. Labour to draw him yet nearer to God, and he will be the surer staff of comfort to thee. Thine wheresoever,

"Jo. WINTHROP." While the vessel was riding before the Isle of Wight he again writes :

"MY LOVE, MY JOY, MY FAITHFUL ONE,I suppose thou didst not expect to have any more letters from me till the return of our ships; but so is the good pleasure of God, that the winds should not serve yet to carry us hence. I desire to resign myself wholly to His gracious disposing. Oh that I had a heart so to do, and to trust perfectly in Him for His assistance in all our ways!

"This is the third letter I have written to thee since I came to Hampton, in requital of those two I received from thee, which I do often read with much delight, apprehending so much love and sweet affection in them, as I am never satisfied with reading, nor can read them without tears. Oh, my dear heart, I ever held thee in high esteem, as thy love and goodness hath well deserved; but (if it be possible) I shall yet prize thy virtue at a greater rate, and long more to enjoy thy sweet society than ever before. I am sure thou art not short of me in this wish. Let us pray hard, and pray in faith, and our God in His good time will accomplish our desire. Oh, how loath I am to bid thee farewell! but, since it must be, farewell, my sweet love, farewell! I take thee and my dear children in mine arms, and kiss and embrace you all, and so leave you with my God. "Thy faithful husband,

"Mr. Wilson is now in London. He cannot yet persuade his wife to go, for all he hath taken this pains to come and fetch her. I marvel what mettle she is made of."

Governor Winthrop and his lady met in safety, and lived long to bless the colony to whose interests they had devoted themselves.

In manners they were dignified, but condescending; and in character truly upright and benevolent. Being once informed that a poor man stole his wood, the Governor replied in seeming anger, that he would soon cure him of stealing, When the man appeared, he said, "Friend, it is a severe winter, and I hear you are poor. Help yourself from my pile till the winter is over." He afterwards said to his informer, "Have I not put a stop to his stealing?"

Governor Winthrop was elected again and again, until, worn out with toils, he died in the sixty-third year of his age, March, 1649. Though rich when he came to the colony, he died poor.

It is unnecessary here to pay a tribute to his exalted character; his name adorns the history with which it is so honourably associated. S. P.

HE privations and sufferings of Arctic explorers could

not easily be exaggerated; but of all the discomforts attendant on wintering within the Arctic Circle, none perhaps is so much felt as the absence of light. The gloom affects in no slight degree the body, but it is chiefly injurious to the mind. Who does not appreciate the intrepid and buoyant energy of British sailors, so bearing up under such trying circumstances, as to enable the historian of the Resolute expedition to write as follows? "The sweet and soothing influence of memory, assisted by bright hopes for the future, tended to sustain our spirits under the chilling influence of a posi

Balloon employed by Arctic explorers-as many as 800 papers are attached to a

tail of quick-match, and so

by travelling parties.

dispersed, to be picked up

and

tion at once novel and unnatural, amidst eternal ice and snow; existing between two atmospheres, which fre

quently differed 100 degrees in ten steps of a ladder."

Mr. M'Dougall gives lengthened details of wintering experience; and though our extracts must be brief, we will venture to select a few :

"November 4th.-This day was altogether one of the finest we had experienced since our arrival here. The sky to the southward was composed of the most brilliant tints; crimson and an intense yellow predominating. At 1.15 p.m. the upper limb sank beneath the golden-hued horizon; the tints gradually became fainter, as the arch of light travelled to the westward. And thus the sun departed on a tour to the southward, sincerely regretted by all on board. Alas! like other friends, until lost his value was not sufficiently appreciated."

"Sunday, December 12th.-After Divine ser vice, the officers and crew of the Resolute proceeded on board the Intrepid, where it had been arranged that the burial service should be read over one of our expedition, George Drover (the excellent captain of forecastle, Intrepid). The temperature was too low to expose the men for any length of time in a standing posi tion in the open air. Much difficulty had been experienced in digging a grave; for in addition to the heavy gale, which increased the discomfort, whilst performing such a melancholy task, the ground was frozen as hard as

granite, on which the crowbars, pickaxes, and shovels made little or no impression. The temperature, varying from 17 degrees to 30 degrees minus, rendered it necessary to pitch a tent over the grave, in order to shelter the men from the wind. After five days' work, they were obliged to have recourse to a wood fire, which was lighted on the spot, to thaw the surface. At length, after a week's labour, a depth of two feet ten inches was obtained-in this poor Drover was buried."

66

'December 21st.-The advent of the shortest day was welcomed with feelings of pleasure by all on board, for it was the turning-point of the winter, when, although the temperature might reasonably be expected to increase in severity, the light-that great and blessed gift of the Almighty-would gradually increase to a continued day of several months' duration." Christmas-day was not without its becoming and hospitable observance :

"Many were the expressions of goodwill and friendship interchanged. The Intrepids, with their usual hospitality, provided luncheon; and, after a walk for an appetite, all the officers of the squadron met at 5 p.m. in the gunroom of the Resolute, and sat down to a substantial dinner. Besides other delicacies, there was a splendid piece of roast beef (killed in April), an Arctic hare, and a noble haunch of Arctic venison weighing twenty-one pounds. The latter was the favourite dish, and called forth the unqualified praise of all present. I had almost forgotten to say, the men had an extra allowance issued, and at 1 p.m. sat down to good fare, the various tables being decorated with transparencies, flags, and devices of various descriptions alike appropriate and tasteful.

"The New Year was ushered in with a lower degree of temperature than we had yet experienced. On the 2nd mercury became solid for the first time, and from this we may fairly date the commencement of the months of extreme cold. On the 4th the thermometer stood at 48 degrees minus. Bacon, which under the forecastle had become like slabs of granite, was taken below, and placed beside the Sylvester stove; and even there, several days elapsed ere it became in a fit state to be subjected to the process of boiling."

Throughout December and January active preparations were in progress for the prosecution of the enterprise as soon as the season permitted:

"Shoemakers, for the last two months, have

been employed making boots; the sailmakers have been busy about the tents, robes, maintoshes, and other articles necessary for the perfect equipment of a tent. Each man, during his leisure hours, is employing himself making his travelling costume, whilst the officers are going in' to the weights of the various articles, and scorn not to work out the total to ounces; in short, there is not an idler on board."

"Saturday, February 5th.-For the last few days the sun's near approach to the horizon had been proclaimed by an extended arch of light, with a few small crimson clouds floating in a golden sea. Oh, with what pleasure did we all look forward to his actual presence!

"Refraction-corrections of all descriptions -not forgetting the dip from the top of Dealy Island, 160 feet high-were worked out minutely, and the result of our calculations led us to expect he might possibly be seen for the space of a few minutes at noon on the 4th. The weather on that day, however, was unfavourable; a cold sharp wind, with mist, prevailed. But this has been a glorious day, clear, cloudless, and cold.

66

"During the forenoon officers and men might have been observed stopping occasionally during their monotonous walk on the floe, and contemplating with feelings of quiet rapture the southern horizon, as the arch gradually increased in extent and brilliancy.

"Officers-aye, and sedate ones too, on most occasions-might have been observed jumping as high as the weight of their clothes permitted, fondly hoping to be the first to welcome the glorious source of light and warmth to these inhospitable shores.

"At length, at 11.30 a.m., the flag on Dealy Island was hoisted, announcing to the little world below the fact of the sun being visible from that elevation. The ensigns on board both vessels were immediately hoisted, in honour of the prodigal's return, after an absence of ninety-three days.

"A few minutes only elapsed, when the rays of his upper enlightened limb dazzled the eyes of those who were anxiously gazing from the floe. Every eyelid drooped before the novel glare, but the features of all bore an expression indicative of happiness. The very dogs appeared more animated, and seemed to have an innate sense that better days were coming. Giving an additional cock to their tails and ears, they gambolled with each other, and looked, in truth, a set of merry dogs.