The early history of Mr. Gough's life thus abundantly proves the truth of the text, "man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward;" it gives us also an answer to the question put in the other verse, "Are the consolations of God small?" Alas! that any one who has ever tasted these consolations should forsake them for the excitement attendant upon pleasure, wine, riches, or other transitory gratifications! "Vanity and vexation of spirit" are sure to reprove the futility of such seekings, unwearied though they may be; but consolation, imparting the peace which the world fails to give, keeps far from that disquieted heart.

· Occasionally," says our voyager, 66 on thousand miles distant from home and looking over my little stock of worldly friends; a waif on life's wave, solitary goods, I would find little billets or in the midst of thousands, and with a papers containing texts of Scripture, heart yearning for kindly sympathy, pinned to the different articles. In my but finding none. Whilst musing on my Bible, texts of Scripture were marked fortunes, all at once the following pasfor me to commit to memory; amongst sage entered my mind, and afforded me them, I remember, were the 2nd, 3rd, consolation,-Trust in the Lord, and do 4th and 5th chapters of Proverbs." good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, This was providing wisely for the fu- and verily thou shalt be fed.' Shoulderbure, and although, in an evil hour, the ing my trunk, I entered the city." young emigrant went astray from the read to which his pious mother had directed him; yet a time came, when the contents of those "little billets or papers" returned with fresh force to his mind, and flashed across his benighted path. Mr. Gough remained only two years the service of the family to whom he had been apprenticed. During this period he never went to either a sabbath day school. He felt this much, as he had an ardent desire to acquire knowledge. Tiring of so unprofitable a life, and perceiving, also, that no chance xisted of his being trained to business, sold a knife for the purpose of paying the postage of a letter to his father, in which he asked permission to go to New Mr. Gough, thrown upon his own reYork, and learn a trade. The reply sources, began to learn the bookbinding received in due course, and being business; and seeing that his prospects favourable, the apprentice left his first were somewhat improving, he sent for tuation on the 12th of November, 1831. his father, mother, and sister, to join We and him then, for some considerable him in America. The Peninsular veteran tane, struggling hard to procure a liveli- declined accepting the offer, for he was ood; now cheered by the bright sun-loth to lose his hard-earned pension, shine of hope, now oppressed by a sense and was in hopes to effect a commutaof wretchedness and isolation; but still tion with the government, and receive profitably applying to his case the ex- a certain sum in lieu of an annual pay. bertation and reproof written by his ment. The two other members of the mother upon the "little billets or family, however, resolved to attempt the papers above alluded to. "Amidst all journey. We shall here make one my lonely sorrow," the autobiography more quotation from the autobiography. ges on to say, "the religious impressions "At that time I was in the receipt of I have just referred to, and more espe- three dollars a week, wherewith to supcally those which I had derived from port myself, and with a few articles the lips of my beloved mother, afforded my mother brought over, we went to some rays of consolation which glim- housekeeping. Ö! how happy did I mered through the gloom. Whilst I was feel that evening when my parent first anding, pondering whither I should made tea in our own home. Our three bend my steps, a man came up to me, cups and saucers made quite a grand and asked where he should carry my show; and, in imagination, we were trunk. Then, indeed, the strong sense rich in viands, although our meal was d my forlornness came to me, and I frugal enough. Thus we lived comcarcely ever remember to have expe-fortably together, nothing of note occurrenced more bitterness of spirit than on ing until the November following, when, that occasion. Fancy me, reader! a boy, owing to a want of business and the just fourteen years of age, a stranger in general pressure of the times, I was disstrange city, with no one to guide him, missed from my place of work. This Bone to advise, and not a single soul to was a severe blow to us all, and its love or be loved by. There I was, three force was increased by my sister, who

was a straw-bonnet maker, also losing cheered and benefited him in his earthly her employment." The clouds were now pilgrimage. It is impossible to surmise evidently gathering, the waters rising, what would have been the course of and Mr. Gough had to pass through an Mr. Gough if he could have enjoyed ordeal out of which only after a long for a longer season the unwearied protime he found his way. Poverty came tection of a mother's love. We may first. What was to be done, especially suppose him steadily pursuing his businow that the winter was setting in, withness, getting into a respectable situation. the price of provisions increased, and and maintaining out of his earnings the wood likewise, far beyond the means of two relations who had left their country persons reduced to live in a garret? to come and gladden his fireside. We What was to be done? Occasional em- may fancy him adhering to the course ployment, obtained for short periods, of duty, never wandering to the bar of afforded only temporary relief. The a public-house, never dreaming of theapawnbroker's shop could not advance trical reputation, and the excitement of large sums upon articles of furniture, the green-room. We may fancy... which were rather the worse for use, and But to what purpose? God willed it bread might not be had on credit. otherwise; his mother was removed by "Once, seeing my mother in tears, I as- the hand of the "last enemy" that recertained that we had no bread in the mains to be conquered; his sister marhouse. I could not bear the sight of ried and settled in Rhode Island, and such distress, and wandered down a now was the time when his principles street, sobbing as I went. A stranger were to be tried. Brandy-and-water accosted me, and asked me what was and a play-bill constituted his ordeal. the matter. 'I'm hungry,' said I, and It is not expected of course that we so is my mother.' Well,' said the should detail all the particulars of Mr. stranger, I can't do much, but I'll get you a loaf:' and when I took this threecent piece of bread home, my mother placed the Bible on our old ricketty pine table, and having opened it, read a portion of Scripture, and then we knelt down, thanking God for His goodness, and asking His blessing on what we were about to partake of. All these sufferings and privations my poor mother bore with Christian resignation, and never did she repine through all that dreary season."

Gough's career, either upwards or downwards. His extraordinary life may be said to divide itself naturally into three parts, the first of which ends with the mournful catastrophe just stated. The curtain falls upon a coffin to rise again amidst the revels of boon companions, and in the heavy atmosphere of a groggery.

"I possessed a tolerably good voice, and sang pretty well, having also the faculty of imitation rather strongly developed; and, being well stocked with The Bible in the abode of poverty! amusing stories, I got introduced into ... Yes, the Bible! Not the the society of thoughtless and dissipated "Declaration of the Rights of Man;" young men, to whom my talents made not the "Seven Points of the Charter;" me welcome. These companions were not the "Age of Reason; " but the Word what is termed respectable, but they of God, telling us that we must bow drank. I now began to attend the under the hand which chastises us for theatres frequently, and felt ambitious our good. If every garret in Europe of strutting my hour upon the stage. By was provided with a Bible, few of them slow but sure degrees I forgot the lessons would be what too many now are, the of wisdom which my mother had taught appointed quarters for the "devil's me, lost all relish for the great truths of regiment of the line." religion, neglected my devotions, and considered an actor's situation to be the ne plus ultra of greatness. I well remember, in my early days, having entertained, through the influence of my mother, a horror of theatres; and once, as I walked up the Bowery, and watched the multitudes passing to and fro from the steps of the play-house there, which I had mounted for the sake of a better view of the busy scene, this passage of

Grim death followed close upon the footsteps of starvation. The family difficulties seemed clearing up once more; young Gough earned four dollars and a half a week; he had redeemed his coat, and felt the inexpressible joy of being able to go to chapel, when a fit of apoplexy carried off his mother, and left him without the true, the constant friend, whose advice had so often

Scripture came to my recollection, The insatiable craving for society drove him glory of the Lord shall cover the face of from his quiet home to the haunts of the earth as the waters cover the sea,' dissipation; matters became desperate, and I mentally offered up a prayer that and, what seemed to him now worse that time might speedily arrive. Not than all, his bar-room associates, his wry long afterwards, so low had I fallen, parlour companions, began to drop his and so desperately had I backslidden, acquaintance, and to be ashamed of that at the very door of the same theatre, their former crony. Respectable tipplers, which I had five years before wished of course, cannot meet with shabbilydestroyed, as a temple of sin, I stood dressed fellows, that is quite out of the applying for a situation as actor and question; and as Mr. Gough's best coat emic singer. No longer did I wish a had again found its way to the pawntburch should be built on the site of broker's, he must abide the consethe theatre; that very place of enter-quences. This, we repeat it, was the Lament had become at first a chosen, unkindest cut of all. "Oh! how often i now, to support existence, an almest necessary place of resort." This sketch will, perhaps, appear to Se a sort of comment upon Mr. Gough's text We cannot help it. If it be a good one, we shall feel no slight satisarton in having deduced a few practical essons from what we consider as one of the most useful autobiographies in the whole range of literature. Let the reader ll trace the effect of "the little billets papers" already mentioned, with their Fts of Scripture, and their spiritual porton for every emergency: page came to my recollection," membered the verse," &c. &c. ; in 3 her of temptation the "sword of Spirit" enabled him to overcome; as as he neglected this powerful weapon, he fell an easy prey to the enemy. Jer second remark is on the danger of ampering with the early suggestions of How many persons plead as their eruse for committing mean things, the henty of respectable people! How many will drive the gig of respectability amugh the veriest elements of moral

44

have I lain down and bitterly remembered many who had hailed my arrival in their company as a joyous event. Their plaudits would ring in my ears, and peals of laughter ring again in my deserted chamber; then would succeed stillness only broken by the beatings of my agonised heart, which felt that the gloss of respectability had worn off and exposed my threadbare condition!" Such reflections were bitter, no doubt; but they were grounded in truth. Instead of awaking through them to a this fuller consciousness of his situation, the I renow confirmed drunkard drowned them, or rather endeavoured to drown them in fresh supplies of liquor, till he fell lower than the brutes themselves; and became the slave of an appetite to gratify which he was hurrying on his own destruction. During that awful interval, we find him here and there wandering in quest of both rest and employment, sometimes at Newburyport, sometimes at Boston, then at Lowell, or at Worcester. Providence had often made its voice heard to him through visitations and warnings of a most solemn chaMr. Gough tried at first to make racter. A shipwreck, a fire, the terrible and dissipation go together-delirium tremens, the loss of his wife a would not do; business, conse- and child, all these were appeals to his eatly was sacrificed. Instead of work conscience and his feelings, appeals regularly and steadily, he applied which he could not but have regarded, - to his task only at uncertain had he been in his right mind. But vals, was frequently away for days maddened by drink, and apparently her, received his discharge, and, by without the power of struggling against attemessness of his conduct, lost the the master-passion, he was now 1 he might have secured through trul for which he was always disrashed. It is almost incredible how any fresh starts he had, how many jportunities of redeeming his character. entrance upon the matrimonial tate was one; he commenced houseping, purchased some furniture, and turned once more to work. But an

"A wandering, wretched, worn and weary thing, Ashamed to ask, and yet he needed help.”

The third act of Mr. Gough's life begins in the year 1842. As he was walking about the streets on the evening of the last Sunday in October, shabby looking drunkard, a living disgrace," some one tapped him on the

shoulder. I looked at the stranger, wondering what his business was with me. Regarding me very earnestly, and apparently with much interest, he exclaimed:

"Mr. Gough, I believe?"

"That is my name," I replied, and was passing on.

"You have been drinking to-day," said the stranger in a kind voice, which arrested my attention, and quite dispelled my anger at what I might otherwise have considered an officious interference in my affairs.

Yes, sir," I replied, "I have." "Why do you not sign the pledge?" was the next query.

very wisely, however, followed his friend's advice, took the pledge, and resolved to conquer his moral liberty once more. The strife was a terrible one; but it ended at last successfully, and health, employment, peace of mind, returned to the unfortunate man, who had so long been deprived of them. His case became generally known, he was invited to state it before several temperance associations, and the impressions he produced upon crowded audiences by the plain history of his eventful life, speedily obtained for him his present position as the " temperance-orator" of the day. Mr. Gough has been, ever since 1843, devoting his whole time and energy to the triumph of a cause which was the means of rescuing him from destruction. His eloquence, people say, is overpowering; no wonder- he speaks according to the rule, si vis me flere, dolendum est primum ipsi tibi, and with him pathos is no sham. Democritus, junior, or old Burton, laying down the plan of an Utopian government, in the

"I considered for a minute or two, and then informed the stranger friend, who had so unexpectedly interested himself in my behalf, that I had no hope of ever again becoming a sober man; that I was without a single friend in the world who cared for me; that I fully expected to die very soon-I cared not how soon-nor whether I died drunk or sober; and, in fact, that I was in a" Anatomy of Melancholy," says, "If condition of utter recklessness."

"The stranger regarded me with a benevolent look, took me by the arm, and asked me how I should like to be as I once was, respectable and esteemed, well clad, and sitting as I used to be in a place of worship, enabled to meet my friends as in old times, and receive from them the pleasant nod of recognition as formerly; in fact, become a useful member of society?"

"Oh!" replied I, "I should like all these things first-rate; but I have no expectation that such a thing will ever happen. Such a change cannot be possible."

Mr. Gough, at that time, forgot that with God all things are possible. He

any be drunk, he shall drink no more wine or strong drink for a twelvemonth after." Fénélon, describing the laws of the kingdom of Salentum, in his “Télémaque,' introduces amongst them sumptuary enactments of a more effica cious character; but Mr. Gough is the man, after all. His system admits of no compromise; he strikes at the root of the evil, and does so in revolutionary addresses, which may be accurately called " Appels au Peuple." M. Ampère defines Mr. Gough the "Pere Bridaine” of temperance; like the French missionary, he has won for himself a wreath of laurels which are not destined to fade. G. M.

ADMIRAL SIR GEORGE COCKBURN.

THE naval forces of Great Britain have | that date, exhibited their proficiency in not those opportunities of acquiring gunnery at St. Jean d'Acre, and probapractice in their profession that are open to the military. The last great combat in which they were engaged at Navarino was not calculated to test their courage and skill. Sir Charles Napier, since

bly at no previous period did this branch of the naval service possess more skill than at present. The science employed in naval gunnery has rendered the prac tice almost perfect, and terribly efficient;

but the introduction of steam power has produced changes which will revolutionnaval tactics in battle, and the next great combat will probably be conducted by leaders who have never yet engaged

in warfare.

The great European states, with the exption of Prussia, have fields for the equisition of military skill. Britain finds in Africa and Asia schools for ibers. Russia has Circassia, apt to learn, ready to teach. France possesses Algers a rugged ground for military crise. Austria has been provided in Hanzary and Italy with experience sufient to maintain the military spirit of army for a generation. The navies are differently situated. They can only quire practice in a great European var, unless, indeed, a quarrel arise with the United States. Either event may be far distant, and cannot be farther moved than we desire, although we såld not have an admiral who could fat and had seen fire in anything more serious than reviews or saluting. The strength of our navy and the americal weakness of our army have led to the frequent employment of our men in combats on land, and the fuation of that amphibious but brave and useful force, the marines. The Napiers have done much to assimilate the two services, but no leader was ever mare amphibious in war than the late St George Cockburn, who is remembered by men of the present generation, almost exclusively, as a quiet Lord of the Admiralty, and a sedate member of the Commons.

when he was only in his ninth year. He was subsequently removed to the yacht William and Mary; nominally removed, for he was not at sea until 1783, when he entered on the Termagant, 18, Captain Rawley Balteel, still a young defender of his country, having only reached twelve years. The Termagant was on the home station, and he removed from that ship to the Ariel, 14 guns, Captain R. Moorsam; then destined for an excellent and useful service on the East Indian station, where, until 1791, when the ship returned home, the crew and officers were engaged in surveying. Before his twentieth year, therefore, this young officer had acquired considerable experience in the nautical department of his profession, formed an intimate acquaintance with the eastern seas, and seen a large portion of the world. He immediately after entered on the Hebe, 88 guns, Captain Hood; but he was soon transferred to the Romney, 58, the flag-ship of Rear-Admiral Cranstoun. The necessary and preliminary steps in his profession were rapidly taken, for he passed his examination in June, 1791, and was then appointed acting lieutenant of the Pearl, 32 guns, under Captain Courtenay; and in January, 1793, he was placed on the Orestes, 18 guns, with Lord A. Fitzroy. Lieutenant Cockburn was undoubtedly a meritorious officer, active and regular in the discharge of duty; but many other officers, not less deserving, must have envied the rapidity of his movements, for soon afterwards his name occurs as acting ninth lieutenant on the The death of SIR GEORGE COCKBURN Britannia, of 100 guns, bearing the flag occurred at Leamington, on the 19th of of Rear-Admiral Hotham. He continued August of the present year, in the eighty- with the Britannia only from April to serond year of his age. He was born June, when he made apparently a retroat London in the year 1771. His father, gressive step, and was entered tenth Sir James Cockburn, was a Scotch gen- lieutenant on the Victory, of 100 guns, tleman, and represented Peebleshire, then flag-ship of Lord Hood, stationed the county in which the family estates off Toulon. But Lord Hood was the chiefly situated, in the Imperial friend and patron of young Cockburn ; Parliament. The Cockburns are an old and he attained by remarkably quick Sotush family, who, without ever pos-rotation the rank of first lieutenant, sessing great power, always held a respectable position, even in the political movements of that country.

At the close of the last century the names of boys, the sons of influential persons, were entered on the navy list, at a period when they were incapable of serving the country. Young Cockturn's name was written on the books of a frigate on the 12th March, 1781,

before October closed, when he was appointed to the command of the Speedy, a sloop of war. In this command he attracted notice from his skilful seamanship in maintaining the blockade of Genoa, in January, 1794, during an extremely heavy gale of wind, when all the other vessels of the blockading squadron ran to sea. This circumstance obtained for him the command as acting