charter, styled "Charta Mercatoria," by which "the merchants of Almaine, France, Spain, Portugal, Navarre, Lombardy, Florence, Provence, Catalonia, Aquitaine, Thoulouse, Flanders, Brabant, and of all other foreign parts, who shall come to traffic in England, shall and may safely () come with their merchandize into his cities, towns, and ports, and sell the same, by wholesale only, as well to natives as to foreigners." This safe conduct to commerce may excite a smile at the present day, unless, indeed, the condition of the European continent may appear to threaten a worse state of things than that endured by the wisdom of our ancestors. The great internal prosperity of England in the reign of the first EDWARD, notwithstanding the confusion in Wales, and that his banners were

"Fanned by conquest's crimson wing,"

is curiously evidenced by a record in the Exchequer, to the effect that, in the 28th year of that prince, the total exports, with the duties thereon, were £294,184 17s. 2d.; and the total imports, with the duties thereon, £38,970 3s. 6d., thus, as Sir William Temple observes, "when England had but a very small foreign commerce, we were rich in proportion to our neighbours, by selling so much more than we bought."

It is not our purpose to pursue this subject further at present. We only wish to impress upon our readers the fact, that the staff which England rests upon, is the Main-mast; and that, in a country dependent for all its riches on its industrious Navy, the Sailor should surely hold the first place in public gratitude and regard.

PEACE WITH GOD.

"Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ."-Rom. v. 1.

It is the proper portion of every believer to say this of himself;-yet, if he does not, and cannot say so, God can, and God does say it of him; but his peace of soul depends on his being able to say it,-to say it as knowing the blessedness of it in his heart. If any man who believes in Jesus cannot say these words, then he furnishes a sad proof of the working of that evil heart of unbelief which still remains in us. These are nothing more than the words of faith, as opposed to unbelief;—they are the expressions of what faith only can find.

Concerning faith I would say this:-faith (that is, justifying faith) always looks to an object external to ourselves. This will serve as one sure test of what is faith, and what is not; whatever looks within for the ground of peace with God is not faith. I would also add, that faith's eye always rests, as the ground of peace, on the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, faith never looks inward at self, to find reasons for peace with God, but outward at Jesus. But unbelief is always looking just the other way for peace,-never at Jesus, but always at self! Unbelief can never say, I have no confidence in the flesh, for it has confidence in nothing else; but faith always says this, and also adds, I rejoice in Christ Jesus. Faith makes

nothing of self; but loves to be occupied with Christ. Faith is, therefore, always humble and always holy.

And how unspeakable the value of being privileged to fix my soul by faith on the contemplation of Jesus, and then to see all his excellence as mine: to have faith in lively exercise-faith which looks away from self and all that flows from self; and to see how every thing I can possibly want, to commend me to God, is provided for me in Christ. Do I want forgiveness of sins? His blood cleanseth from all sin (1 John i. 7). Do I want life?" In him was life" (John i. 4). “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son" (1 John v. 11). Do I want righteousness? God hath made him righteousness unto us (1 Corinthians i. 30). And so with every excellence; every thing that is excellent and precious with God, all is in Him; and the believer is "accepted in the Beloved." Thus it is that faith finds peace, and "joy unspeakable and full of glory;" for faith discerns the infinite value of the blood of Jesus, and the infinite excellency of Jesus Himself, and appropriates all this to itself.

Observe, too, this: Faith does not look on Jesus, or on His blood, as that with which it has nothing to do, as a man looks at the riches of another. No, faith always looks at all the riches and excellency of Christ as its own; and thus it is that we get peace and joy, through faith. It would never give me peace to look at Christ and his riches in glory, if not able to say "all is mine; " nay, it would be torment: but faith always appropriates Christ to itself: this is how a believer looks at Christ. And do you ask how can he do this? what title has he to do this? I answer, he has God's authority for this: for God never sets Christ before a soul for any other purpose but that he may by faith appropriate Him to himself. This is the very object of God in preaching Jesus: not to torment souls by showing them good which they cannot have, but to declare to them the "good tidings" that Christ and all his perfectness, and surpassing glory, shall belong to every soul that believeth on Him. Let us be very watchful, therefore, against that heart of unbelief which Satan would lead to say, "I do believe in Christ as preached by God in the Gospel; but is he mine?" This is sad unbelief, and should be treated accordingly. It is the lie of Satan, and must be so for this reason: because God says, "By Him all that believe are justified from all things." Here God identifies faith in Jesus with justification from all things; and what God has joined together let not man put asunder.

But let me add one thing more. Though faith is always occupied with Christ, faith does not stop even there. Faith knows Christ to be the way to God. "We have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." Never forget that God's great object in giving Christ was that we might be brought unto Himself. Christ died, the just for the unjust, to bring us unto God. And the discovery of this, and the enjoyment of what springs from it, is faith's great joy. There is a way of using -Christ quite opposed to this,-using Christ rather as an end in himself, than as the appointed means of bringing unto God. But those who do this can really know very little even of Christ himself. For the presence of God is really the place to learn and enjoy the blessedness of Christ. But God Himself-as God-is the grand resting-place of faith. "That your faith and hope might be in God." Here the soul rests, for here it has reached the very spring and fulness of all blessedness. Here Christ Himself rests,-rests in God, in company with all who, through Him, are brought unto God. What a home is this! what a haven! How holy a rest, too! what but grace could lift us sinners there? what but all the excellency of Christ, made ours by God, could fit us to be there? But we have peace even there— "peace with God." For faith's portion is Christ's excellency and thus every believer has Christ's own fitness for the presence and bosom of God. "Ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." Remember, therefore, that he who believes in Christ, as preached in the gospel, has all the value of Him on whom he has believed, as his own. What his faith has laid hold of is all his own-for ever his own; and he never, in this sense, gets more than he got the first moment he believed. He may, and will, learn more of what he has got; but to learn the value of a gift, and to

This is

receive a gift, are very different things. When a soul believes in Jesus, Jesus is his ; God has given him to Christ, and Christ to him: and yet he will for ever and ever be learning the value, the unspeakable value, of that wondrous gift. But how different to increase in the knowledge of Jesus as mine, and to be uncertain whether he be mine at all. How miserable this last state! How blessed the former ! How wretched for a starving man to be looking through a grating at a feast of which he cannot partake: how miserable for a naked man to see abundance of clothing, not for him, and not his! But how blessed to be seated at the table, wondering at its abundance of all kinds of food! How blessed to be looking at the beautiful texture and enduring substance of that robe in which love has already clothed me. the peaceful joy of faith! This it is which puts thanksgiving in the heart, and draws the sacrifice of praise from the lips. None can bless God but those who know assuredly that God has blessed and enriched them. (Read 1 Peter i. 3 to 9.) Now Satan well knows this; and he longs to keep believers in doubt, because he thus robs them of peace, God of praise, and Jesus of honour. But while Satan thus seeks to keep the soul of the believer in doubt, there is another and a greater than he who ever seeks to lead that soul into perfect peace. The blessed Spirit of God" takes of the things of Christ and reveals them unto us." He thus ever leads to Christ. Thus, and thus alone, does the Holy Spirit lead into peace. He is given to the believer for this very end: it is His blessed work to testify to the believer what Christ is, and what Christ is unto him. (John iv.) Thus the believer has nothing less than God Himself, the Holy Ghost, ever ready to guide his faith to the fountain and reservoir of all his blessings. And when doing this, the blessed Spirit not only shows the soul what is there, but He is the witness to those who by faith see it, that allall is theirs (Romans viii. 16; Ephesians v. 1, 13, 14). Now unbelief turns its head and its eyes within, and says, "Let me look within!" And thus it looks away from all the fulness and exceeding blessedness of Christ, to which the Spirit would lead, to look at its own poor wretched self! What wonder that none who do this have peace? They cannot have peace; for God says peace comes by faith in Jesus; and if we look at ourselves for it, we shall never have it!

One word more I have said that Jesus, apprehended by faith, gives peace and joy, confidence and praise; but he also gives more: he gives power for holiness, and strength against sin, Satan, the flesh, and the world. Never shall we get real divine power against evil, or for good, but as faith, led of the Spirit, draws it from Christ. Therefore, those only who have full and perfect peace through faith in Christ, will be really, practically holy.

THE "CATAMARAN."

A NEWLY-INVENTED LIFE-PRESERVER.

"It having been announced by advertisement that, on Tuesday last, this patent life-preserver-a brief description of which appeared in our paper last Saturdaywould make a trip from Dover to Boulogne on that day, long before the hour appointed for the demonstration,' the beach in front of Waterloo Crescent was thronged with all sorts of people. Our worthy chief magistrate, W. Cocke, Esq., ever anxious to promote the comfort of the inhabitants and visitors, as well as to promote the cause of science, had given every facility to the inventor, Mr. Hely, to prosecute his humane undertaking. A tent was erected on the beach, under which the CATAMARAN' was put together and prepared for sea. During its progress, and after its completion, vast numbers of people inspected it; and it is only justice to Mr. Hely to say, that his courtesy and kindness to all visitors and inquirers were eminently conspicuous. By the kindness of the officers of the 46th Regiment, their splendid band was in attendance, and very much enlivened the scene by their excellent performances. Among the company present were a number of nautical and

military officers, together with a sprinkling of the civic authorities. The hour of sailing arrived; but, as there was a stiff adverse breeze blowing, it was deemed impracticable to launch the 'CATAMARAN.' Indeed, the highest nautical authorities declared it quite impossible for such a craft to reach Boulogne on that day (Tuesday); and Mr. Hely was, therefore, reluctantly compelled to abandon the idea of taking the trip that day.

"On Wednesday the wind was equally adverse; and it was not till Thursday morning, at six o'clock, that he could attempt the passage. At this early hour our drowsy citizens were disturbed by the booming of cannon-the given signal for the departure of the expedition; and those who understood the signal, and could muster sufficient courage to throw off death's counterfeit, hied them to the beach to witness it. Among those who had been apprized of this early departure was the Mayor; and his worship and several members of his family were already on the ground, together with a goodly number of the inhabitants; but the 'CATAMARAN' gave the slip to the lie-a-bed portion of the community.

"All having been got ready, the 'CATAMARAN' was carried down to the water's edge by a few sturdy boatmen, and, in a trice, launched for the first time on the briny deep, amid the roar of artillery and the plaudits of the people; while Miss Cocke, the Mayor's fair daughter, dashing a bottle of champagne on the prow of the novel float, gave it the name, 'CATAMARAN.' During this important ceremony, the Mayor and R. T. Hunt, Esq., stood god-fathers to this child of Neptune, which we hope and believe will be the means of rescuing many a shipwrecked mariner from a watery grave. The 'CATAMARAN' being now fairly afloat, lay at anchor in the offing for a short time. The anchor being weighed, the 'LIFE-PRESERVER' was pulled clear of the land; and then she was put under the pressure of a lug-sail, and took her course across the channel, with an expression of the hearty good wishes of the spectators. She was accompanied by a lugger, with some thirty people on board. The 'CATAMARAN' showed evident symptoms of her sea-going qualities so long as she remained in sight; and it was doubted by none but that she would make the trip at a reasonable rate. "We may here mention that considerable disappointment was manifested on account of the CATAMARAN' not putting to sea at the time advertised; and some were even simple enough to argue that she could be of no use, if she could not go to sea in any wind and weather. Such people, however, forget that this species of 'LIFEPRESERVER' is not constructed for beating to windward, or, generally speaking, for going off to vessels in distress; but for acting as an ark of safety for shipwrecked seamen, when obliged to abandon their vessels at sea. It is exceedingly simple in construction. This specimen is thirty feet long by eight feet wide. The cylinders were stuffed with different sorts of munitions; and, when on the water, it looked in shape not unlike an elongated basket, through the bottom and sides of which the water has free ingress and egress. Its flexibility protects it from damage on rocks or sinking ships, and it would seem next to impossible for any sea to upset it. It will, therefore, be serviceable where no boat could live; and though it does not keep its crew dry-footed, this is a matter of minor import in cases of life or death. We have no doubt of the success of Mr. Hely's invention, and believe that every seagoing vessel will shortly adopt the " 'CATAMARAN as a LIFE-PRESERVER' for passengers and crew, in case of need. In the case of a vessel taking fire at sea, getting on a sunken rock, or in any way becoming in a sinking state, were each sailor provided with a cylinder case he could bundle his clothes and a little 'grub' into it, and the strength of the united crew could very soon construct the 'CATAMARAN ' raft. "The CATAMARAN' arrived safe at Boulogne at seven o'clock, P. M. Here Mr. Hely was received most cordially by the authorities, and presented to the French Government, through them, a model of his invention."-From the Dover Chronicle.

SHIPWRECKS AND DISASTERS AT SEA.

TOTAL LOSS OF THE GIPSY STEAMER.

The particulars concerning the complete loss of this unfortunate steamer, on a voyage from the Thames to Bahia, in South America, have just been received at Lloyd's, from which it appears that the captain (Lock,) and the crew fortunately escaped, after exerting every effort to save the vessel. She was manned by a crew of ten in number, and on the 15th instant left London for her destination in South America. In her progress down the channel she encountered a fearful gale from the S.S.E., and laboured heavily. At length it was found that she had sprung a leak, and the fuel getting rather low, and it being hoped that the weather would moderate, she was run into Falmouth on the 18th instant. On the day following she renewed the voyage, and on the 22nd, when about seventy or eighty miles west of the Scilly Isles, more tempestuous weather was experienced. Her leakage considerably increased, and it appearing very evident that she could not be kept afloat by the pumps, it was resolved to run her for the nearest port. This, however, was a work of no easy accomplishment. The crew continued to work the pumps with great vigour, in the hope of getting her into port. In this, however, they failed. On the following day, the 23rd, a pilot-boat, named the Active, belonging to St. Mary's, Scilly, fell in with the disabled steamer, and the crew of the latter, finding that not the least chance remained of saving her, set to work to rescue what stores they could from her, and having succeeded in the attempt, they then abandoned her, and took shelter on board the Active. Wishing, however, to know the fate of their vessel, they cruised about for three or four hours, when she gradually went down in deep water. The pilot-boat then made for St. Mary's, and landed the captain and crew. The loss of the steamer to the owners is considerable, but she is understood to have been insured to some extent.

THE STEAMER HIBERNIA.

Such of our readers as may be in possession of the fact, will have been gratified to hear of the fortunate escape which this fine vessel made just previous to her arrival in Liverpool from her late voyage. In coming round Ireland, her commander took the north passage, and when off the Calf of Man, owing to the thick fog that prevailed--which those who observed it in this town will remember as one of extraordinary density-she took the ground, and lay five hours before she could be got off. The following account of the accident is from the Manx Liberal; and it will be seen that not only is Captain Shannon acquitted of all blame in the matter, but great praise is given to him for the prudence and care which he exercised in his difficult and trying situation :-"An accident, which might have been attended with lamentable results, occurred on the evening of Tuesday. The steam-ship Hibernia, homeward bound from New York, had passed through the North Channel, and was running for Liverpool in a thick fog. Captain Shannon judged from his course that he must be to the westward of the Calf of Man, but not feeling it secure to rely altogether upon that judgment, he frequently stopped the engines in order to get correct soundings, and when in the act of getting a cast of the lead, about half-past six o'clock, she drifted on the Calf-stem on. As she had no way upon her the concussion was extremely slight, still it was sufficient to alarm the passengers, particularly the female portion of them. The captain instantly ordered the well to be sounded, when the carpenter announced the welcome intelligence that there was no increase of