bent, but not set. The ship came up and off for the rest of that day and night, laying-to well and easily, and only now and then giving us notice that the sea was taking liberties with her, by the shocks which, with the noise of the tiller, banished sleep from those who, like us poor soldier officers, had our cots close to the fore-end of it.

A regular gale is a terrible affair in more ways than one. To be seasick, awful to those who are well, most annoying; for the appetite remains at its usual height, while cooking is at zero-often below it. Feeding is lap work: fingers more useful than forks.

On the second day of the gale, although I had the day before been so drenched, I found myself in the afternoon-watch precisely in the same position with my friend Train, but in different "togging." I had been lent a south-wester (which was tied down with a yarn), a pea-jacket, a pair of rough cloth trowsers, and, so dressed, felt myself a match for salt or fresh water—about this time no small quantity of the latter was flying past us.

"We shall have a change soon,' remarked Train. "I wish they would let me wear ship." Scarcely had he said the word when it cleared suddenly right a-head to the north, and over away to the eastward. "It's coming." Still there was no lull; the win: still blew from west-south-west. "I see it," said Train; "look there!" pointing to the lee-bow. "Hard up with the helm." "Haul down the mizen-staysail." "Turn the hands up." "Shorten sail."

I looked to where he pointed. Everything above the mighty element was clear, bright, and hard-looking; but near the water was nothing but one plain mass of white, which was fast approaching the ship. As we rose on the swells we looked down on it or along it: it was like a plain of snow approaching. The Rokeby still answering her helm, had gone off about five or six points, and was beginning to spin through the waters, and to roll awfully, when a short lull took place, and the maintopsail fell for just two flaps against the mast, and the mizen-staysail, which before had been very determined to maintain its position, came down with a run. Bang came the wind: first right a-head, with noise and roar, which put into the shade all previous roars of the south-wester, with it a sheet of salt water apparently flying along half-way up the mast, and the maintopsail-yard snapped short in the slings. At this time, although nobody on deck saw it, a slight crash was heard. The ship up to this period had not lost her way, was heading north-north-east; but now she stopped dead, her stern toward the old western swell. One foot astern she could not go; but she stuck like a rock. Three tremendous swells rolled one after the other against the cabin-windows, and over the tafrail. The general luckily was in his cot; but the captain, with both bulk-heads, was washed clean forward into the galley, and picked up much impaired. The unfortunate sentry was killed, and several men who were struck with the drifting materials as they flew past the guns (up to the middle of which the body of water broke) were more or less hurt. Volumes went down all the hatchways. All was consternation everywhere; the people below not being one whit better off than those on deck. Without orders the carpenters rigged the chain-pumps. "Pump away," was the order for all who could stand to them. The ship meanwhile (by the aid of the fore-staysail, which was quite new, and was up and aback) had again fallen into the trough of the sea; but

in what a position now! The sheer force of the wind on the masts and rigging (for the main-topsail-at least what remained of it-was in shreds and knots) smacking like cart-whips; but the ship, the poor Rokeby, there she lay like a log in the trough of the sea, heeling with the wind over toward and against the old swell and sea, which, when shattered by the ship, plumped over her bulwarks with terrific blows, and in awful quantities. What had been the weather, but was now the lee side of the main-deck, was fairly loaded with water, which tended, with the wind, to keep her side immersed; and it was afterwards admitted that it looked very like upsetting. Pointing and touching seemed the order of the day, for speaking was of no use. A turn of the hand from the first lieutenant meant, up with the helm; and was understood. A point at the mizen rigging was guessed by Train; who, catching a sailor by the collar, took possession of his knife, and began cutting the lanyards of the mizen rigging. Others followed his example. A carpenter brought an axe; but before he could give one stroke with it, crack away went the mast at a knot about ten foot from the deck, and down it fell over the lee bulwarks, where it lay grinding backwards and forwards, and in and out like a battering-ram, forced the wrong way by the swell. Unless the ship forged a-head there seemed no chance of getting rid of it; although by this time the lanyards of the lee rigging were also cut, as well as the stays and every thing that could hold it. At one time we thought the wheel would be knocked away by it: every man was obliged to leave it; the tiller being worked below, or at that moment kept "hard up." Still there lay the ship, refusing to go off; and no wonder for there were nothing but mountains for the poor thing to face. The carpenter came on deck, holding up six fingers, which meant, six feet water in the hold. Train put his trumpet to his mouth, roaring, Fore-topsail, or she's lost." The first lieutenant nodded assent. Away went the gallant fellow aloft, followed by halfa-dozen men. Those below well understood. The sheets were handed down into the waist, over to windward. Soon the sail was let fall, and by a merciful Providence, behaved as it did before, not a flap. The lecsheet was hauled home first-great was the list; then the weather one. At the same time the carronades in the forecastle and quarterdeck, on the lee-side, were one after the other, two or three together, pitched through the ports. This eased the ship a little; and as she righted she showed signs of answering (which from the angle she lay at was non-effective before) the rudder. Train, seeing seven fingers held up by the carpenter, had loosed the fore-topmast staysail, determining that it was better to lose it than not to right the ship speedily. As often happens, the lighter sail stood as they will often stand, when heavier ones fly to shivers; and off she went, gradually righting herself as she got before the wind. But here a new difficulty arose. The body of the water on the larboard side of the main-deck rushed over to the opposite side, from whence not a gun had been thrown. The hundreds-of-years-old anchor (all honeycombed as it was, and shewing signs of infinite antiquity) was the first thing cut away; then followed all the starboard guns of the upper decks, and the ship soon became more under command, as although the swell was still dead on end, it was easily split by the stem and bows. The vessel still groaning was from the sheer force of the hurricane gathering more way every minute;

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but at what a sacrifice! She steered, and that was all that could be said. The fore-yard and the topsail-yard, to both of which preventer braces had by the foresight of Train been added, bent fearfully at times like whalebone some expected they would go; but they were tough spars, and did well their duties. It was a fearful sight to see; for now that we were not battered by the tops of waves, cut off the contrary way of their curling as they made the attempt, and so blinded, we could look forward-voices could be heard as we went somewhat with the wind. Watching the swell ahead, which as the ship pitched seemed as though the next was coming as high as the lower yard on or over one, "Terrific," said I.

"All right," responded Train; "it's only riding at anchor without the weight of the cables on a two-knot tideway-not worse than the middle of the North Sea or the Glenans, where I have often ridden.”

"But look! look!" I ejaculated, as we approached a most awful swell, the ship at the same time dipping into a hollow.

"Hold fast!" cried Train; "hold fast, every man." (We were on the forecastle).

Over it came who can describe the height! I only heard the remark of Simcoe, who was an old whaler-" Hold hard, hard! she'll come up to blow presently again!" We were covered-fairly floated off our legs-and, as far as I believe, every man on the forecastle, although they denied it afterwards, thought with me that we had pitched our last. Train, too, has since told me he feared all was over. "Come

up to blow," indeed! She thought long about it; and until the water we had shipped on to the main deck, after its passage over the forecastle, rushed aft, she almost refused. When at length she did rise, it was with fear and trembling: presently, however, we were again trying it on, and free of water, but still full of apprehension and anxiety. Train now sent a message by young Cornwallis, who brought as speedy an answer as two slides, one coupé, and a fall would allow him, and over went the two twelve-pounder forecastle guns, next the two foremost guns of a side on the main deck, After some trouble and smashing of limbs, another pitch, another shipping of water, another heavy send aft, when orders were given to pitch over the two guns in the captain's cabin. While that was doing a cry was raised that the frigate had sprung a leak forward-that the water was rushing in on the orlop over the breast hoops below. The carpenter was sent for, who reported truly enough that her wooden ends were opening. I looked over the stem with Train true it was; all the oakum was hanging in shreds, and the stem evidently working.

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Up with two ends of nine-inch hawsers to the bridle ports. Down Simcoe, try and pass them out and round; we'll watch here to help you. Up with the eight-inch here, on the forecastle.”

The forecastle being furthest from the water was not long in doing: six turns were passed and hove taut inside by handspikes; four frapped together brought, as they tautened to tackles, and the upper part of the stem was actually hove into its place. The work below was slower : two poor fellows were much hurt-all but drowned-when dropped down from the head; but the work was eventually accomplished. Instead of pouring in, the water only came through by dribblets, with a wheezing noise that proved that at any rate all was tight, if not entirely stopped.

These ties or frappings were doubled as the sea began to run fair, which it did with the new north-east wind more and more, hour after hour, until the old swell was forced to assume a new shape before evening we were going eight knots before a moderate gale in fine clear weather. From this time to our arrival at Quebec, which happened on the fourth day after, the fair wind never left us; and, if we except the frappings forward, the jury mizen mast, the spare main topmast lashed to the stump of the old one, top gallant mast over, and appropriate canvass, the Rokeby sailed up the St. Lawrence as though nothing had ever been the matter. Here, after being received with all the honours, yards manned, salute fired, we landed; and soon afterwards came the wounded to the hospital, for some men had broken limbs, and others very severe contusions. As we knew the ship would remain in the river for many weeks, there were no adieus to be made to the kindhearted officers and jolly "mids" with whom for nearly three weeks we had been domiciled. The General presented a purse of dollars for the crew-a dollar for each man, and two for the petty officers; and on leaving the craft we flattered ourselves we did not part without the hearty good wishes of all hands for our health and prosperity.

COURSING.

BY JUVENIS.

This truly national sport appearing to be considerably on the decline, I am induced, by a feeling of the injustice with which it is treated, to take up my pen in its defence.

There are, doubtless, some who will affirm that coursing is as much pursued as ever, because public coursing meetings are as numerous now as they used to be; but they will find, on inquiry, that it is not much in vogue now as a national sport, and that though meetings may be held, it is done more for the sake of betting and gambling than for the sake of the sport which it affords.

I believe the reason why coursing is not much practised by sportsmen is, that they have not seen it in its most favourable form; it not unfrequently happens that the range of land expected to afford a day's sport does not exceed from 200 to 400 acres, in many cases thickly covered with hares, with the fences high and meuses small, so that the course is often stopped by the hare getting through a hedge where the dog cannot follow. Another reason why coursing is not liked is, that persons are not allowed to ride as they wish, but are compelled to go by roads or where the ground has been already beaten-a very proper regulation, I allow, where hares are thick, and the range for hunting small; but coursing ought not to be practised under such circumstances -the hares ought to be shot. Those who wish to enjoy coursing ought to have a range of ground not less than from 700 to 1,000 acres, where the hedges are not too high for a greyhound to leap over, but are rather thickly distributed; a light sandy soil or dry grass land is the best for

hares running in fact, the lighter and drier the ground the better is the chance of sport, as the hare will have an advantage over the dog, and will be more difficult to catch, so that the courses will be longer. Where the ground is heavy and wet the dog not unfrequently catches the hare before she gets out of the first field-sometimes, even, before she has well started.

I will relate a day's coursing which I myself once took part in, and which will show how coursing may be enjoyed. We were about twenty in number, most of us well mounted, and several were first-rate riders; there were about eight brace of dogs, and 1,000 acres of ground to course over; the soil was a dry sand, and hares were tolerably plentiful; the dogs, too, were the best that could be procured, and several of them had distinguished themselves at coursing meetings; they were in very good training, and in the best possible condition for running, so that our want of success could not be imputed to them.

Before we started, we were strictly enjoined by the owner of the land we were upon not to do anything unfairly-no mobbing the hares to be allowed, but plenty of law to be given, which regulations were sadly broken, as the sequel will show. The first hare was soon found, the dogs were well laid on, and off we started-that is to say the whole twenty of us-at the top of our speed; the course lasted about three-quarters of a mile, without the dogs once turning the hare, though they kept suffiently near to make it very exciting to us; at length puss made her way through a larger hedge than usual, through which the dogs were unable to get; upon which one of them immediately fell exhausted, and the other could barely stand, while the hare laid down in the middle of the next field, and no doubt died shortly after. Every succeeding course was the same, and the middle of the day at length arrived without our catching a hare; all the dogs had been run, and the brace which ran the first course had been sent home, being too tired to run again. We were all in despair, until one of us proposed that we should head the hares, and assist the dogs as much as possible, which was universally agreed to. There then ensued a scene which defies description; it became perfect racing; we became like wild Indians, galloping, shouting, and riding like madmen; several had ridden well before, but now no fence was too large, no pace too fast, while even the most timid became bold; the horses, too, shared the general excitement, and even bad ones jumped fences which, under ordinary circumstances, would have been thought stiff ones. The hares, however, were still conquerors. One course, I remember, the hare had completely beaten down one brace of dogs, and chanced to run round again near to the place where she started, when another brace was immediately set after her; these, however, she left as well, and escaped scot free. Another course ensued, when the hare completely left one brace of dogs; a shepherd dog then took up the chase; him, too, she left, and would have escaped, but three or four of the best mounted determined not to be beaten so disgracefully, rode after her themselves, and in fact rode her down; she was at length knocked down by a whipstock. But in spite of all our unfairness, in spite of our heading and mobbing the hares, we only killed six out of thirty courses. I am aware that many sportsmen will say-and very rightly-that our conduct was unsportsmanlike; but this I will say, that as far as sport