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with a sigh. Poor Corporal B*** and the others gave me a last affecting look after they were in the boats. I retired to pray; and found delightful access to God, and freedom in prayer for the poor soldiers." The Indiamen being then ordered to get under weigh, and the men of war drawn up close to the shore, a landing was effected, and soon after seven the next day, as Mr. Martyn describes it, “a most tremendous fire of artillery began behind a mountain abreast of the ships. It seemed as if the mountain itself was torn by intestine convulsions. The smoke rose from a lesser eminence on the right of the hill; and, on the top of it, troops were seen marching down the farther declivity. Then came such a long drawn fire of musketry, that I could not conceive any thing like it. We all shuddered at considering what a multitude of souls must be passing into eternity. The poor ladies were in a dreadful condition; every peal seemed to go through their hearts. I have just been endeavoring to do what I can to keep up their spirits. The sound is now retiring; and the enemy are seen retreating along the low ground on the right towards the town."

With the hope of being useful to the wounded and dying in the field of battle, Mr. Martyn after this period of torturing suspense went on shore; and in the following letter to Mr. Simeon, he states what he endured whilst engaged in that disinterested errand of love and mercy.

Union, Table Bay, Jan. 7, 1806.

"I embraced the opportunity of getting to the wounded men, soon after my landing. A party of the Company's troops were ordered to repair to the field of battle, to bring away the wounded, under the command of Major ***, whom I knew. By his permission, I attached myself to them, and marched six miles over a soft burning sand, till we reached the fatal spot. We found several but slightly hurt; and these we left for a while, after seeing their wounds dressed by a surgeon. A little onward were three mortally wounded. One of them, on being asked, 'where he was struck,' opened his shirt, and shewed a wound in his left breast. The blood which he was spitting, shewed that he had been shot through the lungs. As I spread a great coat over him, by the surgeon's desire, who passed on without attempting to save him, I spoke of the blessed Gospel, and besought him to look to Jesus Christ for salvation. He was surprised, but could not speak; and I was obliged to leave him, in order to reach the troops, from whom the officers, out of regard to my safety, would not allow me to be separated. Amongst several others, some wounded, and some dead, was Captain * * *, who was shot by a rifleman. We all stopped to gaze for a while, in pensive silence, over his pale body; and then passed on to witness more proofs of the sin and misery of fallen man, Descending into the plain, where

the main body of each army had met, I saw some of the 59th, one of whom, a corporal, who sometimes had sung with us, told me that none of the 59th were killed, and none of the officers wounded. Some farm houses, which had been in the rear of the enemy's army, had been converted into an hospital for the wounded, whom they were bringing from all quarters. The surgeon told me, that there were already in the houses two hundred, some of whom were Dutch. A more ghastly spectacle than that which presented itself here I could not have conceived. They were ranged without and within the houses in rows, covered with gore. Indeed it was the blood which they had not had time to wash off, that made their appearance more dreadful than the reality; for few of their wounds were mortal. The confusion was very great; and sentries and officers were so strict in their duty, that I had no fit opportunity of speaking to any of them, but a Dutch captain, with whom I conversed in French. After this, I walked out again with the surgeon to the field, and saw several of the enemy's wounded. A Hottentot, who had his thigh broken by a ball, was lying in extreme agony, biting the dust, calling down horrid imprecations in English upon the Dutch. I told him he ought to pray for his enemies; and after telling the poor wretched man of the Gospel, I begged him to pray to Jesus Christ. But our conversation was soon interrupted; for, in the absence of the surgeon,

who was gone back for his instruments, a Highland soldier, came up, and challenged me with the words, 'Who are you? An Englishman.' 'No,' said he, 'you are French,' and began to present his piece. As I saw that he was rather intoxicated, and did not know but that he might actually fire out of mere wantonness, I sprang up towards him, and told him, if he doubted my word, he might take me as his prisoner to the English camp,-but that I certainly was an English clergyman. This pacified him, and he behaved with great respect. The surgeon, on examining the wound, said the man must die, and so left him. At length, I found an opportunity of returning, as I much wished, in order to recover from distraction of mind, and give free scope to reflection. I lay down on the border of a clump of shrubs or bushes, with the field of battle in my view; and there lifted up my soul to God. Mournful as the scene was, I yet thanked God that he had brought me to see a specimen, though a terrible one, of what men by nature are. May the remembrance of this day ever excite me to pray and labor more for the propagation of the Gospel of peace. Then, shall men love one another. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. The Blue Mountains, at a distance to the eastward, which formed the boundary of the prospect, were a cheering counterpart to what was. immediately before me; for there I conceived my beloved and honored fellow-servants, companions in

the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, to be passing the days of their pilgrimage far from the world, imparting the truths of the precious Gospel to benighted souls. May I receive grace to be a follower of their faith and patience; and do you pray, my brother, as I know that you do, that I may have a heart more warm, and a zeal more ardent in the glorious cause. I marched back, the same evening, with the troops. The surf on the shore was very high, but, through mercy, we escaped that danger. But when we came to our ship's station, we found she was gone: having got under weigh some hours before. The sea ran high. Our men were almost spent, and I was very faint from hunger; but, after a long struggle, we reached an Indiaman about midnight."

For the detail of the events, which succeeded that most distressing day, and the incidents which transpired during his continuance at the Cape, we refer to the Journal.

January 10th.-"About five, the commodore fired a gun, which was instantly answered by all the men-of-war. On looking out for the cause, we saw the British flag flying on the Dutch fort. Pleasing as the cessation of warfare was, I felt considerable pain at the enemy's being obliged to give up their fort and town, and every thing else, as a conquered people, to the will of their victors. I

*The Missionaries of the United Brethren at Grunekloof and Gnadental, and those belonging to the London Missionary Society at Bethelsdorp.

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