The National Register.
London, England, 1811-04-07 00:00:00

to universal benevolence ; not with that fear which almost pre-
ludes hope and clouds the brow of the superstitious with melan-
choly despondency, the only companion of Vice or distemper ;
nor with that trembling which • narroivs the toneeptions and
blasts all the social duties, without which, in their purity, virtue
cannot properly be said coexist, as " no life is acceptable to God
that is not serviceable to man ;" for the Deity can receive no
augmentation of happiness from the adoration or excellencies of
millions of worlds, and therefore he will only judge of our vir-
tue as it has served to better the condition of our fellow crea-
tures, which is the only safe way of bettering our own. To be-
lieve we are predestinated to be damned must produce despera-
tion and .madness, and is highly detrimental to the Christian
religion, for as we are told " to knoCk and it shall be opened,' to
every one who knocks it will be opened, and he who " seeks the
way is sure to find it," because God has said he will direct him
in his search. Let us then look to the practical parts of religion
and leave the metaphysical to those who are " too curious" for
the condition of maw; it is the wisest way, because, according
to the Scriptures, the most certain. This observation will natu-
rally lead to the contemplation of works and their efficacy in
the scheme of Christianity ; which I shall expatiate ur on in a
future paper. A LAY MAN.
March 25, 1811.
MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.

We have been favoured by a gentleman, passenger on board
the ship Cornwall, Capt. Peat, bound to Jamaica from London,
which arrived on Sunday-last, with the following particulars of
her voyage here, after having lost her rudder in a gale she en-
countered in the Bay of Biscay. The Cornwall had .200 re-
cruits and 16 officers on board, for the different regiments in
the West Indies; the whole. wailer the command of Captain
Cameron, of the 6th Wcst Willa regiment.
On the ad of January, in lat. 45. 18. she encountered a very se-
vere storm, which increased in the evening will' such violence
Its to endanger her satety. During the night, the gate still con-
tinuing, she unshipped her rudder, which, on disengaging, tore
away the helm, stern, and counter, but fortunately did not in-
jure the stern-post, or she must have foundered. She was thus
rendered a wreck, and became completely unmanageable.
On the following morning the wind abated ; but in the after-
noon it blew a hurricane, when all on board, amounting to
nearly 300 souls, momentarily expected a watery grave. Capt.
Peat, having foreseen the storm, hand fortunately placed the
shill in its best possible state; and, during the gale, the exertions
.of himself and crew are beyond praise.
At the dawn of day on the sth, the gale subsided, and a gleam
of hope succeeded, depending on the friendly assistance of some
vcssel'that we might Lain with, as wediad the signal of distress
tlyings About two o clock a ship hove in sight, and carne doss n
'to witness this scene of wretchedness. When she came within
bail of the Cornwall, the master having observed our loss of the
rudder, promised to keep by us. Allowing, however, no fur-
ther time for conversation, he unexpectedly shot a-head; and as
'the sea was running mountains high, no boat could be sent oil to
explain the assistance we required : thus, when a prospect of
relief was In view, did this monster, in the shape of a man,
4nake sail from us, and left the miserable to their fate.
After being thus ebancloned, it became necessary to devise
't sine method of governing the ship ; a jury-rudder was therefore
made by means of a spare fore-top-yard, at the end of which
were fixed pieces of square plank, to serve as a paddle, reeved
' with blocks and tackle, ingeniously contrived by Capt. Peat and
the carpenter ;.this served as a rudder, and requiring great power
to assist in steering, was supplied by the exertion of the sol-
diers, under the direction of Captain Cameron, who regularly
did this duty until the 13th, when it was contrived to work with
• the wheel of the lost rudder. Considerable delay was occa-
sioned by the repairs this niachinery requiled, and the improve-
manta that were daily discovered, which rendered the working
of the vessel more steady; and by unparalleled assiduity and
perseverance, the vessel was safely brought to anchor in Carlisic
Bay on the 10th instant.

THE BRITISH NAVY.—There are at present in commission
.159 ships of the line, 20 from 50 to 44 guns, 168 frigates, 153
sloops or war, 5 fire-ships, 174 armed brigs, 37 cutters, 76
schooners and tuggers, making altogether 792 ships of war; be-
sides which there are building, repairinr, and in ordinary, as
many as make the grand total 1066, of which 256 are of the

COURT OF. COMMON
Thursday a Court of Common Council was held at Guild-
hall, at which the Special CoMmittee appointed to procure
models for a statue of his Ifajestv, presented a report, together
with four models, for the Court to select one of them ; and die
Court agreed, to employ the artist of the model marked No. 9,
and referred it to the Committee to superintend the erection of
the same forthwith.
The General Purpose Committee presented a report for
allowing'a further sum of 15001. to the late, present, and future
Lord Mayors, which,, after some observations, was agreed to.
BATTLE OF BARROSA.
The Thanks of the Court, Freedom of the City, and a Sword
of the value of two hundred guineas were unanimously voted
to Lieutenint-General Graham, for the great skill and valour
displayed by him on the sth of March last, iti the brilliant action
on the heights of Barrosa, which terminated in the complete
overthrow and defeat of the superior forces ef the enemy.
The Thanks of the emit, Freedom of the City, and a Sword
of the.value of one hundred guineas, was likewise voted to Bri-
gadier-General Dikes, for his conduct on the above occasion.
The Court also voted their 't hanks to the other Officers, Non-
commissioned Officers, and privates, for their conduct, expres-
sive of the high sense thCy entertain of the valour, conduct.
and discipline displayed by them on that occasion, whereby she
, national character of the British Army has been most nobly
• maintained and made manifest to Europe and the World.
The Lord Maor Vias then requested to communicate
the above Resoluuuns to General Graham, and to provide the
swords.
Ou a mott:ul made by Mr. Dixon the Court unanimously
agreed to subscribe the sum of Five Hundred Guineas in• aid of
the Fund for the Support .and Relief of the British Prisoner
confined in France, which was carried.
The Court then adjourned.

[CIL.

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