led to one result; but, my lord, it is not my intention to deny the charge which has been made against me. The condition of a convict at a penal station is too horrible to be voluntarily endured, and they only can tell how irresistible is the yearning for liberty who have once been deprived of it. My object is, my lord, with profound respect, to make known to your lordship the terrible penalty which I have already paid for a single transgression of the laws of my country. Dire necessity, created by a want of employment, once goaded me to the commission of an offence against the laws of property, but it was not aggravated by personal injury or cruelty. For that offence, I was sentenced to fifteen years' transportation. I was conveyed to the most penal settlement, Norfolk Island, which, from the horrible personal sufferings to which all prisoners are there exposed, is commonly designated the 'Ocean Hell.' Here, my lord, I endured almost incredible misery for eighteen months. At the end of that period I and eight other convicts effected our escape in an open boat. For eight days and nights we were beaten about at sea without chart or compass, with death from exhaustion and shipwreck staring us in the face. At length we were driven on the Caledonian Islands, whose only inhabitants are savages, and who stripped us all naked and detained us for ten days. At the end of that time we made our escape in the boat without a rag to cover us, and with only two bamboos, holding two gallons of water each, and eighteen cocoa nuts. The heat of the sun split the bamboos the very first day, and we lost all our water. The misery we then endured from thirst no language can express. In seventeen days we arrived at Star Island, one of the New Hebrides, where we remained seven months. I and two of my companions then embarked on board a whaler, leaving our companions behind, and got to America, from whence I returned to England. In 1844, I was apprehended for having, at the risk of my life, and by enduring sufferings from which death would have been a relief, illegally and prematurely recovered my liberty. I was again transported to Norfolk Island, the horrors of which I once more endured for two years. I was then

removed to Van Dieman's Land, from which place I made my escape by being stowed away amongst the cargo of a merchantman. In that situation I was concealed sixteen days, in the most miserable plight, being almost dead from suffocation and want of food. Indeed, my Lord, for one original offence I have endured torments and privations worse than death itself, and I take the liberty most humbly to present this brief and imperfect narrative of them, in the hope that your Lordship will take them into your humane consideration in passing sentence upon me. Permit me most humbly to assure your lordship, as the result of no common experience, that nothing so much humanises and awakens the better feelings of men placed in the unhappy position in which I now am, as justice tempered with mercy."-JAMES PUNT BORRITT.

Such, my young friends, was the awful result of theft in the first place, and nothing I conceive is more calculated to deter from the commission of so wicked a crime as the above case. But perhaps some are saying that they have no fear of ever being charged with theft and arraigned before a judge, and then sentenced to transportation. Well, I hope not, and should be extremely sorry if any reader of the "Juvenile Companion" should ever be even suspected of stealing. I cannot promise, however, that you will never be tempted to do it. If you do not serve God, I cannot promise either what you will not do, nor yet to what end you will not come. This I can promise, that,

It will save you from a thousand snares,

To mind religion young,

Grace will preserve your following years,

And make your virtue strong.

But I can go no further than to say, if you make no acknowledgment of God, and do not seek his grace and help, you may be left to yourselves, and thus led on by Satan, and your own evil hearts, you may commit sins at which you now shudder, and at last pierce yourselves through with many sorrows. Think of the little boy.

MEMOIR OF RICHARD GEORGE.

THE subject of this memoir was born at Mullion, near Helston, Cornwall, in the year 1829. When very young, he was sent by his parents to the Sabbath-school in connection with the Wesleyan Methodist Association at Mullion, where he received instruction. There was nothing very remarkable in the life of this noble youth from the time of his leaving the Sabbath-school up to the time of his conversion, which was about four years ago.

In the month of February, 1848, while sitting under the ministry of Mr. Miller, he was convinced that he was a sinner, by nature and practice, which led him to cry for mercy; and God, who heareth and answereth prayer, soon came to his deliverance. By believing in the atonement of Christ, he by God's mercy soon found peace with God, and was then enabled to rejoice in the God of his salvation.

He then became a member of the Church, and joined Mr. Shephard's class. In order to make himself useful, in the vineyard of the Lord, he became a teacher in the Sabbath-school; with delight he engaged in this work, and soon gained the affection of his class. His deportment in life was amiable; he was seldom, or never, found out of temper; his steady walk, mild and gentle spirit, gained the affection of his friends, the love of his companions, and the

esteem of his neighbours; and he was respected by all who knew him. In the months of February and March last, it pleased God richly to pour out of his Spirit again in Mullion; and there was a great ingathering of precious souls; and there were scores of persons converted to God. During this glorious revival, Richard was very much quickened, and many times abundantly blest. On the Wednesday prior to the commencement of his illness, when he was in the sanctuary of God, his soul was filled unutterably full of glory and of God; and he could with David exclaim, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless and praise his holy name." "O how amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts; a day in thy courts are better than a thousand elsewhere."

Richard on this occasion was so filled with peace and joy, that it appeared as if he had no room for any more. So glorious was the blessing, he received at this time from the God he loved, that it was a difficult matter to get him to leave the chapel, even at a very late hour. He continued in this ecstasy of joy the whole of the night; in the morning he was heard to say, "O that I had wings like a dove, I could fly away and be at rest with my Jesus."

On the Saturday following, feeling himself rather unwell, he mentioned this to his aunt, and began singing the following words :

"A little longer here below,

And home to glory I shall go."

The day following was Sunday, and in the morning he attended the experience meeting. He then spoke the delightful feelings of his mind, in such a manner as, perhaps, will be ever remembered by those who were present.

He

In the afternoon he attended a prayer-meeting, which was held by the young converts in a private room. engaged in prayer and was abundantly blest. In the evening, for the last time, he attended public service in the chapel; but he was so unwell, that he was obliged to return home before the prayer-meeting, which was a great disappointment to him.

From this time his illness increased so much, that he was obliged to keep his bed. The news of Richard's illness soon

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spread,, and this brought his companions around his sick bed. When he was asked by them how he was, he replied, Very bad." When asked about the state of his mind, he said, " Very comfortable, and quite resigned to the will of God." He could say, "Come life, come death, all is well!" His disorder was the small-pox, accompanied by a high fever. At times he was rather delirious, as is often the case in this disorder; but when in his right mind he was very happy, and much pleased to hear of the revivals which were going on in different places in the neighbourhood. During his illness, he was visited every day by one or more of his companions who had opportunities of hearing his happy experience. Several times he requested them to sing his favourite pieces, that he delighted in while he was able to attend the sanctuary. On one occasion, perhaps while meditating on the delightful seasons enjoyed in the chapel, he burst out into singing the following words—

"Canaan, sweet Canaan,

I am going to the land of Canaan."

Looking up on his attendant, he asked her if she would go with him to Canaan.

After the small-pox came out, he got much better, and it was generally hoped that he would get well again. But on Sunday the 21st of March, it appeared that the fever had returned again with greater violence than before; so much so that he became for a short time quite delirious. He also lost his speech, and was apparently insensible. Medical aid was had; but the disease baffled the doctor's skill. The day following he revived a little, and tried to speak, but could be scarcely understood. He was asked, if he could lift his heart to God? To which he several times replied, "Yes. Glory be to God!" He was never afterwards heard to speak; but shortly after sweetly fell asleep in Jesus.

The news of Richard's death soon spread; and such was the love the people generally had for him, that it occasioned sorrow through all the society to which he belonged. At his funeral his body was carried to the grave by eight of his companions-most of them his class-mates-and was