blood, we cannot be surprised at the indifference with which negro life is put an end to.  “A rencontre took place last week,” says the New Orleans Delta, “between the overseer of Mr. A. Collins (a planter in our vicinity) and one of the negroes.  It seems the overseer wished to chastise the negro for some offence, and the negro resisted and struck the overseer with a spade.  The overseer grappled with him, and called some of the negroes to his assistance; but, perceiving that the negroes were not willing to assist him, he drew his knife, and stabbed the negro to the heart.  A coroner’s inquest has been held, and a verdict given in accordance with the circumstances, declaring the overseer justifiable.”

The 14th of February was Sunday.  My Baptist friend, when engaging his passage, had given the captain a hint that, when the Sabbath came, he should like to have divine service on board.  Nothing, however, was now said about it.  Not, I think, that the officers of the boat would have disliked it; but, considering the general character of their passengers, they perhaps thought it would have been only “casting pearls before swine.”  One passenger indeed, who said he was a Congregationalist, expressed to my friend a wish to have worship; but he was playing at cards every day, and was in other respects no great credit to Congregationalism.  The Baptist assured me that his countrymen too generally, when they travel, leave their religion behind!

The Baptist related to me an awful story respecting a captain with whom he had sailed from New England to Guadaloupe, and thence to New Orleans.  This man belonged to my friend’s congregation, and professed to have been “converted” under his ministry.  His pastor had frequent occasion to reprove him for his disregard of the Sabbath at sea.  In New Orleans he engaged to take a cargo of Government stores to Tampico, for the supply of the army.  He had to sign a bond to take in the cargo, and sail before a certain day, or forfeit the sum of 500 dollars.  The Sabbath came.  The pastor was at that time absent, on his visit to “Elder Wright” before mentioned, on the Red River.  An agent of the “Bethel Union,” who was going round to invite seamen to the “Bethel” worship, invited the said captain and his men.  He excused himself and his crew on the plea that they had no time—­were under contract—­had signed a bond—­and might forfeit 500 dollars, &c.  “What!” said the agent, “not afford time to attend the worship of God” on his own day!  “No, I really cannot—­very sorry—­what I have never done before—­should like to go”—­was the faltering reply.  “Well,” replied the agent with great solemnity, “God will soon call you to account for this.”  “I know He will,” rejoined the captain with a downcast eye.  The interview ended.  The agent proceeded on his pious mission, and the captain to take in his cargo.  The next morning, as he was looking over the side of the vessel to see how deep she was in the water, he fell overboard.  His body was never found.  His watch, which had been left in the cabin, and a few other personal articles, the pastor was now taking with him to the afflicted widow and family.