vice. This is what I daily study to do. I can truly tell you, there are but few nights in which I do not water my bed with my tears. I do not say this, my dear heart, to afflict thee; but, on the contrary, imagine this news may afford thee matter of joy, and an holy occasion to join with me in blessing God for his goodness. For these tears are not the effects of a worldly sorrow, which bringeth forth nothing but death; but proceed from the grace of God; some of them flow from that godly sorrow which bringeth forth repentance into salvation, never to be repented of; and others, from the joy which I feel, when I consider with admiration, how great the mercies and favors of God are, and those which he has bestowed on my family, and upon myself. I likewise reflect, with extreme joy and satisfaction, upon the sacrifice which thou hast offered up to God, of those good things which he had given to me and thee. Thou mightest have enjoyed them, if thy heart had been turned and inclined that way; but thou hast made thee a treasure of them in heaven, where rust and thieves spoil not. Thou hast esteemed the precious liberty of serving God, of much greater worth than the riches of this world. Thou hast, like Mary, chosen the good part, which shall not be taken from thee. I assure thee, my dear, thou couldest not have made a choice more to my mind. I praise God, with all the powers and faculties of my soul, who has given me a wife truly christian, who will, in my absence, do her endeavour to

teach our children, to be christians.

In the month of December, Mr. Marolles had several conferences with clergymen, at the bishop of Marseilles. The effects of those conferences were to be dreaded, as they often made the condition of the protestants who engaged in them worse; as some suppose it happened to Mr. Le Fevre, who had been with the bishop of Marseilles, before Mr. Marolles was sent for to the bishop's palace. He informed his wife of all that passed in that critical situation. The Letter is dated January the twentieth, 1687. He begins with stating his best wishes for her, on the commencement of the new year, and advises her not to give ear to all the grievous reports spread abroad of his condition, and to believe nothing, but what he should write himself. Speaking of recent pub. lic report, he says, "All that is false of which you have sent me word, except two things; namely, that for above three months, I have been confined to the chain day and night, and have not been released, only to be conveyed to the bishop of Marseilles. I assure you, I have not yet received orders from any person, to employ myself in work. I sat very quietly in my place, and saw it done before the short days; and, at present, it is done almost every day, before I am removed from my station. Praise God, therefore, with me, for this merciful treatment, and beseech him, that so long as he shall think good to continue my sufferings, my condition may not become worse. I assure you, I have not so much reason to complain as you imagine, and that the time slips away very quietly.

quietly. The week is no sooner begun, but I find myself at the end of it. When I am up, after having presented my petitions to God, I read six, seven, or eight chapters of holy scripture; and make such reflections thereon as I am able. I draw from this divine source, all the consolations I stand in need of, in my present situation. God himself does most plentifully furnish me with them; and with his most precious balm of Gilead, he gently anoints and supples all the wounds, which my sufferings make in my heart. I tell thee, ingenuously, my dear child, that I was afraid the conferences I had with the bishop of Mar seilles, would cast me into a very bad condition. But my fears are dissipated, and the conferences have ended as well, and as happily, as I could deșire. I have, therein, followed the advice of St. Peter, by giving a reason of the hope that is in me, with meekness and fear. I have had the honor to dispute, more than once, before that illustrious prelate; but the strongest debate was, between a divine from Paris, and myself. After having told this almoner, that the answers which he made to my propositions, could not give me satisfaction, we, parted good friends. When I came down, I desired to pay my respects to the bishop. They told me he was at mass, and that if I would stay for him, he would soon return. For this favor, I asked leave of one of our patrons, who attended me, and he granted my request. I had the honor to speak to the bishop, who caused me to come up into his chamber. We came there, and several

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clergy-

clergymen with us. After having told him that his almoner and I had finished our conferences, I returned him thanks for the goodness and charity which he had expressed towards me in this interview, and assured him, that I should be always ready to acknowledge it. He answered me in the most obliging manner in the world, saying, he was sorry that he could not make me a catholic, and that all they were able to do, was to pray to God for me. At my departure, he said, he would willingly serve me if an opportunity should offer. I believe it will please you very much to hear this little account."

"My paper is full, and I find I have yet a long story to tell you. I am lodged in one of the extremities of the galley, which is called the prow, or beak, in a little cabin, about seven or eight feet square. Its ceiling is so low, that I cannot stand upright in it. We generally lie four of us in this cabin; two gallerians and two slaves. I commonly boil the pot, twice or thrice a week, in which is put five quarters of a pound of mutton; which does not make a full pound of our country weight. There is but little beef here, and almost no veal. The gallerian and I eat together, though I alone pay for it; but he does me service enough for this otherways. Bread is dear, but I sometimes eat of the king's bread. As to the rest of the food, which the king allows galley slaves for the whole day, it is a good half porringer full of beans dressed in oil. I eat none of it; so my

usual

usual food is bread, with which, of late, I have eat a few dried raisins, a pound of which costs me eighteen deniers, which serves me for three or four meals. The wines here are so gross, that they breed much gravel. I lie upon the mattress of a galley, which they call strapontin. It is made out of three or four old coats, brought here for that purpose. I had it from a gallerian belonging to my bench, who went off with the first embarkment for America; it cost me four sols and a half. I have about a month since, begun to lie undressed and in sheets. If the cold which we feel, should very much increase, I will again lie in my cloaths. They have lent me a quilt, which, together with my great coat, serve me for a coverlet. I have bought coals, which are very dear, and I make a little fire in our apartment. Our officers come to warm themselves, and talk with me at my fire; I mean those who have the command of the gallerians; and I always receive civility enough from them. Yet, they denied entrance into our galley, to some officers of other galleys, who came to see me. The second embarkment for America is made up; but, I believe, the vessel is yet in the port. They have, apparently, laid aside the thoughts of sending me thither. here a chain of one hundred and

There arrived fifty men, the

beginning of the last month, without reckoning thirty-three who died by the way. Mr. Garnier is one of this number, with a nephew of Mr. Varnier, doctor of physic; these two came from Vitry in France. There were also, Mr. Changuinon

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