May 28th was the severest gale in this season ever remembered: Four mackerel boats were missing from Lowestoft with all their crews, and also two cutters (carriers). As the 18th of June arrived, all hope was abandoned. Six from our town, boats and cutters, and eleven from Yarmouth and Gorleston, with a loss of about 200 hands! Nine of them belonged to the parish of Oulton. The evening of the 21st October, was very remarkable for changes. In the short space of two hours we had thunder, lightning, rain, hail, snow, wind, and frost, accomplished by an Almighty power. An aged and sincere friend, who had preached to us many times in Mr. Barnard’s chapel, whom we called “Captain Ducker,” was called to his rest January 20th, 1861, aged 70 years. His last service with us was on the evening of Sunday, December 23rd of the preceding year. And it might be truly said of him, as was recorded of Barnabas:—“He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith,” rejoicing to see believers added to the Lord, and walking in fellowship, as children of a King. Another solemn event took place in our parish. Mr. Fell, rector of Oulton, died at Worldham, Hants, on Sunday, November 10, aged 71 years, having held the living from 1851. Here, then, we see merciful men taken away; and, when rightly considered, they are taken from the evil to come. My wife had conducted the school through the late rector’s incumbency, and is still going on with the same. The Prince Consort died on the 14th of December, and was buried on the 23rd of the same month. Thus: God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. “His ways are past finding out.” “Lord, make me to know the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am,” and, further, that I may be prepared for that great and solemn change, which I feel sure must soon arrive. In January, 1862, Mr. Charles Snell was presented to the living at Oulton, vacant by the death of Mr. Fell. He comes into residence, and finds out the relative position of his parishioners, the domestic comforts of some, and the troubles and mishaps, and cares and sorrows of others, all needing a word of counsel, as also a word of consolation, and thus they are supported amidst the trials and conflicts of this mortal life, which are almost continually pressing upon them. Here, then, the good man is inducted into the living. He asks the aid of heavenly power, To guard him in the evil hour.