These, and the like, are serious considerations at a time like this. During the night I was often praying in my mind for mercy, that the Lord would spare me: and I put on fresh resolutions, that if I was spared, I would serve God with fidelity and diligence. All my prayers were for the preservation of life: I durst not resign myself to death, because I was conscious I was not prepared for judgment. All my hopes for eternity, were founded in reformation of character, and that I had yet to begin; for had I been cut off, at that time, I had no hope of heaven. The province of North Holland is a peninsula, formed by the German ocean on the west, and the Zuyder-sea on the east. The town of Helder stands at the northern extremity, where the Zuyder-sea communicates with the German ocean, between the Helder point and the Texel island, distant about six miles. The city of Amsterdam stands on the south side of the Zuyder-sea, the common passage to which is by the Helder. A range of sand-hills runs along the coast of the German ocean, close to the beach, and the country between them and the Zuyder-sea is nearly a perfect flat. Large dykes, or mounds of earth, run along the shores of the Zuyder-sea to protect the tide from overflowing the country, which is below the level of high water. The sand-hills serve for an embankment on the side of the German ocean. The principal arsenal for equipping and repairing the Dutch fleet is near the town of Helder, the greater part of which rendezvouses there; but they are built at Amsterdam and other places in the interior, and floated down the Zuyder-sea, on account of the shallowness of its water, and are fitted out for sea at Helder.