One of the poor fellows, who narrowly escaped drowning, took refuge in the first cottage he could find. In this cottage there happened to live an old lady and her niece, who received the distressed mariner in the most kind and compassionate manner. As, however, they were provided with no male apparel, and it was necessary that their guest should have some comfortable clothing, till his own was perfectly dry, the niece supplied him with a _change of her own_; and Jack having plenty of flannel petticoats on, soon recovered his strength and spirits. Though plenty did not adorn their board, yet a sufficiency was provided, and the hospitality with which it was given, rendered it more delicious; suffice it to say, that the sailor passed a very comfortable night here, and owing to a pressing invitation from the niece, who thought it would be dangerous for him to stir out too soon for fear of catching a cold that might be fatal, he also spent two or three comfortable days. It was not, however, the apprehensions of catching cold, a phrase unknown to mariners, that induced Jack to make a longer stay; the fact was, he became delighted with the conversation and manners of his younger hostess, and as every hour of his stay tended to augment that delight, he at last declared to the old woman his passion for the niece. This information was by no means disagreeable to the latter, and the end of the matter was, that our hero found a wife in Helston; he does not therefore repent his being shipwrecked, but humorously remarks, “It is an ill wind that blows nobody good.” The philanthropy of the inhabitants of Helston, in endeavouring to save their fellow creatures from perishing by shipwreck, reminds us of another similar instance of feeling and humanity, which was also united with courage; and which we think, may, with great propriety be introduced here, as a further stimulus to the people of sea coasts to use, at all times on these occasions, their utmost exertions in favor of distressed mariners. A ship having been wrecked at the cape of Good Hope, a guard was sent from Horse Island, consisting of thirty men and a lieutenant, to the place where the ship lay, in order to keep a strict look-out, and to prevent any of the cargo being stolen. A gibbet was erected, and at the same time an edict was issued, importing, that whoever should come near that spot should be hanged immediately, without trial, or sentence of judgment passed on him. From this cause the compassionate inhabitants, who had gone out on horseback to afford the wretched sufferers in the ship some assistance, were obliged to return back without being able to do them any service; but, on the contrary, were occular witnesses of the brutality and want of feeling shewn by some persons on this occasion, who did not bestow a thought of affording their fellow-creatures, that sat on the wreck perishing with cold, hunger, and thirst, and were almost in the arms of death, the least assistance or relief.