[FOR this interesting Letter, written in the early times of Methodism, by the venerable MR. GRIMSHAW, the EDITOR is obliged to the kindness of the REV. WILLIAM MYLES, whose interesting account of the "Life and Writings" of that most zealous and successful Clergyman, well deserves the perusal of our readers. MR.

GRIMSHAW lived and died in close connexion with MR. WESLEY and his Preachers. The following document proves that he was, in an extraordinary sense, "a labourer" in the vineyard; for it is well known that he himself practised the unwearied diligence which he recommended to his friend. Few men, indeed, are able to act altogether as he did; but his exhortations cannot fail to be a useful stimulant to all who " love their Master and his work."]

DEAR BROTHER,

Haworth,

July 31, 1757. Is it about two years since I wrote to you? How fast does time slide away! My long silence, however, has not been owing to any disrespect that I have for you, Goo knoweth; but to neglect of writing chiefly; for which I must beg your pardon. My heart is as cordially knit to you as ever, if not more so. I respect sincerely your soul, your body, your doctrine, your labour, your conduct, &c. What can I do more?

But let us talk no more of these

matters. Here, I hope, all things go pretty well. How go they where you have been? Our congregations have been for some time, and still are, in several places of this round, large. Several souls are added, and some are, seemingly, just now awaking. JAMES ODDIE and JONATHAN MASKEW have been our Preachers for some time. JAMES is gone to the Conference; and JONATHAN, if he recover not, will shortly go to heaven.

I hope your bow abides in full strength, and that you can preach twenty times a week. If you can preach oftener, do. Preaching is health, food, and physic to me, and why not to thee, my Brother?

O

Besides, there is very great need of preaching now. For iniquity aboundeth, the love of many grows cold, and GoD's judgments are abroad in the earth. Let us preach four times a day, or thirty times a week, whether you please or can better bear. It will be all little enough! Our MASTER Well deserves it; yea, and infinitely more. that we may spend and be spent in preaching his everlasting Gospel, in converting sinners, and confirming believers. You will remember me kindly to REBECCA, but, especially, kindly remember me at the footstool of grace. I have done so daily for you above two years. May the LORD bless you, yours, and your labours. Pray, therefore, for me, and I will pray for thee, being your affectionate Brother, W. GRIMSHAW.

till it becomes a perfect animal: by W. M. IRELAND, Esq., Member of the Royal College of Surgeons,"

"It is a curious circumstance that it has never been in the power of any Naturalist at Surinam, from his own observations, to ascertain the changes from the tadpole to the complete

frog of that country. Fortunately, during my residence there, I was not only enabled to collect specimens of the tadpole, in what is called the state of a fish, but likewise in all its intermediate changes to that of a frog, and have succeeded in bringing to this country specimens in each of those states, for the examination of persons skilled in comparative anatomy, so as to enable them to confirm or refute the observations I have made on the subject.

"LINNEUS himself, at one time, considered the animal to be a species of lizard, and arranged it under the genus Lacerta; afterwards he placed it under the genus in which it now stands, with the specific name Piscis, (Fish.)

By others, it has been considered not to be the larva, or tadpole, of a frog, but to change from a frog to a fish this diversity of opinions first induced me to attempt the solution of so curious a phenomenon.

"It affords me peculiar gratification that I am enabled to offer some facts which will tend to throw light on this part of Natural History, the subject of which has caused so much discussion among the learned.

"I was some time in Surinam, where these animals are indigenous, before I could obtain a specimen : at length, however, I procured a number of them in the fish state; and as they were brought to me alive, I confined them in a tub in order to watch their change, and contrived to have vegetables growing in the water, for the purpose of renovating the air.

"When they first came into my possession, I could, upon narrow examination, perceive the two small legs immediately behind the head, which are to become the hind-legs of the frog.

"In about a fortnight these little legs arrive at the mature size, and the body of the animal is very much enlarged during this change the animal remains at the bottom of the vessel in a torpid, dormant state.

"In about three weeks the animal becomes more active and lively, the fore-legs make their appearance, and the head becomes distinct. During this period the animal remains suspended in the water, with its

mouth above the surface, for the purpose of breathing atmospheric air; but the moment it perceives any thing move, it dives to the bottom, where it remains a few minutes, and then returns to its former position. From this period till about the sixth week, the animal is always seen with part of its head above the surface of the water, and is extremely active and strong, so much so, that should the vessel be left uncovered for half a minute, it leaps out and jumps from six to eight feet at a time, with such quickness that it is with great difficulty caught again. During this last period of the change, the tail, or that part which is behind the legs, partly sloughs off, and is partly absorbed; that is, the outer and thin part of the tail gradually falls off by bits, while the inner and thicker part is absorbed; till the whole is gone to the line marking the part which is to be separated.

"This process being completed, the animal is a perfect frog, and leaves the water, never to return.

"The transformation of the tadpole to a frog, seems to be one of the never-erring laws of nature to propagate and preserve her progeny; for at the beginning of the dry season, the tadpoles are to be found in most of the swamps and muddy creeks; but as the dry season advances, and the water begins to evaporate, those tadpoles, which must inevitably die (if they remain unaltered) when their habitation is changed to dry land, gradually become animals fitted to exist in these new circumstances.

"It must be observed, that the tadpoles cannot follow the waters as they retire, in the same way fishes do in our small brooks in a dry summer, owing to their being many miles from any communication with the rivers, so that when the enclosed waters are evaporated by the intense heat of the season, the bottom of those ponds and creeks are left a perfect dry land.

"These tadpoles are considered by the natives of Surinam as a species of fish, and denominated by them Jackies. They are frequently brought to market in the beginning of the dry season, and generally regarded

forth from the woods. The boats were presently lowered; CAPTAIN RAINE taking one himself. On approaching the shore it was found not only dangerous, but utterly impracticable, to land, of which circumstance they were informed, in weak and tremulous voices, by the almost starved and nearly worn-out creatures themselves, who could scarcely, from the miserable plight in which they were, articulate a syllable. One poor fellow took courage to plunge into the waves, and with great difficulty reached the boat. It appeared that only one of the others could swim. After bringing in the boat as near the rocks as possible, amidst a heavy surf, they succeeded in getting on board, much bruised and lacerated by repeated falls. Their safety was no sooner effected, than each devoutly expressed his gratitude to that benign BEING, who had so wonderfully preserved them from sharing in the destruction to which their unhappy shipmates had fallen victims.

on

These men are now with CAPTAIN RAINE: their names are THOMAS CHAPPEL, WILLIAM WRIGHT, and SETH WEEKS. The following is the account which they gave of the distressing circumstance. They sailed from Nantucket, in the American ship Essex, of 260 tons, G. POLLARD, Master, on the 19th of August, 1819, a whaling voyage. They arrived in the South Seas, where they were pretty fortunate, having succeeded in procuring 750 barrels of oil, and were in the latitude of 47 deg. south, and long. 118 west, when the accident happened, on the 13th of November, 1820. On that day they were among whales, and the three boats were lowered down, The Mate's boat got stove, and had returned to the ship to be repaired. Shortly after, a whale of the largest class struck the ship, and knocked off part of the false keel, just abreast of the main channels. The animal then remained for some time along. side, endeavouring to clasp the ship with his jaws, but could not accom

plish it.

He then turned, went round the stern, came up on the other side, and went away a-head about a quarter of a mile; and then, suddenly turning, came at the ship with tremendous velocity. The vessel was going at the rate of five knots; but such was the force when the whale struck the ship, under the cat-head, that the vessel had stern way, at the rate of several knots: the consequence was, that the sea rushed into the cabin-windows; every man on deck was knocked down; and, worse than all, the bows were completely stove in, and in a very few minutes the vessel filled, and went on her beam-ends. At this time, the Captain and Second Mate had their boats made fast to a whale; but on beholding the awful scene which had taken place, they immediately cut from the fish, and made for the ship.

By cutting away the masts, the vessel righted; the upper deck was then scuttled, and some water and bread were procured for the two boats, in which they were compelled to remain, as all thoughts of saving the ship were given up. In expectation of falling in with some vessel, they remained three days by the wreck, making sails, &c.; but were compelled, at length, to abandon it, and stood away to the southward, in hopes of getting the variable winds, and experiencing fine weather. But the wind being constantly from the east and east-south-east, they made much lee-way, and were prevented from keeping to the southward; in consequence of which, on the 20th of December, they made the Island from which CAPTAIN RAINE took them, and which was supposed to be Ducie's Island, at which place the boat remained one week; but the Island affording hardly any nourishment, they resolved on venturing for the coast, leaving behind them the three men taken on board the Surrey, who were thus providentially rescued from perishing by starvation on a barren island.