It had a powerful effect upon our company to hear that shortly after
our safe arrival, laden with such experience of the divine goodness,
a singular calamity happened to the ship. She came round to Boston in
charge of the first officer, the captain having concluded to retire
from the sea. She loaded with ice, and sailed for Bombay. In a few
days after leaving port, fire was discovered in her lower hold,
ascribed to a spark from a cigar or pipe, while loading. She put into
Halifax, where fire engines nearly filled her with water. After a long
detention at Boston for repairs, she went to sea. We were made to feel
that our safety through our long voyage and our happy arrival were not
accidents; we recalled moments when a slight change in our affairs
would have been followed with disaster; it was sealed afresh upon our
hearts that we were under obligation to the providential care of God
never to be forgotten, always to be mentioned with humbleness of mind,
with thanksgiving and praise.