NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE Bethesda, Maryland ~?-s 'I J o Mr. GARDINER'S SERMON BEFORE THE Humane Society. \v aV^ /„J5!AN|SE A SERMON PELIVERED BEFORE THB Humane Society, OF THB COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS, AT THEIR r&P"------;1<;-»{' %■ c Semiannual Meetings v!^1fjj/f JUNE 14, 1803. By JOHN SYLVESTER JOHN GARDINER, AJfflant Mintfter of the Trinity Cburth. boston : Printed by Hofea Sprague, No. 44, Marlboro' Street, 1803. K. At a Semiannual Meeting of the Humane Society, June 14, 1803. VOTED That Samuel Eiiot, Efq. Hon. Artemas Ward, Efq. Hon. John Davis, Efq. Gardner Green, Efq. and Rev. William Emerfon be a Committee to wait upon the Rev. John Sylvefler John Gardiner, and return him the thanks of this Society for his excellent and ingenious difcourfe delivered this day before the Humane Society, and to requeft. of him a copy for the Prefs. ^n EytraSfrom the Records of/aid Soiiefy, JOHN AVERY, Rec'g. Sec'y. SERMON. GALLATIANS, CH. VI. VER. IO. As we have, therefore, opportunity, let us do good unto all men, efpeeially unto them who are of the houfehold of faith* THE text naturally divides itfelf into two parts. Firft, We are to do good unto all men, as we have opportunity. Secondly, we are to do good efpeciaHyTmro them, who are of the houfehoTd of faith. Thirdly, I fhall add fuch obfervations as are fuitable to the prefent occafion. I fhall take the liberty of reverfing the order of the text, and confider, firft, our duty of do- ing good to thofe, with whom we are moft near- ly connected. In this part of the difcourfe, I fhall endeavour to prove to you, that the Chriftian religion has been mifreprefented both by its friends and enemies, as being inimical to thofe partial attachments, which our regard for relations, friends, and country infpires, and fhall make fome obfervations, as I proceed, on the 6 novel tenets of fome modern philosophers. Not that I can pofhbly fufpe£t, that any members of this refpectablefociety can have imbibed prejudices of this kind, but becaufe, as I think it the duty of every good man to oppofe abfurdity and error, wherever they are found, fo I confider it particu- larly incumbent on a Minifter of the Gofpel, to improve every opportunity, and ufe every effort, for this purpofe. By the houfehold of faith, the Apoftle un- doubtedly, means thofe, who are of the lame re-. ligion as ourfelves j and the exhortation to affift them with all the offices of charity was peculiarly incumbent on their brethren in that early ftate of Chriflianity, when the Church of God was fub- jecl: to every fpecies of peffecution, which the ma- levolence of its enemies could inflict. But X would wifh tounderftandthis expreftion in a more enlarged fenfe, as including all the relative duties of life, all thofe natural and focial ties, which en- dear individuals to each other, and give birth to thofe virtues, that render acommunity fiourifhing and important. Two very eminent writer^ one an opponent, and the other a defender of Chriflianity ieem to agree in denying its fanction to thefe attachments, though they draw different inferences from the fame fuppofed fa&. *Lord Shaftjbury confid- * Charac. Vol. I. p. 93, 7 ers it a great defect, in the evangelical inftitation, that the duty of friendfftip, in particular, is not ex- prefsly enjoined j while Mr. *Jenyns, on the con- trary, afferts, that its admiflion would be " total- ly incompatible with the genius and fpirit of the Gofpel." Thus the fame pretended circumftance, which is produced to juflify the infidelity of the one, is affigned by the other, as one of the inter- nal marks of the divine origin of our holy reli- gion* Chriflianity, indeed, is an univerfal religion, intended for the benefit of all mankind. But it could never be the defign of the moft benevo- lent of all religious inftitut-inno to lcflen thofe at- tacfimems Thar, are fo neceflary to our happinefs in this world, and which give rife to the practice of virtues, beft adapted to fecure our eternal wel- fare in the next. The example of the great founder of Chriftianity,indeed,feemstojuftify this remark, and directly militates againft the opinion of the great authors juft quoted. When con- verting with his friends refpecting his approach- ing crucifixion, he illuflrates the greatn'efs of his love towards mankind in dying for them, by a a comparifon drawn from human friendfhipu " fGreater love (fays he) hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatfoever I command you." * Internal Evidences, p. 51. \ John, ch. xv. ver. 13,14. s But our blefled Lord, not only appeared no en- emy to perfonal attachments, but actually exhib- its two ftriking inftances of friendihip to individ- uals. " Jefus (fays the facred hiflorian) loved Lazarus." And again he obferves, " Now Jefus loved Martha, and her fifler and Lazarus." And when Lazarus was fick, thefe fiflers fent to our blelTedSaviour to inform him, "faying,Lord, behold he, whom thou loveft, is fick." And as he approached the grave, with Mary and the Jews who attended, he fympathizedwith their forrows, and was agitated with the fame paflion. " He groaned infpirit, and was troubled. Jefus wept." " Thenfaidthc Jc-wc, hehold,how he loved him L" The other inftance of particular attachment is his affection for John, who is called " the difciple whom he loved." In the mpft diftrefsful moment of his life, and amidft the agonies of an excru- ciating death, he exhibits at the fame time an ex- ample of filial piety, and confident friendfhip.* " Now there flood by the crofs of Jefus (fays the Evangelift) his mother, and his mother's filter, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magda- lene. When Jefus therefore faw his mother, and the difciple flanding by whom he loved, he faith unto his mother, woman, behold thy fon. Then faith he to the difciple, behold thy mother. * John ch. xlx. v. 27, 9 And from that hour that difciple took her unto his own houfe." It hence appears, that the focial and relative duties of life were fanctioned by the great author of Chriflianity, and that he exhibited flriking in- ftances of individual attachments in his own per- fon. His lamentation alfo over his devoted coun- try, when he faw, with a prophetic eye, its future fate, affords no fmall proof, that he was not void of patriotic feelings. Throughout the whole teftament we find the duties of men, in the vari- ous relations of parents, children, hufbands and citizens, recommended and enforced; fo that * nothing can be mo^ *.icar, man that the dictates of common fenfe and right reafon have, in thefe inftances, received alfo the fandtion of the gofpel. Ingenious men are, indeed* to be found-, at all times, who are fond of controverting eftab- hfhed truths, and of queflioning received opin- ions. Flattered and deceived by their own inge- nuity, they become zealous in propagating their peculiar tenets; and when once perfuaded that they are right, the very abfurdity of the creed confirms them in their faith; How elfe can we account for the pernicious abfurditiesj in whieh the prefent age has been fo fruitful! That all the evil in the world proceeds from its eflabliffr- ed ufages, that religion and matrimony aregrofb 10 abufes—that penal laws tend to irritate rather than to reform—that men left to do as the pleafe, would always do right—that human life may be protracted far beyond the ufual limits, and even extended to immortality in this world—that hu- man nature may be carried to abfolute perfection by the native energies of the human mind— thefe aflertions, ftrange, and ridiculous as they muft appear, have been publifhed by men of gravity and acutenefs, whofe talents and induftry, had they been rightly directed, might have en- larged the boundaries of human knowledge, and have proved a public bleffing to the world. But feduced by the ignis fataus of novelty, and hur- ried away by their wild imaginations they Have loft the road of common fenfe, which thofe who follow them will never be able to find. We are taught by the fame enlightened phi- lofophers, that we are not bound to love either our parents, or our children, more than other people, unlefs they have more merit. To do fo, they affert, would, indeed, be a great act of in- juftice. We are to love thofe we never faw bet- ter than our moft intimate friends, provided we have evidence that they have more mental and moral accomplifhments. But were thefe tenets true, and were men to act up to them, how dreary and uncomfortable II W$ul4- be our abode in this world! If there were a woman in the world poffeft of more merit than our wife, where would be the affection of a huf- band ? If our children were not more perfect than all others, how could we perform the duty of a father ? If our country were inferior in its foil, its climate, or its government, what would become of our patriotiim ? If an object of com- panion implores our affiftance, and we ftop to confider, if there may not be another in the world, more wretched and with ftronger claims on our charity, where is our benevolence? In a word, if we did not love thofe beft with whom, we are mod nearly connected, who be- long to the fame community, dwell in the fame town, worfhip at the fame temple, but were com- pelled by ftern inflexible jufhce, to referve our affections for the fuppofed fuperiority of merit in ftrangers, with whom we are but nightly ac- quainted, perhaps never faw, our fituation would be truly deplorable, and men, of all creatures, would be moft miferable. Our religion, my brethren, authorizes no fuch chimeras j and we may well difclaim the proud title of citizens of the world, which has been fo often affumed by thofe, who pretend to love mankind, while they neglect their families, and conceal, under the fpecious veil of univerfaf philanthrophy, a felfifh 12 indifference to the whole fpecies. The great apoftle informs us, that he, who provides not for thofe of his own houfe, is worfe than an in* fidel 5 and in the text, when he directs us to do ■ good unto all men, he decidedly commands as to give a preference to thofe, who are of the houfehold of faith. Our charity, indeed, muft begin at home, though it ought not to end there; and nothing can be more difgufting to - men of fenfe and virtue, than that hypocritical and fentimental cant of univerfal benevolence, in the mouths of thofe, who, we know at the fame time, are grofsly deficient in all the relative du- ties of life. The great moral poet has more fenfe on this fubject as indeed he has on moft Others, than all the volumes, of all the. modem philofophers, contain. " (God loves from whole to parts ; but human foul Muft rife from individual to the whole. Self-love but ferves the virtuous mind to wake, As the fmall pebble ftirs the peaceful lake. The center mov'd, a circle ftrait fucceeds, Another ftill, and ftill another fpreads. Friend, parent, neighbour, firft it will embrace; His country next; and next all human race. Wide and more wide, the o'erflowings of the mind Take every creature in of every kind. Earth fmiles around with boundjefs bountv blefh ■ ... . , ..-» And heav'n beholds its image in his breaft,", I proceed, fecondly, to confider, that we are to do good unto all men as we have oppor- tunity. Though our religion was never defigned tq weaken the natural and focial affections, it was intended to regulate them, and to d'eftroy the felfifhnefs, which otherwife might be contracted, to the deftruction of that univerfal benevolence, which chiefly diftinguifhes Chriflianity from oth- er religious inftitutions. Our bleffed Saviour omitted no opportunity of inculcating, that pri- vate intereft muft always yield to public welfare, and that our benevolence muft be extended to the whole human race. He informs us, that it is the firft and great commandment, that we we fliould love the Lord our God, and the fec- ond, that we fhould love our neighbour as oiir- felves. Nor can we be at a lofs to afcertain who is our neighbour, fmce we find it defcribed at large, in the beautiful parable of the good Samaratan. ' " The Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans." On the contrary, a moft ir- reconcileable hatred fubfifted between them. And yet the benevolent Samaratan affifted the enemy of his country, with everv kind office which his calamitous fituation demanded. Hence we learn our duty to confider every man as our neighbour, who has claims on our companion, *4 however he may differ from us in language, in opinion, or in country. We may, indeed, confiftently with the moft rigid rules of Chriftian charity, expofe die de- figns of wicked men for the public good; as judges and as jurymen we may condemn them to die ; as warriors we may deftroy the enemies of our country ; as patriots we may exert our- felves to keep improper men out of office. All thefe are facred duties, that arife from the differ- ent relations of fociety in which we are placed, which, however painful, it is incumbent on us to execute j and to refufe to execute them, when neceffary, would be unpardonable weaknefs, or contemptible fuperftition.. But if any man, whether our private or public enemy, whether his character be good or bad, is involved in dan- ger and diftrefs, from which we can relieve him, it is our duty to exert ourfelves for that purpole. No emotions of private refentment, no confidera- tions of the worthlefsnefs of his character, muft influence us at fuch a moment. He is our fel- low-creature, formed by the fame divine hand as ourfelves, and however unworthy he may appear in our eyes, we fhould remember, that Jefus Chrift did not difdain to die for him. The diffufion of Chriflianity has had a wonder- ful influence in mitigating the ferocity of man,and in improving the fituation of the unfortunate. Prif- *5 onersof warare now treated, by civilized nations, with all the humanity and indulgence, which the fafety of the victorious will admit; and in the bloodieft naval engagements, how often do we find the Chriftian conquerors rifquing then- own lives, to fave the finking enemy from a Watery grave ? In the moft polifhed nations of antiquity, captives were generally fold for flares, or put to the fword; fo that we cannot reafon- ably account for the fuperior mildnefs of mod- ern warfare on any other principle. This alone, were no other advantages to flow from our holy religion, fince war, from all experience, feems a natural ftate to man, would entitle it to the eter- nal blefling and gratitude of mankind. We are to do good, then, to all men, as we have opportunity, of whatever nation, or of whatever prbfeffion. Opportunities, indeed, are never wanting, though the extent of our chari- ties muft be limited by our circumftances. But though " filver and gold we have none," yet if we poffefs a truly Chriftian fpirit, we may do much good with fmall means. Numerous are the calamities, to which our unhappy fpecies are fubject, that wealth can neither prevent nor relieve. The foothing voice of friendfhip, the balm of Chriftian confolation, the numberlefs little offices, which fympathy and good nature can execute, thefe are in the power of all, who *6 have inclination to perform them, and are ofteti attended with fuccefs, where bare munificence would fail. " True benevolence (fays the elo- quent Porteus) will accommodate itfelf to the various diftreffes that fall it its way ; will, with a verfatility truly admirable, become all things to all men, and affume as many different fhapes as there are modes of mifery in the world. It will compofe the differences of friends j it will arreft the violence of enemies ; it will bring back the ungrateful child to a fenfe of his duty, the of- fended parent to the feelings of affections; It will vijit the fatherlefs and widows in their af- fliclion ; it will rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep. It will protect the helplefs and the weak ; will exert its influ- ence-, will exhauft its powers in redrefling their injuries and vindicating their rights. It will facilitate their accefs to the feats of juftice; it will knock for them at the door of the great; it will raife them up friends, where they could never have thought of looking for them. It will be as Aaron was to Mofes, a mouth to them ; it will fpeak thoft wants, which they are unable to reprefent, and plead for them with an elo- quence which nothing can refift. The man of charity, in fhort, will not merely content him- felf with giving alms; he will give what people are more unwilling to give, his attention* his' »7 thoughts, his care, his friendfhip, his prote&ion. Thefe are fo many inftruments of beneficence that God puts into our hands for the benefit of others. Thefe were intended to fupply the place of wealth, and will, in many cafes, relieve dif- treffes, which wealth cannot reach/' I come now ; Thirdly, to conclude with fuch ebferotions, as are fuitable to the prefent occa- fion. If to imitate the moral attributes of God, is the perfection of man, none can be more juftly entitled to this high praife, than thofe^ who have united in focieties, for the prefervation of his creatures. To reftoi<= «-Ue parent to the child, and the child to the parent, the hufband to the wife, and the wife to the hufband, the ufeful ar- tizan and enterprifing mariner to their friends and country, is an action truly godlike ; wheth- er we perform it by our perfonal intrepidity, or by our encouragement of others, in rewarding their benevolent exertions. • The aggrandizement of nations, no lefs than the intereft and pleafure of individuals, requires fo many to rifque their lives on the watery ele- ment, that numberlefs calamities muft happen, which no human wifdom can forefee, and no human ability prevent. The furious tempeft will, at times, deftroy the fhip, and the irrefifti- ble billows bury the crew. But how many, af- C 18 ter having efcaped the dangers of the fea,'have been unable to refift thofe of the'Iand ; and even Ihould they reach the fhore, how often do they perifh, amidft the darknefs of the night, and the inclemency of the weather! Your exertions, Gentlemen, to affift thefe poor* mipwrecked wretches, have been laudable in the extreme ; and it is to be lamented, that your be- nevolent intentions, fhould, in any manner, have been fruftrated, by the thoughtlefsnefs, of the inconfiderate, or the malevolence of the hard- hearted. Could thefe perfons but figure to them- felves the poor mariner, having, with difficulty, reached the land, almoft exhaufted with fatigue, in folitude and forrow, amidft howling winds and driving fnows, looking anxioufly around for one of thofe fheltering huts, which, probably, he has heard, that the Humane Society have ftation- ed along the coaft, difcovering, at length, the object of his wifhes, invigorated by hope to re- new his exertions to reach it, flattering himfelf, that he will there find the means of fafety and comfort, could they paint to themfelves the bitternefs of his defpair, at finding, on his arri- val, all his hopes Wafted, and the cheap, but to him invaluable, materials, bafely pilfered ; could they view his dying agonies, doubly poignant by the difappointment of his well founded expecta- tions, they would furely abftain from a robbery, l9 which, without enriching them, may deprive a, fellow creature of life. But their own feelingif if they are not callous to every emotion of hu- manity, muft be a punifhment fufficiently fevere, and deter others from fimilar acts of cruelty. - It may not, Gentlemen, be impertinent to the fubject of this difcourfe, and to the occafion of our prefent meeting, to remark on a late inven- tion, which appears to be highly ufeful, in the prefervation of human life. The invention I mean is the Life-boat, the honour of which is due to Mr. Greathead, a boat-builder, at Shields, in England j for which he has received, independ- ent of fmall gratuities from private focieties, one, hundred pounds fterling from Trinity Houfe, and a grant of twelve hundred from the Britifh Parliament. This boat contains thirty perfons with eafe, can neither fink nor overfet, and rides, with perfect fecurity, where no other floating ma- chine could exift. The price of a ten-oared boat, which is the largeft, amounts to one hun- dred and fixty pounds fterling. Being but flightly acquainted with mechanics myfelf, I fhall take the liberty, Gentlemen, of enabling you to form fome idea of this boat, by citing the words of a witnefs, examined by a Committee of the Houfe of Commons. He , flates, that, " the peculiar nature of the curva- ture of the keel of this boat, is the foundation 20 .and bafis of its excellence. It regulates, in a fcreat meafure, the fhear with the elevation to- wards the ends. This conftruction fpreads, and repels the water in every direction, and enables her to afcertain and defcend with great facility over the breakers. The ends being reduced re- gularly from the centre to lefs than one third proportion of the midfhips, both ends are light* er than the body fection, By means of the cur- ved keel and the centre of gravity being placed in the centre of the boat, fhe preferves equilibri- um in the midft of the breakers. The internal Jhallownefs of the boat in the body fection, occa* fioned by the convexity of the keel, and the (hear at the top, leaves fo fmall a fpace for the water to occupy, that the boat, though filled with water, is in no danger of finking or upfetting. The buoyancy of the boat, when filled with wa- ter, is alfo aflifted by the cork being placed above the water line." Mr. Greathead, the inventor, being examined by the Committee, and defired to explain, what fuggefted to him the peculiar conftruction of the Life-boat, ftated, that " the following idea had frequently occurred to him, from which he had conceived the principle of his invention. Take a fpheroid, and divide it»into quarters. Each quarter is eliptical, and nearly refembles the half pf a wooden bowl, having a curvature with pro* at- jetting ends. This thrown into the fea, ©rbro* ken water, cannot be upfet, or lie with the bot- tom upwards."* * The following Defcriptioa of the Life-boat was com- municated by Dr. Hawes, Treafurer of the Royal Hu- mane Society to the Conefponding Secretary. ConfiruSion yfthe Life-hat at South ShiftJt. St*, . * IN reply to yours of the 14th, refpecling th* Life-Boat at South Shields, which we have found to an- fwer beyond the mod extended idea we entertained of the plan on which fixe was built j and, to our great JTatis- fa&ion, (he has been the means offaving the lives of many of our fellow creatures, who could by no other means have been preferved. The boat 1* 30 feet by 10, in form much refembling a common Greenland boat, except the bottom, which is much flatter. She is lined with cork infide and outfide of the gunwale, about two feet in breadth, and the feats underneath are filled with cork alfo. She is rowed by ten men, double banked, and fleered by two men with oars, one at each end, both ends being alike. Long poles are provided for the men, to keep the boat from being drove broad-fide to the lhore either in going off or landing. About fix inches from the lower poles it increafes in diameter fo as to form a jlatfurfaee zginA the fand, otherwife they would fink into thefand, and be of no ufe. The weight of the cork ufed in the boat is about fer- en cwt. She draws very little water, and, when full, is able to carry twenty people. The boat is able to contend againft the mojl tremendous fea, and broken water, and ner- 22 Would it not be advifeable, to procure a mod- ., el of this boat, with an accurate defcription of its . capabilities ? If the expence fhould be found too great for fhips to furnifh themfelves with it, or even for private fccieties to fupply, could not the humanity of the Legiflature be excited to raife a tax for this purpofe ? A few boats of this kind, diftributed along the coaft, and flationed at places, where fhipwreck is moft common, might be the means, of faving, in the courfe of time, i thoufands of valuable lives to their country and friends. I mean not however, to obtrude, but to offer my fentiments on this fubject, leaving it to your fuperior judgement, Mr. Prefident, and Gentlemen of this fociety, to confider the pro- priety of the application. In the mean time let us not be weary in well doing. The caufe of humanity is the caufe of God and man. Nature prompts us to perform its duties ; religion commands us, and the blef- er, in any one inftance, has fhe failed in bringing the crew ia diftrefs into fafety. The men have no dread in going off with her in the higheft feas, and broken water. Cork Jackets were provided for them ; but the confidence in the boat is fo great, they will not ufe them. She has furprized every nautical man that has feen her contend with the waves. Any further defcription I can give will not be equal to a view of the model of her upon a fcale now with the Duke of Northumberland. 25 fed author of Chriftianity has himfelf fet us a moft diftinguifhed example. What nature, reli- gion, and the Saviour enjoin, let us not then, hefitate to obey, but " as we have opportunity let us do good unto all men, efpecially unto them who are of the houfehold of faith." 25 APPENDIX. THE following communications have been received in the courfe of the laft year. To the Humane Society of Majachufetts. Gentlemen, I beg leave to recommend to your favourable notice Mr. Afa Pettingale, the toll keeper of Andover Bridge* who has been eminently inftrumental in faving the lives of feveral perfons, when unfortunately fallen into the Mer- rimac upon and below BodwelFs falls, over which faid bridge is built. In the month of April, 1794, at which time the Mer- rimac was high by reafon of frefhets, and very full of ice, Amos B*. Sawyer and feveraiothers had engaged to take a raft of Cord Wood to Newburyport, and in going over the before mentioned falls, the raft was accidentally driv- en on one of the heaters of the bridge, and inftantly torn to peices, and by the rapidity of the current, carried under one of the arches. Said Sawyer caught hold of a flick of wood not more than four feet in length, and not larger than a man's thigh, and drifted down the river among ice and wood, fometimes under water and again, on the top of the water, and in the utmoft danger of his life. Pettingale feeing him in this critical fituation fprang into a fmall boat, and with great exertion rowed to him with the utmoft expedition among wood, ice, &c. at the rifque of his own life, more than one hundred rods before he reached him. He then fattened him to the boat (for he could not get him in) and towed him to the fhore ; but D 26 he was fo far exhaufted, that he could not have got out of the water without the affiftance of his prefervcr, who car- ried him to the land, and by ruubing his legs and feet, and ufing the other means of the refufcitative procefs, enabled him foon after to walk. In May 1799, Jeremiah Morrill, and feveral other inhabit- ants of Methuen were conducting a large raft of wood to Newburyport, which by the great rapidity of the current, was driven on one of the heaters of Andover bridge and fuddenly torn to pieces. All the others, except Morrill, caught hold of fomething and faved themfelves, but he, without any means of prefervation, was driven into the eddy below one of the peers, up to the bridge, and by ac- cident thruft his fingers into a crack between the timbers, by which means he kept his head out of water. In this critical fituation he was feen by a number of people, who defpaired of affording him any feafonable afEftance, for the current was fo rapid that no boat could ftem it. At length, faid Pettingale thought of a rope on a fifh net a- bout fifty rods below the bridge, and immediately ran to it, to procure faid rope, but the knot was wet and drawn fo tight that he could not untie it ; having no knife he was under the neceffity to lay it upon a ftone, and cut or brufe it with another. The rope being procured he car- ried it to the bridge, and making a loop in one end, threw it down to the faid Morrill, who worked it round his body, and was drawn up by Pettingale, a diftance of thirty feet upon the bridge. On the 27th of May, 1803, Henry Harvey a young man of fifteen years of age, fon of Mr. John Harvey of Methuen, in attempting to crofs Merrimac river juft be- low Andover bridge, ran his boat under the falls of the fifh wharf and was drowned. A number of his townf- 27 men immediately collecled to find his body. Among the reft James Davie, Jofhua Davie, Edward Richardfon, and Samuel Barker, in a boat, pufhed into the ftream, and their grappling being fattened at each end of the boat, and being one fide to the ftream, was inftantly drawn under, and the above four perfons were left floating in a fwift and ftrong current. Samuel Barker, being drefTed in fiiort clothes, was able to fwim to the fhore, but the others, with the utmoft exertion, could but now and then raife themfelves to the top of the water, and fcream for help. The faid Pettingale and Capt. David M'Clerry of Methuen were exerting themfelves on the fame bufinefs, in a fmall boat about twenty rods above where this difafter happen- ed. Pettingale beholding their almoft loft condition pro- pofed to go immediately to their afliftance, but M'Clerry was fearful and faid " we fhall certainly be drowned.** But Pettingale, being the helmfman and taking advantage of the current, requefted M'Clerry for God's fuke to exert his ftrength in rowing to them j they foon reached the perfons in diftrefs. They came firft to Jofhua Davie who bad juft rifen to the top of the water, and was able and had prefence of mind enough to take hold of the boat, they then rowed to Edward Richardfon who caught hold of one of the oars but could not fwim. They took him on the other fide of the boat, and rowed to the fhore, with thofe two holding the fides of the boat, with the utmoft expedi- tion and left them as foon as they were upon terra firma. In the mean time James Davie who was a good fwim- mer, remained ftruggling for life, but under the embar- raffment of his cloathes could make no progrefs towards the fhore, and before his affiftants could return, his ftrength was exhaufted. 28 When they came within four rods of him, he funk, as they fuppofed for the laft time. Directing their courfe to the place where they faw him difappear, they looked down, and Pettingale difcovered his hands extended about four feet below the furface of the water, gradually defcending Upon his face towards the bottom. He reached his oar down to him, and called loudly to him to take hold of it; but his fenfes were gone. Pettingale then put his oar un- der his breaft, and with great exertion raifed him confid- erably, and at the fame time turning his body round fo far, that the water buoyed up the fkirt of his coat with- in reach of his arm, which he extended fo far as to feize hold of it, and thereby to draw him up, when to all ap- pearance, the vital functions had ceafed. But Pettfngale held him in a particular pofition, while M'Clerry rowed the boat to the fhore, and making ufe of the refufckative procefs, contrary to the expectation of all the fpe&ators, in about half an hour he was able to walk with affiftance, and has fince recovered his ftrength, and is ablfrto attend to his ufual employment, As an all wife Providenee has afiigned a poft for each individual, it is not for us to fay who will do the moft good in the world, nor in what ftation a peribn may be moft ufeful. If Mr. Pettingale, in the humble ftation of Collecting the toll of a bridge, has been principally inftru- mental in faving the lives of five young, active ufeful members of foeiety, heads of numerous families, parents of young and promifing children j few men in common life Can enjoy the pleafing reflection of doing more, or even fo much good to their fellow creatures at the rifque of their pwn lives, HUMPHREY C. PEARLEY, A. M. In Teftimouy of the above account twenty one perfons, who were eye witneffes of the faving of the four laft mem 29 tinned Perfons, have figned their Names. The two firft mentioned, viz. Sawyer and Morrill have moved to a great diftance into the country, but feveral perfons have teftified to the truth and juftice of the foregoing reprefentation, of their being faved from immediate death, by the wclltimed and courageous exertions of faid Afa Pettingale. We the fubfcribcrs being acquainted with Afa Pettingale and the other fubfcrbers to the above reprefentation, do certify that they are perfons of good moral characters and that due credit may be given to what they fay. Signed by the reprefentative and feletfmen of Methu- en, and by the felectmen and other inhabitants of the town of Andover. Methuen, 08. i6, i8q2. Huts creeled by the Humane Society. D. C 1787 One on Scituate beach, -jat4odol- One on the outer beach of Nantafket, S- lars each. One on the weft end of Lovel's Ifland, J izo 1789 One on Calf's Ifland, -* One on the eaft end of Lovel's Ifland, t 95 One on the other end of Nantafket beach, J 179* One on Stout's Creek on Cape Cod, 42 50 1794 Two on the Ifland of Nantucket, 73 3799 One on Pettick's Ifland, 50 3° d. c. §8o« One between Race Point and the head" of Stout's Creek, a mile from Peaked Hill, Cape Cod, One built by the Society in 179*, at Stout's Creek, having wafhed away for want of a proper foundation, an- other has been erected there, One on Naufet beach, One between Naufet and Chatham har- bours, One on the beach of Cape Malebarre on the fandy point of Chatham, The repairs on faid huts and fupplying them with neceffary articles, has coft the Society, 161 33 732 83 THE Subfcribers being appointed a Committee of the Truftees of the Humane Society of Maffachufuttsy to enquire into, and publifh a ftate of facts refpe&ing the prefervation of a number of perfons by the fociety's Hut on Nantafket Beach, REPORT THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: THAT Capt. William Gibson of the brigantine "Elizabeth, bound from St. Vincents to Bofton, configned to Mr. David Green, arrived in the Bay on Dec. 15 ; that Mr. Thomas Knox, jun. tlie Pilot, went on board her at 11 o'clock P. M. then in the Light-Houfe-Chan- nel, and found her in a very difabled condition ; That at 2 o'clock A. M. of the 16th, the wind coming to the North Weft, and blowing almoft a hurricane, the brigan^ * 3* tine parted her cable, and drifted till 1 o'clock P. M. when fhe ftruck on Point Alderton Bar. The fea beating entirely over her, and the brig ftriking very hard, four o£ the hands, much fatigued, and overcome by the excefuve cold, committed themfelves to the mercy of the waves, and fwam to Nantafket Beach, diftant about fifty yards, and proceeded to the town of Hull; but before they reach- ed the houfes, one of them gave out, and could not walk further, and muft have perifhed, but for the affiftance af- forded him by fome of the inhabitants, in confcquence of intelligence received from the other three ; That at 4 o'clock, P. M. the brigantine ftill beating upon the bar, it was expected fhe would go to pieces, and that there was no other alternative for thofe on board, but to attempt to get on fhore or to perifh ; fome of them thought that ia their debilitated and almoft frozen condition they mould never be able to reach the fhore. Mr. Knox, however, made the attempt, and taking with him the end of a deep fea line, the other end of which was fattened to the bodies of the others, he fwam to the beach and drew them on fhore. Upon getting afhore, they proceeded to the houfe erected by the Humane Society for the prefervation of ftiipwrecked feamen. Their cloathes wet and very much frozen, and themfelves much fpent, it was with great diffi- culty they reached the houfe. But who can defcribe their extreme grief and difappomtment, when, upon their arriv- al, they found no fire works, candles or ftraw, and but a fmall quantity of wood !—Capt. Gibfon and Mr. Knox are, however, of opinion, that though they could not expe- rience the falutary influence of a fire, they muft have per- ifhed had it not been for the fhelter afforded them by the houfe, from the violence of the wind and the extreme cold. Some of the inhabitants of Hull very humanely carried 52 fome fireworks to the houfe, by which means a fire wa* kindled, their cloathes dried, and they recovered ftrength fufficient, by affiftance, to get to Hull that night, all except one man, who was too weak to make the attempt. But he was made comfortable by the fire, and other refrefh- ment afforded by the inhabitants. This fimple una- dorned ftatementof fa Commute. 33' " I obferve, with lingular fatisfaction, the cafes in which your benevolent inftitution has been inftrumcntal in recal- ling fome of our fellow creatures, as it were, from beyond the gates of eternity, and has given occafion for the hearts of parents and friends, to leap for joy. The pfovifion made for fhipwrecked mariners, is alfo highly eftimable in the view of every philanthropic mind, and greatly confolatory to that fuffering part of the community. Thefe things will draw upon you the blefling of thofe who were nigh to perifh. Thefe works of charity arid good will towards men, reflect in my eftimation, great luftre upon the au- thors, and prefage an sera of ftill farther improvements.— How pitiful in the eye of reafon and religion, is that falfe ambition, which defolates the world with fire and fword, for the purpofe of conqiicft and fame, when compared to the milder virtues of making our neighbours and our fel- low men, as happy as their frail condition and perifliable natures will permit them to be !" With great refpect, I am your moft obedient JOHN LATHROP. THE Truftees of the Humane Society, having, been individually informed of feveral inftances of perfons who had incurred death by drowning or otherwife, and been fortunately recoverd by the means recommended by the Society, and no communication made thereof; and con- vinced that publifhing the circumftances of fucli incidents would be attended with beneficial effects, hereby requeft the citizens of this commonwealth, and particularly the gentlemen in the medical line, to communicate to tbeCorref- ponding Secretary, all the inftances that have, or fhall come to their knowledge, of reanimation, and the mean? E 34 whereby thofe happy events areaccomplifhed,with fuch oth- er particulars of the time refpriation was fufpcnded, &c. as they fhall think of importance to notice : As it is by com- paring the fuccefs of different means and operations, that this important art can be brought to perfection. The Truftees are alfo defirous of extending the rewards prom- ifed by the Society for fignal exertions throughout the commonwealth, and for this reafon they requeft informa- tion of all the attempts of reanimation, even if they prove unfuccefsful. N. B. The Truftees requeft the fame favour from the citizens of the neighbouring ftates. An Extradfrom the Minutes of faid Trujlees% JOHN AVERY, Rec'g. Sec'ry. At a Meeting of the Humane Society, June llth, 1799. THE Truftees of the Humane Society, having had fre- quent applications for reward in cafes, for which the con- ftitution of faid Society does not authorize their granting a premium, wifh their fellow citizens to be informed with a view to prevent fruitlefs applications, that the fervices for which faid Society holds out a reward are, Firft. That when any accident fhall happen, produc- ing apparent death, the perfon who fhall firft difcovcr and endeavour to recover the fubject, fhall be entitled to a re- ward; but in no cafe are the Truftees allowed to exceed ten dollars. Secondly. The perfon who fhall receive into his or her houfe, the body of one apparently dead, with a view that means may be ufed for its recovery, is alfo entitled to fuch a compenfation as the Truftees fhall judge adequate. Thirdly. That any perfon who fhall, by any fignal exer- tion, fave another from death, is entitled to a reward ins proportion to the rifque and danger incurred. 35 By a fignal exertion the Truftees conceive muft be under- stood fomething more than barely reaching out the hand, or throwing a rope from a wharf, or a boat, or even wa- ding into the water to half a man's depth, and refcuing a man from drowning; for the principles of common human- ity and fympathy are fufficient motives for fuch exertions; but it muft include the endangering his own life, or in- curring fome damage, by impairing the health, or injuring his apparel or other property. In any or all thefe cafes the Truftees are ready to grant adequate reward, when properly authenticated, but do not think themfelves war- ranted by the regulations of the fociety to beftow them in other cafes. An ExtraS from the Minutes offaidSocitty, JOHN AVERY, Rec'g. Sec'y. Premiums adjudged by the Tmjlees from June 1802, to June 1803. To Francis Newton for faving a fon of Nathaniel D. C. Clark from drowning, r To Ephraim Culver of Chefterfield for faving the life of a young man in Weftfield river, 10 To Samuel Brown for taking up and bringing on fhore the body of John Phipps, - - 1 25 To Adam Wallace Thaxter for faving the life of a child, ..... . (j To George Johnfon of Salem for faving the life of Virgil Maxey, - - - jq To Mr. Parfons for receiving into his houfe the body of Quaco, a Negro man who was drowned at the bottom of the Common, for the purpofe of ufing the refufcitative procefs, - c To Mofes Williams for faving the life of a young man. 5 36 %o Daniel Mace for faving the life of \Daniel Bell D. C. at Wheelers Point, 4 To Nehemiah Jaquifh aged 76, for faving the life of John Danley of Tyngfboro' who had fallen through the ice in Merrimac river, 10 To John Grant for faving the life of a lad who fell from weft Bofton bridge, 3 20 To William Keating for faving the life of Samuel Watts near Wimifimett ferry, 4 To Caleb Hayden for faving the life of a boy, 3 To Story Chandler for faving the life of a negro man, 1 To Jofiah Bates, David Cole and Ebenr. Cole for faving the life of Levi Gifford at fea, 9 To Simeon Hemenway for faving the life of a Mulatto boy at the glafs houfe, 2 To George Greenough for faving the life of a boy, 2 To Arns Ellis for faving the life of John Butler, 4 To James Melvin and Gregory Fortune for faving the life of Phillip Lamontay, £ To Afa Pettingale of Methuen, for faving the lives of feveral perfons near Bodwell's falls, 30 119 45 State of the Treafurer's accouuts for the pafl year. Expenfes of femiannual meetings, organift, &c. 11 Printing Rev'd. Mr. Porter's Difcourfe, Defcrip- tion of Cape Cod, Receipts, &c. 112 25 Stock Purchafed, 746 88 Building and repairing Hutts, 193 25 Premiums adjudged, 119 45 Mr. Kuhn's Salary, 30 A Notarial Certificate, \ Balance in hands of Treafurer, 121 23 1335 6 37 Contra, Cr. '■' '•*• D. j£ fkilaace in the Treafurer's hands at laft audit, 9$ 54 Intereft on 6, 3 and'8 per cent ftock of the United States, and 2 per cent principal of 6 per cents, 2cb 64 Ditto on Mafs. State Notes, and 20 per cent prin. 544 78 Dividends at Union Bank, 133 14 Ditto on Weft Bofton bridge, 20 Subfcriptions paid the year paft? 340 96 '335 Property in the hands of tie Treafurer belonging U> the Society. United States 6 per cent ftock, 14; 2 17 "Deduct, principal paid, 157 88 1284 29 Ditto 3 per cents, 708 83 " Ditto 8 per cents. 800 Mafs. State Notes, 2421 49 Union Bank Stock, 1268 2 Shares Weft Bofton bridge coft, 417 17 We the fubfcribers, appointed a committee by the Hu- mane Society of MafTachufetts, at their meeting in Dec. 1802, to examine the accounts of the Rev. Dr. Parker Treafurer of faid Society, find all the articles in the above account vouched, the fame right caft, and a balance of 121 23 in the treafurers hands due to the fociety, and the evidences of the property above enumerated. Boflon, June 10, 1803. Wm. Tudor, -\ Russell Sturcis, L Committee. John Hancock. J N. B- Since the audit of the foregoing account, the treafurer has received through the hands of the Prefident, 444 44 the amount of the legacy of £ 100 fterling devif- ed to this fociety by John Bulkley, Efq. late of Lifbcn. 3« Officers of the Humane Society chofen Dec. 1802. John Warren, M. D. Prefident, Rev. Simeon Howard, D. D. ift Vice Prefident, Rev. John Lathrop, D. D. 2d Vice Prefident, Rev. Samuel Parker, D. D. Treafurer, Aaron Dexter, M. D. Correfponding Secretary, John Avery, Efq. Recording Secretary. Truftees. Rev. Peter Thacher, D. D. Nathaniel Balch, Efq. Jeremiah Allen, Efq. William Spooner, M. D. Samuel Parkman, Efq. James Scott, Efq. In confequence of the death of the Rev. Dr. Thacher, Edward Gray, Efq. was chofen a Truftee in June 1803. Members admitted finee June 1802. Kilborn Whitman, Efq. Pembroke, Capt. Daniel Meffenger, Mr. Edward Tuckerman, Jun. Capt. Ozias Goodwin, Mr. William Walter, Mr. George Sutherland, Mr. Jofeph W. Jenkins, Mr. James Lloyd, Jun. Mrs. Catharine Bullen, Medfteld, Mr. Mofes Bullen Harden, do. Rev. William Greenough, Newtown, Adam Babcock, Efq. Rev. Jonathan Burr, Sandwich, Mr. Andrew Brimmer, Dr. Charles L. Segars, Mr. Jofiah Bumftead. 39 Members deceafedfince the laft publication* Mr. John Avery, Jun. Madam Elizabeth Bowdoin, Maj. William Calder, Chark/town, Hon. John Codman, Efq. Major John Rice, Rev. Peter Thacher, D. D. Arnold Welles, Efq. Honourary Members. John Bulkley, Efq. Lifbon, Rev. Jno. Erfkine, Edinburgh. APPARENT DEATH—LIFE RESTORED. " He finks !—is loft !—none near to give relief! And hark—that fcream I—a frantic mother's grief! Fix'd on the flood that would her babe deftroy, Her eager eye deep fearches for her boy; He's found!—but ah ! when anxious drawn to fhore, The mother breathlefs!—views her child—no more ! But, Heav'n-inftructed—every effort's try'd Which wifdom plann'd, and ftudy has fupply'd, Eager to fave, each panting bofom burns; Life half departed, 's beckon'd, and returns: What rapt'rous blifs the eager mind receives, When parent extacy exclaims—He lives.'" Refufcitathe Procefs. WHAT THOU DOEST--DO QUICKLY. Occidit, qui nonfervat. CONVEY the perfon to the neareft convenient houfe, with his head raifed : Strip and dry him as quick as pof- fible ; clean the mouth and noftrils from froth and mud. If a child, let him be placed between two perfons naked, in 40 a hot bed. If an adult, lay him on a hot blanket or bee?; and, in cold weather near a fire-r-In warm weather/ |be air fhould be freely admitted into the room. The body is next to be gently rubbed with warm woolen clothe fprinkled with fpirits, if at hand, otherwife dry : A heated trarming-pan may be now lightly moved over the back, properly covered with a blanket-—and the body, if of a child, is to be gently fhook every few minutes : Whilft thefe means are ufing, one or two affiuants are to be em- ployed in blowing up tobacco-fmoke into the fundament, with the inftrument provided for the purpofe, or a tobac- co-pipe, if that cannot be had—the bowl filled with tobac- co and properly lighted, being covered with a handker- chief, or piece of linen, fo as to defend the mouth of the affift'ant in blowing : Bathe the breaft with hot rum, and perfift in the ufe of thefe means for feveral hours. If no figns of life fhould then appear, let the body be kept warm feveral hours longer, with hot bricks, or veffels of hot wa- ter, applied to the palms of the hands, arid folesofthe feet, and this for a longer or fhorter time, as the circum*: fiances of the cafe may dictate. The too cuftomary method of rolling on a barrel, fuf- pending by the feet, and every other violent mode of agi- tation, particularly in removing the body from the water; fhould be moft carefully avoided. To reftore breathing—Introduce the pipe of a bellows, (when no apparatus is at hand) into one of the noftrils, the other and mouth being clofed, inflate the lungs, till the breaft is a little raifed ; the mouth and noftrils muft then be let free. Repeat this procefs till life appear. Eledlricity is recommended to be early employed by »uv dicious practitioners. 4* Intenfe Cold. Rub the body with fnow, ice or cold water; rcftore warmth by flow degrees, and after fome time, if there be na appearance of life, the plans of refufcitation for the drowned muft be employed. Sujpenjidn by the Cord. A few ounces of blood may betaken from the jugular vein, cupping-glaffes applied to the head and neck, and bleeding at the temples. The other methods of treatment, the fame as recommended for the apparently drowned. Intoxication. The body to be laid on a bed, with the head a little raifed ; the neckcloth, &c. removed. Obtain immediate medical assistance, as the modes of treatment muft be varied according to the circumftan- Ces of the patient. Suffocation by noxious vapours. Cold water to be repeatedly thrown upon the face, &c. > drying the body at intervals. If the body feels cold, em- ploy gradual warmth : and the plans for reftoring the drowned, in all cafes of apparent death. General Obfervations. resuscitation. On the dawn or firft indication of returning life, the prudent Practitioner will refign the office of Art to Nature. —It is evident that Art has contributed her fhare, by ena- bling Nature to ftruggle with the immediate caufe of op- preffion. It is in fact this judicious blending of Nature with Art that gives to the latter all its efficacy. F 42 I .-—On fgns of returning Life. A tea-fpoonful of warm water may be given j and; if fwallowing be returned, warm wine, or diluted brandy. The patients muft be in a warm bed, and if difppied to deep, they will generally awake perfectly reftored.. • ,'. 2.—The plans above recommended are to be ufed three ox four, hours,.. • - ...,-• i. Jt is-an flbfufdafid vulgar opinion to fuppofe perfons irrecover- able, becaufe -life does not foon make its appearance. , 3.—Bleeding never to be employed, unless by the direction of a physician. t; REFLECTIONS ON RE ANIMATION. . Suppofe yourfelves but for a few moments in your even- ing walk-'ef rural retirement, -imagine your contempla- tions interrupted-by an uncommon, appearance,—Beheld, a young man dragged to the fhore without life or motion, Scarce an hour has pailed fince the objeel cf their attention had left his circle of domeftic hatpiiieib.—And now his body fwoln, his eyes funk, and his face livid. Without the leaft figns of life, they convey him in hopehfs dfpon- dence to his own home. Fear, defpoudency, ;:nd horror, are fpread over the afflicted family. On one fide "behold the aged mother lamenting her.loft child ; en the other, ftands mute the diflra&edw'tfe, afraid to look up to the hor- rid fpeclack ;. wbilft the innocent link ones look v> ithamaze- rsent and wonder at the filence of him,\vho always fp kind- ly greeted them on his return. . . . .. . ., __ Thofe who would moft gladly take upon them the tafjjf of reftoration are moft unable to perfcrm it; and all thepre- cious moments which fhould have been employed-in the means of his recovery, are loft in fruitlefs lamentation. They hang over him in filent anguifh, take their laft fare- well in the agonies of defpair, and configri him to the ^rave. I 43 And now obferve the change. It chances that one of the fans of humanity (which is but another name for this infti- tution) is patting by.—As foon as he hears of the event, he flies like the Good Samaritan, to the chamber of forrow, he ftops thofe who had affembled but to gaze at and defert him, calls on them to affift him, and afliduoufly applies with zeal proper means to refufcitate. Death, unwilling to relinquifh his devoted prey, ftruggles powerfully to detain it; feems tofmile, asit were, at the ineffectual labour; tilj at length fubdued by fortitude and perfeverance he gives up the conteft. " A ray of hops breaks in upon the gloom, and lights up every countenance.—Behold, at laft, again he moves, he breathes, he lives.—What follows is not within the power of language to defcribe : imagination alone can fuggeft to true Philanthropifts the delightful fcene of wonder and aftonifhment, of mutual joy, tranfport, and felicity." N, B. The above and three preceding Pages are, with fome alterations, taken from the Annual Report of the Royal Humane Society, in London, for 1799. 270 G 222 5 Se. I SO 3 c-\