After preaching we put down near thirty names of persons to be examined preparatory to becoming members of society. We preached in different parts of the island on the 16th, 17th, 18th, 20th, 21st.

Sunday, 22d.--I preached three times at the station, and baptized two children. The place was crowded with about two hundred people, and nearly all the respectable families in that part of the island were there. When I met the society, nine persons came forward to unite with us. I finished my work about half past nine in the evening.

We continued preaching every day in the week, when it was possible, and five or six times on the sabbath. Most of the respectable farmers sent for us, or gave us invitations to their houses; and in the evening we preached in their barns. When we left we had upward of forty persons in society; and many more said they will unite with us when we send them a minister. A young man came to me in Stronsay, and offered me a piece of ground in a most eligible situation, for the erection of a chapel, which he would sell at a low price. Several promised to assist us. One offered £6 toward building a chapel. Many of the fishermen told me, though they could do but little, they would do what they could, and assist us by labour. The people were very importunate for me to send Mr. Breare again, during the fishing season; which I promised, if possible, to do.

The last day we spent in the island was Sunday, March 15th. I preached in the morning at Huip, in Mr. Drever's barn; and in the afternoon walked four miles to the school-room, and preached to a large and respectable congregation. Mr. Breare preached in the morning and afternoon at the station, and in the even

ing at Huip. The men called us up at two o'clock on the Monday morning to go to the Fair Isle, in an open boat. It was a great risk, the distance being fortyeight miles, over one of the worst parts of sea in the world. Several endeavoured to dissuade us from it. One gentleman, who had travelled a great deal, said he would sooner cross the Bay of Biscay in an open boat than between Stronsay and the Fair Isle. But we could not get a sloop for less than ten pounds; and we thought we would sooner run the risk than be at the expense. When we were about to set sail, the beach was crowded with men, women, and children, who wept sore when we left them. As soon as we got up the foresail, and began to make a little way we sung the verses beginning,

"The God that rules on high,

That all the earth surveys,

That rides upon the stormy sky,

And calms the roaring seas:

This awful God is ours,

Our Father and our love;

He will send down his heavenly powers
To carry us above."

The men joined us, so that the shores echoed as we left them for the main sea. The wind and tide were both in our favour, and the sea much smoother for the first four hours than I expected; but the tide turned upon us when we were about three or four miles west of the Fair Isle. The sea rolled mountains high, and we had serious apprehensions that we should not make the island. A small boat with seven men came out to meet us, and to tell us we could not land where we intended, and that we must keep more to the east; when one of the seas broke over them, and they were for some seconds immersed beneath the wave.

At this

moment there was a simultaneous shriek from all in the boat, "They are lost!" and what made it the more distressing was, three or four of them were brothers of the men in our boat. After a little while their boat emerged, completely full of water. We pulled down our sails, and endeavoured to rescue them; but for some time we saw no hope. They succeeded in throwing out the water with their hats; and by a wonderful providence were kept from sinking till they came up with us. We took their men into our boat, and their boat in tow, till we got into smooth water, and were able to land. It was on this island that the flag ship of the Spanish armada was wrecked; and the duke de Medina and the crew were saved. The island is between two and three miles long, and one broad, and contains nearly three hundred inhabitants. Mr. Breare preached here on Monday evening; I on Tuesday morning, and baptized seven children. We dined with the taxman, Mr. Strong, and at two got into a boat for Lerwick. By a good providence we anchored in Quendel Bay, and felt thankful, though we had nearly thirty miles to walk home.

I hope, Rev. Sir, you will see from this that there is such an opening in Orkney as we never had before. The time to remember Orkney is fully come. O that God would lay Orkney on your heart, as he did Shetland on that of Dr. Clarke! I pray that every thing requisite may be done, and that speedily; as it is my firm opinion, that one or two preachers should be appointed there next conference, as the difficulties and expenses connected with visiting Orkney from Shetland are very great. There is no connection between the islands whatever. JAMES CATTON.