WRECK OF THE " MARIA."
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John, to Fort James. The depth of water upon this bar is only from seven to fourteen feet ; and consequently, ships, when they are partly laden, pass over this shoal, and take in the remainder of their cargo off Dickenson's Bay. The principal trade of the island is carried on at this port, the harbour is generally full of shipping; and during the hurricane months, many vessels from the neighbouring islands come here for safety. The approach to it is, however, intersected with numerous rocks, and about three miles from its mouth lies a small island, surrounded by reefs and breakers, to which the name of " Sandy Island" has been attached. It was upon these reefs that, in 1826, the " Maria'' mail boat was wrecked, and, with her hapless crew, went to the bottom. She had been down to St. Thomas and the other Islands with the mails for England ;* and upon her return, putting into Monserrat, took on board the Wesleyan missionaries, and their wives and children, who had been to St. Kitts to attend their yearly district meeting, and who were desirous of returning to Antigua, the scene of their labours. They had left St. Kitts a few days before, in a small vessel hired for the purpose ; -but finding it rather " crank," they were unwilling to proceed, and determined to wait at Monserrat for the arrival of the " Maria." But who can look into futurity ? who can tell what may be in store for him ? The crank vessel reached Antigua in safety ; the mail boat and all on board, with the exception of one solitary female, perished in the treacherous waters, almost within sight of their own homes—within hearing of the church bell. I never pass the spot without shuddering, and fancying what must have been the feelings of that one who was spared to tell the dreadful tale. A woman of lively imagination and affectionate disposition, she saw friend after friend washed away by the remorseless waves. The pride * At that period, the mails from the different islands were conveyed to St. Thomas's, in small vessels employed for that purpose, from whence they were despatched to England in one of her Majesty's packets.