Page:Memorials of Capt. Hedley Vicars, Ninety-seventh Regiment by Marsh, Catherine, 1818-1912.djvu/118

Rh "Excuse this hasty letter. I have everything to do on board, as the rest are on shore. I will write as often as I can, if not oftener! Jesus has given me a strong desire to devote my remaining days to His blessed service; and O, Heavenly Father, grant me thy Divine grace and mighty help that I may never bring dishonor on the sacred name of Christ! I often fear lest anything I say or do should have this effect. O, for a single eye to the glory of Jesus, that every act might spring from the motive of pure and unfeigned love to him! But beneath the cross we are, thank God, safe and secure. He will carry on the work He alone has begun in our hearts, even until the day of Jesus Christ. God bless you all, exceeding abundantly above all I can ask or think."

" The day we left the Bay of Gibraltar the secret of our destination was divulged. We are to form part of an Anglo-French force in Greece, for the purpose of bringing King Otho to his senses. It is thought very probable that we shall eventually be sent on to Turkey, but it will be some months, at any rate, before this most desirable event can take place. Still I feel assured that everything is ordered by a wise and gracious Providence, and therefore, it must be for the best, however disappointing it may appear. We have had rather rough weather since we left England, but the last two or three days have been delightful. There are many draw backs on board ship, in a religious point of view, but I have had glimpses of Jesus, and found Him to be very precious to my soul. I have established a Bible reading class, which numbered six last Sunday — as many as the cabin could contain! With several of my brother officers, I have had most interesting conversations, and with some to whom I