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Words cannot express the gratitude I feel I owe to you all for your
benevolent aid； your kindness； and your sympathy。
MY DEARLY BELOVED FRIENDS。 I arrived in safety at my house
yesterday； and a night's rest has restored and tranquillised me。 I
must again repeat； that language has no words by which I can
express my sense of obligation to you。 You are enshrined in my
heart of hearts。
I have seen him！ and can now realise my misfortune more than I have
hitherto been able to do。 Oh； the bitterness of the cup I drink！
But I bow submissive。 God MUST have done right。 I do not want to
feel less； but to acquiesce more simply。
There were some Jewish passengers on board the Royal Charter； and
the gratitude of the Jewish people is feelingly expressed in the
following letter bearing date from 'the office of the Chief Rabbi：'
REVEREND SIR。 I cannot refrain from expressing to you my heartfelt
thanks on behalf of those of my flock whose relatives have
unfortunately been among those who perished at the late wreck of
the Royal Charter。 You have； indeed； like Boaz； 'not left off your
kindness to the living and the dead。'
You have not alone acted kindly towards the living by receiving
them hospitably at your house； and energetically assisting them in
their mournful duty； but also towards the dead； by exerting
yourself to have our co…religionists buried in our ground； and
according to our rites。 May our heavenly Father reward you for
your acts of humanity and true philanthropy！
The 'Old Hebrew congregation of Liverpool' thus express themselves
through their secretary：
REVEREND SIR。 The wardens of this congregation have learned with
great pleasure that； in addition to those indefatigable exertions；
at the scene of the late disaster to the Royal Charter； which have
received universal recognition； you have very benevolently employed
your valuable efforts to assist such members of our faith as have
sought the bodies of lost friends to give them burial in our
consecrated grounds； with the observances and rites prescribed by
the ordinances of our religion。
The wardens desire me to take the earliest available opportunity to
offer to you； on behalf of our community； the expression of their
warm acknowledgments and grateful thanks； and their sincere wishes
for your continued welfare and prosperity。
A Jewish gentleman writes：
REVEREND AND DEAR SIR。 I take the opportunity of thanking you
right earnestly for the promptness you displayed in answering my
note with full particulars concerning my much lamented brother； and
I also herein beg to express my sincere regard for the willingness
you displayed and for the facility you afforded for getting the
remains of my poor brother exhumed。 It has been to us a most
sorrowful and painful event； but when we meet with such friends as
yourself； it in a measure； somehow or other； abates that mental
anguish； and makes the suffering so much easier to be borne。
Considering the circumstances connected with my poor brother's
fate； it does； indeed； appear a hard one。 He had been away in all
seven years； he returned four years ago to see his family。 He was
then engaged to a very amiable young lady。 He had been very
successful abroad； and was now returning to fulfil his sacred vow；
he brought all his property with him in gold uninsured。 We heard
from him when the ship stopped at Queenstown； when he was in the
highest of hope； and in a few short hours afterwards all was washed
away。
Mournful in the deepest degree； but too sacred for quotation here；
were the numerous references to those miniatures of women worn
round the necks of rough men （and found there after death）； those
locks of hair； those scraps of letters； those many many slight
memorials of hidden tenderness。 One man cast up by the sea bore
about him； printed on a perforated lace card； the following
singular （and unavailing） charm：
A BLESSING。
May the blessing of God await thee。 May the sun of glory shine
around thy bed； and may the gates of plenty； honour； and happiness
be ever open to thee。 May no sorrow distress thy days； may no
grief disturb thy nights。 May the pillow of peace kiss thy cheek；
and the pleasures of imagination attend thy dreams； and when length
of years makes thee tired of earthly joys； and the curtain of death
gently closes around thy last sleep of human existence； may the
Angel of God attend thy bed； and take care that the expiring lamp
of life shall not receive one rude blast to hasten on its
extinction。
A sailor had these devices on his right arm。 'Our Saviour on the
Cross； the forehead of the Crucifix and the vesture stained red； on
the lower part of the arm； a man and woman； on one side of the
Cross； the appearance of a half moon； with a face； on the other
side； the sun； on the top of the Cross； the letters I。H。S。； on the
left arm； a man and woman dancing； with an effort to delineate the
female's dress； under which； initials。' Another seaman 'had； on
the lower part of the right arm； the device of a sailor and a
female； the man holding the Union Jack with a streamer； the folds
of which waved over her head； and the end of it was held in her
hand。 On the upper part of the arm； a device of Our Lord on the
Cross； with stars surrounding the head of the Cross； and one large
star on the side in Indian Ink。 On the left arm； a flag； a true
lover's knot； a face； and initials。' This tattooing was found
still plain； below the discoloured outer surface of a mutilated
arm； when such surface was carefully scraped away with a knife。 It
is not improbable that the perpetuation of this marking custom
among seamen； may be referred back to their desire to be
identified； if drowned and flung ashore。
It was some time before I could sever myself from the many
interesting papers on the table； and then I broke bread and drank
wine with the kind family before I left them。 As I brought the
Coast…guard down； so I took the Postman back； with his leathern
wallet； walking…stick； bugle； and terrier dog。 Many a heart…broken
letter had he brought to the Rectory House within two months many；
a benignantly painstaking answer had he carried back。
As I rode along； I thought of the many people； inhabitants of this
mother country； who would make pilgrimages to the little churchyard
in the years to come； I thought of the many people in Australia；
who would have an interest in such a shipwreck； and would find
their way here when they visit the Old World； I thought of the
writers of all the wreck of letters I had left upon the table； and
I resolved to place this little record where it stands。
Convocations； Conferences； Diocesan Epistles； and the like； will do
a great deal for Religion； I dare say； and Heaven send they may！
but I doubt if they will ever do their Master's service half so
well； in all the time they last； as the Heavens have seen it done
in this bleak spot upon the rugged coast of Wales。
Had I lost the friend of my life； in the wreck of the Royal
Charter； had I lost my betrothed； the more than friend of my life；
had I lost my maiden daughter； had I lost my hopeful boy； had I
lost my little child； I would kiss the hands that worked so busily
and gently in the church； and say； 'None better could have touched
the form； though it had lain at home。' I could be sure of it； I
could be thankful for it： I could be content to leave the grave
near the house the good family pass in and out of every day；
undisturbed； in the little churchyard where so many are so
strangely brought together。
Without the name of the clergyman to whom … I hope； not without
carrying comfort to some heart at some time … I have referred； my
reference would be as nothing。 He is the Reverend Stephen Roose
Hughes； of Llanallgo； near Moelfra； Anglesey。 His brother is the
Reverend Hugh Robert Hughes； of Penrhos； Alligwy。
CHAPTER III … WAPPING WORKHOUSE
My day's no…business beckoning me to the East…end of London； I had
turned my face to that point of the metropolitan compass on leaving
Covent…garden； and had got past the India House； thinking in my
idle manner of Tippoo…Sahib and Charles Lamb； and had got past my
little wooden midshipman； after affectionately patting him on one
leg of his knee…shorts for old acquaintance' sake； and had got past
Aldgate Pump； and had got past the Saracen's Head （with an
ignominious rash of posting bills disfiguring his swarthy
countenance）； and had strolled up the empty yard of his ancient
neighbour the Black or Blue Boar； or Bull； who departed this life I
don't know when； and whose coaches are all gone I don't know where；
and I had come out again into the age of railways； and I had got
past Whitechapel Church； and was … rather inappropriately for an
Uncommercial Traveller … in the Commercial Road。 Pleasa