HEROIC CONDUCT OF AN ENGLISHMAN.

IT is with the mingled feeling of melancholy pleasure that is peculiar to the contemplation of great acts which have caused the death of the actors of them, that we add to our series of similar narratives the following :account of the latest of such "good deeds shining 'mid a naughty world," which has come to our knowledge.

The time when this act occurred was the 3rd October, 1860—the place, a desolate spot on the coast of Jutland—the scene, a wreck — the actor, an Englishman, Mr.

THOMAS EARLE. It appears that Mr. EARLE, having been unfortunate in business as a contractor in his native land, had for a time east his lot on a foreign shore, where, far from home, and friends, and countrymen, he was seeking to retrieve his fortunes by the useful and honourable employment of superintending the reclamation of waste lands.

We cannot better describe the circumstances than in the words of a letter addressed to the Editor of the Times newspaper, by W. MEYRICK, Esq., the honorary secretary to a temporary committee, formed for the purpose of raising a public subscription for the benefit of Mr. EARLE'S widow : " In the afternoon of the 3rd October last the English steamer Arctic, on her voyage from Hull to St. Petersburg, was, when off the coast of Jutland, overtaken by a most terrific gale: she ultimately struck on a reef, filled aft, and settled down in deep water about three-quarters of a mile from shore; some of the passengers and crew were drowned, but 17 took refuge in the fore, and 5 in the maintop, where they remained during the evening and night of the 4th, in sight of the people on shore, who, from the violence of the sea, could render no assistance until about 4 o'clock on the following day, when the life-boat was got off, and 20 people were saved, who would have all perished but for the noble example and daring of Mr. THOMAS EARLE, whose own life, however, which was not risked for the first time, fell a sacrifice in consequence.

" The master of the vessel, in his published report, says,' it was mainly by Mr. EARLE'S exertions that the boat was got off at all.' In a letter signed by all the passengers and crew who'were saved, they say that but for the life-boat all must have perished; that the regular crew of it, with the exception of one (ANTON ANDERSEN) refused, not- Withstanding large rewards were offered, to go off, in consequence of the danger of launching and getting the boat through the surf; when, by the noble example and exertion of Mr. EARLE, a volunteer crew was formed, of which he was one, who, after repeated attempts, succeeded in getting through the surf, and brought away 14 human beings, and landed them in safety. Again this gallant crew, with Mr. EARLE maimed and bleeding, returned to the wreck, and brought off the remainder; but in beaching the boat she was upset, and this simple, kind, though lion-hearted man, whose example and daring had infused life and courage into all, was struck on the temple and never spoke more.

"Mr. C. B. CLAUDE, the agent for LLOYD'S, in writing to the British Consel at Hamburg, says, ' that if Mr. EARLE had not been present, and gone out, and by his example encouraged others, all would have perished; and it is my opinion that, under God's assistance, it was owing to Mr. EARLE'S influence that any lives were saved." He says, further, Mr. EARLE was very skilful in managing boats,' and thoroughly understood the risk he was running.' He did so, for he would not allow his son to accompany him; and, anticipating that he himself might never return, this brave man's last words were a hope that, if he were lost, his widow might be cared for. This widow is left utterly destitute. As some further evidence of what was thought of Mr. EARLE'S conduct on the spot, it will be sufficient to mention that there was a public funeral, at which, in procession, the ladies attended, the military, who fired over his grave, the surviving passengers and crew, the Governor of the district, the judicial authorities, the merchants —indeed, almost every soul in the place attended; and nothing was omitted on a foreign shore which could do honour to the memory of this noble-hearted Englishman." There were circumstances in the wreck of this steamer which have called forth the strictures of the powerful organ of the press above alluded to, circumstances which are too often attendant on the wrecks of British merchant-vessels, and which are indicative of the insufficiency of all measures yet taken by the public authorities, to reduce in amount that serious tax on British industry and heavy drain on British lives which the aggregate of even one year's wrecks unhappily occasion. It is not, however, our object now to go into any of these questions, but to confine our remarks to the tale, which, as we have stated, we feel a "melancholy pleasure " in reciting. Perhaps the analysis of that feeling, which will doubtless be shared with us by many of our readers, may not be without interest and profit.

The expression itself may at first seem paradoxical, but in reality it is not so.

Whence then does this mingled feeling arise ? Is it not melancholy to see a human being—maybe in the prime of life—in the possession of health and strength—leading a life of usefulness—made capable by the great Creator of enjoying this life with its varied associations—appreciating and being appreciated—loving and loved?—is it not melancholy to see such a one prematurely struck down—uprooted from the soil in which it has grown, like a tree by the winter's blast ? It is a melancholy sight! A sight at view of which no reasoning— no philosophy—no theory—can prevent our heart's vibration in. a corresponding key.

But, as the smile may lighten up the countenance, whilst the tears may yet rest on the eyelid; so, whilst our more tender feelings are awakened by the individual loss, our still higher nature views with satisfaction the greatness only of the moral act, and rejoices at the honour conferred on our common nature.

And what act is more noble—what act more entitled to the admiration of mankind, than the sacrifice of self for another's weal, or for the' public good? Although the principle of selfishness, in a restricted sense, has been implanted in our nature for the wisest of purposes; to insure our self-preservation, and, through each individual, the advancement and welfare of the whole species; and although such modified regard for ourselves and for those who are but an external part of ourselves, viz., our wives, and husbands, and children, and blood relations dependent on us, is undoubtedly one of the primary laws of nature; yet, through all ages, and in the ancient heathen as well as in the modern Christian world, the abnegation of self, and in its highest form, the sacrifice of life for the benefit of others, has been admired and extolled as the greatest of human virtues. For " greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend." It is this abnegation of self which has cast a halo round the memories, of the martyr—of the patriot warrior—of all who have sacrificed health and wealth, and life itself, in any shape, for the welfare of others.

It is this abnegation of self for the good of others which awakens in us a melancholy satisfaction in contemplating the heroic death of THOMAS EARLE.