the purpose, in the between decks.' In the morning my discourse was upon the conditions of discipleship, and the motives for complying with those conditions, as enforced by our Lord upon his disciples, when Peter attempted to dissuade him from his purpose of going to Jerusalem. The place was crowded. We had not fewer than 100 persons, who listened with marked attention. At the close of the morning service, I announced the subject for the evening, viz. The Transfiguration.' At three o'clock the decks were again crowded, and the seats filled. The wives and daughters of some English masters were present. You would have been delighted to see the ladies taken on board in chairs by a rope and pulley. The sailors seemed as happy to render assistance, as were the ladies to receive it. A prayer-meeting was held on board an English vessel at seven o'clock, sixty present; many of whom engaged in prayer, and gave solemn and thrilling exhortations. I visited the hospital at eight o'clock, where I found a little boy speechless with fever, and an unfortu nate captain who had suffered the amputation of three fingers, and nearly bled to death, because the arteries had not been properly taken up, the surgeon being half intoxicated when he performed the operation. Much is said in the mole concerning the erection of a chapel. The captains and mates seem extremely desirous that we should immediately set about it. It will be soon ascertained [whether government will permit it; we do not apprehend that it will be forbidden. We remain as yet in St. Petersburgh, but shall take lodgings soon in Cronstadt. The communication is so direct, that I can visit the mole every day from the city. My health is much better than it was the first summer, indeed I now feel none of the inconveniences peculiar to this climate. The kindness of our friends, instead of diminishing, is greater than ever, and we are encouraged on every hand to engage anew in our work. Wishing you and our cause every blessing from above, I am, etc. PORT OF ADELAIDE. The following letter has just been received from our esteemed agent Mr. BARCLAY, resident in Adelaide. Its contents require no com ment. MY DEAR SIR,-I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your favor, of April 4th, which has just come to hand, Several communications from myself to you have been forwarded, which I trust have been received by yourself. By those letters you will have learnt the state of religion at Port Adelaide, as connected with seamen; of my having had a kind of Bethel ship on board the Lady Wellington,' which has been removed to the Bar, as a light ship; consequently, she is now too far off. Another vessel has been purchased by government, as a pilot station; and on board this vessel, the 'Sir Charles Mc Carthy,' I can hold service when an opportunity offers. But I regret so few captains afford me the opportunity of hoisting the Bethel flag in this port. They complain of a want of time, or circumstances preventing their allowing service; but the great secret is, a want of interest in religion themselves. I have never yet met with a captain who felt concerned for the welfare of his own soul, but would make some arrangement by which his crew might be benefited. It has been a pleasure to me to wel come Capt. Poole, of the 'Caleb Angas,' to this place, on board this vessel. I conducted service each sabbath, during her stay, and was received with kindness by all on board. A young man left the ship for the hospital here-as every one thought to end his days. I visited him much, and had many refreshing seasons with him. For a long while his disease, (consumption,) baffled the skill of the medical attendants; latterly, however, God has raised him up, the warm weather which has set in, has recruited his strength, and he has been down to see me (nearly half a mile) several times. I do entertain the hope, that he will be restored to health and usefulness. You will be anxious to know what is doing at Port Adelaide. At the old port, Mr. Giles and myself continue to supply the place of worship there, alternately. Our attendance is small, seldom more than 20 to 30. Mr. Stow preaches once a month, in the afternoon. I regret, however, to say, I have been compelled to relinquish all public services, for more than a month, owing to a nervous affection, which has almost unfitted me for any exercise. At the new port, (just opening,) Mr. Giles and myself have preached several times, in the open air. This has been given up as insufferable in this climate; the Wesleyans preach under the government sheds. We are anxiously looking forward for some place to conduct worship in here, as the population is getting large. There is a subscription opened by the friends in connexion with the Episcopal church, to erect one at the port; they have, hitherto, made use of our place. Now that the vessels can come alongside the new port, I hope soon to be enabled to get permanently afloat. It would very much facilitate my movements here, if you, or any of the committee, would give the captain of any ship bound for this place a letter of introduction to me; they would then, probably, take my flag, and permit service. I rejoice to find several persons at the port who feel interested in seamen. There is a very great want of respect for the ordinances of religion, at the port; grog-shops are the bane of the place. Seamen abroad throw off all restraint, and appear in their worst characters. There are often men who leave their vessels and enter on coasting trips, who are, without exception, the most reckless class I ever met. Yet amidst this there is ground for encouragement. I often receive letters from captains with whom I have spent some happy days in South Australia, giving me an account of some whom we regarded as hopefully pious. I received one from Greenock yesterday, which afforded me much encouragement. You will please remember me kindly to the brethren at home engaged in the work, likewise to the committee. I must beg of them to send me a large Bethel flag, with all the news about the good cause, as soon as possible. My flag has been taken to sea by some vessel in mistake. With best wishes for the prosperity of this instrument in the hands of the church, for promoting the cause of God in the world, and bringing sinners to an acquaintance with himself, believe me yours, &c. MADDOX, PRINTER, BERMONDSKY, SOUTHWARK. DEAR BROTHER SAILOR:-I hope the picture I here present of you will not be offensive. Having been a sailor before the mast for many years, I know well the hardships which you endure; and having had my own eyes opened to see the danger of living in sin, and found the ways of holiness to be far more delightful, I venture to come forward, out of real love and concern for your immortal soul, to persuade you this day-this very hour-to put about, and follow the same course. To show you the chart of time and eternity, and help you to understand the pilot directions for the heavenly harbour, that by looking unto Jesus, the Captain of your salvation," you may at last reach the happy shores of the heavenly city, "the inheritance of the saints in light," much money has been expended, and many prayers offered up to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ on your behalf, by christian friends deeply interested in your eternal welfare. The passage which I have quoted at the commencement of this letter,* is strikingly applicable to you. It represents you as blind, deaf, and unconcerned. Though you see much of the power and greatness of God, you regard him not. A warning voice calls to you frequently and solemnly, but you hear it not. The bounty of God surrounds you perpetually, and accompanies you every moment, but you understand it not. You experience deliverance by his hand, times and ways without number, but you seek him not, to thank him or adore; neither say you in your hearts, "Let us now serve the Lord our God." This is your sad condition, and one more dreadful cannot be imagined. But But though this is the character of the greater part of sailors, yet, blessed be God, it is not of all. We rejoice to say that there are a few humble christian sailors to be met with. they are like beacon-lights, scattered and solitary on the rocky outskirts of the mighty ocean. While thousands of others are like those craggy cliffs, the habitations of unclean birds, wild and desolate, fit emblems, too, of that land of darkness and the shadow of death, to which they are fast driving. It is a lamentable truth, that a sailor on shore scarcely lives but for satisfying his lusts. Amidst numerous privations, he earns a little money, but rests not till he has squandered it in a course of profligacy, equally destructive to body and soul. His labours and enjoyments are in perfect contrast. The sweat of his brow lasts for more years than his joy of heart for days; and what he has been months in gaining, he is frequently but hours in spending. His life is without pleasure, and his death without hope. Follow him in his retreat, seek him in his berth, and listen to him even in his bed. He utters the most dreadful curses, oaths, and execrations. He lives in defiance and hostility to a merciful God, and delights in reviling his name. Such are the poor sailors, who buffet the storms, and are driven about on the deep, the sport of waves, like wild weeds tossed on the flowing tide. And while they continue thus, and so long as captains and officers ridicule and oppose everything of a religious nature, we cannot hope to see our Bethel meetings well attended, nor our Bethel societies well supported. What I have now stated are painful truths, which may offend many to read, but which cannot be disproved. The christian sailor weeps over these things; he feels a sorrow which pierces his heart, and like Jeremiah, he says, "Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes fountains of tears, that I might weep day and night" for my miserable brethren. Because they are wofully degraded, but they know it not. They are as insensible as the rock upon which the frail vessel is cast by the furious billows. Alas! alas! the hearts of these sons of men are full of evil; and madness is in their hearts while they live, but quickly they go. to the dead. "Man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?" If we turn our attention to the goodness and long-suffering of God towards sailors, we shall find that he deals not with them as with other men. "They that go down to the sea in ships, and do business on the mighty waters, these see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep." But they are like Pharaoh of old, continually beholding the power of his mighty arm, and enjoying the favours of his delivering hand, yet say with him, "who is the Lord that I should fear him ?" God invites you in various ways to love and seek him. He spreads forth all the glories of heaven, and the beauties of many lands to attract your minds, and exalt you in contemplation on his works, to think on the might and majesty of your Creator. The dangers of the deep are calculated to show your dependence on his protection. How soon in a moment of security can the Lord send his frightful storm, and prove to you your insecurity? His voice commands the tempests forth, which hurls the gallant ship to destruction. It is He who suffers the raging deep to swallow hundreds of your fellow-seamen, and will you not take warning by their sudden and dreadful death? Will you not lay to heart the goodness of God which spares you, and even now is leading you to repentance and not to hardness of heart? Oh! foolish people and without understanding! For you, the Lord does great things, but ye have rebellious and revolting hearts. Sailors of every degree, let me implore you to think of these things. Answer faithfully before God, are you not the characters I have described? You have long been the fools that make a mock at sin, but do you think that you can finally escape |