spoke of the benefit they had received in attending the meeting. One of them said, "I am led to see more than ever what a sinner I have been, and I now see that Christ is the only Saviour. I do thank God for the mercy he has shown to me." I had much conversation with each of these men, and was happy to find that their experience went to prove, that although they had but recently been led to see the error of their ways, yet, nevertheless, their first impressions took place at Bethel meetings, and that they found much comfort in attending those means of grace. But there are circumstances of a very trying nature, that call forth our sympathy and pity, as well as the exercise of faith. Applying to a captain to hoist the Bethel flag, and let me hold a meeting, looking very earnestly at me, he said, "I am not your way of thinking." I began to speak very seriously respecting the situation he held and its responsibility. I am not your way of thinking," was his answer. Urging my request yet further, and referring to his own personal salvation, his reply was, "I am not your way of thinking." Referring to the day of death, of judgment, and eternity, to all his answer still was, "I am not your way of thinking." I said, "Well, sir, when I see you again, if spared, I hope you will have altered your opinion.' "I don't intend to be of your way of thinking," were still his words, as I turned from him to speak to his crew. I found them too much like their captain, and one of them told me he would not have a Bible if I would give it to him.

On another occasion, when making an application to hoist the Bethel flag and have a meeting, the captain, who had been called out of his cabin, said, "I don't want any psalm-singers on board my ship." I was about to reply, but was prevented by his hasty retreat and rude behaviour. Not one of the crew would receive tracts. I found I was on board the wrong ship, and retired, praying that the eyes of their understanding might be opened.

Yet, in the midst of these difficulties, which try our faith, we know that the good work of grace is making headway in the hearts of very many of our brother sailors.

SAILORS' CHURCH.

We have the satisfaction to know that good is doing here, and that the Divine blessing attends the ministration of God's own word. Our Sabbathevening prayer meetings, after the service, have been well attended, and many have found it good thus to approach the throne of grace. The last Sabbath evening was a time of much refreshing to many who were presentthank God for the rich displays of his grace!

SAILORS' LODGING-HOUSES.

My visits have, in general, been acceptable. The tracts thankfully received, and, I trust, read; and where small parcels of tracts have been given, and put into the sailor's chest as a part of his stores for the ensuing voyage, we hope they will be followed with the Divine blessing. The old magazines, so kindly prepared for use by Captain Allen, R.N., are often inquired after by those who have seen and read them before. The distribution of tracts in the London and St. Katharine Docks, and also by our kind friends who attend on the Sabbath days for this purpose, has contributed much to the directing many sailors to the church.

VISITATION OF THE SICK.

In visiting the sick, in the abodes of wretchedness and want, I have met three cases, where my visits, I trust, have not been in vain. There is an

anxious desire to have the word of God read, and they heartily join their responses in prayer. I have paid seventeen visits to sick persons, one of whom has died, but, alas! leaving no evidence of a change of heart.

MR. S. LONSDALE'S REPORTt.

It is through the mercy and goodness of God that I am permitted again to report the labours of another month. I am thankful to say, through the grace of God, our meetings on the river during the past month have been, on the whole, of an encouraging nature; many fervent and earnest prayers have been offered up by our pious sailors, and our meetings on board have been well attended. At three of my services, appropriate addresses have been given by pious captains. It is pleasing to find amongst those who go down to the sea,' some who are anxious to see the work of the Lord revive amongst their brethren, and who are using all the means within their reach to bring them to the knowledge of Christ. And we have every reason to believe that God is owning the labours of his servants, and that the knowledge of his Great Name is spreading over the mighty waters. I am happy to state I have met with two interesting cases of conversion, where God has revealed himself to the seeking sinner, on board of his own ship. The one was on board of our good brother, Captain Kelly, of the Emerald, who is favoured with most of his crew being praying men. I was holding a service on board, when he called upon one of his men to engage in prayer, and he told me that he had lately found peace with God at their family altar on board; and when this man arrived at home, he got his son to go with him to the means of grace, and he also is now under serious impressions. The other case is a captain, who, with his wife and child, was exposed to that dreadful storm of the 5th of March. They lost their vessel, and he, his wife and child, and crew, were in the boat for about five hours. They were at length picked up by a small vessel, and in about twelve hours they lost her, and they again suffered shipwreck. But, through the goodness of God, they were saved after all. It appears that the captain and his wife have seen the necessity of giving their hearts to God; and while they, with a praying sailor or two, were pleading with God for mercy in their own cabin, He was pleased to impart peace to their troubled hearts. When I was holding a service on board of the New Prosperous, they attended, and the captain prayed earnestly to God, and devoutly thanked Him for the great deliverance he had experienced. Thus he attended to the exhortation of the Psalmist, and "praised the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men." The work of the Lord is evidently going on, and impressions are being made on the hearts of sailors, which we hope will lead them to Christ, and the full enjoyment of his great salvation. We, through the Divine blessing, are sowing the seed by the preaching of the everlasting Gospel, and the distribution of Bibles, Testaments, tracts, and useful books. We trust that the truth thus brought to the sailors will find its way to their hearts, and that they will become pious and useful men. The work of the Lord on the river, as far as I am able to see, looks cheering. I have felt encouraged and blessed while I have been endeavouring to do others good. Our cabins have been, on the whole, well filled, and our prayer is that God may own the labours of his servants, and that our sailors may be saved.

I have also attended to the lodging-houses, and have endeavoured to do good there. All we are able to do at some of them is to give the tracts at the door; but I trust, through perseverance and kindness, we shall gain

access to them all. The Docks have also been visited, and we have tried to persuade the sailor to look after the things which belong to his peace. The means have been used, and all we can now do is to pray that God may bless them. During the month, I have attended three public meetings, all of which were tolerably well attended, and much good feeling manifested towards the sailors' cause. At one of these, which was held at Uxbridge, I was accompanied by our friend and brother, Captain Hasted, when a beautiful Bethel Flag was presented to him by the Rev. Dr. Hewlett, on behalf of the kind ladies who compose this Auxiliary Committee, with their earnest prayer for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom among our seamen. I trust that the prayers of these pious ladies will be answered, and that their efforts to do good to sailors may be crowned with God's blessing, and that the redeemed spirits of seamen may deck the crown of their rejoicing, whilst they shine as the stars for ever and ever.

During the past month I have held 13 services afloat, attendance 208, and four on shore; have paid 493 visits to ships; and 210 to sailors' lodging-houses. I have sold 46 Bibles, and 30 Testaments; and have distributed 2,760 tracts, and 51 old Magazines.

MR. H. V. BAILEY'S REPORT.

It may, indeed, be said of our brethren who do business upon great waters, "that in the midst of life they are in death." A few mornings since, in visiting a tier of vessels lying in the river, on the first vessel I boarded I saw sorrow pictured in the countenance of each of the crew, when, on inquiring the cause, the reply was, "Oh, sir, we have just lost one of our shipmates, a fine young fellow, twenty-one years of age. Half an hour ago he fell from a barge lying alongside, and before we could reach him he went to the bottom." The captain willingly consented to hoist the Bethel flag for a service that evening, when, to an attentive company, I pointed out the brevity and uncertainty of human life. In referring to my journal the same day, I found the last time I had conducted divine service on board this vessel was to improve the death of a young man, nineteen years of age, who fell from a vessel lying in the same tier. In visiting the Lower Pool, the following day, I was informed two men had just been drowned from vessels lying there. Whilst these deeply-affecting circumstances cry aloud to our seamen, "Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh," they seem also to say to all who profess to be interested in the sailor's spiritual welfare, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might." In my report, I wish to express my gratitude to Almighty God for his watchful care over me during the past month. One day, in visiting vessels lying in the St. Katharine Docks, I had a very narrow escape of either being drowned or breaking some of my limbs; but, by the good providence of God, I escaped with only a few bruises. I feel pleasure in stating that the services I have held during the month have been refreshing seasons from the presence of the Lord; and I trust, at the great day of account, it will be seen that the word has not been spoken in vain. At one service, twenty-five seatnen and captains were present, out of whom nine engaged in fervent prayer. At another, since, twenty-two were present, and after a short sermon, eleven engaged in prayer. A captain, at the close of the meeting, said, "This has been the happiest evening of my life;" and often have I heard our dear brethren in their prayers exclaim, "Master, it is good to be here ;" or, "This is, indeed, the gate of heaven." During the month our flag has been hoisted by captains who had not hoisted a Bethel flag before. I was much pleased one morning with

tidings brought to me by one of our excellent Bethel captains, to the effect that two captains, who attended several of the services I held the month previous, found peace to their minds, and as soon as they reached home joined themselves to a Christian church. One evening, at a service in the Lower Pool, at the close of my discourse, the captain very earnestly engaged in prayer. In our conversation before I left his vessel, I said, "I never remember hearing you engage publicly before, sir." He replied, "No, my friend; I never felt before as I have done this evening. I have long been seeking mercy, now I have peace with God through Christ."

I trust my visits to the seamen's lodging-houses have been made a blessing. One day, at one of these houses, I met with a sailor who seemed inclined to be sceptical. After meeting his objections, he said he had been robbed of a portion of his wages by a man who professed to be religious. I reminded him of the judgment day, when God would reward every man according to his works, still pressing upon him the importance of personal religion. I asked him if he possessed a Bible. He replied, "No, nor have I read one for fourteen years." As he could not then afford to buy one, not having money sufficient to pay his lodgings, I gave him a Bible, urging him to read it, which he promised to do. Before I left him he said, "You remind me, sir, of what my dear father taught me in my youth." He went on to state that his father had lived and died a happy man, and was for several years secretary to a missionary society. May this prodigal have grace to return to his father's God.

During the month I have held 12 services afloat, attended by 198 seamen, out of whom 64 engaged in prayer; also 9 services on shore, and 2 public meetings. I have visited 476 vessels, and paid 149 visits to seamen's lodging-houses; distributed 2,520 tracts, and 87 old magazines; sold 32 English Bibles, and 24 Testaments, 6 Swedish Testaments, and 18 of the Society's Magazines.

MR. EVAN EVAN'S (WELSH) REPORT.

Since my last report, I have had very numerous meetings, and good attendance at all of them; but recently they have not been so numerous, owing to the scarcity of Welsh vessels in the river. I have reason to be thankful for the manifestations of God's presence among us in our religious services ou board of ships. On board of the S, we had a very interesting service; two sailors prayed, and at its close a very happy social meeting for Christian converse. One young sailor said that he had felt himself the very character that had been represented in my address, and that he was determined not to halt between two opinions any longer; that through God's help he would follow Him. As there were some experienced Christian captains and men, he was much encouraged in the new course that he had undertaken to steer. On board of H-, of N——, we had a crowded cabin of many praying men. This was one of the best attended and most lively meetings I have ever held in a cabin. The pious Captain N was at his usual post, leading the singing. Three prayed; and after my address we had very pleasing conversation on Christian experience. After encouraging one another in the way we should go, we were, by one of the captains, commended, in a short but very expressive prayer, to the especial care of Him that hath his preserving eye watching us, and his willing ear awaiting our supplication. On board of S-—, of N——, I had also a crowded meeting and deep attention from my audience, while addressing them from that blessed portion of the Word, 2 Cor. viii. 9. On board of my favourite vessel, H——, of N——, again we had a full cabin; most excellent singing; three engaged in prayer; and almost all stayed back for further conversation in our social meeting. Í

must acknowledge that it was good to be there, as it was no less than a house of God and the gate of heaven. On board of G C- we had not so crowded a meeting, only very few vessels being in the river. I held another meeting on board of S--S-, then lying alongside, and had of course the same hearers. We had a very interesting account of his Christian experience by one of the mates; how he spends his time at sea, and what rule he adopts when in port. I hope that the Lord will continue to bless his word for the salvation of sailors. I have held nine services since my last report; 192 have attended. Tracts distributed, 320; old magazines, 18; vessels visited, 30; sailors' lodging-houses visited, 8.

REV. CARL VON BÜLOW'S REPORT.

By the grace of God, I have attended to my duties during the past month; and now to report what I have been enabled to do for the promotion of the great work of our Lord.

In the course of the month, as well as in the former, a good many Italian vessels have arrived, and I have disposed of not a few Bibles and New Testaments, as well as tracts, in that language. I have, however, experienced very different receptions from them. Some would not have anything to do with me; one mate said, "We are Roman Catholics, and good Christians; but you are Protestants, Lutherans, and no Christians; he is no Christian who does not believe in the Pope." However, by perseverance, I have found some become very friendly, and have both received tracts and bought Bibles and New Testaments. However, the greater part of them cannot read. The Spaniards are also continuing to be very desirous of getting tracts and purchasing the New Testament, or the small volumes containing portions of it. I have only found one Portuguese in the London Dock, and another in the East India Docks, who, besides receiving tracts, purchased New Testaments and portions of the Bible. But there are comparatively few, both among the Portuguese and also among the French seamen, that can read, and seldom that I have any opportunity to dispose of Bibles or New Testaments in the French language.

From the northern parts of Europe there have not been many arrivals till towards the close of this month, when a very large fleet of all the different northern nations arrived. I endeavoured to board as many as I could, distributing tracts and circulars among them for two days, and appointing ser vices in the Infant School on the 1st of April. On the three former Sundays I had in vain waited there for hearers, and only, once, three Danish captains attended, to whom I preached Jesus and the resurrection. One of these I afterwards visited, who seemed to have taken great offence. He said he had heard many great preachers, but never had heard such "condemnation" before-and it was written, "we should not judge;" the world was always getting more enlightened, and therefore, of course, better, and not worse. If anything of what I said in answer on this topic found an entrance, I cannot judge; but men will have God to be reconciled, not alone to the sinner, but also to his sins; and thus, "we are poor sinners, but God is merciful," is the most convenient doctrine to the flesh. But I have also had several most satisfactory conversations, both with Danes and Germans, and especially with one German captain, who seemed, indeed, to look to Jesus. I have continued to visit the lodging-houses, and distributed a good many tracts among the foreign sailors, mostly Greek and Italian. There have also been many German emigrants this month, and several of these parties have been Roman Catholics, to whom I have, with good success, explained what