Our friends in the provinces continue "stedfast and immoveable;" but the question asked our deputations is, "What are the merchants, 'the princes' of London, doing for their own port?" The visit of our esteemed friend, the Rev. Edward Adey, to some of the leading towns in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, has been, though not fruitful of immediate pecuniary benefits, yet very encouraging, as having paved the way for a specific arrangement of services. The first of these are to be held this month; and we have much pleasure in acknowledging our obligation to our valued friend, the Rev. G. Smith, of Poplar, who has kindly undertaken to preach two sermons for the Society, on the 12th, at King Street Chapel, Portsea, and to attend a public meeting at Ryde and Newport on the two succeeding evenings. We have the satisfaction to announce that the Rev. G. Smith has also consented to plead the cause of the sailor, in aid of the funds of the Clerkenwell Auxiliary, in Spa Fields Chapel, on Friday evening, 3rd inst. The service will commence at seven o'clock, when we trust that a large attendance and a liberal collection will serve to encourage the devoted friends who will thus commemorate the satisfactory close of the first year of their promising Association.

The visit of the Society's minister to Bath, Bradford, Frome, and Westbury, though not much more prosperous, pecuniarily regarded, yet has served to show that a more systematised plan of visitation would ensure more regular and permanent support; it being the fact, that, in Bath itself, the claims of the Society were not even known by the leading ministers, partly through the numerous applications of persons to whom we have so frequently alluded, and concerning whom we still urge the necessity of caution. The friends at Bath could not give a collection, but our deputation was allowed to state the claims of the Sailor at the united missionary prayer meeting, at Argyle Chapel, after which he had the happiness to receive the free-will offerings of several who seemed to regret the absence of a collection. At Frome, the ministers, one and all, acknowledged their past neglect of the Society, and faithfully promised us their cordial support another year.

Our Bradford friends, ever ready to respond to our appeal, collected handsomely: whilst we are indebted to several kind friends at Bristol for contributions, who already support their own seamen's mission, and the local efforts of an excellent brother amongst the river-men of Bridgewater.

We are happy in having to report not only that our Cornish friends have an agent appointed, who is about in a few days to enter upon his work, but that the highest hopes may be fairly cherished of greatest good through his labours; our dear friend, Mr. Trotter, having deeply interested the congregation at the Sailors' Church, and shown that he is indeed a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, and eminently calculated for the work.

Missionary Operations.

PORT OF LONDON.

CAPTAIN FRYNN'S REPORT.

It is a source of great satisfaction to know that the evangelisation of the sons of the ocean is not a doubtful speculation; and we have the happiness of knowing, that under the influence of Divine grace and the instrumentality that is now employed, whereby the truths of the Gospel are circulated, a goodly number have been brought out of darkness into marvellous light-have been drawn from the paths of sin and vice, of wretchedness and misery, into the ways of peace and holiness. And thus the Lord has raised up, from amongst those men "who get their bread at the peril of their lives," many whose zeal and love for his cause have rendered them eminently useful in pointing their brother sailors to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. The signs of a fruitful ingathering already appears, and whilst many sons are brought to glory, yet the ranks continue to be filled up, and so shall they be until the conquests of our Immanuel shall be complete.

Hasten on the glorious period,
Hail the great auspicious day;
When from eastern shore to western
All shall Christ the Lord obey.
Sailors own him as their Saviour,
Yield to his divine command;
Guided by this heavenly Pilot,

Soon they'll reach the promised land.

In my visitation of the shipping on the river Thames, and in the London, St. Katharine, East and West India Docks, the City, Surrey, and Regent Canals, I have frequently held conversations with owners of ships, captains, mates, seamen, and cabin boys. Nor have the various grades of bargemen and lightermen on the river been passed by; for I have happily found amongst those men very many who are the subjects of Divine grace, and who give full evidence of their love to God, by their consistent walk and conversation. I have this past month met several from the inland navigation barges who have attended my Bethel meetings; some of whom have most devoutly engaged in prayer amongst us, and we have found it good thus to meet together.

There are some circumstances that I cannot pass over, as proofs of the work of God upon the minds of our scafaring brethren. On visiting the vessels in Millhole tier one morning, during the past month, I met a captain of a vessel whom I had known to be hostile to our endeavours in holding Bethel meetings, &c., and to my very great astonishment he kindly invited me to come down into the cabin. Before I had time to speak, he thus addressed me:-"I am glad to see you on board the L-. I am sorry I have behaved so unkindly to you in times past, and treated you so coolly. I hope never to do so again. Give me your hand, Sir, and forget and forgive the past; and now, from this time, whilst I command this vessel, whenever it is convenient, you can hoist the Bethel flag. I have experienced a great change since I last saw you. At a Bethel meeting, held on board a vessel in Bugsby's Hole,

where I attended about four months since, I was convinced of my sinful ways, and led to seek for mercy, which mercy, I trust, I have found. I find now what you once told me is true, that there is no happiness out of Christ; but, thanks be to God, I find there is comfort and happiness in Christ." Interrupting my friend for a moment, I said, "I am glad to hear all this, and hope to hear more yet; but shall the Bethel flag be hoisted this morning at the mast-head of the L--" "Certainly," said the captain; and he instantly rang the bell to order the mate to hoist the Bethel flag. Further conversation took place of a very pleasing character, and at seven, p.m., our Bethel meeting was held. It was one, I trust, long to be remembered by many. My friend, the captain, after many tears, began to pray, for the first time, in public. I shall never forget the first expression of his prayer," Lord, help a poor sinner to pray! and so affected was he, that he had at intervals to stop and give vent to his feelings by tears.

I could not refrain from weeping whilst kneeling by his side. I addressed them from the words "Behold, he prayeth." It was a solemn time, and, I trust, will be made a blessing to those that were then assembled. Five seamen afterwards engaged in prayer.

Whilst visiting ships in the West India Docks, I met two coloured men on board of one ship, with whom, after I had given them tracts (for which they appeared very thankful), I held some conversation. I asked the eldest, who was, probably, about twenty-four years of age, "Do you, my young friend, know anything about Jesus Christ? "Oh yes," he replied, "I tink I know he be my Saviour. I poor ruined sinner. Jesus savey me,

poor negro man. Dis I know, he good to me; teachee me read good books ; teachee me pray; teachee me love good people; teachee me love him, too." Well," I said, "I am glad to hear you say all this." Then, addressing the younger, I said, "I hope you also can tell me something about Christ." He replied, "I not speak much-I not say much Englishe-I speak dat Jesu Christe do much good for me; I very glad for what he do; he washee not dis hand, not dis face, not dis head, but he take poor heart and washee dat, and mak him white like (what you call dat?) snow." "Well, then,” said I, "you both believe in Christ Jesus for salvation." "Me b'lieve! oh, yes, me b'lieve," said one; and then the other, with joy beaming in his countenance, said, "Me always much glad when some good peoples speakee of Christ. Me love to know some more tell of Christ! Oh, my Christ, savey poor me; be good to poor me; he die for poor me; I wish love him much." J found these two men were members of a Baptist Church at Sierra Leone. One had been a convert about four and the other about seven years. The mate of the ship informed me he believed they were both sincere Christian men. I gave them tracts, being highly gratified with the interview. Their vessel was about soon to sail for Gambia. Having a few spare minutes from labour, we repaired into the forecastle, where I commended them to God in prayer. Thus parting with my two coloured brethren, whom, I trust, the great Head of the Church will keep faithful unto death.

My Bethel meetings on the river Thames have been of a very encouraging nature, and accompanied with very many evident tokens of good. If the earnest prayer, the deep attention to the preached word, the falling tear, the cry for mercy, and the anxious inquiry after salvation, be indications of a cheering and pleasing nature, then those are evidences that have this month passed under my notice.

At a meeting held on board the Emulous, seventeen were present, six prayed.

S

The captain, a pious man, gave me a pleasing account of the work of God at Memel; also an account relative to the conversion of the carpenter, on board his own ship.

A meeting held on board the Newcastle was attended with a hallowed influ. ence. There were present twenty-four, six of whom prayed; and at the close, there were three sailors labouring under strong convictions. I continued a little longer to pray and converse with them, and trust the time thus spent was not in vain.

I held a meeting on board the Harmony, when, as is usual on board that vessel, we had a cabin, steerage, and state-room filled. The captain, mate, and five sailors prayed, and truly God was in our midst to do us good.

A very excellent meeting was held on board the Auckland, four pious captains engaged in prayer, and two sailors. The vessel was kindly offered by the captain for Bethel meetings at any future time. Twenty-one were present on this occasion.

On board the Falcon, a Bethel meeting was held, when there was a poor sailor so affected, that whilst I was engaged in prayer he cried out, in anguish of soul," I'm a ruined man." He wept much during the address, which was from those words, "What shall I do to be saved?" I have conversed with this man since, and hope he is truly in earnest for salvation. May the Lord deepen the work of grace on his heart! I mention those few instances, as a sketch of my services, during the past month, on the river Thames, and in the various docks and canals; and, upon a summary of the whole, I am led thankfully to bless my God for his goodness and mercy.

At the Sailors' Church there is a growing interest in the cause, and a spirit of hearing excited, several wishing to join in Christian communion. Many, from whom I hear, find it good to wait upon the Lord in this place. Our Sabbath evening prayer meetings are well attended, and, we trust, God is present to bless on those occasions.

The open-air meetings held during the past month, near the Sailors' Church, at half-past five p.m., we hope have not been in vain. I have attended them all, and assisted in the same, either in prayer or in addressing the people. On those occasions many follow us from the open-air preaching into the Sailors' Church, so that we have reason to hope, both in the Church and out of the Church, good will be done.

I have also attended to the visitation of the sailors' lodging-houses. Brother Lonsdale and myself have accompanied each other in this work, and we find it well thus to labour in concert, when circumstances will admit.

The tract is generally well received, and sometimes a few copies of the Scriptures are purchased. May God bless all these labours, for his name's sake!

I have held 12 services afloat; 204 in attendance afloat; 14 services on shore; 415 vessels visited; 95 visits to sailors' lodging-houses; 20 Bibles sold; 8 Testaments; 1,007 tracts distributed; 75 back numbers of Magazine given; 17 visits to sick persons.

MR. S. LONSDALE'S REPORT.

Sailors' missionaries need much the prayers of Christians who feel interested in the spiritual welfare of the important class amongst whom they labour. Our position is one of great responsibility. We have men to deal with who are not merely subject to the various diseases which may be prevalent in the world, but they are also liable to many dangers and privations which others