One morning, in visiting a tier of vessels in Mill Hole, I was informed there was a man on board one of the vessels who had the cholera. I was soon in the forecastle by his side, pointing him to Jesus. After showing him the way of salvation and praying with him, I left him with the impression, that in a very short period he would be an inhabitant of the eternal world, which proved to be the case. In the evening I held a service in the same tier, in which I referred to his case. The cabin was crowded, and the master belonging to the vessel on board of which the man died, was present. He wept much during the meeting, and at the close he thanked me for the service, as well as those who had prayed, for their prayers for himself and his crew. Two or three days after, while visiting upon the river, I was informed this master himself was also dead. Several of my services have been characterised by a devotional spirit and apparent contrition of heart, and I trust there are not a few among these our brethren, who are exposed to so many dangers and suffer so many privations, who are inquiring, with a depth of interest and solicitude which they never felt before, “Men and brethren, what must we do to be saved?" It is pleasing to see, at the services conducted at the Sailors' Church, seamen of other countries and other colours listening attentively to the word of life. One Lord's day evening during the month, happening to enter the church a short time before service commenced, I found three fine young coloured men bowed before the communion table. They were repeating their prayers with great fervency, often bowing their heads and crossing their breasts. When they rose from their knees they made toward the door, and for a moment or two made diligent search for the font of holy water, when I informed them it was not used in our place of worship, but that if they would follow me I would give them a seat, where in a few moments they would hear about Christ. During the whole of the service they paid great attention, and thanked me when they left.

During the month I spent one Lord's day in Bedfordshire, preaching for the Society; also one day at Barking, visiting the smacks and fishermen's families, and preached in the evening. I have held sixteen services afloat, attended by 263 seamen, and seven on shore; paid 547 visits to vessels and 108 to seamen's lodging-houses; distributed 2113 tracts and fifty-four old magazines; sold twenty-one Bibles, six Testaments, and seventeen of the Society's magazines.

PROVINCIAL OPERATIONS.

CORNWALL.

MR. J. TROTTER'S REPORT.

Falmouth, September 3, 1849. MY DEAR SIR,-I will now give you a brief history of our operations. amongst the sailors, fishermen, and watermen upon the Cornish coast, since my arrival in the county. In your last number you published my views concerning these men, and I may now say that I feel confirmed in their correctness. My highest ambition is to get as many of them as I can into the ark of salvation. The Lord's name be praised for the refreshing showers of grace already realised, and for the smallest tokens of future success.

Extracts from my journal, perhaps, will give you the best idea of our movements here.

Sunday, Aug. 5th.-Falmouth. Preached in the Wesleyan Chapel in the afternoon, and in the Baptist Chapel in the evening.

Tuesday, 7th.-Visited all the vessels in the harbour, and all the lodginghouses I could find; gave each seaman a tract; conversed with several watermen upon the quay on the subject of religion; gave them tracts. Preached at Flushing in the evening; about twenty-six seamen present.

Thursday, 9th.-Visited three German vessels, and distributed twenty-four tracts among their crews. They received me and my tracts very kindly. Gave about sixty tracts to our English seamen, some upon the shore, and some in their vessels. Visited St. Mawes and Port Scather, accompanied by Mr. J. Downing. Preached upon the quay at Falmouth, in the evening, to a large congregation. About fifty seamen, watermen, &c., were present; they received the word with gladness.

Friday, 10th.-Waited upon the friends of our cause at Penryn, and visited the vessels lying there.

Sunday, 12th.-Distributed about 100 tracts to seamen in the streets, at the lodging-houses, and on the quays. Preached upon the quay in the evening; about 100 seamen and watermen were present, with many of their families.

Monday, 13th.-Distributed seventy tracts amongst seamen and their families. Talked with them personally about their souls; preached again upon the quay in the evening, to a listening multitude, from these words-" Why stand ye here all the day idle?" More than 100 sons of the deep were present, besides many of their wives and families.

Thursday, 16th.-Afloat to-day in the Roads. Visited twenty-seven large vessels; distributed about 160 English tracts and forty foreign ones, and ten old magazines. On board of the barque Hercules, of London, I found two seamen sick. I asked to see them, which I was permitted to do with some reluctance, arising from a fear of infection. I went below, and found one of them partly recovered, but the other was very ill. There being no hopes of his recovery, I at once pointed him to the "friend and Saviour of mankind." Ill as he was, poor young fellow, he received the word with a glad heart. After commending him to God, and shaking his hard hand, I left him, rejoicing at having had an opportunity of administering some consolation to a dying fellow-man. The vessel was bound for Quebec; two of the crew had already died of cholera, one of them after seven, and the other nine hours' illness; and what made it more striking to me they were both fellow-townsmen, and the only two in the ship that belonged to North Shields. May I meet them in a better world, when the sea shall have given up her dead. Addressed some Sunday scholars, at Myner, in the evening.

Saturday, 18th.-Left Penzance at ten o'clock this morning, for Scilly; we had a quick passage across.

Sunday, 19th.-Preached three times, and made collections for the parent Society. Preached once through the week, and spoke at two temperance meetings.

Friday, 24th. Took my leave of Scilly, where I had received much kindness from every one I saw, but especially F. Banfield, Esq., and Mr. Weymouth, and their families.

Sunday, 26th.-Penzance. Visited all the vessels in the harbour; distributed about 100 tracts to the seamen on board and those on shore, and invited them to the Bethel in the afternoon. Many of them came, and at the time

appointed I preached; the chapel was well filled; about thirty seamen were present.

Monday, 27th.-Went to St. Ives, and made some arrangements for the annual visit. From St. Ives to Hayle; preached to a large congregation in the evening, after which a prayer meeting was held. A woman on this occasion found peace with God, and a sailor, though under the influence of liquor when he came to the service, before it closed was deeply convinced of his sin.

Tuesday, 28th.-Returned to Penzance. Visited an emigrant ship about to sail for America; 150 on board. Preached at Newlyn in the evening, and held a prayer meeting; there was a good congregation of fishermen.

Such is the report of your agent from the west. I think you will find that there has been about 100 vessels visited, 900 tracts distributed (nearly 100 of which were foreign); twenty-four of your useful miscellaneous magazines given away; eighteen services held; and as to the number of seamen in attendance I can hardly say, as I believe many of them heard me more than once.

Praying that the work of God may prosper every where, amongst seamen of every clime, I remain, yours, most respectfully, JOHN TROTTER.

Mr. T. A. Fieldwick.

MILFORD.

CAPTAIN J. LEWIS'S REPORT.

At the close of another month I am thankful to say I have reason to believe my labours are owned and blessed of God. I have been much favoured lately in being able to administer comfort under circumstances of a very painful nature. A vessel from Waterford, bound up channel, put in here with the master ill; she had been in the harbour but a few hours when he expired. The distressed widow and child, who were on board, were immediately brought on shore, overwhelmed with grief and alarm. I lost no time in visiting the suddenly bereaved ones, and did my best to pour the balm of consolation into their almost broken hearts. The mate, also, was present, upon whom this sudden stroke of God's providence made a deep impression; they joined me at the footstool of mercy in pleading that this awful event might be sanctified, and that the rest of the ship's company might be spared. At her earnest request I followed (in company with a few other individuals) his remains to the tomb, in a neighbouring church-yard. The vessel sailed again the following day, and reached her destination all well.

Some of our meetings on board have been very interesting. The ships carrying timber to the dock-yard, having large crews, afford good opportunities for Bethel meetings, dispensing tracts, copies of the Scriptures, &c. The Agnes, of Shields, stands foremost on the list; the master of this vessel eagerly embraced every opportunity of welcoming the flag" on board, and seemed anxious that his people should get all the religious advantages possible whilst in harbour. The effect of this conduct was manifest in the comfortable and orderly manner in which everything seemed to be carried on, on board. They purchased among them eight copies of the Scriptures, and nine Sailors' Hymn-books, and determined to have regular service on board. The captain spoke most highly of our Society, alluding, in the warmest terms, to the many instances of good he had seen resulting from the faithful labours of its agents.. They esteem it a special boon to be favoured with one of our libraries, and

have lately had a missionary box, the proceeds of which (10s.) were turned out here, and which I herewith forward. The Shaw, of Maryport, arrived here the early part of last month, water-logged, the crew having been, for the previous six days, continually at the pumps, and with great difficulty got into harbour. On boarding, I found them much exhausted, but in a nice spirit to receive instruction. I was much interested in what the master told me of the many special interpositions of Providence in his behalf, during a long seafaring life. It was most pleasant to see that he was enabled to realise the Divine hand in all his deliverances, some of which were very remarkable. seemed hearty in the Bethel cause, and the serious deportment of his crew bore testimony to the salutary effect of good example.

He

Among the number of sick which I am daily in the habit of visiting, I have lately lost one, a young lad (a shipwright) who, a few months ago, bid fair for long life. In the spring of the year he was seized with consumption, and on the bed of sickness learned the way to life and happiness; his faith in the Saviour was strong and clear, and he proved to those around him how gloriously it could overcome the fear of death and the grave.

I have held twelve Bethel meetings, 125 sailors present; two on shore; paid thirty-seven visits to lodging-houses; sixty-four visits to seamen's families, and sixty-seven visits to sick. Sold twelve English Bibles, six Testaments; ten Welsh Bibles, five Testaments. Distributed thirty-five old Magazines, 407 English, and 264 Welsh tracts.

WISBECH.

REPORT OF MR. W. DENNIS.

The seamen's cause in the port of Wisbech continues to meet with success, through the blessing of Almighty God, in His Word being made effectual unto salvation to them that believe. The congregations at the Seamen's Chapel are very good, and great attention is manifested to the word delivered. Sometimes, on Sabbath evenings, the chapel is quite full. No less than 214 sailors have attended the services at the Bethel these last two months. On the last Sabbath evening, Sept. 2nd, a service was held to improve the death of three sailors, who died very suddenly of the cholera. One of them was master of the schooner Sarah, Wisbech. The congregation was very large, and attentive to a discourse delivered from Eccles. vii. 14" In the day of adversity consider ”— and it is believed that this service was not in vain. During this summer two new vessels have been launched, and a public religious service has been held on board of each. The fine brig Tycho Wing was launched in the month of May, and upwards of 3,000 people assembled to witness the spectacle. On Friday evening, May 11th, a public service was held on board this vessel, when about 120 people were present, twenty sailors and two watermen included. Great attention was manifested by the congregation, and at the close of the service prayer was offered for the blessing of God to rest upon the captain and all the crew that sailed on board of her. A handsome Bible and Sailors' Hymn-book was presented by the owner, R. Young, Esq., for the use of the ship's crew. Another service was held on board of the Trio, of Wisbech, last Wednesday evening, Sept. 5th, when addresses were delivered, by Mr. W. Wright and myself, to an attentive congregation. The service was opened by singing one of our hymns in the Sailors' Hymn-book, and many could say in truth"Master, it is good for us to be here.”

PUBLIC AMUSEMENTS.

The pleasures of a people, more expressively than any other class of pursuits, indicate character. You see men in their natural inclinations and habits; they appear without any of those adventitious or accidental associations which so frequently disguise from their own perceptions, and those of beholders, the real and spontaneous motions of the soul. This rule is acknowledged by all men; they invariably adopt it, as the regulating scale by which they estimate each other.

Music and dancing have been reckoned fashionable amusements; in other words, they were the amusements of the rich, and what is called the élite of society. But music and dancing are not now exclusively confined to this class. A new order of things has lately sprung up among working men, tradespeople, and even among the poor. These have now their places of resort, where music is eagerly sought, to "drive dull care away;" and dancing as energetically kept up, to recreate the weary limbs, or revive the sinking spirits. But what are these places? Dens of evil. Compared with them, some of the theatres are almost harmless. Public-houses are offering augmented attractions to young men and women of the lowest description. These haunts of vice—these receptacles of the already ruined, who seek to prey upon other victims, are continually adding to the already frightfully-swelled catalogue of criminals, spendthrifts, and debauchees. One remarkable confirmation of this painful fact was supplied at the last Middlesex Sessions, held on Thursday, October 11. John Wilks, Esq., with his accustomed eloquence, introduced the subject of grants for music and dancing. He stated that the Act of Parliament under which the Bench were that day acting had been passed in the year 1752, and from that period down to the present day the total number of licences which had been granted under the provisions of that act, throughout the whole of the county of Middlesex, had not exceeded 61; and yet he was astounded to see that there were this year not fewer than 87 persons who were about to present themselves before that Bench, to ask for its authority to open similar establishments, of an equally demoralising character. That being the fact, let him urge upon the magistrates to use the utmost caution in dealing with each individual case, for the course which the Bench might take on that day was, in his opinion, fraught with far greater importance to the welfare of the population of the metropolis, more especially, as well as to that of society in general, than most people were aware of. It was his desire that society, and more especially those of the middle and lower classes, should enjoy to the utmost extent every domestic and national amusement and recreation; nor would he curtail in the smallest degree any one of those enjoyments which, compatibly with morality and propriety, the people at large might avail themselves of. He need not say that NOVEMBER.

Ꮓ