The Pilot, or Sailors' magazine. [Continued as] Sailors' magazine

to them nor serve them;" he was very angry, and almost threw me into the fire; "For," said he, "our priests insist more on our worshipping images of the virgin Mary, and other saints, than on worshipping God or his Son Jesus Christ." He then demanded my sentiments about purgatory, but on this subject he could not get me to say a word. On this he concluded I was some spurious character, and resolved to part with me the first opportunity that offered.

My possessor watched the opportunity of some North American vessel calling at the port, that he might dispose of me to some person on board her. For nearly six months I lay waiting for this opportunity, and was hardly permitted to speak one word during the whole of the time.

(To be continued.)

Correspondence.

CHRISTIAN CHARACTER ON BOARD A SHIP OF WAR.

Exeter, Devon, 4th Oct. 1849. SIR,-Having read, in your magazine for the last month, an interesting account of a young man's conversion to God, in the article headed, “The value of the Bible on board a ship of war," it brought vividly to my recollection a case in my own experience during the late war, which I submit to your discretion, to have a place or not, in your magazine.

Having been removed from a ship under respectable discipline, into a frigate, in which the brutal punishments, blasphemy, drunkenness and obscenity, rendered her one of those hells afloat, alluded to by the deceased Rev. James Harvey, I found my servant a most degraded character, blasphemer and drunkard, although not fourteen years of age. On retiring to my cot, the first night, to meditate, while my messmates were gambling and swearing, I thought, that if my poor boy had had the advantage of a God-fearing father, to inculcate a sense of religion, and familiarity with the Bible, perhaps he would have made a better use of those privileges than 1 had done. God was pleased to crown my efforts with great success. I cannot enlarge on the detail, which would be tedious; suffice it to say, he was overjoyed at my offer to teach him to read; and I found, as he had been very apt and smart in wickedness, so was he wonderfully apt in learning; although he had not the most faint idea of the existence of God, except that he knew it was very smart and manly to swear by His name. Before the second cruise was over (about three months) he could repeat a prayer, and a chapter in the Bible, which he had learned by heart, when I retired to bed in moderate weather. I had counted the cost, and was prepared for sneering and ridicule. But as God was pleased to bless me with a knowledge of my profession as a practical seaman, they never dared to attack me directly, until one morning, at the breakfast table, one of the officers being off his guard, attacked me personally with a silly display of ignorance of Divine things, and many sallies of impertinence, which he mistook for wit. I told him, I was well aware that I had been a subject of merriment and ridicule, that I could treat that as it deserved so long as no personal insult was offered to me; but as he had now thought proper thus openly to take liberties with my religious opinions, which concerned God alone and myself, I wished all who heard me to understand, that

I would not suffer any individual to do so with impunity to my face. He set up a loud horse-laugh, thinking that all his messmates would join him; but, to his great disappointment, they were all silent. I then told him, that I was not a duellist, but, as he had thus publicly insulted me at the mess-table, I insisted upon his apologising, or I would punish him for his impertinence; that I was not ashamed of the part I acted with the poor neglected boy; that he had better learn to do likewise, than giving his servant the task of putting him to bed drunk almost every night. After pausing a few minutes, I again told him he need not think that I would submit to his impertinence, and thereby expose myself to greater liberties in future; my position in the ship, as a commissioned officer, would not admit of my allowing a nickname such as he had applied. I then appealed to my messmates, if my authority in the ship would not be greatly affected by submitting to such conduct, when they unanimously told him he ought to apologise! He started up, thrust his open hand across the table, saying, in a firm, decided tone, "Shake hands with me; I'll never insult you again-I have been led away by others, unguardedly to join in the laugh at your expense; it has only been thoughtlessness. I admire your conduct in my heart, and hope we shall be friends." A sincere, lasting friendship was the result. The nickname of Methodist, matins, vespers, was never again heard; and, what is more, he himself became a Bible reader. Twenty years afterwards we met again, and found that our latitude and longitude exactly agreed, both being bound for Emanuel's land. He was then a member of a Christian church, an exemplary husband and father. He has reached his final haven before me, and I have the gratification of thanking God, in my old age, that I was not a bloodthirsty duellist, for the result would have been awfully different. And my prayer is, that it may please God to bless this attempt to magnify his name, by leading others, on similar occasions, to act firmly; taking care that the glory of God and the cause of truth and piety be their governing motives. My writing must be difficult to read, which you must excuse, as my eyesight is very bad. Wishing you abundant success in your labour of love, 1 am, Sir, your very obedient servant, W. G, Commander, R. N.

T. A. Fieldwick, Esq.

SAILORS' BETHEL AND READING-ROOM.

Falmouth, Oct. 13, 1849.

MY DEAR SIR,-Since I sent you my last communication, our good friends have actually secured a meeting-house and a reading-room for sailors, just on the very spot where they ought to be, viz., upon the Watch-house Quay; and, all being well, a fortnight to-morrow (Sunday) it will be opened by three services, conducted by the Rev. Mr. Jackson in the morning, myself in the afternoon, and the Rev. Mr. Andrew in the evening. The preaching place will hold about 180 people; it has been occupied as a storehouse, and now it is being fitted out for a Sailors' Church. The place for a readingroom was once the Savings' Bank, all ready fitted up to our hands, a capital place, with beautiful stove and table, good seats, and place for books. It will cost about £12 to make them as comfortable as need be. The rent for the whole establishment will be eight guineas per annum, and we consider it exceedingly cheap.

We have long had our eyes upon these places, but we did not expect to succeed so well. The quay-master, Mr. Earl, has taken a deep interest in our cause, and has aided us very much in our plan.

And now, Sir, if you have any dusty books about your office, that might be too common for London, please send them to Falmouth. Our room is just upon the spot where the seamen land every day for letters, and where they sometimes stand for hours, waiting for their captains; but often they get into the public-house. Now, I intend, when at home, always to be there about that time, get them into our reading-rooms, and thus not only keep them out of the public-house, but also bring them under the influence of religious truth. Our friends are talking of getting up a bazaar in the summer, for our concern, so that you see we are going ahead. We are going to have a Sunday school, also, for the children of seamen, fishermen, &c., in our places. The girls we intend to put in the reading-room, and boys in the Bethel room.

I have just had a letter from Deveron, inviting me to preach to seamen next Thursday evening. I am kept fully employed seven days a week. This week I have preached four times in Falmouth, once at Budock, and once at Penryn, and visited about 100 vessels afloat; and it is no joke going afloat here. I invariably come home wet to the skin, and with blistered hands, by assisting to row the boat-so much so, that I can hardly handle the pen for a day after. It is very rough sometimes, too; but it is glorious work, and I like it better and better.

Perhaps you will be kind enough to notice our Bethel and reading-room in your next magazine, and to acknowledge the kindness of the ladies of Uxbridge, in their sincere wishes and earnest prayers for the success of our Cornish mission, which prayers I trust have not been in vain; and I hope, also, that the Bethel flag which they presented to the Society, and which has been unfurled in the far west, will continue to be successful in inviting the wandering sailor to the house of prayer.

To Mr. Fieldwick.

I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully,

JOHN TROTTER.

Monthly Chronicle.

Our readers will no doubt be anxious to know the progress we are making for the development of those new principles which have been recently embodied in the Constitution of the Society, and to which we referred at length in our number for last month. It is with pleasure that we inform them that the Directors have met with considerable encouragement. Wherever the subject has been named amongst persons likely to be interested in the subject, they have expressed their entire satisfaction with the propositions of the Board. In the meantime, frequent meetings of the Directors have been held-a circular has been prepared for giving publicity to the object, and the adhesion and assistance of several influential parties have been secured; amongst whom may be mentioned the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, who has kindly consented to preside at a Public Meeting in the City, to be convened to engage the interest of merchants and shipowners.

The proposed visit of Her Majesty to the New Coal Exchange, on

the 30th October, has interfered with the intention of the Directors to hold their Public Meeting on that day, and the alarming illness of the Queen Dowager, making even that event uncertain, has prevented the Lord Mayor from fixing another day at present. Under these circumstances, it may be deemed advisable to commence further operations previous even to a Public Meeting, and the attention of the Board is now seriously given to that question. The opportunity now afforded to the Society of assuming a status which it has never yet occupied, renders it necessary that no hasty steps should be taken, but that the Society should be brought under the attention of the public in the most commanding manner, and so as to secure the greatest amount of sympathy and assistance. We repeat the invitation we gave last month to our friends in the provinces-that it will afford us much pleasure if they will kindly favour us with their views on the work we are now taking up, and that any suggestions they may have to make will be very acceptable.

Our deputations in Cornwall, Devon, and Staffordshire, have met with much kindness, though with too many disappointments. Our worthy missionary, Captain Prynn, who was obliged to leave his sphere of labour on account of a sudden choleraic attack, we are happy to inform our friends, whom he quitted so hastily, is recovering, and we trust will be long spared for further usefulness. Truro has again done nobly. That auxiliary has been in existence seven years, and during that period has remitted no less than £160 to the Parent Society. Would we possessed many more such towns as Truro, and many more such generous friends as its founder and treasurer, W. Baynard, Esq. ! We have other good news from Cornwall, as will be seen from the letter from Mr. Trotter, under the head " Correspondence," and also from his report in the record of "Provincial Operations." Falmouth affords at length such another instance as Weymouth and Wisbeach, where the cause has found a few earnest, warm-hearted friends, who delight in promoting it to the utmost. The establishment of a Reading Room on the Quay is a great achievement, and we beg to publish the request for odd volumes, which the letter before-mentioned refers to, with the addition, that we shall be most happy to receive any such donations from friends in all parts of the country, and so to make a good parcel to encourage the excellent Committee. Why should Uxbridge alone have the satisfaction of reflecting on assistance rendered to this distant but important port? Alas, Penzance! we would that thou hadst been willing to receive the benefit we offered thee! But thou hast rejected our offers, and art indifferent to thy dying seamen. But arouse thee from thy lethargy, awaken thy heart to a sense of its responsibility; let thy hand be stretched out to the work, and we will yet assist thee in thine efforts, and share thy satisfaction in caring for thy sons who go down upon the deep.