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NEWCASTLE.

REPORT OF THE REV. T. ROBINSON, AGENT ON THE TYNE.

As a year has now expired since I commenced my labours here, as an agent of your Society, it may be proper to give you a brief sketch of what has been done during that time in this field of its operations. My labours have been, and still are confined to the vessels, as far as it regards holding meetings, with the exception of two week day meetings which are held on shore. During the past year, I have been enabled to hold 296 services, of which upwards of 200 have been conducted on deck. The attendance has of course been various, often large and encouraging. The attention for the most part exhibited by those present, has been most gratifying. I have distributed and put in circulation, about 5010 tracts those given to sailors are allowed to be kept, while those left with families on shore, are changed for others. A considerable number of these have been foreign tracts which have been most gratefully received by German, Danish, Swedish, Dutch, and French sailors. About 50 copies of the scriptures have either been sold or bestowed gratuitously; the most of these have been to foreigners. When foreigners have not had any copy of scripture on board, and have been unable to purchase one, I have generally read a portion to them, and briefly directed their attention to its solemn truths. For this purpose, I have generally carried a new testament in one or two different languages in my pocket, when visiting vessels mostly foreign. The number of vessels visited has been 1890, when tracts have been bestowed, invitations to attend divine service given, and opportunity sought for calling the attention to the concerns of eternity. Thus, dear Sir, we trust we are sowing seeds which will contribute to that glorious harvest of redeemed souls, when the abundance of the sea shall be converted to the christian church. It is blessed to reap, but it is necessary to sow; and the time comes, when both he that soweth and he that reapeth, shall rejoice together.

I may, before closing, state to you a pleasing fact which came to my knowledge very recently. The funeral sermon of a gentleman in Newcastle, who had been a most useful and laborious member of the Wesleyan society for the last forty years, was preached here on sabbath evening last. In the course of the sermon it was stated, that Mr. A. (the deceased) had, when a young man, taken a voyage to Malta, for the benefit of his health. While there, he fell into great distress of mind, and though attending the governor's chapel, could obtain no relief, but rather grew worse. One individual especially attracted his notice while in this state of mind, on account of the peace and joy which seemed to possess his soul, and which he himself was seeking in vain to obtain. To this person he determined to unbosom his feelings. He did so, and the result was, that he was led by the instrumentality of that individual to the enjoyment of that peace of God which passeth all understanding -a peace which never forsook him, and which prompted him to a life of unwearied usefulness. That individual was a SAILOR! What a crowd of useful reflections may not arise from this single fact! May the

best blessing of the God of the seas as well as of the land, prosper you in your soul, and in all your labours for the good of seamen.

WALES :-SWANSEA.

EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE SWANSEA AUXILIARY.

On Wednesday evening, August 24, was held in Trinity chapel the anniversary meeting of the above institution, when the chair was occupied by J. H. Vivian, Esq. M.P. president of the society. The spacious building was filled with a respectable and attentive audience, who appeared deeply interested in the moral and spiritual welfare of the mariner. The claims of the society were advocated by the Rev. Messrs. Bishop, C. Thompson, W. Jones, and the esteemed and able deputies from the parent society, (Rev. E. E. Adams, Mr. John Davies, V.Clutton, H. Bath, Jun. and Rev.C.J. Hyatt, Jun.) also took part in the proceedings of the evening. In the report read by the secretary (Rev. T. Dodd) it was stated that among the thousands of seamen who annually visit the port of Swansea, the efficient and gratuitous agents of this society, Messrs. W. Rosser, V. Clutton, and capt. Wilkins, are regularly engaged. Nearly all the ships are visited every sabbath morning, and during the past year between 10 and 12,000 tracts in different languages have been distributed. These are invariably received with gratitude, and it is believed, read with attention. At the seamens depository about 58 bibles, 24 testaments, and 24 hymn books have been sold at reduced prices to seamen. Eight additional loan libraries have been put in circulation during the past year, thus making 20 libraries belonging to the society, and lent to vessels trading to foreign ports. Divine service has been regularly and gratuitously conducted at the Bethel rooms by eight different ministers of the gospel in the town on the sabbath afternoon, and £15 have been remitted to the parent society. The committee are contemplating the propriety and importance of establishing a sailors' home in this port. Exertions have also been continued for obtaining a site of ground on which to erect a sailors chapel, but hitherto have been ineffectual, and the committee can but gratefully acknowledge the persevering efforts of their respected president, J. H. Vivian, Esq. M. P. to attain this desirable object, as well as his liberality, who during the evening augmented his subscription from 2 to 5 guineas per annum to the society. Several fresh subscriptions were also commenced, and from the treasurer's accounts it appears that the receipts for the past year amounted to upwards of £50.

THE HAVRE CASE.

We have great pleasure in stating that through the liberality of parties connected with almost every section of the christian church, our esteemed friend, the Rev. E. N. Sawtell, has been enabled to return to the interesting and important sphere of his labours, in possession of the full sum of £200, for the obtaining of which he so recently made his appeal in the metropolis. An acknowledgment from himself may be expected in our next number.

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(THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF TRACTS ADDRESSED TO SEAMEN.)

"LAND-HO!—all hands ahoy!-LAND HO!"-What joy fills the heart when this sound is heard from the mast-head! But how much greater is the joy when every thing you can see on that land tells you that you are nearing home-the home in which you hope to meet a widowed mother-a tender sister—or perhaps a beloved wife and dear little ones! The joy is unspeakable-the bosom swells and heaves with its own big feelings. You can think of nothing but the lovely scene now before you. And what is the bliss of the christian, when after the long voyage of life, he has all heaven in view-that bright land where he will meet with all those he most tenderly loved on earth, and enjoy the purest and the sweetest pleasures. In nearing that happy shore, he sees his Father's house, and every object which fills his eye reminds him that he is coming home. His last moments are the most blessed. He has all in readiness-he has only to cast anchor and go. Just as in entering port, the last touch is put to the vessel to beautify it, so in death, the meetness of the christian for heaven, is made complete by the purifying power of the Holy Spirit. And ust as all the bustle and preparation connected with first making land, and entering the harbor, is followed by a calm and peaceful stillness, so nothing can be more

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peaceful than the christian's entrance into heaven. To him death is but going home; and in death all is divinely still. Dying is easy, tranquil, joyful :-death is a mere passing from one state to another, and that other state rising infinitely above the present, in all that is pure, and spiritual, and blessed. It may be that you are near the end of your voyage. may not have many more knots to run. Land may be in sight. Is it the land of home? Is it in your eye bright with light and loveliness? Are your affections set upon its scenes and its objects? To know this, let me ask, in whose wake have you followed? Is it in the wake of those who have entered the port of glory? Have you sailed with the Captain of salvation? Have you been faithful to him, and obedient to his commands-been true to his standard, and valiant in his cause? To make our meaning more plain-Are you a christian?—have you been born again, made a new creature in Christ Jesus, washed in his blood, justified by his grace, sanctified by his Spirit, and begotten to the hope of everlasting glory? A christian is only another name for a saint-a child of God-a lover of the Saviour-an heir of heaven. Is this your character? It is religion alone which makes a man great, good, and blessed. Under its holy and heavenly influence, he makes the voyage of life safe and happy, and enters port with joy full of glory.

"Never mind!—we're homeward bound!"—is an answer with which you meet a thousand little difficulties and troubles on board ship. And how does the thought of his "sweet home" in heaven, bear up the christian amid all the ills and sorrows of life! Looking for his blessed hope, and believing that soon he will enter the haven of eternal rest, he counts all his trials but light, and compared with "the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory," but for a moment. Affliction is not what he desires-not what he loves. In itself it is not joyous, but grievous. And yet when called to suffer, he can " joy in tribulation, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope, and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost given unto him." Sometimes he may be troubled and cast down, but he calls to mind that in his Father's house are many mansions, and soon he will be at home. This hope

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like the anchor sure and fixed, which helps the ship to ride the storm, keeps his mind firm and unmoved-bears him up in all his sorrows, and fills him with that peace which passeth all understanding. He can say none of these things move me ;— all things work together for good, to them that love God:neither life nor death, neither things present nor things to come, shall separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord."

In making some long voyage you may have neared the Gulph stream, which is said to be always shrouded in clouds, and is the region of storms and heavy seas. You remember with what feelings you neared it, and how after many hours of toil and suffering you ran out of it, under royal yards and a clear sky. And when the christian has finished his voyage and is safe at home, he will call to mind through what scenes of darkness and danger he has passed-how often he was on the border of some gulph stream, and ready to be lost. How great his joy! How sweet his song! If after a voyage you can look back on all its dangers, and admire the goodness which preserved you, and has brought you safely home, what must be the gratitude and the praise of the christian, when all his perils being past, he finds himself for ever moored in the port of peace! Through endless ages his voice will be lifted high to sing the love that has brought him to that long looked-for shore, "where tempests never beats, nor billows roar."

Is it true that a ship is in her finest order at the end of the voyage? Is it true that many captains and mates will stake their seamanship upon the appearance of their vessel when she hauls into the dock? Then the last days of the christian should be his best days. He should then be distinguished for his faith and piety. If through life he has made it his great business to crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts ;-to deny himself to all worldly lusts and pleasures-to keep himself unspotted from the world to live soberly, and justly, and godly, and thus perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord-then there will be no doubt in his own mind, and no doubt in the minds of others, with regard to his christian character-all will acknowledge him to be a man of God-and, like the ship, he will be in the finest order at the end of his voyage. See to it then that you have a

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