become much interested in their efforts, in many instances applying for leave to assist in the good work. In that way they were enabled to circulate tracts, and disseminate religious instruction in places which were inaccessible to any other means. They had also a missionary, who was regular in his visitations to the seamen, conversing with them upon religious subjects, and endeavouring to lead them to the truth. In this way, 21,800 vessels had been visited, besides which, 1,587 meetings had been held, with the same object in view. Nor had sailors' families been neglected; 2,916 houses had been attended, and there were nineteen ports of the district regularly visited and supplied with the means of religious instruction. A school had been established for sailors' children, and during the last few months there had been fifty scholars. All this had been done at an expense of only $537. 4s. 7d. Mr. Bell then proceeded to speak of seamen in connection with foreign missions. He would say of the sailor two things-first, that he had proved himself, in times past, a curse in the missionary fields; and, secondly, were the efforts of the society blessed, and the character of the British sailor changed, elevated, and improved, he would be a blessing, instead of a curse, upon missionary efforts abroad. From the three ports of London, Liverpool, and Bristol, no less than 23,000 vessels sailed, and these vessels were manned by 154,000 seamen. If they were active, zealous Christian men, what opportunities would they have of inducing others to think with them, and of recommending in foreign countries the good cause which they themselves were engaged in. It had been calculated that there were two millions of sailors of all nations, and of these 300,000 were British sailors; out of this 300,000, only 20,000 were converted and consistent Christians, whilst the remaining 280,000 were in a state of sin and rebellion against God! Mr. Bell here spoke of the manifold dangers to which a sailor was exposed, and urged the necessity of imparting to him that good hope and faith which alone could render him fit to meet that melancholy death which ever stared him in the face. By a report of a committee of the House of Commons, it appeared that the loss of life by the shipwreck of British vessels around our shores, during the year 1836. amounted to at least 1,000, whilst the annual loss of property was estimated at three millions of pounds sterling! Five or six years after that, 600 vessels were lost in one year, and 1,560 lives sacrificed. In 1829, there were 800 vessels lost, including 521 collier and coasting vessels. From Nov. 17, 1838, to Nov. 11, 1839, there were 3,586 British sailors lost, according to a table published in the Nautical Magazine. In whose service had those lives been lost? It was to advance the cause of their country-it was to administer to the general good of their country-to furnish us with our luxuries and comforts, that they went forth on the seas, and it was in our service that they risked their lives, and that those lives were lost. In the gales of Nov., 1842, in one month, more than a thousand poor fellows perished on the coasts of Great Britain; and in the same month ten total wrecks took place in the Baltic, and thirty on the Black Sea. On the 13th of January, 1843, no less than 180 merchant ships belonging to this country were wrecked on the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, and France, and 443 souls perished; 160 widows and 450 fatherless children were then left in the ports of Tyne and Wear alone. By a document published in America, it appeared that, in 1837, there were 490 vessels lost belonging to that country, and 1,295 sailors had perished. These numbers had reference to sailors only, and did not include the large number of passengers which had been lost from time to time, principally in emigrant ships. From these melancholy details, the eloquent speaker drew a touching appeal in favour of the

poor sailors. In conclusion, Mr. Bell observed that, in times like the present, when disease, sickness, and death were surrounding us on all hands, it well became us to look to ourselves, and see that our own souls were saved-that we were not, whilst we were speaking of others, neglecting our own salvation. The Rev. Mr. HUNTER proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Bell for his very interesting address.

The Rev. Mr. WARD Seconded the resolution. The rev. gentleman said he could very readily corroborate what had been said by Mr. Bell with regard to the depravity of sailors, which had in many instances proved a snare and a stumbling-block to the poor heathen, whom he had been instructing in the way of truth, to whom he was often obliged to admit that his own countrymen were Christians only in name, and not by practice. He confessed that he had not thought so much upon the subject as he ought to have done, but he hoped Mr. Bell's eloquent address would have the effect of stimulating many to exert themselves in so good a cause.

The CHAIRMAN having put the motion to the meeting, it was carried with applause.

The Rev. Mr. WARD then proposed a vote of thanks to the worthy Chairman, which was seconded by Mr. Bell, and duly acknowledged by Mr. Graham, and the meeting broke up about half-past nine, leaving at the door a contribution towards the funds of the society.

Monthly Chronicle.

The claims and necessities of fallen and perishing humanity are sure, some day, in one way or another, to force themselves upon the attention of mankind, demanding their sympathy and help. The sailor, though he be an outcast, and a wanderer over the wide waste of restless waters, yet finds some who remember him in his absence, and plead for him in his need. Alas! that their voice seems not loud enough, or their appeal strong enough, to secure for him either much care or liberality. But sometimes God himself takes up his case, and bids the winds of heaven plead his cause, and the roar of the midnight tempest urge it home upon the heart. This He has just now done; and the howl of the wintry storm-the booming of the angry ocean-the crash of splitting ships, and the shrieks of drowning men, are yet scarcely hushed. Nor is the interior of our country able to plead its distance from, and its ignorance of these scenes of woe; for the press, as with a thousand tongues, has daily trumpeted forth the havoc of life and property upon the deep, and the pages of this Magazine detail some most terrible disasters. These men, that went down quick into a deeper grave than the caverns of the ocean, had they ever heard the gospel? Reader! they went out upon the sea for you; had you made one effort for their salvation?-offered one prayer for their welfare ?— given one sixpence for their good? Oh, if you have not heeded the pages we have written, or responded to the appeals which our feeble voice has uttered, listen, we pray you, at least to the words of the

Almighty, whose "voice is upon the mighty waters," and own your brotherhood-acknowledge your obligation-imitate your Saviour, and henceforth befriend poor seamen, and strive to bless them, while yet within your reach, with the knowledge of that unchanging Friend who can strengthen them in duty, cheer them in death, and bless them for

ever.

We would remind our readers, and especially our collectors, that with this month we enter upon the last quarter of our financial year. In the end of April the accounts of this Society will be made up, prior to the annual meeting on the 14th of May. At present there is still space sufficient to atone for past neglect, and opportunity to put forth a final and earnest effort on our behalf, The Society needs such assistance, or the debt with which we commenced the year will not be removed. In all this island home of ours, are there not five hundred grateful hearts and active hands, who could either give or gather twenty shillings, within the next three months, as a thank-offering to the God of Britain, that he has placed between this land of peace and a whole continent of revolutions-the rolling ocean? We hope there are. But are there one hundred such? At least there ought to be. At any rate we shall be very thankful for whoever will take up our case, and help to raise the sum we need; and should you, reader, be disposed to aid us, and will drop a line to that effect, we shall be most happy to send you a Collecting Card, and printed appeals to promote your aim.

We should here observe, that the Board of Directors having accepted the resignation of the late Secretary, all communications and remittances should now be addressed to the Secretary, Mr. Thomas Augustus Fieldwick; or to the Rev. Thomas Clarkson Finch, at the Society's Offices, 2, Jeffrey-square, St. Mary Axe, London.

On behalf of our esteemed friends, the Rev. E. Adey, and the Rev. H. L. Adams, who are about to undertake tours in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and for other deputations which are about to visit the provinces for the Society, we confidently solicit the kind encouragement and support of the public to whom they may appeal.

We have received a Gibraltar paper of a recent date, which informs us, that the brig lying in that bay, which has been fitted up as a Floating Chapel, was opened for divine worship on the 24th of December last, and will be appropriated for that purpose every Lord's day, expressly for the use of seamen. We mention this, not simply that seamen may be informed of this kind provision for their benefit, but because we know that many of our readers were interested in the grant of books, &c. with which we recently supplied the Rev. T. Dove, with whom this Bethel has originated. But, as we shortly expect to receive fuller particulars from that gentleman himself, we need not at present refer at greater length to the subject, but turn to the operations of our Home Agents, the summary of whose labours is given on the following page.

CIRCULATION OF BIBLES, TESTAMENTS, PARTS OF SCRIPTURE,

TRACTS, AND OLD MAGAZINES.

Missionary Operations.

PORT OF LONDON.

CAPTAIN PRYNN'S REPORT.

Spared to see the commencement of another year, and looking back to the last day of the past, which closes fifteen years of my missionary labour in connexion with the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, I desire with gratitude to record the gracious dealings of my covenant-keeping God in thus far preserving and sustaining me. The dangers connected with Bethel services on the river Thames, during the winters of fifteen years, have not been few; yet, amidst all these, God, who is the strength and safeguard of his people, has wonderfully delivered me; and I still feel as desirous to promote the spiritual interests of my brother sailors as I ever did.

Taking a view of the work of God amongst sailors, and the evident tokens of good done amongst them, both coming under my own notice as well as reported by our Bethel captains arriving from various foreign ports, all go to prove the abundant blessing of God in furthering the objects of this Society. Many of our pious captains are now to be found who are not ashamed of the cause of Christ, or slow to publish the glories of the Gospel, either abroad or at home. In this way, even now, the unsearchable riches of the grace of Christ are conveyed from shore to shore.

Since my last report of monthly labour I have held some very delightful meetings amongst sailors; one of them on board the Richard. Having visited this vessel in the morning, and offered a few words of prayer before we parted, as is usual, with the captain, to implore the Divine blessing on the proposed meeting, the Bethel flag was hoisted, and general publicity was given to it. I had scarcely stepped on board the vessel in the evening, when a boy came hastening almost breathless across the ships, and meeting me, accosted me by saying, "Sir, our captain has sent to know what time the Bethel meeting begins, for he is coming with five or six of the people." I told him, "in the course of fifteen minutes." "I am to come," said the boy, "the master has told me so. I love to be at Bethel meetings; my brother was converted at a Bethel meeting, and he is now a captain, Sir, and carries a Bethel flag with him; our captain is a Bethel captain, too; only ask him, he will hoist the flag any time. I am sure you will be glad to hear our David and William pray to-night; and I am sure they will pray, for they pray every night and morning; and although we have a wicked man on board that mocks them, yet they pray on." At the time appointed for the service the cabin was full. Seven persons engaged in prayer. The address was from Rom. vi. 23, "The wages of sin is death, &c." There was a divine influence felt in the meeting; and remaining a few minutes in conversation, I found three of those who were present, and had prayed, had received their first impressions at Bethel meetings; two of them on the river Thames, and one at Liverpool. There were present four pious captains—one of them spoke very highly of the benefit he had received in attending the means of grace at the Sailors' Church, Wellclose-square. There were many tears shed at this meeting, and, I trust, the results will be a source of rejoicing for years to come.

My meeting, the following evening, was on board the L—, of P——. The captain commenced the devotional service, and then called on one of his Both of them powerfully and earnestly pleaded at the throne of grace. After four had thus prayed, singing a verse of a hymn at intervals, one kind

crew.