CIRCULATION OF BIBLES, TESTAMENTS, PARTS OF SCRIPTURE,
TRACTS, AND OLD MAGAZINES.

London
Cornwall

:

11

13 5

..

:

:

:

:

:

:

3560

:

31 34 570 320

145 86 9

Total .

87 1132 275 2039 4083 625 459 212 103 75 8

7

28

80

86 437 13904 640 7455

Day Schools-average attendance of Boys, 84. Girls, 66.

* Having no room for this table in June, the above includes the statistics for two months.

Missionary Operations.

PORT OF LONDON.

MR. S. LONSDALE'S REPORT.

All who are acquainted with the natural depravity of the human heart, and the aversion which worldly-minded men have to the things of God, will know that the sailor's missionary has not all plain sailing. In our morning visits on the river Thames, we find many captains who refuse the use of their cabins for a Bethel service. Some, when asked, will give us a short "no!" Others will urge a variety of excuses, and when they are all met, it comes to "No!" after all. But God does not allow us to lack ships for His service; He has not only raised up a host of pious sailors who are not ashamed to worship him anywhere, but also many devoted captains and mates, who feel a pleasure in hoisting the Bethel flag, and making every preparation for the service of God on board their vessels. There are others, who make no profession of religion, who willingly grant us their ships, and we are frequently adding fresh ones to our number; so that we trust, in a little time, the denials we shall meet with will be but few.

Since my last report, we have had some "times of refreshing," and though we have not seen so much good done as we could have desired, yet we will hope that our labours have not been in vain. On the 9th, I engaged the Vivid, Capt. Kelly, but when the sailors assembled in the evening, our cabin being small, we were kindly accommodated by the captain of the vessel laying at the quarter, who had not had a meeting on board his ship before. After the address had been given, there were nine seamen and captains who engaged in prayer; and what made it more interesting to me, one of them was a young man who offered up his first prayer for mercy at a Bethel meeting I held on the 24th of last September. He told me it was the happiest hour's work of his life when he began to pray. He is a Welshman, and had just been to his home, and had gladdened the hearts of a pious father and mother, in telling them what God had done for his soul. The captain seemed much pleased with the service, and said we could have the ship any time when she was in port. On the 21st I went to Barking, to endeavour to do good amongst the fishermen. There being no smacks up the creek, I gave tracts to all I met with in the streets and on the quays, and invited them to the Independent Chapel, where service was to be held in the evening. Several attended, and as I left the chapel a young man, about eighteen, asked me if I would give him two or three tracts, that he might give them to his shipmates when he went to sea. I asked him if he had begun to serve God? He said he had not, but that at that service he had seen himself to be a sinner, and he would, by the help of God, seek his grace. He walked along with me, and I endeavoured to instruct and encourage him in the service of God. He said that one of the fishing smacks carried a Bethel flag, and he desired me to ask the owner to hoist it on board of the different vessels, so that all might have the benefit of the services. I took his name, and that of the vessel he sailed in, and told him I would inquire after him when I went again. I pray that I may find him fully decided for Christ. I may also mention another pleasing case which came under my notice, on the 12th ult., at the Sailors' Church.

After the preaching in the evening, I led the sailors' prayer meeting in the vestry, and invited any sailor who felt at liberty, to engage in prayer. The second who did so was a young man I knew, who, before he went to sea, (which was eleven months previous,) had attended the services at the

church on the Sabbath. I knew him then to be under very serious impressions. He went to sea with a pious captain, and returned a decided Christian. It was manifest, by the truly scriptural prayer he offered up, that he had made himself acquainted with the cheering truths of the Gospel. At the conclusion of the service, I said to him, "I am glad to hear that you pray. I remember, before you went to sea, that you wept at our prayer meetings, and manifested great anxiety on account of your soul." He said, "Yes, I received my first good here." Who knows the beneficial effects that the means of grace may have upon many out of the hundreds who attend our church from time to time? Though they go down to the sea, yet when the seed of Divine truth is deposited in their hearts, it will be seen after many days.

I have visited the sailors' lodging-houses, conversed with sailors, distributed tracts, and sold a few copies of the Scriptures. On the 2nd of April, I went into one house where several seamen were present. I told them the purport of my visit, and asked if they had Bibles. Some said they had. One seemed unwilling to answer, so I pressed the question. He said, "To tell you the truth, Sir, I never had a Bible to sea with me in my life." One of his shipmates said, "That is your own fault; your father would not have liked you to be without a Bible; I will buy you one." He did so; and wrote his name in it, and said to me that he would see that he read it. Whether he will be able to do this or not, I cannot say; but certainly, that young man, now possessing a Bible, may read it, if disposed, and learn through it the way to everlasting peace.

Since my last report, I have held fourteen services afloat; attendance, 190; and seven on shore. I have paid 381 visits to ships, and 162 to sailors' lodging-houses. I have sold twenty-nine English Bibles, one German, and one Danish. I have sold seventeen English Testaments, and one Italian ; distributed 1150 tracts, and twenty-five of Capt. Allen's Magazines.

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MR. BAILEY'S REPORT.

In the prosecution of our duties as missionaries, we meet with much calculated to dishearten as well as to encourage, which will be seen from my report. There are certain tiers of vessels lying in the river I could gladly pass by, did I not feel it was my duty to visit them. I now refer to the Irish vessels, which are principally manned with bigoted Irish Catholics. A few mornings ago, in visiting one of these vessels, the men began to murmur, and refused to accept my tracts. I spoke to them about the things which belong to their peace, but was instantly interrupted by the mate, who, in a very angry tone, said, "Indeed it is no use bringing those books here, for we don't believe in them, nor in anything you have to say on the subject of religion." I said, "But is it fair for you to condemn the books before you have read them, or anything I have to say, before you have heard me? Have Bible on board?" He replied, "No! our clergy will not allow us to have one, nor to receive your tracts, or to hold conversation with you on the subject of religion. They have given us our belief, that there is one God, one faith, and one church, which is the Roman Catholic, and out of it there is no salvation; and you Protestants, or heretics, cannot expect to be saved, for ye never pray to the Holy Virgin, and if ye don't love the mother, indeed ye cannot love the Son!" I endeavoured as calmly as possible to reason with him on these matters, and he at length became somewhat subdued, and said, "Well, let us know what your religion is?" The crew now gathered around me, all ears were open, and eyes fixed upon me; I was glad I had such an opportunity of opening the Scriptures, and setting before this poor deluded and priest-ridden people the scriptural way of salvation, who all heard me attentively. The mate said, "Well, you may be right, Sir." They now received my tracts, and began to read them. Another morning, in

visiting one of these tiers of vessels, I was told that we missionaries were only wolves in sheep's clothing, that their priests were the only authorised teachers, and that they would like to see a good war, that would put an end to all the sons of the devil Luther. Finding my attempts on this occasion to converse with them were futile, I was in the act of leaving, when a large dog belonging to the vessel seized me by the arm. The men used no effort to call off the dog, but laughed; however, I was thankful that I escaped with no hurt, only my coat being a little torn.

I am thankful to say that my journal affords me also materials for encouragement. Many have received my visits gladly, and several of my services have been attended by a quickening and hallowing influence. One or two of them I will refer to.

The first was held on board the Loyalty, of Sunderland. One sailor engaged in prayer, who, according to his own confession, had been a daring youth on board a man-of-war, and within the last six months had been converted to God, and now prayed very earnestly for his fellow-seamen. I was informed a few days after, by a captain, that two seamen received benefit at this service.

The next was held on board of the Commerce, of Sunderland. Masters and seamen present numbered twenty-four, out of whom, after a short service, eleven engaged in prayer. Several of these were only babes in Christ, having found peace with God on their voyage to London. They saw in each other the grace of God, and were glad. Some of them, belonging to different vessels, had not met since their conversion. Here was the hearty shake of the hand, while they saluted each other with, "What, old shipmate, have you joined our company, too!" "Blessed be God! stick to it; let us make heaven at last."

I will only refer to one more, which was held on board of the Aratus, of Sunderland. Our flag had not been hoisted on board of this vessel before. The cabin was well filled. One master and several men came from a vessel lying at a considerable distance. The master was anxious for his men to attend this service, as some of them had lately been led to Christ. Happy should I be to find many masters thus interested in the spiritual welfare of their crews. At the close of the service, he said to me, "For a long time I have been sailing alone in spiritual matters, but, thank God, I have now a praying mate."

My report includes two months' labour, during which period I have held twenty-two services afloat, attended by 278 seamen, out of whom, seventy-four have engaged in prayer. I have also held twelve services ashore, attended several public meetings on behalf of the Society, and preached twice at Barking, where I visited several fishing smacks, and fishermen's families. I am happy to say that a good work is going on among these men. Three Bethel flags have been purchased by them, and these flags are hoisted when they are at sea on the Sabbath, when a goodly number of the men meet to read the Scriptures, and offer prayer.

I have also paid 667 visits to vessels, 218 visits to lodging-houses, and eleven to sick seamen; distributed 2,745 tracts, and 134 of Captain Allen's Magazines. Sold thirty-one English Bibles, sixteen Testaments, and four Welsh Bibles.

PROVINCIAL OPERATIONS.

FALMOUTH.

MR. J. TROTTER'S REPORT.

In reviewing the past two months, I see great reason for continued thankfulness to Almighty God for enabling me to attend to the various arduous duties connected with this station. I sincerely trust our labour is not in vain

in the Lord. I will give an extract or two from my journal, which will give an idea of our movements since my last :

March 9th.--Afloat; visited 32 English and 1 foreign vessels, distributed 20 old magazines, 120 English and 12 foreign tracts, which were kindly received.

18th.-Went afloat very early this morning, visited 40 English vessels and 5 foreigners; 225 English and 30 foreign tracts distributed; also 16 old magazines; a great prayer meeting in the Bethel this evening.

25th.-Visited, conversed, read, and prayed with eight sick seamen, and held a prayer meeting in the Bethel in the evening.

26th.-Afloat to-day; 20 English and 7 foreign vessels visited; 140 English and 30 foreign tracts, and 12 old magazines distributed. Overtaken by a storm, had to put into St. Mawes for shelter.

30th.-Afloat; visited 47 large vessels in the Roads, 15 of which were foreign. Distributed 300 English and 90 foreign tracts; also 20 magazines. The sea was very rough to-day, and we broke our oar; we were in the Roads five hours.

April 6th.--At Penzance. Distributed 100 tracts among the passengers and sailors on board the Mountaineer, an emigrant vessel, about to sail for America. In the evening I preached on board, about 100 were present. It was a good time; they were kindly invited to the Saviour and some seemed moved to comply with the invitation. Two or three engaged in prayer at the close.

7th (Sunday).-Distributed 100 tracts among the men belonging to vessels in the Pier, and invited them to our Bethel service, which was held upon the deck of the Mountaineer, at 11 a.m. A great many attended, not only belonging to the vessels but also from the town, who stood upon the quay and listened attentively to the word of exhortation. Went over to Newlyn in the afternoon, and preached in the Independent Chapel to a very attentive congregation, the majority of whom were fishermen. I left with them 60 tracts and 6 Sailors' Magazines.

12th.--Falmouth. Afloat among the vessels; visited 22 English and 23 foreign. One of the English vessels was a barque belonging to Padstow, with 52 passengers on board, bound for America. They were just moving off to sea; I distributed among the passengers and ship's company 50 tracts and 4 old magazines. The captain was very kind, and gave me full liberty to go among the people on board. On board a German vessel also I found 14 passengers and 18 seamen. They were homeward bound. I spent some time with them on board, and gave each a tract in their own language. One little fellow was very anxious to have one. I asked if he could read it; he said, "No, but sister can." I then gave him a neat little book, with which he was highly pleased, and had the pleasure of hearing his sister read it to him and the other part of the family. Upon the whole, 230 English and 200 foreign tracts have been distributed to-day, and 22 old magazines. My soul was much refreshed on returning home, in seeing, on board the various vessels of different nations of the earth, the men reading in their own language of the wonderful works of God. One captain said to me, when handing him a few tracts for his men, "We don't deserve them, Sir." I said, "If you and I got only what we deserved, neither of us would have been here." He said, You are right, Sir; I should not, at any rate."

29th. Our sailors and friends had a rare treat to-day. Mrs. Priestman, an intelligent Quaker lady, from Newcastle, was here with her husband, on a visit, and she felt impressed that she ought to give an address to sailors before leaving. Application was made for the use of our Bethel, which, of course, was cheerfully granted. The flag was hoisted; I went afloat, gave the men a few tracts, and invited them on shore to the meeting. At seven o'clock, as usual, our place was crowded, a great many of whom were sailors, when an excellent, suitable, and scriptural address was delivered by the good lady;