the leaden conductor that carried it up the Cape. The wire in its gutta percha coating was consequently cut in two places, representing a remnant of wire, of about 400 yards, which was allowed to drift away, till it came into the possession of a fisherman at Boulogne, who made a demand of sixty francs for the injury he alleges it did to his nets. Complaints are made by the fishermen, both on the English and French coasts, that the existence of this wire will interfere with their deep sea fishing, and that its track over the Varne and elsewhere is in the way of places most frequented by fish. It is intended, however, at the suggestion of Mr. J. W. Brett, to pay these people an annual rental, and to establish for their families a philanthropic fund, to induce them to unite in the protection of a great national enterprise. The assistance of the Admiralty has also been secured for the issue of prohibitory orders against fishing on the route of the electric sea line, and against ships dropping or dragging anchors over its site. The authorities of Calais and Boulogne have intimated that they will send drummers round the town to advise fishermen not to fish on these spots, and the company will apply for powers to punish as a misdemeanour any attempts at injuring the wires. The line of wire where it was dislocated is now securely fastened on to the end of a large buoy. Her Majesty's ship Widgeon, with Captain Bullock, has traversed the rest of the track, fishing up at intervals the whole of the sunk wire, out of 100 feet and 150 feet of water, and laying it down again, thus proving that it had not drifted, and that there were no currents to remove it. The promoters of the project appear to be fully apprehensive of the inadequacy of the present arrangements, and all their ingenuity is at work to be prepared to meet the emergency. Of currents, it may be stated that there is no fear, since it has been ascertained that at certain fixed fathoms, even in the rapids of the Mississippi or at the Menai, there are none below three or four fathoms, and that at five fathoms there is calm water. In order to meet all existing or conjectured difficulty, the character of the undertaking, so far as its magnitude and solidity are concerned, will now be altered. The electric wire, thin as a lady's stay lace in itself, will now be encased either in a five or a ten-inch cable, of the diameter of those that placed the Britannia tubes in position, and these will be submerged by the aid of enormous weights. The wire will be imbedded in this gigantic coil, or cable, composed of what is called whipped plait with wire rope, all of it chemically prepared, so as to protect it from rot, and kyanised; the whole to be chained down, as it were, as the rails are on a railway, by the gravitation of the huge weights in the bottom of the sea.

Miscellaneous.

SAILORS' HOME, WELLS-STREET, LONDON DOCKS.

A marble bust of the late Captain Robert James Elliot, R.N., has recently been placed by his friends in the dining-hall of this institution, and a handsome tablet to his memory has also been erected in St. Paul's, the Seamen's Church, in Dock-street, with the following inscription :-"Sacred to the memory of Robert James Elliot, Commander in the Royal Navy. Deeply imbued with a sense of the evils which beset the social condition of the seaman during his sojourning on shore, more fearful than the direst perils of the great deep, he devoted his time, his energies, and his substance to their removal. The Sailors' Home and the Destitute Sailors' Asylum were founded through his exertions, and remain the memorials of his unremitting and anxious care. The last labour of love in which declining health permitted him to share was the erection of this church, to the honour and glory of God, for the seaman's

special use. In himself a pattern of Christian meekness, of untiring zeal, and of a soul-absorbing charity, he departed to be with Christ, the 30th of April, 1849, aged 59 years. None of us liveth to himself.'"

TIDAL PHENOMENON.

During the voyage of the bark Harvest, Captain Lackey, of New Bedford, recently returned from a whaling voyage, the fact was verified that the tides about the Polynesian Islands do not follow the Newtonian law of variation. At the request of Captain Lackey, affidavits were obtained, from two intelligent individuals who have for twenty years resided among the Society Islands, to the following statement:-"That the time of high water takes place between the hours of 11 and 1 o'clock, without any variation, unless caused by winds. The different phases of the moon have no effect whatever in changing the time of high water. At the full and change the tides are from six to eight inches higher; the full rise being about two feet." Another interesting result of the voyage was the obtaining of deep-sea soundings in the vicinity of the Bermuda Islands. We quote from the narrative, as published in the New Bedford Mercury :-" Here, in lat. 27 10 N., long. 62 45 W., on the 20th of April, 1850, the nearest land being Bermuda, bearing N.W. by N., and distant 345 miles, water blue, with much gulf-weed, weather calm, no current, the boat was lowered; let run the lead, and found bottom in 744 fathoms. April 15, lat. 27 31 N., long. 60 3 W., Bermuda bearing N.W. by N., 300 miles, sounded and got bottom in 446 fathoms. April 29, lat. 29 20 N., long. 64 11 W., Bermuda N.W. by N., 160 miles, sounded and got bottom in 620 fathoms. The time occupied in running out

the line varied from 20 to 30 minutes. The line was constructed thus:First 100 fathoms five parts of shoethread; second, four parts; third, three parts; fourth, two parts; remainder single. The lead weighed about 5lb. ; the whole wound upon a light reel, and held by hand. In this process of obtaining soundings the lead is not to be hauled up."-Portsmouth Guardian.

REVENUES OF MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.

The London Missionary Society commenced its operations in 1800, and up to 1849 it had expended £1,922,346 18s. 2d. The Baptist Missionary Society commenced also in 1800, and up to 1842 it had expended £620,431 11s. 6d. The Wesleyan Missionary Society commenced in 1803, and had expended up to 1849 £2,269,855 9s. The Church Missionary Society commenced in 1805, and had expended up to 1849 £2,153,750 18s. 11d. The Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews commenced in 1809, and up to 1849 it had expended £594,720 11s. 4d. The British Society for Promoting Christianity among the Jews commenced in 1845, and up to 1849 had expended £12,028 10s. The British Missions commenced in 1819, and up to 1849 had expended £169,965 15s. 9d. The Moravian Missions obtain an average income from England of £3,000 a-year, which, for 50 years, is £150,000. The City of London Missions (Home Missions) commenced in 1836, and up to 1849 it had expended £114,811 14s. 10d.; total, £8,007,921 11s. 6d. To which must be added the income from all sources of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts during the same period, £3,000,000. Grand total, £11,007,921 11s. 6d.--Preston Guardian.

A THOUGHT.

The boat of a whaler was once knocked several feet in the air by a blow from the tail of a fish to which it was fast. Upon coming down, the steers

man fell into the whale's mouth, and the teeth of the animal closed upon his leg. After being in this terrible position for some time, he was released, picked up by another boat, and carried on board, where, while preparations were making to amputate his crushed limb, he was asked what he

thought

of while in the whale's mouth?" With the utmost simplicity he replied, "Why, I thought she would yield about sixty barrels !"

Monthly Chronicle.

The operations of the Society have, since the last month, continued to be carried on with encouraging proofs of success. The annual deputation has visited the Potteries, where the Rev. Edward Muscutt and Captain Prynn represented the claims, and advocated the interests of the Society. Sermons were preached by the former in the Methodist New Connexion Chapel, Shelton, in the morning of Lord's day, 8th September, and at the Independent Chapel, Burslem, in the evening. On the Monday following, a crowded public meeting was held in the Town Hall, Hanley, Joseph Cuthbertson, Esq., high-bailiff, in the chair. The meeting was addressed by S. Asbury, Esq., the Rev. Messrs. Edwards, Schofield, and Gilton, and the deputation. The proceeds from this neighbourhood have exceeded those of the preceding year, and an additional interest has been awakened on behalf of our seamen. Captain Prynn has continued the visitation of other towns in Staffordshire, the result of which we will report next month. Devon is in the course of visitation by the Rev. T. C. Finch, who has also received a larger measure of encouragement than during his former visits.

The Directors are happy to announce that the Rev. J. J. Steinitz has engaged to devote his entire services to the interests of the Society among foreign seamen. He is a native of Germany, and having there received the benefit of a lengthened course of classical education, has devoted himself to the Christian ministry. In pursuance of this design he came to this country, entered Coward College, where he has studied three years, and is now about to devote himself to the promotion of the religious welfare of German and other foreign seamen in the port of London. The evidence already supplied from various sources of his unwearied zeal and fervent piety justify the confident expectation that his connexion with the Society will prove extensively and permanently beneficial. Mr. Steinitz will commence his labours by preaching at the Sailors' Church in the evening of Lord's day, the 29th September. Mr. Von Bulow retires from his duties in this department with the undiminished esteem of the Directors, and that of the patrons and friends of the Dreadnought hospital ship, on board which his visits to foreign seamen have been greatly valued.

Our friends the treasurers and collectors of auxiliaries will greatly oblige by remitting, as early as possible, the amounts of money they may have in hand, as the Directors are desirous to meet their usual quarterly liabilities as punctually as their receipts will possibly admit.

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Missionary Operations.

PORT OF LONDON.

MR. S. LONSDALE'S REPORT.

It is now two months since I reported my labours amongst seamen, during which time the attendance at our Bethel services has been somewhat irregular. Sometimes the cabins have been crowded, at others very thinly attended. But I am thankful to say, Christ has met with those who have gathered together in his name, and our hearts have been cheered and blessed. It is a pleasing fact to be observed, that the number of Bethel ships is increasing. Though there are still many captains who refuse to hoist the Bethel flag, yet there are others who gladly avail themselves of it. On the 1st of August, as I was passing over a tier of vessels, seeking a ship for a service that evening, I was kindly accosted by a mate, whom I recognised as having attended a service I held some time previously. I told him my errand. He said the captain was not on board, but if I would leave the flag he would hoist it. In the evening I went on board, and after I had commenced the service the captain came, and a friend with him. All seemed to listen to the life-giving word with serious attention, and at the conclusion of the service he expressed great pleasure at meeting me on board his ship, and said, in future, whether he was there or not, we were welcome to his vessel. The other captain said we might do the same with his ship, and he took the flag with him and hoisted it the next day. We had a cheering service on board, though she was being ballasted, and part of the crew engaged. The cabin was full, and in conversation with the master afterwards I found that he was both pleased and profited. On the 21st I asked a captain for the use of his ship for a Bethel service. He said, "I am not a religious man." I told him we did not object on that account. It was our earnest desire to do good to those who were out of the way, for Christ died for sinners, and that through these means we were seeking their salvation. He most willingly granted his ship, and in the evening we had 21 seamen present, four of whom engaged in prayer after the address. I may say that our services on shipboard, generally, have been of an encouraging nature. At one held on board the H, Newcastle trader, at the close a captain remarked he had been at home ten weeks, and had attended on the means of grace, but he had found none so refreshing to his soul as that. At another, on board the W-- and A-, hard hearts were softened by the power of the Gospel. One man, who had lived long in sin, was seen to weep bitterly, and others seemed affected under the word. During August I held several services in the port of Colchester. On the 5th, in the school-room at the Hythe, where a goodly number of seamen and others assembled, and heard the word with serious attention. At the close of this service a Christian man came to me, and expressed astonishment at seeing one man there whom he said he had never seen darken the doors of a place of worship in his life before. On the following evening I preached on the quay, and though it seemed inclined to rain, we had a good congregation. On the 7th we had our service in the Independent chapel at Wivenhoe, where many were present who in some way or other were connected with those who go down to the sea. I observed many affected even to tears, and several manifested their interest in the sailors' cause by taking cards to collect for it. On the 8th I distributed tracts to the sailors on the quays and on board the vessels, and preached by the river-side in the evening, at Rowhedge, where I suppose about 160 people were gathered together. I was told by a person who came to me as