requested, Mr. Probert, to present a handsome bible, then produced, to captain Dyer, as a token of their high esteem, for the manner in which he had conducted his crew, during their late voyage. Mr. Probert then gave an address from Naham, 1 c. 7th verse, and more especially with affection, to captain Dyer, on the interesting occasion. Captain Dyer replied, with evidently deep emotion, and affectionately warned his crew that, in this gift, they would seal their own condemnation, if they neglected that word which they had so kindly presented to him. Mr. Williams, the father of the late second mate, having learnt what the crew were about to do, also sent ten bibles, to be presented at the same time, to each of them, which was done by captain Dyer; this was gratefully replied to by one man and an apprentice, on behalf of the crew. An appropriate hymn was sung, and Mr. Probert addressed the audience, on the bible, and A. G. Johnson prayed, leaving an impression on every mind present that this was one of the most interesting meetings ever held on board the seamen's chapel.

The result of the labours of the Bethel companies has been very encouraging; their secretary reports that two hundred and sixty prayer meetings have been held (and it is no uncommon thing for the seamen to hold private meetings for the same purpose, on board their several vessels) at which, on various occasions, the crews, from the lad of thirteen, to the aged man of seventy, have addressed the throne of mercy; at two hundred and forty-nine out of the two hundred and sixty meetings, seamen have engaged.

Five hundred and eighty visits have been made to the shipping to seek out enquiries after truth, and to induce all to attend the services at the chapel; the secretary writes, On some of these occasions our hearts have burned within us while we talked of Jesus by the way."

Six thousand nine hundred and nineteen tracts have been distributed amongst seamen and emigrants. Twelve new libraries have been purchased to supply the losses sustained by shipwreck and other circumstances; seventy-eight ships have been provided with boxes during the year; seventy-five have been returned, containing donations to the amount of £6 9s. 6d. ; two hundred and seven volumes have been purchased, and thirty presented by friends to this Institution, amongst which is a selection of £10's worth from the religious tract society, rendered at half price for the promotion of the cause.

SUNDERLAND AUXILIARY.

An Auxiliary has recently been formed in Sunderland, to the Parent Society, under the most favorable auspices. The following are its constitution and objects :

1. This society shall comprehend all denominations of christians holding the essential doctrines of the christian faith.

2. The affairs of this society shall be managed by a committee of gentlemen, chosen annually at a general meeting of subscribers.

3. All paid agents of the society shall be chosen by the committee.

4. Every annual subscriber of 5s. or upwards, shall be a member of this Society; and ladies and gentlemen subscribing five guineas shall be members for life.

5. report of the proceedings of the committee with an audited statement of the society's finances, shall be presented every year to the general meeting.

6. No minister shall supply the chapel, but such as shall hold and profess the essential doctrines of christianity, the universality of the fall of man, the divinity of Christ, the all-sufficiency of the atonement, justification by faith, the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the eternity of future rewards and punishments.

7. That the agent use every prudent effort for the promotion of temperance among sailors.

The objects contemplated on the formation of this Auxiliary, and in the appointment of a permanent agency for the Wear and the adjoining ports of Seaham, Hartlepool, Stockton, and Middlesbro' are the following:

1. To visit the vessels lying at the quay and the different stations on the river, for the purpose of holding religious conversation and distributing bibles and tracts.

2. To visit the families of the sailors and watermen resident in the neighbourhood of the port, with the object of imparting spiritual instruction and consolation.

3. To hold meetings for exhortation and prayer on week-day evenings, at a time and place convenient on shore for the attendance of sailors.

4. To conduct divine service on the afternoon of sabbath days, in the sailors' chapel, for the special benefit of sailors and occasionally on board when the weather will permit.

5. To superintend on the morning of sabbath days, the religious instruction of the young belonging to the families of those sailors and watermen who reside near the port.

6. To furnish ship libraries of religious books on loan, to vessels bound to foreign ports, and also to provide a reading room in connection with the chapel for seamen.

7. To procure the assistance of gratuitous agents, who shall conduct devotional services, and expound a portion of the word of God on board such vessels as shall be obtained for that purpose.

8. To spend one month in the year in visiting through the county, for the purpose of recommending the seamen's cause to the attention of the public and of strengthening the society's funds.

9. To pay occasional visits to the neighbouring towns and villages for the promotion of the same objects.

The Auxiliary comprehends in its operations Sunderland, Stockton, Middlesbro', Hartlepool, and Seaham Harbour, with a separate committee in each place. These united committees have added the following appeal :

It has been computed that for every sixteen sailors who die of all diseases, eleven die by drowning, or by wrecks ;—that the number of British ships which are lost, is one to twenty-five;-that very few short of two thousand perish annually in the mighty deep, chiefly from shipwreck, by which property to the value of three millions annually is absolutely lost to the nation, and hundreds of widows and thousands of children are thrown on the cold and precarious charity of the public;-that the more frequent cause of these shipwrecks is intemperance, and in the case of those who are saved from such sudden death, and a watery grave, that the average life of seamen is, from hard service, finished at forty-five! These are thrilling facts-facts which speak with deep and solemn emphasis to every one possessed of the feelings and sympathies of our common humanity, but especially to such as have professed their faith in the great and unchangeable verities of the christian revelation. Oh! if there be any bowels of mercy in those who call themselves by the high and worthy name of Christ, let them, by all that is precious in redeeming blood,—by all that is great and noble in infinite love,—by all that is real and vital in the discoveries of revelation,—by all that enters into the worth of a deathless soul,-by all that stands connected with the disclosures of eternal ages, attempt, without delay, the present and eternal salvation of these men.

POETRY.

Poetry.

ON THE WRECK OF THE RELIANCE.

ADDRESSED TO LANDSMEN.

'Twas but the other morn-ere darkness filed-.

Above the tumult of the dashing surf,

Amid the loud howlings of impetuous winds,
Was heard the boombing of the minute gun,
Proclaiming danger and the dread of death.

Roused at the sound, some wakeful townsmen rise,
They gather on the coast, and trembling stand
To see their brethren perish-or to greet
A few strong swimmers from a drowning death.
Making the darkness visible, their lamps
Gleam through the storm like many stars of hope.
Be not deceived, ye tempest tost !-alas !

They gild your watery graves-driven by fierce winds,
Nearing the coast, the fated vessel reels.
She labours hard, as for a hundred lives!
Her crew all crowd upon her shattered deck;
O could you see their faces-all agast!—
Now-unresistingly she nears-she strikes!
Over and over dash the murderous waves.
Two dreadful hours the sea breaks over her;
Sweeping away some of the screaming crew.
What tongue can tell the terrors of the doomed,
As trembling to the reeling wreck they cling-
The past and future crowd in their last thoughts,
Augmenting present anguish-dreadful sight!—
Ye landsmen to the rescue !-helpless all !—
Vain is the help of man !-nature forbids!
What living man, so prodigal of life,

Will venture now upon the raging sea?

O for that voice divine--that peace
That ruled the storm and laid the waves to rest,

As angry children at a father's call.

Heaved up, then dashed against the solid rock,
The vessel parts !-all-all is over now-

Stop-stop your ears ye beholders-shut your eyes-
The sights and sounds are horrid.

-The last cry

Is drowning now amidst the noisy winds;
Ye cruel winds !-soon shall ye bear the news

To thousand weeping relatives-alas!

What havoc made ye on that dreadful night.

151

But few escaped-how few of all that crowd
That, but the other day had joyed to think
How near they were to England-some to home;
The sea, a few pale corses washed to shore
To find on earth a burial; whilst the deep
Drew to her caverns the majority.
"All in one grave together do they sleep,"

Till all together rise at the last trump.

Such are the dire calamities that wait

Our British seamen.

Landsmen, 'tis for us
They risk these hazards-'tis by us they're sent-
For us they quit their country and their homes-
Toiling by day and night on the rough seas
To steer our comforts from the far off isles.
What comforts do they ask?--The Tariff list
Con over carefully each item weigh-

And strike off all things deemed superfluous-
And what remains? What wondrous gifts of God,
To feed-to clothe--to heal-to cheer-to bless-
The produce of a world steered to one isle.

For toils and perils risked in bringing these,
Say-what reward the mariner deserves-
Part of the wealth they bring ?-'tis not enough—
If only they risked temporalities

It might be-but they risk their lives-their all-
Yea-well we know the dread majority,

Though heedless of their ruin, risk their souls;
There is the risk-Merchants! ensure your freights;
But deem not of less worth those precious souls
That man your vessels, and that guard your wealth.
Could all the ships that ever rode the deep,
From every nation and through every age,
Be gathered, freighted, in the middle sea,
In real worth, one soul outweighs them all.

Henceforth keep back from them the liquid fire-
Distilled destruction !*-put within their reach
God's word of life-and let the Bethel flag
With dove and olive branch adorn your masts,

That, happily the breathing gales of heaven

"The anchor of the soul"-" the port of peace"

Shall make our hardy seamen proof against

The wreck of spirits-the eternal fires.

* "Distilled damnation."-Rev. Robert Hall.

S. B.