is my opinion,) to present it—if he were only to peruse what I read in the last magazine you sent me.

And now as to the amendment to be made in the new Acts. Power should be given to certain visitors, appointed by the committee, (Sailors' committee) to have access into the building, and to inspect their food, clothing, treatment, &c.; but the great point is to get a clause into the Act to give power to the same or others, to compel them (merchants) by law to do the poor people justice in all that is deficient, to give the power of an action at law, in some one of our courts of law, to be specified in the Act, to make them perform their agreement, or to incur penalties, or even punishment, or to sue them; but I am too tired and blind to go farther. But, perhaps, that is not necessary, for I have given you a sufficient clue to imagine what ought to be done. With kind regards to your family, believe me to be Your sincere friend,

THOMAS CLARKSON.

DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

CORNWALL.

Tour of the Rev. G. R. Hewlings, Travelling Secretary.

It is truly pleasing amid the numerous difficulties and discouragements which attend the public advocacy of any religious cause, to perceive that cause making gradual progress in some measure commensurate with your exertions.

This has been the case, particularly in Cornwall, where it may be remembered, the attention of your travelling secretary was first directed. In 1840 there were but two Auxiliaries, one at St. Ives, the other at Portreath; now, almost every port in that maritime county has an efficient agency, whose labours are being crowned with increasing tokens of success. One principal means of securing such co-operation has been the regular annual visitation which your committee has wisely sanctioned. Conceiving that a fresh visitor this year might more advance the object, I was anxious to provide a substitute, but have had subsequent reason to acquiesce in the overruling of that proposition, as in every place, I was, if possible, more cordially received, and by the presence of the same agent their confidence proportionably increased.

At Hayle, the place first visited, I was obliged to promise a second

meeting ere I left the county, and which I was enabled to hold the night previous to my return to London.

At Truro a gentleman of property and consecrated talents, kindly undertook not only to become treasurer but to canvass the town for our society-this he has done, and a liberal return has evinced the value of his praise-worthy exertions.

At Mevagissey, Fowey, and Lostwitheil our auxiliaries are still active; and while at the latter place, I received intelligence that our Bethel flag was then flying at Wade-bridge, where an auxiliary was formed last year, and that since its formation, divine service had been regularly conducted by the different ministers of that port.

At Penzance, where (through adverse causes not connected with this society) little comparatively had been done for seamen, I found the spirit of my previous visits still cherished, in proof whereof, a considerable meeting was convened in the Town Hall, the mayor in the chair, on which occasion an eligible plot of ground was tendered by a gentleman, and accepted for the construction of a Bethel chapel thereon, and a contribution at once raised as a preliminary step towards such erection, the money in hand of the auxiliary being delivered over to the parent society. May the proposed erection be speedily completed and prove the spiritual birth place of many a poor mariner!

Although St. Ives, through the removal of our respected friend and treasurer, the Rev. W. Malkin, had sustained some depression, the meeting was well attended, and several friends were led to pledge themselves to renewed exertions.

At Portreath the Rev. J.Tyrwick, the worthy rector, and president of our auxiliary, would have been present but for indisposition-his curate, sons, and other members of his family were at the meeting. Much interest was expressed, and the usual annual remittance forwarded to the society.

At Falmouth and Penryn the Rev. T. Wildbore and Dr. Cope kindly granted their pulpits, and, at both places, individuals have expressed their readiness to assist in carrying out, more fully, our objects in these respective localities. It is, in the mean while, pleasing to record, that the Rev. T. Wildbore continues with unabating energy the weekly service at the Bethel room in Falmouth, in which he has been engaged for years, and by a judicious adaptation of his discourses, secures an increasing attendance of seamen on these occasions-he is assisted therein by the Reverend J. Watts.

In addition to the places previously noticed I visited St. Just, Bolingey, St. Agnes, Padstow, Camelford, Boscastle, and, but for lack of time, could have found admission into many other places, as there is scarcely a pulpit in Cornwall but is now open to your society.

In conclusion, I may mention an interesting fact in connection with Padstow. Though a public meeting was impracticable this year, a leading gentleman of the place kindly enrolled himself as a subscriber, and engaged not merely to provide the tracts himself, but to secure a regular visitation, and supply to the ships of that port every sabbath morning; and when it is remembered that many emigrant vessels put into that

port, who can tell how widely these messengers of mercy may be diffus ed, or how much good may be effected by them in the name and by the spirit of our God? To whom may all our efforts be consecrated and to whose name be all the glory!

IRELAND.

Tour of the Rev. G. R. Hewlings, Travelling Secretary.

In accordance, and with the approval of your committee, I visited Ireland soon after my return from Cornwall. This being new ground, I deemed it advisable, and afterwards found it necessary to proceed as the path seemed opened before me.

I proceeded from London via Bristol to Cork, as the quickest and consequently the best course—and there I met the Rev. J. Burnet, who kindly recommended the object, but advised me at once to go northward, and return by that route, it being impracticable then to do any thing in that city. I took his advice, and at once proceeded to Dublin, visiting Youghal, Dungarvon, Waterford, Ross, and Wexford, (all sea ports) on my way. In each place, with the exception of Dungarvon, meetings were got up, and much interest, particularly in Ross and Waterford, was excited—in the latter place, the large room, capable of containing about 1000 persons, was crowded, and two clergymen, with six or seven other ministers, were present. It was considered the wisest course in these places (with the exception of Ross) as our society was previously unknown, to have no collections-but a gentleman at the close of this last meeting undertook to canvass Waterford on behalf of our society.

At Dublin, Dr. Urwick readily acquiesced in our cause, and granted his pulpit, both on the subsequent morning and the following monday evening-himself corroborating the statements made and the merits of the society. The Baptist minister also kindly granted his pulpit on the sabbath evening, and but for one or two untoward events the Rev. Mr. Cooper would doubtless have co-operated as before, but this time he felt induced to decline his continuance of our mission. In the course of the week, I met one of the Presbyterian ministers, but the Rev. Mr. Kirkpatrick, the senior minister of that body in Dublin, being from home, it was deemed advisable to defer the application for their pulpits till another season.

From Dublin, where, but for the foregoing circumstances, our contributions would have been much increased—I proceeded to Belfast, where I met with the kindest reception from the whole Presbyterian body-the ministers readily granted their' pulpits, and made arrangements for a public meeting. Here too, a misunderstanding having arisen between their Auxiliary and your society, and it appearing from Dr. Edgar's and their secretary's representation that an engagement for assisting their auxiliary had not been fulfilled, I deemed it my duty for the honour

and credit of your committee, to tender them my services, gratuitously, for their own objects, which were readily and gratefully accepted. A very numerous and respectable attendance at Fisherwick-place school rooms, at which many ministers were present, and Dr. Cook and Rev. J. Morgan presided, proved the interest of Belfast in the cause of seamen-and at a committee summoned for the next morning, their rules and operations were all revised and strengthened.

At the suggestion of Dr. Edgar and the committee, I proceeded, accompanied by their chaplain and two other friends, to Carrickfergus and Bangor, (neighbouring ports.) At the latter place, a public meeting was held, which was well attended by a society immediately organized; a meeting would also have been convened at Carrickfergus, (notices having been issued,) but for a temperance meeting which had been previously called for the same evening. It is intended to connect these two places with the Belfast Auxiliary, whose next annual meeting I have been solicited to attend.

From thence I went to Newry, where the two Presbyterian churches and the Independent were opened to me, and on the following evening a public meeting was held at the Rev. J. Shiel's church, which was largely attended.

My next scene of labours was Londonderry, where I preached in three churches on the sabbath, and had a meeting at the second Presbyterian church, the Rev. J. Denham's, the following evening. An auxiliary was afterwards formed of the respective ministers and others, and engagements entered into for carrying into effect their operations.

I then visited Sligo, where the Wesleyan, Independent and Presbyterian churches were secured, and the next day a public meeting was held in the national school room; here at the close, a similar organization was effected.

Letters of recommendation having been forwarded to Galway, I next proceeded thither, but the Rev. J. Fisher was from home. I have since been favored with a letter from him, deeply regretting his absence. I was obliged, without effecting my object, to proceed to Limerick, where I should have had the Rev. J. Watson's pulpit, but it had been promised to the Baptist deputation. He kindly introduced me to some of his friends, and has promised his pulpit and influence another year.

From thence I returned to Cork, where again I was subjected to disappointment—my letters from Londonderry not having reached them till after they had engaged themselves to the Baptist deputation-however Dr. Dill, the Presbyterian minister, who was the first in Ireland to take up our cause, and who recommended me to his brethren in the north, delivered up his pulpit for the whole sabbath, and on the following Wednesday a public meeting was called in the great room, Imperial hotel, which was kindly granted for the occasion, at which J. S. Buckingham, Esq., who was then lecturing in Cork, presided—the attendance was limited though respectable, a circumstance to be accounted for by the period at which it was necessarily held, and the lamentable state of

party feeling existing in that fine city, which is highly prejudicial to every religious undertaking.

Four hours were spent the following day in conference with the Rev. Drs. Dill, and King, Messrs. White, and others, to consider the practicability of any decisive steps as to an auxiliary, but the circumstances referred to seemed to render it at present impracticable-however, a gentleman has come forward who has engaged, as in the case at Waterford, to seek contributors to the parent society.

I must not conclude the case of Cork without remarking that a Mr. White has here a Bethel which he has sustained alone for years, in connection with the church of England, where service is regularly conducted, and though but a small result, the meeting of friends terminated in the offer of Mr. White to accept the co-operation of Dr. Dill and the baptist minister, in his services, and the prospect in the event of another visit from your society of placing the whole upon a more eligible basis.

One interesting fact is worthy of record. When this Bethel some years ago had sunk into debt, and required an extra effort to relieve it, the attending seamen themselves, contributed £37 out of the £80 required for the occasion.

And I must also, in committing into the hands of my friends this rough sketch, again record the extreme kindness I every where experienced, particularly from the ministers and members of the Presbyterian bodythe former of whom not only received me into their churches but habitations, and forwarded the highest and kindest recommendations, by which means succeeding places were opened up to me.

Having suffered much from three attacks of indisposition, the greatest sympathy was evinced-they conducting the introductory services and in every other possible way lightening my obligation. Though at present small, the actual return from this visit to the society, I am persuaded, that a very general and extended interest has been secured, -the more important, when the prejudice excited by one of the agents of a kindred society is taken into account.-Moreover the numerous auxiliaries formed, will yield in due time, if the committee will only sanction what I was obliged to promise, to repeat my visit early next year-and I have no doubt that both Cornwall and Ireland, being now well known, may be effectually visited in the short space of eight or ten weeks-and thus, while the objects of your institution are being promoted and established, a reciprocal advantage will be secured.

I have only to add my sincere desire and humble but believing prayer, that the seed soon in the numerous services (upwards of forty) in which I was engaged, may not be lost in that fertile yet needy country.

RICHMOND:-SURREY.

We have been highly gratified by the reception of the two following communications. They show how readily and effectually the sailor's cause takes hold of the heart, and moves the deepest feelings of the