Monthly Chronicle. Report of the Rev. C. J. Hyatt, Superintendent of the Thames Agency. A brief absence from home principally with a view to advance the interests of the Sailors' Society has brought me into acquaintance with several friends of seamen, and furnished an opportunity of judging of the state of public feeling in relation to the claims and operations of our Society. One fact of which the Committee and all its agents have had ample proof is, that, generally speaking, great indifference exists upon the subject. At the same time in most places some few warm-hearted zealous friends to the object are met with, whose cordial sympathy and active support encourage and stimulate the efforts of those who advocate the cause. Of this, during the past month, I have had delightful proof at Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Woodbridge,swich, and Needham Market. At Yarmouth a local Society exists, whose operations, though comparatively limited, have not been unattended with tokens of success. of the indefatigable town Missionaries preaches every sabbath evening in the Mariners' Chapel, and from the locality to which his labours are confined, is brought into frequent contact both with the sailors themselves, and with their wives and families. Several seamen have, through his instrumentality, been brought to a saving knowledge of Christ. There are belonging to this port upwards of 500 registered vessels inclusive of the fishing smacks, many of which are of considerable tonnage. The magnificent quay—nearly a mile in extent—along side of which these vessels lay, may claim comparison with any in Europe. One Lowestoft is a quiet watering place of small extent, and from the limited number of vessels visiting the port does not furnish much scope for exertion on behalf of sailors. Its maritime population are chiefly engaged in the fishery, and when at home are mixed up with the other inhabitants of the place, and are accessible to the ordinary means of religious instruction. At Woodbridge I had the pleasure of meeting the two Independent and the Methodist ministers who expressed a cordial sympathy with the welfare of seamen. In order to awaken in the minds of these men a concern about their souls, they agreed on sabbath evenings occasionally, and by turn, to preach on the quay and thus to endeavour " means to save some." May the divine Spirit crown their efforts with success. by all Ipswich presents a somewhat important sphere of exertion. Nearly 200 registered vessels belong to the port, some of them of considerable tonnage. As in the other places along the coast the men reside with their families when in port, and are embraced within the operations of the town Missionaries who are labouring successfully here, as well as in other parts which I have recently visited. Several friends whom I had the pleasure of conversing with, expressed a kind and hearty interest in the success of our labors. At Needham Market the friends preferred making a collection on the sabbath, hoping that more would be raised for the object on that occasion, than after a week evening service. They have fulfilled their promise, and have the cordial thanks of the Committee. On the whole it is encouraging to know that in the prosecution of our great work we have the approbation, the prayers, and the aid of many who wish well and feel warmly for the cause, and in the strength thus afforded, and in reliance upon the influence of the Great Spirit we go forward, Our operations on the river and at Bell Wharf furnish no topics possessing novelty, or calling for special observation :-48 services have been held on ship-board, attended by 734 seamen,-1811 tracts, and 14 bibles and testaments have been distributed, and 20 religious meetings have been conducted at the Sailors' chapel. The schools have had an average attendance of 202 children, out of 314, whose names are recorded on the books. AGENTS' MEETING:-HELD ON FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 11TH, 1843. At this meeting the zeal of our brethren seemed enkindled afresh by the cordial welcome they had received during the month, and the tokens of acceptance and success with which they had been favored. Could we obtain the attendance of the friends of the cause either at our Agents' meetings, or our Bethel services, a livelier feeling of interest would be awakened in the heart, and a more general support afforded to so delightful, as well as important a work. In our last report we had to acknowledge the kindness of the Naval and Military Bible Society in placing at our disposal a large number of copies of the Holy Scriptures. This month we have to record the generosity of the Tract Society in furnishing us, at greatly reduced prices, with a large supply of their publications, in addition to the grant of many thousand tracts recently received. From these volumes four libraries have been supplied to vessels going to Port Philip, Adelaide, Montreal, and Bombay; whilst two others have been returned from ships which have visited Valparaiso, and the South Seas. When the ship Camden left the port of London on her missionary voyage a Bethel flag and a box of books were granted for the use of the crew. That flag has often floated in the breeze inviting the sailor to worship, and we have ample proof in the state of the volumes which compose it, that the library has been well employed. The Committee have had the gratification of receiving from the hands of Capt. Morgan, the honoured commander of that vessel, the sum of £14 6s. as a contribution from the ships' company of the New York (which vessel he now commands) in aid of the funds of our society. The interests of the Sailors Society and of Foreign missions are one, for whilst ungodly seamen are a hindrance, the pious and holy sailor will prove a coadjutor with, and a help to the honoured and devoted men who in foreign climes are serving the cause of the heathen; and thus advancing the kingdom of Christ. On all our institutions both foreign and domestic may the glory rest, and He in whose strength we labour shall have the praise. AGENTS' REPORTS. MR.T. A. FIELDWICK, Thames Missionary. It affords me pleasure in forwarding the report of my labours during the past month, to be able to say that I have not had the least cause to alter the sentiments, or be shaken in the opinions I have already expressed. On the contrary, every thing has tended to establish them. And I consider myself most happy to be engaged in a work at once so agreeable to my own feelings, and so eminently calculated to benefit that class of men amongst whom I am daily engaged. That, for so many years while the philanthropy of the christian public was prompting them to discover fresh fields of usefulness and spheres of zealous effort, and almost every section of the church was pressing forward into the general conflict, to the help of the Lord against the mighty, the immense and most important mass of our seafaring population should be totally overlooked and neglected, is a fact-most candidly to be confessed, and at the same time, most deeply to be deplored. For while our sailors are deprived of many privileges, and exposed to mary dangers, of which the other classes of the community are entirely ignorant, their claims on our affectionate regard and careful attention, are not the less on these accounts, but only so much the more enlarged and enforced. The soul of the sailor surely is as precious in the sight of God as that of any other of our fellow mortals; sin, as dangerous a foe-Jesus, as suitable a Saviour and heaven as fit a home. Nevertheless that they have been neglected, cannot be denied; and the continual testimony that I receive from these men themselves to this effect, is a sufficient evidence that they are not insensible to this neglect. But as honesty and candour are features of character for which they are proverbial, it is but justice for me to add after the statement I have just made, that I very seldom hear such a remark from any of them without a concurrent acknowledg. ment of the good which has recently been accomplished among them, and of their now greatly increased privileges, and a manifest delight in the great and glorious work which is at present going on amongst them. The christians of this land appear at last to have aroused themselves in a degree to this important work; their interest and liberality have begun to be excited; and already great and happy have been the results. Most manifest is the improvement amongst them. Very rarely indeed do I hear oaths and blasphemies from the sailors in the vessels on the river; tracts are willingly received; there seems to be a general disposition to attend the Bethel meetings when practicable; and indeed a great door and effectual' appears to be opening to us, where the glorious gospel of the blessed God' ' may have free course and be glorified,' if indeed we are but enabled by the pecuniary and prayerful support of the christian public to follow up our advantages, and push our aggressions still further into those fearful strongholds of the prince of the power of the air. During the past month I have visited 262 vessels-distributed in various parts of the river 1,114 tracts-and at our different meetings, in all about sixty magazines and procured twenty-one ships for agents, among which was one, from which the Bethel flag had not previously been hoisted. I have attended seventeen services on shore, and held eight on board ship, at which last 121 individuals have been present. The services at the chapel at Bell Wharf I am happy to say, have been rather better attended of late, which I have regarded as a great encouragement; but it is my duty to add, that when in conversation with the sailors respecting it, and when inviting them to the means of grace there, there appears to be in their minds a kind of prejudice, both against the place itself, as well as its situation, as uncomfortable and inappropriate. And to such a degree does this feeling extend, that while I make every effort on its behalf, I almost despair that the present building will ever be regarded as the sailor's common place of worship while remaining in the port of London. But still we have some most delightful meetings there, and enjoy some very profitable seasons, especially on the Monday evening at our fellowship meetings. Yes, it is often sweet to be there. So sweet to hear them praise God for early privileges, for pious parents, or for godly shipmates; so sweet, to witness the fervour of their grateful hearts as they speak of their crucified Redeemer; so sweet to see the men who have braved the ocean's rage, and dared the tempest's roar, or seen their vessels left a wreck in that great waste of waters, enter the house of God to tell what he has done for their souls; oh so sweet to hear these very men testify, as I have heard, that "there is something in religion," that "its a thing worth having," and that by it, and it alone, they could smile at danger, and welcome death. These are the men who show what religion is, and what it has power to do; and that it is still the same as in the days of the apostle, when in like circumstances he exclaimed-" Sirs, be of good cheer, for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me." Of our sabbath schools,-which cannot be said at present to be in a very flourishing condition, owing chiefly to the irregularity of attendance, and the great need we have of some additional efficient teachers, I hope soon to be able to present a more favorable report. We are about to take some decided steps in connexion with the visitation of the parents and children, and by the blessing of the Lord upon our efforts and the assistance of pious friends in the neighbourhood, whose help would be highly valued, I trust we shall yet see them abundantly useful in training the minds of those children in the paths of pleasantness and peace, who will, in all probability, another day, sail in British vessels, and so help to man our far-famed wooden walls-at once the glory and defence of our highly-favored land. Having to rejoice over so much good already effected, and so many calls, and so much encouragement to go forward in this useful work, I hope, even as I believe, that if we grow not weary in well doing, our God will yet do great things for us, whereof we shall have reason to be glad. MR. GANNELL.-First Station.-I feel sincere pleasure in again presenting a brief account of my labours in the cause of seamen, and would express my devout gratitude to God for his continued care and goodness in the prosecution of my duties, and especially for some pleasing evidence of His gracious blessing. During the last quarter I have conduct ed twelve services on ship-board, and among them have dedicated two to the Bethel cause, one of these was connected with peculiar circumstances. The even ing in question was cold and wet, on boarding the vessel to which I was appointed I was greatly disappointed in not finding any of the crew on board, except a young lad who was left in charge of the ship, indeed the whole tier seemed quite deserted, this was probably owing to two causes, the state of the weather, and a meeting on shore, which took many of them away in the afternoon. On entering the cabin I observed the lad just referred to, sitting in one corner reading the fragment of a tract, I said to him, "Well my lad is not the captain on board, or any of the men?" he replied, "No sir," there is nobody on board but I." Seeing him reading, I said to him, "I hope you are fond of reading a book?" "Yes sir, I am when I gets one." "Have you a bible? "No sir, I had one once, but two years ago I was wrecked, and then I lost my bible and all I got beside." "Have you a Father or Mother?" "No sir, I have nobody belonging to me as I knows of." "Do you think my lad that you would value and read the bible if any friend were to give you one." "O yes sir, that "Well I said, I I would, that I would." have not a bible with me this evening, but I have a new testament in my pocket, and it is quite a new book for it has never been used, and I will give it you upon one condition, that you now give me a solemn promise that you will read a portion of it every day, and pray to God that He will bless it to your soul. This promise he readily gave, and was evidently much pleased and affected by the unexpected present. I asked him for a pen and ink, and wrote his name, and that of the giver with a few hints by way of affectionate counsel. I asked if he could |