Though I have not yet had the happiness of being engaged in the Bethel cause quite twelve months, yet a review of the past will excite, as in heaven so on earth, the feelings of gratitude and joy. I rejoice that my efforts have not been entirely fruitless. In several cases, I have heard that the word preached has been followed with the blessing of God, and applied to the conscience by his Spirit; that the distribution of the Scriptures has likewise been made effectual to salvation; and the same may be said of the circulation of religious tracts. Our Bethel meetings have of late been much better attended, and a gracious influence appears to have rested on them. When, therefore, we assert that the number of praying sailors is greatly increased, and our Bethel captains (whose ranks are considerably enlarged) are firmly attached to the cause, and willingly lend their efforts and their influence, the inference must be that the blessing of God is resting upon our work, and that he is not permitting his servants to labour in vain, nor spend their strength for nought.

Nor is this the only evidence which the Directors have the pleasure to adduce in favour of their operations. Equally explicit and equally satisfactory is the testimony of

THE THAMES AGENTS,

who during the past year have been in labours more abundant, and whose reports are full of interest and encouragement.

But Bethel services are not the only means of reaching the sailor. He is daily brought into the closest contact with your agents, and opportunities many and favourable occur, of presenting to his mind the vital truths of the gospel. This is effected by

THE VISITATION OF THE SHIPPING.

This forms an important part of the every-day duties of your missionaries, who go from ship to ship with unwearied perseverance, and, as far as practicable, enter into conversation with each sailor on the momentous interests of his soul. In this department of labour they have been both encouraged and rewarded.

There is no difficulty now in obtaining ships, on board of which religious service may be conducted. There has been a steady and pleasing

INCREASE OF BETHEL SHIPS.

The opposition which was manifested a few years ago by masters and commanders of vessels, is rapidly yielding to a better and purer influence.

It has in no common degree cheered your Committee to find the holy principles of our faith exerting such an influence over both masters and men. No less animating has it been to find an increased demand for

BETHEL FLAGS,

which have been supplied at half their cost, and in some instances

presented by the Directors. The flag is a rallying point, around which the pious captain, or mate, can gather those of kindred spirit, and even attract those who have hitherto been careless and unconcerned. There are now about FIVE HUNDRED Bethel captains, and about twelve thousand Christian sailors, while their numbers are daily multiplying.

If it enter into the very genius of our holy religion to yield the most stable support and consolation amid the trials and sorrows of life, then nothing could be more signal than its triumph in those seasons of danger and calamity to which the sailor is exposed. In storm and tempest, and with nothing before him but a watery grave, he has been calm, collected, happy. In the immediate prospect of death and eternity, he has feared no evil. If called to resign himself to the yawning gulf, it has been in the confidence that he knew whom he had believed, and persuaded that He was able to keep that which in life he had committed to Him; and just as the last foaming wave encompassed him as in a shower, has his redeemed spirit soared away to that happier land where there is no more sea! Or if he has died on shore, in the deep stillness of his little chamber, there have been moments of surpassing interest-scenes radiant with the coming glory!

A poor old seaman in the west of England became a true penitent at the eleventh hour, and soon after was called to die. During his illness he was visited by two Christian friends, who had previously known him, and had marked with pleasure the evidence of his piety. "Well, brother," said they, "how is it with you? Have you a good hope?" "LAND AHEAD!" exclaimed the good old man. They came a second time. "How are you now, dear brother? Are your prospects bright and cheering?" "I'M ROUNDING THE POINT," he answered. Once more they stood at his bed-side. He was almost gone. His pulse beat feebly, for the hand of death was upon him. 'Brother," said they, "can you tell us now where your hope is fixed? Is Christ still precious? Is heaven in view?" He gathered up his remainin g strength, sat up in his bed, and, with the last effort of expiring nature, exclaimed, "LET GO THE ANCHOR !" fell back upon the pillow, and expired.

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SCOTCH AND WELSH VESSELS.

In this sphere of action your agents are greatly encouraged. There is a deeper attention to the subject of religion, and a greater disposition to attend the means provided for their spiritual improvement.

There is much less difficulty in obtaining ships for Bethel services than any others. The mate of a Scotch brig hailed my appearance the other day with evident pleasure, and even left his own vessel to meet and welcome me, although I was advancing towards him, expressing his desire and perfect readiness, as he already had the captain's permission, to hoist the flag at any time.

From the Rev. David Davis, pastor of the church worshipping at Great Guildford Street, who has kindly engaged to provide an

agent to conduct a weekly service on board the Welsh vessels in the Pool, the following report has been received:

"The Bethel meetings among the Welsh were commenced on the 14th of September, 1843, and, with the exception of three evenings, have been carried on regularly in the vessels of the Welsh sailors. The average attendance may be estimated from twenty to thirty every week, and on two or three occasions there were not less than from one hundred to one hundred and fifty present. The Welsh agency has been of no expense to the Society hitherto. Messrs. Evans and Harris, who are the chief supporters of the agency, and who have sacrificed their time and comforts to a very considerable degree, left their homes in cold winter evenings, and entered the cabins, the holds, and the decks of the vessels, inviting the sailors to accept the rich provisions of the gospel, the unsearchable riches of Christ. Sometimes they had the pleasure of hearing and uniting in prayer with the captain of the vessel, and some of the men whom he employed. I might write much more, but am afraid of growing tedious."

Since the last annual meeting an agency has been established at

GREENHITHE, AND AT LONG REACH

the cause of vital godliness advances with a pleasing progress.

These various statements affecting the character and progress of the cause in which we are engaged, are substantially and satisfactorily confirmed by

THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THAMES AGENCY,

who has given the closest attention to each department of labour. both on the river and on the shore. The following is his summary of what has been done :

Bethel services held during the year, 625; aggregate of seamen present, 10,748. Services held on shore, 243; Tracts distributed, 23,845; Libraries supplied to ships, 22; Bethel flags sold or granted, 18.

It is not possible (he says) to present a complete view of the agency of the Society in actual operation; nor can even the agents themselves know what is the amount of good really effected. The daily visitation of the shipping-the casual conversation— the passing remark, or the more formal appeal-the gift of a tract-the prayer— the address the sermon-are all exerting an influence, silent it may be, and unobserved, but the character of which may be exhibited years hence, and the precious fruits of which may be enjoyed when time shall be no more.

The Superintendent has also devoted a little attention to Seamen's Boarding Houses, and after describing their wretched condition, says :

Did the state of our finances admit of the expenditure, an agency appointed exclusively to the visitation of sailors' lodging-houses, and of other places of resort while on shore, would be as productive of important results as the operations of the Society afloat.

In adverting to the important assistance rendered to the Society by its various auxiliaries throughout the kingdom, especially its metropolitan associations, the Directors are constrained gratefully to recognise the valuable agency conducted by the East London

Auxiliary, under the direction of whose committee a weekly Bethel service is conducted. The lodging-houses in that vicinity are visited, seamen are invited to attend the places of worship, and large numbers of religious tracts are distributed. On all their efforts in thus effectually co-operating with this Committee, may a rich and abundant blessing rest!

For the liberal aid received during the year from the Religious Tract Society, and for the generous grant of Bibles and Testaments made by the Naval and Military Bible Society, the Directors offer their cordial thanks.

BELL WHARF PREMISES.

The Directors having quitted the premises formerly held by them, at a heavy annual rent, at Bell Wharf, and occupied as a place of public worship and school-rooms for the education of children of both sexes, have entered into arrangements for a temporary accommodation both of the congregation and the conducting of the schools. The object of our missionaries will be to invite the attendance of the seamen on the means of grace both on the Sabbath and in the week, whilst the schools will be under the same system of instruction and superintendence; and it is hoped will still maintain the same character and efficiency.

The arrangements are not permanent, but temporary. The Directors still cherish the hope that the metropolis of the kingdom will ere long exhibit a building, or buildings, in every way adapted to the important objects which they have in view, and which are indispensable to the temporal and moral welfare of the sailor.

PROVINCIAL AGENCIES.

The Directors have the satisfaction to state, that these have been multiplied during the year, whilst those formerly established have been distinguished with the most unequivocal tokens of

success.

In Sunderland, Newcastle, North and South Shields, Shoreham, Torquay, Brixham, Ramsgate, and various ports in Cornwall; in Swansea, Haverfordwest, and some minor ports in Wales; the general aspect of the work is truly encouraging.

IRELAND.

There are in the sister isle several ports of sufficient consequence to demand some special effort. There, as in many places of England, justice has not been done to the sailor. But Ireland is now becoming alive to his claims, and is prepared to act in the true spirit of her warm and generous devotion.

DUBLIN. It is with unfeigned pleasure we have to record that the Bethel union now carried on in the city of Dublin, under high patronage and sound direction, has given in its adhesion to your Society, and has thus become an affiliated branch of the parent Institution. This union has just been consummated, and we doubt not, that when the next anniversary shall arrive, it will be in your power to report the most cheering and satisfactory results.

CONTINENTAL OPERATIONS.

It was stated in your last Report that, owing to the state of his own health, and that of his estimable wife, the Rev. E. E. Adams had been under the necessity of quitting Cronstadt, the scene of his former labours. On his return, he spent some time in this country, but has since been appointed seamen's chaplain in the port of

HAVRE DE GRACE,

under the auspices of the American Seamen's Friend Society. This appointment was the consequence of the removal of the Rev. E. W. Sawtell to a post of great honour and responsibility in his hands. Mr. Adams has now been engaged for several months in his new position; and with the most pleasing prospects of success.

In Cronstadt, Hamburgh, Memel, Bremerhaven, and Amsterdam, operations have been carried on with spirit and energy.

FOREIGN STATIONS.

During the past year, no intelligence has reached us, either from the CAPE OF GOOD HOPE or AUSTRALIA.

QUEBEC.-By a communication received from the Rev. T. Atkinson, we learn that the friends there are prepared to adopt the most vigorous measures on behalf of seamen, in connexion with and under the direction of your Society.

ST. JOHN'S, NEW BRUNSWICK.-The Rev. J. C. Gallaway, who recently embarked under the auspices of the Colonial Society to this important station, has taken with him one of your Bethel Flags, and has kindly promised to co-operate with you in every possible and practicable way.

Your Committee are sorry thus early to close their Report of FOREIGN OPERATIONS: they will unfeignedly rejoice in extended plans of their friends and coadjutors,

THE AMERICAN SEAMEN'S FRIEND SOCIETY,

whose efforts are chiefly devoted to distant and foreign shores. They are doing a great work, and shall we deny them the reward? We