Tyne Union Bible Committee.-Liberality of the Cambridge Auxiliary. cheered and animated the Committee. Nor were they without some gratifying proofs that the example of London stimulated the out-ports to similar exertion. In the year 1814, the Committees of the Newcastle and North-Shields Bible Societies adopted the plan; and the TYNE UNION COMMITTEE was formed and organized on the model of that in the metropolis. An "Address to Ship Owners" was drawn up, and liberally circulated; wherein it was stated, that a partial survey of the ships entering the River Tyne had tended to corroborate the melancholy fact, that not more than one in twenty was furnished with a Bible. About the same period this important subject was brought under the consideration of the Committees in other sea-ports of England and Scotland; and it was evident that a growing interest was felt, which would ultimately manifest itself in the general adoption of the system, with such improvements as observation and experience might suggest.

It will be recollected, that the Thames Union Committee was composed of the secretaries and four members of the respective Auxiliary Societies which surround the port of London; and it will be readily believed, that the individuals selected for this interesting duty were not the least active and efficient conductors of those societies. The time and attention which these gentlemen could devote to this extraordinary engagement were consequently limited; and, in proportion to the extending claims, a conviction was gradually acquired, that some alteration in the constitution of the society was indispensably necessary. This persuasion was strengthened by their inability to provide for that personal and systematic investigation which is essential to success; and by the inadequacy of the funds placed at their disposal, to meet the exigencies of the case. In reference to this latter subject it should be observed, that a circular letter had been addressed to the Auxiliary Societies in the southern and midland counties of England, explaining the nature of the institution, and soliciting assistance. This appeal was promptly recognised by several Committees, and by none more liberally than that of the CAMBRIDGE Auxiliary. From the generous aid extended by the Parent Institution, it might appear that this. was the source to which the Managers of the Thames Union Committee would have looked with confidence; but they felt that they had no right to encroach further on the general funds, before an appeal was made to that numerous and opulent body of individuals, the ship-owners of London, whose interests and duty were equally concerned in the object.

Whitby Marine Bible Association.

These and similar considerations occupied the Committee for several months; and towards the close of the year 1817, it was determined to adopt measures for establishing a general and independent society, on a scale sufficiently extensive to meet the pressing exigencies of the case. The practicability of the design had been fully demonstrated, and its beneficial tendency and effects had been decidedly manifested; the Committee had therefore the strongest ground of experience and observation on which to rest their claim. They felt that the object had become too important to continue merely as an appendage to other institutions; and "they resolved to call together some known friends of their undertaking, with a view to lay before them the destitute condition of the objects of their benevolence, and to obtain their counsel as to the best means of more effectually discharging the obligations of the community towards them, of paying its debt of gratitude and justice to these invaluable instruments of its commercial greatness." After many meetings, and much anxious deliberation, it was the opinion of the gentlemen who were thus convened, that measures should forthwith be taken to establish in London an Auxiliary Bible Society, for the supply of British merchant ships with the holy scriptures ;-and that this society, while more immediately occupied in supplying the wants of the seamen belonging to the port of London, should also endeavour to procure the formation of similar institutions in every out-port of the empire."* How far this design has been realised, will appear in the sequel.

To preserve the narrative unbroken, the progress of the "Thames Union Committee" has been traced to the period of its dissolution, in consequence of the establishment of the Merchant-Seamen's Society. But before we enter on the consideration of the latter, our attention is claimed, in order of time, by other kindred and important institutions.

It is very desirable, in order to avoid confusion, that the designation of "Marine Bible Association" should be confined exclusively to those formed on board ships; and that the term "Society" should distinguish those established on shore for the supply of seamen. With this little exception, the institution which next demands our consideration merits unqualified praise; and only requires to be more generally known, in order to incite to similar exertion throughout the sea-ports of the kingdom.

2. The WHITBY Marine Bible Association was instituted in the beginning of the year 1816. The Committee attribute much of the success which has attended their proceedings to

Address of the Committee of the Merchant-Seamen's Auxiliary Bible Society; London, 1818.

Laws and Regulations adopted by the Association.

the generous co-operation of the Whitby Auxiliary Bible Society, and the liberality of Captain SCORESBY, of the Mars, Greenland ship, who presented a munificent donation of fifty guineas in aid of the funds of the infant establishment.— The following are the

LAWS and REGULATIONS of the WHITBY MARINE BIBLE ASSOCIATION.

I. This society shall be designated "The Whitby Marine Bible Association, for promoting the circulation of the Scriptures among the seamen belonging to this town or visitants to this port, and for employing them as agents to convey this sacred treasure to those parts of the world which they may visit"-in the fulfilment of these objects, co-operating, through means of the Whitby Auxiliary Society, with the British and Foreign Bible Society.

.II. Every subscriber of one penny per week or upwards shall be a member of this society.

III. The business of the institution shall be conducted by a president, (who shall also be treasurer,) two secretaries, and a committee of twelve members, any five of whom shall be competent to act.

IV. The members of the Committee of the Whitby Auxiliary Bible Society shall have the privilege of attending and voting at the committee meetings of this association.

- V. The Committee shall meet, once every month, on some day and place to be fixed on by themselves.

VI. It shall be a particular part of the business of the Committee, either themselves or by means of agents, to visit the ships in this harbour, whether they belong to this or any other port, with a view to their being supplied with Bibles, and to promote, when it is practicable, the establishment of Associations on board the vessels.

VII. All members of Associations on board of ships belonging to this port shall be considered as members of this Association; and all presidents and other office-bearers of such Associations shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meetings of the Committee.

VIII. Such part of the funds of this Association as may not be required for its own immediate objects, if any, shall be annually given to the Whitby Auxiliary Bible Society, with a view to aid the funds of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

IX. The annual meeting of the Association shall be held on the second Tuesday of February, in each year, when a Committee shall be chosen, the accounts presented, and the proceedings of the foregoing year reported.

The mode of distribution originally adopted by the Committee was, to send on board every ship requiring a supply, a few copies for the use of the crew, and a more considerable number for sale, under the care of the captain; to whom a paper containing printed directions, and a form for returns, was addressed,-Specimens of which are subjoined. But owing to the protracted returns which they received, they have found it expedient to restrict their issues, by confining them to these captains, and others, who purchase copies for sale and distribution; except in reference to the Greenland ships. With regard to these, the Committee still adhere to their former practice, and entrust their captains, as before, with Bibles and Testaments for sale; their usually quick return not

Mode of distribution.-Directions to Captains of Ships.

occasioning the same difficulties as with vessels bound on other foreign voyages. This plan is extremely simple; and in those cases where the ships belong to the port at which the society is formed, it is well calculated to effect the object. For every parcel of Bibles and Testaments sent on board, the captain signs a printed receipt, of which the following is a Specimen,—the words in italics being inserted by the Secretary.

"No. 117.

Whitby, 17th August, 1819.

RECEIVED of the Committee of the Whitby Marine Bible Associa tion, for sale among the Crew of the Ship Henry, or others, Twelve Minion and Eight Nonpareil Bibles; together with Twenty Brevier English, and Ten Foreign Testaments.

John Thornton, Master.""

A paper, of which the following is a copy, is at the same time given to the captain:

DIRECTIONS TO THE CAPTAINS OF SHIPS,

for the Distribution of the Bibles and Testaments committed to their Charge by the Committee of the WHItby Marine BIBLE ASSOCIATION. 1. The captain is desired to dispose of the Bibles and Testaments among his crew, at the following prices :* viz.

Minion or larger Bible.
Nonpareil, or smaller ditto

Foreign Testaments (if any)
English Testaments..

s. d.

2. Provided the captain finds he has more Bibles and Testaments committed to his care than are requisite for the use of his own crew, he shall be at liberty to dispose of the surplus, at the above prices, to the captain or crew of any ship with which he may meet who are in want of Bibles.

3. The Foreign Testaments (if any) may be disposed of to any person acquainted with the language, at 2s. each, or as near that price as can be obtained.

4. If any of the Bibles or Testaments remain unsold after the termination of the voyage, the captain is desired to return them to the depository at Messrs. Clark and Medd's, or to either of the secretaries of the Association; together with an account of the money he may have received in return for the Bibles sold.

5. It is recommended to the captain to establish, where it is practicable, an Association on board of his ship, agreeable to the plan suggested in the circular" Address to Owners, Commanders, and Mariners.”+

• The author would respectfully suggest the advantage of inserting the costprices, and giving a discretionary authority to the respective captains to sell, if necessary, at a specified abatement.

+ See Section V. of this Chapter.

Form of a Captain's Account of Sales, &c.

On the corresponding half sheet of this paper (which is of octavo size) the form of the Return is ruled, according to the following

Returned the above, and paid 21. 78. 9d. to the Secretary of the Whitby
Marine Bible Association.

J. Thornton.

During the four years, ending February 1820, this Society has distributed 824 Bibles and Testaments; and collected 2377. 14s. 4 d., of which the sum of 271. 1s. has been voted to the Auxiliary for the General Object of the Parent Institution.

In their Annual Report for 1819, the Committee state, that

66 a large increase of subscribers has been obtained: so that the amount of annual subscriptions, exclusive of donations, exceeds that of any former year. Of the donations received this year, several were collected by Capt. Potter, among his friends at or near Stokesley; and one donation of a guinea, communicated by Capt. Scoresby, was contributed by fourteen Shetland seamen, belonging to the Fame: which instance of liberality your Committee think proper to notice, not only as a stimulus to others, but as a pleasing indication of the growing interest which seamen feel in the cause of

the Bible."

The following extract from the same Report forms an appropriate conclusion to this sketch of the constitution and proceedings of this interesting society: the language is certainly strong; but it is a melancholy fact that it is too generally applicable :