He replied, "Headee much better-I last night sleepe dream, 'bout Jesus Christ makee well." Putting his hand to his head, he said, “Dis well, now." Henry's father was the chief of a war tribe in his native land. How bright a display is this of the grace of God, to whom be all the glory! I have also met with four pious Prussian sailors, introduced to my notice by letter from an old friend in the sailors' cause at Memel, Mr. Hague. I found, on visiting their ship, the Maria Anna, in the Commercial Dock, that those four men were total abstainers from all alcoholic drinks, and that they kept up prayer amongst themselves in the forecastle. The mate of the vessel, also, with whom I had much conversation, was an excellent moral man. He told me he often joined the sailors in the forecastle, when they were at their devotions. But the captain said, God did not expect him to pray, for he had so much to do, God knew he could not attend to it; besides, he knew his sailors prayed for him, and as they never neglected their duty, he would not prevent them from continuing to do so.

I have met many sailors who have chosen Christ as their better portion, and are following on to tread in the steps of the Redeemer. Amongst these was a steady, sober man, that had sailed two years and a half second mate with my late lamented son. He sailed for China under very serious impressions, having been a constant attendant on the means of grace at the Sailors' Church during his stay in London, and having received much benefit under the ministry of Mr. Finch and others, at the Sailors' Church. The Bethel meetings I have held on the river Thames have been mostly of an encouraging character. In the visitation of the sailors' lodging-houses, I have met some few hopeful cases, out of the many we converse with; and there have been several sailors from those houses who have attended the Sailors' Church. Tracts are, in general, thankfully received.

I have held ten Bethel meetings afloat, attendance, 217; and eight religious services ashore; have visited 317 vessels; made 1141 visits to sailors' lodging-houses; distributed 2317 tracts; sold six Bibles, four Testaments, and given forty-seven magazines to seamen.

In addition to these labours, I have been called to visit the counties of Warwickshire and Staffordshire, to advocate the claims of the Society; and through the medium of this report I beg leave to return my sincere thanks to the Christian friends in the country for the kindness I received from them.

MR. S. LONSDALE'S REPORT.

During the last month, we have not had so many vessels in port as usual; but I have, nevertheless, always been able to find one, on board of which to hold my services. Some of my meetings have been of a most cheering nature.

At one held on board the W-- P-, we could say, "it is good to be here." Sixteen seamen were collected together in their little cabin, and heard the Word gladly; after which, six of them poured out their hearts in thanksgiving and supplication to God. At the conclusion, two or three remained, and related to each other how they had been brought to a knowledge of the truth. One was through the instrumentality of a shipmate, who, while he was in the act of entering a public-house, persuaded him to accompany him to the means of grace. Here conviction seized his heart, and being led to confess and forsake his sins, he found mercy, and has since been enabled, through Divine grace, to hold on his course heavenward.

Another said that he was first brought to think of his state as a sinner, through a word spoken to him by a pious wife. She invited him, one Sabbath afternoon, to go with her to the house of God; but, in spite of all her entreaties, he would not consent, and told her to go about her business, and not trouble him. As she went out, she said, "Ah! James, you will not go to the house of God, unless you are dragged there." He said he was much

offended at these words, but that when she had gone they seemed to ring in his ears. 66 'Dragged to the house of God," thought he; "what an awful state to be in;" and from that time he became seriously concerned on account of his soul. He attended the means of grace for some time, until at length he went to hear a minister at Sunderland, who, after the sermon, invited any who were inquiring after salvation, into the vestry, for conversation. He went and as the minister was showing him the way, through the crucified Redeemer, he was enabled to cast himself on His mercy, and found peace through believing. He came on shore with me in the boat, and he talked all the way about what God had done for his soul. He remarked to the man who was pulling us on shore, "George, I could not talk about these things last year; then I was in darkness, but I never felt so happy as I do now."

At another service I held on board the H——, Newcastle trader, a hallowed feeling pervaded; six engaged in prayer, five of whom were masters of vessels; all seemed happy, and thankful for such means being held amongst them. At the conclusion of the meeting, as I laid three or four of Captain Allen's magazines on the table, the captain of the vessel took one into his hand, and said, in a feeling manner, "I have received much good through reading these little books."

During the month, my services afloat, as regards attendance, have been very irregular; sometimes the tiers have been so broken, that there was no passage across. I have had as few to speak the word to as five, and as many as twenty-six; but, I trust, many or few, one day it will be seen that God has owned the work of his servant.

I have visited many ships in the docks, and on the river, and through this means have sent afloat a goodly number of copies of God's Word. I have endeavoured to persuade sailors to read it, and make it the rule of their lives, their chart, from which to take their course to the shores of eternal blessedness.

The sailors' lodging-houses, also, have been attended to. The number of seamen I have met there has been smaller than usual.

On one Sabbath morning I met with a sailor who seemed almost paralyzed, in consequence of drunkenness. He appeared determined to pursue his evil course, and endeavoured to turn all I said to him to ridicule; and the mistress of the house stood laughing, and encouraging him all she could to despise the advice which was given to him. While there are many of those people who don't thank us for visiting their houses, there are a few who seem willing for us to go in, and speak with the sailors. I have observed one man and his wife, at whose house we regularly visit, very frequently at the Sailors' Church; and when he has sailors at his house, I believe he uses his influence to bring them with him to the sanctuary. My prayer is, that God may bless every department of His work amongst seamen, and that, very soon, they may be seen flocking to his house, " as doves to their windows.

During the past month, I have held 15 services afloat, attended by 210 seamen, and 5 on shore; I have paid 458 visits to vessels, and 129 to sailors' lodging-houses; I have sold 81 English Bibles and Testaments, and 2 Welsh Bibles; I have distributed 800 tracts and 168 old magazines, and 28 of Captain Allen's magazines.

Provincial Operations.

WISBEACH.

REPORT OF MR. W. DENNIS.

The cause of God among our seamen, I am happy to say, is progressing. The services held at the Bethel Chapel have been conducive, we trust, to much good. Our congregations are large, especially on the Sabbath evening. The chapel is well filled, and principally composed of seamen and their families. Last Sabbath evening nearly 200 persons were present.

I am happy to say, that among our congregations at the Bethel there are some who have been awakened to a sense of their lost state as sinners in the sight of God, and appear to be earnestly engaged in seeking the way of eternal life. Others, who have been brought under the sound of the word at the Bethel, and received good, are now united with various denominations professing to be in the enjoyment of the love of God. And some others, who have been removed by death to another world, have given evidence that they were going to join in the song of redemption with those who have been made "partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." These have acknowledged, that through attending the services at the Bethel Chapel, and visits that have been paid to them, they have, through the mercy of God, been made to experience the blessings of the Gospel of Christ. "Not unto us, O Lord! not unto us, but unto thy name give glory."

A public meeting was held on September 19th, for the purpose of acknowledging the providential deliverance of Mr. John Bufham, master of the brig Wisbech, and his crew. Mr. Bufham and his second mate were present on the occasion. The Lecture Room was filled to excess. Our esteemed President, Capt. Schultz, R.N., occupied the chair. The meeting was opened with singing and prayer, after which Mr. Bufham was called upon to give some account of his voyage. In doing this, he related many things which proved to the large assembly the dangers to which he and his crew had been exposed, but which also showed how God, in his goodness, had snatched them from a watery grave. The meeting united in giving thanks to the Lord of the Sea for their deliverance. Thomas Dawbarn, Esq., Mr. Buckley, Mr. Howchin, and Mr. Carter addressed the meeting, and a lively interest was felt during the whole time. The following verses were sung, and a short prayer offered, and the meeting separated.

"Of his deliverance I will boast,

Till all that are distressed,
From my example comfort take,
And soothe their griefs to rest.

"Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
With me exalt his name;
When in distress to Him I called,
He to my rescue came."

Poetry.

GO IN PEACE.

Luke vii. 50.

Go in peace! In humble gladness;
Christ thy Saviour smiles on thee;
Mourner, chase away thy sadness,
Thou shalt His salvation see.

Go in peace! These words shall cheer thee,
Passing through life's mournful vale;
Fear thou not, for Christ is near thee,
When the pangs of death assail.

Go in peace! In strong temptation,
When thy bark is almost riven,
Christ shall be thy great salvation,
He will land thee safe in heaven.

Go in peace! The Saviour's blessing
Shall protect and save thy soul;
Thou, with Him, all good possessing,
Shalt in safety reach the goal.

Go in peace! In joy or sorrow
Thou shalt feel His presence near;
Go, for light will gild the morrow,
And thy fainting spirit cheer.

Go in peace! Thy ransomed spirit,
Purified by grace divine,

Shall eternal life inherit,

As a star for ever shine.

A. Y. S.

THE MERCANTILE MARINE ACT,

COMING INTO OPERATION ON JANUARY 1ST, 1851.

Though the public at large do not pretend to understand very deeply the qualifications which are necessary to the safe conduct of sea-going vessels, or to fathom the technicalities under which they may be expressed, they are sufficiently alive to the character and magnitude of the interests which our mercantile navy represents; and persuaded, as we are, that lives and properties committed to the unstable element require some more effectual safeguards than individual selfishness supplies, we hail with satisfaction the hour, now not far distant, when the Mercantile Marine Bill of last session shall come into actual operation. Security for the fitness of the master, facility for the selection of the crew, guarantees for their mutual good behaviour, are the treble benefit which we hope then to see realised. If one of these conditions is necessary directly, so are the others indirectly, to the success of the voyage. The jobbery of the private shipping agents has been equally a nuisance to the shipowner and to the sailor; the imperfect or unintelligible stipulations entered into, and the want of a speedy and authorised arbitrator, have tended alike to irregularity and to injustice; and the legal supervision of the mariner's contract, now offered to both parties at their option, can hardly fail to overthrow the old routine, if not at once, by a sure, though gradual process, and remove one fruitful cause of disagreement and litigation. To reduce the risks of transport in British bottoms to a minimum is the best corollary we can add to our repeal of the Navigation Laws; if at the same time we can raise the character of the common seaman, and protect him in some degree from the impositions of which he has ever been the victim, we shall attain a second object, not inferior to the first; it is impossible, therefore, to overrate the valuable results of Mr. Labouchere's Bill, if it is only fairly and fully carried out.

The methods by which this Bill, which is to come into operation on the 1st of January next, seeks to accomplish these ends, are three-one, by the application of tests, and the granting of certificates to masters and mates; one, by the establishment of shippingoffices, at which the arrangements between the employer and the crew, antecedent to, or consequent upon a voyage, shall be made, according to certain prescribed forms, and the rights of both parties more effectually secured, at infinitely less cost and inconvenience to both; the third, by the creation of local boards at our principal trading ports, whose duty it will be to select fit and proper persons to fill the administrative offices, to superintend the performance of their functions, to act as a court of reference, and to communicate directly with the Board of Trade. Of these local boards, which form the basis of the whole system, there are, altogether, sixteen appointed; by the qualification originally laid down for the ports at which they should exist-namely, a registered tonnage of 30,000 tons of foreigngoing vessels-they were limited to twelve; seven in England, four in Scotland, and in Ireland only Belfast. To that number, however, DECEMBER.

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