NEW SOUTH AUSTRALIA. THREE ships, the Duke of York, the John Pirie, and the Lady Mary Pelham, have sailed during the past month for the new colony of South Australia. They carry the first emigrants to that promising colony. The Directors of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society were enabled, by the liberality of private friends, and the British and Foreign Bible Society, to supply both the crews and the emigrants with loan libraries and Bibles, religious books and tracts, for their permanent use. Particulars of this important provision will be given in the PILOT for next month. EXAMINATION OF THE SOCIETY'S DAY FOR THE CHILDREN OF SEAMEN AND RIVERMEN. MR. H. ALTHANS, the intelligent inspector of schools for the British and Foreign School Society, paid a visit to the Society's Day Schools, connected with the Sailors' Chapel, Shadwell, on Thursday, Feb. 11, for the purpose of examining and reporting its condition. It affords the Committee much satisfaction to learn from the report of that gentleman, that their schools are in a respectable state of efficiency. Mr. Althans found : Boys on the books... 158 Average attendance...... 120 Girls ....... 101 259 Present Feb. 11, morning, Boys Girls... 70 190 116 65 171 Accompanying his report, Mr. Althansen closes a letter, which he closes thus:" I cannot refrain from congratulating your Committee on the state of the schools, which I feel convinced must be of great advantage to the neighbourhood in which they are situated." EXTRACTS OF REPORTS OF PROVINCIAL AGENTS. MONKWEARMOUTH.-Rev. Robert Carr reports, "I am glad to inform you the Wesleyan ministers here, have determined to preach a weekly sermon to sailors in their large chapel and that the three discourses already delivered have been very encouragingly attended by that important class of men. I furnished about one hundred tracts, for gratuitous disposition, on the evening of the first sermon. "On the 28th of last month the Rev. Mr. Muir preached at the Phoenix Lodge, where a large assemblage of sailors listened to the Word of God. I ascribe the largeness of the congregation to the exertions of three pious seamen, who had hoisted the flag in the fore-part of the day, visited numbers of their brethren to attend the service, and posted a bill announcing it. Besides sailors, we had a goodly number of soldiers, in their uniform. After the service, I gave an account of the Society's stations, labours, &c. &c.; when brother Welch, a praying and preaching sailor, gave an animated address to his brother seamen. Lodge, which is a large building, was crowded, and I understand a considerable number left the door for want of accommodation. O for a large number of such men as Welch to help in this important work. The "Last Thursday, I preached at the Lodge, from Acts xxvii, 43, 44; a large number of sailors and an encouraging number of soldiers present. A prayer-meeting was held, in which two sailors prayed. The flag had been waving in the breeze all the day. In company with two sailors I visited the barracks, to invite the soldiers to attend our service. I rejoice to say that prospects are more promising here than hitherto I have seen them. 0 Sir! sailors must be sought out, visited, invited, encouraged to attend the means of grace; and they must be furnished with such publications to read, as will, through the blessing of God, bring them to love the Redeemer and his service. I find it advantageous to give tracts after our public worship to both sailors and soldiers: some foreigners of the former class, received tracts with great pleasure this day, when they were visited on board ship. "On the 3d instant, the Ann of Dundee was totally wrecked, near the mouth of her harbour; all hands saved by means of life-boat. "I am much in want of books to lend. I have sent out from my own library, but my stock is not likely to hold out long. On Saturday, I furnished a captain with a package for himself and men. I suppose they do not expect to make this port again for ten months. Before their departure, I visited the captain, and pressed upon his attention the necessity of exemplifying the conduct of a decided Christian, both at sea and on shore, and I hope the advice given will be attended with a blessing from on high. "I am glad now to be able to say that sailors begin to seek my company, and receive my counsel. Some have of their own accord signed an agreement, to aid in the good work of propagating the Gospel among their brethren of the sea, by hoisting the flag, giving verbal information of the time and place of meeting for worship, and pressing sailors to attend. Truly gratifying have been the effects of this method. "The Lodge has been well attended, and I have preached to listening sailors and soldiers: hundreds of the former have heard in the Lodge during the last fortnight. Some of them, at least, prize their privileges. One of them evinced this in a prayer in my house the other evening, when he spoke of the pain of separating from ministers, family, and objects of affection. I have my house open to sailors who love the Lord: our custom is not to separate without prayer in any time of the day. 1 generally pray first, and am immediately followed by one of these hardy, warm-hearted sons of the ocean. I was gratified last evening to be addressed by a seaman who expected to be at sea to day, to this effect: We shall meet you on Thursday evening, Sir; I generally keep the meetings on shore in view, when I am at sea. You will remember us, Sir, perhaps we shall be far away. We have regular worship twice every day on board, except the ship's duties will not admit of it. In the morning the captain reads, and in the evening we have an address.' He meant by meeting on Thursday evening, that we should be engaged in worship at the same hour, and that we should remember each other at the Throne of Grace at the same time, though separated by distance of place. Our school keeps up its number of children." [Owing to the want of space we are obliged to omit the remainder of the Report until next Month.] |