" November 7, 1835.

"Your letter came duly to hand; but owing to the sailing of the packet from Penzance, it was not received in time for me to reply agreeably to your request. It is necessary that all letters for Scilly should reach Penzance on the Thursday, otherwise they will be detained there a whole week; and should the weather prove unfavourable, much longer.

"If a few Hymn-Books and Tracts could be obtained, they would greatly assist in furthering the good work; and the people of these islands are almost universally sailors, or connected with and doing business on the great waters and my labours amongst them will in a considerable measure promote the great object of your Society, as the assistance to be rendered will increase the number of my visits to the Off Islands. Every means in my power shall be exerted to benefit seamen visiting those isles, by preaching, distributing Tracts, holding prayer-meetings, &c.

"Since the supply of books arrived, I have succeeded in obtaining rooms in the different islands, as depositories, at as low a rent as possible, and established the Loan Libraries agreeably to directions; this has taken up all the time I could well spare from other avocations, as the labour in this respect devolves entirely upon myself: but in my future labours I shall receive assistance from my colleagues.

"When the weather permits, I regularly visit the several stations, to attend to the Loan Libraries, preach, and distribute Tracts. I hope therefore the work will go on and increase for the glory of our Lord, and the extension of his kingdom here. As soon as the Bethel Flags arrive, I shall endeavour to purchase spars, and have them hoisted whenever there is service in the chapels or vessels in the harbours. It will require a little time to regulate our affairs; and all our movements must be in subservience to wind and weather: we cannot pretend to be so regular in our proceedings as if we were otherwise situated."

"Dec. 7, 1835.—I should have written. sooner, but the packet has been detained by bad weather several days; and I almost fear this will not reach you in time for your monthly meeting. Our communication with the main is very uncertain at this season of the year. The box containing the Bethel Flags, books, &c., came safely to hand.

[JAN. Although there are no shipping in the harbours at present, yet a few days of easterly wind will most likely bring in a considerable number. Upwards of twenty sail of vessels have been visited since I wrote to Mr. Timpson, and not one pious seaman was found amongst the whole; and as this took place before your last supply of books and tracts arrived, I had very few tracts to distribute among them. They were, however, very civil; and had the easterly wind continued, many of them would have come on shore to preaching: but a change of wind cleared our harbours in a few hours.

"When our Bethel Flags are displayed, so as to be seen from the harbour, we anticipate more frequent opportunities of promoting the cause of Christ among sailors, by preaching the Gospel to them, and other means. It will do my heart good to be useful to this class of men.

"The Loan Libraries' work well; and it is pleasing to see the eagerness with which the books are sought after, and the avidity with which they are read, especially by the younger part of the population. There are about 450 volumes in circulation, which, with my other avocations, employ all my time; but I rejoice in being useful in any way in the cause of righteousness. Much good may be expected to result from this measure; and the name of Mrs. Bailey will, I am persuaded, be lastingly remembered in these isles.

"I am sorry, my dear Sir, it was not in your power to do any thing in the way of clothing for the poor here,— especially the poor of Christ's flock. Any kind of clothing would be very acceptable, either for male or female. There are numbers of children and others growing up to maturity, who have scarcely sufficient for the purposes of decency- to say nothing of warmth — during the winter. The scenes which I have lately witnessed have pained my heart, without having the means of relieving them. Could any thing be done in this way, it would be a charity indeed. You will please to excuse my referring to this subject; but seeing such want daily, I am induced to mention it, as perhaps something might be done to mitigate such distress."

Note by the Editor. Some articles of clothing have already been received for the distressed and necessitous in the Scilly Isles. Any other articles of this sort, for men, women, or children, will be thankfully received by the Secretary, at the Committe-Room, 2, Jeffreys' Square,

St. Mary Axe; or by Mr. Joyce, 12, Ropemaker's Street, Finsbury; or, upon intimation by letter of such benevolent donations, they will be sent for by a messenger of the Society.

THE PIOUS CAPTAIN AND HIS WICKED CREW.

MR. EDWARDS, in his Report for the past month, gives the following account of a pious master of a vessel with his wicked crew: it will strikingly illustrate the happy influence of consistent prudent piety of a captain among his men:

"After one of the services, I was, much delighted with the following relation of facts by the master of a vessel. He said, that, a little time since, he went a foreign voyage, and he had the misfortune to ship a very wicked crew. He said that the steward in particular was a notoriously wicked man, and treated religion with the greatest contempt. But he saw it his duty, as master of a floating family, and feeling his responsibility as such, to call them together for Divine worship. This he did for the first time on the Sabbath day, conceiving it might overcome their prejudices better on that day than on any other. At first they did not like it; but, by perseverance, their enmity was turned into respect: and one day, as he was walking the deck, he heard a considerable noise in the forecastle, and thought they were all quarrelling; and said within himself, 'There is a mutiny among them: what shall I do?' However, in drawing nearer to them, I found to my astonishment and joy they were praying and crying for mercy. After listening a little time, I descended among them, and found that even the watch had deserted their post, and assembled with them. We had delightful meetings afterwards; and by the time we reached home, the lion-like steward was an imitator of the lamb, and the chief mate and several others of the crew appeared truly converted to God."

EXTRACTS OF REPORTS OF PROVINCIAL
AGENTS.

MONKWEARMOUTH, Nov. 7. Rev. R. Carr reports, "Seven ministers have volunteered their services for Sea

ham, who preach alternately; so that, independently of the Sabbath services, there is one sermon per week preached when the Bethel Flag is hoisted. I am happy to say, that the Marquis of Londonderry has made a grant of land, free-stone, lime-stone, and lime, for a commodious chapel; so that the only expense will be for timber and labour.

"I was rowed up the river for about seven miles on Monday last, and gave Tracts to the keelmen as we met their keels on their way to Sunderland. They were almost universally received with a hearty Thank you, Sir!' I am so much in want of these little silent preachers, that my exertions are much curtailed. I wish to visit every sailor's family here, and put Tracts on board most of the ships, accompanied with information of the various services held for the instruction of every description of watermen."

"Dec. 9.-Your kind letter afforded me much pleasure and encouragement. With it I received 800 Tracts, which were greatly needed and heartily welcomed. Some of them I have stitched together, and put them in a parcel of books lent to the ship Betsey, of Sunderland. Others on the Lord's day morning, before public worship, I circulated among the people residing on the bank of the river on the loan system, so that they will be exchanged in due time.

“We cannot hold meetings on board ship as you do in London, as the greater number of our sailors have their houses here; and therefore leave their vessels and live on shore. However, I have a meeting on the north side of the river every week for prayer and an address, which I move from house to house, at which I always have persons who are connected with the sea. Last night I had two owners and a captain; and one sailor, who is a member of the church of which I am pastor, prayed.

“I have now fairly commenced my winter labours on the south side of the Wear, in the centre of the town. I have engaged the Phoenix Lodge, at a rent of £.9 per annum. It is well situated, large, and in every way suitable for my purpose. Two of my friends have so furnished it, &c., there need not be better accommodation in any chapel in the town; and I am happy to be able to inform you, that there were more hearers than could be furnished with seats. What is still more gratifying, there was a large number of sailors, several ship-owners and captains.

To-morrow evening I have (D. V.) to occupy this desirable place again; and this afternoon I purpose distributing, in company with a friend, my printed announcement, one thousand copies of which I got printed last week. That you may have an idea what kind of invitation I give, this is a copy:

"To sea-faring people of the port of Sunderland.A sermon will be preached (D. V.) every Thursday evening, during the winter months, to sailors, pilots, keel-men, and their respective families, and to others who may be inclined to attend, at the Phoenix Lodge, Queen Street, by the Rev. Robert Carr, Sailors' Missionary and Agent of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society for the port of Sunderland. Service to commence at seven o'clock. N. B. Interesting information will be given from time to time of the work of God among sailors in various parts of

the world."

"At Seaham things are going on as formerly; preaching three times weekly, by ministers of different denominations."

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South Shields.-Rev. S. Tapscott has been greatly indisposed, and laid aside from his pastoral labours by this illness. Divine Providence, however, has partially restored him to health. Referring to an excellent brother minister, he says, My dear brother W. over the water, has been as near the gates of death, without entering them, as possible, in the same complaint as myself— a severe cold. He has a son a surgeon in one of the missing Greenland ships, the Lady Jane, of Newcastle. You no

doubt are aware there are eleven ships wanting.

"I have not been able to preach more than once or twice at the Seaman's Chapel during the past month. They have had, therefore as one or two other ministers were

poorly at the same time to carry on prayer-meetings among themselves, which they did; though, in consequence of my not being able to attend, there were not so many present as usual, especially the last time: but one of them informed me since, they had very comfortable meetings, and that they prayed earnestly for the conversion of their fellow-seamen and for my restoration to health. "Since I began to mend, I have had some interesting conversation with a pious captain of this port. He regularly keeps up-family prayer, shall I call it ?-morning and evening; and I believe the greater part, if not all his crew, are pious men. One of them told me one day, that their vessel was like a little heaven."