your ways;" and during the application of this portion of the Holy Scripture, a deep solemnity seemed to pervade the minds of all present, while the countenance of one in particular was illuminated with the falling tear which he several times wiped from his moistened cheek. May the Spirit of the Living God make the solemn appeal then addressed to the floating assembly the means of awakening every conscience to its eternal good!

Fifth Thames Station. - Mr. Maddox reports his having attended five ship services during the past month; and that one of the vessels was a new Bethel ship. The following incident will happily illustrate the beneficial influence of these visitations and services, which is only one of very many of a similar kind throughout a great multitude of our merchant vessels. Having been preaching on the salvation of the Gospel, and urging the necessity of the devotional study of the Scriptures as the means of eternal life by Christ Jesus, the boy that rowed me to the shore asked, "Where, Sir, can I get a Bible, that I may think about my soul's salvation?" The youth's inquiry delighted me, and I had pleasure in directing him to Captain Prynn, to be supplied from the Sailors' Library.

Mr. Waldon reports, 66 Through the unfavourableness of the weather I have held only four meetings on this station during the last month: but I can truly say that they have been highly interesting, by their numerous at tendance, the holy fervour of the seamen's prayers, and their evident active zeal in the service of their Redeemer. The last of these meetings I attended was of the most cheering character: the mate begged to apologize for the non-attendance of the captain, saying that he had made a prior engagement to attend a religious meeting on shore that evening. He added, "We are a happy ship's company; the Lord being merciful unto us, inclining our hearts to seek him. The captain is very kind to us: we meet morning and evening for reading the Scriptures and prayer; and we are all one in Christ Jesus.'

Sixth Thames Station.-Mr. Waldon states, that "at one meeting which he held on this station during the past month, five seamen engaged in prayer; the captain and most of the crew being pious men. One new ship has been added to the number of those on board which your Agents are cheerfully received."

Captain Prynn reports, "On this station I have held six meetings during the past month; those meetings have

been well attended, more so than on many former occasions. On one occasion eight sailors engaged in prayer; on another occasion three captains and four sailors offered up their vocal supplications at the throne of grace; and the earnest petitions presented at the mercy-seat at those times, for the furtherance of the Gospel amongst their brother sailors, and for the blessing of the Lord to attend the operations of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, were most heart-cheering. I trust the new year has dawned on the minds of many of our dear brother sailors with propitious rays; and the meetings which I have held since the year commenced, have been of a most animated nature. In one instance four sailors, who when in London are due attendants at the Sailors' Chapel, desired the captain of the ship in which they sailed to hoist the Bethel Flag, and he readily complied with their request, when fifty-two sailors united in this solemn service, and truly the Lord was in the midst of us, and that to bless us. Seventh Thames Station. Foggy weather has so fearfully prevailed," Captain Prynn states, "that I have been able to attend this station but once. Visited 24 ships and distributed 300 tracts. Many profitable meetings. have been held on this station, off Deptford and Greenwich, by the several captains of colliers, who are occasionally detained there. I have strongly recommended this important duty to their serious observance; and it has given me much pleasure to find that they have commenced this desirable work. May the Lord abundantly bless their labours."

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Visitation of the Shipping.-The Thames Missionary reports, "During the past month the weather has greatly interfered with my labours on the river; it being generally so dangerous to the watermen in their small boats: nevertheless, nothing in the shape of opposition has been manifested, and more tracts than usual have been distributed amongst coal-heavers, and corn, fruit, and potatoe porters. Upwards of thirty vessels have been found in the past month, the masters of which have kindly offered to hoist the Bethel flag; and I am happy to say there are many more friendly to the cause of religious instruction among sailors than heretofore. May the Lord increase the number of pious masters and seamen. Vessels to the number of 590 have been visited, and 2,156 tracts distributed during the past month."

Loan Ship Libraries.— Three Loan Ship Libraries have

been furnished to vessels bound to Demerara, Sierra Leone, and St. Helena, this month and two Loan Libraries have been returned from Calcutta and Honduras, with very favourable accounts from the captains under whose care they have been. "One captain informed me," says the Thames Missionary, "that he had reason to believe the books had been made a blessing to two of his crew, and expressed his earnest desire to have another library when he again proceeded to sea. A sailor, on returning the History of the Bible, and Doddridge's Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul, said, 'Sir, those books have been read by hundreds since I have had them, and they have been made a great blessing to one of my shipmates, one of whom, I trust, is truly brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus Christ.' This he said with tears in his eyes."

Sailors' Chapel.-Great good is the happy result of a preached Gospel within this place. The attendance of sailors is much the same as the past month; and many are the earnest petitions which are offered up by the sailors who attend, and who are found frequently to come from Deptford and other parts of the shore up and down the river, to worship and hear the word of salvation at the Sailors' Chapel:

Navigation Class.- Many attend weekly to receive gratuitous instruction in this useful science and great hopes may be entertained of the benefits likely to arise from this branch of the operations of the Society.

Poplar and Blackwall.-Rev. J. Upton writes, “Since the last report my attention has been confined almost entirely to my own neighbourhood; and I am happy to state that we have now preaching on board at Blackwall on the Tuesday and Friday evenings. This part of the river has many and great advantages as a preaching station; partly on account of the leisure which the men have whilst the vessels remain here. The greatest pleasure has been expressed by several captains that the effort has been made. 1 could detail many interesting circumstances, but fear your room in the PILOT would not admit of their insertion. I will just mention one. After service, a captain from a neighbouring vessel rose and said, 'Sir, I should feel it an honour if I could have a meeting of this kind on board my ship. I promised he should have the next. I went the following Tuesday, and he then expressed a wish to have the Friday meeting before he left Blackwall. This request

was also complied with. May I beg the prayers of the friends of the cause, for this new and delightful opening for home missionary labour?

"The following is a copy of a letter I have just received. [See page 61.]

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Having given notice of my intention to attempt some improvement of the very sudden death of a waterman at Blackwall, a very respectable person connected with one of the yards near Limehouse, sent me the following letter, wishing me also to notice some other alarming providences, to do which I felt it my duty. [See page 58, 'Wreck of Neva.']

In conclusion, I can truly state, that though it has been a month of much labour, it has also been one of much delight; and sure I am that the Society will not fail to give that attention to the subject which its importance demands. Some expenses will be incurred for boat-hire, &c.; but I doubt not the Committee will be ready to 'What are they among so many advantages.'

say,

"I have the pleasure to add, that since my last communication ten of my friends have begun to take in the PILOT for the new year. I have also had application for 16 boxes. The result I must leave with Him to whom belong the silver and the gold.

Visitation of Sailors' Boarding Houses.-Sailors' boarding houses demand, as they deserve, the generous activity of Christian sympathy, to supply them with the means of spiritual edification to their numerous inmates. The following extracts from a report of the last quarter, by one of the Agents of the Society at Blackwall, will interest all the readors of the PILOT.

Lord's day. Visited fourteen boarding houses: tracts well received. The Loan Temperance tracts especially appear to excite great interest: the seamen in going to sea frequently take them with them, although requested by the housekeepers to leave them at home.

"Lord's day. Fourteen boarding houses visited: observed a peculiar seriousness prevail at one house; the men appeared, with one or two exceptions, to be preparing for a place of worship. They received us with much civility, and our tracts with thankfulness; promised they would attend our chapel, and I perceived a greater number than usual attend through the day.

Lord's day. Boarding houses visited as usual; very few sailors on shore.

"Lord's day. More seamen on shore than usual: we were well received at all the boarding houses. I was particularly struck with the manner of the sailors at one house; the perfect order and cleanliness in which they appeared, together with their civility, were striking proofs that a better state of mind influenced them than is generally found among them. They all received the tracts with much thankfulness, and appeared to appreciate the attention that is paid to their spiritual interests. May we not hope that the time is not far distant when the efforts of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society shall be blessed to an extent that shall fill us with joy and surprise ? Upon the whole, I think the improvement of seamen is progressing. O let us not cease to pray for that time to arrive when the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto Christ! "

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EXTRACTS OF REPORTS OF PROVINCIAL AGENTS.

MONKWEARMOUTH.-Rev. Robert Carr reports, "I received your package by my friend, Mr. Wake, conta ning your very acceptable letter, and about 1,200 tracts, which to me are of great value.

"I feel much gratified by your suggestions respecting a library for the use of sailors and their respective families. I am in the habit of lending them books from my own private stock (which is not very large); and indeed they apply to me for books both for their use when at sea, and for their families on shore. I should be able, I trust, to serve the cause of our Lord, and to promote the interests of seafaring men, if I could be indulged with the grant of a library. I have a number of volumes out at this time, and two or three days since I was almost at a loss to comply with the request of a sailor for books for his voyage.

Phoenix Lodge." Here I preach every Thursday evening. Congregations are encouraging, and consist almost exclusively of sailors and their immediate connections. On one occasion a sailor spoke to me after the sermon, with tears of gratitude in his eyes, and requested as a favour some magazines to read. I furnished him with the PILOT, and a package of books for his voyage.