Page images
PDF
EPUB

in a marvellous manner: then let the husband say, How shall I henceforth promote the happiness of this beloved object; especially, how shall I best aim to elevate her character, and promote her spiritual advantage?

Has the husband been wonderfully delivered from death?―all that is lovely and tender in the female character should lead the wife to say, I receive back my husband from the confines of eternity, how shall I henceforth become to him a greater blessing than ever? I will endeavour so to act that he shall have occasion to bless God for ever that he was united to me.

Have either of the parents been in a remarkable manner preserved?-let the children hear the voice of God in the dispensation let them say, My parent is not removed from me in this instance. I bless God for it. I have a little more opportunity of manifesting my concern for his or her happiness. Never will I again cause uneasiness. Never shall one undutiful expression escape my lips. will HONOUR in the inmost recesses of my mind my father and my mother; and 1 will now in good earnest begin to see how I can requite my parents for all their care and anxiety on my account.

I

But what are providential salvations compared to the salvation of God salvation with eternal glory? Ah! are there none in hell now, who were again and again snatched from the jaws of death in forms diversified and awful? But how did they requite the Lord who thus delivered them?

SAILORS! what reason have you to bless God that there are those who care for your souls, and who are willing and anxious to provide far more abundantly for your spiritual wants than their present means will allow them to do. Receive then with pleasure those who come off to preach unto you the word of God, and avail yourselves of every opportunity of attending some place of worship on the Lord's day. Oh remember, that of the Great Deliverer it is still said, "This man receiveth sinners."

AN AGENT OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN SAILORS' SOCIETY.

EXTRAORDINARY RICH CARGO,

WORTH UPWARDS OF A MILLION STERLING.

In a morning paper of December 9 it is stated, "The Pacific, Captain Grant, from the coast of Chili, has brought

to England for government, the greatest amount of specie ever imported in a merchant vessel-namely, five hundred thousand dollars, and ten tons of gold!

[ocr errors]

Reckoning the gold at four pounds per ounce, and the dollars at four shillings each, the cargo would amount to upwards of a million sterling!

NUMBER OF BRITISH FISHERMEN.

BRITISH merchant seamen are computed to amount to about 220,000, three-fourths of whom are reckoned to be actually employed in the foreign and coasting branches of trade. But we are not aware of the numbers of our fishermen: those employed in various branches of this service are not a few, and probably many more than is commonly imagined.

The following statements are taken from the Report of the Commissioners for the Herring Fishery, relative to the year ending on the 5th of April, 1834. They were drawn up by a gentleman competent to remark on this subject, from his intimate acquaintance with commercial affairs.

"We are aware that the herring and cod fisheries carried on upon our own coasts for curing fish are more generally known, and their importance better appreciated, than many other branches of British industry; but there are, we have no doubt, comparatively few persons who have any idea, that, during the year which ended on the 5th April, 1834, there were engaged in those fisheries 487 vessels of 15,232 tons, and manned by 2,359 men; and that the shore-curing fishery furnished employment to 11,284 boats, manned by 49,212 men and boys, to 1,925 coopers, to 23,972 persons in cleaning and packing the fish, to 7,157 labourers, and to 1,831 fish-curers, making a total of 95,381 individuals. Thus we may calculate, that, including the families of those persons, and the tradesmen and artizans almost or entirely dependent on their custom for support, full one million of persons are furnished with the means of subsistence by the abovementioned fisheries alone, which are quite distinct from the extensive fisheries which supply the kingdom with fresh fish.

"The herring fishery for the year ended the 5th of April,

1834, was the most abundant of any since the formation of the establishment in 1809; and the quantity of barrels cured exceeded that of the year previous by about 12 per cent., the quantity branded by 8 per cent., and the quantity exported by 20 per cent. The cod and ling fishery was not, however, so productive as the year before. The use of old barrels was complained of on the west coast; but on the east (the principal seat of the herring fishing) the state and quality of the herrings were never excelled, and the official brand continued in as great repute as ever. The assorting on the Dutch plan was gaining ground. The cod and ling were also well cured; and so high was the character of the stamp in London, that no other fish was considered fit for exportation to Spain.

"The total quantity of herrings cured in the year ended 5th April, 1834, was 457,531 barrels; of which 178,000 were branded, 59,276 assorted in the Dutch mode, and 272,093 exported: whereof 149,254 were exported to Ireland, 55,852 to the continent of Europe, and 66,510 to other parts of the world. The total number of cod and ling taken was 1,942,533; of which 52,710 were curedried, and 5,522 cured in pickle, and 18,167 were branded. Up to 1815 the bounty on herrings cured was 2s. per barrel, and 2s. 8d. more on exportation; from 1815 to 1826 the bounty was 4s.: and it was reduced 1s. per year until 1830, when it ceased altogether."

J

ELEVEN WHALE SHIPS FROZEN UP IN DAVIS'S

STRAITS.

SORROW and mourning are filling the breasts of many wives and their families, at Hull, Shields, &c., in consequence of eleven whale ships this season being detained in the ice, and frozen up in Davis's Straits. They were overtaken in this calamity by staying late, through being unsuccessful in fishing. Several hundred men, unprepared for a winter of seven or eight months under such dreadful circumstances, are thus imprisoned in these vessels; and it is feared that many will perish for want of food, as they have not provisions for more than two months.

Application has been made to the Government, for them to send out a vessel to seek opportunities of relieving

those deserving but suffering men. This, however, is declined, as the Government cannot feel justified in commanding men on so hazardous, an expedition. Nevertheless they generously offer, that if those interested in the fisheries will provide a ship and find volunteers, they will furnish provisions, and pay the adventurous mariners for their noble service.

Captain James Ross, who has had much experience with his relative Captain Sir J. Ross in his perilous voyages of discovery in the Arctic Regions, has promptly offered his services; and no doubt is entertained but men will be found sufficient for the enterprize. It is thought, that, having proceeded as far as possible with their vessel, they will employ sledges on the ice in searching for the suffering seamen and their ships. We trust they were supplied as some of the whalers are supplied by the agency of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society with the means of religious edification by religious books and tracts, and the Holy Scriptures.

DREADFUL LOSS OF LIFE

BY THE WRECK OF ANOTHER CONVICT SHIP.

SHIPWRECKS Most fearfully illustrate the necessity of evangelizing sailors, and of passengers to the remote regions of the earth being well instructed in the things of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. To record all the instances of shipwrecks, of which we hear by the reports of the public prints, would far more than fill the pages of the PILOT. Nevertheless it seems necessary to notice some of those distinguished by remarkable circumstances; and such was that of the NEVA.

This transport ship, Captain Peck, left Cork on the 8th of last January for Sydney, with 150 female prisoners, and 33 of their children; besides 9 free women, 22 children, and the crew, consisting of 27 men and boys in all, 241 persons. It was wrecked, on the 13th of May, upon a reef of rocks about 90 miles from King's Island; and all on board perished, except 6 of the prisoners, and 9 of the crew! This is a far more awful wreck, so far as regards the extensive loss of life, than that of the late George the Third, lost near Hobart Town.

Readers of the PILOT will find a detailed account of

that melancholy shipwreck in the number for November; and therefore we forbear to present them with the melancholy particulars of this truly lamentable affair. We cannot however refrain from expressing a hope, that Government will institute a rigid inquiry into the mode of chartering convict ships, as we are informed that the Neva was above twenty years' old, and far from being fit for such a voyage.

PROPOSED HOSPITAL FOR MERCHANT

SEAMEN.

GREENWICH Royal Hospital, the most magnificent edificé in Great Britain, and one of the noblest of our public charities, is designed, as it is well known, for the exclusive reception of decayed seamen of the Royal Navy.

Merchant seamen have, till lately, been required to pay sixpence per month out of their wages for its support; but they were, notwithstanding, ineligible for admission. to that great establishment. Many of the friends of seamen have long thought that an asylum worthy of Great Britain ought to be founded for the reception of decayed Merchant Seamen; and this is now resolved upon, and likely to be accomplished.

George Frederick Young, Esq., M. P. for Tynemouth (one of the worthy vice-presidents of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society), presided at a public meeting held on Thursday, December 17, at the Mariners' Church, Wellclose Square, London, to ascertain the public mind on that subject.

Mr. Robinson, M. P., Capt. Sir J. Franklin, R. N., Capt. Young, R. N. (father of the Chairman), Capt. Barber, R. N., and the Chairman, addressed the meeting; and the following resolutions were carried unanimously:

--

I. That it is the opinion of the seamen present, that an establishment of an asylum for Merchant Seamen, in old age, disability, and poverty, would be honourable to the nation, and confer an inestimable benefit on the sailors in the British Merchant Service.

II. That seamen will yield to no class of their fellowsubjects in feelings of independence, and in a desire to support themselves without recourse to charitable assistance; and that those who are now present will therefore cheerfully consent to contribute an additional sixpence per

« PreviousContinue »