There is a beauty in this silent hour

A healthful breeze speeds lightly o'er the sea,
Filling the canvas with a gentle power;—
Above, around, the ocean-bird is free ;—
Tis rapture now upon the deep to be ;-
The boy ascends the shrouds-in humble prayer
Upon the mast-head, lonely bendeth he,—
His supplications heaven-ward through the air,

On viewless wing are borne, to those that worship there.

Again 'tis night, the air and sea are calm,-
The moon in silence journies through the sky.
From happy islands, Zephyr, bringing balm,
Unknown, but by his odours, wanders by.
From the same hallowed spot are breathed the sigh
And grateful prayer of ocean's wandering child ;
With love and hope, he lifts his tearless eye
Up to the smiling realms of beauty mild,
Beholding in the Son the Father reconciled.

Let others boast unreckoned sums of gold,
Or tread the courts which sins imperial stain,
Dream over tomes of mysteries untold,
Or wear the wreaths that bloody warriors gain,

Enjoy, to statesmen breathed, the homage vain ;
His treasure is in heaven securely laid,

Where moth cannot corrupt, nor pilferer dread;
His palace is a mansion Christ has made;
His wreath, a crown of glory, time can never shade.

'Tis midnight, deep,-along the troubled waves,
Howls the wild tempest, greedy to devour,
The vessel plunges down the yawning graves,
Then re-ascends as with a giant's power.
Winds war with winds, as if the final hour
Of earth and hoary ocean lingered nigh.
Dark jagged clouds of direful omen lower,
Mysterious voices echo from the sky;-
Again the sailor prays,-" Lord save us, or we die!"

"Tis but a breath, and yet it enters Heaven,
By faith commissioned to the throne above;
The howling winds are to their caverns driven,
And on the clouds are pictured hues of love.
Joy lights his eye, his lips with praises move,
O, sailor, learn to pray,- tis humble prayer,
That bids the tempest from the soul remove,
That safely guides it to the haven, where
It may for ever rest :-no billow dashes there!

CHRISTMAS DAY.

Hail! happy era !—hail ! auspicious morn!
On which the Saviour of the world was born!
May the blest Spirit seal that Saviour mine,
And in my life his grace and glories shine.

Now may the nations, who in nature's night
Lie darkly grovelling, see the gospel light

Beam from the "Infant born," from "the Son given,"
"Immanuel-God with us"-the Lord of heaven!

CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW WORKS.

FAMILY PRAYERS, FOR EVERY MORNING AND EVENING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR: WITH ADDITIONAL PRAYERS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS. BY JOHN MORISON, D.D. Super-royal octavo, pp. 779.

London :-Fisher, Son, and Co. Newgate-street.

This is an elegant volume. And as there are many heads of families and guardians of youth, who have not sufficient confidence to use extempore prayer in conducting domestic worship, we introduce and recommend the present volume as a most valuable aid. The prayers are short, and comprehensive, and well-adapted. They are, in the strictest sense, addresses to God,-they are the language of the creature in the presence of the Creator, of the sinner at the footstool of mercy, and in dependance on the Saviour. They are rich in evangelical sentiment and christian experience. Even as a work of occasional perusal, we conceive it well suited to warm the heart, and give quietude to the soul, and thus aid in the effort to preserve a constant and settled devotion of spirit.

We suggest to the excellent author, whether in some of the prayers, the style might not be more purely English. Simplicity of language adds to the strength and fervour of devotion.

The work is got up in the most elegant manner, and reflects the highest credit on the publishers.

ANALYSIS OF THE BIBLE WITH REFERENCE TO THE SOCIAL DUTY OF MAN. By R. MONTGOMERY MARTIN. Second Edition. 18mo. pp. 226.

London :-Fisher, Son, and Co., Newgate street.

The design of this work is to recommend the Bible as a guide in all the relations of life; and appropriate texts are arranged under the different classes of social duties, in a form most convenient for reference. The volume, if bound in leather, would be a good pocket companion. We were truly gratified, on opening its leaves, with the simplicity and propriety of its arrangement.

AN ESSAY ON THE CONGRESS OF NATIONS, FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES WITHOUT RESORT TO ARMS. BY WILLIAM LADD, Esq. Royal 8vo. pp.32. Frice Sixpence.

London: Ward and Co., Paternoster-row.

This essay treats of a subject which must interest every friend of universal peace. The author does not look for an immediate association of this nature, but feels that past history warrants the hope that it may not be far distant, and that the present state of society foretokens and demands it.

The Essay is divided into fifteen chapters, and presents a more full and systematic view of the subject than has before been published. The essayist has endeavoured, we think successfully, to remove all political grounds of objection to such a Congress.

We commend it to the perusal of all who love to anticipate great events in the history of the world, and especially those relating so intimately to the moral condition of mankind.

"MOTIVES TO EARLY PIETY. MOTIVES TO PRAYER. By the Rev. JAMES 31 BLACK SEDBURGH,

"

Edinburgh ;-Oliphant and Son. Loudon ;-C. Hilt.

These works will furnish a valuable addition to the seamen's library. We know not two volumes that would be more instructive and entertaining to the young sailor, far off upon the sea. The Bethel captain will also find in them abundant materials to assist him in his work of faith and labour of love.

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER'S ALMANACK, for 1841.

London :-Sunday School Union, Paternoster Row.

This is a convenient little work, containing, in addition to the usual information, many useful statistics, with a sketch of the history of sabbath schools, and hints to teachers. It has also blank pages, of sabbath memoranda. We recommend the work as decidedly the best of its kind.

Monthly Chronicle.

FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EAST - LONDON AUXILIARY.

On Friday, the 11th ult., the Fourth Anniversary of this Auxiliary was held in the Eastern Institution, when G. F. YOUNG, Esq. presided. The following Report was then read :—

The Committee of the East-London Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, in presenting to this meeting their fourth Annual Report, will not enter upon the province of succeeding speakers, either by dwelling upon the relation which the sailor bears to the safety of Britain and its commercial prosperity, or by urging the claims of seamen upon the sympathy and zeal of christians. On those to whom the several resolutions which are to be presented to this meeting, have been entrusted, this duty will with greater propriety devolve-in their hands therefore, the committee with respectful confidence, leave the cause of the sailor to night. In this day of active benevolence, when almost all classes of men have become the objects of special effort, the committee feel assured, that the claims of our maritime population will not be overlooked; and they are persuaded, that were the circumstances in which our seamen are placed, their privations, sacrifices, dangers, and temptations, maturely considered, a general and successful effort would at once be made to support an institution, whose object is to raise them from the debasement of ignorance and vice, and prepare them to become a blessing, where hitherto they have been a curse. The operations of the Parent Society are directed to this end. In the prosecution of their design, the Bible is placed in their hands. Tracts are largely distributed. Libraries and books supplied to them. The sailors' chapel opened on shore, and during every night in the week various religious services held afloat. Boarding houses visited, both sabbath and day schools established; and such other occasional means employed as are likely to promote their temporal, present, and future welfare. In addition to the labours of the society at home, au extensive correspondence is maintained with the friends of sailors in foreign portsa sailors' chaplain has in connection with the American Seamens' Friend Society been appointed to Cronstadt. At Sydney, and at Adelaide, agents are engaged in connection with the society-there is also the prospect of the speedy appointment of one to the same work at the Cape of Good Hope, whilst in various parts of the world, the Bethel flag is hoisted to invite the mariner to the place of prayer. In referring to their own exertions during the past year, the committee of the Auxiliary have but few details to present to the meeting. Their efforts are necessarily very limited. The chief design contemplated in its formation, was the raising of funds for the assistance of the Parent Society, but its constitution requires them also to promote local objects as far as opportunity may present itself. They have therefore, during the past year, held several meetings for the benefit of sailors, on the afternoon of the sabbath, at Poplar, Limehouse, and Shadwell; whilst through the medium of the Queen Street Association, they have carried on a regular system of visitation on board the ships in the basin of the Regent's Canal, where religious services have