Visitation of Shipping. By the guidance and protection of Divine Providence, though exposed to many dangers, (thrice in particular, I had very narrow escapes from a watery grave,) I have visited in the various localities appointed me in the port of London, not fewer than 1031 ships. In some instances, sailors have been rather regardless of my visitations and exhortations; but in most instances they have been kindly and thankfully received. Conversations I have reason to believe have been a mutual blessing to many sailors and to myself. I love to speak to the warm-hearted sons of the ocean, of Jesus and his cross; thirty-five ships have been engaged for agents, sixteen of which have hoisted the flag for the first time. I supplied one captain with a Bethel flag, which he was to hoist when convenient in every port he might visit. Distribution of Books, Tracts, &c.— Eight copies of the scriptures were given to seamen, anxious to possess that valuable volume; also a vast number of magazines, and other religious publications, and many thousands of tracts; for the whole of which they were most thankful. I am glad to find that the disposition of seamen for reading is increasing. Often, before leaving a tier of ships, some of the men have said to me, 'Master, I have already read your tract; its contents were very instructive. Can't you give me another, and a larger one? We think of you when far at sea, while reading these books?' well with my soul, after a voyage of seven months out to New York, with a cargo of coals; from thence I went to Dalhousie, in New Brunswick, and loaded a cargo of timber. My sailors attended very regularly every other night in the cabin, for prayer, and find it answers very well. If by any means we can win souls to Christ, it does not matter how; and when men come willingly to worship God, there is a better hope of their getting some lasting good. My Bethel flag, which you kindly sent me, I had the pleasure and honour of hoisting, for the first time, in Dalhousie, two or three sundays, and had captains and seamen from different vessels; and was kindly invited on shore, to give the people in the town a word of exhortation, which I did, through God's help, with much freedom, to a large assembly in a room much crowded. The people there seemed to be almost destitute of means, having only preaching once every three weeks, and no one to carry on a sabbath school, so that the poor children are running about all sunday long for want of instruction. They desired me to ask my friends if a missionary could not be sent among them, to be stationed on the spot, and be supported for the first year ; they told me, means would be raised to support him afterwards. I have already mentioned the subject to our Wesleyan friends in Ireland, but cannot say whether it will be attended to or not. My passage home from America was not long, only 30 days to the Cove of Cork, where I was obliged to put in, to repair my damages, in consequence of being struck by a tremendous heavy sea, while running, which carried away all the bulwark rails, fore-and-aft, cook-housefire-hearth-broke sky-lights to peices, and almost every moveable thing on deck, and it is a mercy that the whole watch on deck were not carried away with them. The sea broke into the belly of the reefed-foresail, threw the ship on her broad-side, and had not the sail burst, by the weight of water being in it, she must have gone down headfirst, and become water-logged, but (thank God) we are all spared. May these things have the happy tendency of bringing my crew to a knowledge of God. Alas! when sailors come on shore, they cannot be governed, but give the rein to all their evil passions. May the Lord stop them from the wicked practices to which they are prone! I am glad to see such a fine Bethel chapel in Liverpool; there is service every night, and it appears to be well attended. I hope you are doing well in London. Wishing you every success in the cause of God, and praying that his work may prosper in your hands, I remain, etc., etc. From a Common Sailor. DEAR SIR-It is indeed both pleasing and interesting in our christian career, to take a retrospective view of the way in which the Lord hath led us. Considering our own weakness, we have cause to be humble; but remembering what the Lord hath done for us, may we not rejoice, yes, with joy unspeakable, and full of glory. It will, no doubt, form a prominent part of our happy entertain ment in the regions of immortality, to recount the labours of our feet. I have a sanguine hope that the first hoisting of the Bethel flag in Goole, will not be among the least that shall redound to the praise and glory of God our Saviour. We had long wished for an opportunity, which in due time has presented itself. We arrived on the 4th of May, 1841, and after being as red that we should be detained till after the sabbath, we intimated our intention to the Wesleyan ministers, who gladly offered their services. At length the wished-for sabbath came. We hoisted our flag, having so arranged the meeting, that it might not interfere with the stated services on shore; rigged what we thought a tolerable church for the company we expected; but we were happily disappointed, for when the time came the people flocked together as doves into the windows, until hundreds had collected, some on the sides of the ship-others on the next vessel, the decks and the quay alongside were literally crowded, and numbers heard the gospel that otherwise would not have heard it. Tracts, etc., were distributed, which were thankfully received. Truly the harvest is great, but the labourers are few! We would say, with the men of Macedonia,-Come over and help us! If you will accept this illiterate scribble, you will greatly oblige your unworthy servant, A SAILOR. HAVRE DE GRACE:-FRANCE. We are happy to learn that a new Seaman's Chapel is about to be erected at Havre. The esteemed chaplain, who holds his appointment under the American Seamen's Friend Society, has recently visited his native land to prefer an appeal on behalf of this object. His mission has been truly successful. He has returned to his important station with the necessary means, and measures are now in progress for the erection of the building. A MEMORIAL. To the Committee of the British and Foreign Sailor's Society in London. The respectful Memorial of the undersigned British Shipmasters trading to the Port of Riga, in Russia We beg to inform you, that in the commencement of this month, Mr. Gorbell arrived here from London, on board the 'Happy Family,' capt. Keith, for the purpose of recruiting his health; That he has availed himself of the opportunity of preaching to the sailors on board British vessels here on the sabbath day; and that two and three hundred seamen have regularly attended the services; and that we, the undersigned, have already found a difference in the conduct of our crew. And that an unusual interest has been excited ; in reference to Mr. G's. labours, in proof of which a bag of roubles was presented to him, voluntary contributions, as a token of respect for his efforts. We beg, therefore, that you will, without hesitation, appoint, ordain, and confer, the requisite authority on Mr. Gorbell, to return here, and preach the gospel of Christ, to our British sailors, the number of which, average from 500 to 1000 during the season. Signed by 41 Captains. MADDOX, PRINTER, BERMONDSEY, SOUTHWARK. It is not only in its more placid moods, and in the wind steadily sweeping over its surface—which associate our thoughts so readily with the ship on her voyage, and entice the train of our contemplations to the uttermost ends of the earth, and thence over the wide extent of the universe,—that the sea is an object of interest. There is a pleasure in the simple and local observation of this mighty element, which brings together objects, and awakens reflections, that are to be found nowhere else; so that, when, as we have said, the invalid goes to the shore of the wide-rolling ocean, to recover the tone, and regain the strength of his mortal frame, it is questionable whether the grand medicinal effect is not produced upon the mind-and whether the recruiting of the body is not a simple consequence of that uplifting of the spirit, which the activity and life of the scene before us never fails to produce. We stand on some lofty cliff-some wide and beetling promontory-whose front is scarred by the blasts of ages, and against whose base a thousand seas have flung their billows without effect. Far in the distance, the expanse, playing in various shades, as the wind awakens the surface into life, spreads in full view before us-spotted with islands-studded with rocks-and with here and there a tell-tale breaker, chafing white and angrily upon the surface, but warning the mariner, both by its yeasting and its sound, that there is danger below the surface, and thus admonishing him to keep at |
