wept much. I gave them a few tracts each, at the close of the service, commending them in prayer to the care of a covenant-keeping God. Thus we parted, I trust, as brethren in Christ.

Being called on one occasion to improve the death of Capt. H. B., of the Industry; on coming on board the vessel, a young man came running to me with tears in his eyes, saying, 'Oh, sir, you knew our captain,―he is no more; when we were last voyage here, he refused the Bethel flag, and said he would have it next voyage, but little did he think the colours would be halfmast-high for him. Oh! sir, he only was stepping from the next ship, another captain was assisting him, (the vessels being some little distance,) when he slipt his foot, and fell; with the rapidity of the tide he was carried under the ship's bottom, and seen no more."

I

This was a very solemn season. thought of my late friend hurried into the eternal world - taken suddenly away. True it is, 'In the midst of life we are in death.' How ought sailors to have their loins girt and their lamps burning. The tears flowed freely from the sailors belonging to the ship, and two of them, amidst groans and sighs, poured out their hearts before God. They deeply mourned the loss of their departed captain, who was a kindhearted man. I have met two sailors since who were present on that occasion, and from that period they have been led to think seriously on those things that relate to their everlasting peace,-they are hopeful characters, and bid fair for the kingdom. May they be kept by the power of divine grace!

My meetings afloat, twenty-one in number, have been generally well attended; about three hundred sailors and others have heard the word of Divine truth. Many a wanderer has been pointed to Christ-the disconsolate cheered, the wounded healed, the balm of Gilead applied, and Jesus the

Physician been present to apply the same. I have held fourteen services on shore at the Sailors' Chapel, Billingsgate, and elsewhere; have dedicated seven new ships to the Bethel cause, and obtained fifty-two ships for agents.

Sailors' Boarding Houses.-These continue to be visited, and tracts distributed every sabbath. Sometimes the prospects are cheering, at other times a dark dim cloud seems to envelope the whole scene; nevertheless we do know that good is doing even in this way, but we want the hearts of those lodging-house-keepers to become the receptacles of Divine grace. A sailor, two sabbaths since, came to me at the close of the evening service and said, "You were at my lodging-house this morning, and spoke to me and my shipmates about the Sailors' Chapel, and gave us tracts. I was one that replied, we are very well here; no sooner had you left the room, than conscience smote me for what I had said, for I had been religiously brought up, and have praying parents, who know not where their rebel son is. But I was resolved to come and hear as you kindly requested and, sir, I am glad I came." I pointed him to Christ-spoke of mercy, love, and grace; and encouraged him to seek the Lord.

God grant that the words thus spoken, may not be in vain!

MR. J. PALMER. Since my last Report, I have spent several sabbath days, among the seamen at Long Reach, visiting and preaching on board ships three times. These services are highly estimated by the sailors themselves, and a favourable feeling prevails among them generally, which has been manifested by their attendance from time to time. In connection with some of these services, I have been encouraged by the knowledge, that God has set his seal to the work, on the

hearts of some. There is a letter now in my possession, just received from a sailor, in which he states, that he had not been in a place of worship for fifteen years-that he accidentally dropped in at the Sailors' Chapel, at Bell Wharf, during the public service of the Lord's-day, and the sermon there was the means of his conversion. He is now a sober, steady, praying man. I have returned from the Lower Pool, to my former labour in the second station, and find my old friends going on stead. ily and perseveringly, as the token of continual success. Others are added to their number. Some of the meetings on board ship, have been of the most pleasing character. The number present being sometimes thirty, at other times forty, and the minds of most seriously disposed,-the men in the whole tier of vessels, sober and steady.

I have also many times preached in Billingsgate Market on sunday afternoons to large congregations, in company with some of my brother agents. Also two sunday evenings have preached in the open air, in front of the London Dock Gates; this spot and neighbourhood is the most depraved in the port of London. It is the chief resort of the foreign-going sailors, and the lanes and alleys are filled with characters of the very worst description. The first sabbath I met with great interruption from several drunkards, just reeling out of the gin palaces near, and set on by the prostitutes, who were then filling up those wretched dens of infamy; but their continued interruption increased the number of the attendants considerably; and having with me some Bethel captains, brother Welch, the sailors' missionary, and other tried christian friends, we finally triumphed over all opposition. I understand that there has been occasional preaching there since. And, on the evening of the Lord's-day, August 1st, I preached there again, when we were again inter

rupted by a drunkard. He annoyed us for some time, but, at last, was removed by a policeman. At the close of the service, the persons belonging to the ground and the London Dock Establishment, close by, told me, they were sure good was done to sailors and others, by the means thus employed; and therefore, they had given orders to the police, to remove any one who should disturb or interrupt those services hereafter. Since this, the whole of the family (an extensive establishment) and servants, attend this especial service throughout, and are increasingly interested in our Society's proceedings. It is wished by very many, that it should be continued regularly every sunday evening.

I have attended several total abstinence meetings in Bell Wharf Chapel, and on board ship;-been present a whole sabbath in each succeeding month, as well as on the evening of the third Thursday, at the Sailors' Chapel, where I preached a funeral sermon for a boy, belonging to the Sunday and Day Schools, who was drowned in the Thames.

I have attended Bethel meetings in the river on board different ships, two nights in the week. I have added some new vessels to our Bethel list; and have distributed a great number of books, magazines, and tracts, to seamen at my various services.

MR. ABBOTT.-My journal of labour exhibits many proofs, that religion is advancing among our dear seafaring brethren; and I trust it will advance more and more, till all are gathered into the fold of Christ. Among the many colours and flags flying at the mast-head of vessels in the river, none are more interesting and lovely than the Bethel flag, waving in the gentle breeze, emblazoned with the emblem of purity and peace, forming also a signal for divine worship; by many, it is beheld with emotions of delight and gratitude.

A captain at Long Reach, who came aboard the vessel where the service was to be held, said,—“I was looking out for the flag some time, and began to be afraid that it would not be hoisted." In this instance the flag was not hois. ted long before the time for commencing the service.

At the close of a very full meeting upon deck, the captain took me by the hand, and said,-"Sir, I thank you for this service, and also on behalf of my men, I would tender you my best thanks." I had this vessel a second time, when the most marked attention was given to the truth spoken. May it prove effectual. The Bethel meetings held in the river, in many instances, are fully appreciated, and by many are repeated in distant ports. Captains have informed me of such meetings being held at Riga and Dantzic, and of their beneficial influence. In a vessel where I held several meetings, one of the men has left the seafaring life, and is now preparing for the ministry, and intends going far hence among the Gentiles. May many follow him!

Our Saviour is emphatically the Prince of peace, and where he reigns there is peace. In illustration of this, a captain informed me, that all his men went to chapel, and there was peace and order in the vessel from one week's end to another." May the number of such vessels and crews be greatly multiplied.

A captain present at a Bethel meeting informed me that he had traded between Aberdeen and Leith for twenty-three years, and during that time he had only been a few sabbaths ashore. To our seafaring friends thus circumstanced, how necessary is the Bethel meeting. Ano

ther said, that with the exception of an address at the Bethel meeting, he had not heard a sermon for four years. How important, nay absolutely necessary to such, are these services! The services aboard the large Scotch steam-ships, are discontinued for the present. There are none now in the pool, on the sabbath. The meetings there were well attended, and I hope good has been done.

In consequence of the desire expressed by many, for sabbath services, I held one on board the N-which was well attended. Great solemnity marked the meeting. I hope these services will be continued.

Among many of our dear seafaring brethren, there is a spirit of enquiry; among others, a manifest growth in grace; and in all, I trust, greater seriousness is becoming more general.

I am exceeding sorry to see that the attendance at the chapel is so small. I think the place is rather against it. A captain in conversation with me lately, said, "that we ought to have at least ten, not large, but clean and compact places;" for Jack liked a nice clean place, and we could not expect him to ship himself, except we provided a comfortable berth. May such, by the liberality of the christian public, be reared, and set apart for our brethren to assemble in.

Many other incidents might be mentioned, but these will suffice to show that our labours are not without the sanction and blessing of the great Head of the church. May his gracious purposes speedily be accomplished, and his dominion be from the river to the ends of the earth.

On Wednesday evening, March 24th, a public meeting was held in the Theatre of the School of Arts, Pitt-street, for the purpose of commencing active proceedings for the establishment of a minister in Sydney, to supply moral and religious instruction to the seamen, who from time to time, visit the harbour of Port Jackson. Before the business of the evening commenced, the room was completely crowded by a most respectable audience, among whom were a large number of gentlemen connected with the commercial and maritime interests of the colony.

The Rev. J. Saunders commenced the business of the evening by moving, that R. Jones, Esq. M. C., take the chair; which being acceded to

The Rev. John Saunders read the report of the committee, from which it appeared that the society had been established in 1833, but, until lately, comparatively little had been done, and that consisted principally in a correspondence with the London and American Seamen's Friend Societies, the first letter being from the American Society, bearing date the 18th May, 1837, which was replied to on the 26th of October, 1838. It was subsequently stated that in consequence of the Rev. Dr. Lang's recent visit to America, the society there, in consequence of his representations, had been induced to send the Rev. Mr. Adam here for the express purpose of administering to the spiritual wants of the seamen of this port; at the same time a respectable merchant

in New York had given Mr. Adam and his family a free passage in one of his vessels to Sydney, and the American Society had guaranteed to pay one third of Mr. Adam's salary, and the London Society engaged to pay another third, and it was proposed that the remaining third should be raised in the colony.

The Rev. W. Schofield moved the first resolution, which was as follows: "That this meeting recognises the christian duty of doing good to all men; and animated by the example of the mother country, and by the noble exertions of the United States, on behalf of the maritime population, feels it to be important to attempt an efficient plan for the spiritual welfare of the seamen belonging to, and visiting this port."

Captain Benson, seconded the resolution.

The Rev. J. M'Kenny moved the second resolution as follows,-" That to carry out the foregoing resolution, this meeting pledges itself to support the Sydney Bethel Union Society.""

Captain Innes said, it gave him great pleasure to second the resolution.

The resolution was then adopted by the meeting, after which the chairman intimated that the Rev. Mr. Adam would address the meeting, which he did to the following purport.—

He said, he was well aware that the undertaking which he had embarked in was a hard one, but it was some consolation for him to reflect, that it