mutilated, his spirit fled,-the vital spark extinct,-a lifeless corpse. I shuddered at the scene, and retired from the spot deeply impressed with the uncertainty of life, and the need of being prepared to meet God. I met four pious captains at Ramsgate, one of whom dated his first convictions from a sermon preached at the Sailors' Chapel, Bell Wharf. Whilst at Ramsgate, I preached orce at the Wesleyan chapel, twice at the Sailors' Room, and once on board a vessel lying alongside the quay in the inner basin. Many attended on those occasions. I also experienced much pleasure in the distribution of tracts amongst the sailors, fishermen, boatmen, and the numerous labourers connected with the harbour. I trust my visit was not in vain.

Sailors' Chapel.—It is no small happiness to know that the Lord is from time to time blessing the word of his grace published within those walls. May He water this little portion of his vineyard, and continue to watch over and defend it from every evil.

Loan Libraries.-Three loan libraries have been supplied to ships going to Odessa, the East Indies, and Ceylon. And two have been returned with most pleasing accounts of their benefit. One captain who has kindly subscribed £2 to the Society, informed me, that since the introduction of the books, he had marked a pleasing change amongst his ship's company, which he attributed to the instruction they received from reading those valuable volumes.

Visiting Sailors' Boarding-Houses. -Many sailors have arrived from America and the Baltic, which I have visited -some on board their ships, previous to their being paid off, calling their attention to those things that relate to their temporal and spiritual interest-and others in the boarding-houses, distributing tracts amongst them. Sorry am I

to state, that the sin of intemperance appears more prevalent amongst sailors sailing to and from our colonies in North America, than elsewhere. This souldestroying sin continues to slay its thousands.

During the month, I have held seven religious services at the Sailors' Chapel, and three public services in the open air. Distributed, on various occasions, 2600 tracts-110 back numbers of the Pilot-Evangelical, Baptist, and other Magazines, and conversed with at least 1000 sailors on spiritual things.

Fourth Station.-MR. EDWARDS.Since my last report I have, through divine mercy, been enabled to attend twenty meetings afloat, and about eight or ten at the Sailors' Chapel on week days.

The meetings afloat, were held in the fourth, fifth, and sixth stations. The numbers in attendance have been much as in former months.

Nothing particular has occurred during the above period of time, yet there is encouragement to go forward in this delightful employ, arising from the pressing invitations of the masters and men to visit them again as soon as possible.

One evening (in the fourth station) as my worthy colleague and myself were hesitating whether we should remain any longer on board, or return to shore, there being but two persons on board, and but few protestants in the tier; a pious master came from the other side of the river, and seeing no seamen present, he said, 'Well, my friends, you must not be discouraged, I will go over the tier, and see what can be done.' He did so, but after all his and our exertions, but four, beside him and ourselves, could be prevailed on to attend.

At another meeting in this station a young seaman came from the other

side. He took part in the exercises of the evening, and enquired very kindly

after Mr. Benson, with whom he said he had had some delightful meetings in the first station.

Six vessels have been set apart for Bethel services, during these three months, four in the fourth, one in the fifth, and one in the sixth stations. The masters, in the fifth and sixth stations, expressed themselves much delighted,

and said they should be glad to see me at any time when they were in the pool.

Thus, the seed of the kingdom has been sown among our seamen. May the Lord water it with the dew of the Holy Spirit, and cause it to spring up in their hearts, and yield an abundant harvest to the praise and glory of his grace!

Of each of my stations, now amounting to twenty, I cannot give a detailed account. In general they are promising. Thirteen persons from one station, and eight from another, have united in christian society in Margate. Six have joined in Sandwich, and several in other places. The desirable object of erecting a chapel for the use principally of the coast population in Kingsdown, and St. Margaret's Bay is accomplished. Usually about 100 attend. The next spot I have looked out for a similar chapel, is Pegwell Bay, to include Morthshore, and Cliff End, and the adjacent places. I preach there in a converted beer-shop, kept by an old smuggler, and at Cliff End.

Ramsgate has afforded us much gratification. We have many Brixham boats from October to June. The men were not expected to attend our Sailor's Room; our pleasure was consequently the greater, in seeing it filled with them and their families until their departurein witnessing their interest, by begging permission to subscribe weekly to its support; and especially in indulging the hope, that in several instances saving conversion had resulted. You will hear with pleasure, that one of our magistrates asserts, that whatever the cause may be, the effect is, that those

who were most frequently before them, are now, comparatively, seldom giving them trouble.

A pious owner of smacks says, ' Mr. Chapman knows of many encouraging cases, but he does not know the tenth part of the benefit sailors have received in the Sailor's room that I know of; and I never expected to see half what I already see of God's goodness towards our long neglected fishermen.'

One fact: The exhibition of the star of Bethlehem, and the tee-total flags. I have often seen three or four, and on one sabbath seven of these displayed in the harbour.

Our faith is now likely to be tried, between this and October. Our fishermen are all gone. Those who trade foreign and go in summer steamers are off, and most of those who remain are in constant request, as porters during the season. It is deeply to be regretted that all the police and men on the pier, are threatened with a discharge, if they allow preaching out of doors; as we might have a large audience there.

Margate Seaman's Chapel is attended as well as ever. If we had as good a chapel in a good situation, we might have ten times the number of hearers. Although many have been added to other congregations, several who have

been born there, will not abandon their berth; but still look for the day when they may enjoy the privileges of church fellowship. From four to six services a

week are conducted in this chapel.Broadstairs Chapel, St.Mary's, is now vested in trust,-it is improved in appearance, and attended respectably.

It gives me much pleasure to learn from your magazine recently published, that the combined efforts of the Society have been so successful in advancing the cause of God among sailors during the past year. I have reason to conclude that my feeble efforts have not been in vain; but that they, through the blessing of God, have awakened serious thoughts in the minds of some in reference to the important subject of religion. It appears evident that the tracts which I have distributed among sailors-the simple addresses which I have given them—and the more private conversation which I have had with many of them, have been blest.

A little cabin-boy told me that he read the tracts I gave him with pleasure and was glad to get a little spare time for that purpose.

Putting a tract into the hand of a captain, entitled,' The Seaman's Spyglass;'—that, said I, is a very excellent one. He took it, and began to read: in the mean time, a joint of meat was brought forward for dinner-turning to this he said to me-There, that is what I call the best spy-glass.' This led me to speak of the composition of man,

which is compounded of flesh and spirit: and that these widely different component parts require nutriment according to their nature. He felt the force of this mode of reasoning, -seemed interested, and I hope our conversation was beneficial. Others that I have addressed, have acknowledged their guilty practices, and the sins they were in the habit of committing. Such I have been enabled solemnly and faithfully to warn.

Not long since I met a sailor on the highway in a state of intoxication. He addressed me, sailor-like, 'Where are you going?' In answer, I said, 'You are going to hell evidently;' he wished to know how to escape it. The first step I recommended to him was, to decline all intoxicating liquors, reminding him that no drunkard shall ever enter the kingdom of God.

I have endeavoured to excite the attention of the religious public of Exeter to the sailors' interests; and some influential persons among them, are in quest of a room in which to hold regular meetings for them. I hope this object will be realized.

In times like the present, when unhappily the unity of the church of Christ is so sorely broken, it is refreshing to contemplate an institution like theBelfast Seaman's Friend Society,' uniting in one brotherhood of love christians of all denominations, who hold the truth as it is in Jesus.

This is decidedly a religious society; and, for the purpose of giving security to its fundamental principles, and perpetuating its benefits, not only are the chaplains confined to those who hold the doctrines contained in the confessions of the established churches of England and Scotland, but a committee of orthodox persons has been appointed, vested with powers of filling up vacancies in their number as they occur; so that, so far as any thing human is secure, there is perfect security that the buildings, and funds, and operations of this society shall never be perverted from their original purpose.

The grand objects of the Society are to preach the gospel to the seamen frequenting the Port of Belfast, and to give a religious and literary education to the children of the humbler classes connected with its harbour; and it is a peculiarly interesting feature of the society, that while performing this most important work, it furnishes to the world a captivating specimen of the spirit with which the religion of Christ teaches men to dwell together in unity, -for ministers of different denominations, who hold the Head, Christ Jesus, unite in taking in rotation religious services at the society's chapel.

It is a subject of deep regret to your committee, that they were permitted to enjoy, for so brief a period, the servi

ces of the Rev. S, Boyd, as chaplain; his talents and acquirements were, however, of too high an order to be confined to a limited sphere; and though it would have been greatly to the advantage of this society to enjoy his labours for a longer period,-yet it is most satisfactory to find that his merits are duly appreciated in the new sphere to which, in providence, he has been called. Your committee were for a considerable period unsuccessful in obtaining a suitable person to supply the vacancy occasioned by Mr. Boyd's removal; and though by means of a scripture-reader, and such clergymen as, consistently with the rules of the society, could be employed, the usual services of the chapel were regularly maintained; yet, during a portion of the past year, much inconvenience was experienced from the want of a permanent chaplain.

The committee, therefore, with much satisfaction, announce the appointment of Mr. Robert Wilson, as chaplain to the society; a young man of whom they have received, from many quarters, the very highest character; whom they expect to enter in a very short time into holy orders, and who has commenced his labours under the happiest auspices.

The committee have also much satisfaction in the appointment made by them of a teacher for their daily school, his competency being sufficiently evidenced by the numbers in attendance in his classes, and the proficiency which they have made. One part of the society's system is a sabbath-school, for which abundant materials are furnished, in the large and rapidly increasing portion of Belfast, contiguous to the chapel,

Besides the services conducted on the morning and evening of each sabbath, there is a regular service on the evening of each Thursday; and, besides the distribution of bibles and appropriate tracts, a chief object for which the chaplain makes a regular weekly visitation of the vessels in port is, to persuade sailors to attend the services of the chapel. Your committee lift up their solemn protest before the public, and especially before ship-owners, against the sailing of vessels on the sabbath, as being not only a flagrant evil in itself, but as preventing to a melancholy extent, the attendance of sailors on public worship. It is earnestly hoped that a practice so much opposed to the spirit of christianity, will soon be done away.

The chapel for public worship, and the school-rooms connected with it, are now finished; and it is hoped that the christian public will teel happy in having an establishment for such important purposes, which does credit to the public spirit of the town, and which stands as an honourable monument of the generosity and harmony of the various denominations of evangelical christians in Belfast.

Your committee acknowledge, with gratitude, the very valuable assistance and support which they have received from the British and Foreign Sailors' Society; they would, however, fondly hope, that so rich and flourishing a seaport as Belfast, will not continue dependant on the liberality of others. However generous the London Society have shewn themselves, yet Belfast should maintain an institution of its own.

The committee earnestly recommend the adoption of some measures for protecting seamen from the temptations to which they are constantly exposed. Terrible as are the dangers of the deep they are mild in comparison with those to which the unsuspecting seamen are subjected on shore. Hosts of landsharks are constantly on the watch to

seize on him, so soon as he reaches land; and by every species of vile seduction make him a prey. Much good has been done in many places by the establishment of boarding-houses, and the appointment of committees of protection; and they have been found most effectual means of increasing the attendance on religious services, and advancing the work of moral and religious reformation. It is evident that just in proportion as this great maritime city increases, there is the most urgent necessity to adopt the most effectual means, not merely for protecting and reforming the seamen visiting it, but for protecting the population from the aggravated evils with which it would be inundated by reckless seamen.

Your committee have been encouraged in their labour, by the generosity and good feeling which the christian public have uniformly manifested.This is, in the best sense of the words, a popular society-popular with all who have made a proper estimate of the maritime interests of this great nation -popular with all who understand to what a tremendous extent sailors may be made agents, either of good or illpopular with all who love to see practical illustrations of christian unity among the different members of the body of Christ, and who labour and pray that the way of the Lord may be known on the earth, and his saving health among all nations.

Sailors have been long and sadly neglected; a heavy responsibility rests on the churches of Christ respecting them : christians have not felt, or prayed, or acted for sailors in times past as they should; but a zeal has been awakened which will surely spread; a work has been begun which will travel wide and far; and with christian zeal, and christian prayer, and christian activity, all on the side of seamen, the glorious period will not tarry long which Isaiah saw in his prophetic vision.