placed in the hands of our Treasurers for the specific object of erecting a new Sailor's Chapel, with suitable School and Reading Rooms, in the port of London. Since then, we have received the pledge of £50, from each of our esteemed Treasurers, Alderman Pirie, and G. F. Angas, Esq., and another gentleman has kindly undertaken to raise FIFTY POUNDS.

May we be permitted to suggest, that this is an example worthy of imitation. Those who cannot raise such a sum might yet, with comparative facility, collect it; and if only a few would resolve on this method, and pursue it with ardour, the whole amount would soon be obtained, and the building reared as a monument of their benevolence.

BOARDING-HOUSES IN THE METROPOLIS.

This is a subject to which, we are happy to know, the enlightened and benevolent public are directing special attention. As boarding-houses are now supplied and conducted, misery to the Sailor is inevitable. This fact is daily being brought before us with more force by a system of visitation and enquiry now prosecuted under the direction of the Committee of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society. The present system of crimping is one of plunder and cruelty, and never till it be invaded and overthrown, can there be hope for the sailor. Surely then no means should be wanting to effect this end. It is a national object, and worthy of a national effort.

It is gratifying to know, that a number of intelligent and public-spirited gentlemen, perceiving into what a hideous form the evil is growing, have resolved, if possible, to uproot the whole system. They have it in contemplation to erect another Sailors' Home, on somewhat different principles and provisions from that conducted by Capt. Elliott; and without depreciating this measure for a moment, yet conceiving that their end might be more effectually secured, we have ventured to

suggest to one of these gentlemen, and through him to those associated in the good work, the expediency of establishing a number of private Boarding-houses, to be conducted by men of high integrity and character, and all placed under the supervision and controul of an active Committee. The suggestion, we are happy to say, was well received; and if it should be adopted, (we shall not ask to the exclusion of the other, but in connection with it,)—we are, right or wrong, not a little sanguine of the result.

Let our merchants, ship-owners, and all who are connected with naval and mercantile affairs, take up the subject with spirit and determination: and when an appeal is made to their generosity, let them be forward to express their interest in a scheme which promises so radically to improve the condition and character of the most deserving portion of the community.

To this department of labour special attention has been directed by the local Seamen's Friend Society of LIverPOOL. Desirous of affording the sailor who may arrive at that port, the best means of providing himself with suitable accommodation, the Committee there have made a selection of Houses, in which regard is had as well to the moral as the temporal interests of the man. We have just been furnished with the list of Lodging-houses recommended by the Committee, and find that it exhibits not fewer than EIGHT AND TWENTY, five of which are more especially designed for Captains and Mates. This is truly encouraging. Nor should it fail to stimulate our efforts in this the first port in the world. If we would rescue the sailor, or lift him to his due position as an intelligent and social being, we must lay the axe to the root of this system. Nor do we hesitate to say, that whoever may be the man that shall tear it up root and branch, he shall win for himself a prouder laurel than ever fell to the lot of the most illustrious hero.*

*We purpose in another number to give a brief account of the Sailors' Home, at Calcutta and Bombay.

MEETING AT ST. ALBANS, HERTS.

A Public Meeting in aid of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, was held at the Town Hall, St. Albans, on Tuesday, August 7th, 1838. The chair was taken by the Rev. W. Upton, and the meeting addressed by the Rev. Messrs. Harris of St. Albans and Upton of Poplar. The Rev. W. Spencer of Holloway, and the Rev. J.Varty, Travelling Secretary, attended as a deputation from the Parent Society. Although the weather was unfavourable, the attendance was numerous and respectable; a deep interest was manifested by the assembly, in the various statements made, and an impression highly favourable to the important objects of the Society produced.

NEWPORT ASSOCIATION.
ASSOCIATIO

On the evening of June 20th, the Eleventh Anniversary of the Newport Mariners' Church was held in that place; and notwithstanding the unfavourable state of the weather, the meeting was well attended. The chair was taken by J. J. Cords, Esq. a member of the Established Church, who, on opening the business, spoke with the utmost liberality of the pleasure he felt in meeting with the inhabitants of Newport on such an occasion; and then expatiated, in a very able manner, on the great utility of Bethel Union Institutions,—the great good they had effected, and were likely to produce.

Many other gentlemen, including three Clergymen, and several ministers of various denominations, addressed the meeting. One of the Clergymen spoke admirably; and a pious Captain made a spirit-stirring speech. The collection amounted to about £10.

Some ladies have taken up the Bethel cause, as an object of interest, and have, with their accustomed success and zeal, collected, within a short period, the sum of about £15 within the town.

PROVINCIAL OPERATIONS.

In several of our provincial ports considerable effort is being put forth for the temporal and moral well-being of seamen. In Liverpool, Hull, Bristol, and Portsmouth, there exist regularly organized associations, and some of them are in most active operation. The same may be said of some of the ports, both in Scotland and Ireland; but we have not space, in the present article, to give even an outline of what is being done in these respective localities, either separately or in combination. We must at present satisfy ourselves with a simple reference to the following places :

Kenton.-The Rev. R. PAYNE visits about one hundred and sixty families in his neighbourhood regularly, and sends them religious tracts to peruse, from which much good has arisen. He preaches at Kenton and at Starcross, to the Sailors on the river Exe. This year he has gone on board about eighty vessels, and has generally been received very kindly;-has conversed with the sailors, given them tracts, prayed with and preached to them. One sailor was observed to read his tracts with attention, while the falling tear indicated that the truths it contained, in some degree affected his heart. Mr. P. preaches at Kenton, Exminster, and other places; and mostly has a service at some place daily, besides Sunday labours.

North Shields.-The Rev. J. BILSON writes:-"I continue preaching, holding prayer-meetings, and distributing religious tracts. I occasionally preach on a Wednesday evening in the open air, or on the new Quay. On these occasions I am well attended and have every reason to conclude that good is being done. I admitted a young man (a Sailor) into the fellowship of the church last week; and others are anxious to unite with us. O that my church was full of them!

"Be so kind as send me a new Bethel flag; the one which I have is almost worn out; and I cannot think of a sabbath passing away without that signal of mercy flying at the head of my Chapel."

Gosport, Southampton, and Isle of Wight.-In these and other places, Mr. GAYTON has been labouring with untiring patience during the last two months. Nor have his exertions been in vain. In some instances he has gathered around him compara

tively large and deeply interested audiences,-persons, too, who seldom if ever cross the threshold of the sanctuary, and whose consciences are but very infrequently brought into contact with the saving truths of our holy gospel. On two separate mornings in the month of July, he obtained a congregation at five o'clock, and addressed them on the high concerns of their souls and of immortality. Of a service which he subsequently held on Gosport beach, and the attendants on which were principally marine, he says, "It was such as must have been witnessed to know or conceive of its solemnity." We cannot therefore but hope, that by these itinerant labours, our worthy friend may be made the honoured instrument of turning many to God, who will be his crown of joy and rejoicing.

Dublin. MR. WILLIAMS writes :-" Our seafaring brethren, in this port, have had many and various opportunities of hearing the gospel, during last month. And, though the public preaching was not so numerously attended by seamen as it is sometimes, still I availed myself of various opportunities afloat, in order to call the attention of seamen to the one thing needful.'

"An English gentleman being present at one of our meetings this month, said to me, when the meeting was over, 'What an interesting congregation you had; I was delighted to see such a number of seamen so very attentive,-what a thing it is for them to have such opportunities !'

"While it is our heart's desire and prayer to God that they might be saved, may we be found faithful, in season and out of season, warning. beseeching, exhorting, and preaching to seamen the unsearchable riches of Christ."

NAUTICAL INFORMATION.

NAVIGATION OF THE ATLANTIC BY STEAM.

As far back as the year 1792, it was the conviction of John Fitch, an obscure and still unknown individual in America, (who first conceived the idea of propelling a vessel by the force of condensed vapour, when as yet he did not know that there was such a thing as a steamengine in existence,) that this, in time, would be the mode of crossing the Atlantic. So it has come to pass. And the application of steam to the navigation of the broad Atlantic is no mean achievement. It speaks much for the science of our country. Nor can we yet