no lives were lost. On the following afternoon (Friday), the snow having fallen to a considerable depth, proceeded slowly onward, rather with an expectation that we should be obliged to return; but a gracious Providence, who was better to us than our fears, ordered it otherwise. We had not proceeded far before the snow storm favoured us by taking another direction; and though in some places we were pretty well up to the axeltree, yet, through mercy, we were more than thankful to find ourselves safe at Llarnn, just as night threw her sable mantle over the withered landscape. According to announcement, we had at once to proceed to the meeting at the Welsh Methodist chapel. The weather being unusually severe, even for this cold region, it was far from numerously attended; but our inconvenience and smallness of number were compensated by the excellent feeling which prevailed on the occasion; and though the inhabitants of this village have suffered most severely from recent gales, and a flood which washed away several houses and other valuable property, yet their hearts were by no means closed to religious claims. We obtained a few subscribers, formed an auxiliary, and early the following morning (Saturday) started for Aberystwith. The roads were now become almost a mass of ice; indeed we might have fancied ourselves in Lapland but for the absence of the sledge and rein deer; however, we took the precaution to have the horse's shoes well roughed and proceeded perhaps better than might have been expected, and providentially arrived at Aberystwith without mishap. Here, again, we met with a most cordial reception from our worthy secretary, Mr. Mathews, who, with his amiable family and other friends, vied with each other in kind attention to my colleague and self. The particulars of our proceedings in this beautiful and fashionable resort I must reserve for another communication. You will perceive that the rapidity with which we passed from place to place, and the work we had to do, left little time for note or observation; hence the concise and merely matter of fact outline I am able to give. We have to record, with gratitude, the gracious and guiding hand of our Heavenly Father, and trust our feeble efforts may be owned and blessed of Him.

JOHN LEWIS.

Correspondence.

We publish some extracts from our correspondence, during the past month, in order to show in what manner the objects of the Society are carried out by our Bethel captains and others, as also to lay before our readers some of the numerous claims made upon our funds.

FRUIT AFTER MANY DAYS.

Falmouth, 9th January, 1847. MY DEAR SIR,-I beg to inform you of a very remarkable circumstance connected with my labour here on behalf of sailors, which first came to my knowledge last

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Monday evening, when our united missionary prayer meeting was held, in course, at the Baptist Chapel, and it having fallen to my lot to give the address. At the close of the service I was informed that the captain of a vessel present wished to speak to me; and having expressed his gratification at hearing me, he said it arose very particularly from his having met with a pious captain of a ship in South America who was converted to God by my ministry in Falmouth some years ago, which led me to request the person I was addressing would call on me the next day that I might learn the particulars of this interesting fact, and promising to do so, if the wind detained him, we parted, and the day following he wrote me a letter of which what follows is a copy :

"Falmouth, 5th January, 1847. Rev. and dear sir-Thinking I may not have an opportunity of seeing you, as the wind seems about to alter, I take upon me to drop you a line or two to confirm the statement more fully I made you last night, in reference to the person whom the good Lord, by his Spirit, converted, you being the honoured instrument. Had it entered into my mind that I should ever have had the pleasure of seeing you, and the greater pleasure of hearing you, I would have gone more into particulars, that I might have given you a more full account of the circumstances I am about to allude to; but God moves in a mysterious way. Last night was the first time I ever set foot ashore at Falmouth, and in a singular way was led to the house of prayer where I saw you; and when, hearing your name mentioned, the circumstance came fresh to my memory respecting the person before alluded to, whom I fell in with last year in Rio Grande, South America. Finding no one, on my arrival there, to come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty, I felt greatly discouraged; but two weeks before I left, the said captain, before alluded to, arrived, and we soon found each other out; and glad I was to fall in with him. A man mighty in the Scriptures, and capable of encountering any infidel in the world-ashrewd, clever, zealous man. We spent several evenings together, but soon had to say farewell. But previous to our parting, he stated the manner of his conversion about eight years back, when, strolling by himself up one of the streets, he heard the sound of singing; he listened, walked up to the place of worship, not intending to go in, but yet went in; and you, sir, was the person that was preaching; and under that sermon, he said, he was convinced of sin. The conviction seized his heart and led to his conversion. To God be all the glory; and be it known that previous to that time he had never been in a Protestant place of worship, for he was brought up a Roman Catholic, and told me he had often regretted that he never after saw either his father or mother, or he would have preached Christ to them, and showed them the sure way to heaven; but I forbear, lest I should tell it incorrect. Finding he was a man of talent, and it being so necessary that something should be done in that dark part of the world, I gave him my Bethel flag, that he might call the people together to hear the things which make for their everlasting peace. May the Lord bless that effort to the saving of souls. I assure you, sir, it was a great pleasure for me to sit last night hearing you, the honoured instrument of his conversion to whom I so willingly gave my Bethel flag; and what is singular, that flag was made me a present by a lady who is a member of that section of the Church of Christ which you minister amongst; and when I told her of the circumstance she greatly rejoiced, and presented me with another new Bethel flag. May the good work of our Lord go on till the church is multiplied beyond the stars of heaven; and hoping it will not be out of season my sending you this true account,

"I remain, dear sir, yours in Christ,

"SAMUEL BULLARD, Brig Earl Leicester of Lynn."

I have only, my dear sir, time to save the mail, and space to add that Capt. Bullard as I learn, sailed on the 6th instant for Malta and Alexandria.

The Rev. C. J. Hyatt.

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am, dear sir, yours truly, TIMOTHY WILDBORE.

THE BETHEL FLAG.

St. Katharine Dock, London. DEAR SIR,-Having known you as an agent in this society for many years, I now apply to you for a Bethel flag, which is to be considered as a present from a lady in Norfolk, who, I am sure, greatly rejoices at the spread of the gospel throughout the earth. This same lady gave me a flag some time back, which has been hoisted at different parts of the world, and I trust the word that has been preached under it has not been in vain, but has been a blessing to many. I rejoice to say, that ministers from the established church, and likewise from other denominations, have, at different times, under that flag, pointed sinners to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world; and my earnest desire and prayer to God is, that under this new flag, by the grace of God, many poor sailors may be brought from darkness to light. May the gospel have free course, run and be glorified, until the church be multiplied beyond the stars of heaven.

To Capt. B. Prynn.

Yours respectfully,

SAMUEL BULLARD, Brig Earl Leicester.

TESTIMONY TO THE SOCIETY'S LABOURS.

London, December 22nd, 1846. SIR, I am constrained thus to express my grateful thanks for the Bethel services recently held by your agents on board our ship. The simple yet important facts in relation to these services may, in some measure, account for the more than ordinary pleasure and profit which they afford to myself, and I trust also to those who attended. For nearly eight months this year we have been absent from the land and homes of our privileges. We arrived in London from a foreign port last month (November), While discharging near London Bridge, your missionary came on board, gave my crew tracts, &c. Your agent, Mr. Benson, preached on board, and I trust this was a profitable service to all who attended. Text-" Is not this a brand plucked from the burning.' We left London for the north, and speedily returned with a cargo of coals, having in the interval few opportunities of attending means of grace. On Sabbath, December 6th, at anchor in Long Reach, in company with about 200 colliers, manned with from 1,500 to 2,000 men and boys, I went with my ship's crew on board of the brig Undaunted, where the Bethel Flag was flying. We had an excellent service, conducted by a stranger to me, and one who I knew came from the shore. It was your agent, Mr. Vallins, who readily accepted my invitation to hold services on board the Dolphin. Your agent preached to us again in the afternoon and at night; and thanks to my God I shall number that day among those of the most pleasurable of my life. It may not be expedient to speak of Mr. Vallins; but I pray you, for the love you bear our dear seamen, to encourage him in his labour of love. He has been useful, and I think must necessarily be useful. He is a man our seamen will love. His mode of teaching, the Lord himself will own and bless. We have now been in the lower pool a few days. We speedily had a visit from our dear friend and missionary Captain Lowther. We have held two services on board under your flag. Last night we had your agent Mr. Muscutt, who explained to us fully the benefits of the gospel. This service was indeed good. I trust I was not alone thankful for these seasonable visits; and in my thinkings my mind was impressed with your blessed movements. Your agents have found us out near London Bridge; then fifteen or seventeen miles down the river in Long Reach; now in an intermediate part. My seamen, with others, have received tracts, heard the gospel, have been invited to Christ. I have been personally encouraged. Your agents have come on board, and although in another style, have preached the same gospel, the "Common salvation" which I have endeavoured, by the grace of God, to show to my seamen during the year, as we have ploughed the billows of the broad Atlantic, thn in port in the far west, and also in the east.

save,

Sir, I trust your society will hold on its way still more successfully. The Lord has and is blessing your labours. It is true that vast numbers of our seamen are in an unconverted state; but, thank God, numbers are living proofs of his power to and are steadily endeavouring to promote the spread of the gospel at home and abroad. And I can say, from pretty extended observation, that a great and pleasing moral change has been produced among our seamen generally. May the God of Bethel prosper your labours still more abundantly, and may our dear seamen in still greater numbers become partakers of the blessings of the gospel of peace. I am, sir, with much respect, yours in the Lord, THOMAS ANDERSON, Master, Dolphin.

Rev. C. J. Hyatt.

APPEALS FOR HELP.

Harbour Briton, Fortune Bay, Newfoundland, Nov. 15th, 1846. DEAR SIR, -You will, I have no doubt, be surprised at receiving a letter from a person you have never seen or heard of before. I hope, however, you will excuse the liberty I have taken in writing to you. Your name has long been familiar to me from seeing it in the SAILORS' MAGAZINE. Your son intended favouring me with a line to you, but he left this much earlier than he expected; and I suppose, in the hurry of business, had forgotten it.

I was appointed to this place last year by the government to fill the situations of clerk of the peace and coroner for this district; accordingly came here last spring. On my arrival here, I immediately commenced holding religious service on Sundays; and I hope my labour has not been in vain. The people are lamentably ignorant, and have a deep-rooted aversion to true godliness. The only minister on this side of the Bay is an episcopal clergyman, living at a distance of twenty miles from this place, and there is no road by which he can walk here. The population of the whole Bay is about 5,000. On the opposite side of the Bay is a Wesleyan Station, and of course supplied by a Wesleyan missionary. When I came here I brought from St. John's a few tracts, which are now all distributed. Will you, therefore, have the kindness to supply me with as many tracts as you can, and any other religious pamphlets you can spare.

But the principal object for which I write is to solicit the gift of a Bethel Flag from you. About forty ships annually visit this place and Jersey Harbour (which is a branch of Harbour Briton), amongst the crews of which great good might be done by means of Bethel meetings and distributing tracts, &c. If you will be kind enough to send me a Bethel Flag, &c., I will endeavour to hold meetings on board of every vessel which visits this port, and at every opportunity send a faithful report of my proceedings to your society.

I am, dear sir, yours very respectfully,

To Capt. Prynn.

PHILIP TOCQUE.

ROUEN.

21st December, 1846.

DEAR SIR,-I address you at the request of Capt. Kitwood, who I believe is known to you. I believe the importance of this port is known to you and to the society, as we have at times 200 English vessels of a tide; and although some attention has been paid to the spiritual wants of the captains and sailors by the clergyman established here, as well as by the minister and friends belonging to the Wesleyan Society, yet it falls far short of what is required. I have been doing what I could by preaching Sunday mornings in the city, in a large ware-room that I have hired, and I have furnished the same with pulpit, forms, chairs, &c.; but we require a more convenient place near the Quay, and I have given notice to the proprietor to quit on the 18th of March next. There will be, therefore, sufficient time to look out for

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another place, and to make the necessary arrangements for preaching, &c. here as a merchant; and therefore there should be sent to this city a minister on behalf of the sailors, who should visit them on their arrival, preach to them, &c., and I should be happy to lend him all the assistance in my power.

I wish you to lay the case before the committee, and should they be pleased to take up the thing I will further advise with them and take the necessary steps for securing a proper place of worship, &c., &c. The rent of the present room is £20 per annum. We make a monthly collection at the door, and one half of the rent is paid by the Wesleyan Missionary Society, whose minister preaches in French on Sunday evenings and Thursday evenings also. As he was educated in England, he occasionally preaches a sermon on the Sunday morning; but in case your committee took the sailors' interest in hand, we would make such arrangement that the services should not interfere the one with the other. Waiting your reply, I am, my dear sir, yours very truly,

Rev. C. J. Hyatt.

JOHN TRESTRAIL.

SHIPWRECKS AND DISASTERS AT SEA.

LOSS OF THE SIRIUS STEAMER.

(FROM AN EYE WITNESS.)

Being one of the passengers on board this unfortunate vessel, I hasten to inform you of the particulars, for the satisfaction of those parties who may have had friends on board, and be alarmed by exaggerated reports of the loss of life. She was on her passage from Dublin to Cork, which former city she left yesterday morning (Friday), the 15th, at half-past seven o'clock, the wind being dead against us, though not blowing heavily, till past Kingstown, when it became a strong breeze, with a heavy sea running. All went well till between twelve and one o'clock on Saturday morning, by which time, but for the contrary wind and thick fog prevailing, we ought to have been in Cork harbour, the passage usually being about sixteen or eighteen hours. The wind then lulled, and the fog increased so much as to allow scarcely the bows of the vessel to be seen from the paddle-boxes. About half-past three o'clock the passengers, most, if not all, of whom were in their berths, were awakened by a slight shock, which at first we below believed to be the quay at Cork. A second, however,

succeeded, with a vibration throughout the ship, which at once proclaimed the reality, and all were up instantly, when it was found she had struck on a rock, but had got over clear again. All being believed safe, several again lay down. I, however, dressed, and proceeded on deck, when, in about a quarter of an hour, she struck again more heavily, and heeled slightly over. This time by backing the engines, the captain succeeded in getting her off again, and the fcg being so thick that no lights could be seen, rendering it uncertain where we were, he deemed it advisable to run her at once out to sea, so as to be clear of any other rocks which could not be seen to be avoided. I believe at this time he would have anchored but for the engines being required to keep the pumps at work, as she was making water fast, though not sufficiently so to raise fears of her safety, if she could be kept afloat and clear of rocks till daylight. At this time we must have been close in shore-I imagine in Ballycottonbay, for on altering the ship's course to stand, as was thought, out to sea, we must have been running due south, as, after steaming in that direction about a half or three quarters of an hour, we made a lofty headland, right ahead of us, which must, it is presumed, have been Ballycotton Island and Point. The vessel's course was then again altered, and the engineer giving notice that the water was gaining so rapidly on us that the fires would shortly be extinguished, the only course to be pursued, lest we