AGENTS' REPORTS.

CAPTAIN LOWTHER'S REPORT.-In reporting my labours among my brother sailors, I would express my gratitude to God for his goodness to me in the restoration of my health, for the strength I have had to labour, and for the many seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord, vouchsafed in the means of grace amongst our sailors, both on shore and afloat. I never felt such pleasure, or so much at home in my work in my life, as I have of late; this remark refers more especially to my morning visitation of the shipping. I have sometimes been tempted with shame or want of courage; this was one of the objections I had against becoming a sailors' missionary, when solicited to engage in the work at first. Of late, I have met with a number of interesting cases when going from ship to ship, a few of which I may be allowed briefly to state. One morning as I called for the Bethel flag on board a ship, where we had had a service on the previous evening; whilst waiting for the flag, I had some very interesting conversaton with the master of a large country ketch, to whom I gave a tract; he was discharging coals out of the ship. I found he had been with us at our Bethel service, and expressed himself much pleased with what he heard and saw. He said he belonged to a Christian church at Windsor. When I walked forward in the ship, I fell in with one of the sailors who was waiting, and also watching for an opportunity to have some conversation with me. He began by observing, “I think, sir, you are doing a great deal of good among sailors by your Bethel meetings." "Well," I observed, "that is the object we have in view, the great end we are seeking to accomplish." He said, "Our men spoke very highly of the sermon last night, what the result will be with them, I cannot tell." I said to him, I think you have a work of grace in your heart, my brother, have you not?" This was the question he wanted; I had seen him at the sailor's church, at the Monday evening prayer meeting. He then began to tell me the state of his mind, which I found to be that of a poor humble contrite sinner, weary and heavy laden, one to whom the Holy Ghost had revealed his utter helpless and lost state and condition. I exhorted him to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He appeared to be well read and informed. He said he was truly sensible there was no hope for him, but in the work and worth of Christ; he clung to nothing in himself, but complained of want of faith; he was evidently not far from the kingdom. The same morning, in another part of the river, I met with another very interesting case, in the captain of a ship. I had been with his men, and given tracts; I then walked aft to the quarter deck where the master was, to speak to him, and presented him with a tract, and was about to go on board the next ship, as he appeared not to wish to enter into conversation. Just as I turned to go, he made some remark that arrested my attention; when I turned to him, he informed me he had at one time known something of religion, but that he had been a backslider, and was then in a very distressed state of mind, writing bitter things against himself; he said he very seldom had the privilege of holding conversation with Christian persons, and was glad to avail himself of the present opportunity; he said he could not keep company with the captains around him, neither could he go on shore with them as formerly to the grog shops, to spend his evening with pipe and glass, and such company and conversation; he said, he spent his spare time on board, reading the works of several excellent men, whose names he told me, and whose praise is in all the churches. Still, he observed, he could find no rest for his troubled mind, he complained of not finding that pleasure in reading the Bible he should wish. I spent some time with this brother, giving him the best instructions I could in the great and important truths of our present salvation.

Another morning, whilst prosecuting my duties, I met with a captain of a ship, and said to him, "will you let us have a Bethel meeting with you to night? He said, "I have no objection, if my cabin is large enough for you." "Will you let

me look at it," I said. To this he readily consented. I said, "The place will do, if you will be at a little trouble in making seats; "That I will," he said, "we cannot do too much to serve the Lord, he hath done much to serve us ; "' in further conversation, I found he had a pleasing work of grace in his soul. He said, "I shall be glad to see you on board any time." The service was held by my brother missionary Captain Prynn. I had the pleasure of seeing the captain of the ship afterwards, when I asked him what sort of a meeting they had had. He said, "it did me good, and repeated his desire, that when in port, he might be favoured with another visit." I have several times had the privilege in my morning visits, of reading the Scriptures, and supplicating the throne of grace with our friends; by these means, encouraging and strengthening each other's hands. My evening services afloat have been of late of a happy character, and I think it is not too much to hope they have also been profitable to the souls of the unconverted part of our sailor hearers; the deep and fixed attention, the deep sighs heard by us on those occasions, lead us to hope there will be good resulting from our labours, though we may not be permitted to see it to any great amount. Our Christian friends that have been with us at these services have professed to have been greatly blessed and benefited. I can say, their presence with us and their earnestness and importunity, whilst supplicating the throne of grace, have tended greatly to encourage us, and in answer to their simple believing prayers, these services have been times of refreshing from, or rather by, the manifested presence of the Lord.

The services I allude to as being profitable ones have been held with our north country friends. I have met with several of them that have been in the foreign trade, who have been deprived of the means of grace. Some of those friends I have known a number of years as pious men. I was glad to meet them still holding on their way, exposed, as they must have been, to the withering effects of temptation. The accounts I have had from some of them, of the manner in which they conduct themselves in foreign parts, is very pleasing. How they maintain worship on board their own ships at sea or in harbour; also hoisting the Bethel Flag and inviting their countrymen together to the Bethel meetings, and conducting their own services. This mode of proceeding has the effect in the first place of bringing all the pious men together, for in such countries to the pious the means are precious. Again, it has the effect of bringing out the talents of our captains and men, as they have no one to preach or expound the word of God to them. By this means they are preserved from backsliding in heart or life, and also from bad company and temptations that have led so many astray. One of those captains gave us a very interesting account of his proceedings on board his own ship. He said he was strongly tempted to give up his family worship on account of the obstacles arising from the bad conduct of his chief mate; but the Lord enabled him to take up his cross, continue to read the Word of God, and make some comments on it. The effects produced by this means on the minds of his men, by the blessing of God, was of a very pleasing kind, and tended greatly to encourage and comfort his mind. He also said, the blessing of God appeared to attend him all his voyage after this, in a very remarkable manner. He said he was directed by a kind Providence so as to avoid danger, and obtained a safe and comfortable passage home, while other ships which were with him, on account of staying longer in a roadstead he was directed to leave, suffered great hardship and loss.

We have had an improved attendance of late at the Sailors' Church, Wellclosesquare. The word preached has been listened to with marked attention by some of our hardy tars; and under the word some have given proofs of contrition, and have been observed to weep. Our Lord's day evening prayer-meetings have been well attended; and several by these means have been observed to be in distress of mind, feeling after God, if happily they might find him. I was told on the 4th of March, that one sailor found peace with God at the Sailors' Church. We have had some very interesting services on Monday and Wednesday evenings. On the 29th of March, we had some very interesting accounts from a very worthy captain of a large ship from Calcutta; a noble, gentlemanly-looking man, but as meek and humble as

a child. We cannot give in full detail what he told us, as it would too much swell this report. He spoke of the sickness and death amongst the different crews he had had during his protracted voyage, and that he had fresh men to get owing to sickness. He spoke also of the conduct of several of his countrymen, captains as well as others, living in foreign countries, as being unworthy of the Christian name, some of whom ridiculed and jeered him about his religion; and how he was blessed with grace to take up his cross, and to warn, reprove, and exhort them to amend their ways. We have had the pleasure of visiting this worthy man since the meeting alluded to, both on board his ship in the docks, also at his lodgings on shore. We have visited the docks, given tracts, bills of services, and held conversation; we have met with a few, and but a few, of late, that are truly pious. Few things of interest have come to our notice in the docks in that department of our labours. Since the last report, we have visited the sailors at their lodging on shore, and have been treated kindly. Our tracts and books have been received with "Thank you, sir." With some we prevailed to attend the church; by some we are told, "We got some of your books last time in London, and have read them at sea." We have some hope, that by the blessing of God on the tracts and stitched magazines given to the sailors, some lasting good may be done. Our tracts and books sail to almost all parts of the globe, and are read in all the varying circumstances and states of mind the sailor is called to pass through in his life of trial and hardship, far from friends and home. The holy spirit will, we believe, in many cases apply with saving power the truths contained in those silent messengers of mercy to the hearts and minds of those wanderers of the sea. This is the great, the important end, we seek to accomplish in our varied labours; it is for this the friends of the sailor send us their aid in the books they forward to us for them; their contributions and their prayers have this end in very many instances. The Head of the Church has, and will, bless these means, suitable in their adaptation; it is as the voice of Jesus when coming to the weary, tried, and tempted heart of man, and speaking in majestic simplicity to the mind of the son of the ocean, swinging in his hammock. We have witnessed many proofs of these remarks in our Bethel services, would to God they were tenfold. At one of my services eight masters of ships engaged in prayer, and an address was given.

During the month of March I have held fourteen services afloat; 223 have attended, sixty-one have engaged in prayer. I have paid sixty-eight visits to sailors at their lodgings, and have conversed with them in the streets, warning and entreating them to attend a place of worship and break off their sins. Have also held ten services ashore, besides other duties in visiting the sick.

Mr. PALMER'S REPORT.-My report for the month of February is of an afflicting kind regarding myself, having been confined to my house through a cold, which brought on inflammation, which I caught while visiting the ships on the river Thames during the severity of the winter. The early part of March, until I was enabled to resume my labours on the river, I employed my time to promote the interests of the Society generally in London and the neighbourhood; but have now returned to my Bethel services again, and find among seamen a pleasing spirit still prevails, which, I believe I can say, I have found at all my Bethel services, without exception. If the Divine blessing rests on the efforts of this Society, I know it especially dwells on that part of its operations,-Bethel services held on the river Thames. I have been for many years, and still am more and more, encouraged and cheered from them than from all my other labours. I might particularize the services, which were new to some of the seamen, and very interesting to me. There are in all of them a great similarity in the statements I make to those persons who are unacquainted with them; but I would just give some merely as specimens. On the 14th, I visited a Devonshire vessel, in Union Tier, and was reminded of the natural disposition of mind of the sailor by their good-natured open countenances. The captain of the ship was extremely anxious, and appeared desponding, as was evident from his words addressed to menamely, "No one will come; the sailors will not attend after all the preparation I

have made; they are bad fellows, there is no doing any good with them." "Be encouraged," I said, "let us try to do what we can." I visited the ships around and invited the men, and returned with the pleasing intelligence that many of them said they would come. The captain still encouraged unbelief, and said, "I know them too well; they would not come." However, I commenced the service, and the sailors, contrary to the captain's expectations, flocked in, and the place was filled. Some godly sailors prayed. The text was Ephesians v. 20. The address being to those dead in trespasses and sin, and the power of God displayed in their salvation. The captain said afterwards, "What you remarked, sir, was true: Christ came into the world to save the chief of sinners; and I certainly must say, I am pleasingly disappointed in the attendance of the sailors this evening." replied, "My dear sir, I have more faith than some, and believe that if we make use of suitable and scriptural means, and simply declare God's truth, he will accompany that with his effectual blessing." "Well," said the captain, "I feel much obliged to you, and my ship will always be at your service when you have opportunity to attend." The next was on the 17th, and this a dedication service on board a new ship from Scotland, near the Platform, Rotherhithe. The captain was a godly man, and a friend to Bethel services, having known the good effects of them when in his old vessel, which he commanded many years, and the Bethel flag was then frequently found flying at his mast head. It appeared he could not pursue his present new course, without seeking the blessing of God. He was a decided man, had great influence over his seamen; not an oppressor, but a friend to his crew. He ruled them in love, and they cheerfully obeyed his commands in return. They were all invited, with others, to his religious service, which they attended, and behaved themselves with becoming solemnity and attention. They brought their Bibles, and some of them prayed. May the Lord speed the ship and bless the captain and his

crew.

Another, on the 30th, in the Upper Pool. This was also a new ship and a first Bethel service. The captain was a young man, very teachable; the ship was from Blyth. The vessels also in the same tier were from the same port, and a spirit favourable to religion appeared generally to prevail among them. Most of them were companions and friends, and wished to be near each other. Several old captains attended to encourage our new friends, and some took part in the service. The captain was interested with the attendance and service, and accompanied me afterwards on shore in his boat with great thankfulness, manifesting a most friendly spirit to us and the cause of God among sailors.

BRISTOL SEAMEN'S FRIEND SOCIETY AND BETHEL UNION.

It always affords us great gratification to hear from those who are occupied in the same sphere of labour in the Lord's vineyard as ourselves; and through the kindness of our fellow-labourer among seamen at Bristol, Lieutenant Kemball, we are able to give an account of the twenty-seventh anniversary of the Sailors' Society there; and with thankfulness to God for his much mercy to them during the past year, and with the earnest desire that the Society may soon be released from their present financial responsibilities, and surmount their passing difficulties, we give the reported account, with best wishes for their success, and for an abundant increase to the blessings of the gospel whenever it is preached to the seamen visiting the port of Bristol.

The twenty-seventh anniversary of the above Society was held on board the Seamen's chapel, on Thursday evening week. The meeting was numerously attended, and the chair was taken by T. R. Wheatley, Esq.

The Rev. J. Libby, Moravian minister, having implored the Divine blessing,

The Chairman addressed the meeting. After a few preliminary observations, he

observed that they were living in a most eventful epoch of the world, when, as with the fury of a hurricane, existing institutions on the continent of Europe-institutions which they were wont to regard as stable as earth's foundations-were swept away as in a moment. If they read these things aright, they were calculated to stay the pride of man, and to teach them that man's strength was weakness, and his wisdom darkness, and that their only safety was in reliance on the living God. It would be superfluous in him to make any remarks on the importance of the Society whose interests had called them together; its very name recommended it to their earnest sympathy and fervent prayers. They were deeply indebted to the class of men whose interests were regarded by that Society-the British seamen. Everything they touched, tasted, and handled, almost, as well as much of the raiment which they wore, told them of the debt of gratitude they owed to British seamen. After reading the last report which had been handed to him, it struck him as peculiarly touching, that the place they then occupied had often been filled with the echo of curses and oaths; and the Etna-the name, he believed of the vessel-which had often proved a volcano of evil, had now become an asylum, to which the weatherbeaten sailor may come and dip his empty bucket, to draw water from the well of life. The chairman dwelt on the importance of communicating religious truth to the minds of sailors, by which they were made, as it were, missionaries to every place to which they went, and related an anecdote to show that Christianity not only made better men, but better sailors, more active and attentive to the orders of their officers. He then bore his own testimony to the character of seamen with whom he sailed, and urged that it was their duty as patriots and philanthropists, as well as their duty as Christians, to seek the spiritual welfare of every branch of the naval service. Lieutenant Kemball, after reading a letter from the president of the Society, Lord Waldegrave, excusing himself for non-attendance on that occasion, and expressing a lively interest in the welfare of the Society, and enclosing also a check for £5. as a donation, proceeded to read the report, of which we give the following abstract:-"The committee state with pleasure that since the opening of the new chapel the attendance had been increasingly numerous, and the accommodation had given the highest satisfaction to all parties concerned. Subsequently to the opening services there had been a tea-meeting, managed by a committee of ladies, attended by about 400 persons, which had produced ten guineas; a new series of collecting cards had been issued; an appeal had been made by a regular case, recommended by the ministers of the city, during the month of June; and a bazaar had been held on board their vessel, which had produced £100, under the superintendance of a committee of ladies. The labours of the Bethel companies were next introduced, which had been encouraging, though not to the extent which could be wished. Several instances of usefulness which had come under notice were next detailed, after which the report states "Your Society still continues to send forth those useful auxiliaries, the library boxes, which on their return contribute also to your funds. For the supply of these your committee have received donations of books from several friends, and have procured £10. worth, through a friend, of books and tracts from the London Society; 3000 have been circulated." In conclusion, the committee observe"Though they have had to appeal largely to the benevolence of the Christian public (and they would gratefully acknowledge the handsome manner in which they have been responded to), yet they trust the confidence that they have hitherto enjoyed, and the interests of the men for whom they plead, will induce the friends of seamen to aid them with the means whereby they may sing the requiem of the remaining debt of £210, and thus rejoice the hearts of those who may be your delegates for the ensuing year."

Mr. John Gardner read the treasurer's audited account, by which it appeared that the total general receipts of the Society amounted to £160.

The different resolutions were moved and seconded by the Revds. J. Jack, T. Haynes, G. H. Davis, G. Wood, and Messrs. C. Godwin, B. Pratten, and J. Fuller. A collection having been made, and thanks voted to the chairman, the doxology was sung and the meeting separated.