among seamen, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I am here as the representative of my brother seamen to thank you for what you have done, but I am also here to entreat you to give what you can to promote this cause. If we can only get the influence of the ladies I am sure the work will go forward. I would rather have the influence of one lady than six men; multiply the ladies here by six, and then what an assembly shall we have to aid us in this work!

The resolution was then put and carried.

The Rev. T. DODD (of Swansea) rose

to move:

"That whilst the cordial thanks of this assembly are due to the various auxiliaries and associations throughout the kingdom for their continued and efficient aid, the signal success, and the encouraging prospects of this Society, ought to excite gratitude to Almighty God for the past, and inspire its friends with hope for the future."

I think we all agree in the sentiments contained in this resolution. It is almost impossible to witness the various institutions of our land, especially those whose anniversaries are celebrated in the metropolis during the present month, without a feeling of joy being kindled in our hearts, and emotions of gratitude rising in our breast. There is no nation in the world equal to Britain in the amount of its wealth, the extent of its resources, and the prosperity of its institutions. Our merchants are the princes of the land, and the sceptre of the sovereign sways dominions in all quarters of the globe on which the sun never sets. It has long been my privilege to labour in the southern part of Wales, and I am well pleased to hear of a mission being opened in Milford Haven. Those who have not visited this port can hardly form a conception of its importance. When his grace the Duke of Wellington saw its capacious harbour, he stated that in his opinion the whole of the British navy might anchor there with safety. It is not an unusual thing for 400 or 500 sail to put in there. We feel that no institution is more calculated to benefit our fellow-men than this which has for its object the welfare of our British seamen. We cannot over-estimate its importance.

It way well become us to bear in mind the privileges we enjoy, and to contrast our position with others who are denied them. Whilst you gather together on the Sabbath, and listen to the words which proceed from the mouth of the evangelist, the only sound frequently heard by the mariner is the howling of the wind and the roaring of the storm. It has long since been computed, that for every sixteen sailors who die at sea, eleven met with a watery grave; that out of every twenty-five vessels which leave our ports one invariably is wrecked; so that death triumphs in every storm that sweeps along the ocean, and conveys multitudes to an untimely end. But this institution comes to the aid of the sailor. It seeks to improve his morals, to promote his temporal advantage, and above all to guide his spirit in that path which leads to glory, honour, and immortality. It is a pleasing event in connexion with the times in which we live that there is a spirit of inquiry arising among the seafaring population; that our captains are beginning to feel the responsibility of their charge, and that they must be the priests of their crew. The government provides chaplains for the sailors on board men-of-war, and for the most part the East India Company provide chaplains for those in their service; but there are innumerable vessels in which no spiritual instruction is provided, and the captain is the only person to whom the crew can look. We believe that the number of captains who feel a deep concern not only for their own spiritual and moral advantage, but for the welfare of the seamen intrusted to them is greatly multiplied. A short time ago, I saw a captain rowing up the harbour and hailed him. I inquired whether he would have a Bethel service on board? He replied, "I was coming to see if I could find a chapel open. "He hoisted the flag, and in a few moments we had a noble congregation on board. Without instrumentality of this sort our seamen would not hear the gospel. One advantage of this institution is, that it sends missionaries to the sailor. You might build chapel after chapel, and church after church, but it would be of no avail unless you went to the sailor and invited him.in. The usefulness of sailors can never be duly estimated. Our

country is defended by them, and our commerce would be paralysed without them. I have often thought that, if all our seamen were to desert their vessels for three months, you would not want for subscribers to this institution. The country would then feel how much it was indebted to mariners. We rejoice in the present prospects of the Society. It is not only free from debt, but has money to carry on its affairs. I doubt not that new spheres of labour will be carried out during the present year, and that its usefulness will be promoted to the ends of the habitable world. Various means may be employed, by which the institution can be benefited, and you will not find a more grateful race of men than our British tars. I lately met with a member of the Society of Friends, who, we trust, is now gone to glory. He sent me a short note, in which he desired me to purchase at his expense a Bible for every sailor at Swansea and the three neighbouring ports-and it was my privilege to procure them. I trust that our hearts will be all gladdened by the statements that have been made, and that what ever institution may suffer we shall never permit this Society to languish for want of influence in promoting its objects.

The Rev. J. H. HINTON, A.M., in seconding the resolution, said: It is but little I have to say, having come not to speak, but to hear. Led by a deep and living interest, which I have for years past felt and cherished in the Society and its operations, I avail myself of the opportunity of refreshing my knowledge and re-awakening my sympathies. I came to be enabled to take a fresh survey of the field of its labours, to know something anew in detail of its proceedings, to kindle again in my heart a flame of attachment, which, I trust, has not become altogether extinct. This my object has been well answered, for a more gratifying and interesting two hours I have not spent for a long while than those I have spent here. If it be at all gratifying to any of you to say it, my heart is anew bound to the Society, and what little it may be in my power to do for it, I will effect. There is such a copiousness in the arguments by which this Society might be advocated that many, if not most, or all, of those which have hitherto

been presented, might be disregarded or set aside, and yet enough remain to warrant and impel our exertions. There is one argument hitherto scarcely adverted to, which lies at the solid foundation of all your operations. I should not care if there were none of our wealth committed to sailors, and there were no arguments to merchants thereon, while yet the fact remains, that sailors are immortal, sinful men-men, with precious souls, going to an eternity in which, if they have not an interest in Christ and his salvation, they are lost for ever. They want Christ and his salvation as well as I do. They have need to be washed in the fountain of his blood as much as I have. They share with me the common destiny, and must stand with me before the common Judge. Can any man show a reason why they should be neglected?-why efforts should not be made to lead them to faith in Jesus Christ? While concern is felt for human beings of all other ranks and castes, and circumstances, why are the poor mariners to be forgotten? People at home, people abroad, people civilized, people savageall these are, more or less, contemplated in missionary exertions, and why should not sailors have exertions directed to their salvation too? Are they the only portion of this ruined race whom we can see unmoved and unexcited pass to everlasting sorrow? So it was for a time: almost every poor creature in this world seemed to be cared for before the sailor. They were looked on as a sort of abandoned men, for whom nobody had thought of doing anything for a good while, and when they did think of it, nobody thought anything effectual could be done. If sailors be men and sinners, so are they within the scope of the gospel, within the reach of the grace of God, within the power of his Almighty Spirit, and out of this class shall be gathered as many trophies of redeeming mercy as out of any other. The truth is, missionary operations for general classes were not adapted to touch this portion of our countrymen; and without operations of a peculiar sort they could not have been touched. From this great considera. tion, identifying the operations of the Society with all the sources of missionary exertion, basing it upon the same motives, and challenging activity on the same

foundation, there have been added peculiar considerations, and then the conclusion we arrive at is, not merely that this, in common with other missionary operations, is binding on us, but it is the most binding and obligatory of them all; obligations which are not the foundation of it, but the ornaments which cap it, and give it that peculiar grace and loveliness. I bind it to my heart as nearly the gem of all our missionary proceedings, as that one I would do if there were only one to be done as the one I would do if there arose a necessity for neglecting all but one. Let us cherish it in our hearts, and let us seek to promote it. You call this a numerous and respectable meeting. I do not quarrel with the terms, yet, comparing it with the object, I do not think it is so. I do not see why Exeter-hall should not be filled for an object like this. The work is large enough, and much more might be done if there were means available for the end. Let us who love it love it still, and labour for it in the spirit of sincere affection, deeming it our pleasure and privilege while others peradventure are slothful, knowing that our labour shall not be in vain in the Lord.

Captain BUTCHART, in supporting the resolution, said, Sailors are not accustomed to address such audiences as this. We feel more at home in addressing sailors on the quarter deck. I have now been a master of a vessel for seven or eight years, and my first resolution was, that I would carry a Bethel flag. I have used it in various parts of the world, and beneath it the tear of contrition has been shed, and sailors' voices have united in the praise of God. Reference has been made to the efforts to spread the gospel in the Baltic. Those services are kept up during the summer season, and hundreds of seamen gathered together praising God in that distant land. But I shall dwell more particularly on places I visited in North America. I had my Bethel flag and hoisted it in one port for the first time for fifteen years. A general sensation was created by it. One evening, after holding a service in the cabin, we repaired to the deck, and in the calm of a summer's eve sang

"The gospel ship has long been sailing,
Bound for Canaan's happy shore."

are

A few evenings afterwards, I was delighted to hear a company of young women, bonnet-makers, singing those lines. In the next port we visited I again preached the gospel. In another port we obtained a room and collected a congregation of seamen and landsmen. The place became too straight for us, and the gentleman to whom the vessel was consigned, procured us the use of a schoolroom, the services at which were well attended, and we have reason to believe that great good was done. On the following Sabbath, numbers attended from various parts of the country for miles around, when I had the privilege of preaching to them the Gospel of Christ. These facts tend to show the benefits that may result from_communicating the gospel to seamen. I afterwards visited Canada; but the language spoken being French, I could not preach to them, and I deeply regretted to see the mummeries they were practising as religious rites, in connexion with the Roman Catholic Church. It was my happiness, however, to distribute tracts among them, and in some instances to circulate the Bible. A mighty movement was created, and we know not but that the fruits may be found after many days. We are all connected in some way with sailors, and the time will never arrive when we can dispense with them. Wars may cease, and sword may no longer be lifted up against sword, but still sailors will be required to carry on the commerce of the world. This consideration, therefore, should urge you liberally to support this important cause. Only let attention be paid to sailors, and soon we shall witness the abundance of the seas converted to God.

The resolution was then put and carried.

The Rev. J. A. BAYNES rose to move"That this meeting, deeply sympathising with the condition and claims of seamen, sincerely rejoices in the increase of efforts put forth by kindred societies for their temporal and religious benefit; but regarding the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, on account of the catholicity of its constitution, and the adaptation of its agencies to its proposed objects, as possessing strong claims on general co-operation, resolves to afford it cordial and increased support."

This resolution bears rather upon the working than the talking. I suppose that being young, I am placed here to talk to the young, and to induce them to again enter on the work of sustaining as they have so well done in the past, the operations of the Society. I think that hitherto, sailors have shared very liberally in the sympathy of words, but very sparingly in the sympathy of pounds, shillings, and pence. There are very few to whom we owe more, but to whom we pay less. While we are continually owing debts of gratitude to them, and their names are constantly on our lips, little has been done on their behalf. Past success, however, bids us to take courage for the future. We have been told that the Society now stands in a glorious position, not that success is an argument for a cause by itself. A good cause may be unsuccessful; a bad cause may succeed; and we are not to help the bad one, though it be in the ascendant. But I would help the good one, though it be depressed. But the cause being a good one, success may be a gratification to us. I lately read an article in the "Sailor's Magazine," which states that out of 300,000 seamen, 16,000 are pious men. This is a small number, but it gives us an earnest. It is a little cloud that we see in the distance, like a man's hand it may be; but it shall grow, and instead of 16,000, we shall soon have to tell the tale that the abundance of the seas is converted to God. You have read of a rock sunk beneath the sea, and so perilous to mariners, that a kind-hearted man raised upon it a bell which, by its sound, warned off and preserved those approaching it. We have heard how the rover cut away the bell, and left the rock without a warning. I have thought that this Society is like a bell linked to that rock, lest the mariner might meet with a shipwreck. I will ask you to-night, who will cut the chain? I do not envy that man's declining days who will have none to bless him for his noon-day's activity; rather would I be found among those who have done good to their generation while they lived who have lived honoured, and died lamented. The time is short enough; then let us pledge ourselves to renew our exertions and carry on, with yet more ability, the operations of this Society.

W. H. BOND, Esq., in seconding the resolution, said, It is a matter much to be lamented, that for many years the spiritual as well as the temporal interests of sailors were greatly disregarded. It is a fact, that we are more indebted to sailors than to any other class of persons in the kingdom, and yet comparatively nothing has been done for their benefit. I have been compelled to use all the influence I possess to obtain relief for an orphan, whose father has been buried beneath the wave; and nothing is done for the widow when her husband is taken from her by the gale. It is high time that, in addition to the Registration Act, more munificence should be shown in promoting the social condition and temporal welfare of our sailors. But, especially as regards their spiritual interest, till lately very little has been done. One gentleman, a few days ago, gave as large a sum for preaching the gospel in various parts of the world, as the entire amount contributed during the year to this Society. It is high time that we should remember that we are stewards for God. Our merchants will be brought to account for the wealth with which they have been intrusted. Oh, that they would contribute with more of justice to the claims of sailors! I have been permitted to visit the Sailors' Church, and I bear my willing testimony to the order, the piety, the devotedness which I there saw. One gentleman kindly passed a reflection on the Society because it was out of debt; but I think the Committee have acted with prudence. It is dangerous to launch out into a sea of debt, without knowing how it is to be paid; but it is for this audience to say whether means shall be afforded for scattering abroad the seeds of life. The dangers to which a sailor is exposed at sea are nothing compared with those that beset him when he reaches London. It is high time for every Christian to weigh well how he can aid in overcoming those dangers. way by which great aid might be rendered to the institution is this: instead of the managers having to go about and beg chapels in which to preach for the Society, let ministers offer them for that purpose. I have the honour of being one of the unpaid agents of the Society, and I hope that I shall ever continue to labour in its behalf.

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