banks on the 26th ult. It was blowing very hard at the time, W.S.W., and very thick; she was unable to render any assistance. She appears to have just gone ashore at the time she saw her. BARBADOES. July 2. The "Indian Queen," arrived here yesterday from Dublin, reports having passed the wreck of the "Alexander," of Yarmouth, her masts gone, and her hull on her beam ends, in lat. 44.19 N., long. 15.30; there was no person on board. SUNDERLAND.-Aug. 6. The "Hero," Smart, which arrived yesterday from Quebec, has brought home three of the crew of the brig "Lyra," of this port, before reported as having foundered among the ice, viz., John Rowell, Wm. Smith, and Edward Bowman. Another of the " Lyra's" crew has arrived at Stockton, by the 'Nautilus," of this port. MALAGA.-July 29. A vessel belonging to Halifax (N.S.), with foremast standing, main and mizen masts gone by the board, waterlogged and abandoned, cargo timber and fish oil, was boarded on the 12th inst., in lat. 47, long. 8 W., by the "Sarah," Brewer, arrived here. CARTHAGENA.-Aug. 3. A barque, abandoned, waterlogged, and with loss of main and mizen masts, was passed on the 16th ult., in lat. 49, long. 8, by the "Thetis," Putt, at this port. QUEBEC.-July 27. The ship "Erin," Conway, from Liverpool, with a cargo of coals for this port, when off the Bay of Seven Islands, on the 19th inst., was discovered to be on fire, and in about three hours after, during which time every effort was made to extinguish it, the fire burst through the hatches, and the crew had barely time to take to their boats before the ship was all in a blaze. The coal is supposed to have ignited spontaneously. The crew were picked up by a schooner and landed here. BERWICK.-Aug. 13. The sloop "Ann," of Arbroath, is supposed to have foundered off the coast with all hands, her boat having been picked up off this port, and taken into Craster, near Alnwick. ST. HELENA.-June 18. The " 'Gannymede," Cloid, from Cove (Patagonia), arrived here this day, reports that about fifty-two sail of English vessels were lost in Watchman's Cove, near Sea Bear Bay, in March and April. GIBRALTAR.-Aug. 5. A boat of the British yacht "Louisa," belonging to Mr. Fleming, was swamped at Tetuan. Mr. Allen, a passenger, and three men drowned. A vessel, apparently on fire, was seen late yesterday in the direction of Tangiers, and firing signal guns of distress. H. M. steamer, " Phoenix," immediately proceeded to the spot, but has not yet returned. COMPARATIVE EFFICIENCY OF LASCAR AND BRITISH SEAMEN.* The following evidence was given by the late Mr. Soames before the Select Committee of the House of Commons on British shipping, and is extracted from the Report presented by them to the House, 25th July, 1844. Chairman-Have you employed Lascars on board your ships?—Yes. Do you find that they answer your purpose?—If I was going on the East Indian trade, I would rather have Lascars: you can keep them in order; but you have no control over the English. Would you require a greater number of Lascars than British seamen ?—Not in a warm climate; in a cold climate you require 30 per cent. more of native seamen. Mr. Hutt-Their great merit is in their orderly conduct?—Yes; they are as quiet as lambs on board a ship; they are a good deal pinched when they come into cold weather. Chairman-Are they rendered quite unfit for service? --Nearly so. That is your objection to their exclusive employment on board ship?—Yes; I should never employ them exclusively. * See the Account of the loss of the "Bombay Castle," p. 195. What proportion should you say might be employed?—Three Lascars to two British seamen. If there were that number of Lascars in proportion to the tonnage of the ship, you think they might be employed exclusively?—They might be, but I should be sorry to find that they were. Mr. Hutt-You think a ship beating up the channel with a strong easterly wind, in the month of December, would have a bad chance with only Lascars?-If they were detained long in the channel with an easterly wind, I do not think they could navigate the ship at all: when the frost takes them they are good for nothing. Chairman-Do you think that a ship should contain the full complement of British seamen in addition to the Lascars?-No, that would be having two complements. What proportion, then, would you have?-If you had ten seamen as the complement, you might take ten Lascars instead of five British seamen. Suppose you had thirty men, how many of those should be Lascars?—If they were coming over in winter time you ought to have sixty Lascars. If you had twenty British seamen ?-Then I would have twenty Lascars with the twenty British seamen; that would be equivalent to thirty British seamen. Do you think the ship might be effectually manned with those?—Yes, there is no doubt of it. Monthly Chronicle. The reports presented by the agents at their last meeting contained no facts of striking interest. A large number of our zealous friends, whose presence gives life and spirit to our services, are at present absent from England, either in the Baltic or the Mediterranean, or some other distant parts; and some of our recent meetings have in consequence been but thinly attended. It is, however, a source of encouragement to be able to report that our missionaries have during the month met with several of the men who professed to have been converted during the winter, and they remain steadfast and full of zeal in the cause of Christ. At the church the attendance continues to be encouraging; and at the sailors' prayer meeting, held on the Sabbath evening, many thanksgivings are offered for the privileges enjoyed in that house of God. On the evening of Tuesday the 18th of August, a very delightful meeting was held at the Sailors' Church on behalf of the Sabbath-school recently formed there. After the company, consisting of 150, had partaken of a plentiful repast at the tea-table, John Hooper, Esq., one of the Directors of the Society, was invited to оссиру the chair; and the assembly, increased by many who joined it at the conclusion of the tea, was addressed by several friends of the cause. The Rev. Messrs. Benson, Timpson, Baynes, Saunders, Hyatt, Capt. Arnold and Mr. Day (who, with Mr. Hooper, jun., formed a deputation from the East London Auxiliary Sunday-school Union) took part in the proceedings of the evening. The report was read by the secretary, Mr. T. A. Fieldwick, as published on p. 190. It is hardly necessary to remark that it was considered by all present as a most encouraging document. The report of a meeting held on board the Barnard Castle (see p. 192) in connexion with the temperance movement, will be read with satisfaction as referring to a subject in which a large number of our friends take a lively interest. The far greater proportion of our pious seamen are warm and zealous advocates of the Teetotal Society, and the success of that cause must be a source of pure and unfeigned pleasure to every friend of the sailor. Boys' school, average attendance 85. Girls' school 81. AGENTS' REPORTS. CAPTAIN PRYNN.-The providence of God is sometimes strikingly displayed in the course of the sailor's life. The voyage he intended to take has by some unforeseen circumstances been prevented, and contrary to his purpose he has been called to embark on some other. The ship he had intended to sail in has been lost with all the crew, and he has, to all human probability, been wonderfully preserved by a mysterious Providence, over which he himself appeared to have no control. I have met three cases of this nature during the past month; two of these men, from a thorough conviction of the mercy and goodness of God, have been led to seek the salvation of their souls, and the favour of God, and I trust have realized the blessings of divine grace. We have evident proofs that God is carrying on his own work in the minds of sailors, even whilst crossing the bosom of the great deep. This is illustrated by an account I have received from a captain of a ship employed in the Quebec trade, on board of whose vessel, on a recent voyage from England to Quebec, seven of his crew, whilst on their outward. bound passage were brought to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ, and gave pleasing evidence of a change which nothing but the power of divine grace could effect. On board this vessel were six passengers- four men and two women -who were Roman Catholics-but the great and wonderful change that has taken place with the seven sailors already referred to had such an effect on the minds of those persons that their prejudices against the Protestant faith, to a great extent, gave way, and they began, with one accord to read the Scriptures (to them a sealed book before), and willingly to join in the religious services held on board the ship during the remainder of the passage to Quebec; and often were they seen in tears whilst the sailors were earnestly pleading with God in prayer for them at the throne of grace. The captain, who is a pious man, informed me that such were the impressions wrought on the minds of those Roman Catholic passengers, that they wept much on their arrival at Quebec, when leaving the men with whom they had enjoyed such re freshing seasons. During the time this captain was at Quebec he had the happiness of meeting ten other pious captains, so that they were enabled to strengthen each others hands and carrry out the work of the Lord by holding Bethel meetings on board their respective ships. The number of sailors attendant on those services were of a very encouraging nature. Several sailors also at those meetings were deeply convinced of sin, and led to cry for mercy; and pleasing indications were given that the labours of those captains, with four pious mates and others, were not in vain, inasmuch as many were found believing and turning unto the Lord. Several of those captains, whose names were mentioned to me, I have known for some years as Bethel captains, and useful men in the cause of Christ amongst sailors. From Cronstadt, in Russia, we have also very pleasing accounts of the progress of the work of God amongst our British and American sailors. The former part of this year several pious captains from Hull, Scarborough, Whitby, Sunderland, Shields, and various parts of Scotland, have united in holding Bethel meetings on board the ships arriving there from time to time. In this labour of love they have been very greatly aided by three American captains, whose ships were much larger and more eligible for Bethel services than most of our British vessels, and on board of whose ships many of those Bethel meetings have been held, the number of sailors and others varying.from 75 to 150; and although the instrumentality used on those occasions is in itself weak, yet when accompanied by power from on high it shall effect that which Jehovah intends, and accomplish all his royal will. The day of eternity will more fully develope the labours of the faithful few who give themselves to the cause of Christ, and are found labouring on at his command. My meetings, with but two or three exceptions, have been well attended during the past month, and I have much reason to take courage and go forward, when I see the penitential tear, and hear the contrite groan, the sigh that speaks unutterable words. Many of our late converts are happily living as becomes the gospel, and giving full proof of what God has done for their souls, whilst many are continuing to rally round the gospel standard, and are willing, yea anxious, to join the ranks of our Immanuel. I have met thirteen this past month who had never opened their mouths in public before, but the Lord has wonderfully filled them with arguments; they can plead very powerfully, and have nearness of access to the throne. The Sailors' Church.-The services on the Sabbath are well attended, the gospel faithfully and affectionately preached, many souls refreshed with the divine presence, and much good done in the name of the Redeemer. Praise God for this gracious display of his mercy and loving kindness; this is our theme of rejoicing that souls are saved. The Sailors Boarding-houses.—In the visitation of these houses many scenes present themselves to the visitor's view. Here is the drunkard in his most demoralized state; here is the man just returned from the revelling scene; here is the bold profane swearer; here the thoughtless, the inconsiderate, the totally unconcerned, the man that scarcely for years ever thinks of crossing the threshhold of God's house. We deliver the tracts, we admonish, we persuade, we entreat, and try if possible to point them to Christ, and we hope not in vain. Many we hope are led to attend the ordinances of God's house, and hear words whereby they are made wise to salvation. I have made several visits to sailors' lodging houses during this past month. Have paid seventeen visits to sick persons. It is not improbable that among our numerous readers, some one is now looking at our Magazine for the last time! Before our next number shall have issued from the press, the hand of death may have cut asunder the slender thread of life, and the spirit will have fled to an unseen eternity. Some eye which looks on these pages may be shut for ever, ere our November number shall appear! Ah, this solemn thought presses itself on the mind of the writer of these lines, as the effect of a painful fact he is about to record. There was a youth who delighted to see and to open the leaves of the "Sailor's Magazine," who, it is thought, saw and read our July periodical; but it is certain he did not behold our August number. The first of August was to him a fatal day—a day of darkness-his last day on earth. It was the day, when the awful storm, with its terrific thunder and vivid lightning, visited our metropolis. For more than an hour that afternoon the father of the lad had watched the clouds as they grew thicker and more angry-he saw them meet when the dreadful crash took place, which startled even some of the stoutest nerves. Little, however, did he think of what intelligence awaited him. Near half-past six that evening he was about to retire to his study; but was prevented, by a request that he would go to a house, a few doors from his own. Here he found several persons standing together in painful consternation. He was told their fears-their suspicions those fears and suspicions related to his own son, a lad in the sixteenth of his age, who had just served a year's apprenticeship to one of the party-a respectable Lighterman. The dear youth had been sent in the afternoon, before the storm began, to move a barge in the Commercial Dock mast pond-he went alone-he did not return at the time expected. His master became uneasy, and proceeded to the place to see what had become of him. There he saw the barge, but John he could not see. His сар, torn almost in two, was found on the bank, and his boat-hook U year |