population, is still favoured with the services of its united Committee, and its enterprising missionary, Mr. Spry. His location seems admirably appointed; as from his natural characteristics, as well as from his nautical experience, he is peculiarly adapted to the requirements of this important sphere of labour. The duties of the missionary consist in a great degree of visitation and personal intercourse, both on board and on shore, and the last annual report of this Auxiliary contains multiplied evidences of his fitness for this particular work. By means of the new boat provided for him last year, he is greatly assisted in his visitation of the shipping. The synopsis of labour given at the close of this Report will show how abundantly successful he has been in the circulation of religious tracts and copies of the Word of God, both in English and foreign languages. Your objects were carried out at

SHOREHAM,

by Mr. G. R. Paul, until Christmas last; when, with the concurrence of that gentleman, this station was abandoned, in consequence of the very small number of vessels now frequenting that harbour. Of the resources thus placed at their disposal, the Directors propose to avail themselves to aid in meeting the additional expenditure incurred by the Cornish coast mission.

The Directors have much pleasure in reporting the formation of an Auxiliary Committee at the fast-increasing port of

SOUTHAMPTON.

For many years, the principal efforts made here for seamen were those of the honoured minister of Christ, the Rev. T. Crabb; but, on account of his increasing years and infirmities, he has at length been compelled to resign that sphere of usefulness in which he has so long laboured. With a view to establish a permanent agency in connection with your Society, a deputation visited the town in the autumn of last year, and held a public meeting; at which the attendance was so encouraging, and the expressions of general interest so lively, that a number of gentlemen at once consented to act as a Committee to promote the establishment of an efficient Association, and the

support of a permanent missionary. From local difficulties, the appointment of the agent has not yet been made, but there is good reason to hope that, in a short time, Southampton will be adding its quota to the important operations which at this day are being carried forward for the moral and religious improvement of seamen on every part of our coast.

SUNDERLAND,

through the enterprising spirit of its inhabitants, has rapidly risen to an extensive and flourishing seaport town, having nearly 1,000 sail of vessels, and about 10,000 seamen, together with a vast number of pilots and rivermen; and it is gratifying to know that, for the last six years, your Auxiliary there has been labouring for the benefit of this large seafaring population, with many encouraging evidences of the Divine favour. Your missionary has just concluded another year of diligent and diversified effort, and though in so large a sphere the results of Christian exertion may not be immediately apparent, yet, after many days, it not unfrequently happens that the fruit is seen with joy and thankfulness to God.

Under date Dec. 6th, Mr. Milne writes,

"I visited to-day among the seamen along the river-side, distributing tracts, and giving invitations to attend the Bethel service. A sailor stopped me, and reminded me of a conversation I had with him during the spring of this year, on board of his vessel, previous to his sailing for America, which had proved truly beneficial to his soul. I had felt considerable interest in him, in consequence of his being, at that time, a backslider, and had besought him, with all possible earnestness, to return to the Lord without delay. I had also furnished him with tracts, which he had read, and which appear, in connexion with the few words of exhortation, under the blessing of God, to have been instrumental in his subsequent conversion. He had had a very comfortable voyage, and, on his return home, he joined the church of which he was formerly a member. At parting, he said he had determined to let me know of the change, the first time he had an opportunity."

The Committee at Sunderland are now seriously directing their attention to the establishment of Day and Sunday schools for the children of sailors and rivermen, and they entertain the hope that ere long they will be in a condition to enter vigorously upon this interesting and important sphere of Christian effort.

From the port of

SWANSEA

the Directors receive the most gratifying intelligence. The missionary says, in his last report,—

"I am convinced that the bulk of our coasting sailors have made a far greater advance in morality, if not in religion, than many who are anxious for their improvement have been led to believe. I have compared the coasting sailors coming into this port with the men employed about the river, and also with the workmen at the copper-works in this neighbourhood, and, in both instances, the result is in favour of the sailors. And I am fully persuaded that the means by which this change has been produced are none other than those adopted by the Sailors' Society, attended with God's blessing, more especially the distribution of the Bible and religious tracts."

The Sailors' Home, in connection with this Auxiliary, has been well filled during the past year; 275 seamen have made it their home while on shore, and a great many others have lodged there for a night. This institution is conducted en

tirely on temperance principles.

Mr. Roberts adds,—

"The Bethel is well filled on the Sabbath afternoon; sometimes it is densely crowded, and many are unable to enter-being obliged to stop outside, or go away. We hold a meeting for prayer every Tuesday evening at the Bethel. The attendance is irregular. There are some religious sailors who regularly attend when in port. At one of these meetings, a short time since, five sailors engaged in prayer. There were three from the same ship; one of them stood up of his own accord, and gave us an account of himself and shipmates. He said that all the crew were religious. He spoke particularly of a young man then in the meeting, who had just engaged in prayer. He had lately joined their ship, not knowing anything of religion; but having been with them for some weeks, the conversation and example of the crew, and the prayers morning and evening, were blessed of God, and he became seriously impressed; he was brought to feel himself a sinner, and to look for salvation in Jesus Christ. He had since made a public profession of religion."

Since the last Report, Mr. J. Nicholson has been appointed by the Directors to act as your agent at

TORQUAY;

and by the visitation of the vessels, and the circulation of the Scriptures amongst the seamen frequenting that harbour, as well as by embracing every available opportunity of holding Bethel meetings, to promote the general objects of this Institution.

The Committee at

WEYMOUTH

have been favoured with unexpected success in this the first year of their history. A large number of tracts have been put into circulation, and every ship belonging to the harbour is furnished with a loan library. The attendance at the Bethel is most encouraging, being frequently crowded to overflowing. Some instances of usefulness have also greatly stimulated the friends there in their labour of love. On the occasion of the recent visit of your deputation, a meeting was also held at the adjacent island of Portland, in which the several resident clergymen took a lively interest. The rector, the Rev. J. Hogarth (whose Christian efforts amongst the navigators engaged on the Government works on the island have earned for him a just popularity), having consented to avail himself of the opportunities afforded to preach on board the vessels visiting the harbour, the Directors have presented him with a Flag, to enable him the better to carry out his intention.

Your missionary at

WISBEACH,

supported by an active and zealous Committee, has laboured through another year with increased success. This Auxiliary has won to itself the respect and confidence of the port in which it operates, and has just entered upon a new year of its history with most encouraging prospects. The Lord has also deigned to confirm the labours of his servants by signs following; as will be seen from the following extract from one of Mr. Dennis's reports. He says,

"One of our regular hearers at the Bethel Chapel is a sailor, to whom the word has been made a blessing. During the winter, the Lord laid the hand of affliction upon him, and but little hopes were entertained of his recovery. During this affliction I visited him, and found him very ignorant of the way of salvation; but still he was desirous of being instructed in the way of the Lord. I therefore directed his mind to several portions of Scripture, which I thought were suitable to his case, and he gave great attention to what was said. These visits were repeated, when prayer was offered to God on his behalf. He made promises to God, that if he would raise him up again to health, he would not lead such a bad life as he had done, but would attend the Bethel Chapel. I told him, 'I had heard many make such promises, but that they generally failed in carrying them out.' He replied, I hope my case will

not be like theirs.' The Lord has had mercy upon him, and restored him to his health again, and through Divine assistance he has been enabled to perform his promise. He has become a reformed character, is regular in his attendance on the worship of God at the Bethel, and unites in prayer and praise to God for his mercies bestowed upon him, and has that hope which maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost which is given unto him.' 'This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.'

The enterprising character of the esteemed secretary of this Auxiliary has recently led to the formation of a branch at Sutton Bridge, which several influential residents have promised to support, and of which the much-respected incumbent (the Rev. T. D. Young) has engaged to become the missionary. That this gentleman has entered heartily into the work, will be seen from the fact, that on the last Sabbath in March last, being desirous of improving the loss of seven seamen on board a vessel belonging to the port, he had his new Bethel Flag hoisted on the steeple, and preached a powerful discourse to a very large congregation assembled in his church on the occasion. The Auxiliary at

YARMOUTH

continues to labour with much success amongst the very large population of seamen, fishermen, watermen, and beechmen of that locality; and as a pleasing feature, showing that the public interest in the seamen's cause is rapidly progressing, the Directors have much pleasure in reporting that, on a recent occasion, the rector of the parish took his station on the deck of a vessel lying alongside the quay, and, beneath the Bethel Flag of this Society, conducted worship, and delivered a discourse to a vast crowd of interested and attentive listeners.

Your attention is now invited to the Society's operations in the

PORT OF LONDON;

and the Directors cannot allow the opportunity to pass without congratulating you on the favourable auspices under which you assemble this evening. It is exceedingly gratifying to them, and they conceive that it is no less so to you, that, on the occasion of the anniversary of a Society formed for the benefit of