The following Report was then read by E. Muscutt, Esq., one of the Secretaries :

REPORT.

"In presenting their Report, the Committee of Management deem it advisable to premise, that the British and Foreign Sailors' Society arose out of the first organised effort made in this country on behalf of seamen. It was established, in 1818, under the presidency of the late Admiral Lord Gambier, and for some years, its operations were confined to the port of London.

"On enlarging its sphere of exertions, in 1833, it assumed its present title. Up to this time it has devoted itself almost exclusively to the religious welfare of British and foreign seamen.

"It had, however, long been felt, by members of the Society and others, that it was desirable to make efforts for the intellectual and social, as well as for the strictly religious improvement of sailors. The subject was at different times brought under the consideration of successive Boards. At length, at the commencement of this year, a number of gentlemen formed themselves into a Provisional Committee to establish a new Society, to be called 'The Merchant Seamen's Institution,' the object of which was to promote the intellectual and social improvement of sailors, as also their religious welfare. On the 29th June last, a public meeting was held at the Hall of Commerce, for the formation of the Institution, the Earl of Ducie in the chair, supported by the late Bishop of Norwich, when it was proposed, by the Directors of this Society, that the projectors of the new Institution should unite with them, so that by combined influence and exertion, the object contemplated might be more effectually promoted. After several conferences on this subject, the desired consolidation was effected.

"Soon after this union, D. B. Reid, Esq., M.D., who has for many years advocated the establishment of a College of Navigation, was introduced to the Directors of this Society, and readily united with them in their proposed plans. This circumstance supplied additional encouragement for them to proceed, as it showed them that the thoughts of others had been directed to the same great object.

"At a meeting of the members of this Society, specially summoned by circular on September 3rd, the following constitution was unanimously adopted :

CONSTITUTION OF THE SOCIETY.

I. The object of this Society is the religious, intellectual, and social elevation of British and Foreign seamen.

II. The means employed shall include:

The distribution of the Sacred Scriptures and religious tracts; preaching; domiciliary and ship visitation:

Nautical instruction; publications; lectures; and libraries, on board ship and on shore:

Model lodging-houses; a retreat for aged seamen; a registry office and savings' bank; or any other means adapted to secure the object of the Society.

III. Subscribers of one guinea annually, and the officers of affiliated institutions, shall be members of the Society.

IV. Donors of ten guineas at one time shall be life members.

V. The Society shall be managed by thirty directors, one half of whom, at least, shall be laymen, and who, with the officers, shall constitute one Board. Five to form a quorum. The Board may, from time to time, adopt rules and bye-laws for the regulation of the several departments of the Society's operations, and also fill up any vacancy which may occur in the Board of Directors, or among the officers, during the year.

VI. It shall be an unalterable law that the religious instruction given shall be confined to those doctrines of Christianity which are held in common by all evangelical churches; and at no time hereafter shall any regulation be adopted, the effect of which would restrict the management, or abridge the operations or advantages of the Society to the peculiarities of any religious community.

VII. An annual meeting of members, convened by circular, shall be holden in the month of April, to receive the report of the proceedings of the Board of Directors, together with an audited statement of the finances of the Society-to elect the officers, directors, and auditors for the year ensuing, and to transact any other business.

A special meeting shall, at any time, be convened, at a notice of not less than fourteen days, by the Secretary, under the direction of the Board, or at the request of any twenty members of the Society, within twenty-eight days from the receipt of such request, the object of such meeting being defined in writing.

VIII. The property of the Society shall be vested in not fewer than five trustees, who shall be appointed at a general or special general meeting of the members; and they shall hold such trust property subject to the foregoing laws, or any resolution (not at variance therewith) which the members may adopt at a meeting duly convened for that purpose.

"At the same meeting, the management of the Society was placed in the hands of a committee, selected in equal proportions from the Directors of this Society and the projectors of the Merchant Seamen's Institution, until such time as a meeting could be fixed upon, when the Directors might be publicly appointed.

"This Committee has been laboriously engaged in preparing plans for the future extended operations of the Society, and have at the earliest possible period convened this meeting.

"The Committee propose the immediate formation of a College of Navigation and Practical Science, with a Museum and Library. The desirableness of such an object none can for a moment question. The officers in the merchant service of Great Britain claim that the same facilities may be given them, for advancement in knowledge and science, as are now possessed by members of other professions-by the officers of her Majesty's navy, and the importance of which is now fully recognised by foreign nations.

"The Committee sincerely regret the loss they have sustained in the death of the late revered and distinguished Bishop of Norwich. Had his valuable life been spared, the Directors are assured, that he would now have redeemed the pledge given at the Hall of Commerce, at the meeting already referred to. And the Committee cannot refrain from quoting the words which he then so emphatically pronounced: If one great Society were formed for their benefit (i. e. seamen,) England might well be proud of it.'"

Sir JAMES DUKE on rising said:-It will be quite unnecessary for me to say, that having been a sailor in my younger days, and feeling a thorough conviction of the important advantages to be derived from such an institution as that proposed, it will give me the greatest possible pleasure to co-operate with you in any way to promote its prosperity. I do not now pledge myself to any matters of detail; but I rise particularly on the present occasion to state, on behalf of Mr. Labouchere, the President of the Board of Trade, that not only in his private, but in his public capacity, he will be most anxious to do everything in his power to promote an object of this kind, if placed upon a satisfactory basis. (Applause.) I trust the great port of London, possessing, as it does, the greatest commercial marine in the world, will come forward and give us their kind co-operation and assistance in promoting this great and excellent plan. (Applause.)

D. W. WIRE, Esq., moved the first resolution,- "That the report now read be received and adopted." He said:-My Lord Mayor, as there will be other gentlemen to follow me, more practically acquainted with the details of the proposed college than I am, I shall leave such details to them, and devote myself for two or three minutes to the consideration of the necessity of such a college in the port of London. I think there can be no doubt that such an institution ought to have existed many years ago, and that for the best of all possible reasons,-on the ground of self-interest. It must be evident, that the sailors are entrusted with an enormous amount of property, which they navigate in their ships across the ocean; and the more we can improve their character, the greater will be the safety of the cargoes with which they are intrusted. I therefore think it addresses itself first and preeminently to the large ship owners of this great commercial city, and I trust it will receive their undivided and unanimous support. Though there has, hitherto, been no public establishment of this kind existing in the port of London, yet individuals who are largely interested in shipping have seen the necessity of doing something to improve the character of the sailor as a sailor, and to improve the condition in which he may be, when he has ended his voyage and returned home. I need not say that I allude to the princely establishment-for seeing it is the work of an individual, it is indeed a princely establishment-of Mr. Green, who has instituted a place where the sailors, after their voyages, can safely go, where their property is taken care of, where they have an opportunity of improving their minds, and of imbibing the principles of the Christian religion. And the example that he has set has been followed, though not on so large a scale, by other merchants and ship owners, who every year feel more and more the necessity for improving the character and raising the ability of the men who are to navigate their vessels. (Cheers.) This therefore shows that there has been a private demand, and now there is existing a public demand for an institution of this description. And I rejoice to see that the institution is to be amalgamated with, and be part and parcel of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society. (Hear, hear.) I need not say, that I have taken, for years, a deep interest in the prosperity of this Society; I should have been far more pleased if, instead of the humble individual before you, you had here to-day some of those merchants who are princes in wealth and rank, to advocate the claims of the poor sailors, by whose labours a great part of their riches has been gathered. I will not attribute their absence to any apathy to the sailor. I believe they do feel interested in his welfare, and that they are hourly convinced of the necessity of doing what the college intends to do,-to improve the mental and moral character of the sailor; and I can only attribute their absence to the fact, that they are willing to give their money, but cannot spare their time. I know that now we have launched the Society, under the sanction of the Lord Mayor, whenever the secretaries apply, the funds will not be wanting. If we only look at the sailor's life, we shall see the necessity for giving him all the facilities which are possible to enable him to improve his condition. For

a large period of the year generally, and sometimes for years together, sailors are unable to set their foot upon land, for the purpose of obtaining that improvement which other classes of society have. It has consequently been found necessary to catch the sailor in the intervals of his labour, when he has returned from his voyage; and what means could be devised more effectually to accomplish the end in view, than the establishment of a college or a school, where his mind may be improved, and he may acquire the elements of those sciences which are almost necessary for his carrying on his business? Indeed, the Board of Trade have felt it to be so necessary, that under the sanction and encouragement of the masters of the Trinity House, they have now instituted an examination for the purpose of testing the practical qualities and fitness of the masters of vessels. But, I need not say, that although that examination is upon the one hand compulsory, yet it fails to do all that it ought to do for the improvement of the character of the sailors; those only who are compelled to do so, undergo the examination at all, and the common sailor does not participate in the advantages to be derived from it. But, if I understand the object of the founders of this college, it is not for the benefit of one class merely, but for the equal benefit of all; and that the common sailor, as well as the mate and the captain, may avail himself of the benefit of the instruction which is to be imparted. And, connected, as it is, with an institution which still maintains its position with the public, as imparting moral habits and religious instruction to the sailor, I am persuaded you will at once see the propriety and necessity of establishing such an institution as the proposed College of Navigation. (Applause.) Its direct object will be to raise the British sailor in rank, in society, morally and intellectually, and to enable him to push his way in the world with more ability than he could if he remained uninformed. Upon the science of navigation it is unnecessary to say a word, for every one who goes down the Thames, even as far as Ramsgate, is aware that a knowledge of navigation is necessary to the sailor. Our river is the highway of nations; ships from all parts of the world are traversing it, our ships are going out to distant isles and continents, and exposed to storms, and currents, and leaks, and all the accidents which befall a life led upon the seas; and you must all see at once how necessary it is that the common sailor as well as the captain should be fully acquainted with the principles of navigation. (Cheers.) I might tell you of many a ship that has been lost, many a crew that has been destroyed, and many a cargo that has been engulfed in the deep, when the officers of the ship have been suddenly cut off by sickness, and there has not been found a person on board capable of navigating the vessel, or of directing its course. But if this college is instituted, and the sailors come into it, and imbibe the instruction to be given there; instead of such accidents occurring, you will have crews well appointed, in all respects acquainted with the science of navigation, and able to direct the course of the vessel in case the master or mate should be cut off by sickness. When we say this institution is peculiarly necessary in this country, you will understand that I allude to our nation now being at the head of the world,-so rich, so prosperous, so powerful; and nearly all which prosperity and power may be traced to the fact, that we have a mercantile marine, superior in discipline and in number to any nation of the whole world. We have become, as it were, the carriers of the world, bringing the produce of every land to this country, as well as transporting the manufactures of this country to other and distant lands. Our country has been enriched by the labours of the sailor, at the expense of the perils and privations to which he is subject, in his wayfaring and wandering life; and therefore we owe it to the sailor that we should do something to raise his condition in the scale of society, and put him upon a level with the other classes in this country. I see schools for the children of landsmen, schools for the artizans, colleges for the class immediately above them, and I see the higher classes are not destitute of the means of instruction, for they have everything which money can command,

to give them the means of advancing themselves in knowledge, and in the estimation of their fellow-citizens; but when I look at the sailor, and inquire for the schools instituted to educate his children for the duties which they afterwards have to discharge,-when I ask for the college for the adult, for the homes for the sailors, I can number them not by hundreds, as I ought to be able to do in a mercantile country like this, but in ones and twos and threes. But surely such institutions should exist in every port in this kingdom. Some perhaps may say, and many merchants of this city will say, "This is not a period for instituting such colleges, seeing that the shipping interest is now in a state of depression, and we cannot afford to give money for such purposes." But if we do not institute them, the Americans, the Swedes, the Dutch, and the French will; and if they instruct their sailors, and make them more perfect in their duties than our own, I need not say that our naval superiority will fail, and with it will go the greater part of the wealth, and riches, and power of this nation. Our ship-owners tell us that the Americans, and Dutch, and French, can build their ships at a cheaper rate than we can, and underbid us in the market, and that they will become the carriers of the world. I say, no fear of that, if you do your duty. If ships are built cheaper abroad, they are not so strong and lasting as ours; and we shall keep up our naval prosperity, if you are true to your trust. If, in addition to that, you take care of the morals of the sailor, you will increase the value of your property, you will render it more safe; you will have more dependence upon your crew,-you will become attached to them, and they to you; instead of their going off to the vessels of other countries, you will have them attached to their own vessels; they will prefer English colours and English captains to foreign colours and foreign captains. On the ground of interest alone, then, it becomes the British public, and more especially the ship-owners of this country, to take up this institution, and endow it with princely liberality; that they may gather the sailors into a place where they may receive not only the mental instruction which is absolutely necessary to fit them for the discharge of their duties, but that moral and spiritual instruction which will make them wiser and better men. I know it has been said, "If you change the character of your sailor, and make him a religious man, he will no longer be a sailor." Now I demur to that proposition. I appeal to the experience of those captains who have gone from this port with religious sailors, and ask them whether their task has not been easy and delightful,— whether their ship has not been a comfortable and delightful home,-whether the sailors have not been steady to their duty, and faced peril in every shape without shrinking,-and whether to the religious habits of those sailors they have not been indebted for the preservation of their ships and cargoes? If I were to tell you what a return was made to the House of Commons sometime since, of disasters occurring to ships from the drunken and careless habits of sailors, you would see at once that, on the score of self-preservation, and the preservation of property, there is a strong argument addressed to the understandings of the men of this city, why they should support an institution of this description. I would not say that money is to rule all, that a purely selfish consideration is the only ground on which we can place an institution of this kind. There are higher claims, moral reasons why we should look after the character of the sailor. Do we wish to see civilisation progress throughout the world, and our common Christianity prevail over every other form of religion? Do we wish to see other and distant nations arise out of barbarism into civilisation, and to possess the commerce which we enjoy? Do we wish to hold intercourse with them as brethren and men? And do we place the happiness of the world in that grand final consummation -the diffusion of Christianity? If we do, our appeal is placed upon a rock which cannot be shaken; for every one who knows anything of the character of the sailor knows that he either carries with him the seeds of civilisation and the principles of religion, or he carries with him the seeds of immorality and of