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Yet, while thy wrath on sinners lies,

Time like a tale unheeded flies.

Our life, when most its powers are strengthen'd,
Decays at threescore years and ten;
And if to fourscore years 'tis lengthen'd,
What is its strength but weakness then?
'Tis soon cut off, 'tis quickly o'er,

And we are seen on earth no more.
Oh, who the Power Almighty knoweth ?
Who can endure his wrath severe ?-
Ere to a flame thine anger groweth,
Teach us, O Lord, thy sacred fear:

Teach us, to number all our days,
And yield our hearts to Wisdom's ways.

Return, O Lord, with consolation,
Nor long thy cheering presence hide;
O, make us glad with thy salvation,
Then shall our souls be satisfied:

Thy praise shall all our lives employ,
And past distress augment our joy.

O! be thy work of grace completed:
To us and ours thy glory show.
Thy gracious smile be oft repeated,
To sweeten all our toil and woe.

Thus on thy servants, Lord, look down,
Our works to bless, our hopes to crown.

J. B.

American Chronicle.

THE SEAMEN'S CAUSE IN NEW YORK. AMERICAN Christians, in many things, are truly worthy, not only of high commendation, but of diligent imitation, by British Christians. Noble and generous efforts are made by them to illuminate and evangelize the heathen world, but they direct no small portion of their resources and energies to improve and elevate their seamen; and though enormities have been committed by some of that class, in different parts of the world, it is only just to acknowledge what has been solemnly testified by a Committee of our Imperial senate, that, as a body, the American seamen are superior in scientific acquirements and

moral habits, to those of any other country, not excepting the seamen of Great Britain.

Perhaps some light will be thrown upon the cause of that superiority, by the gratifying intelligence conveyed in the following extract of a letter, recently received from Rev. J. Greenleaf, Secretary to the American Seamen's Friend Society.

"Your Annual Report has just been received, and I shall get into our October number some account of your labours. Our Annual Report looks lean at the side of yours; but allow me to say a word in explanation : 1st. The Bethel affairs on our Atlantic coast are managed by local societies at each large port, who conduct matters in their own way, and make their own report. 2d. The Bethel concerns on the lakes, rivers, and canals, in the "Great West," are under the direction of the American Bethel Society, located at Buffalo, some 500 miles west from this city. An abstract of their report you will see in our Magazine for September, and also that of the Boston Seamen's Friend Society; one out of many local and independent societies. 3d. In this city there are several organized societies, independent of each other, as well as of us; but all working harmoniously, each in their own sphere, for the good of sailors. These are as follows: 1st. The Port Society, which sustains the Mariners' Church, and which has liberally supported a ministry for sailors for nearly twenty years. They have a large house of worship always, and a faithful minister, who has been there constantly for ten or twelve years. A large and flourishing Sabbath school is attached to this. 2d. The

Marine Bible Society. This is of twenty years' standing. They not only provide Bibles, but have for two or three years past supported an agent, who devotes his whole time to distribution among seamen and emigrants. 3d. The Bethel Union, which holds meetings on board vessels, and in sailors' boarding houses, and performs much of this kind of useful missionary work. 4th. The Female Bethel Union. They sustain one or two faithful agents all the time to visit vessels in the harbour, to hold meetings, &c. The labours of the Bethel Union and Female Bethel Union are very similar to your 'Thames Agency,' though not as systematic, nor probably as extended. 5th. The Marine Temperance Society, which now enrols from two to three hundred captains and mates, and about eleven hundred seamen, together with several hundreds of ' 'long

1837.] Missionaries for Seamen in Foreign Ports.

385 shore men.' A meeting is held monthly: and to all these we might add,-6th. The labours of the City Tract Society, in furnishing Tracts, books for libraries, &c.; and many other female associations for furnishing clothing, and in other ways labouring for the benefit of seamen. I have mentioned these things, lest, while looking at our Report, you may think we do nothing at home. The truth is, our Society professes to do nothing but the foreign work."

MISSIONARIES LABOURING FOR SEAMEN IN FOREIGN PORTS.

Singapore, Jan. 17, 1837. DEAR SIR,-At a meeting of the brethren of this mission, held this day, I was appointed to acknowledge the receipt of yours, of May 18, 1836. It was received on the 17th of December, 1836. The matter was called up at our last meeting. A Committee was appointed to attend to the duties of a Seamen's Chaplain in this port, as far as other engagements, more directly connected with the mission, may permit. A commencement was made last Sabbath. Rev. I. T. Dickinson conducted religious exercises on board the ship Propontis, of New York, Captain Le Fevre. There were present about 40 persons, including officers. During most of the year, we shall probably be able to have one service each Sabbath, if a suitable vessel can be obtained. Whether we shall be able to do any thing more is yet uncertain. The Committee are directed to keep a sort of journal of their proceedings, so that we may be able to furnish the Society, at the end of the year, with all the information we can gather here on the subject. Yours respectfully,

Jos. S. TREDWELL.

Rev. Jonathan Greenleaf, Cor. Sec. of the A. S. F. Soc.

The following correspondence has been received at the Department of State from Mr. Balestier, the Consul of the United States at Singapore. The undertaking, on the part of the American missionaries at that settlement, communicated in the note of Mr. Travelli to Mr. Balestier, is justly characterized by the Consul, in his letter to the

VOL. IV.

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Department, as truly Christian and benevolent, the value of which can be fully appreciated only by those, who, from personal experience, know the sufferings and privations to which our seamen requiring medical assistance are liable, in a place wholly unacquainted with a hospital.

Singapore, Jan. 19, 1837.

DEAR SIR,-It gives us much pleasure to inform you of the following resolutions, adopted at a meeting of the missionaries of the "American Board of Commissions for Foreign Missions," in this place, to wit:

"Resolved, That Mr. Travelli be a committee to fit up the room formerly occupied by the Malah school, for the accommodation of the American sailors who are sick and that Mr. Balestier be informed that the Mission will receive and take care of, without charge, such sailors as he may think need medical advice and assistance. Very respectfully, in behalf of the Mission,

Jos. S. TRAVELLI.”

J. Balestier, Esq. United States' Consul.

Correspondence and Proceedings of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society.

IMPROVED SERIES OF THE PILOT, OR
SAILORS' MAGAZINE.

It is proposed to improve the work in typography and paper, to render its intelligence still more diversified,and to the fullest extent to make it a faithful record of the proceedings of THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN SAILORS' SOCIETY. Among other matter it will embrace original Essays on important subjects: The importance of Seamen to Great Britain: - Their moral condition : - and the progress of religion among them: Notices of kindred Societies: Biographical sketches of pious Seamen, and of the friends of Seamen: - Influence of Seamen on Missionary operations: - Maritime commerce of Britain, and of Foreign Nations: Progress of British colonization:Illustrations of the Natural History of the Sea: — Rare Marine productions, &c. &c.

The work will be published in monthly numbers, price three-pence, by T. Ward and Co., Paternoster Row, London, and may be had of all booksellers; and will be found an interesting family Periodical.

MR. ROBERTS'S MONTHLY LECTURE TO
SAILORS ON TEMPERANCE.

The Committee of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society have great pleasure in being able to announce a series of Monthly Lectures on Temperance, with especial reference to seamen, in their Chapel at Lower Shadwell, by Mr. T. ROBERTS. Incalculable benefits have already arisen to seamen from this class of services; and they have full confidence in the Divine blessing upon the present course. The first Lecture was delivered on Monday, September 18, 1837; subject, the Extent of the Evil of Drunkenness. To be continued on the third Monday of every month during the winter, and to commence at seven o'clock precisely.

Friends to the best interests of the human race, will you second the efforts of the British and Foreign Temperance Society, and of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, in this attempt to do good to your fellow-men?

GREENWICH BETHEL OPERATIONS.

MANY ships, especially colliers, are frequently lying off Greenwich, and the Thames missionaries have devoted much time to the visitation of the seamen in that station. Mr. English, a local preacher of the Wesleyans in that town, has rendered valuable aid in this good work, cordially co-operating with the Agents of the Society. In a recent communication he says, "I am aware you are anxious to know what we are doing for the sailors at Greenwich under the Bethel flag. We hold generally six meetings a month, besides those conducted by the sailors themselves; and they are truly of an interesting character, and eminently distinguished by the blessing of God. The average of attendance is from about twenty or thirty, we have had

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