highly interesting address. The Rev. T. Dodd, as Secretary, then read the Report of the Auxiliary for the past year. The other resolutions were moved and seconded by the Revs. E. G. Williams and Roberts, Mr. Clutton, &c. The collection at the conclusion of the meeting amounted to about £15, while the annual income of the Auxiliary was announced to be about £50. The character and objects of the Society, as well as the measure of success attendant upon its operations, may be gleaned from the following Report :

The Eleventh Annual Report of the Swansea Auxiliary British and Foreign Sailors' Society.-The present age is distinguished by its unwearied efforts in endeavouring to enlighten the ignorant, to reclaim the wandering, and to relieve the destitute. The expansive eye of charity is not confined to our own land, but looks abroad upon a guilty and dying world. The Christian church is now beginning to feel the force of her Saviour's expression, "Go ye into." It is well known that, until within the last few years, neither the eye of the philanthropist looked, nor the heart of the Christian cared, for the welfare of seamen; but it is our privilege now to know, that in most of our large ports in Britain, institutions have been established for the especial benefit of our maritime population.

The Committee of the Swansea Sailors' Society have, during the past year, been carrying out the designs of the institution, and would now render to its friends and subscribers a report of their proceedings.

At the Seamen's Depository for Bibles and Testaments, about thirty-two Bibles and twenty-two Testaments have been sold at reduced prices, and sixteen Bibles and nine Testaments given to destitute seamen, and for the use of vessels, at the expense of the Naval and Military Bible Society in London. The whole of the Society's Loan Libraries, about twenty in number, have been in circulation among vessels bound to foreign ports; and the Committee, feeling the value of this department of their operations, have twelve new libraries now preparing to put into immediate circulation among the Cuba and other ships.

In the distribution of religious tracts, the gratuitous agents of the Society, Messrs. W. Clutton, W. Rosser, and Capt. Wilkins, have been engaged on Sunday mornings in visiting the vessels in port, and distributed about 9,000 gratuitously among the seamen; in addition to which, Mr. V. Phillips lends these religious publications at the Seamen's Chapel, which are exchanged after the service on Sunday afternoons.

At the Sailors' Chapel, the same encouraging aspect has been presented as in former years, it being generally filled by seamen, and persons who are more or less connected with them.

At the Sailors' Home, which until the present time has been identified with the Society, there have been about two hundred seamen, but owing to circumstances which have transpired, your Committee have thought it desirable to relinquish their connexion with that establishment; but hope, ere long, to have such a one under their own immediate control.

Such are the simple means in which your Committee are employed, and they believe that their exertions are not without the blessing of God resting upon them; and they confidently hope that friends and supporters of this Society may be still raised up, to enable them to carry out their designs; and, in conclusion, would earnestly entreat the prayers of all Christian people, that the Sons of Zebulon, who dwell at the" Haven of the Sea," may become a blessing to the nations to where they sail, and their names a praise in the whole earth.

MR. FIELDWICK'S TOUR IN WALES.

I avail myself with pleasure of the opportunity the Sailors' Magazine affords to present to our friends a brief outline of my late tour into South Wales, on behalf of the Society. In doing so I would record a tribute of gratitude, first of all to Him who has led me by his counsel, and preserved me by His power, and then to those friends whose attachment to our cause prompted them to show kindness to a stranger.

On the evening of the 4th of August I found myself deposited on Bristol quay, from which I soon stepped on to the deck of the Newport steamer, then about to sail. In a short time the command was given by the captain, and we moved slowly away on our passage down the Avon. The weather, which during the day had been most auspicious, by this time completely changed, and the rain was falling in torrents. I the more regretted this as from what I had before seen of Clifton and its vicinity, I had formed a high estimation of its beauties, and anticipated much pleasure in surveying the bold scenery on either side the river. As it was I was compelled to take refuge in the cabin, and could not make my appearance on deck again until we were within sight of our port.

The reception I here met with, especially at the commencement of a tour, was most discouraging. I waited on one of the lay secretaries of the Bethel Society, at past 9 o'clock p.m., who informed me nothing could be done at present in the town for us, and that he thought I could get a bed at one of the inns. I did so, and saw next morning the Rev. Messrs. Gillman and Thomas, who explained matters more fully, but without affording me any assistance. The cause here is low, though there is a society, and a large chapel, for seamen. The latter is in a delapidated condition, but they will not repair it, as it is likely to be soon removed for the construction of the railway. A jolting omnibus next conveyed me to Cardiff, where but little better reception awaited me. Our worthy correspondent, Mr. Barry, and our excellent friend, the Rev. L. Powell, showed me much kindness, and appeared deeply interested in the welfare of seamen. Here are extensive docks, and a large number of sailors are constantly in port. The iron works of Merthyr Tydvil, and the coal mines of the district furnish materials for a large and extensive trade. A Sailors' Home has been established, but in consequence of the superior attractions of the numerous public houses, as is supposed, it does not answer. Here I met with an individual purporting to represent a society at Saundersfoot, who was soliciting aid for the support of the sailors' cause there. He presented a printed circular, bearing the names of some private individuals in that neighbourhood, authorizing him to undertake a tour through several counties, with this object in view. When I afterwards arrived at Tenby, I made some inquiries respecting him, and found the case he represented to be unworthy the public confidence. My next sojourn was at the pretty little town of Neath. On my way thither, I for the first time witnessed the ardour of a Welsh congregation. At Tybach, the quarterly meeting of the Welsh methodists was being held as I passed through, and though a tremenduous shower of rain was falling at the time, a congregation outside the chapel, under a roof of expanded umbrellas, almost as large as the multitude with which it was then filled, stood around the walls to catch the sounds of the preacher's voice. A field adjoining was well stocked with horses that had brought burdens of all sorts, young and old, male and female, husband and wife, from various distances, to be present at the meeting, while the low wall surrounding it, for the time being, bore the saddles. On these and other special occasions, it is by no means rare that nine sermons should be preached during the day, and one or two the evening preceding, by way of preparing for the festival. At Neath, we held a meeting at the Town Hall. It was but badly attended, and had it not been for the kindness manifested by the secretary, and the produce of some collecting cards which he had to pay into my hands, I should have

felt not a little discouraged. The interesting and profitable part of the journey was to be from henceforth.

I arrived at Swansea on the 9th, when I was kindly welcomed by the worthy secretary of the Auxiliary, the Rev. T. Dodd. Here on the Saturday evening I was charmed with a short stroll along the shore of the lovely bay. The Mumbles point stretching away to the right, sheltering its flotilla of wind-bound vessels-the Glamorganshire coast, bespangled with the whitewashed walls of its scattered cottages, curving round on the left-the outline of the Devonshire coast appearing in the dis. tance, while the fishing boat and coaster scanned the surface of the peaceful sea, and hurried into port to spend at home their hours of Sabbatic rest, altogether formed a prospect calculated to soothe and delight a mind looking forward with interest to the services of the approaching day. Swansea is a large and influential port. An extensive trade in copper is done with South America, which is taken there to be smelted and prepared for the market. Iron and coal are largely exported. An active auxiliary to our society is in operation; the report of which appears in this Magazine. On the Sabbath I preached in the afternoon at the Bethel to a crowded attendance, and in the evening at the Burrows chapel. On Monday evening the public meeting was held, which was deeply interesting and encouraging to all friends of seamen present. The assembly was large, being presided over by J. H. Vivian, Esq., M.P., who is warmly attached to the cause, and who subscribes liberally to the support of its funds, and the collection then realized amounted to about £15.

(To be continued.)

" AN ACT FOR THE PROTECTION OF SEAMEN ENTERING ON BOARD MERCHANT SHIPS."

An act so entitled has recently passed both houses of Parliament, and received the royal assent, August 8th, 1845. With what may be called the history of the bill, we have no acquaintance. It has passed into law in so quiet a manner, that few even of those who take an interest in maritime affairs, were aware of its existence till it came into operation; and even now, although it has partially been in force since September 1st, from all the inquiries we have been able to make, little notice is taken of it by the parties concerned therein. Whatever might have been the motives of those by whom it was framed, it is questionable whether it will work much benefit for the sailor; for although its provisions appear to be stringent, its penalties severe, and the mode of their infliction sufficiently summary, that they will easily be evaded there can be no doubt. So many ways of robbing the sailor may be discovered whilst the penalties of the law may be escaped, that any advantage from such a measure will be very partial. Its practical benefit will depend upon the discrimination used by the Board of Trade in the men licensed. If the same parties as are now engaged obtain the privilege, (and there is no reason to doubt but that they will), the evils of the present system will be to a great extent perpetuated. Possibly, too, it may throw a difficulty in the way of the establishment and working of a registry office by a public society, since, however easily a crimp may avoid conviction, such a society could neither compromise its character by resorting to dishonest practices, nor reap the supposed advantage of them were they adopted.

An individual may, e. g. ship a man without a stipulated sum, but he has already fleeced him of his wages, and so made his profit; and there may be an understanding (which is always the case) that, on his return, he shall apply to the same party again for lodging, clothes, &c. But the remuneration to be received by a public society, must be direct, open, and generally understood; and such a payment the 8th section forbids. The office at Liverpool has charged one shilling for registration, and a second on obtaining the ship; a mere trifle in comparison with the enormous premium demanded by the crimp; but whether that office or any other can be conducted without such a charge openly and directly made, is very questionable. It is true that, according to section 8, a payment may be demanded of the owners, but in many cases such remuneration would be refused, and increased difficulty thrown in the way of the working of such an establishment. Where the transaction is fair and straightforward, it is an act of justice for the sailor himself to pay for a benefit conferred upon him, but such payment is strictly prohibited.

We shall, however, watch the operation of the measure, and report it to our readers. The following are a few of the provisions referred to in the preceding observations : Board of Trade may license persons to procure Seamen for Merchant Ships. SECTION I. Recites, That whereas the Seamen of this Kingdom having been sub jected to grievous impositions and injustice by persons having no interest in such Ships undertaking to procure Seamen to enter on Board Merchant Ships, it is required that further protection should be afforded to Seamen against the arts of such persons: and enacts, That from and after the First of September, 1845, the Board of Trade are hereby empowered to license such persons as they may deem fit, and who may be desirous of taking out such licenses, to hire, engage, supply, or provide Seamen to be entered on board Merchant ships; every such license to be granted for such time, upon such terms, and upon such security, to be also revocable upon such conditions as they may appoint.

Manner of granting and revoking License.-II. Enacts, That every License shall be granted, and every Revocation thereof made, by Minute or Resolution of the Board of Trade, a copy of such Minute or Resolution, certified and signed by one of the Secretaries or Assistant Secretaries of the said Board, shall be received in evidence without further proof.

No person not duly licensed or interested in the Ship to procure Seamen.-III. Enacts, That no person not licensed as aforesaid, or not being the Owner, Part Owner, Master or person in charge of, or the Husband of a Merchant Ship, shall hire, engage, supply, or provide a Seamen for any Merchant Ship; and no person, whether licensed or not, other than as aforesaid, shall demand or obtain the Register Ticket of any Seamen for the purpose or under the pretence of engaging him on board of any Merchant Ship.

Persons interested in the Ship not to receive Seamen contrary hereto.-IV. Enacts, That no Owner, Part Owner, Master or Person in charge of, or the Husband of a Merchant Ship, shall knowingly receive or accept on board any Ship any Seaman who has been hired, &c., contrary to the Provisions of this Act.

Penalty on Persons guilty of Offences against this Act.-V. Enacts That every person guilty of any of the offences before mentioned, shall forfeit and pay for each and every Seaman hired, engaged, supplied, or provided, and for every Register Ticket demanded or obtained contrary hereto, or for every Seamen knowingly received or accepted contrary to the Provisions of this Act, any sum not Exceeding Twenty Pounds (upon conviction) for each offence, although several Seamen may be included in the same Contract, or several Tickets obtained or several Seamen received or permitted to remain at the same time.

To be continued.

Monthly Chronicle.

AGENTS' MEETING HELD FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 3.

On the occasion of their monthly meeting, the missionaries and agents reported their labours as follows:-Services afloat, 64; on shore, 22. At the former the attendance of sailors was 930. The tracts distributed amounted to 3226. Vessels visited by the missionaries, 705, beside several lodging-houses. At the girls' school the average attendance has been 70, at the boys, 90.

At the sailors' church some slight decrease has been perceived on Sabbath evenings, in consequence of the closing of the docks at 7 o'clock P. M.; the effect of which is, that those accustomed to worship with us from thence are unable to attend. It is our intention to apply for leave to hold occasional services within the gates; that as the men cannot come to us we may carry the gospel to them.

In compliance with the application from Calcutta, as reported last month, the directors have granted to that society £10 worth of books for ships' libraries, together with covered magazines; and also a Bethel flag.

A grant of books, together with a flag, has been granted to Sierra Leone, to be used by the ministers labouring there, in association with the Countess of Huntingdon's connexion. A similar grant has been made for Quebec, and intrusted to the charge of the Rev. Mr. Osgood, who has recently visited this country.

Bethel flags have also been furnished to the auxiliary at Shields, and and to our valuable agent at Ramsgate. In connexion with this subject, it is gratifying to the directors to have to acknowledge the receipt of £1 from a sincere friend to sailors, for the Bethel flag at Ramsgate, and 10s. from Mrs. Parrott, Richmond, in part payment for that to Calcutta.

So far back as the year 1838, the directors resolved to supply to any youth leaving the Merchant Seamen's Orphan Asylum for the purpose of going to sea, a small parcel of books. We have recently been reminded of that resolution by an application on behalf of an orphan just about to leave his native land. It afforded us pleasure to commit to his care a few suitable volumes in the hope that they may be of service to him, not only in informing his mind, but in leading him to Christ. The committee are thus sowing the seed beside all waters, fully persuaded that it will prosper in God's own time, in producing a harvest of good to man, and of praise to himself.