With the aid of such a vessel we should be able, in connexion with our higher object, to do much to promote civilization; and to open the way for legitimate trade from the Lagos to the Gamboon, and to an indeterminate extent up the numerous mouths of the Niger and other rivers in the Bights of Benin and Biafra; cultivation of the soil would no doubt follow, and soon we might hope that a supply of cotton and sugar would be furnished, and a wide field for our manufactures opened throughout this populous country. Most of our readers are aware that another Missionary ship, "The Triton," belonging to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, has for some time been engaged in the same service. She was purchased by the Centenary Fund, and sailed from Bristol, in September, 1839, with a large party of missionaries for the Friendly and Fejee Islands. We give an extract from the "Wesleyan Missionary Notices," containing particulars which will be interesting to our readers. The Missionary ship, "Triton" is a Brigantine, built in Bristol in 1837, of one hundred and nineteen tons register, and will carry one hundred and seventy, having made one voyage to the West Indies. Through circumstances not necessary to relate, she was offered for sale, and purchased by John Irving, Esq., for private purposes; but, on its being resolved by the Centenary Committee to make a liberal grant from their Fund, in order to procure a vessel to meet the pressing demands of the Missionaries in the South Seas, she was offered to the Society at cost price, and was accepted as being well suited for the objects required. Great alterations have been made in her for the reception of passengers, and for her complete equipment for the voyage. Some who are unacquainted with the nature of her proposed service, and the capabilities of such a vessel, may have deemed her too small; but, when it is considered that she will have to navigate shallow waters, and work her way amongst the coral reefs of the Pacific, it will be seen that she is quite large enough; for the " Henry Freeling," of one hundred and one tons, which was formerly a post-office packet, and in which the Messrs. Wheeler went to the South Seas, was sometimes difficult to manage amongst the rocks and shoals of those waters. And it must be remembered, for the satisfaction of the timid, that a vessel called the "Little Jenny," of seventy-five tons, which sailed from this port, commanded by Captain Baker, safely navigated the globe. I would say also, that from the standing of the "Triton" at Lloyd's, from her age, and rig, (she having two masts, and the "Freeling" only one and a mere jigger,) from the great care taken in her outfit, and from the selection of her crew, she has many advantages over those referred to. It may be interesting to give some brief account of her interior, where the major part of these excellent men will have to reside some five or six months—a long period for mere landsmen to be on the ocean. Being originally intended for the Mediterranean trade, she, of course, had a very scanty cabin, and a confined space for her crew; a lower deck, therefore, had to be laid, on which thirteen most spacious berths have been constructed, being six feet under the beams, and measuring upwards of five feet by six. Two of these, on account of numerous articles of cargo, have to be occupied by the sails and dry stores, so that eleven remain; which with a dining room, eight feet by eighteen, (where two single men can sleep on sofas) will afford excellent accommodation for the passengers. There are suitable accommodations in the stern cabin, and on the deck. Every berth has a patent light; and, from the three sky-lights, there can be a constant current of air. On her deck, a neat round-house has been built for the first and second officers, and a good canopy has been put over the wheel to defend the helmsman from the sun and rain. Arrangements also will be made for a shower-bath, and near that room for two drip-stones and one of Robins's patent filters. "She will carry out for the Cape of Good Hope, New South Wales, New Zealand, the Feejes, and Friendly Islands, seven married and four single men, with six children belonging to the Rev. Mr. Archbell, two of whom are upwards of eighteen years of age. The captain also takes out his wife and children, so that, at least, there will be twenty-eight souls, apart from the officers and crew, consisting of eight men and two boys, to be supplied with the necessaries of life; and were it not that she has to touch at the Cape, it would be impossible for her to carry out the needful food and luggage for such a party. Nor can we close this account without some brief notice of those who have to navigate our bark. The captain has been accustomed to the sea since fifteen years of age, and has given up flattering prospects for this service, in which his heart so greatly delights; and we rejoice to add, he is under the influence of good principles, and has joined himself to the Methodist society. His excellent wife also is the daughter of one of our own ministers, the late Rev. Mr. Yates. The first officer (who has formerly commanded a ship) has been for some years a class-leader; and the carpenter, steward, and crew, are all members; so that, with the exception of the second officer, the steward's mate (who are sons of highly-respectable Wesleyans) and the cook, a coloured man, all are in church-fellowship with us, and we have the fullest hope that the Lord will give us their souls also before they complete their voyage. The communications since received from the islands, assure the committee that the "Triton' has been of essential service, in taking the brethren to and from the district meetings, and their respective stations, and in taking native teachers to the out islands." Contrary, however, to the expectations of the committee, it is found that she is not large enough for her destined purpose, not being of sufficient capacity to take, at one voyage, the stores which are required for the year in the Friendly and Fejee Islands. We shall be happy to report in future numbers the information received from these vessels. Domestic & Foreign Entelligence. EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EAST LONDON AUXILIARY TO THE BRITISH & FOREIGN SAILORS' SOCIETY. THIS important auxiliary to our society held its eighth Annual Meeting in the Eastern Institution, Commercial Road, on Tuesday, February 11th. The Rev. Dr. REED presided on the occasion, when the large room of the Institution was crowded by a highly-respectable auditory. The several resolutions were presented to the meeting by the Rev. Messrs. J. Ferguson, E. Halliday, H. S. Seaborne, T. Moore, C. J. Hyatt, and by Messrs. Paine, Hooper, and J. Moore. The following report read by the Secretary, Mr. Howlett, was listened to with great interest : The Committee of the East London Auxiliary to the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, in presenting to their subscribers and friends their eighth Annual Report, would gratefully acknowledge, that by the good hand of God upon them they have been upheld and guided through another year. Though the sphere of their operations is limited, owing to their labours being confined chiefly to the afternoon of the Lord's-Day, they have been unceasing in their attempts to bring the truth as it is in Jesus, before the minds of that noble class of men, who go down to the sea in ships, and do business in great waters. All persons who have had much intercourse with seamen, agree in the opinion that they are peculiar in their habits, and uniformly generous in their dispositions; though too frequently reckless, and totally indifferent to the concerns of their souls. In some instances they are seamen just because they were unsteady youths, who either went to sea against their parents wishes, or were sent to sea as a last resource. Meeting with kindred spirits-passing a great part of their lives (often for months together), with no other society than their shipmates—accustomed to danger and toil-familiar with scenes of death; no wonder if they present a somewhat rough exterior, and feel shy and diffident among strangers, or that they should seek the society of their own class when ashore. Having leisure, money, and perhaps no real friend at hand to put him on his guard, the thoughtless sailor becomes the easy prey of the crimp, and his partner in crime, whose business is to plot and contrive the ruin of their unsuspecting victim. Intoxicated-robbed-and then turned into the street without a penny left, he has no resource left but to look out for another ship, although he may have but just returned from a long and toilsome voyage; and to get a ship he has, perhaps, to apply to the very man who, having robbed him of his all, now demands his monthly note to pay him for getting the ship, and supplying a few articles, without which he could not go to sea. When will the time come, that ship-owners, captains, and sailors shall say, as with one voice, "away with the crimp." Many of our ship-owners and captains engage crimps to supply their foreign going ships with hands, through which this abominable system of plunder and extortion is carried on to a dreadful extent, not only in the port of London, but also at most of our sea-ports; while upon these sailors (who most need it), but a small amount of Christian influence has at present been brought to bear; but among our coasting vessels, and in some traders making short voyages, a most pleasing change has been effected within the last few years. Means wisely adapted to the peculiar circumstances of seamen have been provided, and abundantly blessed of God. Swearing, intemperance, and the vulgar song, have given place in many instances to sobriety and the voice of prayer and praise. The Bible, the Tract and the Loan Library, are becoming a necessary part of the cabin's furniture-the sailor's instructor in the time of leisure; his comfort and hope amidst the dangers of the storm. Hundreds of pious captains and mates, aud thousands of pious seamen, are now sailing out of the port of London, and to almost every port in Europe, carrying with them the bethel flag, which they hoist upon every suitable occasion. In most instances the master of the vessel is the preacher, and aided by the fervent prayers of those who take part in these services, many a thoughtless and impenitent sailor has been brought to a knowledge of the truth. Among this interesting class of men it has been the happiness of your committee to labour, and by means of its several associations have, during the past year, distributed 6000 Tracts, 2 Bibles, and 1 Testament. Several boarding-houses have been visited, where conversations have been held with seamen, many of whom have been induced to attend the various places of worship in the district, some of whom have been supplied with tracts and magazines on going to sea. 720 vessels have been visited in the basin of the Regent's Canal, and twenty-nine bethel services have there been held, the average attendance at each has been twelve. The seamen often take part in the devotions of the meeting, and in their prayers not only manifest earnestness to enjoy God's blessing on their own souls, but also in seeking the salvation of those who sail with them who are yet living in sin. Their naturally warm and grateful feelings find expression in praise to God for the interest felt by the churches of Christ on their behalf, while with fervent supplications they call down large blessings on the weak instruments employed in seeking their spiritual good. While the operations of your committee have been chiefly directed to the coasting traders, they have, by means of the loan libraries, been enabled to exert a beneficial influence on some of the foreigngoing seamen. They have, during the past year, sent three libraries to sea; to Quebec, to Naples, and to Antigua. Two of them have been returned, as also one from Hobart Town, sent out last year. With each they have received the warmest expressions of thanks, accompanied with the desire that others might receive the same benefit. The following is a letter from one of the captains "London, Jan. 20th, 1845. "My dear Sir,-I return you the library your auxiliary kindly lent to the 'Amwell,' for the use of the crew, with many thanks. You will be gratified to hear the books were thankfully received, and attentively read, by them; and I trust the effects have been good. I am happy to say I have not had a crew for many years which have given me greater satisfaction, or which I have had less trouble with. During a stay of ten weeks in Hobart Town, in the midst of every kind of vice, not a man was an hour from his duty. I also felt much pleasure in occasionally witnessing their attendance at the Bethel' on sabbath afternoons. On the homeward passage I had a Wesleyan missionary and his family, passengers, (the Rev. Wm. Simpson) who, when the weather would permit, conducted a service either on deck, or in the cabin, every sabbath, at which times the crew always attended, and were very attentive; and often drew forth the admiration of Mr. S. on account of their good conduct. I scarcely ever remember to have heard an oath from any of them during the voyage which occupied thirteen months. With earnest prayer for the divine blessing to accompany the efforts of your valuable Society, for the salvation of sea men. I remain, my dear Sir, very faithfully your's, W. E. VICKERS. The Religious Tract Society have again kindly granted £5 worth of Tracts to your committee at the cost of £2 10s. Your committee would express the satisfaction they have experienced by the sympathy and cordiality that have existed between this Auxiliary and the Parent Society, and they feel it to be a necessary, as well as a pleasing part of their duty, to make a special reference to the alteration in the constitution of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society, made at its last annual meeting, by which each of its auxiliaries, within ten miles of London, are permitted to send their officers and two representatives to take part in its counsels and deliberations for the furtherance of the sailor's cause. This privilege has been enjoyed by your auxiliary, and your committee would most cheerfully bear their testimony to the devotedness, energy, and strict regard to economy in the board of directors and officers of that important institution. During the past year a quarterly prayer-meeting has been instituted by your committee, which has been held at different places of worship in this district, and at which there has been an encouraging attendance of the ministers and friends in connexion with the churches, and they can but hope, that in the future even a larger number of both landsmen and seamen will be found wrestling in prayer at the quarterly meetings for the needed and the promised blessing. The Ladies' Association, in connexion with this auxiliary, through whose arduous and self-denying labours large funds have been raised in previous years, and by which the Parent Society have been greatly assisted have, during the past year, collected above £92. They report as follows:— "The Committee of the East London Ladies' Association, in presenting a brief financial statement for the past year, cannot but express their regret that the amount collected should have fallen short of the preceding year; arising, it is believed, from no diminution of zeal on the part of those who have been engaged as collectors; but simply from the withdrawment, or removal, of several ladies, who were thus usefully connected with this association. It is therefore earnestly solicited by the Ladies' Committee that some of their Christian friends in the respective churches of the east of London will come forward, and co-operate with them in the sailors' cause; and that the ministers in the district will kindly employ their influence to induce many to unite in this work of truly Christian benevolence. The subscriptions and donations received during the year Less expenses Paid to the East London Auxiliary........... £92 12 8 £91 8 3 (The Reports of the several Associations will be given in our next.) Miscellaneous. THE GREAT BRITAIN STEAM SHIP. This stupendous steam-ship is of unparalleled vastness, her actual tonnage being some hundreds of tons more than that of any ship ever built, which circumstance, conjoined with her peculiarities of material and construction, must render her completion an important event in the annals of engineering and mechanical skill. The "Great Britain" is iron-built, and fitted with Mr. Smith's Archimedean screwpropeller instead of paddle-wheels. At the engine-room, for the purpose of giving greater strength than appears was originally intended, there are nine new additional intermediate double ribs introduced, the sixteen additional reverse ribs riveted to the original framing. She is not double riveted throughout, but in the longitudinal laps only. 1000 horses. 1100 tons. 350 passengers. 130 persons. There are six masts, on which will, it is said, be spread 1700 square yards of canvass when all set, which is only about 9-10ths of that of a 46-gun frigate. The hull is divided into five distinct compartments, by means of substantial watertight iron bulkheads. The decks, which are of wood, consist of the cargo deck, two cabin decks, and the upper deck. |