With respect to the American vessels, which entered the port of Amsterdam this season, the operations of the society have been attended with as much success as in former years. But in the case of the English vessels, some difficulty has been experienced. A large proportion of the British seamen visiting this place are connected with the coal trade. In the course of last summer, however, the labourers employed in the greater number of the English coal mines, having refused to work without an advance of wages, the supply of coals for exportation was soon exhausted. And even when the mines were again in full operation, it was found that the English vessels usually employed in carrying coals to Amsterdam were now, in many cases, otherwise employed, and that this branch of trade had been to some extent transferred to other hands. From these causes, the number of British vessels which entered this port, was smaller than during the previous year; the whole number of English and American vessels, which the agent of the society visited this season, being 182. The committee are not, therefore, surprised, that particularly towards the end of the season, the attendance of sailors in church was not so satisfactory as could have been desired. They trust, however, that during the ensuing year, like unfavourable circumstances may not have to be encountered, and that a more numerous attendance of Seamen in the house of God may testify the usefulness of the Society, and encourage the community to continue to it that support, which it has hitherto so liberally experienced.

But while the Committee thus refer to the difficulties experienced during the season which has just closed, it is gratifying to notice the benefits which the society has been the means of conferring on that class of persons, for whose religious and moral improvement it was instituted. While the agent, in his report, bears testimony to the friendly spirit in which he has been generally received by the Seamen, he also mentions several cases in which much thankfulness was expressed for the books and tracts which he had distributed; and there is reason to believe, that his labours in this respect have not been without good results. As in former seasons, he has likewise sold or given away a considerable number of Bibles and New Testaments, some of them to individuals, and others to remain in the ships for general use; and in all cases they have been received in such a manner as to give much promise of future benefit.

The books of the loan-library have been less freely circulated than during the last year. Their number being small, it is not expedient to lend them without a reasonable hope, that the vessels, among which they are distributed, shall return to Amsterdam. With respect to the American vessels, there is generally some difficulty in this case. And from the uncertain state of the trade with England it was this season frequently doubtful whether the British vessels would make a second voyage to this place. The agent, however, reports favourably of this branch of the society's plan, so far as he has been able to keep it in active operation.

The committee have again to thank the various foreign societies, mentioned in former reports, for several valuable communications received, and for their assurances of friendly co-operation. They are more especially under much obligation to the London Religious Tract Society for a large supply of their tracts and minor publications.

The Committee would, in conclusion, express their full belief, that the difficulties encountered during this season show the necessity of increased exertion in behalf of seamen. From the peculiar nature of their profession, sailors are deprived of many of those religious blessings, which are so happily enjoyed by other members of the community; and though there are to be found among them many truly Christian men, yet in no small number of instances, they require to be affectionately reminded of their religious duties, and to have their attention specially directed to those things which concern their everlasting peace. It is thus surely the duty of all those, who are themselves in the enjoyment of the highest Christian privileges, to use their best exertions in improving the moral condition of such of their brethren as are placed under less favourable circumstances. May the Lord, then, of his infinite wisdom, impress this idea strongly upon the hearts of all that have the means of forwarding the spiritual and temporal interests of this highly deserving class of men; may the divine blessing rest on every sincere effort in behalf of those who are so justly the objects of true Christian benevolence.

Miscellaneous.

Loss OF THE RUNNYMEDE AND THE BRITON.-By the overland mail, which arrived on Thursday, 6th March, intelligence has been brought of the most appaling shipwreck of four fine vessels, an Indiaman, two transport ships, and a trader. The transports, the Runnymede and Briton, were wrecked under somewhat extraordinary circumstances; yet, considering the spot where the unfortunate occurrence took place, the Andaman Islands, on the east side of the Bay of Bengal, inhabited by savages, it is most miraculous that the entire of the persons belonging to them escaped. The Runnymede was a fine ship, 507 tons burthen, built in 1825. The Briton was a somewhat larger ship, being 600 tons burthen, and built in Australia, in 1830. The former left the Downs, in the month of August last, for Calcutta, having a vast number of recruits on board from the military depôt at Chatham, for the 50th regiment, at present quartered in the Indies.

The Briton was from Australia, in New South Wales, also for Calcutta, with part of the 80th regiment, amounting to nearly 400 men, with their wives and children. From letters written by the officers of each vessel, we ascertain the following

"On the morning of the 7th, the Briton experienced a heavy gale, which continued with increased violence during the ensuing night, the following day, the 8th, the 9th, as well as the 10th when it blew a dreadful hurricane.

On the 10th, such was the dreadful state of the weather that it was impossible to manage the ship, and the crew, for the safety of the troops below, fastened down the hatchways, and lashed themselves to the rigging. The ship was completely buried in the sea; and one heavy wave that struck her carried away the foremast, and at subsequent intervals during the day, the remainder of her masts and rigging were swept overboard, as well as the boat and every moveable article on deck. It was fervently hoped that the evening would bring change of weather, but, alas! for the unhappy creatures, it was worse, accompanied by horrific flashes of lightning and thunder, while the hurricane was, in point of violence, greater than before. The suffering of those on board was of a most poignant character, and one which no description can pourtray, for every moment was expected to be the last. At last, at two o'clock on the morning of the 11th, she was driven ashore, but where, they could not for hours imagine, for apparently there were breakers round the ship for half a mile distant, yet, on each flash of lightning, they could discern on each quarter nothing else but trees, leaving them in utter amazement. The storm lasted till noon the following day, when it abated, but it blew very heavily for several days afterwards. When day broke, to their utter astonishment they found the sea had carried the ship completely into a jungle, some distance from the beach, almost encircled in a forest of trees, and within three hundred yards of them lay another ship wrecked, which in a few hours they ascertained was the Runnymede, also a transport from England, with troops for Calcutta. As soon as a communication could be made with the Runnymede, which was lying in a dangerous situation on a reef of rocks close to the beach, it was resolved to send as quickly as possible for assistance to the nearest place, for the natives they found to be cannibals. The first object was to get a boat ready for that purpose, for both the Runnymede and the Briton lost all the boats excepting one, which was so greatly damaged as to require a week's work to put it in a safe condition. In a few days the crew and soldiers burned down the wood and jungle for a considerable distance round, and then formed an encampment, the huts and tents being built out of the materials which they got from the ship. Here they remained upwards of two months before they received any assistance, suffering the greatest privations, from want of provisions and the attack made on them by the natives of the islands.

About a week after the wrecks, a party, consisting of the master of the Briton, mate of the Runymede, and several seamen, started in the boat that was repaired to obtain assistance, and they succeeded in reaching Mergni in about a month. Immediately on the authorities of Mergni being apprised of the sad disasters, her Majesty's schooner, George Swinton, was dispatched with provisions to the islands, and in the course of the week five other vessels were sent to the aid of the shipwrecked

troops and seamen. The instructions were, that upon their arrival they were to take the troops of both ships on board, and to proceed with them direct to Calcutta, and to save as much of the vessels as they possibly could. The spot where they lay is in the Andaman Archipelago. There are several islands near it-the largest is called the Great Andaman, 140 miles long and 20 miles broad. The inhabitants are, as before mentioned, in a state of barbarism, and live chiefly on fish, fruit, and herbs. They perfectly resemble negroes, and their canoes are of the rudest description. Had those on board the Briton and Runnymede been defenceless emigrants, instead of troops, they would have been speedily butchered. Runnymede is a total loss, but the Briton is very little damaged; but it will be impossible to get her off, consequently she must be either broken up or set fire to, in order to prevent the natives obtaining possession of her hull. Neither of the ships are said to be insured.

The

WRECK OF THE MELLISH, EAST INDIAMAN.-The fate of the Mellish, of London, on her homeward passage from China, was of a distressing character, part of her crew meeting with a watery grave. She left China for London on the 2nd of October last, with a rich cargo, valued at nearly £100,000, and in three days afterwards she was totally lost on a reef of rocks called the Parcels, in the China Seas. A dreadful storm arose, it appears, during the night of the 5th, which drove the ship on to the reef, where in a few moments she became a complete loss. The commander (Captain Fawcett) and the crew got the longboat overboard, and left the unfortunate vessel, but several of them were drowned, and three others died in the boat subsequently, from actual starvation. Their sufferings are described to have been most awful. After quitting the wreck they were twenty days before they reached Padaran Bay, with scarcely any provisions to live on, and had only tasted water once or twice during the passage.

The Mellish was the property of Messrs. Gladstone and Co., the eminent shipowners in Cornhill. She was built at Calcutta, in the year 1820, and was 424 tons burthen.

Her loss is estimated, at least, at £100,000. She is insured to the amount of £64,000.

Loss OF THE PREMIER, CAPTURE OF THE CREW, AND THEIR SUPPOSED MASSACRE.-Intelligence has also been received of the loss of this fine vessel, laden with copper cake, on the coast of Borneo. This vessel was from Hong-Kong, when a gale of wind drove the ship ashore at a place called Pulo-Panjang, situate on the east coast of Borneo. That part of the country being greatly infested with pirates, the captain, to prevent the wreck getting into the possession of the pirates, set it on fire, and it was burned to the water's edge. The captain and the crew sailed in the long boat to a small town situate a few miles up the coast, where they were made captives by the Sultan of Borneo. They afterwards escaped, but were re-captured, and it is greatly apprehended they have since been murdered by order of the Sultan. Her Majesty's surveying ship, Samarang, Sir Edward Bleacher, K. C.B., commander, who, it will be recollected, was shot through both thighs about eighteen months since, in an affray with a pirate of the same coast, has sailed from Singapore to inflict that punishment that justice demands.

Monthly Chronicle.

The monthly meeting of the agents was held on Friday evening, March 7th. The absence, during a part of the month, of our friend Mr. Fieldwick, who is engaged in missionary work at Newcastle, with a view to revive that important auxiliary, and to prepare the way for future and more vigorous operations, together with the occasional indisposition of one or two of our agents, has reduced the number of our

Bethel meetings to sixty-two, the attendance of sailors at which services amounted to eight hundred and twelve. About three hundred vessels have been visited by our missionaries, and twenty-five lodginghouses. The tracts circulated during the month have exceeded two thousand. The average number of children at our day schools is as great as could, from the severity of the weather, be expected, being eighty-six boys and fifty-five girls. There are on the books one hundred and fourteen boys and one hundred and twelve girls. We refer to the following reports as a record of the feelings of our agents on the review of these labours.