one-fifth, and to New-York only one sixth; of those belonging to Liverpool, more than one half have been found without a regular supply of the Scriptures.

The following are extracts from the journal of, Mr Bruce:

28. One of the owners put a stop to all conversation on the subject, by swearing he would not have a Bible on board. The captain said he believed all the men had Prayer-books.

61. The captain informed me that seamen had improved much within the last few years, which he attributed to the various institutions established for them, amongst which the Bible Societies stand the first. The ship, had been supplied in America; the crew were much engaged.

110. The mate of this vessel had collected five or six old Testaments and Bibles, for the purpose of giving them to any of the crew who might go to sea without; he is in the habit of doing this every voyage. Going past this vessel the other day, the mate ran after me, to procure a Bible for one of the men.

275. The master will thankfully receive the gratuitous supply, and if he could afford, would purchase.

JOURNAL OF THE BETHEL FLAG.

(Continued from page 736.)

March 4th.-The Bethel Union prayer meeting was held at 317 Water-street. The increased number of seamen-and attention to what was said in exhortations and prayers, strengthens our hope and confidence in the promises of God, that where two or three assemble together in his name, and for his cause in the salvation of sinners, he will be in the midst. He surely was there ;-his divine presence caused an agonizing spirit in all the supplications. Great solemnity pervaded the meeting while the following accounts were related.

The brig Economy, captain Cross of Newburyport, and the brig Neptune, captain Archer of Portland, were both lost on the coast of St. Domingo; one on the 20th, the other on the 23d of December last. The schooner Friendship, captain Wells, belonging to the state of Maine, going from Jeremie to Portsmouth, N. H. was wrecked on Castle Island the 20th January. The brig Richard Mead, captain Decrow, from New-Orleans for New-York, with a cargo valued at 20,000 dollars, sprung a leak two days from the Balize. Notwithstanding both pumps were kept going, it was found necessary on the following day for the crew to abandon her; they were providentially taken up on the 11th by the Samuel and John, and carried to Balti

more.

The schooner Hunter, captain Clements, from Edenton for Kingston, Jamaica, was completely upset by a squall; the captain and crew sustained themselves by a rope, which they lashed through a hole in the keel, where they continued 28 hours; they were providentially picked up by captain Cooper. of the schooner Aurora, from Martin

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ique bound to Elizabeth city, where they arrived safe the 23d of February.

The schooner Friend's Adventure, captain Dunn, from Jamaica for St. Johns, Newfoundland, went on shore near the entrance of the latter harbour on the first February. The master and two of the crew perished.

Brig John and Hannah, captain Patterson, of and for Kennebunk, from Port au Prince, run a shore on Castle Island, N. H. and immediately went to pieces. These and many other circumstances, were applied to all the seamen present; urging the necessity of being prepared to meet such sudden and unexpected deaths and dangers. Fifty numbers of the Bethel Union Messenger, Reports, Christian Herald and Seaman's Magazines were distributed, yet not sufficient to supply all present, some of whom retired saying with tears; "O I wish I had a tract or something to read."

March, 11th and 18th.-Meeting was held at Mr. Williams's sailors' boarding house, 317 Water-street.

In our weekly reports, there must be a repetition of the exercises we are engaged in; those who attend these meetings, see and enjoy something new every evening. All who are acquainted with a seafaring life, know that many are in port one week and absent the next: there may be thirty present who were never with us before, and some of them are engaged in addresses and prayers, which had never been reported, may be considered a repetition; but we wish to convince the world by our reports, the Lord is doing something for the souls of seamen.

These meetings have brought to our view, that the Lord orders every thing in infinite mercy, through the endeavours of feeble men, whose hearts can rejoice in seeing convictions which bring a hopeful prospect of conversions. It is a pleasing sight to see long neglected and weather beaten sailors weep; a scene frequently witnessed in these meetings. There were several strangers present, among whom was a shipmaster who had lately been convinced of his awful situation, he related his convictions and conversion; and in his address to seamen, he gave them the following advice, which he urged with great vehemence. "When you are on the ocean, and off duty, the conversation with your shipmates is, to inform each other where you have been, what you have seen on the sea and land ; and the various dangers you have been in, and how often you have been delivered from a watery grave; without attributing this deliverance to the Almighty who had done it. I know these details will often bring sighs and sobs from a thoughtless man, but soon dismissed and forgotten. I do now entreat you in the name of Christ, in whom is all our salvation, that in all your future conversation with each other, at sea or on shore, to keep in view, the goodness, mercy, and loving kindness of God, and continually give him all the glory for every hour of your existence in this world. And do not neglect to read the Bible, and pray to God who has made you, preserved, and protected you, in dangers seen and unseen; and is ready and willing to make you the subjects of his grace, and heirs of Heaven."

Some distressing catastrophes which had lately taken place on the ocean were related, and produced many sighs.

The brig Upton, Sampson, from St. Mary's to New-York, in a heavy gale the 12th February, had a seaman washed overboard and lost. Brig George from Halifax to Jamaica, was thrown on her beam ends, and nearly filled with water; the mate, carpenter, a boy, and cook, were swept away and drowned. Brig Union, Cutter, from Londonderry to New-York, was wrecked on the Hook, and one of the men drowned, attempting to go on shore. Ship Bayard from Liverpool to New-York, 5th of March, fell in with the wreck of the brig Robert, belonging to Portland full of water, and all her masts gone: as there was no one on board, no doubt they were all in eternity. Schooner Ann Maria, Smith, from Charleston to New-York, in the evening, 7th of March, was cast away and totally lost on cape Hatteras shoals; one of the men was washed away and lost; through the kind interposition of divine providence, the remainder of the crew was taken off the wreck by captain Jones in the schooner Sophia.

Schooner Oliver H. Perry, Hamden, of Barnstable, from Jamaica for Philadelphia, was stranded on the night of the 11th of March, on Cold Spring bar, Cape May, and totally lost; the captain, one passenger, and two seamen were washed overboard; while infolded as it were in the arms of death, they were providentially picked up by a boat from the shore and landed; the captain expired in a few minutes, the rest were senseless for some time, but now on the recovery. Brig Jane, Amazeen, from Portsmouth, N. H. for Porto Rico, was wrecked the 11th January, in the gulf stream, in a severe gale, which swept the decks, and killed a boy, the rest of the crew remained some time in a perilous situation, but was fortunately taken off the wreck by captain Bartlet, in the schooner Nancy from Plymouth, who had survived the gale, with the loss of one man washed overboard from the helm.-Many feeling observations were made on the above disasters, and the exposure of mariners to a sudden and untimely death."

A stranger then rose and said; "I have lately arrived in this port, but on my passage here, I had to encounter a violent gale ;-death was almost visible,-eternity was nigh,-nothing but a plank between me and a watery grave; I lifted my eyes to heaven, and fixed them by faith on Christ, the Captain of my salvation, my Pilot, who was able to conduct me safe on shore, or, to carry me safe through the valley of the shadow of death, to the mansions above, where the sheet anchor of my soul was sure and steadfast. Death brought no terror on my mind for my own safety in time or eternity; but OI felt for those who were around me, unprepared to die and to render an account to God for what they had done here upon earth. I feel anxious for you my dear seafaring brethren, who have been, and always will be, exposed to a sudden precipitation out of time into eternity."

Tracts, Christian Herald and Seaman's Magazines, Bethel Union Messengers, and Reports of the Bethel Union were distributed. (To be continued.)