matter of deep regret, that so few have availed themselves of this privilege. THE WIDOWS AND FATHERLESS CHILDREN, of deceased sailors, have been cared for, and their wants supplied, to the full extent of the Committee's means. The sum of £7 14s. 2d. has been collected and apportioned to five widows, and fifteen children. THE SAILORS' ORPHAN INSTITUTION is, upon the whole, in a healthy and prospering condition. With the view of more efficiently promoting the religious instruction of the children, they were formed into a Sunday School at the commencement of the present year. The result has been most pleasing. During the past year, nineteen children have left the institution, and twelve have been received, making the number at present on the books fifty-eight. Of those reported to have left the institution, two have died, one of whom gave pleasing evidence of having experienced a change of heart others have gone out as apprentices and servants. A public examination of the children was held in the month of September, the result of which was highly satisfactory. THE STATE OF THE SOCIETY'S FUNDS is far from being adequate to the wants of the Society, and the increasing maritime population of the port. Still the committee cherish the hope, that not only in individual cases, but generally, the desire is to see the society "lengthening her cords, strengthening her stakes, and breaking forth on the right hand and on the left." Cherishing this hope, they feel themselves emboldened to call upon the christian public of this large and important town,-as they love the Society, as they love the spiritual interests of seamen, and their families, as they desire to see the abundance of the sea converted unto God,—that they come to the aid of the Society, bringing their silver and their gold with them, that thus they may show forth the praises of the Lord. SAILOR'S HOME, WELL STREET, LONDON. From the last annual report of this invaluable Institution (a copy of which was recently forwarded to us) we learn, with much satisfaction, that "since the opening of the Sailor's Home, in May, 1835, there has been a gradual increase in the number of boarders. In the first year, the total number of sailors, who passed through the house was, 508,-in the course of the second year, 1002,-in the third year, 1263,—in the fourth year, 1342,—and, during the last and fifth year, there has been 2183 inmates through the Institution,-making a total of 6298 from the commencement, up to the 1st of May, 1840. The increase has been greater this year, than at any former period, in the same space of time; but while the fact goes far to prove, that the place is gaining ground amongst the sailors themselves, the directors are unwilling to attach too much importance to it, as tending to exhibit the success of the Institution. NAUTICAL INFORMATION. AWFUL CALAMITY. ONE of the most appalling and heart-rending calamities of which we can conceive, or which has ever occurred on the shores of Britain, we have now to record;-a calamity as suddenly and unexpected, as it was affecting and awful. In a moment one hundred and twenty-two souls were engulphed in the deep, and hurried into the great futurity beyond. But what language can express, what effort of thought can conceive the scene, when from the deck of the vessel, the instant she was struck, and as she plunged into the depth of the waves, "Thrilled the loud death-scream,-stifled as it rose By the dark sea,-one shriek,-one blow,-the grave- But oh, what is this, when we are told by the only survivor of the illfated crew, that, instead of invoking the aid of Him who once walked on the raging sea, and who has revealed himself "mighty to save," they "called in that dread moment for damnation!" Such their attitude, and such their exercise, when their spirits were on the very threshhold of eternity. Who can think of a whole crew, in the very act of invoking the most horrid imprecations on themselves and on each other, summoned to the judgment-seat of Christ! And yet such is the moral condition in which thousands of our seamen perish! Christians! read the following details, and can you for a moment withhold your sympathy and support from an Institution, which proposes for its great end the moral and spiritual welfare of these men ? An emigrant ship, called the Governor Fenner,' bound to New York, sailed from Liverpool, on Friday the 19th of Feb., with a crew of eighteen, including the captain, and 106 passengers; all of whom, with the exception of the captain and the chief mate, perished within twelve hours after their departure. About two o'clock on the morning of Saturday, the vessel being then about twenty miles north of Holyhead, came in contact with the Nottingham steamer, from Dublin, and so fearful was the collision, so sudden in its effects, that in less than a minute after, the ill-fated emigrant ship disappeared, carrying down with her every soul on board, except the two individuals previously named. The night was excessively dark; so dark, that, although the captain of the Governor Fenner was enabled to see the lights of the steamer, the steersman of the latter was not able to I distinguish those of the Governor Fenner. The captain was on deck at the time, and seeing the steamer on his weather-bow put his helm aport, the wind at the time blowing fresh S. S. W., with a heavy head sea. The steersman of the Nottingham, from the cause assigned, kept his helm starboard, which produced the melancholy calamity. The vessel struck the steamer amidships, abaft the wheel, carried away her funnel and wheel-house, knocked her bulwarks to pieces, and so completely shattered her machinery, that she was immediately crippled and rendered useless; but no lives were lost. What follows, will be best described in the words of the captain of the ill-fated Governor Fenner : "I repaired forward, and found the ship going down, head first. I instantly ordered the men on deck to save their lives, but they still kept going abaft. I remained on the forecastle until the ship was at the water's edge, and just saved my life by catching at a rope from the steamer. My mate jumped from the foreyard on board the steamer, and saved his life by so doing. The ship disappeared almost instantaneously. The steamer lowered a boat, but she was swamped alongside." All the passengers were in their berths and asleep at the moment they were thus hurried into eternity; and the crew also, with the exception of the watch. The bulk of the passengers is described as being superior to the ordinary run of steerage emigrants, for there were no cabin passengers, and some of them are said to have carried out considerable property. Many were natives of the three kingdoms, promiscuously, and not of any particular locality or kingdom. The Nottingham, from the damage she received in the collision, was unable to make head; and, from the time of the calamity until four o'clock in the afternoon, by constantly plying the pumps, she was kept from sinking, when a steamer from Drogheda hove in sight, took her in tow, and brought her to port. She had on board a large quantity of cattle; and, in order to keep her afloat, two hundred head were obliged to be thrown into the sea. Had the weather been at all boisterous, the steamer would unquestionably have shared the fate of the Governor Fenner. We appeal to every principle of our faith, and to every feeling of the human heart. Is the sailor still to be neglected:-left in his present dark and polluted state of mind, constantly exposed to sudden death and a watery grave? Who does not unite, with all his soul, in the prayer of the surviving seaman :- "Rouse, rouse, -oh! rouse us, ere it be too late, We see thy mighty wonders in the deep; Oh! work a mightier wonder in our hearts! Thou canst accomplish all things, Lord of might." And while we offer the prayer, let us be up and doing. While we prove the efficacy of prayer to its last degree, let us gird ourselves for holy action; and never relax, till over the sea as well as over the land, the exalted Redeemer shall reign in grace and triumph! THE CABINET. THE INTERCESSION OF MOSES. WHEN Moses went out into the Tabernacle, all the people rose up, and every man stood at his tent-door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle; and the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the Lord talked with Moses, as a man with his friend. Every one then bowed himself, at the entrance of his tent, and entreated the favour of the Lord, according to the sublime example presented by Moses. Thus doubtful did matters stand for a period, and the people knew not whether God would act with them, according to grace or justice. Their mediator, however, availed himself of the intimate connexion in which he stood towards God, to act in their favour, and complained that the conducting of the people was left to him; and yet he knew not whom the Lord would send with him, although he had said,—“ I know thee by thy name, and thou hast also found grace in thy sight." "If I have therefore found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight, and consider that this nation is thy people." (Exodus xxxiii. 12, 13.) We may imagine, with what fervour and urgency Moses interceded, and probably mingled his supplications with many sighs and tears. Thus the church complains in Isaiah lxiii. 15, "Where is thy zeal, and thy strength, and the sounding of thy bowels, and thy mercies towards me? Are they restrained?" It may seem, for a period, and even for a long period, as if every thing was in vain, and as if God had in wrath shut up his mercy. The night may become increasingly dark and terrific, before the friendly morning breaks, in which the wrestler is carressed after the dislocation of his thigh. It is certainly no easy and agreeable thing to lose one's own life, in order to find it again for Christ's sake. Moses received a favourable answer, which he immediately seized, and turned to his advantage. God had previously said, that he would send a mere angel with him, which appeared painful intelligence to all; but now, the Lord says,—“ My presence shall go with thee, to guide thee." The Lord here distinguishes his presence from himself, because there is a plurality in the Divine Being. This presence of God is his Son, the reflection of his glory, and the express image of his person. Moses immediately laid hold of this, and said," If thy presence go not with us, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known, that I and my people have found grace in thy sight, I know thee by thy name." Thus it happened to Moses, according as it is written,—“ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you ;"-"Whatsoever ye ask in prayer, believe and ye shall receive it." Here were fulfilled the astonishing words, which we read of Joshua,—“ And God hearkend to, or obeyed the voice of the man." There are times, in which faith, I 2 has God, so to speak, in its power; and is assured, that it will receive every thing for which it prays; and in which he fulfils the desire of such as fear him, and their hearts are certain that his ear attends to them. How incredibly condescending can the Lord be towards a duly prepared soul! How much may the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avail! The heart of Moses was as boundless as the ocean and his desires as its billows; hence he prayed further, and said,-"I beseech thee, show me thy glory!" Wondrous request! In our present state, our eyes cannot even bear to look at the sun in its splendour. How, then, should a mortal be able to contemplate the glory of his Creator? But such is the nature of the new creature, produced by regeneration in the elect. It is of God, and thirsts and strives for God, and cannot rest until it perfectly possesses and enjoys him. All concealments and manifestations,—all approaching and removing from the heart,—all consolation and grieving, only excites its ardent longing still more. Heart and flesh cry out for the living God. "Have ye not seen him, whom my soul loveth? Tell him, I am sick of love." This new creature, according to Paul's expression, travails in birth, and longs for the adoption and redemption of the body. As insatiate as nature is after earthly things, so insatiate is the new nature after the things that are divine. Do you also perceive in you, this longing and thirsting after God, and perfect fellowship with him? Or are these strange and surprising things to you? Do you also long to be delivered from the body of sin and death? that God would strengthen you by his Spirit's might, in the inner man. If this be the case, do not fear, lest you should not be satisfied; for if you seek the Lord with your whole heart, he will let himself be found of you. "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Thou hast said, -“Seek ye my face; therefore thy face, Lord, will we seek. Hide not thy face from me, but make me glad with thy countenance!" Poetry. "POOR JACK" VERSIFIED. [Our readers will remember, that in our number for February, we inserted a piece headed 'POOR JACK,' which has called forth the following touching lines from one of our fair friends.] I'm hungry; once a youngster said, Dear Father, give your child some bread; And pray don't scold, because I cry,— I am so hungry-that is why. I've had no breakfast yet, nor you, O give me some!-"There, that's for you," |