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Anecdote of a Swedish Sailor.-Specimen of the Bible Book.

those on board; but those on shore could render no assistance. All on board perished, except one man; and he was driven by the merciless waves, upon a piece of the wreck, entwined amongst the ropes attached to the mast. Half-naked and half-drowned, he reached the shore, and was disengaged by the spectators from his heart-rending situation. As soon as they rescued him, they observed a small parcel tied firmly round his waist with a handkerchief. Some concluded it was his money; others, it was the ship's papers; and others said it was his watch. The handkerchief was unloosed; and to their surprise and astonishment, it was his BIBLE-a Bible given to the lad's father from the British and Foreign Bible Society. Upon the blank leaf was a prayer written, That the Lord might make the present gift the means of saving his son's soul. Upon the other blank leaf was an account how the Bible came into the old man's hands; and that gratitude to the British and Foreign Bible Society which inspires the heart of every

1819.

RECEIVED.

II.—The

[This book is of octavo size,

Jan. 12. From the Depositary of the Cork Bible Society..

English. Foreign.

Bib. Test. Bib. Test.

12 10 0 12

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1. On board small vessels, where the duties of Treasurer and Secretary are discharged by the same individual, one book may suffice for all purposes. In such cases, one half of the leaves should be appropriated to the Minutes, and the other half be ruled according to the specimens for the Cash and Bible Accounts.

II. The numbers prefixed to the subscribers' names in the Cash Book (Specimen, No. I.) should be continued uninterruptedly. Thus the last entry will always shew the total number of contributors since the establishment of the Association.

III. The entries of all receipts and payments, and of Bibles and Testaments received and delivered, should be made at the time, and thus the risk of error will be materially diminished.

IV. At the close of every year, the names of these suscribers who continue their contributions, should be transferred to the next blank page of the Cash Book, with the amounts which they have respectively paid since the last Annual Report was presented.

Specimen of the Bible Book.

Christian, was undisguisedly written by the old man. The request was, that the son should make it the man of his counsel; and it stated, that he could not allow his son to depart from home without giving him the best pledge of his love-a Bible, although that gift deprived the other parts of the family of this invaluable blessing. The Bible bore evident marks of being often read.'* The Treasurer presented a report of the funds of the Association; and it was unanimously resolved, that the sum of 57. 13s. 11d., being the balance in hand, should be remitted as a free gift to the Hull Auxiliary Society, for the general object of the British and Foreign Bible Society; and that a copy of the Report, this day read to the subscribers, should be signed by the Treasurer and Secretary, and sent to the said Auxiliary Society."

• This anecdote was related at a Meeting of the Aberdeen Auxiliary Bible Society, by the Rev. Mr. Grant of Orkney, who was an eye-witness of the scene.

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v. Every subscriber who has paid up the cost price should be immediately supplied with the Bible or Testament which he has selected; but no gratuitous grant should be made without the approbation of the subscribers at large.

VI. On board a ship belonging to the port of London, a Bible Association was formed in the year 1817, comprising thirty-two individuals. Shortly after its formation, those of the crew who were destitute received Bibles and Testaments; and the immediate effect of their perusal and of reflection was, a resolution to levy a fine of sixpence, in aid of the funds of the Association, on every seaman who uttered an oath or a profane expression. This was unanimously agreed to by all the sailors; and every man who subsequently entered was invited to sign the agreement. In one instance only, during a period of eleven months, was it found necessary to enforce this fine. Were a similar plan generally and spontaneously adopted, the character of British seamen would speedily be elevated in the opinion of those whose esteem is most valuable.

1.

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CASH RECEIVED.

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forty leaves, and is kept by the Treasurer.]

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Jan. 12. By the Depositary of the Cork Bible Society for Bibles and Testaments, 5. 19. 4

as

Aug. 17.

Balance in hand, voted to the Committee of the Hull Bible Society for
the general object of the British and Foreign Bible Society

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Associations have contributed largely.-Ability of Seamen to co-operate,

SECTION VI.

GENERAL REMARKS.

In submitting a few observations which naturally arise out of the preceding details, the author is painfully sensible that his views may not altogether accord with those of some highly-valued friends; but as it is his avowed design to offer such suggestions as appear to him calculated to improve the system, those friends will at least do justice to his motives.

1. Of the great importance of exciting and encouraging in seamen an interest in the possession and universal circulation of the holy scriptures, there cannot be a second opinion among the friends of the Bible Society. And as it has been abundantly proved, that Associations on board ships are the most effectual means by which this interest is produced, it follows, that every Marine Bible Society should be so constituted as to promote their establishment and extension.

2. It should be a fundamental principle of Bible Associations, that they shall at least support themselves, if they do not contribute to the funds of the Parent Society; and in numerous instances they have, highly to their praise, liberally supported the foreign objects of the institution. This principle is practically applied throughout the kingdom: its operations are beheld in the crowded lanes and alleys of the metropolis; among the dense population of our manufacturing districts; and in the scattered cottages of our peasantry: but, hitherto, it has scarcely been called into exercise in reference to our seamen; and it would be difficult to assign an adequate reason for this remarkable exception. In the former cases, the earnings of the labourer or mechanic are appropriated to the purchase of the daily bread for himself and his family: in the latter, the sailor is provided with that bread by his employer, and his wages are, comparatively, clear gain. The ability to subscribe which a seamen possesses, is, in general, far superior to that enjoyed by the great mass of our labouring population. It is therefore submitted, that the same principle which governs the society in repect to the latter, should be applied throughout the whole extent of its domestic operations.

3. It affords matter for serious reflection, whether Marine Bible Societies, and especially Associations, may not be made the principal instrument of effecting a change in the habits and character of our seamen. Proverbially careless and profligate, and having every necessary provision and comfort

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