"[Another correspondent informs us that Mrs. Debenham's name was in the published list of passengers.]"

The name, Mr. and Mrs. Debenham, appears in the Daily News of January 18th, as known at Plymouth to be among the cabin passengers. See also the general list in the same paper. In respect of her loss the Plymouth people, among whom were scores of seamen, were convinced that she was "overweighted,"-that she "lay low in the water like a collier," quite agreeing with our correspondent.-ED.

OUR SAILORS' WANTS, AND HOW TO MEET THEM.
(Concluded from page 38.)

We may sum up the sailor's wants as follows:

1. An acquaintance with the teachings and promises of the Christian religion, for the learning of which he is in better circumstances at sea than on shore.

2. The opportunity for rational amusement and intellectual culture whilst on shore, and, if possible, whilst at sea.

3. The prospect of honourable marriage when his time comes, and of keeping his wife and family respectable.

4. The opportunity of investing his savings so as to be able to provide for his old age, and for his family after his death. This would be best done by a Government Pension Fund and Life Insurance.

Few commanders and officers can read this list without feeling that they might do, some much, some little, for the end in view.

We will now say a few words on what sailors must do towards their own improvement.

The accompanying letter, from an able seaman, shows that they are in want of work of this kind :

Poplar, 2, St. Leonard's Road.

Sir, I have great pleasure in informing you that, in looking over the Shipping Gazette, on Saturday, May 6th, I was agreeably surprised by seeing your letter, which you had previously intended to have spoken at the meeting held at the Mansion House on the 28th ultimo. I have to inform you that I was present at that meeting, and was much surprised at your not gaining a hearing; but after a moment's reflection you will readily understand why you were refused a hearing. Those sentiments which you have expressed are unpalatable to the majority of shipowners in England. They do not wish to see sailors become sober, prudent men; if they did, sailors would soon know their rights, and, knowing them, would not hesitate to demand them. What greater evil could befall the Jews, crimps, publicans, and prostitutes of London, than to see the sailor become a

prudent, thinking animal. I beg, sir, to tender you my sincere and heartfelt gratitude for the endeavours you have made in our behalf. And I beg to state, as an excuse for my troubling you now, that, during a period of fifteen years at sea, although I have been a close observer of mankind, I could never discover a true sailors' friend until I heard you at the Mansion House, and saw your letter. I hope God will strengthen and prosper you in the good work you have undertaken. If you should happen to meet with a new newspaper, The Public Correspondent, published Saturday, May 6th, you will therein see a letter referring to the meeting held at the Mansion House, entitled "An Hospital for Seamen," and signed "Jack Oakum." This letter was written by me previous to my seeing your letter in the Gazette. I subscribe myself your grateful servant,

T. H.*

First, then, for a truthful view of their position. Once for all let me say, and say it with thankfulness, that there are many steady wellbehaved men amongst them, men whom it is a pleasure to have on board ship with one. But on the other hand, many who are good seamen and kind-hearted men are sadly given to drink and other vices, which are fast hurrying them and their sensual companions to utter ruin.

We would not have a sailor close his eyes to these facts, and say, "Peace, peace," to himself, "when there is no peace;" but honestly and manfully look them in the face, and search for a remedy. That inestimable remedy can alone be found in the acknowledgment that we are helpless sinners, unable to do any good thing in our own strength; but at the same time in the joyful thought that God in His love sent His own Son Jesus Christ into the world to seek and to save the chief of sinners, and that He died for us on the cross to bring us to God; that He has promised to help us with His mighty help, and that by real, humble prayer to Him for His strength, He will so graciously stand by us in the hour of temptation, that each one of us may be enabled to use St. Paul's words, and say for himself, "I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me."

In another letter from T. H., he tells me :-"I was induced to go to sea by seeing large placards in the Jews' shop windows in the Highway, stating that boys were wanted for the sea.' I gave one of these enterprising individuals five pounds to fit me out, which he accordingly did, for in less than a month I was out both at elbows and knees." He goes on to say:

"I am surprised the government do not appoint an officer to inspect ships' forecastles in the coasting trade, for some of them would not be tolerated a single day by our nobility to keep dogs in. This very day I saw my brother off in the barque N- out of the W. I. Docks, for Trinidad. He, like myself, is in the habit of keeping a journal while at sea; but, when I saw her forecastle, I knew such a thing would be out of the question, for it was as damp and dark as a grave, and leaky into the bargain. This is the kind of home we have to live in half our lives, yet landsmen wonder at our recklessness."

But this strength is not given to those who stand still with folded hands. We see in the Bible that when God has instituted means, we have no right to be looking for miracles. "When God has made a channel, He may be expected to send through that channel the flowings of His grace;" and therefore we would earnestly press on sailors to use all helps towards a steady life;-they need them all in their great temptations.

We have only to look at the fact that so eminent an apostle as St. Paul worked at tent-making, to see that God attaches honour to industry, and that therefore manual labours need not "serve as leaden weights which retard a disciple in his celestial career; but as the wellplumed wings, accelerating gloriously the onward progress." The hours of work are not our times of trial, but the hours of leisure; for we all know that

"The devil finds some mischief still

For idle hands to do."

Let a sailor, then, learn to read and write, so as to be able to instruct and amuse himself, and keep up his intercourse with his friends at home; and the more he adds to this simple beginning the better, for "intelligence opens up many new pleasures to the working man. It is because he has so few pleasures, except those of a low animal kind, that the uncultivated workman is so apt to be caught by the coarsest bait the devil can put upon his hooks." It is this, added to the monotony of life at sea, which makes so many sailors a prey to the harpies who are ever ready to welcome them on shore, so long as their pay lasts but these so-called friends have not improved since the old ballad was written two centuries ago, where the recentlylanded seaman describes

We feasted on dainties, and drank of the best;
Thought I, with my friends I am happily blest;

For punch, beer, and brandy, they night and day did call,
And I was honest Johnny, Johnny pay for all, all, all,
And I was honest Johnny, Johnny pay for all.

They plied me so warm that in truth I might say,
That I scarce in a month knew the night from the day;
My hostess I kiss'd though her husband he was by,
For while my gold and silver lasted, who but I, I, I,
For while my gold and silver lasted, who but I.

This life I did lead for a month and a day,

And then all my glory began to decay;

My money was gone, I quite consumed my store;

My hostess told me, in a word, she would not score, score, score,

My hostess told me, in a word, she would not score.

She frown'd like a fury, and Kate she was coy ; ·

A kiss or a smile I must no more enjoy:

Nay, if that I call'd but for a mug of beer,

My hostess she was very deaf, and could not hear, hear, hear,
My hostess she was very deaf, and could not hear.

Now having replenish'd my stock once again,

My hostess and daughter I vow to refrain

Their company quite, and betake myself to a wife,
With whom I hope to live a sober life, life, life,

With whom I hope to live a sober life.

There seems to be a growing desire amongst the friends of sailors to give them more opportunities for instruction and amusement, which latter, I, for one, consider also of great importance. For instance, Calcutta has lately given them a very good play-ground, where they can have cricket, quoits, skittles, &c., apart from the low grog-shops in the worst parts of that "unsavoury city." Calcutta is also hoping to build a well-placed Sailors' Home, with rooms for an evening school and reading; also a public lecture-room and chapel,-but these will be useless if sailors do not value them properly, and make use of them when they have an opportunity.

Another great help to rising in the world is a judicious expenditure of our earnings, whether small or great, for it is of more importance to consider how we spend, than how much we earn. Many working men, who have little idea of keeping accounts, would perhaps be surprised to hear that their incomes are equal to those of some of the upper classes. Thus, for instance, Mrs. Bayly says, in her Workmen and their Difficulties, that in the iron trade, where wages are very high, rail-rollers are able to earn a rate of daily pay equal to that of a lieutenant-colonel in her Majesty's Foot Guards; shinglers, equal to that of majors of foot; and furnace-men, equal to that of lieutenants and adjutants. But this is not all. The workmen add greatly to their income by the wages earned by their sons.

"The question naturally arises, How are these large earnings spent? We can see how professional gentlemen spend a similar income. We have passed pleasant evenings with country curates whose incomes scarcely exceeded £100 per annum: and in their houses we have found ourselves surrounded by something more than the necessaries and even the comforts of life. The spirit of refinement that pervaded the inmates of this neat and unpretending home, manifested itself outwardly in the clean white muslin curtains, the plant-stands at the window, and the cut flowers tastefully arranged on the table. We have not spent any evenings with factory operatives, although their earnings far exceed the amount above mentioned. They have never asked us; but as we really want to know how and where they live, we will follow one of them home.

"This getting home is rather a tedious process. Certain houses by the way have to be visited, which proceeding sadly takes up time. At last we find ourselves following the workman through some dark, back streets, until he enters a dwelling dismal enough in the exterior; but oh, the sights and sounds within! We can scarcely breathe in that atmosphere, nor could we spend an evening with the master of the house if he were to ask us. We can scarcely conceive it possible that he can actually be earning £150 to £200 a year."

NO. 4.-VOL. XXXV.

2 A

The importance of this extract pleads its own apology for its length.

Again, it is quite true that "nothing of a worldly kind so holds down the working classes as their being from hand to mouth; and nothing that would so better their condition in a hundred ways as the possession of a little capital. At present, if a working man sees a favourable opening to commence business on his own account, where a little capital is needed, he is merely tantalised by the thought how entirely beyond his power is the situation which would have suited him so well. He may hear of employment to be got at a distance on highly favourable terms, but for want of the means of transport he cannot reach the place. He may wish to emigrate, but for want of money the notion is impracticable. He may have a highly talented child, whom a good education would be sure to advanee, but the other children are coming on, and this one must be put out at the earliest period to any employment where he can earn his bread. Practically, the difference between having nothing and having a hundred pounds is the difference between slavery and freedom." Now, is this not especially true of sailors, who are often obliged, by their reckless waste, even to endanger their lives by going in ships that are unseaworthy, and their health by having a very poor stock of clothes for the varying climates to which they are exposed, to say nothing of the time when they may be disabled by sickness or old age? Let every sailor, then, begin saving money, and investing it in Savings Banks, or in a Life Insurance and Pension Fund, which will support him in old age, or help his relations should be die early, remembering that every penny spent in this way makes him a double gainer, as it keeps him from vice at the same time that it is helping to make him an independent man.

But the monster evil with sailors is their connexion with bad women. This is their greatest temptation. If they yield to this, drink and recklessness are almost sure to follow. Their relation to woman must be improved ere they can rise in the social scale. The men and women of any class rise and fall together. As it is now with a very large proportion of sailors, they may love a parrot or a cat, (and I have seen an old sailor cry over his dead cat,) but they cannot love the woman they are brought in contact with, or if they do, they are very soon forced to call themselves fools, for she is a creature who does all in her mighty power to lead him to do wrong, and perhaps drugs and robs him of every penny, and even of his clothes.

Thus it is of the very first importance, it is striking at the very root of the evil, to induce sailors to look forward to honourable marriage with a respectable woman. Now, unfortunately, as few can expect it, they are often led into early vice; and, with others who are married, their profession exposes them and their wives to very great difficulties. I honestly confess that I think nothing but the very highest Christian principles could enable any man or woman to act rightly under the circumstances in which many sailors and their families find themselves placed.