amongst a people, whose common course of life is manifestly corrupt and profane. So great is the present defect amongst sea-faring men, in regard to piety and virtue; and through an abundant traffic, and many ships of war, so many people are employed on the sea, that this subject of placing lads to the employment appears very weighty.

Profane examples are very corrupting, and very forcible. And as my mind, day after day, and night after night, hath been affected with a sympathizing tenderness toward poor children, put to the employment of sailors, I have sometimes had weighty conversation with the sailors in the steerage, who were mostly repectful to me, and more and more so the longer I was with them. They mostly, appeared to take kindly what I said to them; but their minds have appeared to be so deeply impressed with that almost universal depravity amongst sailors, that the poor creatures in their answers to me on this subject, have revived in my remembrance, that of the degenerate Jews a little before the captivity, as repeated by Jeremiah the prophet, "There is no hope."

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Now under this exercise, a sense of the desire of outward gain prevailing amongst us, hath felt grievous; and a strong call to the professed followers of Christ, hath been raised in me; that all may take heed, lest through loving this present world, they be found in a continued neglect of duty, with respect to a faithful labour for a reformation..?

Silence, as to every motion proceeding from the

love of money, and an humble waiting upon God, to know his will concerning us, hath now appeared necessary. He alone is able to strengthen us to dig deep, to remove all which lies between us and the safe foundation, and so direct us in our outward employments, that pure universal love, may shine forth in our proceedings."

Desires arising from the spirit of truth, are pure desires, and when a mind divinely opened toward a young generation, is made sensible of corrupting examples, powerfully working, and extensively spreading amongst them, how moving is the prospect.

A great trade to the coast of Africa for slaves, of which I now heard frequent conversation amongst the sailors!.

A great trade in that which is raised and prepared through grievous oppression!

A great trade in superfluity of workmanship, formed to please the pride and vanity of people's minds!

Great and extensive is that depravity which prevails amongst the poor sailors!

When I remember that saying of the Most High, through his prophet," This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise:" "and think of placing children amongst them, to learn the practice of sailing, the consistency of it with a pious education, seems to me like that mentioned by the phrohet,' There is no answer from God!" borde

In a world of dangers and difficulties, like a deso

late thorny wilderness, how precious! how comfortable! how safe! are the leadings, of Christ the good shepherd, who said, "I know my sheep, and am known of mine."

The sixteenth day of the month.-Wind for several days past, often high, what the sailors call squally, rough sea, and frequent rains. This last night a very trying night to the poor seamen ; the water, chief part of the night, running over the main deck, and sometimes breaking waves came on the quarter deck. The latter part of the night, as. I lay in bed, my mind was humbled under the power of divine love; and resignedness to the great Creator of the earth and the seas, renewedly wrought in me, whose fatherly care over his children felt precious to my soul; and desires were now renewed in me, to embrace every opportunity of being inwardly acquainted with the hardships and difficulties of my fellow creatures, and to labour in his love for the spreading of pure universal righteousness on the earth. The opportunities being frequent of hearing conversation amongst the sai lors, in respect to the voyages to Africa, and the manner of bringing the deeply oppressed slaves into our island; and thoughts of their condition frequently in chains and fetters on board the vessels, with hearts loaded with grief, under the apprehensions of miserable slavery ;-My mind was frequently opened to meditate on these things.

On the seventeenth day of the month, and first of the week, we had a meeting in the cabin; to which

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the seamen generally came. My spirit was contrite before the Lord; whose love, at this time, affected my heart.

This afternoon I felt a tender sympathy of soul, with my poor wife and family left behind; in which state my heart was enlarged in desires, that they may walk in that humble obedience wherein the everlasting Father may be their guide and support" through all the difficulties in this world; and a sense of that gracious assistance through which my mind hath been strengthened to take up the cross and leave them, to travel in the love of truth, hath begotten thankfulness in my heart to our great Helper.

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On the twenty-fourth day of the month, and first of the week, a clear pleasant morning and as I sat on deck, I felt a reviving in ny nature, which, through much rainy weather and high winds, being shut up in a close unhealthy air, was weakened.

Several nights of late I felt breathing difficult; that a little after the rising of the second watch (which is about midnight) I got up, and stood, I believe, near an hour, with my face near the hatchway, to get the fresh air at the small vacancy under the hatch door; which is commonly shut down, partly to keep out rain, and sometimes to keep the breaking-waves from dashing into the steerage.

I may, with thankfulness to the Father of mercies, acknowledge, that, in my present weak state, my mind hath been supported to bear the affliction motionce; and I have looked at the present

dispensation as a kindness from the great Father of mankind, who, in this my floating pilgrimage, is in some degree bringing me to feel that, which many thousands of my fellow-creatures often suffer in a greater degree.

My appetite failing, the trial hath been the heavier; and I have felt tender breathings in my soul after God, the fountain of comfort, whose inward help hath supplied, at times, the want of outward convenience and strong desires have attended me, that his family, who are acquainted with the movings of his Holy Spirit, may be so redeemed from the love of money, and from that spirit in which men seek honour one of another, that in all business, by sea or land, we may constantly keep in view the coming of his kingdom on earth, as it is in heaven; and, by faithfully following this safe guide, shew forth examples, tending to lead out of that under which the creation groans!

This day we had a meeting in the cabin, in which I was favoured in some degree to experience the fulfilling of that saying of the prophet-"The Lord hath been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in their distress;" for which my heart is bowed in thankfulness before Him.

The twenty-eighth day of the month.Wet weather of late, small winds inclining to calms. Our seamen have cast a lead, I suppose about one hundred fathom, but find no bottom. Foggy weather this morning.

Through the kindness of the great Preserver