O THE JUVENILE OWNERS OF HOW THE MISSIONARY SHIP.

THE "John Williams" left the an dgn nd beautiful harbour at Hobart Town, Tasmania, on Thursday, June 28th. The wind was strong and fair; and as soon as she got away from the pier her sails were set, and away she flew through the river Derwent into Storm Bay. The sky looked angry; the sea was very rough; and when the ship got out to sea she rolled about, making many on board very sick. But the wind was in our favour it soon carried us beyond Tasman's Island; and the next day we had a smooth sea. Friday and Saturday were beautiful days. On Sunday the ship was off Cape Howe, on the Australian coast.

You would have been pleased if you could see how the missionaries and some of the sailors observed

the Lord's Day. There were two services; and after one of them, those who loved Jesus met together to break bread and obey His command. It was a very sweet day of rest to all on board. Our captain, however, was not with us. He was very ill in his cabin, but very earnest prayers were offered for his recovery.

On Monday and Tuesday we had very light winds; we made but little progress. On Wednesday, July 4th, we came near to Sydney Heads in the evening. We were anxious to get to Port Jackson that night, and we were all so glad to see a steamer coming towards us. Our kind friend, Mr. G. A. Lloyd, had sent the "Bredalbane" steamer to tow us into harbour. We got to anchor at half-past seven o'clock, and several of the missionaries went on shore that night to Rev. J. Graham's anniversary meeting.

Sydney harbour is one of the most beautiful spots in the world. It is broken into bays, and several little islands present themselves to the view in different parts, adding much to the picturesque effect of the whole scene.

The Christian friends in Sydney were very kind to the missionaries. Meetings were held in the city and its suburbs; children of Sunday-schools were delighted to see and hear the new missionaries. The "John Williams" was placed near to the Circular Quay. Large numbers of Sunday-school Scholars, with their friends, visited the ship. The general exclamation was, "Oh, what a beautiful ship!"

The vessel was not able to leave Sydney for the islands until the 21st of August. On that day all the missionaries went on board, accompanied by Christian friends. A

short service was held, and a steamer towed the missionary ship to the Heads; and, with a good wind, she soon passed out of sight, to pursue her work of love and mercy amongst the various groups of the South Pacific Ocean.

There are thousands of young people in South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and Sydney, who will ever remember the first visit of the new "John Williams." Many will pray for her safety; and now that she has entered upon her work, will not the young people in England and Australia feel they have an interesting bond of union in working for the missionary cause, helping to sustain the ship, and regularly giving their contributions to the funds of the London Missionary Society.

May the gracious providence of God watch over the "John Williams," and all on board. May the missionary spirit be strengthened in all hearts, is the prayer of your friend,

THE "JOHN WILLIAMS"

IN PERIL, BUT PRESERVED.

INCE Mr. Sunderland wrote the letter you have just

S read, tidings have come that our noble ship has been

almost lost. She struck on a coral reef while trying, in squally weather, to get into the harbour of the island of Aneiteum. You may judge by the picture what danger a ship must be in under such circumstances.

But the brave captain feared she would sink, as there was a hole in the keel, and they could not pump out

the water fast enough; but they got most of the cargo on shore, and landed all the passengers, and after three days the ship was, by God's good providence, got off the coral rock, and was brought into the harbour. Some native divers went down, and managed to nail some tarr'd blankets over the hole; and then the captain and crew, and about twenty natives who came on board to work the pumps, started back for Sydney, about 2000 miles off, to get the ship repaired, and, with great difficulty and many fears, they reached it in safety after a voyage of three weeks, when, on examination, they found that none of the timbers of the ship had been strained, and that a few days would be sufficient to put her once more in good condition, so that we hope she is by this time again among the Islands, fulfilling her blessed mission.

While the ship was in the harbour, after she had been got off the rock, one of the aged chiefs of Aneiteum, who was once a cruel, idolatrous savage and cannibal, stood up among the crowd of helpers assembled on the beach, and made an eloquent speech, of which the following is a portion :

THE CHIEF'S SPEECH.

My children, I wish to say a few words to you who have worked so well and so successfully in assisting God's servant, the great man of the praying ship, and all his young men in getting their ship off the reef, and anchored in a safe place in our harbour. Now, you know that from the remains of the late sickness which passed over our island, our bodies are very weak, but our hearts are strong; and now that we have commenced a good work in assisting the