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thousands of sailors visiting that magnificent port, his little namesake was born. (4) Because it was here we not only served the Master, but suffered in his cause. Unoccupied ports are crying, come over and help us." Let the heroic voice of the departed one, saying onward, with her noble deeds and nobler spirit, speak to us for more generous service for Him who gave Himself for us. I trust that many will render me sympathetic help in this matter, and pray that the Lord may make this little circle but the impulse of a larger scheme. From those who knew her, any gifts will be a sweet cordial, while from our many readers, we shall rejoice to be assisted in so good a work. It only remains for me to say, the deed will be immediately drawn up. J. Herbert Tritton, Esq. (Vice-President), Thomson Hankey, Esq. (Treasurer), Samuel Linder, Esq. (Director), will be asked to be Trustees, when after their decease, the Board will naturally elect its own. All gifts will be duly acknowledged in Chart and Compass. I ask then gifts towards a fund of not less than £1,000, in memory of Susie Gurr Matthews, the sailors' friend.

November 21st, 1881.

Shadwell, London, E.

EDWARD W. MATTHEWS, Secretary British and Foreign Sailors' Society.

P.S.-The Directors have kindly granted me a short leave of absence, to go to Genoa, Italy, to take part in the opening of the New Floating Bethel for our Sailors' Harbour Mission. This change will be congenial to my heart and restful to my mind, after three years of severe mental toil. Any letters referring to my dear wife and the proposed memorial for the benefit of sailors, can be sent to the above address, marked private. E. W. M.

LADY BRASSEY OPENING BAZAAR.*

'R. MATTHEWS (Secretary) said in his short statement:"I am asked by the Directors to say a few words on the object of the Bazaar before it is opened by Lady Brassey.

Many encouraging letters have come from far and near, expressing sympathy with the Society. I shall not read the whole of this bundle I hold in my hand. Some of them are from our noble band of lady collectors, who are the pillars of this great Society, and the true friends of the absent sailor. Some are from the missionaries in the different parts of the world. How much our seamen owe to them, their wives, families, and friends, will only be known when the voyage is over, and

* See Editor's Jottings about Bazaar in the latter part.

the great log book is examined. These stalls bear proofs of their loyalty and love. Some are from friends in responsible positions, as our Vice-President, the Right Hon. Mr. Childers, who, if not abroad on duties, might possibly have come down from his war surroundings to this peaceful campaign, in which the ladies will directly show how battles against the hoardings of the stronger sex are to be fought and won. Then there are letters from those merchant princes, who find it increasingly difficult to leave their City Temple shrine, at such an hour as this, as Sir Donald Currie, and this telegram from our generous helper, J. Herbert Tritton, Esq., who is chairman of the oldest and largest (counting number of ships) steam-boat company in the world. Thomson Hankey, Esq., has been the loyal treasurer of this Society over thirty years, and was to have assisted Lady Brassey on this occasion; I must, therefore, read his letter, written from Tunbridge:—

"MY DEAR SIR,-I am very sorry that I cannot attend, as I had hoped to have done, to receive Lady Brassey on Tuesday next, but I cannot leave this; and I must therefore leave you to find, as I have no doubt you can easily do, a better substitute; and I shall feel obliged if you will offer my apologies to Lady Brassey for any seeming neglect on my part.

"I enclose you a small donation. Lady Brassey's presence will be very opportune after her late voyage in the "Sunbeam;" I mean in her voyage last week. Yours faithfully,

"To Rev. E. W. MATTHEWS, Sec.

THOMSON HANKEY."

Yes, this visit, and bazaar, for several reasons, are most opportune, but I can only state, but not amplify them: (1.). The Society's recent position demanded some additional help. A few years ago two or three substantial legacies to the Society enabled the Directors to justify its title by occupying some of the chief ports of Europe. Some extension was also made around the dangerous coasts of this United Kingdom. But legacies did not continue to come in, though valued friends continued to go out and up. Well, as for a time, the ordinary income was not materially increased, and as some liabilities gathered, the Directors had to break in upon their modest little reserve fund. Outside of the ordinary monthly salaries to the agents, there are other necessary expenses which must be regularly met, to say nothing of special claims which naturally arise. A demand for a new edition of our "Sailors' Hymn Book" was long demanded from many a port, but for years resisted because of the money question. But this year we boldly published an edition of 10,000 copies. If you suppose such things can be done without money, enquire of the printers, and they will quickly tell you, "we work not for pleasure, but for profit." The Directors felt compelled to resist an action at law, and though the verdict was given in their favour, yet even

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the best of lawyers expect their fees. Several small ports which had long subscribed to the Society's funds thought the time had come when they ought to have something in return toward missionary work in their own ports. Under these circumstances, and considering the Society dare not go into debt, and that no port can be conveniently given up, or outlay reduced, this bazaar, as the Treasurer says, is most opportune. The Directors would remind all present that this is the oldest Sailors' Society in the world, that its sphere of labour is the mercantile navies floating on all seas; it does not flaunt the badge of any sect, nor raise the war cry of a particular creed. Its name, "British and foreign," points to the great conception of its founders, and while it is a living name will be its distinguishing glory.

(2.) The Recent Voyage of the "Sunbeam" adds additioual interest and makes the time of the bazaar all the more opportune. When the question came up, "who should open our Sailors' Bazaar?" I thought of several ladies who might possibly do so, but the Camberwell ladies were unanimous, as we all were, that the distinguished voyager and writer now on the platform should be first invited.

*

Her ladyship's presence with us to-day, with her family, is the cordial response to our invite. We are all proud of this adopted daughter of old Father Neptune. It is appropriate that one so long associated with the sea, by voyages and by her popular writings, should open this nautical bazaar to day. I have no

* Lady Brassey is here represented as welcoming a shipwrecked crew. Her ladyship has still the same genial and cordial spirit.-ED.

hesitation in saying that the Voyage of the Sunbeam has proved one of the most popular books published during the last few years, English Family Life on the Ocean Wave, with pictures of many lands, and all well told. A lady friend at Carlisle, in sending a parcel for this bazaar, writes:-"Lady Brassey's Voyage of the Sunbeam is one of two or three books of which my pupils never tire. The extracts and comments this month in Chart and Compass will be much appreciated by them." If any additional proofs were needed of this lady's capacity for judging of a good thing, its to be found in the fact that she speaks most favourably of Chart and Compass as a sailors' magazine! The "Sunbeam" boat in the centre, so kindly lent to us by Messrs. Forrestt and Sons, with her gallant crew, and this nautical appearance and atmosphere, all point to the sea. Above us is a picture of the vessel which safely took the voyagers round the world. Lady Brassey has also given us a painting of the "Sunbeam" and forty copies of her works, bearing her ladyship's autograph; while in the adjoining hall is a beautiful exhibition of articles just collected on the Shetland and Orkney Islands. This crowded hall and this hearty reception prove we have made no mistake to-day in welcoming to our midst Lady Brassey, the sailors' friend. It will be readily acknowledged with the Treasurer that this visit is most opportune.

(3.) The recent storms also make this bazaar most opportune. Storms which, for suddenness and violence, have come upon us, sweeping our dangerous coasts with terrific fury. Telegrams from all points of the compass have come in upon us with lightning speed, telling of disasters and death following in the wake of the great gales. Remember our brave and heroic fishermen when caught by these tempests in their frail barques are in the greatest danger. A long list has been added to those noble men who sleep beneath the waves. The Lord Mayor, in taking his seat in the Justice Room, and I might say the Mercy Room, last week, said to his fellow-citizens:

"It will be enough, I think, to state that in four villages in Berwickshire thirty-one boats, representing an aggregate value of at least £10,000, have been lost; and that 167 men have perished, leaving ninety-one widows and 302 orphan children, besides in many cases aged fathers and mothers or other relatives dependent upon them for support. These poor fellows who have so miserably perished were, I am told, not only among the bravest, but amongst the best in their respective communities. The storm in which they were lost was beyond all previous experience in respect of suddenness, duration, and violence."

But the small coasters and larger sailing ships also suffered. Here are specimens of the telegrams :

"At Yarmouth the gale was felt with full severity, and many shipping casualties are reported. A vessel, name unknown, has been lost with all hands on Hasborough Sands."

LADY BRASSEY OPENING OUR SAILORS' BAZAAR.

367 "The Favourite,' of Swansea, was lost in the Bristol Channel. Two men were drowned, and three saved."

"The South Shields' (pilot cobble), containing Thomas Young, Thomas Kindle, and John Ramsay, was capsized in a gale, and all three were drowned."

"A small schooner exhibited signals of distress off Puffin Island, in Menai Straits, but sank with all hands before the lifeboat from Pennon could reach her."

The barque "Lebu" dragged her anchors to within a mile-and-a-half off Douglas Head.

'Douglas Head. A lifeboat, in trying to reach the vessel, was dismasted. Then a second lifeboat was sent out. This boat succeeded in reaching the ship, and took off the master, his wife, and fifteen of the crew; but just as the last man swung off a heavy sea capsized the lifeboat, and four of her crew, with the master of the "Lebu," were drowned. The others were saved. The "Lebu" last night was still riding at her anchors; but it was feared that if the gale continued she must part, and be dashed on the coast. The collier "Cornubia was wrecked off Roche's Point, Queen's County, on Wednesday night. The crew, seven in number, were drowned. During the heavy gale which prevailed yesterday morning, a schooner was dashed to pieces at Town Beach, about two miles eastward of the entrance to Falmouth Harbour. The Coast-guard were on the look-out, with their apparatus, which they did not use, because immediately the vessel stranded the crew were swept off the deck and drowned. The vessel was found to be the "Fortitude," of West Hartlepool, 87 tons register. A large Australian barque, called the "Idenio," went ashore at Rocky Bay, seven miles west of Kinsale Harbour, yesterday morning. Only two of the crew were saved."

But our modern steamers did not escape the fury of the waves and winds. The "Calliope," of Cardiff, was lost with all hands save the poor solitary fellow who was rescued by fishermen. (I see Sir Thomas Brassey has just come in; we are glad to give the navigator of the "Sunbeam" a hearty welcome. He has just come from the Admiralty, where we hope they will not steal his heart from the merchant service. I hope, Sir Thomas, on the floor of the British House of Commons, will yet lift up his voice for the British Merchant Sailors.) I was speaking of recent steamboat disasters. I cannot speak of all, or enter into any details. There is the ill-fated "Clan Macduff." Some were saved after long exposure in open boats, but some forty souls are missing. Then you have the "Cyprian," which only left Liverpool on Thursday week, bound for Genoa, which, if she had reached, our missionary would certainly have visited, and probably have conducted services on board for the crew of twenty-seven hands. But she was caught in the great gale, immediately on leaving Liverpool, and just laboured round Holyhead. Soon she was utterly disabled and drifted on the fatal rocks. Between where she struck and the shore was the gulf of surging surf and broken waves. The gallant young captain, John Alexander Strachan, gave that last hopeless, and to the sailor, ominous command:-"Every man for himself, and God for us all."