The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-15 00:00:00

EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING OF 171 E AfER-
CHANT SEAMENY BIBLE SOCIETY.
Yesterday a a numerous and highly respectable meeting of
the Merchant Seamens' Auxiliary Bible Society tonic place a! the
City of London Tavern, for the purpose of receiving the eighth
annual Report of the Committee.
About 12 o'clock Admiral Viscount EXMOUTII. G.C.B. Pre.
trident, was called to the Chair. His Lordship briefly opened the
proceedings, by stating that he was happy to see so numerous and
so respectable a meeting, and requested 3lr. Suter, one of the Se.
cretariert, to read the Report.
The Report, which was extremely voluminous, stated that
within the last year 27/. Bs. 9d. had been received from the Ladies'
Association. at Westminster ; and from the produce of sales at
Gravesend and London. the sum of 208/. 2s. Id. The annual sub.
acriptions amounted to 1851. 194. rd.. and the donations to 51/ 4s. 6d.
But that after paying the British and Foreign Bible Society 1001.
on account of books received, and al:.o the Society's Agents, and
other incidental expenses, there remains a debt to the former of
144/. I Is. 2J. while the balance at the bankers amounts to no more
than 1131. Os. sd. The Report further set forth, that within the
last year there were 22 bibles and 315 to ships at Gravesend without
payment; anti that there were sold at the same place, to seamen,
at half cost, 817 bibles and 2211 testaments, and th seamen in the
coasting trade at three fourths cost price 286 bibles and 318 tegta-
mem, making a total distribution since the commencement of the
Society, of 10,430 bibles, and 11,380 testaments, of which 668
bibles, and 1871 testaments, were paid fur by the merchants in
London.

The Rev. A. BRANT/RAM. after stating that he had been lat-
terly much engaged in drawing up the Report of the parent So-
ciety, adverted to the benefits derivable from it ; and instanced
the great moral improvement in the seamen of Bremen and !Ism-
burgh. The merchant service of England was, he said, the nursery
of England's navy, and of course England's representative; and
although the previous conduct of the seamen might have been such
u to draw from other States on England the epithet of an unchristian
country. let, from the Report just read. it would be seen that a
highly desirable improvement had, since the formation of the So-
ciety, taken place. The Reverend Gentleman concluded by
moving, that the Report now read should be received, and adopted
by the Meeting.
J. IBI;SPRATT, Esq., an East India Director, seconded the
motion.

The resolution wax carried unanimously; ar was a vote of
thanks, moved by Mr. PARK!R and sceonded by Captain
R.N.,GAM-
nir.R,to-the Ladies' Association, under the patronage of her
Grace the uchess of Beaufort.

The Rev. Mr. SHEDD, a professor, from New Orleans, In rising
to propose a vote of thanks to the Committee, Treasurer, and Se.
cretaries. said it should be recollected that the present was only the
Eighth Annual Meeting, although it was the Christian era of 1826.
He considered seamen a clan of men who had the strongest pos-
sible claims upon society, and were the most neglected. Who. he
asked, had formed the connecting chain between civilised nations
and barbarians ? Seamen. Who discovered the new world ? Sea-
men. When in Europe no alternative was left between despotic sla-
very and liberty, who preserved them in the struggle? Seamen.
What would be one manufactories without seamen ? Were vat
the writers of the Sacred Work themselves in their own way (fisher-
men) seamen ? _ .

! • - -
Captain PARRY, R. N. then rose, amidst loud plaudits. He
declared that he had had the honour of commanding British
seamen, all of whom he would wish to see instructed in the Holy
Scriptures. It had been asstrted by the enemies of morality and
religion, that a sailor so educated would neglect his worldly duty.
Thts he rose to emyhatically deny, for in the moment of danger or
in the hour of difficulty he never saw more co..lneas, nor more con.
rage than that displayed by that part of his crew who were the
most religious. He had had the misfortune to be locked up in tile!
ice for one year, and during that period, not only were the Sacred
Writings introduced, but ,chrmis were established, and he could
with confidence appeal to his brother officrrs, in proof of the visible
improvement in both morality and discipline which tollowerl. The
gallant Captain concluded amidst great cheering, by becooding the
resolution, which was carried unanimously.
S. CLARKF., Esq. an East India Director, then moved the
thanks of the meeting to his Lordship for his conduct in the chair.
Thia being seconded by Captain BAZELOETTI, the question
was put and carried with deafening applause.
His Lordship briefly returned thanks, after which the meeting
separated.
A considerable collection was made at the doors ; and Zachary
ill'Cauley, Esq. Capt. Tarbut, and Joseph Wilson, Esq. were
added to the Committee fur the ensuing year.