The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-04-03
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

LECTURE ON NAUTICAL ScIENCE.-Last night, Capt.
John fl. Bell of the Baltimore Floating School,
delivered a very interesting lecture in the Mary
land Institute: Subject -Nautieal Science. He COM
menced by referring to the class of men in whose
behalf he appeared. Men who were required to
bear the perils of the tempest and the deep; to
whom were entrusted the commercial interests and
the honor of the flag of the country. The present
condition of the sailor was depIorable beyond all
description. As class they morally and So
cially degraded, and the interests of the country
and the claims or humanity demanded that rad-
cal change should be made in their condition. This
change was to be brought about alone by giving
seamen thorough knowledge of nautical science
and thus to improve them morally, socially and
intellectually. In this community the first step to-
wards this end has been taken in the establishment
of the Floating School, and its good results were al
ready being felt. Men who have never had ex-
perience in navigation have but little idea of the
ignorance OF seamen. In some instances it is
found that in crew of 40, 80 utterly ignorant
OF the duties of sailor and in many cases the COM
manders OF vessels have not sufficient knowledge to
direct the ship, and compelled to RELY on those
before the mast for her safe conduct. 1t is folly to
talk of becoming good sailor by mere experience
on shp-board. To be properly educated for the
command of a vessel, before man attempts to have
practical experience, he should thoroughly
understand the movements of the heavenly
bodies, the arrangement of cargoes, move
ments of vessels of the line, all the
laws OF navigation, international, commercial, ma
1t was not to be expected that this knowledge
could be gained on board ship, where each hour
brought its appropriate duties. A large majority
of shipwrecks are occasioned by ignorance on the
part of those in command and often the officers
who command ships which wrecked enjoy high
regulations as seamen, when they almost en-
tirev ignorant of the science. The lecturer next
referred to the condition of the English navy and
remarked that in England they had nautical schools
in every seaport, besides regular merchantmen
WI n re tfa xoalla
of British seamen. He next enumerated the
causes of shipwreck, to show that by far the lar
gest number of them occurred account of. the
ignorance or negligence of the commanders There
are, he continued, schools for the education of
physicians, because it is deemed necessary that
those who have charge TO a certain degree of the
lives OF the community, should be intelligent and
sklllful. Yet it was not deemed necessary to edu-
cate seamen, who not only have in their keeping
the lives of large number of citizens, but also
$500 900 900 of the wealth of the country and the
honor and reputation of the land. Ignorance and
cruelty went hand-in-hand, and where one was
found the other to be there also. Much of
the ineffciency of the merchant marine was owing
to the cruelty practised towards those before the
mast, by the commanders Education not only
refined the mind but the nature aso and tended to
give proper appreciation of the rights of all. He
closed by an eloquent appeal in behalf of the Nau-
tical School, and the elevation of the sailor. The
attendance small.
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MARYLAND TRACT SocI-
ETy:-The sixteenth annual meeting of the Mary
land Tract Society, was held last night in St.
Johns Church, on Liberty street, above Fayette.
large congregation assembled to take part in the
proceedings, which were of the most interesting
character. The meeting opened by the read
ing OF a'portion of the Scriptures, and prayer by
the Rev. Mr.. Wilson, which was followed by the
singing by the congregation and choir of the 563d
hymn, commencing, "The year of jubilee has
come" ID. 7. Thurston, the Recording Secretary
OF the Society, then read the annual report of the
Board of Managers The report refers in fitting
and eloquent terms of the death of the late Rev
Il. V. d. Johns, d. D., former President of the
Society, and also to the demise of the late George
Brown, Esq, one of the most liberal contributors
to its funds 1t states also that the number of in
dlvidual contributors has greatly increased during
the last year, and speaks encouragingly of the
great and augmenting good being performed through
the agencies of the society. During the past year
there have been employed by the Society twenty
colporteurs, who have made 80, ,2l7 religious visits
They found 10000 families who acknowledged no
particular religion, and 1000 families who were
possessed of no religion. They held Ala religious
meetings, sold 1000 volumes, and gave away
los. During the year the Society have distribu-
ted AT 1867 tracts, which will amount to over one
million of printed pages. The report of the Mana
gers, and also the following report of the Treasu-
rer, W. B. Canfeld Esq, were unanimously
adopted
TREAsURER'S
Maryland Tract Society in with W. B. Canfeld
Treasurer