THE Executive Committee of the Boston Society for the Religious and Moral Improvement of Seamen, respectfully report :

That since the last annual meeting, the opportunities of exertion in promoting the objects of the society, have been more favourable than in any year since its formation. A year of peace and of active commerce, has given employment to the great mass of our seamen, on the element which they love; and has placed them in circumstances, the best suited to the impression of religious and moral truth upon their minds. During the late war, our frigates were supplied with tracts, as were also the few merchant vessels which left our harbours; and by various means, they were widely distributed among our sailors on shore. But it was peculiarly our hope, in the commencement of our efforts in this cause, that while our sailors were at sea, we might in some measure at least prepare them, with better principles and resolutions to meet the temptations, which they have to encounter on the land; that we might there point out to them the path of duty, of safety and of happiness, and give them encouragement to enter and pursue it. And we are still sanguine in the belief, great as are the obstacles which are to be overcome, that very great good may be effected, in this large and useful class of our citizens. We have been repeatedly assured by those, on whom we can place the most entire reliance, even of the eager reception of our tracts by seamen; and we have never heard of an instance, in which they who received them, have treated them with levity. A great object therefore has been secured. It is proved, that tracts, written for their use, will be read, and even sought by sailors; and it is at least probable, that in frequently meeting with important principles and sentiments, in books in which they are sufficiently interested, to seek their pleasure in reading them, some of these principles and sentiments will find their

But

way to the heart; some good, and perhaps not a little, may be done. We do not anticipate the production of effects, which will be imposing; which will soon excite general attention. many of the most important religious and moral impressions which are made upon men, are known only to him who receives them, and to the searcher of hearts.

Your committee have to report, that since the last annual meeting, they have published,

"Prayers for seamen, social and private, to be used at sea" 2,000 copies. "An address to masters of vessels, on the importance of promoting the religious and moral improvement of their seamen" 1,000 copies. 2,000 copies.

The Life Boat" "Home; or a short account of Charles Grafton" 2,000 copies.

At the beginning of this year, many of our former tracts remained on hand. But such has been the demand for them, that nearly all, except of the last which we have published, have been distributed. Through the attention of General Dearborn, every vessel which clears at the custom house has a parcel of tracts, with a circular to masters requesting their agency, in distributing them to their sailors; and your committee avail themselves of this opportunity, of renewing their thanks to Gen Dearborn, for the interest which he has taken in the objects of the society, and for the very important aid which he has given in their execution.

Even if it should be doubted, whether any elevation is to be given to the characters of common sailors, or whether any serious attention can be excited in them to the principles and duties of religion, we may ask, whether something should not be hazarded for an object, which, if accomplished, will be acknowledged of very great importance? Whether efforts are not demanded for a class of men, by their course of life excluded from the ordinary means of improvement, and to whose privations

and exposures we owe so many of the comforts and gratifications of life? We may ask, since it is ascertained that our tracts are sought by seamen, and actually read by them with interest, is there not ground for belief that some good effect may be produced by them? But we will lay before the Society extracts from a letter, written by one of the masters of our merchant ships.

"SEPTEMBER, 1816.

Rev. Mr. Channing,-Sir, On sailing from Boston a few months back, I had put into my hands an address to masters of vessels, and likewise a book of prayers, a Bible, and sundry tracts, all being for the particular use of seamen. On perusing the address, I inquired for the author; and having a (circular) letter at the same time, and finding your name, with others to it, wishing for our assistance in aid of your praise-worthy design, I have taken the liberty to address to you this letter. In the first place then sir, please to accept my best wishes, for your happiness in this world, and the reward of a friend of seamen, (and all mankind) in the next. perfectly agree with you, that if your advice was put in practice, it would produce much good, not only in saving some souls from destruction; but present and daily good, in the social love and good order between masters and crews. I have made it a practice, for ten years back, as master of a vessel, to read prayers night and morning; and I have seen some good effects from it. I never found it ridiculed, but always attended with cheerfulness; and to appearance, with as much real devotion, as in any places of public worship on shore. On this my present voyage, which I must call a rare instance, I think we have more religious books than men; and with these, and the tracts presented as above, on Sunday, if bad weather, under the lee of the long boat, -if good, on the windlass, they appear to enjoy themselves; and if called to pump ship, obey with a smile. One thing I must remark of my present ship's company, which is, that among fifteen, the number on board, and in a passage of twenty eight days, in which we experienced much trouble, and bad weather, I heard one impure word, and one only, escape from the lips of one on board. Therefore I think your society may place some credit to the account of their tracts. I only beg you sir, to

excuse this freedom, and accept of it as coming with the best wishes, that the endeavours of your society may be crowned with all the success, which its good intentions deserve. I subscribe myself, your very humble and thankful

servant.

A SEAMAN.

We add also, an extract from a letter, received from an officer in one of our public ships.

JUNE 4th, 1815, "There are many opportunities here of doing good; and I believe that any exertions of this kind would be suc cessful to a great degree. The tracts which are published for seamen, are read by many of the sailors with considerable interest, and will undoubtedly have some good effect on their conduct."

We have now therefore, very carnestly to solicit the public patronage of our endeavours, in extending, as far as we can, the means of moral and relig ious improvement, to the seamen of our metropolis. Let it not be said, that they are constantly changing, and that there is therefore no distinct class, which calls for our peculiar attention. This is not entirely correct Many, in whatever part of the world they be, consider Boston as their home; and a great portion of the seamen of the state, in seeking here for employment, feel an interest in the place in which they find their means of subsistence, scarcely less than is felt by our native sailors. And will it not strengthen this attachment, and increase their interest in our service, to extend to them here in the hour of leaving port the means of improving, and of finding new pleasure in their hours of leisure at sea. Such hours have sailors in every vessel. Or, at least, they are called to no unnecessary labour on the Sabbath. And if on these days only they sit together, and read useful tracts, suited to the variety of their tempers, characters and circumstances, is it not probable that some will become better men? that they will be restrained from some vice? that they will feel happier at the close of the day, than if their time had been passed in profane, or indecent conversation. And in becoming more cheerful in duty, will they not become better seamen? we cannot but rely on a continuance of the patronage which we have received; and if our objects shall obtain the atten

ces.

How pleasing would it be if all were similarly disposed! How conducive to the comfort and happiness of their thoughtless customers, and of those who are connected with them by domestic ties! But there are some of a different character who seem unhappily resolved to disregard not only the laws of the country, but every sacred and social principle, whose shops and houses are the resorts of gamblers and drunkardswhere the miserable victims of vice are pillaged, without shame or remorse, of the scanty earnings, scarcely sufficient even when frugally husbanded, to supply the wants of their families.-Were it not that offenders of this character have increased, not only in number, but in their contempt of law and disregard to the peace and happiness of their nearest friends, the attention of the sober part of the community would not so often have been directed to us for relief; nor called forth such exertions on our part, as an imperious sense of duty has dictated.

The Committee feel in common with the members of the Society, great regret for the inevitable consequences in a pecuniary point of view, which have resulted from the prosecutions they have been instrumental in commencing; but they feel much greater regret for the necessity, which made a recourse to these measures an incumbent duty, in consequence of the failure of more mild and friendly steps; and in particular of their expectation, through the undertaking of a friend, to impress upon the publick mind, the destructive effects of intemperance, and to point out remedies for it through the medium of one of the public newspapers; but from an improper influence, this privilege, though at first granted, was (reluctantly however, as we believe) withheld.

Much good, however, we apprehend, has been done by holding up the terror of the law, as well as by awakening the attention of many to the evils it was designed to eradicate,

It has been urged by some, that an universal observance of the law would be productive of many inconveniences; but to say nothing of an argument which favours a violation of law, your Committee are perfectly satisfied that these in

conveniences are magnified, and are of no weight at all when put in competition with the deplorable evils which have long resulted from the unlicensed sale of spirituous liquors. The inconveniences alluded to are those to which country people would be subject, who have been in the habit of bringing their food from home and buying their drink in town; or who when wet and cold have been accustomed to purchase a small quantity of spirit at the stores where they were transacting their business. This is really the most plausible argument we have heard against the policy of the law. Surely if many country peop e have by degrees contracted a habit which constitutes a continual temptation to the retailers to violate their duty, it is time they began to form another, which would remove it. would be but a very short time that our country brethren would suffer inconvenience on this account; they would soon find a satisfaction in reflecting on the good which the relinquishment of such a habit would produce.

It

Your Committee have thought it unnecessary to enumerate the many evils which flow from the vice we are aiming to suppress.-These evils are generally well known and much lamented. They think it proper, however, to mention one thing which may not have been sufficiently considered-and which concerns the town at large. It is the expence of supporting those whose poverty has been produced by the too frequent and excessive use of spirituous liquors. We find upon enquiry, that out of eighty-five persons now supported at the work house in this town, sev enty-one became paupers in consequence of intemperance; being seven eighths of the whole number; and of one hundred and eighteen, mostly heads of families, who are supplied at their own houses, more than half are of that character. The expence of supporting that number, the year past, amounted to upwards of 6000 dollars.-Now, were it not for these persons, or rather that vice, the expence of supporting the town's poor, instead of six thousand dollars, would have been less than two thousand.*