part, in turf huts, which they erect for themselves by the road side, and generally spend the Sabbath in the beer-shop. I never saw any body of men in this country, who so lived without God in the world; and as they move about from one part of the country to another, they are as a moral blight, which leaves sad traces of its injurious effects. We have seriously considered in what way we can approach them with spiritual instruction, and it appears to us that a scripture reader, who would go among their huts on the Sabbath, and in the week spend his time in leaving tracts and conversing with the gangs off work, would, under God, be the most likely instrument of usefulness. But then the difficulty at once meets us, of finding a suitable person; for, to mix with the navigators, he must be a man of judgment and energy, as well as piety; and even if we could find such a man, which I do not think we could, in this neighbourhood, we should almost have an equal difficulty in collecting for him a sufficient salary. If the navigators were our parishioners, it might be said that we ought to supply their want of spiritual instruction from our local means; but they are not men of this county, and we have no connection whatever with them, except that they are temporarily resident among us. A little while hence they may be working in Middlesex. Every clergyman, therefore, in England, in whose parish they may in a little time be employed, should feel as anxious for their instruction as we do. The number of railroads now in progress will, of course, increase the number of this class of men; and if they are left in their present condition, I tremble when I think what the effect of their perfectly godless state may be on the lower

orders of our country. this: we have a large body, whom I may call heathen, living amongst us in a state of drunkenness and profligacy, upon whom we cannot bring our ministry to bear, for, continually passing from parish to parish, they slip, as it were, between our hands. From a little experiment, however, which we have made among them, they seem willing to listen to a scripture reader; and one or two remarked to the man we sent, that "no one had ever spoken to them about their souls before!

Our case, then, is simply

Another picture of the same evil is given in the following passage:—

'In several of the parishes where the work is now in operation, from 100 to 200 labourers are lodged, and it is beyond the power of the parochial minister to give such a portion of time and attention to this extraneous population, as to lead to any reasonable hope of moral or spiritual benefit. Their state of destitution as to clothing almost precludes the possibility of their attendance on the public worship of God, even supposing a desire so to do were excited in their minds. But at present they appear to be destitute of every religious principle, scarcely knowing that they are responsible creatures. On the line extending from Bedminster to Wick St. Lawrence, it may fairly be estimated that from 700 to 1000 men and boys are daily employed, and will be so for the next two years. A memorial has been drawn up and sent to the bishop, begging his lordship's sanction to the attempt to do some good to these outcasts of society; for, in so doing, we think we shall, to say the least, be preventing the progress of evil in our respective parishes. The mischief already effected by

associating with men who are restrained by the fear neither of God nor man, is incalculably great. The boys of our parishes especially seek and obtain employment on the road, at high wages; and every serious impression made by the instruction of our schools, is soon obliterated. Our object, then, is the employment of a clergyman of our national church, who shall devote himself exclusively to the religious instruction of these men, collecting such companies as he may be able, &c. We believe, and we speak from experience, that ignorant, indifferent, and sunk in sin, as these wretched beings are, they have behaved respectfully to the clergymen of the parishes who have come in contact with them.'

But we are happy to be able to add, that this matter has already attracted the attention of the Pastoral Aid Society, and in the first case brought under the notice of the committee, an active clergyman has already, under the sanction of the bishop of the diocese, been sent into this field. Here is a portion of his first report of the results of his labours:

The first cottage at which I had divine service, situated between two and three miles from my lodging, accommodates eight or ten lodgers, and stands on the road side, in the parish of

The occu

pier has some intention of making it a beer-shop. I pointed out to him the evils arising from drunkenness, and directed his attention also to the consequences that must arise from the bad example and the profane language to which his six children would necessarily be exposed, and the wretchedness and misery he must necessarily expect to follow. Further on, I overtook a man standing opposite a beershop, and inquired whether he purposed to go to

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church? I answered some difficulties he presented, and assured him that Christ declares, "Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." He listened with attention, asked me for a tract, promising to read it, and if he could not understand its meaning he would get some one to explain it to him. While we were thus engaged another labourer joined us; he appeared very thoughtful, and when the former man left me, I pointed out to him the awful state of unconverted sinners, and the everlasting misery to which they are exposed. The poor man was much affected, and as we proceeded together towards the neighbouring huts I observed that he shed many tears, while every now and then he would stop and inquire, Do you think I can escape hell? Do you think I can be saved? Will Christ notice me? if I thought he would, what would I not do what would I not give? Will you pray for me? God will hear you, perhaps he may yet save me, do pray for me. I once heard a faithful minister preach; I shall never forget his sermon; it touched my heart; I have been very unhappy ever since. I wish I could repent, could believe that Christ loves me.' I gave the poor fellow such advice as I thought most suitable, and took him with me to a hut, occupied by the only family on the line that meet together for prayer. After divine service here I took my leave of this apparently penitent man, commending him to some there who knew how to sympathize with a wounded spirit. On my way to another hut I found men idly standing about the road, and addressed them on the importance of keeping holy the Sabbath-day. One of these asked me if I did not teach a school; I answered in the affirmative. 6 Then,' said they, 'we

will take lodgings near the school-room, and we will attend.' I next met seven poor fellows, one of whom held out his haud, and expressed great pleasure on seeing me, assuring me that he was going to prepare for church, and to prevail with his companions to accompany him. I then continued my visits from hut to hut, on my way to Mr. -'s school-room, where, at six o'clock, I ended my day's labours, with a full service, praising God, and saying, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name!" The difficulties and dangers I have to encounter are not few, the huts in which I hold my little meetings afford so ineffectual a shelter from wind and weather that it is sometimes impossible to have a candle burning during divine service; they are also, for the most part, extremely damp. Hitherto my heavenly Father has mercifully preserved me, and favoured me with good health in the performance of these arduous duties.

'Almost every day in the week I visit the labourers on the line, and take care so to arrange as to meet the more numerous companies when they are resting after dinner. On one occasion, as I proceeded along the works with my little bag of Bibles, Testaments, and tracts, to sell or give away, I found from thirty to forty men unemployed, and talking unprofitably. I inquired why they were not at work, and they informed me that the engine was out of repair. I proposed to read to them, and we retired to the shelter of a hedge, where I expounded to them for about half an hour. Observing one or two of them very uneasy, I expressed my fears lest I should weary them, and inquired whether it was their wish that I should proceed or stop. Several voices at