Page:The Chinese Repository - Volume 01.djvu/310

 Marine Intelligence.

.—The arrival of a Chaplain for seamen in the port of Canton, was noticed in our last number. He has now preached four Sabbaths, and, as we hear from various quarters, to numerous and attentive auditories. The masters of different ships have very obligingly, prepared their decks for these services, and offered their boats to convey the Chaplain from and to Canton, where he resides.

Notice has been given, that on the next Lord's day, Dec. 2nd, by permission of Divine Providence, the Bethel flag will be hoisted for the first time on board the ship Morrison, and that the Rev. will perform divine service, and preach a sermon on that occasion.

We are most heartily glad to see the interest which is begining to be manifested, here and elsewhere, in behalf of seamen. They are emphatically, the sinews of commerce, and substantial links in the great chain that binds continents together. Weaken them, and you hinder the free intercourse of nations; destroy them, and you strike a death-blow to the vitals of states and empires; elevate them, and under the direction of intelligent and scientific masters, you have a community, than which none is more hardy, active, generous, and worthy.

For the sake of our distant readers we would remark, that Whampoa is the anchorage for all foreign vessels trading at Canton. It is in lat, 23 degrees min. N., and about 14 miles east from Canton city. It has now about 50 sail, and about 3000 seamen. It is a fine, safe anchorage; and contains, annually, during the autumnal and first winter month, according to the number of sail, one of the finest and richest fleets in the world.

.—There are now at this anchorage some fifteen or twenty ships; the U. S. Ship Peacock, Captain D. Geisinger, is among this number.

—On the 29th of Sept., the Emperor in council, issued an order to all the maritime provinces, directing the local officers to put the forts and ships-of-war in repair, in order to scour the seas from time to time, and drive away any European vessels that may make their appearance on the coast. Allusion is made to the ships which have lately entered the "inner seas," (as he calls the north-east coast) much to the annoyance of his Majesty.