232 THE WHALEMAN ; OK, 



purpose of the friends of seamen connected with 

 the several religious denominations in seaport 

 towns, to place on board of such vessels copies 

 of the Word of God, moral and religious books, 

 the Family Library, tracts, &c. We believe this 

 is the usual practice in other whaling ports ;* but 

 to what extent this arrangement is generally car- 

 ried out we are unable to say. 



We acknowledge with gratitude the repeated 

 donations of Bibles and Testaments both from 

 the American and Foreign Bible Society, and 

 the American Bible Society, for gratuitous dis- 

 tribution among the sons of the ocean. Nor 

 would we forget to mention our obligations to 

 the American Tract Society for thousands and 

 tens of thousands of pages of tracts, generously 

 given to be placed on shipboard or put into the 

 hands of seamen. We believe that the good 

 seed of divine truth, thus sown broadcast from 

 year to year, will not wholly fall on unpropitious 

 soil, We are encouraged and strengthened in 

 this benevolent work by the express and signifi- 

 cant promises of inspiration : " Cast thy bread 

 upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many 

 days ;" and, again, " Sow beside all waters." 



More, however, should and ought to be done 



* See the Report of the New Bedford Port Society for 1857- 



