h
extraordinary dispatch, that he frequently loses the results of many
months of toil in a few days, or even a few hours.

Of all men, seamen have pre-eminently a claim on public sympathy and
protection; no class needs the latter more, and, strange to say, no
class has, until a comparatively recent period, received it less. In
the words of Thomas Clarkson: 'The grievances of mercantile seamen are
a national and crying evil;' and when we reflect on their importance,
both as regards commerce and war, it will be acknowledged that it is a
national duty to do all that is possible to protect them while ashore,
and to ameliorate and improve their lot in every practical way. But
this, like many other national duties, has been left to the voluntary
exertions of a few practical philanthropists. In the words of Mr
Sheriff Alison (now Sir A. Alison), when addressing a meeting at
Glasgow, with the view of founding a 'Home' there: 'The seamen are
placed in very peculiar circumstances--their virtues are exhibited at
sea, and their vices are exhibited on shore. The community is
benefited by the former, and they, the sailors, are the victims of the
latter. It is therefore more incumbent on those who are enriched by
their industry, and protected by their valour, to prevent their
falling into those vices to which unhappily so many of them are
addicted. As had been so well stated, they could do nothing to improve
the character of the seaman without at the same time benefiting all
classes of the community.'

There is weighty truth in the last sentence. Undoubtedly, any and all
improvements, whether of the physical or moral condition of one class
of the community, reacts on all. But especially in the case of seamen,
the result would be beneficial to the nation in an incalculable
degree. Raise the moral character of the sailor, by inducing in him
reformed and provident habits, and he will soon feel that he has a
_stake_ in the prosperity and security of his country; and he will
indeed repay all that has been done for him by his steady industry in
peace, and by his gallantry in war; for we think it is a great error
to suppose, as some do, that a mere reckless outcast will fight more
bravely than a man who feels that he is a responsible and respected
citizen of a great nation, with his own proportionate interests
involved in the results of the conflict.

It is to protect the seaman from extortion and temptation while
ashore, and to elevate