rounding people, and harassment by
constant watching, through all weather, for smugglers. The nature and
regulations of the Coast Blockade of Preventive Service precluded
anything like visiting or _personal_ kindness. There was really no way
of benefiting them except by providing them with literature calculated
to promote their intellectual and religious good, besides furnishing an
occupation for the dreary, lonely hours which fell to their portion.
This course Mrs. Fry immediately adopted.

She first applied to the British and Foreign Bible Society; the
Committee responded with a grant of fifty Bibles and twenty-five
Testaments. These were distributed to the men on the stations in that
district, and most gratefully received. As a proof of the gratitude of
the recipients, the following little note was sent to Mrs. Fry by the
commanding officer:--

MY DEAR MADAM,--Happy am I in being able to make you acquainted
with the unexpected success I have met with in my attempt to
forward, among the seamen employed on the coast, your truly
laudable and benevolent desire--the dissemination of the Holy
Scriptures. I have made a point of seeing Lieutenant H., who has
promised me that if you will extend your favors to Dutchmere, he
will distribute the books, and carefully attend to the performance
of Divine service on the Sabbath Day. Also Lieutenant D., who will
shortly have a command in this division. I trust, Madam, I shall be
still further able to forward those views, which must, to all who
embrace them, prove a sovereign balm in the hour of death and the
day of judgment. With respectful compliments to the ladies, allow
me to remain, dear Madam, your devoted servant.

This communication enclosed another little note from the seamen, which
expressed their feelings as follows:--

We, the seamen of Salt Dean Station, have the pleasure to announce
to those ladies whose goodness has pleased them to provide the
Bibles and Testaments for the use of us seamen, that we have
received them. We do therefore return our most hearty thanks for
the same; and we do assure the ladies whose friendship has proved
so much in behalf of seamen, that every care shall be taken of the
said books; and, at the same time, great care shall be taken to
instruct those who have not the gift of education, and we at any
time shall feel a pleasure in doin