surf. Arriving at this point, you should haul over to within a cable's length of the breakers, trending to the N.W. which will enable you to avoid the Shoal Patch off Rocky Point, which forms the N.W. or inner extreme of the sandy bight before mentioned. When the east head bears W..N. you will be inside of all hidden dangers, and may trust entirely to lead and eye in choosing your anchorage between Rocky Point and the inner heads. The following are the magnetic cross bearing of the northern edge of Shoal Patch-Rocky Point south eastern head, E.b.N.4.N. In order to proceed in security, and take your vessel into the basin of Western Port after clearing the inner heads, a look out must be kept from the masthead, as the mad banks, through which the channels wind, are too extensive and numerous for a hasty survey. -Port Philip Gazette, 14th August, 1841. RODGER'S ANCHORS. In a recent number of the Times we observed among various items of naval intelligence, a statement of one of Lieut. Rodger's anchors having proved defective. It would have been but fair both to the makers and Lient. Rodger to have stated at the same time that the anchor being short by 3 cwt., was submitted to a test beyond its power; and that, of upwards of 3,000 of these anchors already made, a defect in construction appearing once or twice, is no argument against the principle of the anchor. But in order to show that Lieut. Rodger's anchor can withstand the test in such a manner as anchors in general cannot, we will add the following. Another Small-Palmed Anchor on Lieut. Rodger's plan, and manufactured by Messrs. Hawks and Co., has just been delivered at Woolwich, for H.M.S. Winchester, of 50 guns. It weighs 61cwt. 3qrs. 7lb. and underwent the usual tests. On supporting different strains up to 494 tons, it did not appear to undergo the slightest alteration in its form, but an accurate measurement proved the deflection of the shank and the arms to be as follows, viz:— 16th 5 16th 13 16th With a strain of 20 tons, it deflected of an inch; with 40 tons, of an inch; and with the prescribed test of 49 tons, only of an inch, on being relieved from which latter it resumed its original form. This is a remarkable property in Lieut. Rodger's anchors, as many others of the usual construction, do not entirely recover their original form; and when it is considered that the measurement by which this is decided, is taken from the extremity of the arms to a point in the shank close to the stock, it will be allowed that the test is a tolerably severe one, and that an anchor to recover its straight shank, and the original curvature of the arms after bearing such a strain has a very remarkable property to say the least of it. The distance between these points in the present anchor was 9 feet 6 inches; so that the greatest deflection which it yielded did not exceed 140th part of its whole length, confirming in another point of view our opinion that, Rodger's anchor is superior to any other yet made. PADDLEBOX SAFETY BOATS. R. N. Club, Bond Street, May 16th, 1342. SIR. Having always advocated the necessity, that all steamers employed in long voyages, should be fitted with the Paddlebox Safety Boats, invented by Captain George Smith, R.N.; I beg again to call your attention to a recent catastrophe, appearing in the Times, of the 13th ult. which proves, that although no legislative enactment has passed on this subject, it is high time, that something should be done, to insure a chance of safety to the crew and passengers, in the event of a similar danger. The letter is from one of the survivors, and recounts the loss by fire, of the Madagascar Steamer, on the coast of China. A most melancholy tale it tells, of loss of life, and severe suffering: out of a crew of ninety-nine persons, forty-two only, were by the interposition of Providence, very miraculously saved, and it appears, that this perilous position of even the survivors, as well as those, that unhappily perished, was entirely owing to the incapacity and smallness of the boats! Now, Sir, Captain Smith's boats, are fine, strong, and capacious, some of them, capable of carrying one hundred men, being perfectly seaworthy. As you did me the honour, on a former occasion, to publish a letter on the same subject, I trust you will oblige me by publishing this, as I consider your valuable magazine one of the best channels of communication on all nautical subjects. I am, &c., To the Editor, &c. EDWARD. H. SCOTT, WEST INDIA MAIL STEAM PACKET COMPANY. Ir pains us much to be unable to say anything calculated to repress the growing conviction that this is a most perilous enterprise; not that there is anything inherent in the nature of the scheme to render it necessarily disastrous, but that the management is so supremely injudicious as would be fatal to any project, even the most promising. It is true, that this evil admits of a simple and obvious remedy, but the constitution of the human mind is such, that men prefer to attribute calamities to any cause except their own ignorance or indiscretion; and a fault once committed, is oftener defended than acknowledged. On this account, although the means of amelioration are attainable, our hopes of spontaneous amendment are but feeble; and certain it is, that the accomplishment of such a thorough reformation as the exigency of the case demands, requires much fortitude upon the part of the directors, as it involves the admission of past errors and the dismissal of every cherished prejudice and prepossession. It is right, however, that the opportunity of reformation should be afforded, and we are willing to render our best advice and assistance towards so happy a consummation. It would grieve us much, that any calamity should fall upon this most spirited and arduous enterprise. Such an event would operate most perniciously upon the whole interest embarked in steam navigation, and paralyze the spirit of commercial adventure in the same channel. Should no improvement have been carried into effect before next month, it is our intention to enter into a thorough analysis of the character and management of this enterprise; and we are only prevented from doing so at once by the apprehension that our expositions might occasion such inconveniences as the obduracy of wrong-headedness alone deserves. We entreat the respectable directors of this undertaking to give their immediate attention to this subject. Let them look to the dangers of their present position-dangers from which neither magisterial pomp nor inexperienced precipitancy can possibly save them. Was it ever before heard of, that the utmost skill and experience should be deemed unessential to the success of an enterprise of extraordinary magnitude and difficulty, though found indispensable to the prosperity of more limited and less adventurous scheines? and can the directors confidently say, that in the whole compass of their immense establishment, there is a single man to be found experienced in the conduct of commercial steam navigation upon the large scale? Is such an enterprise as this to be expected to succeed in the hands of inexperienced persons, even although those persons may unite much general ability with much plausible pretension? What are the fruits of such administration? There is scarcely a newspaper which does not teem with accounts of mails late-vessels wrecked, or missing—quarrels abroad-passengers almost starved-and vessels following one another by mistake—and at an interval of a few hours across the Atlantic? whilst, at other times, the greatest inconvenience and distress are occasioned by merchants being left without their remittances for months together, and correspondents without their letters. Do the directors imagine that such things will be long endured, or is it to their interest or credit that such things should exist? But all this is as nothing when compared with the loss which must arise from the working of the vessels under existing conditions. One vessel comes in with twelve or fourteen passengers -another, with five or six, bringing an income of a few hundred pounds, perhaps, when the expense of a voyage must be several thousands. There is the mail money, 'tis true; but how far will the mail money go towards paying for coal, insurance, and wear and tear? But we are departing from our intimated intention. We think the enterprise beneficially accomplishable, but not under existing circumstances; and unless those circumstances are so changed as to give the undertaking a fair chance of success, we shall, in our next number, draw the attention of the proprietary and the public to the subject.— From the Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal. HOLYHEAD PACKETS. In order to guide her Majesty's packets into the harbour of Holyhead during fog, a large bell has been directed to be placed on the lighthouse, at the end of the pier; thus, whilst the gun on the mountain warns them of their approach to land, and that on Salt Island directs them to the bay, the bell on the lighthouse is intended to remove all difficulty of finding the way to the pier. It has been suggested to us by Commander Sheringham, R.N., instead of bells or gongs used during fogs, that powerful whistles, such as those used on Railways, would be heard to a far greater distance. The proposal appears well worthy of attention, and we, therefore, should be glad to see the whistle tried. A machine might be readily constructed on the principle of the bellows, which would send forth a powerful noise, continuing its lengthened sound as it is slowly drawn up by the signal-man, with no more trouble than would be required to keep the gong or the bell going. And as the rocket flies further than the shot over the wrecked vessel, so might the continued sound of the whistle penetrate the atmosphere to a further distance than the intermitting sounds of the bell from the blows of its iron tongue. NAVAL INTELLIGENCE, Woolwich.--The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have ordered that a first-rate ship-of-war of 120 guns be built in Woolwich dockyard, and in compliment to her Majesty's illustrious consort to be named the Royal Albert. This splendid ship will be built on a plan submitted to their Lordships by Mr. Oliver Lang, master-shipwright of the yard, and will be constructed under his own superintendence, on the slip from which the Trafalgar of 120 guns was launched on the 21st of June, 1841. The superior construction of the Trafalgar under the direction of Mr. Lang, and his abilities as a shipbuilder, are a sufficient guarantee that a first-rate vessel on his entire plan will far exceed any yet built according to the modern system of naval architecture. It was originally intended to build a 90-gun ship on the slip where the Trafalgar was built, to be named the Hannibal, and nearly the whole of the keel was laid, but for several weeks past no workmen have been employed upon her, and the keel will be removed to make way for the Royal Albert. The Agamemnon, 80, a second-rate, is also ordered to be built, on the slip at present occupied by the Infernal steam-vessel. The following ships and steam-vessels are building in Woolwich dockyard:Boscawen, 70, third-rate. This vessel is to be fitted with an entire new stern on a plan recommended by the Committee of Mastershipwrights of her Majesty's dockyards. Chichester, 50, fourth-rate; Amphion, 36, first-rate; Gladiator, first class steam-vessel; and Infernal, second class steam-vessel, which is ordered to be launched as soon as possible.-Naval and Military Gazette. PRESENTATION OF PLATE.-A short time since a meeting of the commanders of the royal navy, took place at the Naval Annuitant Society's Rooms, Plymouth, for the purpose of presenting Capt. Sanders, R.N., of Stoke, with a substantial mark of their approbation of the services which he has conferred upon that class of naval officers. Capt. Hayden presided, and having eulogised the conduct displayed by the gallant captain, when representing their case before the Naval and Military Commission, presented him with a massive silver-gilt and elegantly chased snuff-box, bearing on a gold plate the following inscription:"Presented to Capt. Sanders, by the Commanders of the Royal Navy, as a mark of their approbation of the very masterly way in which their claims were advocated by that officer before the Naval and Military Commission on the 12th of March, 1839." The gallant captain neatly returned thanks; and the proceedings were exceedingly gratifying to all parties. Since the termination of the sittings of the conimis sion, Captain Sanders has received promotion, and been appointed a magistrate for this borough.-Royal marks of distinction of which the gallant captain is well worthy.-West of England Conservative. GALVANISM. We mentioned, some short time since, a few particulars of Mr. Hay's new method of coppering boats, &c., by galvanism. This process is now in full operation in our dockyard, and has been inspected by the Lords of the Admiralty, who have expressed themselves highly satisfied with its simplicity, and felt much interested for its ultimate success; their lordships also witnessed the process of coppering iron nails, screws, &c., and calico, intended for roofing sheds and other buildings; the screws and nails were tested by being driven into wood, without the previous use of brad-awls, and were drawn out again without the copper sheathing being injured. Two models of boats were coppered in their lordships' presence, and Mr. Hay took the opportunity of exhibiting to them several applications of the galvanic fluid, as a power to be used for propelling vessels and machinery, in lieu of steam; also its action on the compass needle.-Hampshire Standard. WRECK. The barque Granada, laden with coal for the Precursor Steam Company, made Aden on the evening of the 31st ultimo, and seeing the shipping in Back Bay, whilst running down the coast to the eastward of the town, the authorities on board jumped to the conclusion that Aden was an Island, and all they had to do was to sail straight ahead to reach their proper anchorage! The consequence was, they got too near shore off the eastward of the Turkish wall, where they anchored for the night; and a severe storm coming on in the mean time, the vessel drifted ashore, and she is now a wreck near the spot where the famous Denyeah Dowlut was lost. We are informed Capt. Cogan has been residing at Aden for the last month, arranging for a branch of the mercantile house he belongs to, being permanently established at that place: we trust it is the fortunate precursor of many others.-Bombay Times. EXPERIMENTS IN THE MARSHES AT WOOLWICH. Amongst the numerous inventions submitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and referred by their Lordships to the Committee of MasterShipwrights recently sitting at Woolwich dockyard, was a composition to be used in place of the substance with which vessels are at present caulked to render them water-tight. The experiment was ordered to be made by the mastershipwright to ascertain its value when applied to the purpose for which it is intended, and the results were interesting and satisfactory. Two pieces of African teak, a species of wood difficult to be joined together by glue, on account of its oily nature, had a coating of the composition applied to them in a boiling state, and in a short time afterwards bolts and screws were attached to each end, the joined wood placed in the testing frame, and the power of Bramah's hydraulic engine applied to the extent of 13 tons, when the chain broke without the slightest strain being susceptible where the joining took place. A larger chain of one inch and a half in diameter was then applied, which broke with a strain of 21 tons, the joint in the wood remaining apparently as firm as at first. The utmost strain the cement can bear in this form, therefore, remains to be proved when experiments are made with larger chains. Four pieces of haid wood were then joined together, weighing in one piece 44 cwt., and car |