which Europeans are accustomed, especially in Asiatic colonies, is of course but very imperfectly supplied by men who can scarcely be termed domestics, since so little are they domesticated with their masters, as not to be suffered to sleep in those masters' houses. The Japanese servants of the factory must leave the island at sunset, and prove that they do so, by presenting themselves at the appointed time to the proper authorities at the bridge watch-house; nor, it is said, can any emergency, not the most dangerous illness of a Dutch master, excuse the violation of this rule.

The utter destitution of attendance, in which every member of the factory is thus left, during half his time, "without the means of even getting the tea-kettle boiled for his evening tea," is pathetically and earnestly dwelt upon by one of the recent writers, in apology for the immoral connexions which his countrymen are, he avers, actually compelled to form in Japan; and the singularity of everything appertaining or relating to this very extraordinary country must excuse the bringing forward an offensive topic.

(To be continued.)

A PARTING WORD WITH THE BONETTA ROCK.

In the concluding part of our reasoning on the supposed danger called the Bonetta Rock, in our last number, we observed, after assigning to it the position of the Hartwell Reef, that it would be desirable, as a matter of curiosity even to know where the Hartwell considered herself by her reckoning, when she was lost. The desire we expressed has been promptly satisfied by Capt. Harris* of the Hon. E. I. Company's service, who has obligingly forwarded us the following letter, from which it appears there was the same disregard of the chronometer as in the case of the Charlotte. Indeed the reckoning of the Hartwell seems to be singularly incorrect, being, however, to the westward of the chronometer, instead of to the eastward, as in the case of the Charlotte. It must prove to the satisfaction of our readers, how little reckonings are to be depended on, in fixing the position of sunken dangers, for in this case had there been no island to keep the Hartwell's own reef in its proper place, it would have displayed, no doubt, the same roaming disposition which the Bonetta Rock has done. The following is the letter alluded to.

Jerusalem Coffee-House, Dec. 10th, 1841. SIR.-I have been led by the suggestion contained in the last number of your useful Magazine, to seek for information respecting the loss of the Hartwell East Indiaman. To those of your readers who have taken an interest in the discussion, as to the existence of the Bonetta Rock, and the loss of the Charlotte, an abstract from the Hartwell's log may not prove uninteresting.

We beg this gentleman's pardon for having inadvertantly called him “Hains,” in our discussion.—ED,

I have been enabled to obtain a copy of the captain's journal, terminating on the 23rd of May, the day previous to her loss, and the only remaining record in the India House of this unfortunate ship.

To the Editor, &c.

I am, &c.,

The Hartwell, a new ship of 937 tons, having a large quantity of treasure on board, sailed from the Downs on the 13th of April, 1787, bound to China direct; and made the Island of Madeira on the 13th of May, when we find the following entry in her log:

"NB. From the bearings at noon, found an error in my longitude by account, of 1° 20′, and 50′ in the timekeeper, which is equal to 3m. 20s. of time."

This error in her longitude by account does not appear to have been subsequently corrected, and which, as will be hereafter seen, probably led to the loss of the ship. The error in her timekeeper I find was rectified on the following day by the bearings of the land.

"May 14th at noon.-' -The body of Madeira bearing N.b.E., the southernmost Desertas N.E.b.E.; latitude by observation 32° 00′ N., longitude by timekeeper 16° 52′ W."

This longitude closely agrees with the above bearings, and therefore from this point we have a fresh departure.

I may here observe that fifty-seven years ago, the mode of navigating a ship by carrying on the dead-reckoning, without reference to the chronometer, was more general than now, partly, perhaps, from prejudice, and partly from a want of confidence in the timekeeper, that valuable instrument not having then attained its present perfection. It was not, therefore, unusual in working a ship's log to a distant port to find the longitude by account some three or four degrees inland. In fact, it is on record that an American ship bound to Calcutta, found herself at the entrance of Bombay harbour during the south-west monsoon, when by her dead-reckoning she was off Point Palmyras in the Bay of Bengal.

On the 20th of May, a serious mutiny broke out amongst the crew, for the purpose, it was said, of possessing themselves of the immense treasure she had on board, but the mutineers were brought to obedience by the resolute conduct of the captain and his officers: it was, however, thought advisable for the preservation of the ship, and the large property at stake to proceed forthwith to the nearest port to land the ringleaders.

At noon on the 22d, the latitude observed was 20° 15′ N., longitude by timekeeper 22° 25′ W., and longitude by account 24° 26' W., or 2° to the westward of chronometer, St. Antonio bearing S.b. W. 68 leagues, and Porto Praya, bearing S. 4° E., 107 leagues. We have then the 'lowing entry in the log.

befor

for Shaped my course for Porto Praya in St. Jago, that island being ited, and having a governor."

once

writer w to this resolution it was evidently the intention of the comfollowed. f the Hartwell to have passed to the westward of all the Cape

Verde Islands, as he had been previously steering a south-west course; and daily calculating his bearing and distance from the Island of St. Antonio.

From noon of the 22d to that of the 23d, the day previous to her loss, the course steered was S. 2° E.; but owing to a current of half a knot an hour, setting to the south-west, the course really made good was but S. 4° W.; she observed on the 23d of May in latitude 17° 38′ N., longitude by timekeeper 22° 30′ W., from which position Porto Praya bore S.b.W. W., and the reefs of Bonavista S. W., or S. 7° W., eighty-seven miles.

The longitude by account on this day entered in the log, was 24° 20′ W., or one degree and fifty miles to the westward of her timekeeper, and the bearing of Porto Praya S. 6° E., fifty-five leagues. From this it is obvious that the bearing of Porto Praya is taken from the position of the ship by account, and course shaped accordingly, which course, with the slight current of the previous day, assuming that the longitude, as shewn by her timekeeper was correct, during the short run of nine days from Madeira, would necessarily prove fatal to the ship on the reefs of Bonavista.

In perusing the Hartwell's journal it appears that during the four days previous to her loss, she experienced the same degree of current, (about twelve miles per diem,) as that mentioned by Capt. Vidal and others, which added to the disregard of the timekeeper, precipitated her fate.

We shall now conclude with the following letter of Capt. Forrester to the hydrographer of the Admiralty, which so innocently confirms the statement of "the island," (Bonavista it must have been,) bearing north-west from the boats the morning after the Charlotte was lost. Alloa, Aug. 14th, 1841.

SIR. I received your letter of the 26th ult., through Mr. Macfarlane, in which you request a few particulars concerning the reef on which the Charlotte was wrecked.

The latitude by good observation at noon same day the Charlotte struck, was 17° 4' N., and by distance sailed till 8 P.M., 16° 17'. The longitude was ascertained till noon same day by chronometers, and till 8 P.M. by account, 22° 21.' W.

The night was not dark at the time the ship struck, and the soundings were two or two and a half fathoms. The island next morning bore from the boats north-west, distance from twenty-five to thirty miles. So far as I saw any break of sea, it did not exceed 200 feet.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient servant,

ARCIHBALD FORRESTER.

To Capt. Beaufort, R.N., Admiralty.

We have now only to add that Capt. Forrester has most effectually proved himself wrong, and that seamen need be under no apprehension of losing their ships on the Bonetta Rock, in any of the places which

have been assigned to it, excepting as one of the outlying reefs of Bonavista.

*

We also perceive by the last edition of Mr. Purdy's excellent "Memoir of the Atlantic Ocean," which he has obligingly forwarded to us, that this rock with several others of the same parentage and locality has been rejected on the authority of the chart of the Etna's track, which we published in 1839, confirmed by the American surveying expedition of Capt. Wilkes in 1838. Shipowners may now make up their minds in the event of any more of their vessels being lost like the Charlotte and Madeline, that they have got on the reefs off the northeast point of Bonavista.

TEXAS.

SIR. The infant republic of Texas is rising rapidly in importance to the commercial community, but more especially to that of Great Britain, who no doubt ere long will partake of a large share of its commerce; for I am informed by a letter dated 10th of May, 1841, from a gentleman in Texas, that "at least eight vessels have cleared the last spring for Liverpool, with full cargoes of cotton." Without alluding to the valuable ship timber which that country produces, the article of cotton alone, which is generally equal to the Sea Island cotton, and is also annually increasing in quantity must ensure a great trade with England.

It is, therefore, but reasonable to suppose that any information, (however trifling,) respecting the bays, harbours, &c., of that stafe must be acceptable to mariners, which has induced me to forward to you a copy of a survey of Matagorda Bay, which I procured last year in Texas from an English gentleman who had resided in that neighbourhood, and assured me the soundings were very correct, particularly those of the channels at the entrance; a pilot can be obtained by throwing out the usual signal.

Should you consider this worthy of a place in your most valuable Magazine, I will thank you to give it publicity. I add underneath the position, &c., of two of the principal anchorages on the northern coast, by the late master of the Pilot.

To the Editor, &c.

I remain, &c.

J. HAMILTON,
Commander R.N.

Galveston Island, (east end,) latitude 29° 18' north, longitude 94° 48' west, variation 9o east. High water F and C, 8 A.M., three feet rise and fall,—good anchorage.

Galveston flag-staff W.b.S., five or six miles,-extreme south end of bar west, one mile, in five fathoms mud and good holding ground.

Rio Brazos, latitude 28° 54' north, longitude 95° 18' west, variation 9o east. High water F and C, 9 A.M., three feet rise and fall.-Good anchorage two miles S.E. S. of entrance of river, in five fathoms red mud,-current generally sets south-west, from one to two and a half knots per hour.

* Eighth Edition of 1848, published by Laurie, Fleet Street. We could not publish it, as it has no scale.-ED.