W.S.W. by compass, in coming from the southward, due west; and when seen in line, W. by S.S. nearly, and, if the depth of water permit, vessels may run for the harbour with safety.

ROYAL NAVAL FEMALE SCHOOL, Richmond Surry.-The usual halfyearly examination of the pupils of this institution, previous to the Midsummer vacation, took place on Tuesday, June 20th, on which Occasion Lady Williams (the amiable relict of the late Admiral Sir Thomas Williams, founder of this interesting Establishment) and other Lady Patronesses, with several of the Committee attended.

The examination which occupied three hours, was by separate classes, and in the following departments of tuition; viz., Scriptural History, and Christian knowledge in doctrine and precept; ancient and modern History, French, Geography, Chronology, Arithmetic, Orthography, with specimens of Drawing and Needlework, and such exercises in Music as time allowed. The whole was most satisfactory, and evidenced fully, the care and attention which had been bestowed by the Lady Governess and her Assistants, in this interesting field of labour.

About Seventy-five young ladies all daughters of Naval and Marine Officers, most of whom had served their country faithfully and beneficially in other times, than those of Peace, were present; and it was most gratifying to observe the satisfaction afforded to several of the parents who also attended. The examination was conducted under the kind superintendance of the Rev. J. D. Hales, Minister of St. John's, Richmond, aided by Monsieur Corlier, the French Professor, and others in the several departments of instruction. The want of room for the due accommodation of the pupils, now eighty in number was plainly manifested, as in the largest room available for the purpose, many of the visiters, could not obtain entrance; and it has been deemed essential to the health, and prosperity of the Establishment, that a sufficient capacious Schoolroom should be erected during the vacation. For this necessary outlay, a special fund is immediately needed, and it is hoped that for this, as also for the permanent continuance of an Institution, commending itself at once to every parental, and we may add to the sympathies, of every British heart, there will not be found wanting, a full share of that aid, which those who are blessed with ampler means have the privilege of bestowing upon their more necessitous fellow creatures; and that the advocates for providing the Daughters of "necessitous" Naval and Marine Officers, with "a good, virtuous, and religious education" will not be permitted to plead in vain. A visit to the School in Richmond Green, or enquiries at the office of the Institution, 32, Sackville Street, will ensure its recommendation to every benevolent mind. We trust this appeal will not be made in

vain.

DIRECTIONS FOR BERBICE.

Gravesend, July 14th, 1842. SIR.I beg leave to transmit to you the enclosed Directions or Berbice, written by Mr. John Petley, at present Second-Master and Pilot of her Majesty's Steam-vessel Flamer, that has been employed, upwards of two ate

the Mails, in the West Indies.
Lieut. Robson the Commander of the Flamer and several old

It was composed at the recrt years, running
ommendation of
b "trading Captains

in the country, under the impression, as they say, that its publication will be useful, by reason, the Charts and Book of Directions were in a measure defective, among other errors no mention whatever is made in them of the Light Vessel at the entrance of the River,

Respecting Mr. Petley's competency, permit me to add that, Lieut. Robson has certified to the Admiralty, that by day or night, he never found it necessary to take any other pilot, and Lieut. Bousanquet who commanded the Leveret, on the Coast of Africa, certified to the same Board that Mr. P. was well skilled in navigation, had shewn considerable zeal and aptitude in making himself acquainted with the pilotage of coasts and harbours; and I have ever found him correct in all his chronometrical, lunar, and other astronometrical observations; that he has paid attention to the system of winds and currents, that he is particularly well acquainted with the pilotage of the East coast of Africa, Madagascar, and all the adjacent Islands; and I have ever found him trustworthy and attentive as a Pilot, and I think he will be ever found as a steady, and valuable officer in any small vessel. I have been rather lengthy, and I fear tedious, on the qualifications of Mr. P., but my desire to shew what grounds you had for confidence to rest on him as an authority for an Hydographical notice will, I hope, plead my apology. After all, you will be the best judge whether the document be worthy or necessary to publish in your useful work.

To the Editor, &c.

I am &c.

J. PETLEY, Commander R.N. DIRECTIONS FOR BERBICE.-Latitude and longitude of the Light Vessel 6° 25' 42 N., 57° 26' 00" W.; latitude and longitude of the Stelling, 170 yards north of the Court House, 6° 11' 48" N., 57° 30′ 30′′ W.; high-water full and change

4.00.

Berbice Light Vessel carries one fixed light by night, and a black ball at the foremast head by day, painted black outside and roofed over; has a smaller jigger-mast abaft, and lies in a quarter less three, low water.

From the Light Vessel to the entrance of the river the course is S.S.W., ten miles. To enter the river all vessels have to pass over a bar or flat of six miles in extent, having sixteen feet at high water, and only seven at low water, spring tides.

All vessels drawing from eleven to fifteen feet going up the river should leave the Light Vessel about an hour before high water, steering S.S.W., when about two miles from the Light Vessel the water will shoal to fifteen feet until a tree on a low point to the eastward is shut in by a bluff point bearing E.b.S. S.; you will then be about two miles from the entrance of the river, the water will then deepen from eighteen to twenty feet when you will be over the bar, the channel narrows as you approach the river, there being a long mud flat extending about six miles to the northward on the westward side, which is sometimes dry at low water; and a hard shell bank to the eastward, on which the sea breaks at low water; it is steep close to it, the channel is between these two banks, and you can keep so far to the eastward as to shut in Crab Island halfway with the eastern point of the river, and to the westward so as to open Crab Island, a handspike length of the eastern point; when about three-quarters of a mile from the eastern point open the shipping between Crab Island, and the eastern point; when off the east point which is five miles from the town, steer by south or S.b. W. in half three, keeping close to the eastern shore, about threequarters of a cable's length off shore.

To avoid a shoal off the south-east point of Crib Island, keep the Steeples of two Churches touching each other, or about half a cable's length of the bushes on the eastern shore.

Off point Canji there is a mud bank lying N. and S., of thirty fathoms in extent, having only nine feet water on it at low water, it is half a cable's length off shore, and the mud is very soft on it. After passing Canji creek you may haul out a little to the westward to anchor, with a flood tide, anchoring from 17 to 21

feet at high water. Vessels drawing 12 feet generally lie aground here at low water. Flamer's anchoring mark, Scotch Church, or Northernmost Church, on with the Court-House, centre of Crab Island, N. į W.

J. E. PETLEY, Second-Master and Pilot, H.M.S. Flamer.

NAVAL COURTS MARTIAL.-Three Courts-Martial have recently taken place at Malta. The 1st on a boatswain of the Vernon, for insubordinate conduct, who was sentenced to degradation, loss of seven years' service, and removal from that frigate. The 2d on two seamen of the Calcutta, for acts of obscenity, who were condemned to received 48 lashes on board the same ship, to be passed round all the ships of the squadron in port, the respective crews being on their action posts, and latterly to 12 months imprisonment in England.-The 3d, on a seaman of the Vesuvius, for threatening language to his first Lieutenant; he was condemned to death. The execution of this sentence, however, has been suspended by the Admiral, until the decision of the Admiralty in England, to whose mercy the Court has strongly recommended the prisoner.

SHEERNESS.-On the 8th July, a Special Court Martial took place on board the Admiral's flag ship, the Camperdown, lying off the Dock-yard, at which all the Officers in the harbour were present, to inquire into the charges brought against Mr. James Balscombe, late master of H.M.S. Larne, lately arrived from China, by his Commander, Capt. P. T. Blake, for neglect of duty. At the conclusion of the evidence, which was exceedingly voluminous, a verdict of guilty was pronounced against Mr. Balscombe, and he was sentenced to be dismissed from the Service.

PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.

[From the Naval and Military Gazette.]

Admiralty, July 4.-Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to appoint Captain the Hon. Sir F. B. R. Pellew, Knt., CB., KCH., to be Naval Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty, v. Captain Lord J. Townshend, deceased.

PROMOTIONS.

LIEUTENANTS-G. H. Richards-J. A. Dunbar-W. D. Wilkes-C. Brickdale.

APPOINTMENTS.

CAPTAIN-H. Forbes to Pique. COMMANDER-J. A. Stevens, superintendent of Packet Service at Weymouth.

LIEUTENANTS-J. Macdougall, E. H. Kennell, R. R. Western, and H. M. Baker to Pique-H, Byng to command Avon-M. Mottley to Thunder-G. R. Woolrige to Dublin-W. P. Crozier to command Sydenham-H. W. Hire (add.) and D. H. McNeil to Queen-H. Davis to Satellite E. Couch to Blonde-F. H. Harper, Sir F, Freeling, Bart., and W. C. Aldridge to Talbot-W. P. Chapman and J. A. Dunbar to Illustrious-R. A. E. Scott to Salamander-C. Bricklade to Madagascar-W. C. Alexander to Winchester-G. H. Richards to Philomel.

MASTERS-J. Brown, (act.) to Philomel-G. Filmer (act.) to Pique-Pyke to Columbia-J. W. R. Jenkins to Salamander.

MATES-T. P. Coode and A. Luckraft Su Excellent-G. Pledge to command the will lighter-G. K. E. [Wright to Lieut. KH. Parsons to Thalia-W. H.

Moubray to Caledonia-W. J. A. Heath to Pique-G, H. Towsey to Sydenham— H. J. Grant to Illustrious.

SECOND-MASTERS-D. Roberts (act.) to Dasher-J. Grandy to Chatham yacht -G. B. F. Swaine to Avon-W. Bryant (in charge) to Monkey-W. Byford to Sylph tender.

SURGEONS-W. Folds to Pique—J. Edwards to Excellent-H. F. Osman, MD. to Wolf-M. Hamilton, MD. to Salamander.

MASTERS'-ASSISTANT-G. Brookman to

Black Eagle.

SURGEONS'-ASSISTANTS-A. D. Milne to Pique-T. R. Pickthorne to St. Vincent-G. M. McClune, MD. to Excellent -J. Henderson (act.) to Philomel-J. Donnelly to Phoenix-J. Mitchell to Sydenham-R. F. Cullen, MD., to Albatross -W. Warden, MD., to Chatham Dockyard-Anderson, MD., Sheerness Dockyard-J. Peters to Dee-Lowry to Avon -W. Macdonald to Wolf-J. Henry to Salamander.

MIDSHIPMEN-J. S. Darrell, F. R. Hawkins, E. W. Bridge, F. J. Partridge, Hon. H. Morton, and H. G. Mildmay to Pique-M. Fox to Philomel-H.D, Graham to Spartan-G. Winthorpe to St. Vincent.

VOLUNTEERS 1st Class-B. C. Pym to Sylvia-A. Mitchell, J. Burgess, and

MOVEMENTS AND STATIONS OF HER MAJESTY'S NAVY.

H.M steam-vessel COLUMBIA has been commissioned at Woolwich, by Lieut.. A. Kortright, and will sail immediately to survey the Bay of Funday, under the direcof Capt. W. F. W. Owen, RN.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS.