to strike a vigorous and bold blow by running his fleet by the forts and seizing the city. This was no child's play. The stream was narrow, and was commanded for a long distance by the cross fires of the two forts. Above them lay thirteen armed rebel steamers, and among them the Merrimac and the ram Manassas. But the prize was worth the risk. The flag officer resolved to run the gauntlet of the forts, and then grapple with the Southern fleet, capture or drive them before him, and proceed at once to the city.

New Orleans, trusting to its forts, had within only an inferior, though still a formidable force of steamers, gunboats, and floating batteries. When, therefore, the forts were passed, it fell an easy prey to the invader. But how came the forts to be passed? They mounted, after a bombardment of twenty-one days, 100 heavy guns. They were so strong that even after New Orleans was taken, the commodore applied to have the Monitor sent to assist in effecting their reduction. They were placed so as to rake the approaches for two miles, while opposite them the ships were obliged to pass at only grape and canister distance. As the attacking fleet engaged them it had to contend with the additional difficulty of a strong head current, which brought down fireships into its midst. The forts opened when the fleet was a mile and a quarter distant, and continued firing until it was past. The guns were not ill served. They rained down a storm of shot, they sunk some vessels and disabled others. Yet, after enduring all this feu d'enfer, the assailants found themsolves, in an hour and a half from weighing anchor, within the forts, and with New Orleans lying at their mercy.

The fleet, with the exception of three gunboats, had succeeded in passing the forts with a loss estimated at 120 killed and wounded. They then dashed on the Southern flotilla. The ram Manassas, in attempting to sink the Mississippi, soon found herself going to the bottom. Her foe was too much for her. The gunboat Verona, after repeated brilliant exploits, was at last pierced by the beak of the ironclad Southern steamer Webster, and while sinking poured such a broadside into her foe that both went down together.

Of the thirteen Southern steamers, only two, it is said, escaped to tell the fate of their companions. Then the flag officer, seizing the Southern coal, steamed to the city and demanded its immediate surrender. The news, which came by the way of Cuba, was up to the day of the famous correspondence between the Union sailor and the mayor. At that date the forts still held out, but are now undoubtedly in the possession of General Butler; and from Southern accounts, coming to us by the way of Memphis, we are informed that the capital of the State has been seized.

So much for the fixed forts of New Orleans,-a ship or two sacrificed to their fire, and the rest run past them.

And so it would be with the Spithead forts, observed the Commodore, should they ever be built and attacked.

That may no doubt be the case, observed the Chairman; but might not such a fort be desirable for refuge; a weaker ship might find protection under it?

When England loses her supremacy at sea, replied the Commodore, her fate is certain. Not all the forts you can build will save her. But give her ships of the right sort to meet her enemy anywhere, and guns that will not burst, and while you have the right men to manage them, England will be as safe as she always has been.

Yes, sir, continued the Commodore, evidently warm in his subject, the real guardian of these islands of ours has been our ships, our navy ; and as long as islands they continue to be and those ships command the seas, the approaches to their shores,-they must still be so or, as I have said, sir, our fate is sealed. And what if they are to be all transmogrified into long, low, snake-like, hybrid things, made up of steam and iron? these must do their duty as the majestic race of real ships have done before them! But alas! who can look at this picture, this representation (in the Mechanic's Magazine) of the approaching fate of our glorious wooden walls without exclaiming, "What would Nelson have said!" and all those sea kings of former days, who have swept the seas of our enemies? He would not enlarge on the subject, it was too painful to dwell on; but he hoped that the Club would preserve among their rècords the commencement of the great change taking place in that power which had always been the right arm of this country, and that, although apparently reduced, its effective strength might never suffer. The following description of Captain Coles cupola ships, appeared to be an outline of what awaited the navy of Great Britain. The description runs thus :

my

statements

We beg to draw attention to a cupola ship for foreign service, Fig. 1, showing the side-plates let down for action. Fig, 2 shows a boat for coast defences. It is fitted with two shields capable of mounting two guns each. Fig. 3 represents a three decker partially reduced. and converted into a shield of large dimensions. The following remarks, sent by Captain Coles to a contemporary, are interesting:Since giving the lecture on this subject in June, 1860, much has come to pass, and I am pleased to be able to say that all have been proved, and more especially the last paragraph. As various reports have been made relative to my vessels being sea-going, I will shortly describe their rig,-1. The mast I propose to be of iron, peculiarly constructed, requiring very little rigging, indeed, only one large lower shroud of a side, and one topmast backstay: the masts are all in one, on the polacca principle, with Cunningham topsails. The masts. and yards for the three classes of sea-going ships are all the same size, lower yards being 70ft., topsail yards 60ft., enabling ships to supply each other on foreign stations with a spare yard. In rigging these vessels it has been my study to give the greatest amount of canvas with the least area of masts and yards when steaming head to wind. The manner in which our line-of-battle ships and frigates are now rigged retards them greatly, if not paralyses their movements altoNO. 6.-VOL. XXXI.

2 U

do so with a gun fitted in an ordinary port. Indeed, I believe there is no limit, and I hope soon to have an opportunity of proving that I can work the 150-pounder gun of 12 tons as easily as we now work the two 110-pounders in one shield. This shield weighs, with guns complete, 75 tons; but I believe the size of the gun, as far as working it, to be unlimited. It is merely a matter of fewer and larger guns and shields; when it is evident, from the results at Shoeburyness with 150-pounders on the Warrior's sides, that a ship carrying one of these shields and guns would take her.

Guns used on the shields should be the best the country can supply; muzzle-loaders are preferable to the present breech-loaders; they will be in the Royal Sovereign and Prince Albert. The latter ship is named by the special request of her Majesty.

The Secretary then read the following report of the last meeting of the Royal National Life Boat Institution, which took place on the 8th May. His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, K.G., President of the Society presiding.

A reward of £15 was voted to the crew of the institution's lifeboat stationed at Grange, on the back of the Isle of Wight, for rescuing on eight trips one hundred and thirty-four persons from the ship Cedarine, of Bermuda, which during thick weather had struck near Grange on the 2nd April. The Rev. J. P. Gaze and Mr. Cutajar, the officer of the Coast Guard, very laudably exerted themselves on the occasion. They were both thanked by the institution for their valuable services. The cost, £283, of this life-boat was presented to the institution about two years ago by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, and truly their noble gift has thus already been of essential service to the cause of humanity.

A reward of £25 was also voted to the crew of the Caistor lifeboat, belonging to the institution, for rescuing amidst great peril the crew of seven men from the brig Trial, of Poole, which, during a strong wind and a heavy sea, was wrecked on the Barber Sands, on Sunday last. In performing this service the lifeboat was seriously damaged by coming repeatedly in contact with the wreck.

A reward of £4 10s. was likewise voted to the crew of the institution's lifeboat, stationed at Aberdovey, for saving the smack Merrion Lass, of Aberystwith, and her crew of three men. The vessel had, during stormy weather and a high sea, struck on Aberdovey Bar, on the 22nd April.

Expenses amounting to £26 15s. were also ordered to be paid to the crews of the Teignmouth, Palling, and Yarmouth lifeboats, either for assembling or in putting off in the night in replies to signals of distress from vessels, which did not however require their assistance.

A reward of £7 was also voted to a boat's crew of eight men, for putting off and rescuing at considerable risk of life the crew of three men from the smack Lion, of Cardigan, which, during a gale of wind, and a heavy sea, was wrecked near Fishguard on the 12th April.

A reward of £5 was likewise given to a boat's crew of five men, for