Not only must the evils arising from such be met, but I say more, they must be prevented. Every thing which can be done must be done, to prevent vessels being caught in these gales. But let me first consider what is being done to prevent shipwreck, apart from the wise restrictions imposed on the mercantile marine by our law-givers.

It may seem presumptuous in me to speak so plainly, but the public really are not satisfied with things as they are, and I will prove it. Why do the seamen on the coast, (the East coast,) put to sea when the drum or the hoisted cone warns of a gale? simply for the following reasons:-If I am crossing a railway cutting on foot, and a railway watchman calls out to me that a train is coming, for he sees it, I hastily seek to avoid the danger; but suppose he on several occasions shouts out to me, not to cross, because he sees a train is coming, when actually none appears, and I wait, and lose perhaps my dinner, or miss a probable engagement of importance; in either case, if I am a man of ordinary feelings, I at least thank him; although in the latter case while giving him credit for good intentions, I am likely to doubt his judgment, and resolve to depend in future upon my own eye-sight and experience. And thus it is with seamen. In the Shipwrecked Mariners' Quarterly Magazine, for July last, p. 163, under the head of "Meteorological Telegraphy," an explanation is given of what is really meant by what are officially called forecasts of weather. that the cautionary signals imply is look out, be on your guard, notice your glasses and the signs of the weather; the atmosphere is much disturbed." Is that all? How are seamen to receive this? Vigilance is the attribute of a sailor, watching his glasses and the signs of the weather have been his habit from his apprenticeship; and sailors can generally detect disturbance in the atmosphere by the state of the sky itself. The seafaring public evidently believed that more was implied in those signals, and hence their disappointment.

It says,

"all

In justice to what is now pretty well known as my weather theory, allow me to remind you, that in the page 164, following the one already quoted, some dates are given, (Nov. 12th and March 7th,) in proof of the value of the official system of meteorological telegraphy now in use. I do not dispute the value, to a certain extent; but if your readers will turn to your Nautical Magazine for January last, I at p. 32, called to your recollection my having in October, at p. 624, particularly cautioned against the cyclonic periods of November 14th, and December 11th. And again, I gave many weeks' previous warning against the other period, viz., the 7th of March; therefore, I claim (as I can in perhaps, all cases of recent gales of any magnitude) having given timely notice, while the official telegrams have been able merely to announce their arrival, at of course, the time predicted by me.

Now, let us suppose the system of meteorological telegraphy to be perfect: What is the utmost it can do? It can only make known to vessels near the land and in sight of signals, that they had better take precautions against bad weather, and very often the gale is upon them before such precautions can be taken, for in most cases they are probably, already caught upon a lee shore-while vessels in the offing,

which are out of sight of signals, may actually be running unconsciously into danger. Why should our signals, or warnings, or forecasts be limited to vessels near shore, when other means exist of avoiding danger? When months, and even years before hand, such warnings may be issued with infallible accuracy?

Now, let this be once believed, and a valuable means is provided for the avoidance of danger to vessels, wherever they may be. That such is possible, will be seen from what follows in this letter; and it is the means of preventing shipwrecks, which of all others is likely to be most available in future, in keeping up the funds of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society.

I have lately had many applications from the coast for more precise information, among such (and as indicating the extent of a knowledge of my system, and its appreciation) I have already enclosed for your private eye, a letter received from Aberdeen; I can show others from the Shetland Isles, Dover, Bristol, the western coast of Ireland, &c., &c., all indicating belief in the truth of my theory, from the writers having watched my marked days; some of these are sea captains, who have long kept registers for the Board of Trade. I will now, as an instance, give a copy of a letter, received from an intelligent ship master, whose name for obvious reasons I prefer handing to you privately.

"Bristol, October 14th, 1862. "Sir,-Will you have the goodness to give me a list of your marked days for this month, and also for November.

"I have lately returned from the West coast of Africa, and three of your days turned out as expected: a very great disturbance in the Trade winds (N.E.), and also a very unusual disturbance in the air. As I am much interested in a ship which leaves on Monday for West Africa, I should be very much obliged for your opinion of the weather about that time.

"Having had the honour of keeping Admiral Fitzroy's register for two voyages, I take very great interest in it; and particularly your lunar remarks which I frequently read in the Nautical. "Most respectfully,

"S. M. Saxby, Esq."

In reply to the above, I at once on the 16th of November instant, cautioned him to avoid sailing if possible, on Monday the 20th, or even during that week. We have melancholy records written in black crape, all round the coast, that I was strictly right. A grateful letter was returned from him, in which this merchant captain gives me details of the proofs of my theory, as observed by him on the coast of Africa, &c,, adding "I place every dependance on your periodical remarks, and I am sure some of my friends (captains of steamers) out of this port, would be glad to be better acquainted with them." And again he says, “In August, 1861, I just escaped the centre of a violent cyclone;" (then follow details,) “and I found on my arrival here it was one of your marked days." Now, this merchant captain

has written since the gale which I predicted for the 19th or 20th of October, giving me all due credit for my accuracy in thus forecasting the gale, and the subsequent bad weather. Finding from my reply that I am fearful of the 21st and 22nd, &c., instant, he declares he will keep a good offiing if possible, and pass outside the Cape de Verdes. He did not sail till about the 6th instant.

Another letter from a merchant captain at Bristol, and one belonging to the same owner, (who has fourteen ships, five of them keeping the Board of Trade register,) tells me on the 6th instant, that "when at sea in extra tropical latitudes, I have (he says) watched the changes of the weather about the time the moon crosses the equator, and in two cases have experienced otherwise unaccountable sudden changes of wind and weather, within an hour of the time mentioned in the Nautical Almanac." He adds, "according to your predictions I expected a gale or change from the 1st to 3rd instant, but we have had unusually serene and settled weather." The word unusually explains all. I desire no stronger testimony; I only in general predicted change. He concludes by asking still more information, but says, "I have copied off your dates, and consider myself forewarned and forearmed, though I think I understand your system well enough to make the Nautical Almanac, answer every purpose."

Respect for the value of your space forbids my sending at present further abstracts; but with your permission I will enclose this captain's letter also for your private satisfaction.

I have thus, sir, shown that many eyes are upon me, and that I am not without some public support, whatever indifference and private sarcasm may be shown towards, and cast upon me and my exertions, in working out this or some other all important weather theory.

It would ill become me to attempt retaliation: all my opinions have been plainly and faithfully offered in the Nautical Magazine, but there exists the binding thong strapped across the very mouth of science, which the greatest philosophers of this and of former ages, (perhaps the Astronomer Royal and Sir John Herschell excepted,) have by degrees so tightened, that we have in the question of meteorology a perfect gag to be got rid of, before a weather system of any public use can be fairly investigated and encouraged. The impossibility of any weather theory based on lunar influences is yet the cry of the multitude. As a proof, a few months since, I sent (intended as a compli ment to an official of some position,) a copy of my marked days. I had sent others to the very heads of the nation, and in most cases they were suitably and even encouragingly acknowledged, but this gentleman had the good taste, and good sense, and politeness, to direct his secretary to return my communication, saying that he "did not believe that any one could foretel weather for above two days in advance." For the present I withhold his name even from you, sir, out of respect for his office.

This, however, reminds me, that I am in a position to clearly show abundant proofs, that the weather tables published in the daily papers are not only fallacious in their attempts to predict for two days in ad

vance, but often totally contradictory. How can we expect the public to profit by such forecasts if this be true; and why should such fallacies be longer tolerated? If they were the best hints that science could offer we should receive them with respect, but science has nothing whatever to do with them. Science is knowledge, but these are mere guesses: to talk of calculations is absurd. Combinations there may be, but let us judge of their value by the test of resulting weather.

I am not seeking to advance my own opinions at the expence of those of others. In your columns I have sought the truth and that only, and have paid dearly in purse and peace of mind, in maintaining my belief in that truth, and now I see a most benevolent society being sacrificed and its usefulness impaired by fallacies, which I am resolved henceforward to do all in my power to correct: and therefore with regard to the test referred to, I will adduce an instance-let it be taken even from the past week. Now, if the weather forecasts as published in the daily papers be not intended for public information, and the public benefit, why are they published at all? Those who live inland may innocently imagine that because these are official they must be trustworthy: but ask the intelligent seafaring man, even the ordinary fisherman what he learns by them, and he will laugh at your belief in supposing he can put faith in such constantly contradictory probabilities, since the forecasts of weather for the Thursday for instance, are not unfrequently ignored by next post, and a new opinion published, neither of which agree with resulting weather. Now, lest it be supposed that this is overwrought, let us turn to the daily papers of the past week, we there see that the Daily Telegraph of the undermentioned dates gives quite contradictory opinions as to the Friday, as follows:

Nov. 13th.-Foretold for Friday N.N.W to E.N.E., strong to fresh. Nov. 14th.-Foretold for Friday S.E. to S. W., strong, snow or rain. Thus, in the first place, assuming the wind to blow from some one of one half of the points of the compass is a pretty wide licence, because northerly winds and southerly winds are of opposite character in the weather produced. The actual weather at Sheerness (being the SouthEast part of England,) was as under:—

Wind at Sheerness northerly, nearly calm, and very fine. No strong wind, no snow, no rain, nor any appearance of either; but lest the accuracy of my register should be impugned, let us refer to the official register itself, as given for Friday in the Daily Telegraph of Saturday, the 15th instant.

Wind at Dover.-N.N.E., 2, meaning light airs with scarcely a cloud. Wind at London.-N.E., 1, or scarcely a breath, and perfectly cloudless.

Now, what can any reasonable man (setting aside the experienced and veteran sailor,) think of such forecasts? Of what use are they? I can produce plenty of such contradictions from the same lists. If my own theory have even little merit, (but I dispute this,) it must be better even in its novelty as exciting attention, than a so-called

system, which dispirits those by its palpable failures who look for help from science; and I therefore throw down this public challenge in favour of my system, which has theory and facts as its foundation. I may have much yet to learn, and I dare say a liberal public would accord to me the same indulgence which has been so long given to present attempts to benefit the shipping interest, by attending to weather warnings. But let it be shown in any one instance, say in the approaching 21st and 22nd, &c., Nov. that I am mistaken, and I will freely acknowledge it in your columns-unfair as it would be to put a single failure out of three years, in counterpoise to the hundreds which I can bring during the past twelve months, as belonging to the present system. I must again and again declare, that I know enough of certain parties, to highly respect them and their praiseworthy labours, but what can they do in defiance of the philosophical dogma which denies to them, as it does to us all, the free exercise of reason, and should they advocate a lunar theory, would brand them, as it does me, (although little I care for it,) with the stigma of credulity and incompetence, or worse.

I believe, therefore, that next to the prompt assistance needed by the Shipwrecked Mariners' Society, the best we can do for it permanently, is to more extensively forewarn merchant captains, as to the periods which I have so often mentioned in your numbers of the Nautical Magazine, viz., the times of lunar stitial colure, and lunar eqninox, but more especially when these happen, (as they will on the 21st and 22nd instant,) at or near the time of the new moon in perigee. I have, &c.,

To the Editor of the Nautical Magazine.

S. M. SAXBY.

THE LIVERPOOL MERCANTILE MARINE SERVICE ASSOCIATION.

A general meeting of the Liverpool Marine Service Association was held at tho rooms of the Association, Water Street, on the 10th November, Captain Sproule presiding. Among those present were Captains G. Hamlin, J. Miller, S. Gale, G. Roche, W. Hoskins, T. Hamlin, J. Olive, J. Wright, W. Wilson, W. T. Marsden, B. J. Thomson (Secretary), J. Owen, J. R. Cameron, A. Webster, J. Wilson, J. G. Scott, H. J. Ward (Treasurer), W. Mason, W. E. Betts, G. M'Donald, J. Colvin, P. C. Petrie, J. Hogg, J. Henderson, Worsley, Clint, &c., &c.

Mr. Thomson, the Secretary, read the Report of the Council:

The Council regrets that, from various causes, no general meeting of the members and associates has been held since the last annual meeting; but it trusts that for the future they will be called together at least every two months, in order that not only the interest of members