every steam ship which is under steam, whether under sail or not, is to be considered a ship under steam.

Rules Concerning Lights.-Lights,

II. The lights mentioned in the following Articles, numbered III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX, and no others, shall be carried in all weathers, from sunset to sunrise.

Lights for Steam Ships.

III. Sea-going steam-ships when under weigh shall carry : (a.) At the foremast head, a bright white light, so fixed as to show an uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 20 points of the compass; so fixed as to throw the light 10 points on each side of the ship, viz., from right ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on either side; and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least 5 miles:

(b.) On the starboard side, a green light so constructed as to throw an uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the compass; so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on the starboard side; and of such a character as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least two miles:

(c.) On the port side, a red light, so constructed as to show an uniform and unbroken light over an arc of the horizon of 10 points of the compass; so fixed as to throw the light from right ahead to 2 points abaft the beam on the port side; and of such a character, as to be visible on a dark night, with a clear atmosphere, at a distance of at least two miles :

(d.) The said green and red side lights shall be fitted with inboard screens, projecting at least 3 feet forward from the light, so as to prevent these lights from being seen across the bow.

Lights for Steam Tugs.

IV. Steam ships, when towing other ships, shall carry two bright white mast-head lights vertically, in addition to their side lights, so as to distinguish them from other steam ships. Each of these mast-head lights shall be of the same construction and character as the mast-head lights which other steam-ships are required to carry.

Lights for Sailing Ships.

V. Sailing ships under weigh, or being towed, shall carry the same lights as steam ships under weigh, with the exception of the white mast-head lights, which they shall never carry.

Exceptional Lights for small Sailing Vessels.

VI. Whenever, as in the case of small vessels during bad weather, the green and red lights cannot be fixed, these lights shall be kept on deck, on their respective sides of the vessel, ready for instant exhibition; and shall, on the approach of or to other vessels, be exhibited on their respective sides in sufficient time to prevent collision, in such manner as to make them most visible, and so that the green light shall not be seen on the port side, nor the red light on the starboard side.

To make the use of these portable lights more certain and easy, the lanterns containing them shall each be painted outside with the colour of the light they respectively contain, and shall be provided with suitable screens.

Lights for Ships at Anchor.

VII. Ships, whether steam ships or sailing ships, when at anchor in roadsteads or fairways, shall exhibit, where it can best be seen, but at a height not exceeding 25 feet above the hull, a white light, in a globular lantern of 8 inches in diameter, and so constructed as to show a clear uniform and unbroken light visible all round the horizon, and at a distance of at least one mile.

Lights for Pilot Vessels.

VIII. Sailing pilot vessels shall not carry the lights required for other sailing vessels, but shall carry a white light at the masthead, visible all round the horizon, and shall also exhibit a flareup light every 15 minutes.

green

Lights for Fishing Vessels and Boats.

IX. Open fishing boots and other open boats shall not be required to carry the side lights required for other vessels; but shall, if they do not carry such lights, carry a lantern having a slide on the one side and a red slide on the other side; and on the approach of or to other vessels, such lantern shall be exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision, so that the green light shall not be seen on the port side, nor the red light on the starboard side.

Fishing vessels and open boats, when at anchor or attached to their nets, and stationary shall exhibit a bright white light.

Fishing vessels and open boats shall, however, not be prevented. from using a flare-up in addition, if considered expedient.

Rules concerning Fog Signals.-Fog Signals.

X. Whenever there is fog, whether by day or night, the fog signals described below shall be carried and used, and shall be sounded at least every five minutes, viz.:

(a) Mamm whip under weigh shall use a steam whistle placed before the funnel, not less than 9 feet from the decks

(b) Sailing ships under weigh shall was a fog-horns

(a) Mamun abipa and sailing ships when not under weigh shall m* #bell

Ateering and Nailing Hules, Tuso Nailing hips Meeting.

XI, If two miling ships are meeting end on, or nearly end on, sons to involve risk of collision, the helms of both shall be put to port, so that each may pass on the port side of the other.

Two Pailing Hhips Crossing,

X11. When two mailing ships are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, then, if they have the wind on different sides, the ship with the wind on the port side shall keep out of the way of the ship with the wind on the starboard side; except in the case in which the ship with the wind on the port sids is close hauled and the other ship free, in which case the latter ship shall keep out of the way's but if they have the wind on the same side, or if one of them lus the wind aft, the ship which is to windward shall keep out of why of the ship which is to leeward,

Two Nhips under Mteam Meeting,

XIII. If two ships under steam are meeting end on or nearly and on, so as to involve risk of collision, the helms of both shall be put to port, so that each may pass on the port side of the other.

Two Nhips under Nteam Crossing.

XIV. If two ships under steam are crossing so as to involve risk of collision, the ship which has the other on her own starboard wide shall koop out of the way of the other.

Nailing Nhip and Nhip under Steam.

AV. If two ships, one of which is a sailing ship, and the other a alam ship, are proceeding in such directions as to involve risk of collision, the steam ship shall keep out of the way of the sailing ship.

Nhipa under Steam to slacken Speed.

AVI. Every steam ship when approaching another ship so as to involve risk of collision, shall slackon her spood, or, if necessary, stop and reverse; and evory steam ship shall, whon in a fog, go at a moderato spood,

the

Vessels overtaking other Vessels.

XVII. Evory vonnol overtaking any other vessel shall keep out of way of the said last-mentioned yoursel

Construction of Articles XII, XIV, XV, and XVII.

XVIII. Where, by the above rules, one of two ships is to keep out of the way, the other shall keep her course, subject to tho qualifications contained in the following Article:

Proviso to save special cases,

XIX. In obeying and construing these rules, due regard must be had to all dangers of navigation; and due regard must also be had to any special circumstances which may exist in any particular case rendering a departure from the above rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger.

No Ship, under any circumstances to neglect proper precautions.

XX. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any ship, or the owner, or master, or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to carry lights or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper look out, or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

BRITISH NOTIFICATION of The United States' Blockade of the Port of Galveston.*-London, February 27, 1863.

Foreign Office, February 27, 1863, Ir is hereby notified that Earl Russell, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has received from Her Majesty's Minister at Washington, a despatch, dated Washington, February 6, 1863 (of which the following is an extract), enclosing a copy of a note from Mr. Soward, dated the 5th of February, respecting the blockade of the Port of Galveston.

"I have the honour to enclose a copy of a note which I received at two o'clock this afternoon from Mr. Seward, stating that the blockade of Galveston was resumed immediately, and will be continued until further notice.'"*

MY LORD,

Department of State, Washington, February 5, 1863. As opinions may be entertained by merchants interested in trado to the Port of Galveston, in Texas, that the blockade of that port by a United States' naval force may, in consequence of recent events in that quarter, have been interrupted, I have the honour to acquaint you, with a view to obviate embarrassments to neutral commerce, which might be occasioned by such opinions, that the blockade was resumed immediately, and will be continued until further notice. Although due notice of such resumption will probably have been * "London Gazette" of February 27, 1863.

given by the Commander of the blockading squadron to vessels which may attempt to enter Galveston, it is deemed advisable to communicate a similar notice to your Lordship.

Lord Lyons.

I have, &c.

W. H. SEWARD.

BRITISH NOTIFICATION of the French Blockade of part of the Coast of the Gulf of Mexico.*-London, October 27, 1863.

Foreign Office, October 27, 1863.

Ir is hereby notified, that Earl Russell, Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, has received from Her Majesty's Vice-Consul at Vera Cruz, a notification, addressed to him by the Commander-in-chief of the French Naval Forces in the Gulf of Mexico, and dated the 5th of September, 1863, of the blockade by the French naval forces, on and from the 6th September, 1863, of the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, with the exception of Tampico, Vera Cruz, Alvarado, Goatzacoalcos, Tabasco, and Carmen. The following is the official communication received by Earl Russell:

Notification de Blocus,

Nous Soussigné Contre-Amiral Commandant-en-chef les Forces Navales de Sa Majesté l'Empereur des Français dans le Golfe du Mexique,

Vu l'état de guerre existant entre la France et le Gouvernement de Juarez, agissant en vertu des pouvoirs qui nous appartiennent: déclarons, qu'à partir du 6 Septembre courant les ports et leurs issues, les rivières, havres, rades, criques, &c., des côtes du Mexique qui ne sont point occupés par nos troupes, et qui reconnaissent encore le pouvoir de Juarez, depuis la lagune à 10 lieues au sud de Matamoros, jusqu'à et y compris Campêche, entre 25° 22' Nd., 99° 54′ W., et 19° 52' N., 92° 50′ W. (méridien de Paris), seront tenus en état de blocus effectif, par les forces navales placées sous notre commandement, et que les bâtiments amis ou neutres auront un délai de 25 jours pour achever leur chargement et quitter les lieux bloqués.

(Les points à excepter du blocus sont Tampico, Vera Cruz, Alvarado, Goatzacoalcos, Tabasco et Carmen).

Il sera procédé contre tout bâtiment qui tenterait de violer le dit blocus, conformément aux lois internationales et aux Traités en vigueur avec les Puissances neutres.

A bord de la frégate mixte la Bellone, de Sa Majesté l'Empereur des Français, mouillée en rade de Sacrificios, le 5 Septembre, 1863. A. BOSSE.

of October 27, 1863.