EXAMINATION OF MASTERS AND MATES. A List of all the Masters and Mates in the Merchant Service, who have voluntarily passed an Examination, and obtained Certificates of Qualification for the Class against each assigned, under the Regulations issued by the Board of Trade, between the 29th of August, and the 31st of October. J. C. Gilbert B. Oakley G. Lowe T. Harrison J. T. Jarman 2nd 21 Maitland, 648 tons ... R. Barter W. B. Salmon C. Cheswright J. Winkley 2nd 23 Cato, 265 tons W. C. Shrubsall 2nd 21 Aug. Jessie, 380 tons† 336141 London 30th THE LIVERPOOL EXAMINATION. Liverpool, 16th December, 1848. SIB.-Stimulated probably by the article in your Magazine of last month, relative to the examination of Masters and Mates in Liverpool, such examinations have now been actively resumed, although no salaried. scientific NO 1.-VOL. XVIH. H examiner has been appointed; but Mr. Dobie, the Secretary, sends every one for examination to Mr. Monteath, thus, virtually and apparently on his own responsibility, superseding Mr. Livingston, and has declared," he will never let another person be sent, if he can help it, to him, but the Board may do as it likes." The article in your Magazine, as I understand, being his assigned reason for his hostility to Mr. Livingston. In addition to the case stated in your October Magazine, another may be mentioned of a gentleman having been passed entirely without any scientific examination, and on this being remarked, the person who spoke of it was requested" to say nothing about it." This was shortly after the examinations were first carried on here. I have heard of a late gentleman, deeply interested in Sierra Leone affairs: writing to a friend, "We must save Government the trouble of thinking ;" and it really seems to me as if Mr. Dobie was willing to save the Board, of which he is Secretary, from any troublesome exertion of their mental faculties. Mr. Mitchell, it seems, is highly indignant, and says he will never sit at the same Board with Mr. Livingston. It is to be hoped the Board of Trade will take cognizance of the whole affair; and, in some way, prevent jobbing for an individual benefit, or partial decisions as to qualifications. Surely there ought to be different classes for seamanship, as well as for Navigation, &c., as many may be first-class seamen, but poor navigators, and vice versa. To the Editor N.M. ANON. THE AMERICAN FRIGATE "ST. LAWRENCE."-The visit of this ship to Southampton has occasioned that display of christian feeling towards our American neighbours in the persons of her captain and officers, which might have been expected; such we are happy to say as tends to cement that union which should exist between two civilized nations. There have been proper doings, therefore, at Southampton, and we regret that we cannot preserve any more vestige of them than the following speech of Capt. Paulding, from which, however, the character of the rest may be fairly inferred Captain Paulding rose amidst tremendous applause, and replied as follows :-Mr Mayor and Gentlemen.-In responding to your Worship's friendly salutation, if I should undertake to express all I feel, I should occupy more time than the occasion will permit. I came here with the St. Lawrence, bearing the starspangled banner, to your beautiful shores, and found a welcome as though I had indeed been a long lost brother. Your words bid me welcome, and your deeds are eloquent with all that proclaims a community's good will, or the free offering of the sons of a kindred land—(great cheering). The impulse that is given here to-night, Mr. Mayor, will quicken many a generous inspiration, and many a bosom in my native land will be impatient to mingle its kindred sympathies with ours; for, Mr. Mayor, you cannot indicate to us here in England a friendly feeling that is not joyously responded to throughout the union of our western shores. I am but too happy, Mr. Mayor, in being the recipient of these honours, and this cordial greeting given to my flag; and the compliment is the more impressive, that the best and noblest feelings of our social character are in communion consecrated here in this noble hall-(cheers). Sir, in drinking the health of my officers and crew, you have justly conceived that I owe you my acknowledgments as being proud of the honour of the command with which my Government has intrusted me on such service as this. In peace or war I hope and trust the gallant officers and noble crew of that frigate may, in the language of the memorable Nelson, "do their duty." Although we carry the elements of war, our mission now is of peace and good will to all men; and, Mr. Mayor, if it were otherwise, your kindness would put us in good humour with ourselves and all the world besides. I say, gentlemen, our peaceful mission devotes us now to the protection of persons and property on the wide ocean wherever we may roam, and the interests of the British merchant, and the protection of and solicitude for his personal safety and comfort would be equally regarded as that of our own countrymen, whenever and wherever it might be required-(long and continued cheering). Under the most ordinary circumstances this would be our pleasure, but, under our present relations with you, I cannot express with what lively gratification the St. Lawrence would lend her aid in protecting, if need required, the interests of the merchants of Southampton, and how highly appreciated is the cordial welcome she has received from the Mayor and Corporation of this ancient borough. (The most rapturous applause followed Captain Paulding's speech.) THE LONDONDERRY steamer left Sligo for Liverpool, at 4 o'clock on the evening of the 1st of December, having on board, besides cattle, &c., nearly one hundred and fifty steerage passengers, the greater number of whom were on their way to America; and that evening the weather became so bad, that none but the crew could keep the deck. The passengers were ordered below, the hatch was covered to keep the seas from below; but, sufficient space was not left for the purpose of ventilation, which caused the unfortunate people below to experience all the horrors of suffocation. One passenger, more fortunate than the rest, succeeded in gaining the deck, and alarmed the mate, when he, with some of the crew, hastened to their relief; but it was too late: 73 human beings had ceased to exist. ST. LAWRENCE CHARTS,-Their dangerous Condition. Extract of a letter from Capt. Bayfield, R.N., to Rear Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, Hydrographer to the Admiralty. The following extracts of a letter from Capt. Bayfield, to whose valuable services in the regeneration of the Charts of the St. Lawrence, we have had occasion to allude, places in a strong light the dangerous condition of the Charts of Cape Breton Island. But for the accidental presence of his officers during a severe onshore gale, the erroneous condition of the existing charts would have occasioned the loss of three vessels at one and the same time: and in these days of improvement when every care is taken by the Government to render the Admiralty charts available to merchant ships, it is no less important that those charts should be correct. Capt. Bayfield shews in a few words the incorrectness of those of his surveying ground, a failing which is too evident in those of our own shore wherever surveys are going forward. It is true with reference to Des Barre's charts, the boldness of their scale inspires a fatal confidence in them, and they still form the main features of the charts of the coast which Capt. Bayfield is surveying; but they have long been out of use in Her Majesty's ships. Extract-While thus employed, we were rewarded by the discovery of a dangerous rock, off Ciboux Island, a bar of 13 feet at low water, across the entrance of St. Ann's Harbour, and very dangerous shoals off the entrance of |