may be thoroughly understood by the extract given above, when compared with the accompanying chart of the Mersey, as surveyed by him and his co-adjutors. His proposed "tide-diverting wall" is described by a double line on the chart, extending from Dingle Point, past Otters Pool, towards Garston, or, of a length of about one mile and threequarters; and marked EE E.

I purpose, in the first instance, to show that Captain Denham's plan is inadequate to effect the removal of the evil which he has so laudably pressed upon the attention of those interested in the improvement of the Mersey, and then to humbly offer as a substitute that which I consider to be a preferable mode of action, while at the same time I acknowledge the assistance derived from his admirable survey.

Captain Denham bases his means for the required improvement, upon the fact that the current of the ebb is very much deflected from its course by the abrupt face of Dingle Point, which latter, he states, "becomes so decidedly the point of deflection as to hurry it (the lateral current of the ebb) into the deep water column with such impetus as to blend with and divert the whole obliquely towards Birkenhead; wherby the tidal stream off the southern portion of the docks becomes so weakened as to permit the sand held in solution to deposit thereat, besides being too weak to bear away the silt driven forth from the several dock sluices."

Holding the above view of the case, Captain Denham suggests the construction of his sea, or, tide-diverting wall above described, and here the Author of this memoir has to remark that although this wall were executed to the above great length of 3080 yards, the dock frontage to the Mersey would still preserve its original character, viz., that of a convex shore, and would therefore necessarily continue subject to the same deposit in front of it.

The observations made by Captain Denham have caused that gentleman to attribute the formation of the Pluckington Shelf solely to the operations of the ebb, because the latter, being deflected by Dingle Point, forms an eddy or comparatively slack water between it and Canning Dock.

It is not however solely to the above circumstance that the deposit in front of the Dock entrances is to be attributed. Referring to Captain Denham's survey we perceive that the current of the flood tide becomes also an agent in causing a deposit. We perceive that the current of the flood is subjected to a much greater deflection at "Mile End" which is only partially counteracted in its effects in the vicinity of the lowermost of the docks by the contraction of the channel of the Mersey which there takes place, and by the form of the Cheshire shore at Seacomb which, in its turn, has the effect of throwing the set of the flood tide so abruptly upon the Liverpool shore below Georges Pier that its further course is deflected towards the Cheshire shore again, as shown by the flood arrows in Captain Denham's chart, and forming an eddy, or place of the deposit, on the sites of the Pluckington Shelf and the Devils Bank. These two banks would unite but for the current of the ebb on being deflected by Dingle Point, which thus keeps open a swatchway opposite the Potteries.

In all tidal rivers we observe a marked distinction to be drawn be

tween the causes of the formation of shoals. One portion of the latter are produced by eddies formed by deflections of the flood tide, and others by deflections of the ebb tide; and in the instance before us the Pluckington Shelf has its origin in a combination of both. Hence the great extent of the evil to which the entrances of the Liverpool docks are subjected, notwithstanding the rapidity of the tidal stream of the Mersey.

Let us imagine that the plan by Capt. Denham were carried out to its fullest extent, and push our enquiries as to what would be the result? Must we not conclude that the ebb tide would still be deflected by the convex shore, which his wall would continue to maintain of that character; and that the only change which would take place would be that the present channel between the Pluckington Shelf and the Devils Bank would be simply shifted about 100 fathoms lower down the river; or that the lateral current of the ebb would be merely inclined less abruptly towards the shore of Birkenhead, but would be unable to exert any influence in removing the deposit in front of the Liverpool docks. The cause of the deposit would still remain. The Dock entrances would still continue on a convex shore during both flood and ebb tide.

Capt. Denham does not strike at the root of the evil, which I propose to remove by the following means, which are illustrated by the accompanying chart, and would, if executed, permanently secure the Liverpool docks from any future deposit before their entrances.

The first work which I propose to have executed is a pier or groin, marked A B on the plan, commencing from the rocky shore at a distance of 450 yards to the northward of Dingle Point, and extending into the Mersey in a magnetic westerly direction for a length of 600 yards. The western extremity of this jetty or groin, would be situated on the north end, or spit of the Devils Bank, as shewn in Capt. D's chart.

By the construction of the above described pier, a rapid alteration would take place in the forms of the Devils Bank and Garston Sands; a great deposit would be made between Dingle Point and Otters Pool, and the low water boundary of the Devils Bank in lieu of ranging about true north-west and south-east, would bear north and south by compass; and, acting as a new line of convex shore south of the pier or groin A B, would compel the current of the ebb to impinge upon the Cheshire shore above the new ferry, and from thence be reflected towards the Pluckington Shelf.

The second work would be an auxiliary to that already described, and consists of an extension of Royal Rock Ferry Pier for a length of 200 yards into the Mersey, as marked C D on the accompanying chart. The united effect of these two piers or groins would be a permanent set of the current of the ebb along the frontage of the Liverpool docks, abreast of where the evil complained of now exists, and would sweep away any deposit brought by the flood tide.

The eastern channel of the Mersey would be compelled to open out a channel on the south side of the Devils Bank, and, to thus add the weight of its waters to those of the western channel, in keeping clear the proposed new concave line of shore abreast of the Liverpool docks. The letters A A A and C CC describe the new low water line, or

altered form of the channel of the Mersey, which would be produced by the construction of the piers or groins at A B and C D.

The strength of the ebb would be in the direction of the arrows on the chart, and the result, the conversion of the shore of the Liverpool docks from a convex to a concave form; thereby insuring permanent deep water at the entrances of the docks, now encumbered by the presence of the great Pluckington Shelf.

The advantages which would accrue to the port of Liverpool would not be confined to the improvement of the present docks, inasmuch as the pier proposed on the Liverpool shore would form the southern boundary of a space having an area of 120 acres which by the genius of the Engineer to the Dock trustees would be soon made available as a spacious wet dock for safely mooring ships out of the reach of the rapid tides of the Mersey, or, to otherwise increase the Dock accommodation of the great port of Liverpool.

This is however a subject of after consideration, and is more properly within the province of the Engineer to the Trustees of the Dock Estate; and, I shall not, therefore, intrude further upon your readers attention, by laying before them one of the numerous plans which may be designed for the conversion of this noble, and much wanted, space into increased Dock accommodation for the Commercial iuterests of Liverpool.

Guildhall, Newcastle-on-Tyne, November 12, 1842.

NAUTICAL RAMBLES.-THE LEEWARD STATION DURING THE WAR. Port Royal and its Associations.

(Continued from p. 835.)

MOST readers have, perhaps, seen accounts of the African rite of Obiism. In a recent work we find it stated that since the abolition of slavery in the West Indies, the spread of education and Christianity, it is believed that the practice has gone out of repute and notice.* It seems to me that the abolition of slavery in the islands can have nothing to do in the matter. The second inferred cause no doubt will have a tendency to eradicate the system from the minds of those who are instructed. The third cause has long ago been doing its part in removing this and other superstitions. But that which is more likely to brush away the rite of Obiism and other "heathenish devices" is, the disappearance of the old African negroes, who imported and pursued these superstitions of their country. The decline may with more correctness be dated

According to the following extract, from a Jamaica paper, which we find in the Shipping Gazette, the contrary seems to be the case:"MYALISM.-The negroes have set up what they term 'Myalism,' a series of religious, maniacal, and riotous dances. These are interspersed with songs, the most popular of which is, John baptise in de riber.' Sixty-four warrants were issued on the 26th of September for the apprehension of as many blacks. In the parish of St. James the ramification of this doctrine have extended from the Spring Estate to the Moor Park, embracing a circuit of sixteen plantations. The negroes attack all who attempt to restrain their antics. At Montego Bay Obiism' has been incorporated with Myalism.' This is negro witchcraft engrafted on religious fanaticism."

from the period (1807) when the slave trade was discontinued; but Obiism still existed partially some years after, and, it is probable, is not entirely unobserved at the present time among the few native-born Africans who remain. The Creole blacks generally disregard them.

It seems obvious that the abolition of slavery is of too recent a date to have had influence in the matter; or, indeed, that the mere abstract change in the social condition of the negro could magically relieve him at once of a deep-rooted prejudice. The eradication of such requires time; and the idea which would attribute its removal to the extinction of slavery, like many other opinions hastily formed, passes current, because no person will be at the pains to refute it. Everybody has heard of the noted Obi-man, "Three-fingered Jack," the story of whose surprising adventures, Mr. Cumberland, the dramatist, introduced into a farce, which was extremely popular some years ago.

This extraordinary character figured in the years 1780 and '81, and, the recollection of his daring exploits had not subsided when I was on the station many years afterwards. A reward was offered for his capture by Governor Dalling; and a young negro named Reeder, but better known as "Captain Quashee," succeeded, after a desperate encounter, in killing the ferocious Obi-man. In 1808 I saw Reeder in Kingston; he was dressed in military uniform, and wore a cocked hat; he was of middle age, and appeared to be a very old man, but strong and healthy. The gentleman who pointed him out to me stated that, he enjoyed a pension, which the government of the island had awarded to him for his gallant deed. As a short account of the transaction may not be uninteresting to the reader, we add it here:

"The famous negro robber Three-fingered Jack, was the terror of Jamaica in 1780 and '81. He was an Obi-man, and by his professed incantations was the dread of the negroes; and, there were also many white people believed he was possessed of supernatural power. He had neither accomplices nor associates; he robbed alone, fought all his battles alone, and always, either killed his pursuers, or, retreated into difficult fastnesses where none dared to follow him. It was thus that he terrified the inhabitants, and set the civil power, and the neighbouring militia, at defiance for two years.

"At length, allured by the rewards offered by Governor Dalling, in a proclamation, dated 12th of December, 1779, and, by a resolution which followed it,-two negroes, Quashee and Sam, both of Scott's Hall, Maroon Town, with a party of their townsmen, went in search of him. Quashee before he set out on the expedition, got himself christened, and changed his name to James Reeder.'

"The expedition commenced, and the whole party crept about the woods for three weeks, but in vain. Reeder and Sam tired with this mode of warfare, resolved on proceeding in search of Jack's retreat, and taking him by storming it, or, perishing in the attempt. They took with them a little boy of spirit, and who was a good shot, and then left the party. The three had not long separated from the rest of the party, before their cunning eyes discovered by impressions amongst the weeds and bushes, that, some person must have been that way. They silently followed these impressions, moving through the bushes with caution, and soon discovered smoke.

"They now prepared for battle, and, had not proceeded far before they came upon the object of their search unperceived by him. The formidable Obi-man was employed in preparing his repast! he was roasting plantains by a little fire on the ground at the mouth of a cave. The scene was highly picturesque, and, the part to be played in it was not one of an ordinary nature. It was one of those episodes of real life full of excitement; but, which called forth the cautious vigilance of the judgment, and the indomitable spirit of a firm resolution.

"Jack's looks were fierce and terrific; his voice loud and strong as his undoubted courage, warned the enterprising trio that, death awaited the mortal who was rash and bold enough to advance towards him. Reeder, with singular infatuation, or, it may have been magnanimity, refrained from ending the affair instanter, by shooting the gaunt figure of the renowned Obi Jack, that stood before him, which he might readily have done. Having imbibed faith, he contented himself for the moment, by informing the robber that his Obi had no power to hurt him, as he had been christened, and his name was no longer Quashee. Jack knew Reeder, and as if he too were infatuated, or deemed it beneath his high notions of honour, or, fair play, (for it is not likely a man of his intrepidity and cunning was paralyzed as was supposed,) disdained to take up either of his two guns, which lay on the ground beside him; but seized his cutlass, or, macheat.

"It appears that, some years before, Jack and Reeder had had a desperate conflict in the woods, in which the Obi-man lost two of his fingers, and hence his sobriquet of Three-fingered Jack;' but, Reeder was beaten, and suffered severely, as well as several others who had assisted him. Jack had prophesied that, White Obi,' would get the better of him; and from experience he knew the charm would lose none of its strength in the hands of his old combatant, Reeder. "Without further parley, Jack, armed with his cutlass, darted down a very steep descent at the back of the cave. As he was descending Reeder presented his piece, but it missed fire. Sam, however, fired and shot him in the shoulder. Without the least hesitation, the intrepid Reeder, sword in hand, dashed down the steep after him. The descent was about thirty yards, almost perpendicular. The base was to be the stage on which these two stout hearts were to begin the bloody struggle. "On it they went-each sinewy arm strengthened by vengeance, and descending with a force that seemed sufficient to annihilate life at a single blow; but, the odds were against the Obi-man. The little boy, who had been ordered to keep back out of harm's way, stole on until he reached the top of the precipice, from whence, watching his opportunity, he levelled his piece, the shot entering the abdomen of the threefingered robber.

"Sam was crafty, and coolly took a circuitous way to get to the field of battle; when he arrived at the spot where the combat first commenced, he found that Jack and Reeder had closed, and whilst struggling for mastery had both tumbled down another steep declivity on the side of the mountain, in which fall they lost their weapons. Sam descended after them, but in the descent he also lost his cutlass among the trees and bushes. When he came up to them, he found that, though without weapons they were not idle; but luckily for Reeder, Jack's