A Black Ball will be hoisted at the fore-royal mast-head of Her Majesty's ship Imaum, on Monday next, 14th May, at five minutes to 12 o'clock, and will be hauled down at the instant of twelve o'clock of mean time, at the Flag-Staff of Port Royal Dock-Yard, by which means all vessels at Port Royal and Kingston will have an opportunity of rating their chronometers, as the Ball will be continued in the same manner every Monday hereafter.

By order of Commodore Hon. H .D. Byng,

GEORGE BIDDLECOMBE, Master. N.B. The longitude of the Flag-Staff, as determined by Capt. Owen, R.N. being 76° 51' 10" west of Greenwich. (A True Copy-H. W. H.)

IMPORTANT TO SEAMEN.-We have been favoured with the following extract from the log-book of the Frolic, whaler:-" October 29th, 1841, A.M., moderate breezes and fine throughout; all requisite sail set; all hands employed breaking out the run, tarring and rattling the rigging. At 2 P.M., saw a shoal, soundings at nine fathoms water, bottom-sand and coral rock, deepening to forty fathoms, in lat. 19° 15′ S., long. 173° 40′ W., the south-east end of Vavao bearing N.W., distant 45 miles." Captain Disney is of opinion that the water on some parts of the shoal where he passed over before taking soundings was much less than nine fathoms.-Sydney Herald.

MALABAR BANK.-Extract of a letter from Capt. Sartorius. In lat. 38° 57′ from the observation at noon, and long. 26° 4′ by chronometer, and from the supposed most correct bearing of the land, the north-east end of Terceira, taken at 8 A.M., gives lat. 38° 57', long. 25° 57', the ship grazed over apparently a shoal of about her own length. There was no sudden shock, no appearance of discolored water, or any other indication of the vicinity of rocks or shoals; and at the time the motion was felt, the ship was going eight knots, wind aft and studding sails set.

I immediately shortened sail and sounded with 180 fathoms, no bottom. There was too much swell and sea to risk a boat for examination. My own individual opinion is, that, it is likely to have been the shock of an earthquake as passing over a shoal.

EARTHQUAKES. On the subject of Earthquakes felt at sea, we understand that one of H.M. Ships, on her passage from Smyrna to Malta, experienced two smart shocks of earthquake, thirty-five miles in a westerly direction from the west end of Candia, twice in nearly the same position, but accompanied by a "loud rumbling sound,' coming from the S.E. quarter, and apparently immediately under the ship. No bottom was found at the time with 160 fathoms.

PROTECTING EFFECT OF MR. HARRIS'S CONDUCTORS IN H.M.S. Daphne.

By an official communication from Capt. Onslow, R.N., it appears that on the 9th of February last, a shock of lightning burst on H.M. Ship Daphne, under his command whilst at anchor at Monte Video. The discharge was instantly dispersed by Mr. Snow Harris's conductors, without the slightest damage or inconvenience, and was heard to pass along one of the auxiliary branches leading through the ship's side.

In the Nautical Magazine for November, 1842, we have given an account of a series of interesting experiments, instituted by Mr. Harris at Chatham, in the course of which powerful accumulations of artificial

electricity were passed upon this same ship whilst floating in the Medway, with a view of exemplifying to Lord Haddington and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the nature and operation of the con ductor. Although, from the repeated protection afforded by Mr. Harris's system in storms of lightning, this recent result might have been predicted, yet it is still an interesting and most important confirmation of the identity of the agency of lightning with that of ordinary electricity; and that whether it operate on the more awful and sublime scale of nature, or through the medium of artificial electrical accumulation by the common electrical machine, still the result is the same. lightning conductors fixed on this vessel's masts and placed in uninterrupted communication with the water, through the masses of the metals about the hull, appear to have received and dispersed this heavy shock of lightning, just as readily and with as little disturbance, as, in the case of the dispersion of the charge of the electrical battery, in the Medway at Chatham.

The

To place the navy of this country beyond the reach of damage from so destructive an element, it must be allowed is a matter of great moment, and one having the most powerful claims on our calm and serious con

sideration.

Capt. Onslow's notice of the protecting effect of Mr Harris's conductor in H.M ship Daphne, was lately transmitted through the Commodore at Monte Video, to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

The principal islands in the South Pacific, commonly called Polynesia, and which have so recently been brought into notice by Admiral Dupetit Thouars having taken possession of the Marquesas, and induced Queen Pomare to place Otaheite and the Society Isles under the protection of his Majesty Louis Phillippe, the King of the French, are the Friendly Isles, so named by Captain Cook in 1774, in consequence of the apparent friendship which subsisted among the natives, and their courteousness to strangers. Tonga is the capital, and is fifty-five miles in circumference, and eighty feet above the level of the sea. To the N.W. are the Fegee Isles, and the Navigator's Islands, discovered by the French navigator M. de Bougainville, and explored by the unfortunate La Perouse in 1786, when he and all his crew were lost off the island of Manicolo. They are ten in number.

Otaheite, called also King George's Island, to the N.W.b.N. is the capital of the Society Isles, and was discovered by Captain Wallis in 1767. It consists of two peninsulas, of a form nearly circular, joined by a narrow isthmus in the middle, surrounded by a reef of coral rocks, which form several excellent bays and harbours, offering a secure anchorage to shipping. These islands have been nearly civilized by the English, and the inhabitants have, through the operations of the missionaries, who have settled here for upwards of the last half century, become converted to the protestant religion, as well as their Queen (Pomare) and their chiefs. A number of chapels and schools have been

constructed by the missionaries, and the aborigines taught different European trades. The greater part of them speak English with facility, and look upon the British residents as their protectors and benefactors.

The Marquesas Islands, which have also been adopted in the name of the Citizen King, and to which Captain Brust has been appointed Governor, (now on his passage out on board the Uranie frigate, with the first expedition of troops and catholic missionaries), are situate to the north-east of the Society Isles. They were discovered by the Spaniards in 1567, and visited by Cook in 1774, 1777, and 1779, as well as by Perouse in 1786, and Vancouver in 1792.

The Sandwich Islands.-Passing to the north latitude twenty degrees is Owhyee, or Hawai, 275 miles in circumference, which, with ten others, form a group, and so named by Captain Cook in 1774, in honour of the Earl of Sandwich, then at the head of affairs. They are less sultry than the West Indies, and there are no hurricanes that prevail at certain seasons, as in the Atlantic. The natives, both male and female, are similar to those of Otaheite, a fine race, and extremely industrious and friendly towards the English, who were also the first to civilize them and propagate christianity among them. The seat of Government is at Kenarurie, in the island of Oahu, where are deposited in a magnificent mausoleum the mortal remains of the late King Tamehameha II., and his Queen, who died in London with the measles, in 1825, when on a visit to his late majesty George IV., whom they called father, to offer to place the islands under his protection. These, as well as nearly all those in the Pacific, are mountainous, but most productive in everything required for man. There are numerous springs of the purest water. Cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, fish, &c., are plentiful. Corn, fruit, and vegetables of every description, can be grown in abundance, the soil being most prolific. The sugar-cane, coffee, cotton, rice, maize, bananas, cocoa-tree, the olive, vine, orange, citron, pomegranate, pines, and other fruits, grow spontaneously. The mulberry-tree, for the propagating of the silk-worm, is very abundant, and wood and gums of different descriptions, abound in these islands. There are no reptiles nor beasts of prey, as in South America, Africa, and Asia. The coral and pearl fisheries, and the sperm whale, are of most importance to the natives, who are very expert in making canoes and their different implements, and carry on a great traffic with the adjacent islands. Besides the English settlers, there are a great many missionaries here, particularly from the United States of America, who have erected churches, chapels, schools of industry and agriculture, and introduced the art of printing. The aborigines are now much civilized, and generally profess the christian religion, as their King, Tamehameha III., who is an enlightned man, calls himself the chief disciple. Their government is monarchical, the sovereign having the right of imposing taxes for the maintenance of the royal household, and the support of its dignity. He has also the power of punishment, but not that of taking away the life of any of his subjects for a supposed offence, without the concurrence of twelve of the chiefs. He is not allowed to deprive the chiefs or the gentry, at his discretion, of their lands, which are inherited by their legitimate offspring when they die. The people are free, and not bound to the service of any particular chief or person.

The great circumnavigator Cook, was unfortunately killed in the bay of Karakakoa in 1799, in a conflict with the natives, then cannibals. The acquisition of these islands by Great Britain, and the Marquesas and Otaheite, under the protection of France, will, in a few years hence, completely civilize and christianize the whole of Polynesia, and be the means of conferring the greatest benefits on the natives, and extending their commerce.-Hants Paper.

EXCURSION TO FOO-CHOW-FOO.-Mr. Coverley, an officer of the Phlegethon, had been sent in a cutter to Foo-chow-foo, with a letter from the admiral to the authorities there. Nothing could be more friendly than the reception which they had from the authorities and population, whose curiosity was much excited by their arrival. On the passage up, they were hailed by a junk, the bearer of invitation cards from the admiral of the station they were then passing, who wished them to land and partake of a feast. Desirous of proceeding without delay to the city, the invitation was respectfully declined. Foo-Chow appears a bustling, thriving place, of considerable commerce, but the excessive curiosity of the natives was a grievous impediment to any attempts at exploration or even locomotion. Nothing was apparent on the part of the populace, but an eager, yet respectful curiosity; and there was not evinced the slightest aversion to the foreigner who had coerced the emperor into a peace, and whom they then saw for the first time. The river is not dangerous, or at least its rocks and dangers can be easily avoided when it is accurately surveyed. The famed bridge mentioned by Du Halde did not excite any surprise in the minds of European beholders. It is not arched, but erected on a series of granite pillars across the river, at the point where there is an island; thus there are thirty-six openings, or rather waterways, on one side and

nine on the other.

PORTSMOUTH, JUNE 3rd.-Her Majesty's first class steam frigate Cyclops was lying totally dismantled on Saturday last at Woolwich, and the engineers of the dock-yard had disconnected part of her machinery for the purpose of effectually repairing her. On Sunday morning, at four o'clock, she was commissioned by Captain Austin, C.B. and on the following day (Monday) by four o'clock P.M. she was completely rigged, had got her large guns on board, with ammunition and stores, from the Royal Arsenal, her provisions and tanks of water from Deptford, including 300 tons of coals, and was in every respect ready for sea, within the short space of thirty-six hours. This shews what may be effected by the immense resources of this country in the time of need, as the vessel might then have sailed, but was delayed until two o'clock Tuesday morning. Lieutenant-Colonel Burton, of the Woolwich division, Royal Marines, embarked at a late hour on Monday evening, and the Cyclops sailed at the above early hour to Sheerness, there to receive on board a large detachment of Royal Marines from

Chatham. The crew of the Cyclops is to consist of 175 men. The promptness with which the whole of the movements have been effected shews that Government is resolved to be prepared for the protection of Her Majesty's loyal subjects in Ireland, and that ample means are at its disposal on the shortest notice.

LAUNCH OF A STEAM FRIGATE.-The beautiful first class steam frigate Infernal, built on the same slip in Woolwich dock-yard as her sister, the Devastation, was launched on the 31st of May, in the presence of Capt. Sir Francis A. Collier, Knt. C.B. and K.H., Captain Meredith, Captain Smith, inventor of the paddle-box boats, and a great number of naval and military officers. The following are her dimensions:-

The great importance to this country of an establishment for the education of the sons of naval officers, induces us to record at some length the proceedings which took place on the first of June, (a day most judiciously chosen,) on laying the foundation stone of a building for the above purpose at Counter Hill, Deptford. The ceremony was performed by his Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by the Earl of Haddington, and the several Lords of the Admiralty; Admiral Sir C. Ogle, the President of the Council of the School, Admiral Sir E. Codrington, (late President,) Rear-Admiral Sir C. Malcolm, RearAdmiral Sykes, Admiral Sir W. T. Lake, Sir R. Dobson, Vice-President, Admiral Dundas, M.P., Admiral Sir E. Brace, Lord Bloomfield, the Bishop of Rochester, the Rev. Mr. Sketchley, Rev. T. Chambers, (Head-Master of the School), Captain J. Jones, Vice-President, and many other gentlemen. Signal guns announced the arrival of his Royal Highness Prince Albert, amidst the cheers of the company; and having been received by the President and the members of the Council, the Prince was escorted by them to the place where the stone was to be laid, in presence of the building committee, the clergy, the architect, and the builders.

The national anthem having been played by the marine band, the Prince standing near the stone, the council and the head-master of the school were presented to his Royal Highness. The Bishop of Rochester then offered up a prayer, on the conclusion of which his Royal Highness received the vase with the scroll, and coins, which his Royal Highness then placed in the aperture of the stone.