It appears by the evidence of Lieut. Godfrey, R.N., then in the ship, that the main-mast was set on fire and quite ruined, that all the spars were more or less damaged.

Wind E.N.E., A.M. fresh breezes with heavy thunder and lightning; 3h. lowered the top-sails to a squall, in this squall the wind veered to north-east, and the ship was struck by lightning at 4h. 15m.; after this, at 7h. the wind went back to the east, then E.b.S., and E.S.E. The ship went to Mahon to refit.

N.B. It is stated in the eighth vol. of the Mechanics' Magazine, and in various public Journals, that at the time this accident occurred, two lightning conductors were up, and that of twenty sail of H.M. ships in company without such conductors, not one was damaged. It will be seen however by the ship's log, and by the House of Commons report on "Shipwreck by lightning," February 1840, that this statement is quite untrue.-Vide page 92.

The ship had usually a common conductor at the main-mast, but in consequence of its having become defective from use it was taken down for repair; there were several of the fleet struck at about the same time, about eight miles distant.

LION, 74.

1794. May 20th, lat. 31° 50′ S., long. 32° 35' E., Cape of Good Hope, north 89° west, 274 leagues; mizen-mast destroyed by lightning, and other damage.

This ship was struck in the same storm with the Glatton, already described.

LOWESTOFFE, 36.

1796. March 8th, Mediterranean, Minorca, 5° 46' west, 134 miles; 12h. 30m. P.M., main-top-mast and main-mast shivered in pieces; foretop-mast split open; fore-topsail-yard carried away; hoops of mainmast burst open; ship set on fire in various parts of the mast and rigging; three men knocked off the mast-head, one of them killed; several men struck down in the main-top, one of them killed; the people struck down between decks by violent explosions.

Wind south-east to east, with heavy squalls, thunder, lightning, hail, and rain; about 2h. 30m. P.M., the weather began to clear; on the 9th A.M., fine, with light breezes.

They were obliged to cut away the main-mast and proceed to Mahon for refit. The storm was attended by a heavy sea.

This frigate was one of the look-out ships in Admiral Hotham's squadron; she was disabled at a time when the services of our ships were of the greatest importance, the French, supported by a powerful fleet, having just invaded Italy. Not long after the refit, the ship fought a hard battle with a large frigate, which she captured.

LIVELY.

1805. November 24th, at anchor in Naples Bay; 11 P.M. a flash of lightning struck the main-mast. The log says little of the consequences; but Captain White, R.N., who was in the ship, states, that it

was so much damaged as to require its being removed, so that the ship had a new mast at Malta.

The previous day had been calm; on the 25th an east wind, with fresh breezes; P.M. squally, with rain; at 11 P.M. calm again, with heavy rain, thunder, and lightning, at which time the ship was struck.

ST. LAWRENCE, 104.

1814. October 19th, Lake Ontario, entrance of Magara, south-west 42 miles; 6 P.M. main-top-mast shivered in pieces, main-mast badly rent; five men wounded.

Wind on the 18th north-west, with strong breezes, which continued; on the 19th squally; P.M., 5h. 50m., a heavy squall, with hail; the wind on the 20th west, with strong breezes.

LARNE, 20.

1820. February 16th, standing in for the land off Corfu; A.M. heavy squalls, with thunder and lightning; 7 A.M. a thunder-bolt struck the ship and killed James Waters, seaman, and badly wounded James Williams. Wind S.b. W., and S.

MINERVA, 36.

1791. November 9th, Coast of Malabar laying in Tillicherry Roads; A.M., from 1 until 3, squally, with thunder and lightning, and heavy rain; 2h. 30 m. the main-top-gallant-mast and mai-ntop-mast was shivered in pieces, and fell about the decks; the main-mast was rent, and much damaged. One man killed and two wounded.

Wind on the 8th south-east, moderate and cloudy; 9th south-east, north-east, and E.N.E.; 10th south-west, light breezes.

When the ship was struck smoke appeared to come up the hatchway, and lightning like fire-balls ran along the decks; the after part of the main-mast was fairly carried away, and all the wouldings burst off; four hoops knocked off; top-sail sheet bitts split, and one side of the chain pumps split from top to bottom. There was a chest of cartouch boxes full of powder on the quarter-deck when the lightning struck the ship.

The journal of Capt. Sutton gives a full account of this accident.

MERCURY 28.

1801. February 24th, Mediterranean, Cape Mole, W.N.W., thirty miles; 2 P.M. main-mast shivered by lightning.

23rd, fresh breezes and squally from north-west; this weather continued for some days.

The ship was obliged to go to Mahon to refit.

MONMOUTH, 74.

1802. August 21st, Naples Bay; 7 A.M. main-top-gallant-mast and main-top-mast shivered in pieces and rendered useless; main-mast much damaged.

The previous weather had been squally, with variable winds, thunder

and lightning; 20th ditto with rain; 21st squally, rainy weather; winds variable, thunder and lightning; A.M. light breezes and clear; 22nd moderate and cloudy.

MIGNONNE, (Corvette) 18.

1804. July 4th, Port Antonio, West Indies, five miles; 1 A.M. ship struck by lightning; main-top-mast and main-mast shivered. Five men killed, and nine wounded.

The top-mast was shivered into above fifty pieces, and the splinters scattered in all directions; the main-mast was split open down upon the keelson, and the hold filled with a sulphureous smoke; two of the men were killed in the main-top, they were burned black; of two men sleeping near the Armourer's bench, one was found dead, he had a black speck on his side; the other was not hurt.

Wind from the east and north on the 3rd, fresh breezes and cloudy; the ship had been on shore on the north-east end of Jamaica, and was being accompanied by the Desiree to Port Royal; the morning of the 4th most intolerably hot, without a cloud, wind E.N.E.; soon after sun-set clouds appeared to rise from every part of the horizon, with thunder and lightning; about midnight the heavens appeared to be one continued flame; 5th, fresh breezes, wind E.N.E.

MINERVA, 36,

1811. August 26th, Bay of Biscay, lat. 14° 4 north, long. 48° 30′ west, Cape Rea 126 leagues; 2h. 20m. A.M. a flash of lightning took the head of fore-top-gallant-mast, and shivered it and fore-top-mast in pieces.

The wind had been from the south-west on the previous days; on the 26th, fresh breezes and clear, after which squally, with heavy rain, thunder, and lightning; P.M. moderate and clear; 27th wind south-east and calm.

MORGIANA, 18.

1814. February 27th, West India, Cape Look-out Shoals, north 23° west, 113 miles; 7 P.M. violent squalls with heavy thunder and lightning, main-mast splintered in several places: three men wounded.

26th, Wind west fresh gales; 27th westerly; 28th A.M. moderate and cloudy, with rain and lightning, wind W.N.W.; P.M. strong gales and squally, with heavy rain.

The ship had the main-mast shifted at Bermuda on the 23rd March following.

(To be continued.)

VICTORIA AND ALBERT STEAM YACHT.

It is scarcely possible, in the present state of the works on board the Victoria and Albert, to convey any thing like an idea of the complete

ness of the arrangements and the good taste which prevails throughout the whole, for the comfort and general convenience of Her Majesty, when inclined to enjoy the pleasure of excursions round her sea-girt island. The whole of the deck of this beautiful vessel has been laid with solid mahogany, joined together with Jeffery's "Marine Glue," the qualities of which appear to have given great satisfaction, as under the most powerful sun it will not dissolve or soil the most delicate satin shoe, at the same time that it retains its adhesive qualities, and resists the action of water on the expanding and contracting seams. The graud entrance to the state cabin is at a short distance from the wheel for guiding the helm, and is elevated above the deck in the form of a conservatory, with large plate glass windows, formed to suit the oval nature of the construction, and moving on pulleys for the purpose of admitting the pure air of heaven in genial weather. The entrance consists of two folding doors, fitted with large plate glass windows to match with the others, and the roof is raised in the form of a cupola, on an oval base. The roof has been covered with the skins of some of the prize oxen, and when completed, will have the appearance of a highly finished and beautifully varnished coach, if the similarity of the materials and workmanship may be compared to the land vehicle. A solid mahogany staircase descends from the deck into a large open space, on each side of which are elegant bed-rooms for the use of Her Majesty and Prince Albert on one side, and for Her Majesty's immediate attendants on the other. The state cabin occupies the entire breadth of the stern of the vessel, and is lighted with large windows of plate glass, and superbly fitted up in every part with solid mahogany. On the exterior of the stern is an excellent carving of the Royal Arms, and on the deck an open species of platform has been constructed, elevated to some height. for the steersman to stand upon, when employed at the wheel. This arrangement appears an ingenious plan, to prevent the noise and movements of the steersman's feet being heard in the cabin below. The whole of the partitions separating the state cabin and the bed, and other rooms, from each other, have been ingeniously contrived to deaden or completely remove the effects of the vibration generally experienced on board steamvessels, and present the appearance as if they were constructed for a substantial dwelling on land, being formed of a substance like strong canvas fixed about six inches apart, and having the hollow between the pieces padded with felt. Over the canvass will be placed some of the richest and finest kind of room ornaments to be obtained in this country. In what may be termed the ceiling of the state cabin, and the other rooms, have been placed perforated zinc plates, for the purpose of communicating with Dr. Reid's invention of ventilation, which has been applied in such a manner as to be available in every part of the vessel. The cornice, joining the ceiling to the sides of the rooms, is formed in every part from a very chaste and light pattern mould, representing alternately the exterior and interior of a cockle-shell, and affords a most pleasing, and at the same time unobtrusive relief to the eye.

The dining room for the Royal attendants, consisting of Her Majesty's suite, is situated between the engine-room and the rooms already desENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 8.-VOL FOR 1843.

4 A

cribed, and in each are convenient, although not very large sleeping

rooms.

The engine-room does not occupy much space compared with the power of the engines (450 horse,) Messrs. Maudslay, Field, and Co's, engines fitting in the vessel, occupying one-fifth less space, and consequently less weight than any other steam engines hitherto used for naval purposes. The engines are exactly of the same size as those used in the Devastation, steam-frigate, which have given such great satisfaction since they were actively employed in that vessel, under the command of Captain Henry, on the Mediterranean station. Mr. Baker, the chief engineer of the Devastation, and the oldest engineer in the afloat service, has been appointed chief engineer to the Victoria and Albert, and has returned from the Mediterranean, and joined the Royal steam-vessel, to be present during the erection of the engines on board. The engine-room is so constructed as to be in a manner detached from every other part of the vessel, and is so compact in the centre, that when passing under deck from one extremity of the vessel to the other, the presence of the engines will hardly be discerned, the whole being surrounded by bulkheads, or, as will better be understood when described, as being completely encased in iron tanks filled with water, on a plan suggested by Mr. Holdsworth, to deaden the noise of the engines. The fore part of the vessel contains every accommodation for the officers and crew of the vessel, the former next to the engine-room, and the latter in a more forward part of the vessel. The Royal kitchen has been very compactly and comfortably constructed and lined first with sheet lead one eighth of an inch in thickness, and over that metal a lining of tinned iron. The fire place and warming ovens made by Brown and Redpath, are of a most substantial and safe description; which will be read with the highest pleasure by Her Majesty's subjects who feel a deep interest in every thing tending to afford happiness and pleasure to the Royal pair, but they will be more appropriately given when the vessel is finished and ready for sea.

On leaving the Docks, Prince Albert, with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, embarked on board the Queen's barge at the Brunswick pier, and returned to Whitehall stairs. The royal barge had a splendid appearance, the richness of the gilding on the carvings being quite dazzling in the brilliant sunshine, and had a beautiful effect when reflected from the water. The Queen's barge was rowed by 22 watermen in scarlet liveries, and the Admiralty barge which accompanied it by 10 men in scarlet coats. The only boats accompanying the Royal party, were two under the control of the Harbour Master, to clear the river, should their services in that way have been rendered necessary by any unforeseen obstruction, but it is gratifying to know that the Prince's excursion was every way satisfactory.

The Victoria and Albert steam-vessel will be commissioned this day, July 1, and the following officers have been appointed to her :Captain, Right Hon. Lord Adolphus Fitz-Clarence, G. C. B.; Commander, W. H. Hall; Lieutenant, G. Snell; W. Tringham; Sir W.