remedy; the neglect of which outrages the feelings of humanity and justice. We have been further assured that, when a ship freighted with wool, arrives in the Docks, after a four or five months voyage, the beds of the men, to use their own expression, are as "rotton as tinder", and fall in pieces on being lifted! Alternately steamed and cooled, exuding at all pores, and suddenly having the moisture evaporated by a freezing atmosphere, it may readily be believed that, no human being could support uninjured such vissicitudes. Disease and death are the inevitable consequences, and as an awful responsibility rests somewhere, it is to be hoped that a speedy remedy will be applied to the evil. HUMANITAS. MERIDIAN DISTANCES. H.M.S. Cornwallis, Hong-Kong, April 3, 1843. SIR. The following meridian distances which I have endeavoured to measure accurately, while employed in the China expedition, are sent for insertion in your valuable Magazine, should you deem such information worthy of attention. The chronometer used (being the standard of nine on board the Cornwallis,) is by Arnold and Dent, No. 801, and during the last seven months, the temperature varying from 24 to 92! has changed its daily rate from. 65-hundredths gaining to 79-hundredths gaining, which latter rate it has preserved the last three months; such steadiness of rate under great and sudden variations of temperature is rather unusual. No. 801 was rated off Nankin in the river Yang-tse-kiang, in the month of September last; at Chusan several times during the months of October, November, December, and January; at Amoy in the month of February; and at Hong-Kong in March. Equal Altitudes were always used, and I have much pleasure in testifying to the superiority of the said chronometer by Arnold and Dent. From north point of the canal leading to Nankin To east point of Woosung river. From east point of Woosung river } 10m. 41.29s. E. 12 24.25 E. To Ratcliff-highway landing place, Chusan }15 26.10 W. To south-west of Goo-long-soo, Amoy From south-west point of Goo-long-soo, Amoy Adverting to two measurements I made in the year 1842, from Aden to Bombay, between which you discovered a difference of 6" in time. I beg to acquaint you that the first measurement was from Ras Marbat to Bombay light-house, and the second from Ras Marbat to Bombay flag-staff. The light-house being about one mile and a half to the westward of the flag-staff. During my services in the China Sea, I have been anxious to make some remarks and sailing directions for some places which were but imperfectly known, and I beg to refer you to my Remark Books for 1842 and 1843, where I trust you may find information which will prove serviceable to others navigating these seas. I have, &c., J. JACKSON, To the Editor, &c. [Meridian distances are always most acceptable, especially when obtained with good chronometers, in an unknown part of the world; but they should be always accompanied by particulars, which very materially affect their value, and which Mr. Jackson will perhaps be so good as to send us, such as the number of chronometers employed in each, and the number of days of interval rate they depend on, &c.-ED.] The Vanguard, 80, Captain Sir David Dunn, went into Harbour on Monday, from the Sound, for the purpose of being dismantled and paid off. To the great credit of all on board, there is no vessel in her Majesty's service ever entered an English harbour in a state of greater efficiency, discipline, and order than the Vanguard. She is to be taken into dock, and brought forward again as soon as possible for re-commission. Her crew have since been mustered and inspected by our gallant Port Admiral, Sir D. Milne, who expressed himself highly satisfied at the efficient state in which he found her, and from the high eulogium he passed on her officers and crew, they must have felt highly gratified by the same. The Vanguard will be paid off on Wednesday next.-Plymouth Paper. INQUEST UPON THE PASSENGERS OF THE PEGASUS. The latter portion of the following letter, received at Lloyd's, from their agent at Berwick, will be found to contain reference to matters unconnected with the Pegasus steamer, but nevertheless interesting to those connected with the shipping interest : "Berwick, August 21. "SIR.-The mate, engineer, and fireman, who were saved from the Pegasus, have been here from Leith, and were examined at great length before the Coroner and Jury, which has been sitting in the Town-hall here for several evenings past, examining into the cause of the loss of the vessel, crew, and passengers. Mr. Pringle, the cashier of the Company, was also examined on two separate nights, as to the state of the vessel, captain, &c. The coast-guard were in attendance, but were not examined. Several of our ship captains were this day examined, when it was given by all of them, that going to the eastward of the Megstone at night was an unsafe passage, and only safe in daytime in clear weather, to those who know it well; and all agree that the passage through the rake between the Galestone and Plough was the best and safest in daytime with a sailing vessel; but if thick or hazy weather, it was then proper to go to the outside of the Longstone, and keep well off from it, say two miles or so. For general service to the shipping interest on our coast, it is now agreed that shifting the leading light to the Megstone would be of much service -would be better seen, and open quicker, and be a better guide for vessels coming in from sea, as also coming up from the southward, as well as vessels taking the Fairway from the northward at night, "The following is the result of the inquest :-'William Milne, Alexander Miller, accidental death, occasioned by the gross carelessness of the master and those on the look-out ;" and in addition to the expression of their opinion, they have added a deodand of £100 against the Company on each body-£200 in all." ON THE DAMAGE WHICH HAS OCCURRED IN THE BRITISH NAVY BY LIGHTNING, with an account of the attendant phenomena, abstracted from the Official Journals of the respective Ships, and from other authentic sources of information.—By W. S. Harris, F.R.S., &c. (Continued from p. 544.) MAGNIFICENT, 74. 1814. April 17th, off Ushant, distance ninety-two miles; 8 P.M, heavy rain with lightning, main-top-gallant-mast and main-top-mast shivered, main-mast damaged. Wind had been south-west, after which at 8 P.M. it went further to the west in a heavy squall, and at midnight again went back to south west. The main-top-gallant-mast disappeared entirely, and the top-mast was shivered in pieces; several blocks were thrown into the fore and mizen-tops, and the decks were covered with splinters and pieces of rigging; a zig-zag line was burned down the main-mast, several wedges were forced out under the hoops and many of the people stunned; the main-deck appeared in a blaze of light, the report of the thunder seemed as if all the main-deck guns had been fired at once. (Further particulars by Lieut. Loudon, R.N.) MADAGASCAR, 50. 1830. January 5th, Corfu Channel, Mediterranean, 8h. 30m. P.M. ship struck by lightning in several places; main-mast head set on fire; mizen-top-mast and main-mast severely damaged, wind N.b. W.; 4h. light airs and fine; 8h. light airs and cloudy, with rain; 8h. 25m. heavy rain, with thunder and lightning. The ship was struck no less than five times in the course of an hour. MOSQUITO, 10. 1830. January 5th, Corfu Channel, in company with Madagascar; Sh. 30m. P.M. the lightning struck the ship in several places, which burned many holes in the boom- main-sail, and set the main-top-gallantstudding-sail on fire. Of three ships in this squadron, the only one which escaped damage was the Etna, which ship was the only one having a lightning conductor on the main-mast. In this vessel protection was afforded whenever the lightning struck the main-mast; some of the crew were knocked down on the forecastle by one of the shocks of lightning passing in that direction. The conductor was much blistered and twisted. MELVILLE, 74. 1830. August 2nd, Malta; 9h. 15m. A.M. struck by lightning, which split the main-top-mast and top-gallant-mast, and damaged the main-mast. This storm is described in the case of the Gloucester. Both ships were disabled, and obliged to have new masts. Weather cloudy, with little wind, rain, thunder, and lightning. The ship was not again ready for sea until the 11th. ENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 9.-VOL. FOR 1843. 41 MEDINA, 20. 1830. January 9th, Coast of Africa; Oh. 40m. P.M., main-top-gallant-mast and main-top-mast shivered to atoms by lightning; main-mast much injured The wind had been S.W.b.S., after which N.E., squally appearance, with rain, thunder, and lightning; Oh. 20m. P.M. a tornado, with heavy rain; the wind after this went round again to S.S.W. The ship received assistance from the Athol, then in company; she was again struck by lightning in the following November. NEREUS, 36: 1814. March 22nd, moored in the Rio de la Plata; 8h. 15m. P.M. strong winds and squally from south-west, thunder and lightning ; main-top-gallant-mast struck by lightning, main-top-mast shivered, split nearly in two pieces, main-mast splintered, and the fish on the fore part shivered in pieces, main-top-sail and mizen-stay-sail damaged. Several men struck down. Wind on the 20th north-west, fine pleasant weather; 21st A.M., north-east, moderate and cloudy; 10h. strong winds south-west and squally; 22nd, variable winds, moderate and clear. The ship had a new main-mast on her return to England at the close of the year. On examination the spindle in the heart of the main-mast was found, in a great measure destroyed; the mast was swollen out in several places, as if by expansion from within, which had burst open several of the iron hoops; the discharge seemed to have escaped about ten feet above the deck. The mast was shifted and examined at Woolwich. NIEMAN, 36. 1814. June 29th, Halifax harbour at anchor; A.M., squally with thunder, lightning, and rain; 12h. 45m. main-top-mast and mainmast struck by the lightning. Wind on the 28th south-east, moderate with thick rain; midnight squally; 29th A.M., S.S.W.; 30th, S.S.W., moderate and fine. The ship had a new main-mast on the 1st of July; the top-mast was completely shivered, and the main-mast found unserviceable. NORGE, 74. 1815. June 3rd, moored in Port Royal harbour; A.M., variable winds, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning; 4h. main-top-mast and top-gallant-mast shivered in pieces, and the main-mast damaged. The wind on the previous days had been easterly, moderate and cloudy, occasionally squally with heavy rain; wind E.N.E.; 3rd A.M., strong breezes E.N.E.; after which variable; 4h. heavy lightning; Sh. light airs south-east; P.M. strong gales, with heavy rain, wind E.N.E.; 4th light airs and fine, E.N.E. The top-gallant-mast was broken into three pieces, and the centre of the main-top-mast fairly forced out, the mizen-top-gallant-mast and top-mast were carried away by it, and the ship for a time was quite a wreck. She was about to sail for England with a valuable convoy. H.M.S. Warrior, very near the Norge, having lightning conductors, was not damaged, and amongst the other ships of the convoy only one was struck by lightning, and this ship had not a conductor.-Shipwreck by Lightning Report and Evidence, p. 58. NARCISSUS, 36. 1816. April 23rd, off the Western Islands, lat. 43° N., long. 30° W.; A.M. fresh breezes W.S.W., heavy lightning; 3h. 40m. main-mast shivered by the lightning in several places; the top-mast badly shivered, and main-top-gallant-mast slightly injured. The wind on the 21st, fresh breezes south-west; 22nd, fresh and cloudy with lightning, wind W.S.W.; P.M. shifted to north-west; 23rd W.S.W.; 24th north-west, moderate and fine; 25th S.S.E., light breezes and cloudy. The top-mast was ruined, and the main-top-sail set on fire; the discharge reached the bitts, and blinded some men at the top-sail halliards. The ship was returning to England from Bermuda. OCEAN, 98. 1813. Sept. 2nd, at anchor off the Rhone; 1h. 10m. A.M. mainmast and main-top-mast struck and shivered; four of the hoops on mainmast broken. The wind on the preceding day S.E.b.E.; strong breezes and cloudy, with lightning; A M. on the 2nd, north-east, strong breezes and cloudy, with thunder and lightning; 12h. 40m: a heavy squall with lightning; in the course of this squall the ship was struck. The wind on the next day changed to the south, moderate and cloudy. They woulded and fished the main-mast, and went to Mahon, where she had a new one. ORLANDO, 36: 1813. January 31st, at Smyrna; A.M. 12h. 30m. main-top-mast struck by lightning, and shivered through the heart of it; main-mast much shaken and damaged, the fore fish started, head of mast entirely destroyed. The discharge entered the head, and came out about six feet above the quarter-deck. The wind on the 30th south-east, moderate with rain; on the 31st, moderate with rain. February 1st, moderate and fine, wind E.b.N. The ship repaired damage, and went to Malta for refit, where she got a new main-mast. OPOSSUM, 18. 1815. March 23rd, off the Dodman, English Channel; 10h. P.M., wind W.N.W., hard gales and heavy squalls. "A peal of thunder burst in the main rigging and split the main-top-mast cap." The brig was lying-to at the time. OCEAN, 80. 1829: March 12th, at Smyrna; 1 A.M. main-top-gallant-mast and main-top-mast struck by lightning and much damaged. |
