TABLE LXVII.

For reducing Zante feet to English feet, and English feet to Zante feet.

H.M.S. FORMIDABLE.-By a letter from Barcelona, dated December 2nd we have the following particulars of saving the above fine man-of-war. At a quarter before 8 o'clock on the night of the 29th, going four knots, the ship struck the ground heavily (it appears 14 miles to the westward of Barcelona). A boat was immediately despatched to Barcelona for assistance, and at daylight a French steam-vessel, many boats, and small craft, came to assist. The stream had been got out, and the steamer carried out a bower. During the day, the 30th, two other steamers arrived from the westward, a French, and a Spanish; and at 5 o'clock the Rodney, much to our joy and comfort, arrived, and anchored a mile from the Formidable, then in four feet less water than she drew. The Rodney sent two cables on end, and the Formidable two to meet them, and both ships hove together. The water was started and pumped out, all the lower deck guns thrown overboard, with three of the main, and a quantity of shot, and at a quarter before 12 o'clock on the night of the 30th she was hove off, having been 28 hours ashore. The bottom was a soft clear sand, but, being near the breakers, some heavy rollers occasionally 'coming in made the ship thump heavily. The weather was fortunately very fine; the rudder went soon after grounding. The ship was dragged, by main strength, at least half a mile, judging from the buoy of the rudder, and the first gun thrown overboard. The ships' company, during the whole time worked well, and their conduct is said to be beyond praise. The ship was towed to Barcelona, from which she has proceeded to Port Mahon. Damage sustained (from the report of an excellent diver) :-The false keel is gone in many places, from 10 to 12 feet in one place; the forefoot gone; the rudder gone; main keel damaged in places; two leaks forward; a small leak in the bread-room; she makes eight inches of water per hour; between the main and mizen masts she hung and thumped heavily. The Cyclops, steam-frigate, had arrived, and had been sent to try and recover the rudder and guns. The Belvidera arrived at Barcelona on the 2nd instant.

OBSERVATIONS MADE WITH CAPT. BECHER'S HORIZON.

Royal Naval College, Dec. 22nd, 1842. DEAR SIR.-I feel great pleasure in sending you the enclosed observations for finding the latitude, made by some of the young officers at this establishment with your Artificial Horizon. You will see that nearly every result is within a minute or two of the truth.

Royal Observatory, Greenwich, Dec. 23, 1842,
Magnetical and Meteorological Department.

MEAN MAGNETIC DECLINATION for September 1842-23° 14′ 11′′.

G. B. AIRY, Astronomer-Royal.

NEW BOOKS.

THE NAVAL CLUB ; or, Reminisences of Service.—By M. H. Barker, Esq., “the Old Sailor," 3 vols.-Colburn.

We doubt not Mr. Barker's propensity for "spinning yarns;" his "twist" that way, be it inherited from whom it may is a very happy one; no one can work one up better than he can in the Nautical line. Of course the Naval Club relate the wonders of the Sea, and more wonders besides which as every one in it, gives some account of himself, his life, character, and behaviour" will bear telling twice over, without failing to interest the generality of readers. NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION TO CHINA from the commencement of the War to the present period.-By Commander J. E. Bingham, R. N. 2 vols.-Colburn. For "the present period" the reader must not assume that the termination of the Chinese war is meant; but simply the attack on Tsekee, and hence such a title appearing without date will always be ambiguous. The remainder of the war, will however afford ample matter for a supplementary volume; for although short, the brilliant successes which have resulted from it, and the extraordinary effects which must follow it, are more than sufficient to fill another volume like the two before us. We are glad to see a Naval Officer committing to paper historical records of events passing before him, in which he is himself more than a mere spectator, and particularly such events as the Chinese war afforded, and we congratulate Captain Bingham on producing an amusing and

interesting historical narrative; albeit there are certain expressions here and there (such as "bolting", &c.,) which even a thorough knowledge of the English language will not justify in print. These are, however, the first errors of juvenile authorship, and will wear off. The work is an important one and must find its way into all libraries, even in the present edition. In the next we recommend attention to the hints we have given.

ADMIRALTY ORDER.

Admiralty, Oct, 26th, 1842. As in many instances Medical officers of her Majesty's ships and vessels have omitted to insert in the heading of their Nosological Returns, the date and name of the ship, and have also transmitted the said Returns for periods not in accordance with their Instructions, which require that they should be transmitted from the Foreign stations every three months, viz. to 31st. March, 30th. June, 30th. September, and 31st. December; and from Ships on the Home stations monthly, ending the last day of each calendar month; and as these irregular

ities make it impossible to ascertain the number
of sick in any given quarter, or year, the Medi-
cal officers of her Majesty's ships and vessels
are hereby required to attend particularly to the
above points in future, observing that although
their first Returns may not commence with the
Quarter on the Foreign station, or the Month
on the Home station, they are to close and trans-
mit them at the end of the said Quarter, or Ca-
lendar month, as above mentioned.

By Command of their Lordships,
SIDNEY HERBERT.

PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.
[From the Naval and Military Gazette.]

PROMOTIONS.

ADMIRALTY, Dec. 23.-The following Promotions have taken place in consequence of the recent termination of the war in China.

Commanders to be Captains.-H. Boyes, C. Frederick, C. Richards, H. Kellett, R. B. Watson, W. H. A. Morshead, R. Collinson, E. N. Troubridge.

Lieutenants to be Commanders.-R. B. Crawford, C. Wise, G. Skipworth, J. G. Harrison, C. Starmer, J. Fitzjames, H. C. Hawkins, J. Stoddart, P. A. Helpman, and J. Tudor and J. J. M'Cleverty, of the Hon. East India Company.

Males to be Lieutenants.-H. Clarke, E. W. Vansittart, A. R. Henry, H. F. N. Rolfe, A. P. Green, H. S. Hillyar, H. Phelps, A. Anderson, G. H. Hodgson, N. Vansittart, C. K. Jackson, and A. T. Freese and E. L. Strangways, the Hon. East India Company.

In addition to the above Promotions, orders have been transmitted to Vice-Admiral Sir W. Parker, the Commander-in-Chief, to report, for promotion, the names of the Senior Lieutenants and Senior Mates of ships engaged; the services of which ships shall, in his opinion, entitle them to such reward, and who shall not be included in the foregoing list.

APPOINTMENTS.

COMMANDERS-G. G. Macdonald 1841, to Dublin C. G. Robinson (1838) to Gleaner.

LIEUTENANTS-T. W. Sidney (1842) to Styx-B. Alpin (1841) to command Acheron-Goldsmith to Warspile-E, Slade (1841) and E. J. Bedford (1838) to Gleaner-A. C. Murray (1841) to Spileful-H. A. Story (1839) to Gorgon.

MASTERS-W. Mills (1841) to Spiteful -J. W. Symonds (act.) to Gleaner-E. Petley (act.) to Styx.

MATES H. J. A. F. Maddock to Warspite-F. Willoughby and W. C. Marshall to Gorgon-G. T. S. Winthorp to Agincourt-A. Luckraft to Frolic-E. Marshall to Caledonia.

SECOND-MASTERS-A. L. Halloran to Acheron-R. Saunders to Gorgon-R. Walker to Gleaner-A. Betts to Cleopatra-R. Dean to Belvedcra.

MASTERS'-ASSISTANTS-N. J. Soane to Megara-T. Spicer to Samarang—M. Richards to Warspite.

ASSISTANT-SURGEONS-A. Euston to Acheron-T. R. Pickthorn to WarspiteG. St. G. Bowen to Minden-L. Martin, M.D., (add.) to Madagascar.

MIDSHIPMEN-P. Šaumarez to Frolic J. P. C. Owen to Warspite.

VOLUNTEERS 1st Class-A. D. Mercer to Tweed-A. W. Bedford to Saumarez -S. L. J. Peile to Samarang.

ful.

PURSER-W. B. V. Farror to Spite

MOVEMENTS OF HER MAJESTY'S SHIPS IN COMMISSION.