the decks, rigging, spars, and paint-work, were covered with mud; and as the sun dried it, it had the appearance of a very fine red mould, with no sand in it."-Shipping Gazette. NAUTICAL NOTICES. LADD REEF AND SPRATLY ISLAND.-China Sea. April 1st, 1843. Cyrus, whaler, China Sea. SIR.-I beg leave to transmit to you for general information the position and description of two dangers in the southern part of the China Sea, with extracts from my journal. March 22nd passed through the Straits of Ballabac, and steered to the S.W. under easy sail during the night. March, 23rd, at 4 P.M. made the Swallows Rocks, and passed to the southward of them, distant two miles, steering through the night to the W.S.W. under easy sail. March 24th, lowered without success after Sperm Whales, in lat. 7° 37′ N., long. 111° 40' they going fast to the E.N.E. amongst the reefs. March 28th, standing to the N.N.E. with a light breeze from the eastward. At 6h. 30m. A.M. an extensive reef was seen from the mast-head, bearing N.E. ten miles, only visible with the glasses; at 8h. 30m. the reef bore east, distant three miles, extending in a S.S.E. and N.N.W. direction, about four miles, but the extent to the westward could not be seen. It is level with the water's edge, with large black rocks visible about the middle, and though the water was very smooth, broke heavily from one end to the other of it. At noon it bore S.E.h.S. eight miles, and our observations place it in lat. 8° 42′ N., long. 111° 41' E., by two good chronometers, from the Swallow rocks, allowing them to be in 113° 51′ E., or S.W.b. W., twenty miles from West London reef. March 29th, 1843, Standing to the E.b.S. with a steady breeze, and fine weather; at 9h. A.M. a low sandy island was discovered from the mast-head, bearing S.E.b.E. four leagues. On nearing it the beach was visible to the water's edge, the top appearing to be covered with small bushes, and about the height of a Ship's hull, with a black patch dividing the sandy beach in nearly two equal parts to the water's edge. It appears about one mile in extent east and west with breakers on each extremity; and inhabited by thousands of the feathered tribe. Noon observations place this danger in lat. 8° 40' N., long. 111° 56′ being south a little westerly, sixteen miles from the West London Shoal. Stood to the N. W without sighting the West London Reef, and made Tree Island at 5h. 30m. P.M. April 1st, again proving the correctness of our chronometers, and vouching for the position of these dangers. One I call Ladd's Reef, after Captain Ladd of the Ship Austen, who appears first to have seen it; the other Spratly's Sandy Island. I remain Sir, &c., RICHARD SPRATLY. APPROACHES TO AUCKLAND, New Zeeland.-We have received the following from the harbour master at Auckland. They were previously alluded to in our volume for 1841. No 1. a rock situated to the eastward of the Island Tiri Tiri Mantangi distant from the island about one mile and a quarter, having about one foot of water on it at low water (springs), and fifteen fathoms water close to it on every side, from which the following bearings were taken. Southern extremity of the island S. W. W. a remarkable White rocky islet ENLARGED SERIES.-No. 10.-VOL. FOR 1843. 4 U at the north western extremity of the island N.W.b.W. § W., centre of the Little Barrier Island due north. Peak of Rangitoto S. E. From the position and shape of the Island Tiri Tiri Mantangi, not being correctly marked in the Admiralty Chart of the Gulf, the bearings of the distant land marks do not agree on the chart with those of the extremities of the Island. (We find them to agree toberably well.-ED.) No. 2. a rock off the northern side of the Island of Waikekie (marked on the chart position uncertain) from which the following bearings were taken. North eastern end of Waikekie due east. Bird Island E.b.N. 4 N. Northern end of Hura Kia Island S. W. W. This rock is even with the water's edge at high water, and has deep water within a short distance on all sides of it These bearings were taken by (the only means in my power at the time,) a boats' compass. No. 3. A small rocky patch, about half a mile from the shore, between the North Head of the harbour, and the first point of land outside, from which the following bearings were taken. Peak of Ranguitoto N. 35° East ANGLES Signal mast extreme of N. Head 37° 5' Rock 32° 46' Beacon on the reef, projecting from the Extreme of North Head and Bastion This rock has six feet of water on it at low water (springs), two fathoms (sandy bottom) about it, and four fathoms (mud) inside, and outside of it. This small patch of volcanic rock had been accidentally overlooked, in the survey made by Captain Stanley, of H.M.S. Britomart; a Red buoy has recently been placed near it, as it lies directly in the way of Shipping entering the harbour. DAVID ROUGH, Harbour Master. DISPATCH ROCK, Cape of Good Hope.-A beacon having been placed, to point out the position of the Dispatch Rock, (commonly called the Roman Rock,) situated in this Bay, the following is a description of the said mark: It is a black spar, with a red board across the top, and the words Roman Rock painted on it; and floats about 7 feet above the surface, and nearly upright. As it is moored some distance, say 40 fathoms, inside, or western extremity of the rock, it leaves between the beacon and the shore a safe and commodious passage; but any vessel passing in the outside, or eastward of the beacon, is particularly recommended not to approach nearer the beacont han three-quarters of a mile. Port Office, Port Elizabeth, Cape of Good Hope, 22nd April, 1843. H. G. Dunsterville, ST. JOHN, Newfoundland, Aug. 25.—A light-house, which has been for some time in the course of erection at Cape Bonavista, on the north-east coast of this island, will be in operation from and after the 10th of September (proximo), from sunset to sunrise. This light will revolve at regulated intervals of two minutes, exhibiting alternately a red and white light, and will burn at an elevation of 150 feet above the level of the sea. WEST HOYLE SAND, Liverpool.-This Corporation having directed a beacon buoy coloured white with black ball and perch, the words "West Hoyle," painted on the head and sides, to be placed on the north-west edge of the Hoyle Sand NEW CHARTS. notice thereof is given, and that the said beacon buoy lies in four fathoms at low water spring tides, with the following compass bearings The old light-house at Point of Air, Great Orms Head S.S.E. E. S. W. N. J. HERBERT, Secretary. AGULHAS LIGHT.-In a recent number we made a remark on the "Proposed Agulhas Light." The following extract from the Cape Gazette of the 2nd of June last, will put our readers in possession of some information on that subject. The Committee having been lately in communication with the Colonial Government on the subject of the Agulhas Light, in consequence of a despatch which His Excellency the Governor had received from the Right Honorable Lord Stanley, Secretary for the Colonies, in which His Lordship desired information as to the amount of subscriptions raised towards the accomplishment of that important work, with a view to the Home Government granting their aid and assistance, and the Committee having every reason to expect that that aid will be granted, it has become necessary that the outstanding subscriptions, which have been held back by subscribers in consequence of the report that the Home Government intended to build the light-house at their sole expense, should be immediately collected, the Honorary Secretary has been requested to make application for the same. The collections already received are as follow:-Subscriptions received from Calcutta-Globe Assurance Company £100 0 0 Alliance Assurance Company, Rupees 1000 Bombay-Chamber of Commerce,-Bills on London, £563 13s. 6d. sold for Madras-Per Parry, Dare, & Co., bills sold at par, Manilla-Per Kerr, Murray, & Co., St. Helena-Per Capt. Carew London-Per Dickson, Burnie, and Co. Collections in the Colony do. 96 17 10 £1441 3 8 29 8 10 £1411 14 10 £881 4 71 including Interest. 590 3 0. 7 16 2 £1479 3 9 Subscriptions not yet collected in the Colony, £253 0 0 By Order of the Committee, EDWARD NORTON, Hon, Secretary. NEW CHARTS. (Published by the Admiralty, and Sold by R. B. Bate, 21, Poultry. [Since our last number the following Charts and Plans have been published by the Admiralty.] PORT VENDRE, South Coast of France. From a French Survey. PORT OTRANTO, Adriatic.-By Capt. W. H. Smyth. PORT PIRANO, BRINDISI,-Extends from C. Gallo to Point Cavello. BOURBON ISLAND,-With the roads of St. Dennis, St. Giles, and Port D'Abord. PORT CHAGRES and LIMON BAY, or Puerto de Naos, with an enlarged plan of Lorenzo Castle.-By Commander Barnett. PEARL CAY LAGOON, with plans of great and little Corn Islands.-By Commander R. Owen. THE NURSE CHANNEL.-By Commander E. Barnett. WAX CAY CUT, Exhuma Sound, Bahamas. APIA BAY, Navigators Islands, by Mr. G. Johnson, Master R.N. ADMIRALTY ORDERS. Admiralty, Sept. 11th, 1843. My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty are pleased to direct that a statement be added to the usual report of sailing qualities of ships, shewing any particular circumstances which may have occurred likely to affect the copper, such as getting on shore, or whether they have experienced any storms of lightning, and stating also the stations on which the ship has been employed since last coppered. By Command of their Lordships, Whereas, by an Order in Council of His late Majesty King George the Fourth, dated the 23rd day of March, 1825, certain rates were established at which the Foreign Silver Coins, mentioned in the Table thereto annexed, should pass current in all British Colonies and Foreign Possessions : And whereas, it has been found expedient by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, to alter such rates in various of Her Majesty's Colonies and Foreign Possessions, and to add to the Table herein-before referred to certain other Foreign Coins both Gold and Silver: And whereas, the alterations and additions before-mentioned have produced a variety of rates instead of the uniform values heretofore assigned to the Foreign Coins in question :-- We do therefore hereby desire and direct, that from and after the date of this Order, or as soon afterwards as it may be received, the Foreign Gold and Silver Coins specified in the annexed Table, shall be accounted for at the rates therein assigned to each. Given under our hands this 10th day of July, 1843. W. H. GAGE, W. GORDON, By Command of their Lordships, SIDNEY HERBERT. TABLE shewing the rates in Sterling Money at which the undermentioned Foreign Coins are to be computed (when British Coin cannot be procured) for Necessary Money, and issued in payment of Savings and Monthly Allowance to the Seamen of Her Majesty's Fleet in Foreign parts, and also in every other payment, the amount of which may be stated in Money. Sterling • The smaller French Coins are not a legal tender in sums of less than Five Francs. BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR. CAPTAIN THOMAS WITHERS, K.N., (See obituary for August,) entered the Service in 1793. In that year he had the good fortune to join the immortal Nelson in the Agamemnon, 64, forming part of Lord Hood's fleet at the occupation of Toulon, and bore a part in the reduction of Bastia and Calvi, and in the several actions in which the Agememnon was engaged. In a boat affair during this period he was wounded in the foot, and was taken to the Austrian head-quarters at Loano for the extraction of the ball. In another he was taken prisoner by the French, and was fortunate enough, three months after, to be included in the exchange brought about by the generosity of Nelson, in restoring some private property of Napoleon's, taken by the Agamemnon. In 1796, he joined the Captain, 74, and in the following year, at the battle off Cape St. Vincent, had the distinguished honour of commanding the division which boarded the San Nicolas, and from that ship the San Josef. He was made Lieutenant the next day, and was soon after appointed to the Terrible, 74, under the command of Sir Richard Bickerton, and served during the expedition against the French in Egypt. At this time he rendered an important service, which received a warm public acknowledgement from Sir Alexander Cochrane, and which was peculiarly characteristic of his unwearied zeal. With his lead, line, and compass, which he always carried with him while detached from his ship on an enemy's coast, he had, while engaged in a blockade of Fort Marabout, occupied himself in a survey, which enabled him, at a critical juncture, to lead the British squadron into port when no one else in the Fleet could have done it, and at a moment when the success of the movements of the Army upon Alexandria, under Sir E. Coote, depended upon its co-operation. In April, 1803, he was appointed to the command of the Expedition, 44, and was chiefly engaged in the Mediterranean till 1804. In 1805, Captain Withers accepted employment under the Transport Board, and in the arduous and harassing service repeatedly received the highest public commendations from Officers in command in the Army and Navy, who had witnessed and been benefitted by his indefatigable exertions. Such was the confidence reposed in him that at one time the tonnage of the transports entrusted to him, amounted to no less than 50,000 tons. In 1809, Post-rank was bestowed on Captain Withers. He was engaged in the defence of Sicily, in 1810, and from 1812 to the termination of hostilities in 1814, was chiefly employed on the east coast of Spain. The whole of Captain Withers' active service embraces a period of 21 years. It was characterised throughout in the various situations of trust which he filled by an earnest devotion to his duties, which uniformly procured him confidence and esteem. PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. [From the Naval and Military Gazette.] ADMIRALTY, September 5.-With reference to the note added to the Gazette of the 23rd of December last, the under-mentioned promotions have taken place, in consequence of the recent war in China, the Commisions dated December 23, 1842:Lieutenants to be Commanders. H. J. Lacon, J. G, Bynon, V. A. Massingberd, J. C. M. Touzeau, T. Woodgate. Mates to be Lieutenants. S. S. Shore, J. Reid, W. F. W. Parkinson, and W. P. Johnson. PROMOTIONS. COMMANDERS-S. Wriford (1815) to the Ordinary at Plymouth-H. C. Bin COMMANDERS-G. A. Bedford-B. F. stead (1841) to Apollo-F. Scott (1841) West, W. S. Cooper. LIEUTENANT-S. S. Shore to Hyacinth-R. J. W. Dunlop (1842) to Star. LIEUTENANTS-E. G. Bremer to Grecian-E. J. B. Clarke (1841) to Camperdown-G. Wichelo (1825) and Wood to Poictiers-T. M. Rodney (1832) to Modeste-O. J. Jones (1839) to Pilot-T. White (1812) to Ordinary, SheernessE. H. B. Proctor (1841) to Cyclops-G. |