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command of Mr. G. Johnstone, mate of the Fawn. We sailed March 19th, with 180 slaves, well provided with medicines, and directions in what manner to use them. Tapioca and lime juice were also provided. Notwithstanding all the care that a small crew could bestow on them, we unfortunately lost 20, chiefly from Scurvy and general debility. This unfortunate brig left Bahia Fort, on the coast of Benguela, with 510 negroes, and 13 days after, on her capture, she had but 375."Berbice Gazette.

H.M.B. RACER.-Extract of a letter from H.M.B. Racer, dated Newfoundland, May 24th-Yesterday, came from sea, bad weather, with a thick fog; while the officers were at dinner, an alarm was given of a man overboard; a rope was thrown to the poor fellow, but from the tide running so strong (full six miles an hour) he soon be. came exhausted; he cried out that he could not hold any longer, when, at this moment, the master, Mr. C. T. A. Noddall came on deck, instantly seized a rope, made a bowline knot, jumped overboard with it, and they were pulled up together; when on the top of the hammocks, Mr. Noddall caught hold of one of the halyards to steady himself, when it unfortunately broke, and he fell on the deck; his left arm coming in contact with the sharp iron on the gun slides, a severe contusion was the consequence, but whether accompanied with a fracture of the bones or not we cannot yet ascertain. The poor fellow is, however suffering severely for his noble

action.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, AND DEATHS.

Births.

At the Royal Naval Hospital, at Haslar, on the 31st of May, the wife of Dr. Richardson, of a daughter.

At Douglas, Isle of Man, the lady of Capt. Sir T. S. Pasley, Bart., RN., of a

son.

Marriages.

At Walpole St. Andrews, near Lynn, June 29th, Capt. Sir W. E. Parry, RN., to Catherine Edwards, relict of S. Hoare, Jun., Esq., and daughter of the Rev. R. Hankinson.

On July the 5th, at St. Mary's Church, Bryanstone Square, Capt. Lushington, RN., second son of Sir H. Lushington, Bart., to Henrietta, eldest daughter of Capt. Prescott, CB., RN.

At Aberdeen, J. Michell, Esq., of Forcett Hall, and Glassell, to Jane, only daughter of Rear-Admiral Sir A. Farquhar.

On the 15th of July, at Hamble Rice, the Rev. J. Barney, MA,, Vicar of Charlton Adam, Somerset, to Mary Ann Bradby Lumley, only daughter of the late Capt. J. R. Lumley, RN., of Charlton, Kent, and grand-daughter of the late Admiral B. Douglas.

On the 13th of July, at St. Nicholas, Harwich, Capt. M. W. Heath, RE., Civil Engineer to the Admiralty, in the Royal Dockyard, Pembroke, to Jane, the third daughter of J. Sansum, Esq., of Harwich.

At Marylebone, P. Gostling, Esq., commander of H.M.S. Electra, to Ann, daughter of the late W. Bishop, Esq.

At St. George's Hanover-square, Capt. Blanckley, RN., late of H.M.S. Pylades, to Sarah, eldest daughter of the late Sir G. Nayler, Garter King at Arms.

On the 6th of July, at Southampton, by the Rev. J. Jones, AM., Capt. E. Jones, of Wymistay Place, Wexhain, to Caroline, eldest daughter of the late Capt. P. Rainier, RN., CB., of Hamilton-place, Southampton.

At Clapham Church, C. W. N. Fowell, RN., to Theana, daughter of J. Holland, Esq., of Clapham Common.

On the 13th of July, by the Rev. W. B. Pole, Munday Pole, Esq., Capt. 89th Regiment, son of C. Pole, Esq., of Wyck Hill, Gloucestershire, to Mrs. A. Salwey, only daughter of the late Admiral Manley.

At Marylebone, Capt. Morier, RN., to Fanny, daughter of D. Bevan, Esq., of Belmont, Herts.

Deaths.

Recently in France, Admiral J. Avlmer; second in seniority of the flag officers of the fleet.

At Gatcombe House, on the 30th of May, Lady Curtis, the wife of Rear-Admiral Sir L. Curtis, Bart., CB., aged 51.

Lately, at St Petersburgh, Admiral Sir R. Crown, aged 89. He was a native of North Britain, and entered the Russian service at the close of the American war. He was always highly respected by the Imperial Family, and his funeral (which was a public one,) was honoured by the personal attendance of the Emperor.

In Baker-street, London, in his 60th year, John, youngest son of Rear-Admiral Sir C. Malcolm.

METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER.

Kept at Croom's Hill, Greenwich, by Mr. W. Rogerson, of the Royal Observatory. From the 21st of June to the 20th of July, 1841.

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JUNE.-Mean height of barometer =29.948 inches; mean temperature=55 8' degrees; depth of rain fallen 2.12.

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TO OUR FRIENDS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

Our correspondent in KING STREET, HULL, shall be heard in his turn.

Our former HULL correspondent will see that we have made use of his useful translation.

We refer a VOYAGER to the plan of Saldanha Bay in our last number for the position of the springs.

Our publishing friends must bear with us till our next, when we will do them ample justice. We understand that an entire new edition of the first volume of Horsburgh's Directory is now ready for delivery. In our next we will overhaul it, and report accordingly.

The letter of M. X. M. most certainly in our next.

ERRATUM.-Portsmouth.-Page 494, line 19, for "white" read "black,”—line 21, for "black" read "white."

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577

APPROACHES TO HAMMERFEST-SHOALS LYING OUTSIDE OF FUGLOE ON THE NORTH COAST OF NORWAY.

THERE are few portions of sea coast that abound more plentifully in dangers formidable to navigators than the coast of Norway, and there are fewer portions of the coasts of civilized Europe that are less known. Even the approaches to Hammerfest, the principal port of Northern Norway not less exempt from outlying reefs and intricate channels, than the most unfrequented part of that iron-bound coast are no less involved in obscurity.

In the Annales Maritimes for November 1839, Lieut.-Com. M. Fabvre who visited that port in command of the Recherche on her way to Spitzbergen, complains justly of the deficiency of our charts. He says, they extend well out to sea, and that he fixed the northern extreme of one of the reefs, lying two leagues out, in 70° 18', and long. 19° 48′ E. This reef is in the way of vessels going to Hammerfest by the southwest passage, and is the more dangerous (a feature, which by the way applies to nearly all alike) from the sea not breaking over it with off shore winds; and Lieut. Fabvre recommends vessels adopting the northern channel to Hammerfest, which is "much larger and shorter, and quite free from danger."

In the midst of this state of affairs it is satisfactory to be assured that the wants of the seaman are to be endured but a short time longer, that the surveyor is "abroad" on the coast of Norway, as well as elsewhere, and that we shall soon have some charts on which dependance may be placed. If they are similar to four sheets already published by the Norwegian government, seamen, we pronounce, will be well satisfied with them. A short time ago a vessel from Christiania ran on one of these reefs, and was with difficulty got into Hammerfest. In consequence a notification of the danger was published at Hammerfest, and appeared in that valuable paper the Shipping and Mercantile Gazelle, which notice would be sufficient to caution our shipping; and a representation of the same danger has been made by her Majesty's Consul to Government, a copy of which we lay before our readers. We shall look with much anxiety for the charts alluded to.

"From Fladroer outside of Hoaloë in the course to the north of Fugloë in the district of Tromsoe, are a series of shoals, of which some are of a dangerous character, the farthest out to sea: Nordstoe, Bredgrund, Gaasegtarren, East Gaassene, Hordboën, and Gjæsboen. On all these the sea constantly breaks; some of them, namely East Gaassene are dry at ebb tide. The most westerly, namely Nordstoe, lie about six miles N.b.W. of Vaudoë; the most easterly the inner Gjæsboen, fourteen miles N.N.E. of Fugloë; and the distance between each is about eighteen miles. When a right line is drawn from the inner Gjæsboen, or from W.S.W. to E.N.E., all the remaining shoals will be to the south of this direction. Nordboen, which merely has one fathom water on it lies nearly due north of Fugloë, at a distance of eight miles, the inner Gjæsboen with three or four fathoms water on it, lies as observed fourteen miles N.N.E. of Fugloë.

ENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 9.-VOL. FOR 1841.

4 E

"In 1842, the charts, comprising the whole of this range of coast with special directions will be published: until then, it may serve as a guide to know, that the outermost of these shoals, Nordstoe, is situated in north latitude 70° 30′ 40′′, and longitude 19° 30′ 55′′ E. of Greenwich.

"The inner Gjæsboen north latitude 70° 30', and longitude 20° 27′ 50" east of Greenwich. The shoals Nordstoe, Bredgrund, Gaasegtarren, East Grassene, Nordboen, and Gjæsboen, are not laid down in our charts.

"The islands of Hvaloe, Vaudoë, and Fugloë, are to be found in our present English charts. The miles are English geographical miles." "J. R. CROWE, Consul."

(Signed)

Alton Hammerfest, 12th July, 1841.

A VOYAGE FROM THE HAVANA TO VERA CRUZ, TAMPICO, AND SAVANA. By Mr. W. Mooney, mate of H.M.S. Thunder.

THE loss of her Majesty's packet Spey having rendered it necessary that another vessel should be employed to carry the mails, &c., to their different destinations, as also to collect the return mails, one of the Bahama mail boats, called the "Sarah Anne," a very fast vessel, was selected by the British Consul at Havana for these services. Although only registering 17 tons, she is still a very fine boat for her size; she is built on the Baltimore plan and considered "a clipper." One of the Spey's chronometers was supplied to her, and the charge of her given to Mr. Mooney, mate of her Majesty's vessel Thunder. It being the month of December, the very acme of the northers, a few hard knocks and uncomfortable hours were anticipated, before the accomplishment of the voyage.

On the 14th of December, 1840, at daylight, the mail boat was put in motion, in obedience to a light land wind, and although we were very scrupulous in displaying a blue ensign and long pendant, the guardship's boat would not recognize our right to a free passage; accordingly, a boat under the joint or simultaneous command of a coxswain, soldier, and bowman, made her appearance alongside to demand a pass, but we took good care not to understand a word they said, and merely answered by a significant nod to the pendant now floating aloft; the true cause of the tenacity shewn, was the nonappearance of about 9d. sterling, their customary fee from merchantmen. In time they decided not to be towed out to sea, and left us to ourselves.

On the following day, we sounded on the small portion of bank westward of the Colorados reef, still shewing many a wreck of noble vessels; -touched at Cape St. Antonio to obtain a temporary rate, as the chronometer had been set going only the day before our departure; here a norther commenced. To the southward of the cape, the current runs at the rate of one and a half knots per hour, decreasing gradually as we proceeded to the southward. On the 20th we arrived at Belize;

the town is very mean in its appearance; there is a rather picturesque bridge over the river, a novel sight in these climes. The mahogany cutters were coming in from all quarters, to partake in the Christmas gambols and debaucheries; the mustering and arming of the militia, both by sea and land, forming the most attractive scene; the splendour of the officers' uniforms, and self-satisfaction of the subordinates, whilst receiving, burnishing, and donning their accoutrements. The flotilla consists of all pleasure craft and coasters belonging to the place, the greater number of these are constructed of the immense canoe of the country, made from one trunk, risen upon, hove out and decked; and, indeed, if it were not for a slight clumsiness about the after part, they would be very light vessels; some of them measure as high as ten tous. The market is badly supplied with flesh, but fish and turtle abound. The logwood is floated down the river on rafts of cabbage wood, almost as buoyant as cork. The mahogany finds its own way down, and sometimes finds its way out to sea, if there are not proper persons stationed at the different branches of the river to turn it down the main stream. The superintendant, Colonel M'Donald, to whose hospitality we are indebted, has the second son of the Musquito king at his residence; he seems a sprightly forward boy, about eleven or twelve years of age, and perfectly Indian in make and color. The " "dory," a light species of canoe, is the only boat in use, and the agility and tact displayed in its management, coupled with its graceful form and extreme swiftness, render it one of the most remarkable objects. The garrison consists of a detachment of the 2d. West India regiment, and a few artillery. There is another settlement to the southward called Isabel, at which there is a steamer; it is some distance up the Gulf of Dulce.

On the 21st, having re-shipped our pilot and his dory, we departed, not without some regrets that we could not partake in their Christmas rejoicings. If the pilot we had was a specimen of his brethren, they must be a precious herd. He certainly was not sufficiently acquainted with several main points of his duty, such as the weather, nature and different colours of the bottom, bearings, distances, &c.; in fact, he altogether went by the eye, by which means we were obliged to lose a whole night,

Although there was a strong norther against us, and the navigation inside the Chinchorro and Cozumel very dangerous, on account of the violent current, we were off Cape Contoy on the morning of the 4th day, a distance of about 360 miles. On the north extreme of the Chinchorro reef we saw a large barque ashore, apparently English, but it was impossible for us, on account of the boisterous state of the weather, to render her any assistance. On the north point of the island of Contoy we observed a Spanish brig ashore, bound from St. Jean de Nicaragua to Havana; her cargo, aguadiente, indigo, and hides, he had been beating up against the norther also. It must be observed, that outside the edge of the Yucatan bank the current runs with great rapidity, at the rate of about four knots per hour, but not so on the bank; the current never runs more than one and a half knots, and even then is subject to variation by the force of the ebb and flood tides, I ascertained that he had steered the same course on the bank

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