get a loan from the Admiralty, so to speak, of certain of its half-pay officers at present unemployed. Say that twenty lieutenants were so required: let them retain their rank and pay in the Queen's service, together with the claims of promotion they presently enjoy: let them be transferred to the Indian navy, so long as the home government can spare them, receiving the whilst the full emolument of Company's officers, but without claims on promotion or retiring allowances from the Company: and let them be liable to recall at a moment's notice, so soon as they are required by the service to which they properly belong.

By some such scheme as this, the Company would at once have their ships officered by the most experienced, accomplished, and perfectly educated naval officers, the Admiralty would not only have it in its power to reward meritorious but ill requited men, whose services are not required on a niggard peace establishment, but it would keep its officers in full practice, and it might be in the way of benefitting by the experience of other latitudes and modes of navigation than those already familiar to them, instead of permitting them to deteriorate in knowledge or skill, or become averse to professional exertion from want of practice afloat: while a set of able navigators, at present compelled to live in a state of comparative idleness, and maintain the position of gentlemen on almost a menial's pittance, would be restored to those pursuits for which they were trained, and in which they delighted, and remunerated in a way somewhat worthy of their deserts. Let us glance at the relative rates of payment in the Royal Navy compared with that of the India Company.

On the first of the two schemes just explained, it is proposed to substitute the pay of the Company for that of the Royal Navy, on the second to superadd it thereto under the provisions already specified. One great source of disgust from whice the officers of the Company were formerly said to have suffered, was the drudgery of the packet service; and this we venture to say, the officers of the Royal Navy will, with the following explanations, get over very easily. We have in this computation given the results in sterling money instead of Companys, rupces; because while the latter is chiefly intelligible to those familiar with Indian currency; the former is readily understood by all.

From the 30th Dec. 1839 to the 3rd Dec. 1840, the commanders of the Red Sea steamers received amongst them £13,800 in the course of ten voyages;— this came to be divided among eight officers, of whom the commander of the Berenice received 5,100%.; the commander of the Victoria 4,2007.; and the commander of the Zenobia 2,730.; the balance being divided in lesser sums amongst the other five officers in command. To make up the net emoluments of these officers, of course the expense of the Passengers' Commissariat has to be deducted.

The pay of a commander or lieutenant 9607. and 2081. a year has to be added to this. With these advantages we do not see a single objection to be offered to the arrangement just proposed, saving the insignificant withdrawal of patronage the directors would sustain by it. It supercedes no one, for we propose adding Navy officers to the present establishment, not substituting them for ENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 9.-VOL FOR 1841.

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those now employed; it injures or invades the privileges of no one; it would give a higher cast and tone to the Indian Navy altogether; it would elevate its discipline to that of the Royal Navy, the very foremost the world ever saw; it would induce a spirit of due subordination and submission to the commands of superior officers, and to the exigencies of the service, however severe and unexpected these might prove; and those who feel their dignity hurt by the presence of passengers on the quarter-deck, and the attendant nuisance of being compelled to pocket a few thousands a year on that account, would become reconciled to either annoyance when they saw how cheerfully they were submitted to by those who had been the pride and the ornament of the quarter-decks of British men-of-war.

It must in conclusion be kept in view, that the amount of occupation held out in this way is anything but insignificant. The Indian Navy connected with Bombay at this moment consists of ten splendid steamers of a joint burthen of nearly 7,000 tons, of twelve iron steamers from 100 to 400 tons, of fifteen sailing vessels-of-war of a total burthen of 3,419 tons, and of an aggregate armament of 128 guns; and that the duties of this smart and well-equipped flotilla are discharged by four captains, eight commanders, and forty lieutenants in all.-Bombay Times.

FRESH WATER AT SALDANAH BAY.

SALDANAH BAY, according to Sir John Barrow, Secretary to the British Admiralty, is one of the best harbours perhaps, in the world. It is in extent about fifteen miles, completely land-locked and protected by islands and points on which fortifications could easily be erected for the defence of a fleet-but yet, notwithstanding all its well-known capabilities for a naval station, where ships could be built or repaired, it has hitherto been entirely neglected, under the belief that there was a want of fresh water in quantity sufficient for the refreshment of ships, that necessary article being only procurable in small supplies at the Residency or at another spot four miles off, and which Sir John recommended should be conducted to the beach in pipes.

Sir John Barrow strongly impressed with the immense importance of this harbour for naval purposes to England, conceived the bold idea of diverting the Berg River, a stream which empties itself in St. Helena Bay, and strongly insisted upon the value of such an undertaking as well as the facility with which its waters could be made to flow into Saldanah Bay.

Fortunately a work of that magnitude was not attempted, for an accident has just shown, that both labor and expense would have been thrown away. The case is this:-About a month ago indications of a spring of fresh water were observed on Schaapen Island, a place of general resort, and situated at the entrance of the bay. On tracing these up it appeared that the fountain had evidently been discovered many years ago, but carefully concealed, and in working to its source it was found it had been purposely sealed by masonry with cement, and its course carried through a channel into the sea, eleven feet below low water mark; evidently with the intention of hiding its existence. The supply from this spring, now released, is said to be most copious, and equal in purity to that of Cape Town, to which the Portuguese discoverers gave the significant and well deserved name of Rio Dulce.

The re-discovery of this buried treasure seems to have excited a spirit of enquiry, and a few days back, on the dam at the Residency being cleared out, two new springs were found of good water, one of which discharges ten gallons a minute, or 144,000 gallons in twentyfour hours. No doubt more water will soon be discovered, and this splendid harbour, consigned so long to uselessness, will take up its rank as a grand naval station, for which Nature intended it. Fears have already been uttered that it may injure Table Bay, short sighted people forgetting that "the more ports the more trade."

A search has been made through the colonial archives for some record of the cause which led to the obliteration of the spring on Schaapen Island, but the indefatigable Mr. Moodie can find nothing of the kind; the motive, however, no doubt was to prevent foreign vessels visiting the port, which might have led to occupation; an event which the jealousy of the old Dutch India Company would not have allowed to be consumated.-Cape Paper.

[Our July number contains an account of this discovery, accompanied by a chart to shew the position of the island.]

DINNER TO ADMIRAL SIR ROBERT STOPFORD, AT PORTSMOUTH. THE assembly was very numerous, and included a great number of officers and other gentlemen of eminence. The Mayor of Portsmouth presided. Our limited space confines us to the speeches of particular interest to the Services, viz., those of Admiral Sir. R. Stopford, General the Marquis of Anglesey, and Commodore Sir C. Napier.

Admiral Sir R. Stopford said-Had I more cloquence than falls to my share, -had I all the eloquence I could desire, I should still want words and language to express my deep sense of the honour I have received from the reception I have met with since my return to England. (Cheers.) With respect to my reception in England, no trump of fame, no herald announcing pompous achievements preceded my return. The reception I met with here when my brother-officers gave me a dinner a few days ago arose from those magnanimous and liberal feelings on the part of the British public, which are always displayed towards officers who have done their utmost endeavours to discharge their duty,-feelings which require no prompting, and which are always the more welcome from being unsolicited. (Loud cheers.) Honours have been conferred on various occasions-the ornaments which attend those honours may sometimes have been purchased by money, but the honour which I now receive is beyond all limits of caprice, and of a nature that no money can purchase. Gentlemen, I think it due to you, and to the company I now address, to say a few words on the immediate subject of this meeting, relating to Syria. You all ́ know how inadequate our means were when we first landed in Syria, to oppose 70,000 men, under the command of a warrior of some distinction, Ibrahim Pacha, and whom we were to oppose only by the Marines of our ships, a few handfuls of Turks, a few Sappers and Miners and Artillerymen, and these were the extent of our means to drive 70,000 men out of a country like Syria. (Hear, hear, hear.) I was appointed commander-in-chief by sea and land of that expedition. The officer of the army, who was appointed immediately to take command of the troops on shore, unfortunately for him, was seized with such a violent indisposition, that he was perfectly unable to do anything. I had,

however, the good fortune to have in my second in command an officer, Sir Charles Napier-(Loud cheers)-who had had the advantage of occupying very useful positions under the Duke of Wellington, and who had also most gallantly distinguished himself on many occasions in Portugal.. (Cheers.) To such a man, I very gladly looked to supply the place of the general officer who was prevented from acting by indisposition. As he was upon the coast of Syria for some time before I went there, he judiciously selected a situation which was occupied immediately on my arrival with the troops, when operations commenced. His subsequent operations were, as you are aware, of a nature to check and paralyze the Egyptian troops, so that they never came into collision with the Turkish troops under arms, except in one instance, when, by a simultaneous attack on the Egyptian troops in front and rear, he succeeded in expelling those troops from Syria, and delivering them over to the command of the officers of the Sultan. To that officer, therefore, I beg to express the greatest obligations. (Loud cheers,) Neither can I forget the obligations I owe to a distinguished officer now here, Capt. Collier,-to Capt. Boxer, of the Pique, who was employed in the more southern operations,-to Capt. Berkeley, who was engaged in another part of the operations,-to Capt. Stewart, in the Benbow, who was employed northwards; and to all commanders and men who so ably and so nobly performed their duty. The operations on the coast of Syria extended near a line of three degrees of latitude, if not more. There must, of course, have been numerous detachments from the commander-in-chief to perform the services on that length of coast. Now, unless the commander-inchief possessed a power which a countrymen of mine attributed to the birds and the fishes, of being in two places at once, he could not possibly be in more places than one at the same time. (Cheers.) Therefore, what has been said about this commander-in-chief not being there, is fully answered by the fact of its being impossible, and I feel myself in every way fully exculpated for placing reliance in officers on whom I knew I could fully depend. Whenever concentrated services were wanted, as at Beyrout and Acre, there I was in person. I will not trouble you more with anything relating to myself in Syria. I have explained some points on which I thought explanation might be expected, and I could not do so with more satisfaction to myself, than before the distinguished company and respectable community which I have now the honour to address. The eulogium which has been passed upon me I am much obliged to the mayor for. I also cannot forget the encomiums passed on me by the Rev. gentleman (J. P. McGhie,) who last addressed you; but that reminds me that I should end where I ought to have begun, by attributing to Almighty Providence the successes which we have achieved. (Great cheering.) The state of the weather, which enabled us in the month of November, at a time when the bad weather usually sets in, alone enabled us to bring our labours to a successful issue. We have now returned to Turkey a fine, a large, and a rich province. By good management it may add to her strength,-without good management, it may, as it always does in such cases, add only to her weakness. That, however, is no business of mine. I did what I was ordered to do, and let them do the rest. Once more I beg sincerely to return you my thanks for this most splendid entertainment,-an entertainment distinguished for its elegance, -abounding in good cheer and good feeling. Again, I return you my sincere thanks. (Prolonged cheering.),

Daniel Quarrier, Esq., M.D., then rose to propose "The health of the Marquis of Anglesea, the Earl of Hardwicke, and the rest of the distinguished visitors who had honoured the assembly with their company," and in a speech of considerable length and eloquence, eulogised the great merits of the noble Marquis as a first rate cavalry officer, and particularly referred to his gallant services in the Peninsula and at Waterloo. (Cheers.)

The Marquis of Anglesea rose, amidst loud applause, to return thanks. He said-Gentlemen, on the part of the visitors and of myself, I have the honour to return you my cordial thanks for the honour you have done them and me.

Gentlemen of Portsmouth, I beg leave personally to express my gratitude for the favour you have done me, in making me your guest on the present interesting occasion, and in thus enabling me to offer my humble tribute of respect, and to assist in doing honour to the illustrious commander, the gallant admiral, whose glorious achievements we are at this moment assembled to celebrate. Great, glorious, and triumphant, have indeed those achievements been. They are such as it is impossible for the nation at large too highly to appreciate, or for our most gracious Sovereign too highly to reward. I congratulate the nation that we have still amongst us such able, such gallant men as many of those whom I have the happiness to see around me. (Loud cheers.) 1 congratulate the brave officers and men who had the good fortune aud happiness to participate in all the glories of the east, I congratulate the navy at large on the high and noble proofs which have now lately been given that they have not degenerated. I congratulate that gallant corps that useful, that invaluable link in the chain which connects the two services of the sea and the land, and which unites them in one common bond of union, good fellowship, and interest. I speak, as you may well observe, of the Royal Marines. I congratulate them on the splendid share they have had in all those victories. It is a corps which never appeared on any occasion or under any circumstances without doing honour to itself and its country. Many of us here have lived in times when war has been carried on on a more extended scale than it has lately been, but I do not believe that if we were to search the pages of history we could find one, notwithstanding the glorious examples which stand recorded on it. Still I do not believe we could find one in which this service stands more pre-eminently conspicuous, or in which it holds a more commanding position than it does at the present day, as compared with the same service in other nations. (Great cheers.) With respect to the honour done me by a gentleman at the bottom of the table, who spoke of my humble services, I beg to offer him my sincere thanks, I am sorry to say, that I very imperfectly heard his speech; but I fear its subject was sadly inflated, and greatly surpassed any merit of mine. ("No, no.") Such as my services are, or such as they ever may be, they are always at the service of my country. I most cordially and sincerely thank the worthy gentleman for giving me an opportunity of stating, that, whatever honours and distinctions I may have received, I owe them all to the gallantry of those brave men whom it has been my fortune to lead to the field of battle. (Tremendous cheering.) I might be anxious, perhaps, to expatiate on the high merits of the late brilliant campaign in the east, but, really, gentlemen, after the perfectly beautiful history of the life of the Gallant Admiral, whom we are now anxious to honour, which was given us by our worthy mayor, and after the distinct and perfect explanation which the Gallant Admiral gave of his own achievements in the east, it would be nothing short of impertinence in me to detain you one moment longer. I will just, however, make one single remark on what has fallen from the Gallant Admiral. It seemed to me that he tried to make an excuse for not having himself been at this, that, and the other place, saying that he could not be at all places at once. Now, it seems to me one of the matters of the first and greatest importance to all commanders, whether by sea or land, to place confidence in those who are under them, and not to attempt to do everything for themselves. (Loud and long-continued cheering.) Mr. W. Grant, junior, in a short but able speech, proposed the health of "Commodore Napier, and the officers of the navy who served in the Syrian expedition," which was drunk with general applause.

Commodore Sir C. Napier returned thanks. He said he wished all the officers who had served under the Gallant Admiral on the coast of Syria and Acre were present this night to witness the kind manner in which they had received the mention of his (Sir R. Stopford's) name, (Loud cheers.) He could assure them, as an officer holding a high command under the Gallant Admiral, that there was not an officer or a man engaged in that expedition along the whole coast of Syria, who did not always look up to the Gallant Admiral with the most perfect