August. 29.920 59 538 50.6 N. 11, S. 14, V. 6. 3 55 13 5 7

27

122

In June 1841, slight shock of an earthquake on the 10th.

The total quantity of rain which fell during the year 1841, amounted to 39 inches. The greatest quantity which we have known to fall in one day, was 2.25 inches, on the 16th of September, 1841.

The following custom-house duties at Wellington, New Zealand, may be of service to the Captains of ships.

British or W. I. spirits, via Britain, not exceeding proof strength by Syke's £. s. d. hyd., and of Van Diemen Land, and New South Wales, per gal.

On all other spirits.

Tobacco, manufactured, except snuff, and cigars.

Manufactured, per lb.

Cigars

Tea, sugar, flour, wheat, and all other grain, and pulse for every £100

value.

Wine for every £100 value.

All other foreign goods, for every £100 value.

400000

4 0

550

000

All British goods, and goods the produce of manufacture of New South Wales, and Van Diemen Land, except spirits free.

The first Corporation of Wellington, and of any place in New Zealand. George Hunter, Esq., J.P., Mayor; W. Lyon, Senior Alderman, W. Fitzherbert J. Scott, J. Dorset, F. A. Molesworth, J. Wade, R. Waitt, W. Guyton, J.P., A. Hort, E. Johnson, and R. Jenkins, Aldermen; G. White, J.P., Town Clerk, R. Park, Town Surveyor.

NOTE ON TIDES AT PORT LOUIS, Falkland Islands. OBSERVATIONS were made every half hour between the 10th May and 6th September, 1842, and at every quarter of an hour about the times of high and low water, from which the following general results may be inferred, without going into any of the very remarkable irregularities which occurred, and which belong to the phenomena of periodical inequalities of time and height.

Time of high-water at new moon is 4h. 45m. after her transit.

at third quarter 5

9

At new moon the highest tide occurs at the 3h., high-water after the change.

The greatest rise or fall amounts to on an average, six feet two inches. At full moon the highest tide occurs at the 3h. high-water after the full, and the average spring tide amounts to five feet five inches.

The spring tide at the new moon is more regular in its amount than at the full moon; in the latter case it varied from 4 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 2 inches in four lunations. The spring tide at the new moon of three lunations had no sensible difference in amount, 6 feet 2 inches, except on one extraordinary occasion which does not belong to the regular phenomena of the tides, a fall of 6 feet 6 inches occurred.

The largest spring tide or difference between high and low-water invariably occurred with a fall, and as invariably the tide nearest to midnight.

I have not had time to go into the question of inequalities, but I can see there are some very interesting results to be obtained from this series.

I have deduced the mean level of the sea from the five months observations, and fixed two marks 5 feet 8 inches above it, by cutting off the top of a rock in one case, and by cutting a ledge in the face of a cliff in the other case, and have inserted two copper-plates engraved "Five feet eight inches above the mean level of the ocean, August, 1842; H.B.M. ships Erebus and Terror," by which any difference that may occur in the mean level of the sea in these parts may be determined, in which case it may be presumed that a similar mark on the rocks at Port Arthur, Van Diemen Land, would indicate an opposite effect.

This is all I have to say about the tides here at present, and I have taken it from our own register, without knowing at all what has been done before by Fitz-Roy or others, although his book is no clue to me. J. C. Ross.

THE ROYAL NAVAL SCHOOL.

THE annexed sketch represents a chair which has been presented by Admiral Sir Charles Rowley, to the Royal Naval School, at Camberwell, and for which the school, we understand, is also greatly indebted to the exertions of Capt. Henderson, at present in command of H.M.S. Victory. We cannot but add our tribute of approbation at the good

A

taste, which has dictated and secured, this very appropriate present to an establishment like the Royal Naval School; where it will be preserved both as a remembrance of by-gone days, and as an incitement to future Nelsons as they pass through the institution, to emulate, in days. to come, the fame of England's Naval Hero.

It is formed of oak, from the timbers of H.M.S. Victory, selected from those nearest to the place where Nelson breathed his last. On the shield which forms the back of the chair, is an anchor and cable, with the British ensign and Union Jack elaborately carved. These are surmounted by an Imperial crown, on either side of which are a Mitre, and Lord Nelson's Coronet within a wreath of laurel. A riband inscribed with the words "Trafalgar" and "Nile" and the well known signal "England expects that every man will do his duty," crosses the shield, and on a tablet encircled by a serpent, emblematical of the imperishable fame of Nelson is the following "A relic of the Victory, the ship in which Nelson fell." The design of the Crown and Mitre is intended to associate the memory of Nelson with those institutions of church and state, which his victories tended to preserve.

We understand that the design and ornaments of the chair are by Mr. R. Blake, the master builder of Portsmouth Dockyard. The carving was executed by Robert Bray, a joiner, and the chair was formed by Samuel Arnold, a shipwright, of the same yard. The drawing from which our engraving is taken was made by Mr. Sturdie, Junior.

To render the whole in keeping, on the presentation of the chair, it was borne into the schoolroom, in which the examination of the pupils takes place, by the following four veteran seamen of Greenwich Hospital, all of whom had fought on board the Victory, at the memorable battle of Trafalgar,-James Bergam (lost a leg), William Welch, George French, and Peter Moses.

THE LAUNCH OF THE GREAT BRITAIN.

IN three particulars the Great Britain differs from any other steamer which has ever crossed the Atlantic: she is the largest; she is built of iron; and, lastly, she is propelled by the screw, instead of paddles. Important as the two first qualities are, the latter is the point round which centres the interest and attention of all who either theoretically or practically study marine architecture, and the construction of the marine engine. The advantages of the screw over the paddle, at first sight, certainly appears to be immense, and the experiments conducted hitherto, although upon a small scale, would seem to prove that the expectations excited by the discovery of the screw as a means of propulsion, will be, in all respects, realized by its performances. With respect to the other peculiarities of the Great Britain-her immense length and her metallic construction-we do not wish to speak. The advantages of either are mooted points amongst those who know these subjects best, but the question will be speedily set at rest. The Great Britain's first season will decide the case of paddle v. screw, iron v. wood, and immense v moderate length. The general appearance of the Great Britain is quite unique. In rigging, size, and construction, she differs from every species of craft afloat upon the ocean. Her immense length, unbroken sweep of deck, and multitude of fore-and-aft rigged masts, will make her everywhere known and conspicuous. Nothing can be more beautiful than the model of the Great Britain. Her stem is as sharp as that of a river-boat, and her bows are moulded like a wedge. Her sides are beautifully rounded; she may be a trifle too full amidships, but her run is as clean and finely-proportioned as the eye could wish to dwell upon. Altogether, everything that skill, enterprize, and capital can do to make the Great Britain worthy of her name, has been done. We shall anxiously watch her career. It having been publicly announced that Prince Albert would be present at the launch of the Great Britain, the event thus acquired an additional interest.

On Wednesday, shortly after ten, the special train, carrying Prince Albert, the Marquess of Exeter, the Earl of Liverpool, Lord Wharncliffe, Lord C. Wellesley, Col. Bouverie, Mr. G. E. Anson, Mr. Russell (the chairman of the Great Western Railway Company,) and Mr. Saunders

(the Secretary,) &c., arrived at the terminus. Prince Albert had previously stopped and received an address from the Mayor and Corporation of Bath. On his arrival at Bristol he was met by the Mayor and the Corporation. Addresses were presented by the Corporation, the Clergy, and the Society of Merchant Venturers, the latter of which presented him with the freedom of their body in a gold box. The Prince then, attended by the Mayor, proceeded through the principal streets of Bristol and Clifton to the vessel, the people everywhere vying with each other in their demonstrations of loyalty and attachment. Upon arriving at the steam-ship, the Prince was shown over her, and he appeared much delighted. The Prince and the company sat down to the déjeuner prepared in a handsome pavilion, erected for the purpose. Mr. Kingdon, the chairman of the Great Western Company, presided. After the refection had been disposed of, and the usual loyal toasts done justice to, the chairman proposed the health of the illustrious guest, who had come among them to christen their great steam-ship by the name of his adopted country. The toast was drunk amid loud applause. Prince Albert returned thanks. He said, "I thank you for your kindness. It has given me great pleasure to be here. I shall always feel interested in your happiness, and I now propose-Prosperity to the City and Trade of Bristol." The toast was drunk with all the honours, as were several others, after which the company adjourned to the open air, to witness the great ceremony of the day, Launch, in the proper acceptation of the term, there was none-the steamer was merely floated from the dock in which she was built; and as she passed slowly and majestically out amid the acclamations of the vast multitudes, Prince Albert broke a bottle of wine upon her bows, and christened her the Great Britain, with the usual ceremonies. This over, the company rapidly dispersed. Prince Albert returned to town, by a special train, at four o'clock, and the vast steam-ship, the object of so much interest and speculation, was left quietly floating in the outer-dock.

MELANCHOLY OCCURRENCE.-H.M.S. Camperdown, Sheerness, Wednesday, 12th July, 1843.-A serious accident has happened on board the Camperdown, caused by the explosion of about 35lbs. of powder, under the following circumstances:-About 3 o'clock P.M. the King of the Belgians was passing down the Thames, when a salute was fired on board the Camperdown. One of the guns under the forecastle missed fire, which caused them to fire one farther aft than usual, close to which was a powder-box containing ten rounds or 35lbs. weight of powder. They have a custom on board of holding a shovel over the touch-hole of the gun to preserve the paint on the beams overhead, and it seems this directed the fire to the box containing the powder, which exploded with great violence, blowing up fourteen strakes of the quarter-deck and capsizing all the guns on it, throwing down all the ladders and gratings, the whole of the bulkheads in the Admiral's cabin, and blowing out all the sashes. Several persons were injured, among whom were Mrs. Gaze, the Master-Attendant's wife, the Rev. Mr. Barton, of East Church, his daughter, his niece and wife's sister, and others, ENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 8.-VOL FOR 1843. 4 C