Recollections of a Sea Life. MR. EDITOR,-In your last Journal is the continuation of " Recollections of a Sea Life, by a Midshipman of the last century," which are highly entertaining and instructive, but he is in error in asserting, page 136, that "it was known that Lord Howe, who was at this time First Lord of the Admiralty, had arrived at Portsmouth," &c. &c. Earl Spencer was First Lord of the Admiralty at the time of the mutiny in 1797, having been appointed to that situation in the room of the Earl of Chatham, who had succeeded Earl Howe in July 1788. Earl Howe was sent by the Admiralty as the negociator, if such term may be allowed, between the Government and the refractory seamen, and, as is well known, fully accomplished that desirable object. QIN THE COrner. February 6th, 1832. First Meridian. MR. EDITOR,-In your Number for February, there is an article relative to the First Meridian. It is certainly an object of some importance, and my attention has been frequently directed towards it. The advantages to all the nations of the world of a Common or Universal Meridian are more than I can pretend to point out: but that the advantages are numerous and considerable, will be obvious after the slightest reflection. I may mention one, which is the case by which the situations of places might thus be compared, and errors rectified where errors existed. Of all the places in the world, the city of Quito, in South America, appears to me best entitled to this distinguished honour and privilege. In the first place, it is situated almost directly under the Equator; and, secondly, its position is more elevated than that of any city in the world, being 9621 feet, or nearly two miles above the level of the sea. Ness Castle, Inverness, 13th Feb. 1832. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, On the Trisection of an Angle by Major Mitchell. MR. EDITOR,-In your Number for January 1832, you have favoured us with a figure, construction, and solution, for the trisection of an angle, by Major W. Mitchell. By referring to the figure and construction it is easily seen that Major Mitchell assumes, that the point H is always in the circumference of the circle H M Z B, which a little reflection will show is not the case; consequently the subsequent solution. which so completely hinges on the measurement of the arcs H M and HZ, can only hold good when the point H is in the circumference of the circle, and is therefore an imperfect demonstration. Any one disposed to make the experiment mechanically, will easily satisfy himself that my view is correct, for in following Major Mitchell's construction in five trials, the point H fell without the circumference twice. Your constant reader and admirer, A MARLOW Cadet. Naval and Military Library and Museum, February 2nd, 1832. MR. EDITOR, I beg to point out the mathematical fallacy which appears in the paper of Major Mitchell on the Trisection of an acute Angle, in your January Number; it may serve as a lesson never to admit any fact in the demonstration without proof. Let any one who takes an interest in the question refer to his figure. It is manifest from the construction, and a very slight consideration, that BH is equal to the diameter of the circle B D E, consequently it cannot be a chord in an equal circle, and therefore the point H cannot be in the circumference of the circle B Z M H. Now, as the whole demonstration is founded upon the assumption that the said point, which must ever be outside of the circle, is actually in its circumference, it is evident that it must fall to the ground. Q. 22nd January 1832. THE following is an extract from a communication on the same subject, by a scientific gentleman. We regret that our limits prevent us from giving the whole. I need not take up your space by any remarks on the two corollaries appended to the problem, they are of course buried in the ruins of the latter. This I exceedingly regret, because we may be thereby deprived of another interesting discovery, which the gallant major leads us to expect from the following passage of his letter: "I now subjoin a figure with the construction, and a solution founded on the ancient analysis (?)-having also combined the most obvious deductions in two corollaries, by means of which I consider it not improbable that the other celebrated problem of antiquity, the quadrature of the circle, may be solved," &c. As to the quadrature of the circle, I agree that it may be done in a manner similar to the above trisection of an angle, and in fact, I recollect perfectly seeing it so effected some six years ago in the public papers in Calcutta. The author of it maintained that a square, equal to the area of the circle, was formed simply by the production of the alternate sides of the regular octagon inscribed in the circle. I demonstrated to him, in reply, that it was not so, but he would listen to no geometrical demonstration, having as he said ocular proof of the fact. He formed circles, squares, and octagons, &c. out of pieces of sheet lead, weighed them in a balance, and found them agree! I trust Major Mitchell will prove more reasonable, and indeed the ingenuity displayed in his problem, notwithstanding his oversight, is enough to convince me that his love of science and truth will more than counterbalance any disappointment he may feel for having failed of success where no man has yet succeeded. His pro blem is a beautiful chain which has one frail link, but in other respects, of excellent metal and most cunning workmanship. January 25th, 1832. I am, &c. Q. E. F. We have selected the most concise from amongst the numerous demonstrations on this subject which have reached us, and hope they will satisfy the adversaries of the gallant and far distant Major.-ED. On the Trisection of an Angle by Capt. Burton. This demi cardioide of Capt. Burton appears to be strictly correct, but for practical application by the young geometrician it is not fully detailed. Perhaps its more formal enunciation may not be unacceptable. Problem. To trisect any given angle, d C F. Operation from C as a centre, describe a circle ƒe A with any convenient radius. Lay a ruler over A to cross C d in i, so that i e shall be equal to C A, the radius of the circle; draw A and Cƒ parallel to it. Then / dCf and LdCe are each equal to one third the given angle dC F, as required. This problem is very neat and simple in practice. Observations, when the angle is 135°, A and e coincide, and de = rad. = tang. sup. given angle. When the Z is 180°, A and i coincide, and Ae= radichord of 60°; evidently one third of 180°. It is desirable to have a neat geometric formula deduced from demonstration for the relations of the sines, &c. &c. of the given angle and its third, &c. &c. The curves named by Capt. Burton cardioides, (that in question for example,) might be designated the curve of trisection; and it is much to be hoped, he will succeed in his apparent search of curves for other definite sections of a given arc or angle, such as the one fifth, the one seventh, and one eleventh, which may be designated by the name of the section to be obtained by their aid. W. F. EDITOR'S PORTFOLIO; OR NAVAL AND MILITARY REGISTER. AFFAIRS AT HOME AND ABROAD. THE WAR OFFICE. THE domestic occurrence of most moment to one branch at least of the United Service, and, we are inclined to believe, of salutary influence as to ultimate consequences, is the removal of Sir Henry Parnell from the office of Secretary-at-War. With due respect for that individual in his quality of a British gentleman, we must assert, on the authority of facts and experience, that a Public Functionary more incompetent and intractable never was admitted to office of any kind in this country. To an incapacity for business, beyond belief with reference to the reputation he had somehow acquired, the late Secretary added a doggedness of habit but little consistent with an intelligent and inquiring mind. In consequence, his plans or decisions were invariably stamped with a perverse unfitness, and frequently with a feeling either unjust or ungenerous. The wild idea of reforming the appropriate and well-ordered system of the British Army by an infusion of the incompatible and unstable expedients of the French, there existing so wide and obvious a difference between the characteristics, currency, and territory of the two nations, would alone suffice to prove Sir Henry Parnell either unfitted for his late office, or the passive instrument of some adverse influence. We hail the appointment of Sir John Cam Hobhouse to the War Office as a pledge of due efficiency, and a practically liberal and nati U. S. JOURN. No. 40. MARCH 1832. onal spirit, in the conduct of that Department. The confidence in the anticipated measures of the new Secretary, so frankly expressed in Parliament by a zealous and able predecessor, Sir Henry Hardinge, accords with the expectations of the service at large. An organized Insurrection of the Negroes, attended with great destruction of property and loss of life, has broken out at Jamaica. By the last accounts, the Revolt had been checked by the active and judicious measures of Sir Willoughby Cotton, commanding the forces; and, it was expected, would be gradually quelled by the vigorous measures adopted. Various causes, but chiefly the interference of the Baptist Missionaries, are assigned for this destructive rebellion. In ITALY, the Papal Legations have been again disturbed; but the intervention of the Austrians once more stopped the progress of these aimless squabbles. A French force, under Gen. Cubières, is stated to have sailed from Toulon for Cività Vecchia, to act, it is given out, as a Corps of Mediation, or a mission of Armed Neutrality. The project and the pretext are quite French. An expedition, naval and military, principally prepared in this country, under the direction of Don Pedro, Ex-Emperor of Brazil, has sailed from Belle Isle, where it had been collected, for Terceira, with an ultimate destination for PORTUGAL, where a descent is intended. The object avowed by Don Pedro in a preliminary manifesto, is, to dethrone Don Miguel, and 2 D place his own daughter, Donna Maria da Gloria, on the Portuguese throne. LORD MUNSTER AND INDIA. We have much satisfaction in giving the following Extract from the Madras Government Gazette of the 29th of Sept. last, which coincides with our own view, to which allusion is made, of Lord Munster's elevation, and warmly attests the estimation in which that accomplished gentleman and soldier is held in India. "The foregoing quotation, (viz. the paragraph in the United Service Journal for June, announcing Lord Munster's elevation,) is from the United Service Journal, which speaks, we believe, with sincerity and truth, the feelings with which the Earl of Munster's elevation will be very generally regarded. "By those who were acquainted with Colonel George Fitzclarence in this country when on the Staff of the Marquis of Hastings, and had the opportunity of observing the characteristic warm-heartedness and generosity of his disposition, his intelligence and talent, the foregoing just tribute will be cordially accorded in; and it may be added, without fear of contradiction or of the imputation of flattery, that Oriental Literature is indebted to few men more than to Colonel George Fitzclarence. To his ardent zeal, guided by a well-instructed judgment, and to his personal influence and exertion, is in no small degree to be ascribed, the present flourishing condition of that admirable Institution, the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, from whose researches so much light has already been shed on the literary world, and whose active and enlightened inquiries hold out the prospect of so much The more interesting discovery. 'Oriental Translation Committee,' has gratefully recorded its sense of how much it owes to Colonel George Fitzclarence, and we are assured that there is no individual unconnected with India, who feels a more warm and lively interest in the prosperity of the Indian service, and is more disposed to advocate to the fullest extent of his influence, whatever can conduce to the advancement of its honour and welfare." SEAMEN GUNNERS.-The partial reduction of the corps of Marine Artillery, two companies of which are still retained, and attached to the Portsmouth division, was a prelude to the formation and instruction of Seamen Gunners, according to the plan suggested and detailed by Sir Howard Douglas in his Naval Gunnery. This system, on an experimental scale, will be immediately put in practice on board the Excellent, at Portsmouth, with a twenty-eight gun ship establishment, as suggested by Sir Howard; who has thus a prospect of witnessing the practical success of his scientific labours. Credit is also due to the present Sea Lords, for the disposition thus manifested to give effect to suggestions from competent quarters for the improvement of the Naval Service. NAVAL AND MILITARY LIBRARY in our present Number of this InstiAND MUSEUM.-We have little to say tution, which proceeds in every respect most satisfactorily, further than to remind our readers in London of the General Meeting to take place at the Thatched House, at two o'clock, on the 3rd inst., at which a series of laws for its future government, will be mittee formed for the ensuing year. proposed for adoption, and a new ComThe Commemoration Dinner on that day, at which the First Lord of the |