Births. At Torpoint, the lady of Capt. Shannon, R.N., of a daughter. On the 4th of March, at the Elms, Worcestershire, the lady of Rear-Admiral Maling, of a son. On the 18th Feb,, at Kingston, the lady of Lieut. White, R.N., of a son. Near Exeter, the lady of Lieut. Palmer, R.N., of a son. At St. Michael's-terrace, the lady of Lieut. C. M'Kenzie, R.N., of a daughter. The wife of Lieut. Shewen, R.N., of a daughter. Marriages. At Falmouth, Mr. Robert Williams, Mate of his Majesty's ship Skylark, to Miss Mary-Jago Eddy. At St. Andrew's church, by the Rev. R. Luney, G. Page, Esq. R.N., to Fanny, youngest daughter of the late Francis Tweddell, Esq., of Threepwood, in the county of Northumberland. At Colwick, R. Hammond, Esq., R.N., to Sophia, daughter of J. Musters, Esq., Colwick Hall, near Nottingham, and of Byron's "Mary" Chaworth. On the 23d Feb., at Kingston, Lieut. J. Inglis, R.N., to Sarah, fifth daughter of Mr. W. Seagrove, Woollen-Draper, Hard, Portsea. Deaths. In Paris, 12th March, Rear-Admiral On the 25th of February, 1836, on 255 amiable man, were interred by special Lately, Lieut. Samuel-Hood Sullivan, At Greenwich Hospital, Lieut. I. In January last, at Clarendon, Jamaica, Lieut. R. J. Langrishe, R. N. (1825), Stipendiary Magistrate at that island. At West Lulworth, Dorset, Captain Benjamin Crispin, R.N. (1813), aged 57. On the 27th Feb., of apoplexy, at Torquay, Alexander Denmark, Esq., Physician of the Navy, highly esteemed in the service for his talents, and regretted by a large circle of friends for his kindness of disposition. Captain Thomas Cowan, Royal Navy, (1802.) Recently, Commander Gamaliel Fitzmaurice, (1812.) Lately, Mr. William Pattison, Surgeon, R.N. (1790.) On the 13th March, at Reading, Lieut. William-Innes Pocock, R. N. (1811), in his 53d year. GREAT WESTERN STEAM-SHIP COMPANY.-We learn from a late number of the Bristol Mercury, that a company with the above title has just been established at Bristol. The first general meeting of the subscribers, to receive the report of the provisional committee, took place at the Commercial Rooms in that city on Thursday; when a series of resolutions were passed for the intended object. The capital is £250,000, divided into 2500 shares of £100 each. It is stated to be the intention of the Company to build two vessels of 1200 tons each, with engines of 300 horse power, to supply the line between Bristol and New York, with as little delay as possible. The celebrated BRASS CANNON taken from one of the batteries of the Dardanelles, by Sir Thomas Duckworth, in 1807, and which formerly stood in front of the residence of the Lieutenant-Governor, Mount Wise, has been fixed on a new cast-iron carriage, and placed within a cheveaux de frize, at the eastern end of the parade. The carriage is 12 by 2ft. 8in., and cast expressly for this piece of ordnance, by Messrs. Walker, of the Gospel Oak Works, Birmingham. On the breast of the carriage is inscribed, on a mitred medallion, "Algiers, 1816, Pellew," and underneath, “This gun was brought from the Dardanelles, by Duckworth, 1807." On each side are also four pannels, two of which are inscribed "William the Fourth," and the other four bear inscriptions commemorative of the great naval victories,-"Camperdown, 1797, Duncan ; "Trafalgar, 1805, Nelson; "Copenhagen, 1801, Nelson;" "St. Vincent, 1797, Jervis;" "Nile, 1798, Nelson;" "First of June, 1797, Howe.”— Devonport Herald. METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER, kept at Croom's. Hill, Greenwich, by Mr. W. Rogerson, of the Royal Observatory. о о 1 M. 20 S. 29.30 29.28 40 43 32 44 S.W. S.W. 2 Tu. 28.92 28-70 36 38 33 40 S.E. 3 W. 28.90 29.10 34 38 33 39 N.E. N.E. 4 Th. 29.76 29.88 36 36 34 38 N.E. N.E. 5 F. 30.17 30.15 37 37 35 37 N.E. N. 6 6 S. 30-00 29.98 37 45 32 48 S.W. W. 2 7 Su. 29.76 29.83 42 47 35 48 S.W. N.W. 4 8 M. 30.04 29.97 37 43 35 47 S.W. S.W. 4 9 Tu. 29.92 29.94 47 50 45 51 S.W. S.W. 5 10 W. 29.90 29.76 46 50 45 50 S.W. S.W. 5 11 Th. 30.05 30.20 37 39 35 40 N.W. N.W. 12 F. 30.10 30.06 38 46 30 47 N.W. W. 6 13 S. 30-38 30.39 30 41 28 42 N.W. S.W. 5 14 Su. 30.42 30.44 43 48 40 48 W. N.W. 3 15 M. 30.50 30.50 36 49 30 50 S.W. S.W. 2 16 Tu. 30.36 30.18 39 46 31 47 S.W. S.W. 3 17 W. 29-87 29.80 32 36 30 38 N.W. N.W. 10 18 Th. 30.03 30.13 35 37 31 39 N. 19 F. 30-27 30.26 32 36 30 37 N. N. 30.36 30.42 28 34 25 34 N. N. 21 Su. 30.35 30.28 24 36 22 38 S.W. S.W. 22 M. 29.96 29.88 38 45 32 46 23 Tu. 29.64 29.60 36 45 30 46 S. 24 W. 29.36 29.26 35 44 29 47 S. 25 Th. 29.05 29.03 32 40 31 42 S.W. S.W. 26 F. 28.95 28.92 33 36 27 37 E. N.E. 27 S. 28.89 28.97 34 36 33 38 N.W. S.W. 28 Su. 29.28 29.28 33 37 32 38 N. N.W. 29 M. 29.44 29.50 35 38 31 39 N.W. W. E. 5477 N. 10 FEBRUARY-Mean height of Barometer=29 787 inches; Mean Temperature=37-4 degrees; Depth of Rain fallen-1.65 inches, For explanation of abbreviations used in the columns "Weather," and "Strength of Wind," see former numbers. LONDON: FISHER, SON, AND CO., PRINTERS, NEWGATE-STREET. S.W. S.W. S. S. 6053223221 556660432321 Bcm. Oqd (4) Od (2 Bc. Opd 2) Oqr (4 Beph (2 Bcq. Beq. Bcq. B. B. Bc. Bc. 257 ORIGINAL PAPERS. MAY, 1836. ON THE EXPEDIENCY OF SUBSTITUTING LOCOMOTIVE POWERS, IN LIEU OF STEAM, TO WORK THE PADDLE-WHEELS OF VESSELS. "While rapid coursers prance along the plain, To keels, ere long, new impulse shall impart : A Day at Sea. SIR,-If those, not seamen by profession, a considerable portion of whose lives have been passed in making long seavoyages, feel deeply interested still in maritime affairs, how much more anxiously solicitous concerning such important matters are old sailors in retirement? These keep a good look-out ahead on all occurrences now passing in the naval world; nor need it be observed, with how sincere a welcome they receive a magazine so much in unison with sailors' wants and wishes as the Nautical has proved itself. Assuredly it is a matter of just exultation, to consider at how small a cost so precious an advantage is secured, and that, if the encouragement a work of this kind merits and demands can be accorded, a proper vehicle will ever now exist for promulgating every species of information that can benefit, not seamen merely, but the scientific world at large. How vast an advantage over their predecessors will result to future generations, by the establishment of philosophic periodicals, which invite attention to NO. 51.-VOL. v. 2 K all novel theories, curious phenomena, and grand experiments? Who can estimate the advantages to be derived from the recorded experience of sailors? Was it not owing to a careful examination of ships' journals, that the improved system of Asiatic navigation was suggested, and which, by running down east longitude in high south latitude, has so shortened the duration of a voyage once so unnecessarily long and tedious? The spirit of observation is now assuredly abroad, while the number of observers is increased a hundred-fold, for the ratio of intelligent persons must be calculated not so much upon our vast increase of population, as the surprising number of individuals who now receive instruction, so that those who now have thinking heads and useful hands constitute such a force that they must prove powerful instruments for forwarding the progress of the world in useful knowledge. It is a matter of no small curiosity, to remark the peculiar impulse given now to men of intellect and ingenuity. Shakspeare's delightful notion of " annihilating time and space," once the desideratum merely of romantic lovers, seems to be that now of the least loveable and loving members of creation-those who love money above all things! Though we at present cannot boast a Swift, this may at all events be styled the age of swiftness! for, sir, not only mechanicians but philosophers are all driving at one object, with a most phaeton-like fury, as if resolved to drive on chariot-wheels with speed ad libitum; for this a few years back they would have incurred the risk of being ridiculed ad infinitum, and have been booked as passengers to travel with Astolfo to the moon's own lunatic asylum. If projectors formerly were subject to the penalty of being deemed insane, there is a premium now for being visionary. Whence comes this change? Why, it arises from this circumstance, that schemers now are backed by the most influential people in the kingdom-those worshippers of mammon, men of capital; those restless, greedy beings, who, "seized" already of enormous wealth, seize every opportunity within their reach to multiply their riches. To them inaction is intolerable; the memorable words of Marie Antoinette should be their motto, since "Il faut agir" is their constant watchword. Yet, let us not just now disparage their cupidity, as it proves incidentally so useful in promoting ingenuity. No, let us rather feel proud of our purse-proud men, and encourage them as much as possible to use the means of wealth to aid the needy artisan and poor philosopher. Such is the enthusiasm of modern speculators in the fashionable scheme of rapid motion, and so steadfast their belief in the possibility of having all their theories reduced to practice, that they consider all objections to their wild career as emanating from the very prudery of prudence, and shut their eyes to all the disadvantages that may accrue from travelling with such immense celerity. Worthy disciples of the cold-blooded political economists, they are satisfied with saying "evils will cure themselves," and therefore in their calculations scarcely think they merit to be dwelt upon. Some persons, however, whose habit it is to dwell upon every thing worthy of philosophical reflection, contemplate with horror how much the risk to human life must be increased, by urging carriages along with such inordinate velocity. Not that they conceive the possibility of diminishing the number of our working horses as unimportant, because they know the acquisition of vast tracts of tillage-ground is now a consummation most devoutly to be wished for;" nor do they seek to throw a damper upon rail-road speculations; they merely wish to put out steam itself! believing firmly, and expecting fully, that some safer locomotive agent may be substituted for this death-dispensing vapour. 66 Meantime, it is a consolation to think that the shipping interest is not allowed to be hull-down astern. Our naval architects, our engineers, and men of genius, all view improvement as a cynosure, and steer a steady course end on for it. Should not such worthies imitate the conduct of our artisans? These, when they have some novel work to execute, pass in review all the mechanical resources in their power; nor do they think of having new tools made, if those already on the work-bench may suffice effectively to execute the job they take in hand. I have been long of opinion, that potent and various as we find mechanical contrivances on shipboard, that such might be made greatly more available by additional purchases, and a complication of machinery that may effect operations not yet thought of, and which slow-going men would scarce think credible. How many cases occur, in which seamen find resources in presence of mind, and the adoption of ingenious expedients? Witness the Packenham rudder, and the singularly happy mode to work a pump, adopted some years back by the master of a merchantman, to whose cleverness I pay due homage, though I very much regret not knowing his name, because I think he merits a thousand times more praise than ever was unworthily expended upon those whose wits are merely set to work to fabricate new engines of destruction. His vessel having sprung a-leak at sea, the crew, to keep her free, were reduced to the necessity of working so long at the pumps, that they became exhausted with fatigue in these critical circumstances the master devised a truly novel plan to work the pump, which answered as a substitute for manual exertion. Causing a rope to be attached to the pumphandle, long enough to be carried out to the mizen-peak, to the A lecturer has propounded his belief, that he knows "no impediment to our going at the rate of one hundred miles an hour." How convenient for dropping mail-bags on the road! What highwayman will stop a coach of this kind? Turpin, if now alive, would turn his own hangman, out of sheer despair. ED. |