ALARM BUOYS.-A plan of an alarm buoy, or a buoy provided with a bell to alarm ships, by its sound, of their running into danger, has been proposed by Mr. John Redhead, of Camberwell. Such a contrivance would perhaps answer in what seamen would call light weather, but we much doubt whether amidst the roar of the wind and sea its monitory sounds would be audible. The experiment, however, is easily tried, and we should be glad to see it done. The same proposal will be found in page 231 of our last volume, and a plan for illuminating buoys also, at page 285 of our volume for 1834. PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS. PROMOTIONS. ARAB, Transport-Lieut. W. Lester. ASIA, 84-Mate, A. Farquhar; Sec. Mast. G. R. Nicholson; Vol. 1st Class, A. Wodehouse. BELLEROPHON, 80-Lieuts. E. H. H. Hallett, A. F. Edwards; Mates, J. M. Dorville, F. Maule, G. A. Smith, J. Palmer; Mast. Assist. J. Hawkins; Schoolmr. R. Lambert. BONETTA, 10-Lieut. Com. F. Bisson. BRITANNIA, 120-Lieut. John Cheere; Master, R. Fulton; Mate, A. G. Edye; Sec. Master, F.F. Strong; Mast.Assists. P. W. Gibson, Wm. Webb; Assist. Surgs. R. Bankier, S. Charlton, Supern.; Schoolmr. John Mallard; Extra Col. Mate, H. Dumaesy. BUFFALO, ..-Capt. J. Hindmarsh ; Mast. F.W. R. Sadler; Surg. Mr. James Jackson; Senr.Sec. Master, Mr.Chegwyn; Sec. Masts. James Bowler, N. Phillips; Mast. Pilot, W.C. Phillips; Assist. Surg. F. P. Pascoe; Mast. Assist. Mr. F. Cheeseman; Clerk, William Eales. BUZZARD, 10-Lieut. P. Campbell. CARRON, St. V.-Mast. Assist. G. J. Briggs. MAGPIE, Cutter-Lieut. T. S. Brock. PEARL, 20-Extra Col. Mid. F. Forbes. Assist. Surg. J. PYLADES, 18-Lieut. Thos. Hill; Clerk, ROYAL ADELAIDE, 120 Capt. John STAR, Packet-Lieut.Com.Christopher Smith. TALAVERA, 74-Mate, M. R. Scott; Mid. R. Stewart. TERROR, -( Capt. G. Back; Lieuts. W. Smyth, O. Stanley; Clerk, W. Lawes. TRINCULO-Lieut. Montague Thomas; Brown. Clerk, - Chaplain, Rev. G. Richards; Mates, P. Somerville, F. E. Johnson; Col. Mate, G. E. Walford; Assist. Surg. W. Steele. VESTAL, 26-Mid. J. Bradley. WRECKS OF BRITISH SHIPPING-FROM LLOYD'S LISTS, 1836. ARCTIC EXPEDITION-For such we must consider all that are connected with geographical discovery in the Arctic regions. Our readers will learn with satisfaction, that Captain Back has commissioned the Terror to complete the discovery of the southern shores of the Gulf of Boothia, from the straits of the Fury and Hecla, to the mouth of the Great Fish or Back River, probably the most interesting of any expedition yet sent in that direction, as it will determine the north-east boundary of the American continent. The Terror will sail for Wager Inlet about the middle of next month, and, it is hoped, will return to England in about October next. That celebrated Arctic voyager, Captain Sir John Franklin, R.N., has been appointed governor of Van Diemen's Land, and will leave England in July next for that place, accompanied by Captain Maconochie, R.N., as his private secretary. This latter officer has filled the appointment of secretary to the Geographical Society since its commencement, and has performed the duties of his station to the satisfaction of all parties. We understand that he will be succeeded in this office by Commander Washington, R.N., an officer whose observations in Marocco, besides scientific qualifications, render him well fitted for such an appointment. Births. May 5th, at Congham Lodge, Norfolk, the lady of Sir Edward Parry, R.N., of a daughter. In Ker-street, the lady of Captain Charles Parker, R.N., of a son. In Springfield-place, Bath, the lady of Lieut. L. B. Williams, R.N., of a son. At Wickham, the lady of Captain Sir Francis Collier, R.N. K.C.H., of a son and heir. In Adelaide-street, Stonehouse, the lady of Lieut. Edward Baffin, R.N., of a daughter. At Trafalgar-place, Stoke, the lady of M. Spratt, Esq. R.N., of a son. Marriages. At Christ Church, Mary-le-bone, on the 12th of May, by the Rev. Robert Walpole, Captain Sir Richard King, Bart. to Marianne, only daughter of James Barnett, Esq., of Dorset-square, London. May 15th, Captain W.A.B. Hamilton, R.N., second son of the Rt. Hon. Lady Charlotte Hamilton, to the Lady Harriet Hamilton, sister to the Marquis of Aber corn. At St. Andrew's Church, by the Rev. Richard Luney, Lieut. Duins, R.N., to Anne Mortimer, eldest daughter of the late Rev. John Amyatt Chaundy, of Charlinch, near Bridgewater. At Charles Church, by the Rev. M. Seaman, H. Lowcay, Esq., Com. R.N., to Miss E. B. Steere, of Plymouth. At Mylor, near Falmouth, Lieut. Fortescue, of the Nightingale packet, to Miss Forster, daughter of Lieut. G. B. Forster, of the Lapwing packet. Beaths. At his residence in Cobourg-street, Plymouth, sincerely and deeply lamented, James Dickson, Esq., Surgeon R.N., and late of H.M.S. Thunderer, after a severe and protracted illness. At Stonehouse, after a long and painful illness, Lieut. Daniel Hunt Sulivan, R.N. (1815,) aged 41. At his house in Durnford - street, Stonehouse, after a long and painful ill ness, Captain W. King, R.N. (1807,) in his 70th year. At his residence in East-street, Stonehouse, Lieut. James Rusden, R. N., (1807,) after a long and painful illness. Lately, on board H.M.S. Rattlesnake, in the East Indies, Mr. Fred. Thomas, Midshipman of that ship. At his residence in Belle-Vue-terrace, Southsea, Captain Deacon, R.N., at the advanced age of 88 years. At the Royal Hospital, Haslar, William Ingram, Esq., Purser, R.N. (1809.) On the 23d of April, at Richmond, in the 45th year of his age, Capt. Bernard Yeoman, R.N. At Dublin, Lieut. Thomas Scanlan, R.N. (1812.) Lately, at Youghall, of typhus fever, Lieut. Arthur Palmer, R.N. (1808.) Lately, Lieut. Daniel Ridgway, R. N. (1818.) On the 31st of March, at Godalming, Lieut. Edward Garrett (a) R. N. (1797,) aged 65. On the 29th of April, in Harleystreet, Emily, the infant daughter of Captain Berkeley Maxwell, R.N. On the 13th of May, Lady Nagle, relict of Adm. Sir Edm. Nagle, aged 98. On the 16th of May, after a lingering illness, at his mother's house, Portlandplace, Morite-town, in his 16th year, Edward, second surviving son of Lieut. John Bardin Collins, R.N. On the 10th of May, at Ham Common, Lady Sutton, relict of Admiral Sir John Sutton. On the 14th of May, at his father's house, Home-park-buildings, Stoke, in the 21st year of his age, Mr. George Joseph Patey, only surviving son of Captain Joseph Patey, R. N. On the 17th of May, at Charles-place, Mrs. Horniman, wife of Mr. Horniman, Purser, R.N., after a long illness. January 19th, at Jamaica, Charles Howis Lee, third son of the late Lieut. Lee, R.N. At Gosport, on Tuesday evening, the 17th of May, most deeply regretted by his numerous family and friends, Com. T. L. Robins, (a) R.N., aged 76 years, on the retired list. BOAT SAFETY. A machine has been submitted to our inspection, invented by Lieutenant Beadon, R.N., the purpose of which is, to release the sheet of a boat, and thereby prevent her from being capsized when under sail. The machine is fixed to a thwart, or any other part of the boat, and the sheet being secured to it, can be readily hauled aft; but on the boat heeling over to a certain angle, (which is determined on at pleasure,) it is released entirely, and the boat, no longer under the pressure of her canvass, rights immediately. It is a most ingenious contrivance: there are numerous instances of lives being lost by the capsizing of boats in squalls, particularly in rivers, which this invention would no doubt have prevented; and as it is a self-acting machine, it is particularly well calculated for boats with pleasure parties in rivers and fashionable watering places. METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER, kept at Croom's Hill, Greenwich, by Mr. W. Rogerson, of the Royal Observatory. 22 F. 29.82 S.W. 5 S.W. S. E. Or 1) (2) 30.12 47 54 38 55 Bc. 29.86 29.83 36 44 33 45 N.W. N.W. 7 30 S. 29.74 29.72 40 51 42 53 N.W. N.W. 4 Bep (3) Or (3) (4) B. Οι 4) 52 46 28 47 N.W. N.W. 5 5 Beps 1) O. Beps 3) Bem. APRIL-Mean height of Barometer 29 842 inches; Mean Temperature 45.1 degrees; Note. On the 22d, at 10 P.M. the Northern Lights appeared very beautiful. For explanation of abbreviations used in the columns "Weather," and " Wind," see former numbers. Strength of LONDON: FISHER, SON, AND CO., PRINTERS, NEWGATE-STREET. 385 ORIGINAL PAPERS. JULY, 1836. Adventures ON SHORE AND AFLOAT.-THE ELOQUENT SLAVE. HOWEVER picturesque and pleasant we at first considered it to dwell in tents, like Bedouins, we soon were glad to quit them. The hollow murmurs of the far-resounding billows were so much too near our quarters, that they often broke the rest of the sick sailors, while hosts of persecuting sand-flies, and a great variety of other noxious insects, so annoyed us, that in about a week we willingly exchanged our canvass dwellings for a range of huts at Black Town, which just then happened to be minus the black tenantry. This residence, however, proving not less uncomfortable than inconvenient, we found it necessary once again to move, and lived in quarters allotted for that purpose by the governor. Our abode was an old fort in the south-east suburbs of Bridgetown, and there we lived in the most Commodore Trunnion-like style imaginable, save and except that our commander was a complete Lieutenant Hatchway, in all things but stumping about on a wooden leg; for he, good gentleman! had a right famous pair of fleshy ones, with calves that surely did not look as if they had been starved for want of milk. Adjacent to our fort was an extensive piece of ground, chiefly appropriated to the interment of negro slaves. In the course of a few days, we were surprised to hear much clamour in this cemetery; on inquiry, we learned that the Africans were celebrating certain rites upon the graves of their deceased relations, where, at stated periods, it was customary to offer tributes of respect in honour of their mânes. These cere monies, though barbarous and superstitious, forcibly arrested the attention of the Johnny Newcomes, to whom, indeed, such sights were new. We observed, however, that what these poor blacks designed to be solemn and mournful exhibitions of grief, for the most part excited amongst strangers feelings of disgust or jocularity. What has been said of wit and madness, the sublime and the ridiculous, proved not less applicable here to the grievous and the laughable; for certainly the bounds dividing them were very narrow. Feelings of mirth, amongst the tombs, however, seem quite out of place; therefore epigrammatic epitaphs and humorous inscriptions should never be inscribed on grave-stones. It was necessary to remind some of our waggish comrades, that the most opposite sensations are excited by the same actions in different countries. In some places, white is the colour of mourning; in some, the bride and bridegroom are married in black; in one place, NO. 53.-VOL. V. 3 c |