I know, Sir, that a mind like yours will abhor adulation, and I therefore refrain from what might seem to savour of it, though I should equally disdain to offer it. But permit me to express by most earnest prayer to Him who rules the ocean, that as long as you may traverse it in pursuit of that distinguished profession which you are engaged in, you may be under a Divine protection, and may never want a friend in need, such as you nobly proved yourself to me. I have the honour to remain, Sir, your grateful and most humble servant, Hull, Dec. 12. To Captain Codrington, Commander of H.M.S. Talbot. ORLANDO BULL. SLAVE DEPOT.-The Crescent slave depôt is fitted with every convenience for the cleanliness and health of captured negroes at Rio Janeiro, and bears a skilful surgeon and assistant. GOOD NEWS FOR JACK.-A first-class petty officer of the Dolphin, lately returned from the coast of Africa, paid off at Chatham last week, has received upwards of £700 prize-money, made during the term of three years' service on that station. The Dolphin is of Sir W. Symonds' construction, and owing to her superior sailing qualities has made more captures than any vessel on the coast. Her defects are very few, and she will be ready for commission again in a few days.—Naval and Military Gazette. NAVAL OFFICERS.-The following Table contains the number of Officers on the Navy List of January in each of the years mentioned, from 1816 to 1840:- REWARD. We understand that a gold medal and appendages, about the value of forty guineas is to be presented to king Denny, on the African coast, by order of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty for rescuing four wounded British seamen from captivity. THE BRITISH NAVIGATOR.-This forthcoming work of Lieut. Rapier is in a forward state in the press, and we may possibly have to give our opinion of it in our next number. We understand, that the delay in its appearance arises from a determination on the part of the author, to give the most perfect solution of every problem which belongs to Navigation, and to Nautical Astronomy. THE ARMED STEAMER NEMESIS.-There is now lying in the half-tide basin of the Clarence Docks, Greenock, a very beautiful iron steamer, constructed by Mr. John Laird, of North Birkenhead, bearing the above name. She is fitted up with one engine of 120-horse power, from the foundry of Messrs. Forrester and Co. and armed with two 32-pound carronades, the one fore and the other aft, which move on solid swivel carriages. Her draught of water is under four feet. Her crew will consist of 40 men. She will, it is said, clear out for Brazil; but her ultimate destination is conjectured to be the eastern and Chinese seas. On Monday last she made an excursion as far as the floating light, for the purpose of trying her machinery, which was found to work admirably. Shipping Gazette. H.M.S. TRIBUNE.-We understand that all hopes of recovering this ship are given up. Her stores are all saved, and her crew are about to return home. She lies buried in the sand, in three feet water. The following extract from the Hants. Telegraph, contains some account of the event." Tarragona, Nov. 30: We had been lying snugly moored here since the 8th inst. On the 28th about 7 P.M., a gale sprang up from the S.S. W., which shifted afterwards to the S.W. and W.S.W. We struck our topmasts and made every preparation. At half-past nine our small bower cable parted, and we let go the sheet anchor. At a quarter past ten the best bower parted, and immediately afterwards the sheet cable also. The sea had previously got up surprisingly, and washed our decks fore and aft. As soon, therefore, as we found ourselves adrift, we had nothing left for it but to make sail on the ship, and choose the best berth for her we could. She was accordingly forced through the heavy rollers, which kept constantly breaking over us till six o'clock yesterday morning, when, through the merciful interposition of Divine Providence, we found ourselves well up on the beach at the head of the harbour, just above the watering-place, where there is usually so little water that our boats have never been able to get there. This will give you an idea of the extraordinary quantity of water which must have been forced in by the gale. We are now lying in a bed of sand, which the ship has made for herself, and are about saving the stores, &c. but I much doubt whether there will be any possibility of getting the ship off, considering the unusual depth of water which enabled her to reach her present position, and she has suffered terribly by a whole night of thumping. If we had known the harbour thoroughly, we could not have chosen a better berth; for, had the ship gone ashore any where but near this spot, she could not have held together for two hours. We had not a man hurt." COURTS-MARTIAL. On the 2nd of December, a Court-Martial was assembled on board the Rodney, to try a seaman of the Powerful, for striking the master-at-arms. The charge was proved, and he was sentenced to death; but recommended to mercy. On the 4th, another Court-Martial was to sit, for the purpose of trying two seamen of the Ganges, who were found secreted on board an American merchant vessel, with the intention of deserting. They had been on leave from the Ganges, but broke it, and were eventually found as above stated. BLACK ROCK.-The beacon in course of erection on the Black Rock, by the Trinity Board, has attained ten feet from its basement, and four feet from the higher part of the rock. It is expected it will be completed in about twelve months.-Falmouth Express. STEAM. The communication between Halifax and Boston, as far as it has been tried, has proved completely successful. The first vessel which has attempted, the North America, had performed the voyage from one place to the other in thirty-six hours, and on a second trip in twenty-nine hours, with very heavy weather, and when she resumes in regular journies next spring, it is expected the returns will be such as completely to compensate the great outlay. DUBLIN and LONDON.-Colonel Conygham, R.E., Admiral Sir J. Gordon, Sir F. Smith, R.E., Captain Beechey, R.N., and Professor Barlow, are appointed by government to report on what harbour is best fitted for the purpose of facilitating the communication between London and Dublin. ACCIDENT.-Lisbon, Dec. 23.-One night last week, a very young midshipman, named Porcher, belonging to her Majesty's ship, Donegal, in this port, had his skull fractured by a top-gallant yard which fell from the mast and grazed his head. The poor little fellow is in a very dangerous state, though his recovery is not despaired of.-Hants Telegraph. To the Editor of the Nautical Magazine. ROGERS'S ANCHORS.-Mr. Editor: having been a subscriber to your valuable Magazine, for some time past, I feel surprised that so little notice has been taken of Lieut. Rogers's invaluable patent anchors; and having had opportunities of giving them many fair trials, I can speak from experience as to their being the best now in use. I will advert to a few circumstances, where this anchor has shewn its superiority over all others. I have no doubt that the gale of 25th October, 1835, is still remembered by many shipowners and underwriters. The only vessel that rode it out in the Downs, without driving, was the "Secret ;" and strange to say, after making minute enquiries, was the only vessel, that had Lieut. Rogers's patent anchors. I likewise rode out a gale on board the "Zenobia," in September, 1839, when many were driving some lost, others broke, their anchors. The Zenobia drove riding by one of the common anchors. I was informed by the officers, that the same anchor had held the ship in Table Bay, blowing a heavy gale, when she had lost one, and broke another, this anchor would not ride the Zenobia in the Downs, but she was brought up with Rogers's patent anchor, and rode the gale out. I broke one of the common anchors in the "Lord Cochrane,' in a heavy gale; this anchor had been in the ship some time, but we brought her up again with one of Rogers's patent anchors, and rode the gale out. I have no hesitation in stating, that if all ships were furnished with Lieut. Rogers's patent anehors, there would be much less demand for anchors from Deal. In proof of this, of the number of anchors that have been swept and carried ashore from the Downs, not one of Rogers's has come under my notice. By inserting these few lines in your valuable Journal, if you consider them worthy of notice, you will much oblige, London, Jan. 18, 1840. Your &c. ENLARGED SERIES, NO. 2.-VOL. FOR 1840. J. SMALL, Trinity Pilot. T |