some time ago, Admiral Elliot was strongly impressed with the importance of having a minute survey made of our south-eastern coast, and Sir George Napier, taking as he does, a warm and anxious interest in all such matters, wrote earnestly home upon the subject. By the reply which has been received, it appears that the Admiralty were of opinion, after considering the subject, that there were but two places between Simons Bay and Port Natal, in which small craft could ride,-and they came to the conclusion that the proposed undertaking would be useless. From this of course, it by no means follows that the Home Government will not enter into our views about Agulhas. For my own part I hope and believe they will. But on a great question of this kind, I put not my trust in Princes,' nor yet in Prime Ministers,—but in the universal People. If our Governors should want the will to aid this work, which is impossible, —or if, having the will, they should want the power,which may turn out to be the case, why then, we have nothing for it, but to do the work without them. But while I feel myself justified in saying this, I must at the same time say, that I look with confidence for better things. "Gentlemen, one word as to the work itself. You all know the ease and cheapness with which it can be carried on. My honourable friend near me, (Mr. Breda) the proprietor of the property, gives you the ground as a free gift. Major Mitchel, the Surveyor-General, has made a plan and estimate, and he had proposed to add to these his gratuitous services as architect, services of which owing to other arrangements, we shall not in all probability be able to enjoy the benefit. I need not dwell upon the claim which the gentlemen I have mentioned possess upon the public gratitude. But it is not by man alone that we are assisted, for the very nature of the plan appears to afford us its cooperation. Stone for building purposes is plenty on the spot, and there is an elevation of solid limestone ready to receive the edifice which we propose to raise. "Gentlemen, I have detained you long. I have now done. There is but one thing more which I would say to you. Do not yield to little difficulties and discouragements. You will meet these things, and meeting them you must overcome them. Do not expect that in every quarter you will at once arouse indifference, or look for it that men will be able everywhere to trample selfishness beneath their feet. Lighthouses are not things which rise like exhalations. I have myself looked from ship-board upon the Eddystone at night. I would fain derive a moral from what has occurred upon the site of that celebrated structure. To surmount all the difficulties which nature there presented in such numbers, and found a Lighthouse in the very waves, might well have seemed a vain and visionary notion. But still the noble thought was not abandoned. Winstanley strove to realize it, but the savage sea lashed into fury, as if by the attempt to deprive it of its prey, sprang on its victim like a thing of life, and in a night laid prostrate the workman and his work. But still the noble thought was not abandoned. Rudyerd next essayed his skill, and then, as if the two great destructive elements of nature had made a compact and alliance, fire came to succour and avenge the baffled Ocean, and the finished building was consumed. But still the noble thought was not abandoned. Smeaton finally rose, and he triumphed gloriously, and there his mighty labour stands, firm as the rock into which it is inserted; destined for many an age to smile superior to every storm, and defy the surges of a thousand years. Your obstacles are of a widely different description; but such as they are, encounter them with the same determination, and they too will be overcome. Send far and wide over the deep your philanthropic summons. There is, it seems, in the neighbourhood of Cape Agulhas, a certain spot termed the Tower of Babel. The Tower which bore that name of old was begun with one people who spoke one speech, but idle if not impious in its object, the building failed, in consequence of disunion, for the language of the builders was confounded. Let us hope to lay the first stone of a Tower to be commenced under other auspices, and for other objects, a Tower for the erection of which many different tongues and nations shall combine in fellowship and concord; a Tower to be raised by those who are of one heart, if not one dialect; a Tower to which the mariner can look in his extremity, and by which, long after we ourselves have passed away, the blessing of those who were ready to perish may be gratefully called forth."-South African Commercial Advertiser. The following resolutions were agreed upon : 1st.-Moved by the Honourable M. Van Breda, seconded by Captain Van Renen, That the great and painful loss of life and destruction of property, by shipwreck, upon our coast, near Cape Agulhas, forcibly calls attention to the adoption of some measure which may operate as a safeguard to vessels passing in its neighbourhood, and render less frequent such melancholy disasters, as the loss of the Arniston, Doncaster, Northumberland, Venerable, and La Lise. 2d.-Moved by T. Ansdell, Esq., seconded by the Baron Von Ludwig,— That in the opinion of this Meeting, and from the evidence of many nautical men, the erection of a Lighthouse at Cape Agulhas would be highly beneficial, greatly contributing to the safety of the voyage round the Cape, no less with respect to pointing out the coast with greater certainty, than in obviating the present necessity of keeping far from the land, and thus becoming subject to the intense severity in the winter months of the North West gales. 3d.-Moved by Henry Sherman, Esq., seconded by W. G. Anderson, Esq.That in order to create a fund for the erection of a Lighthouse, and to defray the annual expenses, a general subscription be entered into in this Colony, and in the neighbouring Islands of Mauritius and Bourbon, as well as in England, India, France, United States, Holland, the Hanse Towns, and all maritime places trading to the Eastward, and as the object is one of equal interest to the shipping of all nations, that the several Consuls resident among us, and other gentlemen connected with those places, be solicited to co-operate in furtherance of this desirable object. 4th.-Moved by the Baron Von Ludwig, seconded by T. Ansdell, Esq.,That a Committee now be appointed for the purpose of assisting to carry into operation the design of the present Meeting in obtaining subscribers, corresponding with influential persons connected with the shipping interest, drawing up regulations, and arranging the nature of the trust, and for general purposes, and that the Hon. W. Porter, and M. Breda, Esq., Major Mitchell, the Port and Deputy Port Captains, Messrs. Ansdell, Silberbauer, Stein, Venn, Pillans, and Fairbairn, be now appointed as the present Committee. 5th.-Moved by S. Merrington, Esq., seconded by J. Borradaile, Esq.,The Consuls resident amongst us shall become associated ex-officio with the Committee. 6th,-Moved by Capt. Van Renen, seconded by G. W. Silberbauer, Esq.,That the Regulations to be drawn up by the Committee, as soon as completed, shall be submitted for adoption at a General Meeting of the Subscribers, of which meeting the Committee shall give due notice. Thanks were voted to the Chairman, by G. W. Silberbauer, Esq., seconded by J. Stein, Esq. CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. Cape Town, 21st July, 1840. SIR. In the number for January of your useful publication, Lieut. Barrow has impugned the correctness of a statement contained in my letter to the Editor of the South African Commercial Advertiser, viz. that in the year 1838, 465 vessels entered Table Bay, and 60 entered Simons Bay, (exclusive of ships of war,) and he has substituted the numbers 432 and 96 respectively. My statement was an extract from the Port Office Books, and comprehended the interval between the 1st of January 1838, and the 1st of January 1839; and it is perfectly cor rect, as the enclosed abstract from the Collector of Customs official returns will shew; the annual returns from the Customs are made from the 5th of January to the 5th of January following; hence arises the difference of five vessels more, (in the abstract) having entered Table Bay than appears in my statement. As your pages are dedicated to the information and welfare of the naval profession, and not to idle controversy, I shall decline further notice of the remarks contained in Mr. Barrow's letter, foreign as they are to the subject, and will only observe that the loss of the "Proteé," and "Cockburn," upon Muizenberg beach, confirms my opinions (as given in the letter before alluded to,) that "most of the wrecks in False Bay have occurred from mistaking Muizenberg for Simons Bay; and a light upon the Roman Rock, or Noahs Ark, to show the entrance of Simons Bay, would be of more essential use than a light upon Cape Point;" and such is the general, if not, universal opinion. I take leave to forward herewith the Commercial Advertiser, and the last number of the Shipping List, wherein you will find that measures have been taken with every prospect of success, for the erection of a lighthouse upon Cape Agulhas by a general subscription; and it is probable about 1,000l. will be raised in this Colony, to commence so desirable a work. Your influential aid towards the completion of it is earnesly solicited by the Committee. I regret to say that the "Howard," a small barque of 197 tons, parted one cable and slipped another in a northerly gale, which occurred upon Thursday last, the 16th current, and in all likelihood she will become a wreck. A considerable part of her cargo (consisting principally of coffee,) has been landed in good condition; the remainder will be saved, more or less damaged by salt water. I fully agree with you, Sir, that a list of all wrecks should be published, and "that no feelings of delicacy should conceal the truth in such matters;" but how is the truth to be got at unless the circumstances are properly investigated? I should say the parties interested in the property, either the owners or underwriters are the proper persons to cause an investigation into such matters; for any exparte statement, reflecting on the conduct of the captain or crew, would be, in my opinion, not only a want of delicacy, but a positive act of injustice. With reference to a remark in Lieut. Barrow's letter, and to your note at the bottom of it, I beg leave to state that I disclaim having had the slightest intention, in my letter to the Editor of the Advertiser, of saying "anything injurious to the unoffending," or to any other individual. I shall always be ready to verify any statement I may have made, or may hereafter make. My opinions are founded upon observation, and to the best of my judgment. So far from being dogmatical, or having "self-satisfied conclusions upon the advantages of Table Bay," or any other subject, I am glad to hear the opinions of others upon any matter which may be mooted, considering it the safest and best mode of arriving at just conclusions. I have the honor, to be, Sir, To the Editor of the Nautical Magazine. J. BANCE. “ Custom House, Cape Town, 22nd May, 1840. "A Return of ships entered during the year 1838, in the ports as under : Cape Town, 469 vessels, Simons Town, 60 66 150,243 tons. Cape Town 469 vessels, exclusive of men-of-war. "SAM. WOOD3, Collector." Lieut. Barrow has denied this statement and substituted an erroneous one, stigmatizing the true one by the term "not faithful;" and asserts that 432 vessels arrived in Table Bay, and 96 in Simons Bay during the year 1838.—J. B. We gladly lay before our readers the foregoing letter of Lieut. Bance, with the minutes of the proceedings on the important subject of a Light on the Cape, Agulhas, because we see a becoming spirit animating the residents of the Cape, from which, with the feeling that exists in this country, there is good reason to hope that the light will be established eventually, although it may be that certain official formalities may delay it. In various parts of this work our correspondents have referred to the subject, and we have some degree of satisfaction in knowing that we have published their sentiments, and thereby agitated this very important subject; and Lieut. Bance, as well as Lieut. Barrow, although they may differ as to the comparative merits of Simons and Table Bays, may still feel satisfaction when the Light is established, that they have promoted it by their discussion. As to the objections against it there are arguments enough adduced by Mr. Porter to meet them, but we may particularly refer our readers to p. 518 of this volume for the conclusive opinions of the Hydrographer to the Admiralty, and we sincerely trust that no obstacle whatever will be allowed to stand in the way of this great and important safeguard to the Cape navigation. THE LEVANT. (Continued from page 810.) CAPTURE OF Gebail. Admiralty, October 10th, 1840. DESPATCHES, of which the following are copies, have been this day received at this office, addressed to Richard More O'Ferrall, Esq., by Admiral the Honourable Sir Robert Stopford, Commander-inchief of her Majesty's ships and vessels in the Mediterranean. "Princess Charlotte, Bay of Antoura, September 15th, 1840. "SIR,-I have the honor to transmit for their lordships' information, copies of a letter from Captain Martin, of the Carysfort, with its enclosures, detailing an attack made upon the castle of Gebail, by a party of marines under Captain Robinson, R.M., of the Hastings, which, though repulsed at the time with a loss which I deeply regret, was yet successful in its results, the castle having been evacuated next morning. The possession of that stronghold is of the most material importance, as it commands the main road by which the enemy might advance upon our position from the northward, and secures a safe point for the ENLARGED SERIES. NO. 12.-VOL. FOR 1840. 5 T mountaineers concentrating and receiving arms, which they have already done in great numbers, and press forward for more, with every disposition apparently, to make good use of them. "Fully coinciding in the encomiums bestowed by Captain Martin and Captain Austin, on the merits of the officers and men employed on this service, such as must always be conspicuous where danger calls them forth, I beg to recommend them to their lordships' favourable consideration.—I have the honor to be, &c., (Signed) "ROBERT STOPFORD, Admiral.” “H.M.S. Carysfort, Gebail, September 13th, 1840. "SIR,-I have the honour to inform you that, pursuant to your directions, I anchored off Gebail. "The enemy have evacuated the town; the mountaineers are coming in fast for arms; and, as far as I can judge from their words and professions, the most enthusiastic feeling prevails among them. "I trust that these results will, in some degree, excuse the loss we have sustained. "I shall now proceed to detail the circumstances of the attack. “At noon I anchored, with springs, within musket-shot of Gebail. The Dido took a good position ahead of the Carysfort, and the Cyclops astern. Groups of mountaineers immediately came down to the beach, and many were brought off by the boats. "Having given sufficient time for the marines to prepare for landing, and for their commanding officer to reconnoitre the place of disembarkation, at one P.M. the ships opened their fire upon the castle, and upon the points which the mountaineers designated to us as those occupied by the Albanians. This was returned by occasional musket-shots. When the fire had been continued with great precision, and apparently with some effect, for about half an hour, the marines, accompanied by a large party of armed mountaineers, pushed off from the Cyclops, and to cover their landing the ships re-opened upon the castle. About half-past three P.M., observing the detachment formed upon the beach, to the south of the town, and believing all the effect likely to be produced by our shot was already done, and that the gardens had been swept by the launches' carronades, I made the signal to push on. 66 "The marines advanced briskly to the assault, but the cliff soon obstructed my view of their progress through the gardens in front of the castle. They reached within thirty yards of the tower, when a destructive fire was opened upon them from a crenelled outwork, having a deep ditch in front, which was completely masked from the fire of the ships. 66 Finding his men were falling fast, that the wall of the castle was impracticable, that there was no gate accessible, and nothing but the muzzles of the enemy's muskets visible through the loopholes, Captain Robinson very judiciously drew his men off. The marines retired to the beach steadily and in good order. "Captain Austin, who superintended the landing, and accompanied the marines, having sent to me to say that nothing could be done unless the tower was levelled, the ships again commenced firing upon it. "Finding, however, that the immense solidity of the building prevented our making a sufficient impression upon it, at half-past five I ordered the marines to be re-embarked, and the firing to cease. "An English flag, which had been planted on the garden wall as a signal to the ships, was accidentally left there by the pilot of the Cyclops, after the Macdonald, a seaman of the Cymarines had retired. Lieut. Grenfell, and clops, volunteered to recover it, and brought it off most gallantly, amidst the cheers of the ship. "At night a party of the mountaineers, whom we had armed, were established in the town; and at daylight this morning I found that the Albanians had evacuated the castle during the night, leaving three behind, (one of them badly wounded, and since dead.) |