directions around me. So completely had I contrived to place my self in the very focus of mischief, that it was really surprising how I escaped unscathed.

The cause of my surprise, (which might well have been taken for an attack of an insidious enemy,) I now recollected was occasioned by a large quantity of rockets, which I had found in the magazine, and which, for the purpose of service or amusement, I had intended to take on board. These having been inadvertently deposited on the platform of the battery too near the train, caught fire, and produced the effect above stated.

A few days after, the J being in company, on reconnoitring the coast west of Bay Mahaut, we observed two large schooners apparently ready for sea, at anchor close in with the shore, and under the protection of a battery, which was formidable from its posi tion. An attack was immediately projected; but as the intricacy of the navigation among the shoals and islets forming the anchorage precluded the possibility, without a risk greatly disproportioned to the object in view, of getting near them with the three vessels, it was necessary the attempt should be made with the boats, and that too in open day-such was the formidable nature of the local obstacles to such an undertaking. With this view, the ships having anchored among the islands about two leagues north of the scene of operations, the boats were hoisted out, manned and armed, under the chief command of the Captain of the, myself having the charge of a cutter from our vessel. At ten A.M. we shoved off in excellent style, and advanced rapidly, in spite of the round and grape, which from the moment we arrived within range of their guns were playing among us. On approaching the scene of action, the battery, situated on a craggy precipitous point of considerable height appearing unassailable in front, it was proposed to land about half a mile to the east, where the ground seemed more favourable, and to attack it in the rear. But here we were again foiled. Being still within musket-shot distance, the oars stirring up the mud advertised us of the shallowness of the water, and the impracticability of reaching the shore in the face of the enemy, who, anticipating our intention, had assembled in considerable force, and had brought down one or two field-pieces to oppose our landing. In this dilemma it was necessary to pause, and during the few seconds of hesitation and deliberation, between the motives which urged to, and those which seemed to render it imperative to forego the attempt, the round and grape were dancing among the boats, splashing the water into our faces, and performing ducks and drakes in very pretty style. Already one poor marine in our boat had his brains knocked out by a grape-shot striking him in the forehead, and one or two others were wounded, when the commanding officer measuring the value of the object by the price to be paid for it, prudently determined on a retreat; which, under the same murderous salute, was effected without further loss.

(To be continued.)

UPON THE IMPORTANCE OF STEAM NAVIGATION.

STEAM navigation is becoming of greater importance to this country every day, not only from the additional impulse given to trade and commerce by the increased facilities which it affords, but especially with reference to a future war, (which to England must ever be a naval one,) and from the general application of steam to the purposes of navigation, will render its character essentially different from that of any preceding conflict. The fleets of the enemy could be no longer cooped up and blockaded within their harbours, nor, in the event of their escape, would the same means be afforded to our fleets of judging of the best course to steer in chase of them, the movements of steam vessels being independent of the wind, and therefore would a naval war assume a rambling and predatory character, both upon the part of the enemy and our own. Instead of large fleets and cumbrous ships, would be substituted flying squadrons of frigates, fitted to sail or steam as 'occasion might require,-our extensive trade would in consequence be more exposed than hitherto, and of course less profitable to the country in general, as the different fleets of our merchantmen would require a larger convoy to assure them a safe conduct to their destination, and the expenses of freight and insurance would proportionally increase. It therefore becomes doubly necessary at this time, when other nations are making such rapid advances in the science of steam navigation, for us also to consider the subject as one of great national importance, with a view to the improvement of the steam marine of this country; for it is obvious that the general adoption of steam navigation for the purposes of war, would render the invasion of England less difficult to an enemy than it has ever yet been, our commerce more uncertain and expensive, and our colonies less secure. These are important considerations, and it is with a view to anticipate consequences and provide a remedy for them, that I have ventured upon these remarks.

Let us, in the first place, consider how the invasion of England would be rendered less difficult by the adoption of steam navigation, and what would be the best means to repel such an attempt.

However lightly the subject may have been treated hitherto, there can be no doubt whatever, should England ever again be engaged in a war with the Continental powers, that advantage would be eagerly embraced of any practical opening to land an hostile army upon the shores of Britain,-not, indeed, with a view of conquest, but contribution; for the capture of the capital would for a time paralyze the energies of the nation, and strike at the spring head of that stream of wealth, which is as essential to the support of war, as the life blood is to the vitality of the human frame. Incalculable loss and misery would be inflicted upon the inhabitants, and a corresponding advantage gained by the enemy.

The invasion of England by France, (I select that country as the quarter from which invasion is most to be apprehended,) has ever been considered by all parties an enterprise of great hazard and difficulty. From the numerous army it would be necessary to assemble and support upon the northern shores of that country,-from the immense naval force which would be required for their transport and convoy,-the uncertainty of the winds and weather in the British Channel,-the inexpertness of French seamen, and the consequent difficulty of effecting combined and simultaneous movements in their flotilla; these obstacles, joined to the vigilance, courage, and conduct of the English fleet, have hitherto averted from this country the great evils of invasion.

The vigilance, courage, and conduct of British seamen, will, I trust, remain unabated for ever; but I strognly suspect that the application of steam navigation to the purposes of war will considerably lessen, or remove

altogether, the other obstacles which an enemy would have to encounter in attempting to plant his standard upon the shores of England.

The difficulty of supporting a sufficient body of troops collected upon the French shore for the invasion of this country, would be in a great measure removed-1st, because it would be unnecessary to detain the armament for calms or light adverse winds, and should a gale or other cause of detention arise, provisions could be carried along shore by steamers with greater facility than by land carriage, to the different divisions of the army; a lesser number of steam vessels than of any other kind would be necessary for their conveyance; fewer seamen would be required to man them, and the movements of a steam flotilla could be conducted with almost as much precision as the evolutions of an army. They would also be enabled to take advantage of every opening to put to sea; nor would it be necessary for the steam transports to haul into the fair way of a harbour, nor be exposed to all that confusion to which a fleet of sailing transports is so liable; and from the short time such a flotilla would require to cross the Channel, the troops would be fresh and ready for action upon their landing. In addition to these advantages ought to be considered the precision and rapidity with which a disembarkation might be effected from steam-vessels as compared to others. If we suppose the enemy to possess, (which they easily might,) one hundred steamers, each capable of containing a battalion of men, and carrying twenty sixty-eight-pound carronades, from which shell, hot shot, or carcasses might be projected, built with a flat bottom and slanting bows like a gabard, and fitted with large gang-boards of sufficient breadth to admit ten file to issue upon the shore abreast, troops would be enabled to debouche from such vessels, and either form in column or deploy into line, as might be necessary, in a quarter of an hour.

It is evident that the adoption of steam navigation would afford all the facilities above-mentioned to an enemy in such an attempt, and it is also manifest that such advantages would be of the last importance to him.

I do not mean to say here that all this could be effected by an enemy without interruption from the British fleet; but I do say, in order to preserve our relative superiority, and to render the invasion of England as difficult as ever, it will be necessary for the government of this country to pay the utmost attention to the improvement of her war steam-vessels, to ponder deeply upon the altered character which a naval war would now assume, and be prepared to counteract these results.

After calling attention to this subject, it may be expected that I should be prepared to make some suggestions, or propose some mode of defending our shores adequate to those advantages upon the part of the enemy.

I have two plans to suggest, which appear to me would render the invasion of this country at least as arduous, (notwithstanding the use of steam navigation by the enemy,) as it has ever yet been, but which, I submit with great deference to the judgment of those who may be more competent to form a just opinion upon the subject. First, it is proposed that a coast or channel flotilla be established, (on the breaking out of a war,) composed of large double-bottomed steam-vessels, having the paddle-wheel in the centre, and carrying large latteen sails set upon their masts, each leg of which to step upon the keel of its respective hull; by this arrangement, such a vessel could carry without prejudice to her steam, more sail than any other of her tonnage; and without using her machinery, she would sail faster, and work off a lee-shore better, than any description of vessel whatsoever, possessing all the advantages below of a vessel more than five times her own length, while her quarters would be equal to those of a vessel whose beam is one-third of her length; and, when necessary to steam, by brailing up the sails and letting go the tacks, the long latteen yards would come down and lie fore and aft in their crutches, and there would remain nothing of any consequence above the deck to impede the progress of the vessel to windward. I would recommend these vessels being armed with two long

32-pounders and two 68-pounder carronades, mounted amid-ships upon -Commander Marshall's circular carriages, with a moveable breast-work, thick enough to turn grape-shot; and I would farther suggest, that upon the regular bulwarks be fitted carriages for a tier of Congreve's rockets, and each vessel provided with the means of projecting hot shot. And in order to render it almost impracticable to sink them, I would propose having their holds fitted with strong transverse partitions, water-tight, upon the principle of the well-heads of fishing-vessels, so that a leak could extend no farther than the space included between any two of them, and which, with powerful pumps, worked by the engine, would effectually prevent their "going down." It would require fifty sail of such vessels, backed by twenty sail of the line as a channel fleet, to prevent effectually the invasion of this country by France in steam-vessels. A flotilla of such vessels would be most formidable, and from their being enabled to project shells and rockets, would carry destruction and dismay into any invading armament.

The second plan, and which forms a part of the preceding, although of a novel description, would, nevertheless, be most effectual in strengthening the line of coast, and frustrating any attempt at invasion. I propose having constructed a certain number of triangular rafts, fitted upon the sides which form the salient angle with platforms for guns, protected by shot-proof ramparts, which might be easily formed of sand-bags and fascines, horse-hair, wool-packs, or other substances, having a small redoubt in the centre of the work to repel any attempt to carry it by boarding, and constructed with flanks, so as to take in reverse any vessels which by accident might pass the line. These marine fortifications to be moored along such parts of the coast as might be supposed threatened with invasion, forming a strong chain of redoubts, which, covered by the flotilla, and protected by the Channel fleet, would oppose an effectual resistance to any attempts at invasion, should an enemy conceive such a project. Nor would these floating batteries be exposed to such risk or damage from gales of wind as might be supposed; for, in the first place, the height of the ramparts would not be more than seven feet from the water's edge; and from the moorings entering a considerable distance within the angle, and the raft having but little hold of the water below, it would ride lightly over every wave. The chain mooring being laid at right angles with the line of coast, would allow the rafts to swing freely with the wind; but I would propose their being provided with the means of springing the faces of these ravelines in any direction that might be required.

I now proceed to consider the power which the use of steam-vessels would confer upon an enemy to annoy and interrupt our trade, and offer a few suggestions as to what appears the most effectual means to preserve our merchantmen from such attacks. And here it appears very necessary that some mode should be devised to enable a certain class of men-of-war to steam as well as sail, as being peculiarly necessary for convoy; for in the event of another war, no doubt every privateer would be a steam-vessel, and lying to in the track of our fleets of merchantmen, would not use their steam except in chase; their expenditure of fuel being in consequence comparatively trifling, they would be enabled to keep the sea for a considerable time without requiring a fresh supply. The description of force I would recommend for the convoy of our fleets of merchantmen is, that the usual number of men-of-war be accompanied by a proportional number of stout, well-rigged steam-vessels, carrying a few long 32-pounders, and these attended by fast-sailing transports laden with coals, and for safety kept in tow of the men-of-war. I admit that this arrangement would be expensive; but it would be absolutely necessary, at all hazards, to secure our trade; nor would it be so expensive to individuals nor so injurious to the country as the interruption of our commerce and the capture of our merchant-ships by the enemy. As one of the principal sources of that expense would be the great consumption of fuel, it appears highly

desirable that every plan calculated to economize that expensive article should be carefully and impartially examined, and if found available for such purpose, adopted without delay. The danger attendant upon the use of the ordinary high-pressure steam-engine, together with the weight of the castiron boiler, and other objections, preclude its application to steam-vessels of any considerable size; nevertheless, if highly elastic steam could be obtained without these objections, it would be infinitely preferable to the complicated, bulky, and expensive condensing engines which are at present used for nautical purposes. I am led into these remarks by witnessing a short time since a most ingenious contrivance for effecting this great desideratum-a mode of producing steam of immense power without any danger whatever being incurred. It appears, that by using a number of tubes, instead of a boiler of the common shape, that strong steam could at all times be more readily generated; but there existed a grand objection to all such plans, which was, that no collection of tubes could be found to stand for any time the action of the fire, because the impurities contained in the water being deposited in the interior of the tubes, intercepts the heat in its passage to the water, and occasions the tubes to be speedily burnt.

Now, this hitherto insurmountable difficulty has been happily overcome, by the inventors of this very ingenious though very simple contrivance, which is effected by placing a long worm volute, of about an inch diameter, filled with water, in a vessel of boiling naptha, which indicating a greater degree of heat when it boils than the water, of course subjects the fluid in the worm to a degree of heat greater than that required for its vaporization, and causes it to flash out in the form of highly elastic steam, which might be conducted into a common cylinder and used with the utmost safety and advantage. It is evident, that the heat being applied through such a medium to the worm whence the steam is generated, instead of the flame coming into actual contact with it, all chance of the tube being burnt is obviated, even though water should not be injected into the worm, and all danger of explosion is removed from the vessel which contains the spirit, it being fitted with an upright tube open at the top, whereby the communication is kept up between the fluid and the atmospheric air. This most ingenious method of producing high-pressure steam with safety, is the invention of a Messrs. Beale and Porter, civil engineers, and is, in my opinion, well worthy of a trial for nautical purposes. For it is manifest that this or some such mode of economising fuel must be adopted in the event of a protracted naval war, as the collieries of the country would be inadequate to meet the great and increasing demands upon them.

It now remains to show in what manner the adoption of steam navigation by an enemy would render our colonies more exposed to invasion and less secure than in former wars.

As mentioned in the preceding part of this essay, the fleets of an enemy could be no longer blockaded with the same effect as they have hitherto been, steam-vessels being better able to evade a blockading squadron even of steam-vessels, than if both the fleets were vessels of the ordinary kind. But, although an enemy might with comparative facility send a squadron of steamers against some of our colonies, yet it would be a far more difficult and expensive undertaking for this country to maintain blockading squadrons of steam-vessels over their sea-ports; therefore would an enemy have a greater range of the sea than hitherto, which would render any future naval war a more arduous and expensive contest than any we have been yet engaged in. Another advantage which would be possessed by an enemy is, that the navigation of steam-vessels would require less knowledge of practical seamanship, and less experience, than the conduct of sailing vessels, and therefore an enemy could fit out a fleet with greater facility than before. From all which it is manifest, that the colonies of England would be more exposed to unexpected attacks than they have yet been from the general use of steam-vessels by an enemy. It is, therefore, worthy of