ship's inclination, is exposed, and the advantages of skill depicted with a masterly hand. Every officer going into battle should preconcert a system of attack and defence; but this can only be effectually done by frequent experimental investigation into the properties of the vessel under his command. However important the safety of a man-of-war may be, her efficiency is not less so, because a part of her country's reputation is attached thereto; every commander, therefore, should well know, according to the sail set and force of the wind, whether his guns can be sufficiently depressed or elevated to hit the required object. In the latter pages of the pamphlet, the author dwells on the probable consequences of the introduction of steam navigation into active warfare; and the urgent necessity of Great Britain taking the lead in nautical improvements is strongly insisted upon, instead of her usual practice of following in the wake of other nations. Every process of sea warfare is on the eve of total alteration,-sails and rigging will shortly give way to machinery; cannon-shot to explosive missiles and combustibles, and open courage to the wiles and power of mechanical skill. Steam navigation calls for new exertions, for the very form of vessel required for this purpose is so different from that of sailing ones, that they cannot be classed as bodies whose elements are determinable by the same laws and principles; nor are any of the proportions yet fixed, there not having been sufficient results collected for final scientific deductions to be drawn. These deficiencies must be administered to; and those inventions which are likely to benefit the public at large, should be liberally rewarded and speedily adopted. The present is an epoch demanding the utmost vigilance; and if we commit the introduction of improvement to chance, while foreign powers are exhibiting such energy as they have lately done, the nation will be betrayed by the ignorance and treachery of her sentinels. We gladly join in the encomia on the talents of our friend, the learned Professor Inman. By applying the powers of mathematics to various branches of the mechanical philosophy necessary to construction, he has, in the last twenty years, advanced the study of naval architecture more than any other individual of his time: and we trust that the store of valuable information which he has, in that period, diligently collected, may shed its advantages over the future fleets of our country. 2. A Letter on Certain ABUSES and INCONSISTENCIES in the Administration of the British Navy. Anonymous.-This appears to be written by some testy but observant officer, and contains many points well worthy of attention. The anomaly of a profession having four Boards--the Admiralty, the Navy, the Ordnance, and the Victualling -to transact its business, and thereby clog and involve its affairs with politics and patronage, has long been matter of regret. Things must be ordered otherwise, if we are to maintain our maritime supremacy, for our enemies' fleets were formerly worse officered, worse manned, and worse disciplined than we are likely to find them again. There can be little doubt that the almost exclusive share which the "fortunate youths" have obtained, of naval promotions and ap pointments, since the peace, has occasioned a retrograde action in naval merit. Nor is the college at Portsmouth altogether innocent of a deteriorating influence, in the students being allowed two years of precious sea-time, at a period of life when real practical knowledge is likely to become the most familiar, and for the loss of which a string of abstract definitions is but a sorry substitute. As the technical part of a sailor's business can only be acquired by actual practice, we cannot but think those youths deeply injured who have enjoyed any remission of the probationary time of service. It is not a question of ability, but one of habitude, which forces the remark; and the difference between the merit of officers is shown, perhaps, most forcibly by the manner in which they meet and bear with cases of responsibility. Coolness, in the battle or the breeze, differs very widely from the more common quality described in the invective of an old quarter-master, when grumbling at a lazy lubber:-"You fear nothing, because you know nothing." That prompt obedience, indifference to diet and seasons, and imperceptible acquirement of hardy habits, which stamps every really useful seaman, are only to be gained in active and early service. Courage is not here even hinted at, because its deficiency is so rare that every one is supposed to possess it, until it is proved otherwise; and even where it may be rather questionable, every soul-impelling motive of honour and emulation, prompts so vigorous an exertion as to produce a tolerable succedaneum. "Give me but strong men," exclaimed Pyrrhus, "and I will make them brave." By some officers professional incapacity has been bolstered up by a blustering rashness; such do not recollect, that if nothing but mere animal courage were required, there would be no occasion for officers at all, for the foremast men have rarely been known to fail in that quality. Many successes are mere chances turned to advantage by coolness: yet he would be a poor leader who would depend upon chance, without studying those arts and implements which insure victory. The talented and useful commander will exercise that faculty of mind which prompts to deeds of hazard, under the probability that success will crown the exertion the ignorant one will be often overreached by a crafty foe -for the principle of advantageous warfare consists as much in counteracting an opponent's schemes, as in the accomplishment of one's own plans; and it is only by comprehending what an enemy meditates, that precautions can be taken to render his measures nugatory. Now so much of this quickness and tact depends upon early habits, that we are somewhat startled at the overbearing proportion of collegians who are filling our ships. On these grounds, while every pains should be taken with their education, we would not commute one hour of a youngster's nautical noviciate; for the established term of six years was excellent, both in theory and practice. We hold, that from their minds being previously prepared by practice to comprehend theory, boys would receive very material benefit by going to sea before their hasty induction into mathematics, drawing, dancing, French, and fifty other accomplishments, which they are supposed to gallop through in two or three years; as if they were merely intended for counterparts of the mob mentioned by Ra belais : : "While we were looking up and down to find some more substantial food, we heard a loud various noise like that of paper-mills, or women bucking of linen; so with speed we went to the place whence the noise came, when we found a diminutive, monstrous, misshapen old fellow, called Hear-say; his mouth was slit up to his ears, and in it were seven tongues, each of them cleft into seven parts. However, he chattered, tattled, and prated with all the seven at once, of different matters, and in divers languages. He had as many ears all over his head and the rest of his body, as Argus formerly had eyes; but was as blind as a beetle, and had the palsy in his legs. "About him stood an innumerable number of men and women, gaping, listening, and hearing very intensely; among them I observed some who strutted like crows in a gutter, and principally a very handsome-bodied man in the face, who held them a map of the world, and with little aphorisms compendiously explained every thing to them; so that these men of happy memories grew learned in a trice, and would most fluently talk with you of a world of prodigious things, the hundredth part of which would take up a man's whole life to be fully known. "Among the rest, they descanted with great prolixity on the pyramids and hieroglyphics of Egypt, of the Nile, of Babylon, and of the Troglodytes, the Hymantopodes or crump-footed nation, the Blemiæ, people that wear heads in the middle of their breasts, the Pygmies, the Cannibals, the Hyperborei and their mountains, the Egypanes with their goat's feet, and the devil and all of others: every individual word of it by Hear-say." Perhaps the only fit college for youths destined to their country's service, would be a smart frigate, with a chosen set of officers, and a steady crew, of reduced complement. Here they should be regularly divided into watches, and stationed in the tops; and an expert tutor might look after them in their watches below. In this manner, and visiting various climates, they would both know their duty, and be able to do it; because the beneficial union of theoretical with practical details thereby created, would foster both hardihood and skill. The stagnation of general promotion, in the Navy, arises partly from the natural effects of fifteen years' peace, and partly from the enormous portion of appointments which have followed interest only. The consequence has been an improvident extension of the list of officers, insomuch that some alleviation has become necessary to a large proportion who are never likely to be recalled to active service. A measure of expediency is positively necessary. The sale of commissions has been proposed, and the scheme, if wisely arranged, seems likely to prove beneficial, as the advance of the aristocratic scions could be thereby moderated, and many most respectable youths could slip in. The periods of service requisite for the several steps might be lengthened, with conditional exceptions, in favour of purchase, or brilliant conduct, which perhaps would equally suit each of the parties. At all events, if no such arrangement takes place, the scions will still get their commissions without exertion, skill, or money; and the old officers must remain a dead weight on the list. Here is a double cause of injury to the nation; on the one hand, neglect engenders disgust; on the other, rapid promotion confirms indolence and fosters pride; it is therefore a losing game, even if the talent were equal on both sides,-and we may yet have to lament that an undue influence over naval honours and rewards, has extinguished the noble emulation which worked the country's glory. 3. Invention of an effective and unfailing method of forming instantaneous communication with the shore in Shipwreck, and illuminating the scene in the dark and tempestuous night. By J. Murray, F.S.A., &c. This treatise, though not written by a sailor, is on so important a subject, that we cannot but salute it in passing. The perils to which one of the most useful of the country's classes of men is exposed, has become proverbial, and the affliction and distress of parents, widows, and orphans, on the deprivation of their chief, perhaps their only support, is annually brought before us. These considerations are sufficiently imperious to call forth every means that can be suggested for diminishing the amount of human suffering, and of lessening evils of such magnitude; and we are happy in being able to add, that many of the cleverest and most benevolent men in the kingdom have turned their attention towards it. But it must be acknowledged that, from the might of the powers to contend with, the means hitherto pursued have been attended with very partial success; and despite of life-boats, life-buoys, life-preservers, &c. every year records the untimely sacrifice of hundreds to the devouring deep. "It is an appalling fact for reflection," says Mr. Murray, "that of the passengers and crew of twenty-eight vessels wrecked in the dreadful storm of last month (Dec. 1830,) between Plymouth and the Land's End, only two men and one boy were saved!” Through the laudable efforts of Sir W. Hillary, and other humane gentlemen, who have richly earned their civic crowns, the formation of a National institution, for the preservation of life from shipwreck, has lately been accomplished; and we have no doubt but that all practical means for averting calamity will be here encouraged by adoption. In the case of a man falling overboard at sea, we can imagine nothing better, if carefully kept in perfect order, than the life-buoy recently invented by Lieut. Cooke, and now supplied generally to ships in the Royal Navy. But the principal aim is to alleviate the misery of those who may be unhappily cast upon our ironbound coasts, in the gales of winter; and it is with this end in view that Mr. Murray addresses the public. To accomplish so desirable an object, Mr. Trenghouse has suggested rockets, and Capt. Dansey kites, for carrying lines; while Lieut. Bell and Capt. Manby distinguished themselves by transforming the murderous cannon to philanthropic uses, and the deadly ball, hitherto the "instrumentum mortis et immortalitatis," becomes the messenger of life. The Captain's apparatus, however, has not always been found available: the rope has been known to snap fourteen times out of twenty trials; the poise and parabolic range are difficult to attain; and its ponderous volume is at war with easy transport. These defects, and the recurrence of melancholy disasters, called the attention of this present inventor to this subject, and he has produced an improvement upon the Manby method, which he thinks, and we hope, may prove effective. In 1820, Mr. Murray first tried an arrow, slipped a few inches into the barrel of a common musket, with a small line attached to the barrel end. The latter arrangement was found to have the effect of reversing the weapon in its flight, thereby deranging its direction, and impeding its progress; and the difficulty thus encountered, produced the present implement. An arrow The about eighteen inches in length was made, with an attached parallel rod bearing a running ring, to which the line is to be fastened. Below the arrow-head, there are two additional barbs in the form of grapnel arms, to ensure its catching hold of some part of the wreck, or its rigging. To the mechanical is conjoined a chemical applica tion: a globular cage made of wire gauze, and charged with chlorate of potassa and sugar-candy, intimately blended together, is appended. A spindle, supplied externally, enters the cylindrical socket on which it rests, by its extreme end into a miniature phial containing sulphuric acid, and sealed with a drop of bees'-wax. On the arrow being propelled from the gun, the head of the spindle meeting the resistance of the air, drives in the waxen plug, and liberating the acid, ignites the mixture, which with unquenchable and brilliant light, not only indicates the spot where it falls, but also illumines the wreck. It is recommended that the arrows be made of the best lance-wood and shod with iron. They may be shot from a blunderbuss, though a small swivel would better command success. experiments appear to have been as yet perfectly satisfactory. Blessed be the man who shall perfect these schemes! trust, ere long, that the Baronetcy so honourably conferred on Sir E. Pellew, for his successful exertions in saving the crew of the Dutton, will not be the only glance of royal patronage towards those friends of humanity, who have manifested intrepidity in cases of shipwreck. 4. Suggestions for the Establishment of a NAVAL UNIVERSITY: By Lieut. R. Wall, R.N. It seems to be a law of nature, that nothing in the history of mankind shall be stationary: to cease to advance in the career of improvement, is to retrograde. A conviction of something very similar to this sentiment, appears to have stimulated Lieut. Wall to mention his apprehensions that time and inaction are slowly undermining our naval superiority. Commerce may for ever supply the means of constructing ships and rearing seamen, but it is incapable of supplying qualified officers; and hence arises the proposition contained in the present painphlet. And we To deny that there is an inviolable tie between England and her navy, would argue a very defective knowledge of history: military renown has been compassed by various nations; but substantial and permanent naval glory is so peculiar, that ours has never been equalled by any people on earth. Yet, in these enlightened days, does the prosperity of such an arm enter into the feelings of our statesmen? We fear not; we apprehend that what with unseemly struggles for loaves and fishes, and the parsimony of farthing financiers, both soldiers and sailors might as well whistle to the winds, as endeavour to get any farther acknowledgment of those services which have saved the British empire from foreign subjugation. It is, therefore, a duty to put our own shoulder to the wheel as well as we can, that we may not deteriorate, while poor purblind John Bull is taking his dose; and we turn with some pleasure to the project before us, as one likely to avert the moral dry-rot which threatens to undermine the prowess and skill of British fleets. It is well known that war furnishes the readiest school for the attainment of skill; but we cannot quarrel with a neighbour for the sake of teaching officers. On the other hand, as it would be a work |