The building is 180 feet high, and the light being 193 feet above the level of the sea, will be visible from a ship's deck at the distance of 6 leagues.

On the first appearance of this light, the present temporary light will be discontinued.

Gravelines Fixed light. The new lighthouse from which a fixed light will be shewn, stands in lat. 51° 0′ 18′′ N., and long. 2° 6' 48" E., to the eastward of the pier heads, at the entrance to the harbour. The building is 83 feet high, and the light being 193 feet above the level of the sea, will be visible from a ship's deck at the distance of 6 leagues.

HONFLEUR LIGHTS.-Information has been received by her Majesty's government, that on the 1st of this month the outer light at Honfleur, on the outer extremity of the Western Jetty, was changed from the natural colour to a Red light.

ENGLISH HARROUR, Antigua.-We are enabled, on the highest authority, to contradict the report that the entrance of this harbour has been rendered impassable for ships of any considerable burthen, by the falling in of portions of the two hills by which the entrance was protected. Fears have been entertained that such might be the case, from the effects of the recent earthquake, but we are happy to find that, on the depths being examined on the day after it took place, no alteration was discovered either at the entrance or in any part of the harbour whatever.

Folkestone, March 4th, 1843. ' FOLKESTONE LIGHT.-Notice is hereby given to Master Mariners, and others, that, in consequence of the town of Folkestone being lighted with gas, it is intended to hoist a Red Light at the West Pier of the harbour, instead of a White Light, on and after the 1st day of April next.

CHARLES GOLDER, Harbour Master.

ISLAND OF PALMA, Canaries Jan. 10.-Several English vessels having lately sent ashore their boats at Tersacute, in the west side of this island, without receiving the succour they required, I beg, through you, to inform the shipping interest in general, that the orders from the Spanish government are that no communication be held, or refreshment given, at any other place, except this and the town of Santa Cruz, on the N.E. side of Palma.-Shipping Gazette.

TOBAGO LIGHT.-A lighthouse is built at the entrance of Scarborough Bay, Tobago, not yet lighted, painted red and white. Remarks of H.M.S. Griffon Lieut. C. Jenkin.

THE ROVER SHOAL.-Mozambique Channel.-" Extract of a letter received at Liverpool, dated Mauritius, Dec. 20th, 1842.

"The Shannon was wrecked on the 7th of October, on a reef not laid down in the English charts, lat. 12° 24′ S., long. 46° 30' E. The crew were obliged to take to the boats immediately, with the only clothing they had on; and were exposed to the elements for six days and nights, in want of provisions and water, when on the 12th of October they reached Passandora (Passandava) Bay in the Island of Madagascar, whence they were taken on the 13th October by the boats of the French corvette of war Fortune. Remained on board that vessel 52 days, where they received the kindest treatment, and were then landed on the island of Bourbon, whence they were taken in the Isis, British frigate, to the Mauritius, and arrived there on the 14th of December all safe and well with the exception of one man sick in the Hospital." The master (Luckett) states that he should leave for Liverpool a day or two after the date of his letter.

The foregoing appeared in the Shipping Gazette of the 20th of March, and we have transferred it here, with the serious charge against the English charts in italics, for the purpose of informing the Master of the Shannon that he will

find the shoal on which he lost his vessel in Captain Owen's chart of the Mozambique Channel: and for an account of it, we may refer him to the Nautical Magazine for 1832, as well as that for 1833; where in p. 3 of the latter he will find the account repeated, as communicated to this journal by the late Captain Horsburgh. We suppose the "English Charts'' above alluded to are some of those "tobacco charts" of English publishers of which there are far too many afloat.

The loss of this vessel adds another proof to the many already given of the necessity of enquiring into how and why a wreck takes place, and exposing every instance of that false economy which supplies our Merchant shipping with the poorest instead of the best charts that are published.

LIGHTS.-Workington, Feb. 21.-The trustees of Workington harbour are about to substitute stained glass (red) in the lantern on St. John's Pier, instead of the present plain white, in order that it may be the more readily distinguished from the neighbouring tide lights. They are at present so much alike that in hazy weather the most experienced are often led astray, particularly when intersected with the lights from the coal pits. It is intended that the stained glass be placed so as to form half a circle, and be seen to the seaward along the coast of Cumberland, and as far north as Salterness, on the Scotch side of the Firth. This distinction of the lights is is expected will be a general good to those frequenting the Solway navigation.-Shipping Gazette.

DANTZIC LIGHTS.-Of two standing lights at the harbour of Dantzic, at Neufahrwasser, the lesser one, which has been hitherto lighted as a beacon, a short distance from the great light tower, will, on the fifteenth of April of the present year, be discontinued, and on the sixteenth be replaced by a light of the Fresnel invention, fixed in a small iron lighthouse, on the summit of the Eastern Harbour mole, and, along with the large light, be kept burning every night from sunset to sunrise. This new light is situated N. by compass 4,800 Rhinland feet distant from the great light tower, is 43 feett above the level of the sea, and may be seen in all points of the compass from W.S.W. to S.E. and from sea, by clear weather, if the eye of the observer is about 10 feet above the level of the sea, at a distance of more than 2 German miles.

Ships leaving Dantzic Roads in the night, and having arrived as far as Old Weichselmunde (the mouth of the Old Vistula) must bring the higher, or S.W. light, not more westerly than S. W., and the light of the Eastern mole not more northerly than west, in order to avoid the shoals and flats of the Old Vistula, which extend to a great distance at its outset.

The light on the Eastern mole, bearing S.b.E. or S.S.E., with the soundings of five fathoms water, offers safe anchorage in the roads.

Both lights, which observed in a south direction appear one, are at a considerable distance from each other, and the great high tower is westerly of the one at the Mole.

In laying down the bearings, the variation of the compass has not been considered.-Dantzic, Feb. 21, 1843. Royal Prussian Administration.-Ship. Gaz. ⚫1647 yards. +44.2. English feet.

DIRECTIONS FOR SHIPS MAKING MARANHAM-1st. Every vessel arriving off Salinas, either foreign or native, will hoist a red flag, independent of any parti cular place with the exception of the Gaffend of the mizen, which is to request a pilot.

2nd. At Salinas or the pilot-station there will always be hoisted during the day a white flag, which intimates the residence of the pilots being there.

3rd. The same white flag accompanied by a red one, hoisted on either the right or left side, is to say that there is a pilot at the station, and he has a boat. 4th. After this signal there will follow the one to indicate to the vessel the

time the pilot can go off, and for this reason the persons on board ought to pay the greatest attention; therefore, if from the shore a blue burgee or pendant is hoisted, it is to indicate that the vessel must await the pilot, who will go off immediately; but if instead of the blue pendant a red one is hoisted, it is to inform the vessel that it is not a proper time to go off, but that the vessel must be kept under easy sail, or lay- to at sea with the ebb, and in shore with the flood tide, so as to be near the shore at high water, which the masters must bear in mind takes place at half-past one or two o'clock at new moon, and at full, in shore at half-past seven to eight, A.M., and half-past seven to eight, P.M., at the quarters of the moon, at twelve to half-past in the day, and same at night; and it is only at high water that the pilot can go off.

5th. If the signals are made before mid-day, and if after the signal for waiting is made two pendants are hoisted, red above and blue below, it is to inform the vessel that the pilot will go off before twelve o'clock. If the blue pendant is above and the red underneath, he can go off only after twelve o'clock.

6th. If the signals are made in the afternoon, the red flag intimates that the pilot will go off before midnight; if the blue flag is hoisted, after midnight. Respecting the fires that were lit at night to indicate that there was a pilot, but no boat, and that there was neither-this practice is annulled, in consequence of the vessel that is now getting ready, and to be constantly kept at the orders of the pilots at Salinas. Maranham, Feb. 4, 1843.—Shipping Gazette.

STR.-In answer to your note appended to my communication headed Mindoro Sea. I was off the Point Cabeza Redonda on July 28th, the longitude of which was determined by chronometer, measured from Manila, which I was obliged to do, having only Spanish Charts with me, which are laid down for that meridian. When the observations were taken the point bore due south not quite half a mile off.

The latitude was found by double altitude corroborated by meridian distances, the ship having been steered upon a parallel from the first observation until

noon.

With respect to Tablas, the hills are not flat-topped, nor is there the least appearance of Table land in any part I saw. So totally different is the Island from what I expected, when I first saw it, (having your number for July 1841 by me, wherein, it is stated to be Table land), that I tacked ship and stood over to Mindoro, fully supposing I had got wrong, (not being able to get observations) and that the land was not Tablas, but some other Island between it and Panay.

I suspect as Tablas is very narrow, say about 8 miles, and at least 40 miles long, the hills nearly all about the same height, and not being able, (when in the proper channel of Straits of St. Bernardino) to sight it until nearly end on, it may then appear very like Table Land although so very different when abreast, either close to or well in the offing.

The intention of my first letter was merely to state that there was such a passage into the Pacific, (without going round by Point Calavite) which I think was not generally known (and as Tablas forms one side of the passage to warn those who may be similarly situated and bear up, that it is not Table Land) and not that the Point Cabeza Redonda laid in any exact position, although I consider it quite near enough to enable a person to steer for, without endangering the ship.

March 21st 1843.

I am, &c.,

JOHN HALL, Jun.

MORANT LIGHT.-The situation of the Morant lighthouse on the eastern end of the Island of Jamaica is lat. 17° 55′ 45′′ N., and long. 0° 40′ 0′′ E. of the flag-staff at Port Royal dockyard, variation 3o 50 East.

The easternmost point of the island bears from the lighthouse S. 31° 55' E.

distance about 500 yards, the N.E. end bears N. 33° 6' W., and the elbow of the point to the southward bears S. 4° 5' W. (true.)

The light which is very brilliant revolves every minute, (with a continued dim light between the interval of the strong flashes) and can be seen distinctly at an elevation of 12 feet above the horizon, 19 miles in the circle described from the N.E end of the Island to the direction of S.W.b.W. magnetic, consequently vessels working to the eastward should never lose sight of the lighthouse until it bears N.W. which would avoid any chance of their falling in with the dangerous Morant Kays; and when bound to the westward after passing Port Morant by keeping the light in sight they will avoid any chance of coming near the shoals on the southern shore, as the light is lost sight of when bearing to the eastward of N.E.b.E. magnetic. G. BIDDLECOMBE, Master H.M.S. Imaum. [See notice in our last volume.-ED.]

PEHR SÖNS SHOAL, Sweden.-Extract from the Swedish Gazette StatsTidning, Feb. 3rd, 1843.-The Commissioners for the mairtime affairs hereby give notice that near Bredskäret at the south entrance of Umea in lat. 63° 36′ 50" N., and long. 38° 30′ 45′′ East of Ferro., the shoal called Pehr Söns on which, in the late Admiral Klint's Chart, is marked to have 30 feet of water on it-has now been found to have only 8 feet* (Swedish) on the shoalest part, Stockholm Jan. 31st 1843.

• About 7 English feet.

JOHN Ross, Captain, R.N.

NIGHT LIFE BUOY.

Addiscombe, Croydon, Feb. 10, 1843. SIR.-Permit me to state, through the medium of your journal, that I shall feel very grateful to any officer who may be in England, or who, on his arrival in England, will take the trouble to inform me, of any well authenticated instance, in which the Night Life Buoy of my invention has been the means, under Providence, of saving life.

It is now nearly twenty-five years since the Admiralty ordered it to be supplied to every ship in the Royal Navy. One of the first to which it was fitted was the Vengeur, commanded by the late Sir Frederick Maitland, who informed me by letter, that in a voyage of nineteen months, four men had been saved by it, two of them by night. Several officers of rank have obliged me by letters of a similar nature; and in one I received this morning, the writer (after stating that two men had been rescued from a watery grave by means of the buoy in a ship which he recently commanded-one of them on a dark tempestuous night,) adds, "I believe every officer, lately under my command, had instances to relate which they had witnessed, and I hardly remember broaching the subject to any brother officer, who had not cases to mention of lives being saved by your Life Buoy."

Such being the case, I naturally feel a very strong desire to ascertain, as far as possible, the aggregate number of instances in which it has been successfully tried; and I shall feel thankful to any officer who will afford me the gratification I now solicit, requesting that names and dates, as far as practicable, may be given, and whether the instance occurred by night or by day.

I am, &c.

THOMAS COOK, Lieut. R.N.

LLOYD'S SURVEYORS AND SHIPOWNERS.

SIR. Observing that in your last number you inserted, p. 201, a letter, signed "A Shipowner," preferring a charge both against the Society for Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping, and against their surveyors, especially those on the Wear, in respect of a ship, the name of which the writer thought proper most carefully to conceal, I cannot help thinking that, by giving encouragement to anonymous productions, utterly destitute of truth, as this statement has been proved to be, you are, at least, suffering yourself to be grossly imposed upon, and, perhaps, running the risk of your useful and interesting work losing some part of its value. With sentiments such as these, you will, I would fain hope, believe that I am one of its well-wishers.

How then stands the fact? Will Mr. Nater of South Shields, who, from his allusion to a chancery suit, has since turned out to be the writer, undertake to prove, as he asserts, that "about three years ago 364 ships were launched in one year on the Wear? Will he shew that at that time, or at any other, there have been any complaints made to Lloyd's Register Committee, of the want of an additional surveyor at that port? If the vessel to which he alludes, which proves to be the "Dorothy," really required "every voyage she has had to go into dock, or wanted repairs in the hull," will he give a direct reference to the builders by whom she was docked or repaired, so that his statement may be corroborated? Will he shew that he ever made this apparently gross violation of his contract by the builder of the Dorothy, the subject of complaint to Lloyd's Register Committee, either as it affected the conduct of the surveyor, or the classification of the vessel? He asserts that "Lloyd's surveyor at Hamburgh," pronounced that "it was a disgrace that so fine a looking vessel should have been so badly put together." Lloyd's Register Committee have no surveyor at Hamburgh. Where then is the person alluded to?

I have, sir, endeavoured to confine myself, in this appeal to your well known candour and impartiality, to the subject matter of complaint of the anonymous writer, so far as his interests alone may be supposed to be concerned, and, I doubt not that, in your next number, you will be good enough to give this a place. I am the more anxious that this should promptly appear, that your readers may see that charges, such as are imputed to those who have the management of Lloyd's Register, will not be permitted to pass unnoticed.

The shipowner's letter had previously appeared in a daily journal, and the editor, with somewhat more zeal than discretion, too readily giving implicit credence to the facts set forth, had stringently commented upon them. By this time, however, he is, I hope, quite satisfied that the assertion that "on her last voyage from Hamburgh to the Tyne, she had new waterways," is directly the reverse of the truth. The respectable surveyor on the Tyne, Mr. Poppelwell has proved that such was not the fact:-the remainder of the assertion as to the substitution of spike nails for bolts, must, therefore, be equally discreditable.

I am quite at a loss to discover what the motive of the writer has been. Had he really sustained any damage, and had limited his com