N., long. 119° 57' E.; and Cape Mandhar the southern entrance in lat. 3° 35′ S., long. 119° 9′ E. In looking over a new chart of the southern part of the China Sea, comprehending the Straits of Singapore, Durian, Banca, Sunda, Gaspar, Carimata, &c., by John Walker, Geographer to the Hon. East India Company, London, 1841, in a note I find an error, which is apt to mislead a new beginner; he says, it is not advisable to attempt a passage through Gaspar to the northward in the northerly monsoon from April to September; the north-west monsoon is from November to April, and the season he advises not to make a passage to the northward through Gaspar Straits, is the very time to make a passage up, having the south-east monsoon in the Java Sea, and south-west monsoon in the China Sea. I send you an account of the Tryal Rocks should it have never appeared in your Magazine, please give it publicity. The Trial or Tryal Rocks so long considered a doubful danger, aud said to have been seen by early navigators, were seen from on board the Dutch ship Jacobus, on her passage from Europe to Java, they were first seen very near in the night, when the ship was hauled off and hove to for daylight, they were then seen again and passed. The Captain of that ship gives the longitude by chronometer 107° 55' East of Greenwich, lat. 20° 35' South. In a short run afterwards to Java Head it was found that the chronometer was eighteen miles too far to the eastward, allowing this error would give the long. 107° 37' E. This is too far east to be in the way of ships which are in the proper track for Java Head, but dangerous to those which are bound through some of the passages east of Java. To the Editor, &c. I am, &c., [The Extracts in our next.-ED.] C. F. WILLIAMS. RODGER'S ANCHORS.-It is satisfactory at all times to receive confirmation of the opinions we have expressed occasionally on important Nautical subjects, and we had therefore much pleasure in reading the following letter concerning Lieutenant Rodger's anchor, from so good an authority as Mr. Driver, whose experience in the Merchant Service, as well as in Her Majesty's ships, entitles his opinion to more than ordinary consideration. H.M. Steamer Dee, Woolwich, April 18th, 1843. DEAR SIR.-Since I last left Woolwich, your Small Palmed Anchor has undergone very severe trials, but it gives me pleasure to inform you that it did its duty, and I rode out a very heavy gale of wind with it at Falmouth, which lasted from the 9th to the 17th of last November; and again, in very severe weather at Lisbon, from the 23rd November, to 3rd of December, the Anchor held fast. I should observe that I always ride with a long scope of chain, on the appearance of bad weather, and lighten the vessel aloft. I certainly prefer your Anchors to any I have ever seen, or used, and having tried them for several years, my opinion has not been formed with haste. I am, Sir, Lieut. Rodger, R.N. Your Obedient Servant, THOMAS DRIVER, Master, R.N., Commander H.M. Steam-Vessel Dee, ON THE DAMAGE WHICH HAS OCCURRED IN THE BRITISH NAVY BY LIGHTNING, with an account of the attendant phenomena, abstracted from the Official Journals of the respective Ships, and from other authentic sources of information.-By W. S. Harris, F.R.S., &c. IN the Nautical Magazine for March, 1838, will be found a list of 174 ships of the British Navy, which have suffered at various times from the effects of lightning, since the commencement of the war in 1793. These cases were collected with a view of eventually obtaining an authentic history of the phenomena of electrical storms at sea. Such a history would necessarily have great scientific value, whether it be regarded in a theoretical or in a practical sense, since it would contain important meteorological facts, connected with those great atmospheric disturbances which give rise to explosions of Lightning, and would lead to a better appreciation of the means we possess of guarding against their destructive operation. Although in a first attempt of this kind, it was scarcely possible to avoid some inaccuracy of date, and of detail, still it seemed desirable to give publicity to the list, as a useful approximation to a more perfect history, in the full assurance of obtaining through the kindness of the officers of H.M. Navy, and others interested in the subject, such corrections as might be found requisite. The result has not disappointed this expectation; not only have many errors been corrected, but the list of cases has been considerably increased. In addition to the valuable information derived from various sources, the greater number of these instances have, by the kind permission of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, being lately verified, and elucidated, by a direct appeal to the records of the Navy. This corrected and extended list, may now claim to be considered in the light of a history of the phenomena of electrical storms at sea, and of their effects on ships, rather than as a mere dry and uninteresting catalogue of vessels damaged by lightning. In the details of the different cases, great care has been taken to adhere, so far as possible to the form of expression used in the ship's logs, and such additions only have been made, as were fully warranted by information derived from equally authentic sources, viz., the statements or private journals of the captains or other officers who were at sea in the ships. In describing these cases, the following arrangement has been adopted, with the view of facilitating scientific and statistical deductions from them. 1st. the place of the ship is given with the date. 2ndly, the effects of the discharge. 3rdly, the meteorological phenomena. Lastly such remarks as appeared necessary to complete the history of the case. We propose in a future communication, when the series is complete, to enter upon a critical examination of the phenomena which it pre sents. AN AUTHENTIC LIST of some of the ships of H.M. Navy, struck and ENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 6.-voL. FOR 1843. 3 E damaged by Lightning at various times, with brief notices of the attendant meteorological and other phenomena. (The cases not derived immediately from the Official Journals are marked thus *) ALBACORE, 20. 1798. Tuesday, August 7th, lat. 17° 47' N., Point Morant, Jamaica, N.W. five or six miles; 4h. 20m. P.M., a discharge of lightning damaged the main-top-gallant-mast, main-top-mast, and main-mast; and wounded the main-yard. Wind variable; moderate and cloudy with rain. A.M. squally, with thunder and lightning. The ship was obliged to proceed to the dockyard at Port Royal, and have her main-mast taken out; she was not again ready for sea until the 2nd of September. ALBION, 74. * 1799. Off the east end of Jamaica, 4h. 30m. P.M., during the hurricane season, weather dark and gloomy; the main-top-gallant-mast and top-masts, totally destroyed; the main-mast shivered; and the mainsail set on fire; the main-mast was rent so far as the pump-winches, just abaft it. Capt. Thomas White, R.N. ARAB, 22. 1799. October 11th, cruizing about Nassau, West Indies; 1 A.M. the main-top-gallant-mast and top-masts were shivered in pieces by lightning, and the main-mast severely damaged. Three men killed and six men wounded. 6th, wind E.S.E., squally with thunder and lightning, and torrents of rain. The Log describes the electrical discharges as "thunderbolts flying about the ship, two or three of which fell in the water within a cable's length of the ship," after which it dropped calm. The next day, 7th, a breeze sprung up from the west with lightning and increased to a gale; the wind on the 10th south-east again, moderate and fine; on the 11th moderate and squally; at 1 P.M. a heavy squall with rain. In this squall the ship was struck by lightning; after this the wind flew in to the north-east. The ship having repaired damages went to Port Royal, and had a new main-mast; she was detained for refit from the 18th of November to the 29th of December. ALEXANDER, 74. 1801. September 8th, Cape de La Mella, Mediterranean, N.N.E. off Toulon twelve leagues; 11h. 40m. P.M. a flash of lightning struck the main-top-mast and shivered it in pieces. The wind on the previous days had been squally with fresh gales from the east, after which it dropt calm. On the 8th cloudy, wind from west and moderate; 8 A.M. on the 9th moderate, with the wind at north-east and inclining to calm. N.B.-Dragon struck the same day off Cape Furgons at 1 P.M. ACTIVE, 36. 1802. Sept. 19th, Gibraltar Bay; 9h. 30m. main-top-mast below the hounds shivered in pieces, the upper part of top-mast, top-gallant-mast, and top-gallant-yard-arm fell on the main-top. The lightning passed down the main-mast shivered the fishes and started the hoops; and passing through the coat of the mast took a piece out of the bits; one man killed. The ship was supplied with new fore and main-masts, &c. On the 18th calm, with occasional breezes from the east; 19th east, with strong breezes, thunder, and lightning: the lightning tore the sail from the larboard top-gallant-yard-arm; on the 20th variable winds. AMPHION, 36. 1808. March 25th, lat. 36° 13' south-west end of the Island of Goza, five leagues; 12h. 30m. main-top-gallant-mast and top-mast shattered, main-mast wounded and set on fire, the main-top-sail, royal, top-gallant-studding-sails, nearly cut in pieces, also the mizen and mizen-top-mast-stay-sails. The wind N. to N.N.E., then W.N.W. The ship went to Malta, and had a new main-mast, detained until the 2nd of April. AGAMEMNON, 64. 1808. November 28th, Isle of Lobos, W.N.W., five miles; Rio de La Plata; 4h. 20m. main-royal-mast and top-gallant-mast shivered, and starboard side of main-mast. Four men hurt. 27th moderate and cloudy, wind south-east; 28th calm, after which a breeze from the north. 3h. 30m. A.M. moderate and cloudy with thunder and lightning. On the next day, the 29th, wind south-east again, fresh breezes and squally. AUDACIOUS, 74. 1810. August 4th, lat. 52° N., long. 2° 50' E., off Flushing. Ship at anchor. 5h. 10m. A.M. main-mast struck by lightning; at 5h. 15m. again struck by a second discharge, the lightning was followed by a tremendous peal of thunder, the hoops of the masts were broken, and the mast shivered in several places, and set on fire. The top-gallantmast and top-mast were also shivered; several pieces rent out of them. The wind on the previous day south-west moderate and fine, light airs. 4th south-west, moderate with heavy rain, the succeeding day W.S.W., fresh breezes and cloudy. The ship was obliged to go to Spithead, and shift her main-mast. ARMADA, 74. 1811. February 24th, at anchor in Basque Roads, coast of France; A.M. strong gales with thunder and lightning; a ball of fire struck the foremast, started one of the hoops, and did other damage. Wind on the 23d west, with strong gales; 24th W.S.W., ditto weather; 25th the wind shifted to north-west, moderate, with rain; after which it went back again to W.S.W. The ship went to Spithead to refit. AJAX, 74. 1811. June 25th, Isle of Gorgona, four leagues, Mediterranean; 6h. 30m. main-top-mast shivered in pieces; main-mast much injured; wind 24th, light breezes W.N.W.; 25th A.M., calm and E.N.E.; 6h. 25m. a heavy squall with thunder and lightning; 26th, fresh breezes and cloudy, with the wind at W.b.S. The UNITE, in company, also struck in the same squall. The ship fished her main-mast; had subsequently a new mast at Plymouth. ARETHUSA, 38. 1811. July 4th, off Sierra Leone, coast of Africa; 2h. 45m., lightning struck the head of the main-top-mast; shivered the mast in pieces and much damaged the main-mast; several men working at the pumps knocked down. Wind on the 3rd east, with heavy rain, moderate weather; at midnight it shifted to W.S.W. and blew fresh; 4th variable all round the compass with heavy rain; the next day, 5th, the wind settled in to the north. The ship fished her mast, and went to Sierre Leone to refit; had subsequently a new mast at Plymouth. ACHATES, 18. 1812. February 26th, lat. 45° 39' N., long. 5° 38′ W., 12h. 10m. P.M.; main-top-mast and main-top-gallant-masts shivered in pieces, main-mast severely shattered, both pumps split, decks filled with a sulphureous smoke; main-top-mast rigging cut and lost overboard. Wind on the 25th, W.S.W., moderate, A.M., after which a strong breeze at noon, midnight strong gales and squalls; 26th ditto, with violent squalls; on the 27th the weather became moderate, with the wind at W.N.W. The ship went to Plymouth and had a new mast. ALBION, 74. 1822. July 5th, Portsmouth harbour, 2 A.M.; main-top-mast shivered and the main-mast much damaged. The preceding day had been moderate and clear; midnight, calm with much rain; on the 5th calm and variable, and north-west. The main-mast was taken out on the 11th. ATHOLL, 28. 1830 or 31. Bight of Biafra, coast of Africa; midnight; fore-topgallant-mast shivered, head of fore-mast slightly damaged. The ropes were drenched with rain; the electrical discharge was carried off by the chain top-sail-tye and sheets, by which the top-mast and lower-mast were protected. The ship had lightning conductors supplied to her, but they were stowed away below in a box.-Report on shipwreck by lightning, p. 43. At the time the ship was struck it rained heavily; light winds with thick dense clouds, causing a pitchy darkness. |