where it is used the crew will never have reason to complain of the glue sticking to their feet. The surface of the seams after heavy rains, or from a damp atmosphere, will become slightly convex, and under a warm temperature will become slightly concave; but it will not liquefy by solar heat, and it will, under all circumstances, adhere with its original tenacity. All practical seamen will perceive the vast import ance, in point of economy, comfort, and security from leakage, which these qualities ensure, especially in hot climates.

Another important experiment has been made with the glue in reference to its being a substitute for copper sheathing. This composition was applied without poison, to four surfaces of some nearly cubical blocks of wood, and on the other two surfaces it was applied in combination with poison, equally destructive to animal as to vegetable life. After the lapse of twenty-three months these blocks were taken up, and were found to present the following appearances :-small shell-fish were adhering to the four unpoisoned sides, whilst the two sides charged with the poison were perfectly clean. The whole of the composition was slightly changed in colour, but was not deteriorated or affected in respect of its useful qualities.

Another most important use of the marine glue, is evidently in its application to the construction of masts. Its power of adhesion and elasticity admirably fit it for the purpose of joining the spars of which masts are composed. A great reduction of expense is likely to follow its adoption for this purpose, as shorter and smaller timbers may be rendered available, and most, if not all, of the internal fastenings may be dispensed with.

The following account of some experiments on this point are from daily journals. The masts alluded to have been glued with such proportions of elasticity given to the glue, which deflect in about the same ratio as the wood itself, or as if the wood were in one solid piece.

"Experiments were carried on, January 4th and 5th, at Chatham, in the presence of Capt. W. H Shirreff, Superintendent, and Mr. John Fincham, master shipwright, at the Dockyard, with the marine glue, invented by Mr. Jeffery. The experiments which were carried on last year at Woolwich, with the view of improving its immense adhesive power, and that it would be more difficult to separate the joinings made with it than it would be to tear the solid wood in pieces by shots from the large guns of the Ordnance, and the result of the trials so convinced the master shipwrights then assembled to consider improvements which might be brought forward for the benefit of the Royal Navy, that they recommended its adoption, and its application to naval purposes was approved of by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. The mainmasts of the following vessels have been joined with it, under the instructions of Mr. Jeffery :-The main-mast of the Eagle, 50-gun ship, was first fitted with it, and it now stands exposed to all the changes of our variable atmosphere: the main-mast of the Trafalgar, 120-gun ship, built at Woolwich, has been joined with marine glue, and appears to be finished in a most substantial manner; and some idea may be formed of the number of joinings, when it is stated, the dimensions of the mast is 125 feet in length, with a diameter of 40 inches. The main-mast of the Curacoa, formerly a 32-gun-ship, but at present being reduced to at

24-gun vessel, is in progress of being joined with the composition. The whole of the practical workmen speak highly of its merits, and have expressed an opinion that its general use will save a great amount of labour in placing internal fastenings, which may now be nearly dispensed with. Mr. Jeffery had an officer from Pembroke Dockyard under his instruction, who returned home with a quantity of the composition to be used in laying the decks of the Victoria and Albert steam-vessel, for the especial use of her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert.

"The experiments formerly made and tested, were undertaken at a period when a high degree of summer temperature existed, and it was imagined by some that it would be difficult to use it in winter so as to have equal adhesive and strengthening powers. In order to satisfy himself on this point, the inventor had several pieces joined together during the present cold weather, and the following is the result of the trials of their qualities:

6

"Eight pieces of wood 12 feet long, and 6 inches in diameter at one end and 5 inches in the other, were each cut lengthways into four pieces, and joined together with the marine glue, two of the pieces with a new sample of the composition, and the others in the usual manner, only varying the proportions of shell lac of and These pieces of wood were alternately attached by strong bolts to the floor of the mould loft; and an iron collar and chain having been placed in the centre, the following weights were placed on a balance to shew the deflection or strain.-No. I, with the new sample, with a strain of 25 cwt., bent 3 inches exactly, and on the withdrawal of the power, returned to its former position with the greatest elasticity. No. 2, with a strain of 27 cwt., only yielded 2 inches. No. 3, with a strain of 27 cwt., bent 2 inches. No. 4, with a strain of 27 cwt., yielded 3 inches, having been joined by the new sample. No. 5, with a strain of 27 cwt., showed a deflection of 21 inches. No. 6, with a strain of 27 cwt., only yielded 2 inches. No. 7, with a strain of 27 cwt., bent 13 inches; with 29 cwt., 2 inches; with 31 cwt., 24 inches. It was then attempted to break this model mast, and additional weights were put on, until it amounted to 45 cwt., when the strain made it yield 34 inches, and fractured the upper part of the wood, but did not separate the joinings or thoroughly break the wood, and afforded those present an opportunity of satisfying themselves that the joined pieces were far stronger in every respect than solid wood of the same dimensions. No. 8, was tested in a similar manner, and with a strain of 45 cwt., yielded 34 inches, and at one end the joining opened a little in one direction, which will afford the inventor an opportunity of judging of the best degree of mixture of the various substances of which it is composed. The experiments were carried on at a temperature of 40 degrees, and that was the height of the thermometer in the mould-loft at the time they were completed, 4 o'clock P.M. on the 5th, it being only 8 degrees above freezing point. The value of the materials and invention has now been completely established, and its importance to Her Majesty's Navy will be very great, as it has hitherto been found very difficult to obtain trees of sufficient length and diameter, about 22 or 23 inches, for main-top-masts for first rates; but they may now be

made from any number of pieces, and from the nature of the marine glue, they will never be subject to the dry rot.

"Another experiment was made by joining two pieces of wood 9 inches square by 20 inches long, and placed in such a position that 21 cwt. of iron, forming a pile 6 feet high, about seven inches broad, and 20 inches long, and it bore the whole weight without yielding at the time. On the second day the wood gave way under the immense pressure, shewing the cement was more powerful and secure than the solid timbers." We shall in a future number enter into further details of the value to the navy of this important discovery.

The extraordinary utility of the marine glue will not be fully appre, ciated, until vessels, in the construction of which it has been applied throughout from the kelson to the main-top, shall have been exposed to disasters in which ordinary vessels would go to pieces, or founder from leakage. In many such cases the superiority of the marine glue will hereafter be manifested, in the preservation of vessels, together with the property and lives of the persons on board.

No attempt is here made to enumerate the various constructions, such as dock gates, piers, aqueducts, floating bridges, &c., &c., to which the marine glue may be applied with advantage; the present design being simply to point out some of its principal qualities as shown by experiment.

March 25th, 1843.

THE BUOY OF THE HEAPS.

SIR.-I am the "Buoy of the Heaps," at your service. You will, perhaps, pardon my want of a better introduction than I give myself; for, although I am known very well to the masters of the great first naval school, who are continually passing my locality, I cannot well impose upon them the task of presenting me personally and formally to your attention and notice, and from my guardians I may not presume to ask so great a favor.

I am but a poor orphan, sir, as you may have heard-no father, no mother; and you will admit that I should do ill were I to leave my situation to visit Tower Hill, on any mission of my own; besides, sir, to do my patrons justice, they do take care of me, so that I am in no dread of becoming chargeable to the parish, or of being adrift, either in summer or winter. In fact, one of my guardians promised something for me as I am informed by a mariner who heard him say, that "that ere buoy shouldn't want for nuffin as long as he votches ;" and so I do watch, and see, and hear a good deal more than some folks give me credit for. But, with your good leave, sir, I'll come to the business I wish to interest you in. Some time ago you were kind enough to listen to two ladies, acquaintances of mine; they are twin sisters, and addressed you under their real signatures-"The Reculvers." They had matter to narrate about my good friends, the Elder Brethren of the Trinity of Deptford on Strond. I shall have no occasion to repeat any part of their story, which was quite of a Platonic nature; albeit, my letter also relates to the doings of the " undivided."

They are my proper guardians; but men will die, and I think I may

be excused, if, while watching for other people, I look out for myself. Men, as I say, sir, will die; and I have lived to see an event which I always believed never could happen-the resignation of an Elder Brother.

It is now proved that an Elder Brother can resign. This is a very serious matter to me, and to others of my order, who, "willi nilli,” must remain bobbing about at our stations without as much as an attorney to look after our interests, when new guardians are appointed, which we conceive to be very cruel, and the more so, because we see country gentlemen, ropemakers, and some who should by rights wear leather breeches, striving who shall be first to be sworn in. Nevertheless, there are those who, I am bold enough to say, owe more to me and my fellow buoys than to pilots or any body else. Those persons always appear pleased to see us; and I think that they, and their connexions on shore, are called upon to attend such affairs as may affect us, and to speak out if everything is not managed fairly and for the

best.

Look you, sir, I wish my friends to understand, in the first place, that by the Trinity rules for electing Elder Brethren, lieutenants in the navy are virtually excluded, through which the Board is obliged to shut out from itself, perhaps, some of the highest talent that ornaments the naval profession.

In the second place, it should be remarked, that the rule relating to the avocations of candidates to be elected Elder Brethren should be strictly conformed to. It will never do to have Trinity masters liable to be called to other duties. It would be a fine thing for me to pretend that I could do my own business, that of my checkered brother of the Brake, and that of half-a-dozen other buoys into the bargain.

I know very well that the business of the Trinity Board cannot be done as it should be, when the services of the members are divided between several establishments. The office is not only an onerous, but an honourable one; and while it is injurious to have the Trinity functionaries boxing about, backing and filling, getting a cast here and a cast there; now running to see what is doing in India, then to the Bank; next to look after the peltry from Hudson's Bay, and then again to manage insurances, and to do or inquire about twenty other things besides, the dignity and honour of the corporation are sacrificed.

The world may think the Trinity Corporation does not pay its directors, and that they are obliged to look elsewhere to make up an income large enough to be taxed; but there is not a buoy about the coast that is not better informed than to believe that. What do we buoys lie in a "half nothing?" Can we neither see nor hear, nor remember? "Oh! what a pity we're buoys as votches !"

I would it were observed, that there is no rule laid down with respect to the age of candidates. The Board is competent to propose one; it should do so, and adhere to it.-Too young a seaman should not be accepted, nor one too old.

Some five-and-twenty years past a commander of great respectability and unexceptionable acquirements, an East India commander, who fought a French frigate very gallantly, paid his fee as a younger brother, and tendered himself for election as an elder; but his age, (he was under fifty,) was held to be quite a disqualification, while a crop of

grey hairs was completely overlooked on the poll of the unsuccessful eandidate, who happened to be several years his senior.

It may be justifiable to allow a man to enjoy something like a sinecare after fifteen or twenty years of close application; but not every man is active after sixty-five, and therefore an elder should not be too elderly; he should not be more than fifty at his election.

The corporation has altered its rules, let them be amended again, by addition and otherwise, for there is ample room for it. Let the elders exercise this privilege, and with regard to age, they may refer to the case of the deputy-master; he went to sea in 1791, underwent his probationary service, and was appointed commander of a ship in the East India Company's employ, which post he held five years and retired. He was elected an Elder Brother in 1823, so allowing him to have been of the usual age (fourteen) when he was shaved in latitude nothing, and used to caulk o' nights under the lee of a hen coop, he was forysix when admitted a member of the corporation; a period at which a seaman may reasonably be expected to have attained a thorough knowledge of his profession; a period at which most mariners begin to be sensible that it is time they should lay it aside.

Then, Sir, a more satisfactory order should be established than that which enjoins the proposer of a new member to be prepared to dowhat? why to assert that, as far as he is acquainted with the man he proposes, he believes him to be a very clever fellow, and a most qualified man to attend to us buoys, and the families of the lights and the beaSee, Sir, there are several sailors who are looking out for the berth now vacant. Some of them wear the Queen's uniform, but not one of the whole batch would like to pay me a visit in a dark night.

cons.

Will you be so good as to let me know who passes his word for the ability of the new man? I can read and write, as you have evidence; and if you will let me know, I'll tell you why that Elder Brother did not volunteer to pilot Her Majesty round to Scotland, and will not put himself in the way of obtaining the honour of showing her, on her passage to Ireland, some of the truest, though veriest wooden-headed buoys that float swimmingly in her seas, under the sunshine of her favor. Mr. Docking Dowsing, will perhaps trouble you next; and I am to ask your indulgence for him, as I do for myself.

To the Editor, &c.

Yours, ever-nodding, always watching,
BUOY OF THE HEAPS.

Account of an attempt at Soundings, in Lat 68° 34' S., and Long. 12° 49 W., made in the boats of H.M. Ships Erebus and Terror, on the 3rd March, 1843.

The wind continued light from the southward until 11 A.M. When it fell quite calm, I seized the opportunity of ascertaining the temperature of the ocean at 750, 600, 300, and 150 fathoms, and in the afternoon, the sea having become perfectly smooth, and the calm still pre