from the numerous reefs, and the inutility of the lead as a warning to keep you clear of them, added to which, you cannot place reliance on seeing a coral patch, for the water is not so clear here as in coral seas generally. On the afternoon of the 7th August, whilst beating down the coast, carrying an average depth of 13 fathoms, and a boat in shore surveying, we suddenly hove in stays, for a short cast of 5 fathoms. Before the vessel was round she struck upon a rock, the man in the chains being unable to get even then 4 fathoms. On a subsequent occasion the ship was anchored in a position well clear of the coast, in 19 fathoms, (a depth that had been carried a mile before coming to,) when her stern swung into 4 fathoms, two boats' lengths beyond which was 21 fathoms, and this without the slightest change in the colour of the water! This is mentioned in order to show that a survey of this coast cannot be undertaken without considerable risk, even under the most favourable circumstances; and the weather here, at times, is such as I have never before witnessed within the tropics; with a heavy sea generally rolling home upon the coast. Continuing the survey to the southward, we anchored, on the 19th August, off a small river, called Canee-pa-an, (lat. 8° 39',) about 12 miles from the south extremity of the island, navigable only for boats. There is a Malay settlement about six miles up the river, over which a Datoo presides. We had however only one opportunity of communicating with it, for the day after our arrival, it came on to blow exceedingly hard from the westward, with rain, the winds veering in the squall to N.W. This weather lasted eight days, during which period we were riding heavily, with 100 fathoms of chain out, in a very critical position. The sea having got up, displayed to our view dangers, the extent and proximity of which we were not aware of before. Providentially the ship continued driving a little every day, which cleared us of a 3 fathom patch, now breaking heavily 3 cables from the bow. Reefs to seaward were breaking as far as the eye could reach, and the only clear portion we could discover, was that immediately N.E. and S.W. of the vessel. On the 26th, the moon coinciding with perigee, the squalls were so violent as to cause serious apprehension for the safety of the ship in case of her chain parting. Putting to sea was out of the question, reefs bounded our horizon, and the nearest secure anchorage was Maltar-nat, distant 50 miles, to run for which required the greatest caution even in a clear day. for the good work he has so successfully commenced in the Eastern Archipelago, whose children already join in singing songs of gratitude to their benefactor, is the humble but hearty prayer of Your obedient Servant, To Robert Wigram Crawford, Esq. C. PASCO, Lieut. R.N. We congratulate Sir James on the good feeling which prevailed on that occasion, among so large and influential a collection of English gentlemen, and the opportunity he thus had, and of which he availed himself, of throwing back the calumnies of his detractors.-ED. Happily the change of moon brought a temporary change in the weather, and as we had only three days' water, and no chance of our boats effecting a landing, owing to the heavy sea rolling home upon the reefs, we proceeded to Dalawan Bay, (Balabac Islands,) surveying as well as circumstances would admit the scattered reefs which lay in our passage thither. As the monsoon had now fairly set in upon the south coast of Palawan, with strong breezes from the W. and W.S.W., and knowing that if I remained there my time would be unprofitably occupied riding heavily at the anchors, upon a dead lee shore, I determined on proceeding to Singapore to replenish provisions. Accordingly after remaining 48 hours to complete water, we sailed from Dalawan Bay on the morning of the 1st September, for Labuan, and arrived there on the 12th. Vessels should be exceedingly cautious when passing through Balabac straits, and particularly if they approach the above island, as an extreme reef projects fully four miles from the S.W. point of it; in this season the currents set strong to the E.N.E., and the Royalist, after having experienced great difficulty in getting through from the E., had a very narrow escape, during thick weather, of being forced on the reef above mentioned. We scarcely had been an hour at anchor at Labuan, when the vessel was struck by lightning, the electric fluid, after scooping a piece out of the fore-top-gallant-mast, descended to the lower-deck, slightly injuring five seamen, three of whom remained senseless for a short time. The Royalist is not fitted with lightning conductors. Remaining at Labuan a week to rate the chronometers, and commit to paper some portion of the survey, (the latter operation greatly facilitated by the kindness of the Lieut.-Governor providing me with a drawing room,) I sailed for this place on the 20th, and arrived here on the 11th of October. Although we have been entirely free from disease of a malignant type, I have taken from the assistant surgeon's daily report the number of sick, for ninety consecutive days, and from it I find the mean list amounts to 14.5 per day; at the close of the survey it was seldom under 20; and I may remark this is not occasioned by exposure, or the particular nature of the service upon which we are engaged; the cases chiefly consist of rheumatism and syphilis, many having their origin long before entering into this ship. THE FUNK ISLANDS, NEWFOUNDLAND :-SEAL-HUNTING. [The Funk Islands are a little group of rocks, just above water, about thirty miles from the nearest part of Newfoundland, bearing about N.N.E. from Cape Freels. The largest of them is not half a mile long, and there are, in all probability, many dangers about them which do not appear in the chart. The following is the account of a sealing party, who have first made the experiment of passing the winter of 1850-1 on it.] NO. 7.-VOL. XXI. 2 z In the month of September of last year, Mr. Stephen March fitted out an expedition for the Funk Islands, for the purpose of prosecuting the Seal Fishery during the winter season. On the 5th October, the crew sailed from Old Perlican; but in consequence of the adverse state of the weather, were forced to put into Catalina, where they were detained eleven days, when they again started; but were compelled to make a harbour of Greenspond for four days, a heavy sea running outside and making navigation dangerous. They left Greenspond for the Funk Islands on the 21st, and on the next day at 2, P.M., arrived at their destination, and immediately commenced landing their. winter stores,--the vessel all the while under canvass, not venturing to anchor. The winter crew, consisting of thirteen men, then landed on the N.E. side, and the vessel sailed for Hants Harbour. The exertions of the crew in landing their stores under very disadvantageous circumstances, induced fatigue, and they stretched themselves within the Penguin pounds, and, notwithstanding the novelty and perhaps danger of their position, were soon buried in profound slumber. Upon waking, the crew immediately set to work, and constructed a building, which they secured from the breaches of the sea by a thick wall of wood and earth; which was their only shelter; and frequently the sea beat so furiously against it, that their alarm was great least their wall should be destroyed; in which case, all hands must have perished. On the evening of the 10th November, a very strong gale sprung up from the E.N.E., creating a tremendous sea, which breasted over, the island. The apprehensions of the poor fellows who were confined within their wall, was great; but it withstood the inundation: and upon the wind abating and the sea falling, they commenced their work of fishing and shooting; and with one line they caught at different times about six quintals of cod fish. About the latter part of November there was a high sea from the N.E., during which they observed a great number of shoals, which we counted and found to amount to twenty three, continuing nearly round the island, a small are of 33° 45' only (from W. b. N. to N.W.) being clear. Upon a close observation, the principal of these shoals, and the most dangerous, as being furthest from the Island, and therefore less liable to be apprehended, was seen to break about two miles from the shore, bearing S.W.; the rest showing an almost continual breaking, three miles in extent from the Island. A chart of those shoals is being prepared, and will soon be completed. On the 6th January (Old Christmas) the soft ice (lolly) made its appearance, and the next, the old seals were seen going southward; coming within a quarter of a mile of the land; but in consequence of their being in the water, nothing could be made of them. This continued until the first week in February, when they struck northward again; but up to this time one only could be got, killed on the 29th January. The firmer ice drifted down on the 1st February, but there were no seals upon it. After the 9th, a few were taken, from two to five a day; the most that had been killed on any one day being eight; and thus only fifty were obtained up to the 20th March; when all disap peared, and were not seen again until the 15th April, when they once more showed themselves upon the ice, going northward, and sixty-seven of their number were brought on shore, and next day ten more were' added; after which they all disappeared, and were not seen again during the stay of the men on the island: the total number of seals taken during the winter thus amounted to only 127. The ill success which attended this adventure, is attributed to the prevalence of strong gales from N.W., which prevented the ice and its inhabitants from drifting to the eastward; and thus destroying the possibility of obtaining a good voyage. Had the wind remained as it was when they landed on the Island, N.E. or E.N.E., it is the opinion of the crew, that they would have been amply repaid for their toil and perils during this hazardous adventure. So confident are they of the possibility of at last succeeding, that they have no hesitation in again offering their services, on a similar expedition. Birds were abundant on the Island, and furnished the men with fresh provisions, during their exile,-several barrels were salted as a standby in case of need-and the humanity of these brave men, must be recorded in the fact, that when a provision against want had been made, no more than a daily sufficiency was killed. On Saturday, the 10th May, the vessel came to the Island and took the crew off: leaving such things behind as might be useful for another season. Mr March has again ventured another expedition this season, and on Friday, the 17th inst, a landing was attempted, but the sea was so rough, that only two persons could succeed, who were left on the Island; and the vessel was compelled to leave for Catalina. Mr M. states that the doubts entertained of the possibility of in habiting the Funks throughout the year, have been dispelled; and suggests the propriety of a Lighthouse being placed on this isolated spot the waystone of the northern harbours of Newfoundland and of the Labrador. He seems confident that the results to the sealing interest would amply repay the expense of a light, and the saving to human life is a preponderating consideration. REVIEW OF THE HISTORY AND PROGRESS OF A SYSTEM OF PERMANENTLY FIXED LIGHTNING CONDUCTORS FOR H.M. SHIPS FROM THE YEAR 1820, WHEN FIRST PROPOSED, TO THE PRESENT YEAR 1852, WHEN FULLY ADOPTED INTO THE PUBLIC SERVICE.-By Sir W. Snow Harris, F.R.S. (Continued from page 300.) 27. The results of the further trials of temporary conductors for the preservation of the Royal Navy from lightning, applied as rigging, were such as had been predicted by the Committee. In some cases they failed to afford the required security; in others they became damaged by the wear and tear of the rigging; and in others they were insecurely applied :-until, at length, in June, 1842, a succeeding Board of Admiralty, finding it inconvenient to be held responsible for a system of Lightning Conductors for H.M. Ships, designated by a Naval and Scientific Commission as a "dangerous and inadequate expedient," and "liable to lead to serious accidents," determined on complying with the advice of the Commissioners. Accordingly an order was issued in June, 1842, to carry out the new conductors generally in the Royal Navy; and thus the plan became fully adopted into the public service, with what success we have already seen (22). It may not, however, be unimportant before we proceed more especially to the valuable scientific deductions which have since resulted from this judicious and decisive step, to further advert to the trials of the temporary conductors partially applied as rigging which had been insisted on, and to some circumstances connected with them, requisite to notice in a history of this kind. 28. It appears by a return to a precept submitted by the Earl of Minto to the House of Peers, date June, 20, 1849, that between the period of the Report of the Commissioners in July, 1839, up to June, 1842, thirty-four of ships of the Navy had been fitted with small ropes of wire, in various ways, with a view to parry discharges of lightning--and it was the object of the noble lord who submitted the precept to the House to invalidate the Report and opinion of the Commissioners as to the efficiency of such Conductors, and show by what he thought conclusive evidence, that whilst temporary conductors of wire ropes were and are more economical than the permanently fixed plates then in general use, they were equally efficient and secure, and ought therefore to be preferred;—and in order to make the comparative cost more favourable to the wire ropes, the precept was confined to a return of the cost of fitting the permanent conductors in four ships of the Navy, and which were especially selected as involving the largest amount upon record. Such a partial and arbitrary selection could not be mistaken; the object was of course to bring the permanent conductors into such financial disrepute as to lead to their discontinuance in the public service. Here, however, as in previous instances, the facts were conclusive as to the superior efficiency and economy of the fixed system. The question of the actual cost of fixing conductors in H.M. ships, as compared with the advantages and the saving resulting from such a system, was no doubt a very proper subject for inquiry; and if fairly and philosophically conducted, could not certainly be objected to. It was not, however, an impartial proceeding to call for returns of the cost of fitting the permanent conductors in certain ships nearly twenty years previously and under all the disadvantages of a new and unpractised experiment (17). That was surely a very unsatisfactory and partial course, and very ungenerous to the inventor, had the object been the real cost of the system to the country; why not have called upon the Admiralty for an especial return for the whole Navy up to that time, |