several merchant ships without conductors, in company with the Southampton, were struck by lightning and severely damaged.

We may add to these instances a recent occurrence at Plymouth, of a no less interesting character. On Wednesday, July 7, at 2 P.M., a heavy thunder-storm passed over Devonport and Hamoaze. The electrical discharge fell with explosive violence on the masts of H.M. ship St. George, 120, but no damage ensued; the shock was severely felt in the ship. The masts of H.M. ships Sanspareil, 90 guns, and Impregnable, 98, (the flag ship,) were also sensibly affected by the presence of the dense thunder-clouds which overspread the harbour. At this instant forked lightning fell on a small yacht of 15 tons, belonging to Lieut. Hawkins, of the Impregnable, and moored within a hundred yards of the ship; the discharge shivered her topmast, and did other damage. A great number of marked cases of this character might be adduced in support of the principles we have already expounded, (6,) and which must set the mind most completely at rest upon the question of any danger arising from the presence of efficient lightning conductors in ships. In fact, when we consider that lightning strikes trees, rocks, and buildings of all kinds indiscriminately, and even the ground near them, we are compelled, upon every sound principle of the inductive philosophy, to discard the doctrine of "specific attraction" in metals for the matter of lightning, and we must admit the futility of this vulgar objection to the use of lightning conductors generally. That such conductors "provoke the shaft of heaven," is the suggestion of superstition rather than of science.

[The remainder of this important article is unavoidably deferred for our next.]

ATTACK ON THE CITY OF BASSEIN.

Commodore George R. Lambert, R.N., Secretary to the Government

of India.

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Her Majesty's ship For's boat, at Bassein, May 20, 1852. SIR,-I request you may be pleased to inform the Governor General of India in Council that the Lieutenant General commanding the Forces having communicated his wish to make an attack on the city of Bassein, I placed a squadron of four steamers at his disposal for this service.

On the morning of the 17th inst., Lieutenant General Godwin, C.B., the Commander of the Forces, embarked in the squadron with 400 of Her Majesty's 51st regiment, 300 of the 9th regiment Madras Native Infantry, 60 Sappers and Miners, the Royal Marines, and a detachment of scamen with a field gun from H.M.S. For.

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I left the naval force at Rangoon in charge of Commander Tarleton with the For, and went with my boat to the Tenasserim, in which steamer I hoisted my broad pendant, and put to sea at two o'clock in the afternoon with the steamers named in the inclosure marked A.

The Lieutenant General accompanied me in the Tenasserim.

On the evening of the 28th we anchored off the island of Negrais, at the entrance of the Bassein river, where the Pluto joined us. I had sent her on from Rangoon a day previously, as her small power could not have enabled her to keep up with the steam frigates.

At daylight on the 19th the squadron weighed and proceeded up the river, the Pluto, from her light draught, being ahead, showing the soundings. The Tenasserim led, followed by the Sesastris and Moozuffer, at half a cable's length distant.,

At a few minutes after four o'clock in the afternoon the fortifications of Bassein appeared in sight, consisting of a very extensive mud fort, and a long line of stockade on the left bank, on which the city stands, and a strong stockade round the pagoda, with a brick parapet fronting the river. Then in an admirable position on the right bank stood a very large stockade, mounting several cannon. The enemy permitted the squadron to approach unmolested. At half-past four, when abreast the stockade, I made the signal to anchor. Immediately afterwards Lieutenant General Godwin expressed his wish to land the troops, which was effected, in perfect order, in a very short period. They had scarcely formed, under the Lieutenant General's direction, when a heavy fire was opened, both with cannon and musketry, from the various stockades, which was instantly answered by a cheer from the party landed, who stormed and carried the pagoda."

As soon as the enemy commenced firing, the ships opened their fire on the different batteries.

Observing the stockade opposite the town had been silenced, I directed Commander Campbell, of the Sesostris, to land with the boats of his own ship, and the Moozuffer's, and to storm it, which he effected in gallant style, driving the Burmese from their guns with considerable loss to them in killed and wounded."'!

Commander Campbell has called my special attention to the zeal and activity displayed on this occasion by Lieutenants Robinson and Lewis, of the Indian navy.

At half-past five I had the satisfaction of hearing that the last and most formidable of the stockades had been carried, but not without considerable loss on our part, from the great resistance shown by the enemy.

Amongst those I have to enumerate as sufferers on this occasion, I have to name Lieutenant George W. Rice, of H.M.S. For, who received a severe and painful wound through the right hand, whilst gallantly leading his party of seamen into the stockade.

I feel it my duty also to mention the steady conduct of the Royal Marines, under the command of First Lieutenant John Elliott, and I cannot conclude without expressing my best thanks to Commanders Campbell and Hewett, of the Indian navy, for the skill and ability with which they brought their ships up a river which had hitherto been but imperfectly surveyed, for a distance of more than sixty miles; nor can I refrain from expressing now much I am indebted to Commanders Dicey and Burbank, of the Bengal Marines, for the assistance I received from them, and I attribute our being able to perform this service without accident, to the careful and judicious manner with which the Commander of the Pluto went in advance, and communicated the soundings.

I cannot forbear bringing to his Lordship's notice Mr. Francis Duncan, second officer of the Tenasserim; he was by the side of Lieut. Rice when he was wounded; and in storming the stockade his conduct was most gallant. The most perfect unanimity prevailed between the two services.

GEORGE R. LAMBERT, Commodore.

THE NEW MAIL SERVICE TO THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA.

THE Contract for a direct steam communication by screw vessels with the coast of Africa, entered into in January last, by Mr. Macgregor Laird of Fenchurchstreet, specifies that Mr. Laird shall convey mails, at the rate of not less than

eight knots an hour, once each way,' every calendar month, between England and Fernando Po, by at least three steam vessels, with screw propellers, and with engines of minimum power of 220 horses, the vessel being of a construction and strength able to carry and fire such an armament as the Admiralty may deem requisite. All the steamers employed in the service are to touch at Madeira, Teneriffe, Goree, Bathurst, Sierra Leone, Monrovia, Cape Coast Castle, Accra, Whydah, Badagry, Lagos, Bonny, Old Calabar, and Cameroons on their outward passages, and Lagos, Badagry, Whydah, Accra, Cape Coast Castle, Monrovia, Sierra Leone, Bathurst, Go ee, Teneriffe, and Madeira, on their homeward passages, carrying and receiving mails that are to be delivered or received at the various places. One of the vessels is to put to sea from Plymouth, or Liverpool, or Portsmouth, as may be hereafter determined by the Admiralty, once every month after the 31st of August next, at an appointed time, with mails, and is to proceed to Fernando Po, touching at the intermediate ports; and another vessel once every month after the 31st of September next, from Fernando Po, with mails for Plymouth, or other such English ports : to be hereafter determined, touching at the intera ediate places.

There are clauses in the contract authorising the Admiralty to alter the port of embarkation, and the day and hour of departure and arrival of ves-e's at all the places, on three months' notice; and, with the consent of the contractor, to order the vessels to stop at other ports and deliver mails. An officer, or other person appointed by the Admiralty, is to be received on board as agent of the Admiralty, with authority to require the due execution of the contract, and to determine as to proceeding to sea or putting into harbour, or as to the necessity of stopping to assist vessels in distress. There are clauses with respect to the reception, accominodation, and victualling of naval officers, noncommissioned officers, engineers, soldiers of Artillery, and Sappers and Miners, as Admiralty passengers, for whom no charge is to be made by the contractor; and, even when not Admiralty passengers, officers in her Majestys' service are in all cases to be provided with passages in preference to private persons, and not to be charged more than those entitled to a passage at the public expense. Small packages, containing astronomical instruments, charts, medicines, wearing apparel, or other articles, are to be received on board as directed by the Admiralty or their officers, and conveyed to their destinations free of charge; and naval and other stores are to be conveyed and delivered at rates for private goods at never more than £3 per ton, as long notice as possible be ng previously given to the contractor that such stores would be required to be sent. For the faithful performance of the service the contractor is to receive, for the first year, £23,250; second, £22,750; third, £22,250; fourth, £21,750; fifth, £21,250; sixth, £20,750; seventh, £20,250; eighth, £19 750; ninth, £19,250; tenth, £18,750; and for every subsequent year of the continuance of the contract, there is to be an annual reduction of £500 from the rate of the year immediately preceding.

The payments are to be made quarterly, the first to become due at the termination of three calendar months from the 1st of September next, at which time the service is appointed to commence. It is to continue for ten years; and if at the expiration of that term ueither party shall have given notice that the contract will then cease, it will continue in force until the expiration of a twelvemonth's notice in writing,

A further agreement was entered into between Mr. Laird and the Admiralty, on the 3rd of March last, for the performance of an additional mail service, exclusive of that to Fernando Po. On the expiration of any twelve months' notice which may be given by the Commissioners, the contractor is to provide an additional steam-vessel to proceed once yearly from the United Kingdom up one or more navigable rivers on the western coast of Africa, stopping and

returning as directed by the Admiralty, the passengers to be provided for as under the previous contract. In consideration for this additional service, the contractor is to be paid 4s. a mile for every mile the vessel may proceed as required by the Admiralty.

THE EASTERN STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY.

At the adjourned meeting of the shareholders of the Eastern Steam Navigation Company on the 12th July, a bold and adventurous proposition was made to the meeting on the part of the directors, and which, if it can be realised, will introduce a new feature in the history of trans-Atlantic Steam Navigation.

The report that was read to the meeting suggested the possibility of making the voyage to Calcutta direct, via the Cape of Good Hope, in a shorter time than it is now made by the overland route, which it was stated required at present thirty-five days under the most favourable circumstances; whereas it was thought practicable by the directors to perform the entire distance by sea in from twenty-eight to thirty-two days. This was to be effected by the construction of steamers which would be propelled at the rate of from fifteen to seventeen knots an hour; and therefore it will be seen, that the success of the experiment depends upon this rate of speed being accomplished. If nothing more were to be gained than the saving of two or three days' time on a voyage to Calcutta, perhaps the experiment would be scarcely worth hazarding. The directors, however, expect to achieve more than this: with a most commendable spirit of independence, they wish to sail their vessels without the trammels that would necessarily result from a government subsidy. This would be one object gained, and a very important one for the country, and, perhaps, for the Company also: it would be altogether unconnected with the steamers of the Austrian Lloyd's Company. Again, it is proposed that these new steamers should be of a very large tonnage, to enable them to carry coals for the entire voyage, as well as a large amount of freight, to be charged at the same rate that goods are now paid for in sailing vessels. This alone would be a great benefit to our merchants engaged in the trade with India, although we must admit it might prove seriously damaging to those shipowners who have built and fitted out so many splendid ships exclusively for this trade. Farthermore, it is stated that a large number of passengers could be carried by these vessels, at about half the expence which the overland route now costs them. Setting economy aside, it would be a great convenience to many passengers, particularly where there is a family of children, if they could be at once housed in England for the entire voyage, and have no shifting until they arrived at Calcutta. The resolve to withdraw, if possible, from the timid dependence on the bounty system," as the report expresses it, is one worthy of the Company, and entitles it to every support which the public can give it.

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In these extraordinary days of science and invention, it would be hazardous to say what may not be accomplished by steam power; nevertheless we cannot avoid expressing some doubt that a 'Calcutta voyage can be accomplished at the average speed required to realise the plan of the Fastern Steam Navigation Company. Without wishing to be too critical, we would say that to give a range of "from fifteen to seventeen knots an hour," as an average rate for such a long voyage, is dealing rather loosely with a calculation which would require a nearer approximation to accuracy. We admit that four days are allowed to cover any unavoidable delay arising from the state of the weather, and in this way to meet the difference between fifteen and seventeen knots; but, taking an average of sixteen knots, it is clear to us that, consi

dering the whole chances of such a voyage, the steamer, under favourable circumstances, would require to be propelled at a speed of twenty knots an hour. We shall be rejoiced should it turn out that the science of steam-ship building has reached such perfection as to accomplish this, and we should be extremely sorry that any observations of ours should damp the energy of those who have resolved to make so noble an experiment.Shipping Gazette.

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THE SEARCH FOR SIR JOHN FRANKLIN. Povand udta

Commander Inglefield, in a letter to the Times, says: "The Isabel, screw schooner, of about 170 tons and 30 horse power, has been supplied to me with provisions for five years by Lady Franklin, and the subscribers to Beatson's expedition. I accept her, with the understanding she is my vessel, and that all risk, expense, and responsibility, is with me. I purpose sailing on or about the 1st July-[she left Peterhead on the 10th ;]-proceeding up Baffins Bay as far as Smiths and Jones Sound, (if practicable,) and returning down the west coast of Baffins Bay and Labrador, examining thoroughly those shores. I hope to complete the voyage this season."

The opinion we first expressed of the expeditions of Lieut. Pym and Mr Beatson appears to have been tolerably well founded. Every one knows the end of the first, and here is the end of the second. From the foregoing modest announcement of Capt. Inglefield, we anticipate more than from all the expeditions which have yet left this country with the same object, and we shall look with anxious expectation for the result of his examination in connection with the fact of the two ships seen in the ice, and all the circumstances connected with them, as stated in our May number.

LOSS OF THE TYRIAN ON ELIZABETH Reef, Australia.

On the 16th September, 1851, the barque Tyrian, of London, under my command, sailed from Honolulu in Woahoo, Sandwich Islands, bound to Auckland, in New Zealand, and Sydney, with about one hundred tons of general cargo, and seventeen passengers. Continued my passage to the southward, with fine weather. On the 8th October we made the westernmost of the Navigator Islands, and ran round the north end; and at noon were in latitude 13° 21′ south, longitude 172° 2′ west, with the south point S.S.E. seven or eight miles. We kept our course to the southward so as to pass between the Friendly and Feejee Islands; and on the 12th passed the meridian of Turtle Island, in lat. 19° 48′ south, long. 178° 38' west. On the 27th, after a continuation of variable winds and unsettled weather, we made the great barrier at the entrance of Auckland, and run up between the islands; at 5h. A.M., came to anchor in Commercial Bay, with the town of Auckland bearing south one mile. Here we landed a few packages of cargo, took on board fourteen more passengers, some fresh stock, and filled up the water; and on the 6th November, sailed with the winds variable. Rounded the north end of New Zealand on the 11th, with unsettled weather. On the 20th the weather set in with strong winds from the southwest, and got round to north in hard squalls; continued heavy weather to the 24th, at noon of which day Pyramid