Whether it arises from their bearing too close a resemblance to other lights on this coast, or that notice of their being displayed has not been properly circulated, they are now objects of doubt and perplexity (as we have witnessed), and the question put to us by bewildered strangers, makes it evident that the latter, if not both causes, operate much against their present usefulness.

Before the long winter's nights set in, it would be well if some exertion was made to apprize ship-masters of these additions recently made to our coast lights. It cannot be over done. Information on such subjects should be as patent afloat, as any other subject of deep general interest usually is on shore, and this I would suggest, might be effected through the agency of the custom-house, by delivering to each master a TrinityBoard notice of the intended change with his clearance.

The necessity that seamen should have a clear conception of the appearance of the lights in question is rendered of greater importance from there now being four of an intermitting character between Cape Clear and the Tuskar.

The sea lights on the south coast are now as follows:

Cape Clear......

one revolving.

Old Head of Kinsale ...... one fixed.

one red to seaward.
one flashing.
one intermitting.
one fixed.

two fixed.

one revolving.

Cape Clear light is described in that very useful but too little known publication, "The Light-Houses of the British Islands," as "one light revolving at intervals of two minutes."

Ballycotton Island has one bright light, showing a powerful double flash three times every minute, with an interval of darkness of eighteen seconds between each double flash. It is visible nineteen miles in clear weather.

Mine Head shews one bright light, suddenly eclipsed once every minute for ten seconds, it is visible twenty-two miles in clear weather.

Tuskar, one light, showing alternate one red, and two bright phases, each phase attaining its greatest brilliancy once in every two minutes, consequently the red phase occurs every sixth minute. At ten miles distant, the bright phases are visible thirty seconds, the red not more than twenty seconds, beyond that the red is scarcely perceptible; but the bright may be seen fifteen miles in clear weather.

It will readily occur to every one that these lights each partaking so much of the others' nature, will be worse than useless to a vessel running in a south-west gale and thick weather, if the interval and nature of their appearance is not perfectly understood. To fulfil the intention for which they were erected, a plan must be adopted which will bring the information home to all concerned, many of whom are not in the habit of reading the ordinary periodicals in which such notices usually appear, and when they do, may probably overlook them.

It is also a subject of deep importance, that the charts used by merchant ships which are frequently very old and incorrect, should be subjected to revision under authority, that the additional lights and discoveries made by surveyors be inserted on them.

H.

[Our number for July contains the notice of the Ballast Board at Dublin, announcing the intention of establishing these lights, but we have met with no notice from that Board of such intention having been carried into effect. - ED.]

A VISIT TO ST. HELENA.

ST. HELENA, situated within the borders, and in the heart of the southeast trades, appears on every side a barren and unapproachable rock, which, with naked walls rises abruptly from the ocean. The whole mass is a collection of deep vallies, chasms, steep mountain-ridges and peaks, the highest of which latter are called Diana Peak, Cuckold Point, and Hally Hill,* occasionally hiding their green summits in the clouds.

No coast in the world presents such a chilling appearance as St. Helena, with its steep and cloven crags, its barren rocky ridges, and fearful fissures, and no one beholding this forbidding coast, can imagine that the island contains so much beautiful scenery. St. Helena is in some degree oblong, almost a square, extending E.N.E. and W.S.W., and is about nine miles long, and twenty-six miles in circumference. James Town, the only one, is on the north side of the island, off which vessels anchor protected by the land from the violence of the south-east trade. Westerly or northerly winds seldom blow with force or duration, so as to endanger the shipping in the road.

Off the south-east end of the island are two pointed rocks standing high out of water, the outermost of which is called George Island and the inner one the Column of Hercules. Close off the southern cape are three craggy rocks called the "Needles," and a little to the northward of the western point of the land close to the shore are two more called Bird and Egg Islands; they are all barren rocks, the largest of which is not more than 300 ells in circumference.

Approaching the island from the south-east, the land appears to slope gradually from the middle of it to the northward, terminating abruptly in Barn point 2272 feet high. Beyond this Sugar-Loaf Point is seen, the northern extreme of the island, and near which is the well known pinnacle-shaped mountain called the Sugar-Loaf, 1960 feet above the sea. At the foot of this mountain are three batteries a short distance apart from each other, called Butter-Milk, Above Bank, and Beneath Bank batteries, mounted with heavy guns about 100 and 200 feet above the sea, and which with the others would be formidable to an enemy.

• These are respectively 2692, 2672, and 2467 English feet above the level of the sea.

Shipmasters must be careful not to get to leeward of the Road, but to make the island from the eastward, keeping Sugar-Loaf Point when rounding it close on board.

Formerly all vessels on passing this point, sent a boat to the first named battery to give the name of the ship and the object of her visit; but of late years this practice has been discontinued. On that account our seamen gave it the name of "Pry Corner." About half a mile south-west of this point is Munden Point, which forms the eastern boundary of a bay in which, at the entrance of a small valley James Town is situated; the best anchorage off it is in from 12 to 20 fathoms. The western point of the bay is formed by a steep perpendicular hill called "Ladder Hill," about 800 feet above the sea. The distance between these two points is about three cables' lengths.

Between "Pry Corner," and "Munden Point," is Rupert valley, where landing can be effected; but commanded by a strong battery.

James Town and the Road are defended in front by a strong stone wall, on which are placed some thirty-two pound guns and heavy mortars, separated from the landing place by a deep moat; on the west side they are protected by a strong battery on the flat crown of the projecting corner of Ladder Hill, and on the east side, in addition to the above, by a strong fort on Munden Point. As soon as Munden Point is passed James Town appears suddenly between rocky precipices 1000 feet high. The white buildings and church, with the green foliage of the neighbourhood, give a pleasing effect to the scene, improved by the contrast of the adjacent crags. Immediately behind the water battery and in front of the town stauds the castle, a very large building, distinguished by a flag-staff, and near to it, on the right, is another large house called the "Times Office."

In the first are the offices of the Government officials, the other is the dwelling of the harbour-master. The Times Office is provided with a mast, from which at a stated time, a white time-ball falls in sight of all the vessels in the roadstead. The duty of regulating this belongs to the harbour-master, and affords an excellent means for rating chro

nometers.

In the distant extreme of the valley, on one of the highest rocky points, a large handsome white building may be seen in the midst of a grove, belonging to Mr. Young, collector of excise and customs duties. To the right of the valley is the ladder or staircase which is the ascent to the top of Ladder Hill; further inland is the elevated well known mountain "High Knoll," 1900 feet above the sea, having a telegraph on the summit of it; and to the left, at a short distance from the anchorage is the landing place.

The town consists of one street only, the houses standing lengthwise in the valley, completely surrounded by farm yards. The landing which is not very easy, is on a steep projecting rock in which steps have been

Deriving its name perhaps, from the duty assigned to it of giving time to the ships. An account of it will be found in our volume for 1836.

NO. 1.-VOL. XXI.

C

cut, and bricked, and against which the swell is so high at times, that caution must be used to spring out of the boat as it reaches one of the highest steps. A couple of hundred paces more inland, on the same rock is a second landing place and ladder, which is used when there is too much sea on the former.

The way leading from the landing place to the town gate, is partly hewn out of the rock. The stranger has no sooner landed than he is struck with the awful grandeur of the massive rocks rising nearly perpendicular above him on his left, towering over some small houses. About 500 or 600 paces from the landing is a drawbridge where the Toll-house is situate, and where is placed a neatly dressed sentinel in English uniform, white trowsers, red coat, &c. Should you have luggage it is inspected here; the gentlemen who perform that office are very civil. Having crossed the bridge, the water battery is on the right, and on the left the town wall, before which are some wooden houses behind a row of trees, in the midst of which stands the custom-house, containing the offices of the collector and other officials.

At this place vessels are cleared in and out, goods deposited, &c.; about 200 steps further, nearly under the Times office, is the gate which leads to James Town. Passing the gate the visiter sees an extensive rising plain before him, higher up terminating in a street, while to the right immediately behind it is the before-mentioned ladder of 668 steps.

Near the main-guard is an inn, called the St. Helena Hotel, and hard by the Episcopal Church, beyond which on the left at the entrance of the gate are the Town Hall, Court of Justice, and Library, and the Government Gardens, tastefully laid out, and enclosed by an iron railing and all forming an evening promenade.

The street which with this plain forms the aforesaid part of the town, is broad, and has on each side a dozen neatly built stone houses with two others standing crossways higher up, branching in two directions, the one on the left side leading through a small street is the way to Napoleon's grave at Longwood, while the other side forms a street which leads to the highest part of the valley, where are situated the parade-ground, the botanical gardens, and the hospital. In front is the market place and two shops, while further up are several public-houses, &c. The houses here are not so well built as in the lower part of the town, and characters of all descriptions are to be met with both in the upper and lower parts.

Along the foot of the ladder is a way behind the houses, by which in a zig-zag direction cut out of Ladder Hill, the visiter reaches the summit, and thence Plantation House. This path is nine feet broad, protected by a wall four or five feet high along the steep abyss. It is easy of access both for carriages and foot passengers, but presents a fearful and terrific appearance from immense crags overhanging and threatening every minute to fall and crush every thing beneath them. The road on the left side leading to Napoleon's grave is also cut zig-zag out of the steep rock called Rupert's Hill, this is also protected by a wall and is very for passengers.

easy

The lower strata of the island is mostly of a dark brown colour and has every appearance of volcanic formation; a rich and productive soil of from six to twelve inches deep constitutes a portion of the island, and produces amidst the dales and valleys a diversity of herbage of the most beautiful colours, while on the higher parts of the island are various trees of which the fir forms the principal. A stunted sort of fir called the gum tree thrives very much, and on the south-west part of the island there is a forest of these trees. The oak is also found here; it shoots up suddenly, but never reaches its natural growth.

The open plains are mostly converted into grazing lands and cornfields, and gardens for vegetables, most of which fetch a good price in the market. The sugar-cane, indigo plant, cotton and coffee trees have been introduced into the island, and would have flourished very well, but are little cultivated, the farmer confining himself more to the growth of the necessaries of life for which he can find a daily sale in the market. Quinces, pisang, aniseed, grapes and pears, together with a variety of other fruits are found here. Apples and more particulary pear-trees are in abundance. Near to the south-east part of the island is a valley through which flows a stream, the banks of which are completely covered with this fruit over laden nearly to the ground.

Potatoes

The high ground of this orchard is darkish clay several feet deep. Wheat, barley and oats, flourish well, but the hopes of the farmer for a good harvest are often blighted by drought, and also by his greatest enemy the rat, which sometimes appears in innumerable quantities and destroy whole fields of wheat. Potatoes, cabbage, turnips, onions, celery, and other vegetables are plentiful, besides peas and beans in variety, a mixture of all which is daily brought into the market. form a staple produce of the island, they are of a very fine description, and three crops are gathered during the year, and in favourable seasons 6000 bushels are annually sold. Cattle, sheep and pigs thrive well at St. Helena, but other European animals, from the change of climate are not numerous. There is also a handsome and strong horse of English breed; oxen are also of English breed. Of poisonous animals there are no others than the scorpion and centipede, their bite is not so dangerous as those of India. In general very few birds or beasts of prey, spiders, caterpillars, musk rats, nor any thing of the sort are met with; but whole hosts of rats as before mentioned, infest the island. Pheasants and partridges are abundant, and gardens and orchards are enlivened by the notes of canaries. The feathered tribe of all sorts abound, besides myriads of rabbits.

A great variety of fish are caught round the island, of which the mackerel is the principal, quantities of which are taken daily and brought to market. There are the albicore, silver fish, bream, old wives, conger eels, &c., and a fish which on account of its red colour is called the "soldier." Turtle are caught from February to June. In shell fish there are a variety of crabs, some of which are very good.

The sea birds lay their eggs in the clefts of the rocks and are used by the inhabitants as an article of food.