The cowslip and the spreading vine, The planets at their Maker's will, The leaves that flutter in the air, Who, then, can sleep when all around Shall man-creation's lord-be found Our courts and alleys are the field, To have a heart for those who weep; To help the poor, the hungry feed, To see that all can write and read The time is short-the world is wide, This wond'rous earth and all its pride The moments fly on lightning's wings, And life's uncertain too, We've none to waste on foolish things-- COPY OF SENTENCE OF A COURT MARTIAL-Held at Bermuda on the Of ficers and Ship's Company of H.M.S." Wolverine," 26th November, 1855. The Court is of opinion that the course shaped at noon from the position obtained by good observation and making allowance for the current experienced in the previous twenty-four hours, would have carried the ship fourteen miles to windward of the S.S.E. Long. of the Courtown Bank; that attention was paid to the steerage of the Wolverine up to eight o'clock of the night of the 11th of August, but that care was not taken in that important duty by the Officer of the first watch, Mr. Anthony E. Maynard, Mate, who was asleep and not sober. The Court doth therefore adjudge the said Mr. A. E. Maynard to be disinissed from Her Majesty's service. And the Court is further of opinion that blame is attributable to Commander John Corbett and Mr. Horace Cook, the Master, for not having the lead going on getting into the vicinity of the Cays, and doth adjudge the said Commander J. Corbett and Mr. Horace Cook to be reprimanded for that omission; but that no blame whatever attaches to the remaining Officers and ship's company, and doth therefore adjudge them to be acquitted. It further appears to the Court that every exertion was used to preserve the furniture and stores of the ship after she was stranded. The Court also have to state that the cocoa-nut trees on the Courtown Bank marked in the chart, No. 3, West Indies, and mentioned in the "Columbian Navigator," Vol. 3, p. 258, do not exist. The Court is of opinion that the loss of H.M.S. Wolverine may be attributed to the currents which appear by the directories to be uncertain in their direction and velocity.-United Service Gazette. THE SALT WATer Condenser.-The condensing apparatus on board the Wye is working most satisfactorily and up to the 18th of January had produced 25,120 gallons of the purest fresh water, and had delivered to ready recipients 7,542 gallons. The expenditure of fuel has been at the rate of one ton of coals for ten tons of water. As soon as the Wye was moored into Kazatch Bay the Senior Officer gave orders that she should be employed in watering the squadron, and, if necessary, the troops, all of whom have availed themselves of the advantages offered them. Mr. Grant deserves well of his country for introducing so important an invention, and the public thanks are equally due to Sir Baldwin Walker and Captain Milne for the part they have taken in the matter. CONDENSING Apparatus in GUN-BOATS. We are glad to find that Sir Baldwin Walker, Surveyor of the Navy, has recommended that each of the screw gun-boats should be supplied with Mr. Grant's condensing apparatus. We find the above in that valuable naval paper the United Service Gazette, and having ourselves watched the progressive success of this most important addition to a ship's furniture, while congratulating the Navy in general on its acquisition have the additional satisfaction of stating that it is indebted for it to the perseverance and patronage of Captain Alexander Milne, one of the Lords of the Admiralty. THE AMOOR RIVER.-A San Francisco paper contains the following:We are informed by Mr. James Pike, chief officer of the bark Palmetto, recently arrived from Ayan and the Russian settlements on the Amoor River, that the forts erected at the latter place by the Russians, under the direction of the Governor of Siberia, are actually impregnable, and were so regarded by the English observing officers. No naval power possessed by the Allies in the Pacific is strong enough to take the three forts. The Palmetto entered the Amoor River and proceeded some distance up. The navigation is intri cate, and at the mouth, where the river empties into the Saghalien Gulf, not unlike the Mississippi. The Gulf for many miles is discoloured by the great volume of water discharged into it. The country bordering on the river is low and alluvial, and the banks and channels constantly changing, owing to the great number of quicksands and debris sent down the stream. The Russians have good charts of the river, and the Allies were making a survey when the Palmetto left. The supply ships of the Allied Fleet have been wrecked, so that provisions and naval stores were scarce, and commanded an unparalleled price.-United Service Gazette. TELEGRAPHIC PROJECT.-The Piedmontese papers state that it is the intention of the Mediterranean Telegraph Company, which is now sinking a cable between Sardinia and La Calle, on the coast of Africa, to continue its line to Melbourne, South Australia. After establishing branches from La Calle to Bugia, Algiers, and Oran, they will direct their main line through Tunis, Tripoli, Alexandria, Cairo, Suez, Jerusalem, Damascus, Bagdad, Bessora, Hyderabad, and Bombay. At the latter city the line is to separate into two branches, one going northward to Agra, (whence secondary branches will extend to Lahore, Peshawur, and be therefore at a short distance from Cabul and Cashmere,) Benares, and Calcutta; and the other passing through Bengalore and Madras, and likewise ending at Calcutta. From that capital the line is to follow the north-eastern coast, of the Gulf of Bengal and the peninsula of Malacca; then pass over to the Sound Islands and the North of Australia, whence it will follow the eastern coast, touching at the numerous colonies there, and ending at Port Adelaide. The whole distance is calculated at about 20,000 kilometres (12,500 miles).-United Service Gazette. THE NORTH AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITION.-The Admiralty requiring the services of a naval officer to proceed to the Gulf of Carpentaria, in connection with the North Australian Exploring Eupedition, under Mr. A. C. Gregory, Lieut. W. Chimmo volunteered at a very short notice for the service, and leaves by the steamer Royal Charter, from Plymouth to Melbourne, whence he will proceed to Sydney and Port Essington. Lieut. Chimmo has already had much experience in the Australian coast survey while in command of the Torch, and has only been home a few months.-United Service Gazette. The following subscriptions in aid of Mrs. Blenky, the widow of the icemaster of the Terror, are gratefully acknowledged by her. £ 8. Adml. Sir F. Beaufort K.C.B. 5 0 The Earl of Ellesmere Mr. Barrow of the Admiralty will continue to receive further subscriptions for the poor lady, which will be duly acknowledged in the Nautical May a zine. 3. Courtoun in seen R. Feet MIs. Outer Point Ffl. 116 of Island, Remarks, &c. [Bearings Magnetic.] 16 Est. 14th April, '56. A bright flash every 20 seconds. Visible all round the compass. Coloured red towards the land. Lat. 54° 39-8' N., 8° 49-9′ W. 20 Est. 1st March, '56. A bright flash every fourth minute. Visible in all directions. Lat. 40 56.9' N., 8° 20-5′ E. 26 Est. 1st Jan., '56. Revolves once in a minute, 10 Est. 3rd Dec, '55. Light vessel painted cream F. Fixed. Få. Fixed and Flashing. R. Revolving. I. Intermitting. Est. Established. NEW AND CORRECTED CHARTS, &C. Published by the Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, and Sold by J. D. American Arctic Expedition, Dr. E. K. Kane, 1855 - 1 0 1 0 06 EDWARD DUNSTERVILLE, Commander, R.N. Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, February 21st, 1856. ADMIRALTY CHARTS.-By a return to an order of the House of Commons of all the sums received from the sale of the Admiralty Charts during the year 1855, it appears that there was received for the sale of 55,580 charts from the agent in London £2,969 13s. 3d.; received for the sale of 300 charts from the agent at Malta £20 11s. 3d. Total number of charts sold 56,880; total recripts £2,990 4s. 6d. PASSAGE OF THE SHIP "GLORIANA," FROM SYDNEY TO CALCUTTA, THROUGH BLIGH'S ENTRANCE, TORRES STRAITS,-From September 7th to November 5th, 1855,-By Captain H. Toynbee. The passage through Torres Straits is still considered so dangerous, it was so late in the season when we left Sydney, and the route we took has been so seldom followed, that I think an extract from the log of the Gloriana will be found useful by the nautical world; and I will commence by giving the charts we used, numbered for the purpose of reference in the following narrative. No. 1.-The General Chart of Australia, published by the Admiralty. From the surveys of Captains Flinders and King, R.N., with additions by Lieutenants Jeffreys and Roe, also Admiral D'Entrecasteaux, Captains Baudin and Freycinet, of the French Marine, to the year 1829; corrected from the surveys of Commanders Wickham and Stokes, 1843. No. 2.-Chart of part of the N.E. Coast of Australia, by P. P. King, Commander, R.N., 1819-21, sheet 3. The reefs that are delineated with double dots and the outline soundings are from other authorities. Torres Straits and the South of New Guinea are taken from Captain Flinders, corrected to 1822. Additions by Lieutenant Roe, R.N., 1829, and by Captain F. P. Blackwood, R.N., 1844. No. 3.-Torres Straits; N.E. Entrance along the Coast of New Guinea, surveyed by Captain F. P. Blackwood, R.N., 1845. No. 4.-Torres Straits; the Western Entrances of Endeavour Straits and Ꮓ |