the Aneroid barometer, (which contains no quicksilver,) of the size and shape of a large inkstand; also to provide themselves with Capt. Vidal's "Charts of the Azores," sold at 2s. at the Admiralty publisher's office. To lend their log-books (or copies) on every voyage to Mr. Hunt, the British consul, who intends soon to furnish them with important information so as to avoid a gale. To hoist the burgee, and the consignee's signal, when they return to port, after having been blown out, as the first vessel that returns has the the advantage of being loaded immediately. The following is a description of the Merchants' flags, namely:-The white, red, and white signal belongs to the Old Company; the red to the New Company; the white and red divided at right angles to the Union Company; the white and blue to the Good Faith Company; the blue with a red eye to the Providence Company; any three other flags to Ivens, the tricolour to Brander, the white with an A to Adam, and the union jack and pennant to Dart. No lighthouse exists nor ever existed at St. Michaels, as erroneously pointed out in all the charts by different officers who have been sent out to survey the Azores by the British government. [Mr. J. F. H. Parkin Schott has addressed the foregoing very useful information to the Shipping Gazette from which excellent paper we have transferred it, promoting Mr. Schott's object in not only giving our own readers the benefit of his experience, but also preserving it for easier reference hereafter. We cannot imagine where Mr. Schott could have found a lighthouse said to be established at St. Michaels. No chart that we have seen contains any such statement, nor will he find it in Capt. Vidal's chart, the only officer, "sent to survey the Azores by the British Government."Ed. N.M.] OCEAN SOUNDINGS. U. S. Ship John Adams, Madeira, May 29th, 1851. SIR.I have the honour to report the following "deep sea soundings," viz:May 3. Lat. 33° 50′ north, lon. 52° 34' west, temperature of the air 64°, water 65°, had a fair "up and down," sound with (2,600) twenty-six hundred fathoms of line. Time of running out, 1h. 23m. 10sec.—one 32-pound shot on the line. May 9. Lat. 32° 06', long. 44° 47' west; temperature of the air, 66°, water 68°. Got bottom with (5,500) five thousand five hundred fathoms of line out. Time of running out, 2h. 44m. 28sec. Drift of ship, three miles. Lost two 32-pound shot and 5,500 fathoms of line. May 10. Lat. 31° 01' north, long. 44° 31' west; temperature of the air 68°, water, 68°. Got bottom with (2,300) twenty-three hundred fathoms of line out. Time of running out, 1h. 4m. 35sec. May 17. Peak of Pico, bearing north 18° east, distant twenty-four miles, found bottom with (670) six hundred and seventy fathoms of line. Time of running out, 12m. 04sec. May 21. Lat. 35° 07′ north, long. 25° 43' west; temperature of the air 65°, water, 64°. (1,040) one thousand and forty fathoms found bottom. Time of running out, 19m. 58sec. We have made frequent other casts, but in consequence of the swell and motion and large drift of the ship, without any satisfactory results. I have the honor, &c. Washington Republic. S. BARRON, Commander. [We find the foregoing in a New York Paper, which has been sent to NO. 8.-VOL. XX. 3 к us by a friendly hand, and hope in course of time to receive an authenticated statement of these deep soundings. In our number for February last (page 102), we shewed that the originator of the method adopted by the American officer is Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort, the present Hydrographer to the Admiralty, and we are glad to see it followed up with so much success by our neighbours on the other side of the Atlantic.-Ed. N.M.] PROGRESS OF HARBOURS OF REFUGE. [The following extracts from a recent return to Parliament shews the progress of the works of our Harbours of Refuge.-ED.] DOVER. Dover, 21st of June, 1851. SIR.-In obedience to directions contained in your letter of yesterday, desiring me to report whether, in my opinion, any beneficial effect, so far as respects shelter to shipping, has already been produced by the works now in progress for the Harbour of Refuge at Dover, and to what extent; I beg to report that, even in their present state of progress, these works have, by preventing the accumulation of shingle at the mouth of Dover Harbour, enabled the Commissioners judiciously to co-operate, by deepening the harbour generally, but particularly the entrance; insomuch that 3 feet 9 inches depth of water has been gained up to the first jetty inside the port. The detrimental influence of the tide, which always rendered it a work of extreme peril to point a vessel for the harbour in strong westerly winds, and caused this manoeuvre to be difficult at all times, has been removed far off; and the heavy sea which in such weather broke up to the very pier heads, frequently lifting a vessel's rudder out of water at the instant she was shooting from the open sea into a channel only 133 feet wide, has been exchanged for perfectly still water, thus rendering the entrance smooth and easy of access. These facts have already given Dover Harbour many of the advantages of a harbour of refuge, and it is constantly occupied by vessels which have sustained damage at sea, twenty-five of which have been repaired here during the last twelve months. The Commissioners of Dover Harbour have now extensive operations in progress towards deepening the port and its entrance, the results of which will be of immense national importance, but could not have been undertaken had not the commenced Harbour of Refuge prevented the approach of shingle to the harbour's mouth. One instance has lately occurred strongly illustrating the advantages which the improved state of this port affords to the trade navigating in the narrow seas. A French merchant vessel belonging to Dunquerque having been disabled by getting on shore on the coast, was brought into Dover Harbour, and supposed to be irrepairable. Tenders were however, issued for her repair, and, as she could be easily towed to Dunquerque, the ship-builders of that place having fully examined the ship, made an offer, as did those of Dover, when it was found that the Dover offer was lowest; and the ship having been taken on the patent slip, which the Commissioners of Dover Harbour have judiciously constructed, the ship has undergone a perfect repair (having been almost rebuilt) at Dover. Thus a French ship, close to her own port, to which she could safely be moved at an expense under £20, can be repaired cheaper in England, and this not at a great ship-building port, but at a harbour which, until the recent improvements, could not at times be entered even by the smallest vessels. With respect to the advantages to shipping in Dover Bay, the incomplete state of the works renders these inconsiderable; still I am of opinion there is already shelter afforded, and I think when the pier is extended 200 feet further, being the extent of the present contract, the anchorage in the bay will be rendered comparatively secure against the prevailing gales, and perfectly so, should it be deemed proper to extend this great work 500 feet more into the sea, even though the full extent of the proposed Harbour of Refuge may not be completed. In addition to the above advantages of the works in progress, the mail packets and other vessels now land and embark mails and passengers at low water, at that finished portion of the Harbour of Refuge which is known as the Admiralty pier. I am, &c., THOMAS BALDOCK, Commander. To the Secretary, Admiralty. Dover, 8 A.M., 25th June, 1851. SIR. Although it may not be necessary to trouble their lordships with every operation connected with the Admiralty Pier; I beg to report that, during twenty-four hours ending at 11h. 40m. last night, five mail packets, British, French, and Belgian, embarked and landed mails and passengers there with great facility, and immense advantage to the public service. I am &c. Her Majesty's Revenue Cruizer “ Scout," 24th June, 1851. SIR.-In answer to your question of this day's date, relative to the improvements of Harwich Harbour, I beg most respectfully to state, for your information, that I consider Harwich Harbour very much improved since they commenced clearing it out. In former days, where there was only five or six feet water at low water, there is now twelve or fourteen feet, and in some places 3 fathoms; and the more they work, the better the harbour will be; and I consider Harwich Harbour a most excellent place for shelter when in, being protected from all winds; and should a ship drive on shore, they cannot come to any harm, as there is never sea enough to hurt them. I have, &c. Inspecting Commander, Harwich. (Signed) JERSEY AND ALDERNEY. J. SAXBY. H.M.Steam Vessel," Cuckoo," Portsmouth, 26th June, 1851. SIE.-I have the honour to acknowledge your order of the 21st inst., directing me to report whether, in my opinion, any beneficial effect, as regards shelter to shipping, has already been produced by the works now in progress for harbours of refuge at Jersey and Alderney, and thereupon to state, that considerable progress has been made at St. Catherines Bay, inasmuch that the work, which extends in an easterly direction (1,600 feet) from Verclut Point, affords shelter from northery winds; but the bay being quite open from S.b.W. to E.b.S., no vessel, until the Archirondelle Arm shall have been proceeded with, should seek shelter there, and, consequently, the works, as a whole, are not sufficiently advanced to offer any secure advantage. The Cuckoo, from her great draught of water, has frequently been kept out of Gorey in stormy weather; and I have invariably preferred the open roadstead to the insecurity of St. Catherines Bay This vessel visited Alderney on the 2nd inst., when the advanced state of the breakwater enabled me to place her inside that work, and land the relieving detachments almost from her deck. Though still open from N.E. to E., it already gives fair shelter to small vessels, with 5 fathoms water, low spring tides, and with good moorings, I should not hesitate to lie there during the winter months. This work is progressing rapidly, and its importance will soon be felt by our vessels generally. I have, &c. (Signed) N. LE FEBVRE, Commander. Admiral the Hon. Sir Thomas B. Capel, K.C.B., Commander-in-Chief. PORTLAND. Weymouth, June, 23rd 1851. SIR.-In reply to your letter, dated June 21st, I beg leave to state, that I consider very great benefit has already been derived by the coasters and vessels loading stone, 40,000 or 50,000 tons of which is annually exported. The breakwater protects them from south (the inner end) to S.S.E., already in from four to five fathoms good holding ground, and with S.W. gales much less roll is experienced. It is not sufficiently advanced to afford shelter for large ships at S.S.E., generally speaking, though, from knowing the holding ground, I should not hesitate, if in command of a line-of-battle-ship, receiving the same shelter, viz., from a S.S.E, gale, by anchoring close up to the breakwater. A larger class of shipping sought shelter the last winter than during the preceding. In January 1851, twenty-four sail came in for shelter: on the 14th, the wind moderating (S.S.E,), five sailed. Many of the others shifted their berths, evincing their sense of the benefit of the breakwater: the same night and following day it increased to a gale; the five that sailed were either lost or damaged, as was reported by the newspaper at the time, one of them being a schooner, lost at Lyme; all hands saved; another supposed to have foundered in West Bay, with all hands; but having made no note at the time I heard these reports, I only mention the two preceding cases as those which are authentic: One hundred and thirty sail have been lying at one time during last winter, and half that number deriving benefit from the breakwater. It only requires that the place should be better known to be more frequented; and I feel it my duty to suggest the expediency of their Lordships promulgating information that no dues are levied for anchoring there, as it appears to be the practice of the Cowes pilots, or some of them, to misstate this; for an outward-bound vessel put in here, the master of which would not listen to the Cowes pilot, who wished him to bear up, and return to the Isle of Wight, assuring him they levied heavy dues for building the breakwater. No pilot is requisite to anchor a vessel in Portland Roads, and ships with charts do not require one; but I understand by law they are compelled to take one the moment they arrive in a line from Lulworth Cove, to the east end of the Shambles. If this be the case, and allowed to remain, the Harbour of Refuge will lose a portion of its benefits, and many a man will keep the sea, rather than pay a pilot, with the trouble of anchoring and weighing a few hours afterwards. Should this be removed, the Portland Harbour of Refuge, during the coming winter, will be much more resorted to by shipping of larger size, and in greater numbers, particularly by foreigners, if it should be publicly made known there are no breakwater dues, and a ship may take shelter in a long winter night without any payment. I am, &c, J. H. HALL, Inspecting Commander. NAUTICAL NOTICES. SHOAL BETWEEN TONGA AND FEEJEE ISLANDS.-U. S. Consul at the Feejee Islands, in a letter to the Salem_Gazette, says :-" A very dangerous shoal has been discovered between the Tonga and Feejee Islands, parallel of latitude and longitude not given-a sand bank two miles in length, eight feet of water on the middle, and deepening at both ends. In strong S. E. winds it does not break, nor can you discern coloured water, like that of a reef, any distance off. It is described to be a most dangerous shoal, lying directly in the track of our whale ships cruziing in this vicinity, and running down to the line." [We find the foregoing in the Shipping Gazette, and shall be obliged to any of our readers who will take the trouble to send us any further information on it, for the benefit of seamen.-Ed. N.M.] FIXED LIGHT ON THE COAST OF PORTUGAL.-The Portuguese Government has given notice that the new lighthouse on Cape St. Mary has been completed, and that it is intended that the display of the light therein shall commence on the 24th of this month. It is a fixed light; and the lantern being 109 feet above high water, it will be visible at the distance of seventeen miles from the deck of a vessel ten feet above the water. Its position is 36° 56' N. lat., and 7° 51' long. west of Greenwich. THE Danish Government has issued a notice dated the 21st of June last, stating that the light of Giedserodde on the island of Falster was to cease, and that a temporary fixed light from a lantern was to be shewn close south of the lighthouse, at an elevation of 51 feet above the level of the sea, while alterations are being made in it. LIGHT AT SISAL.-Capt. Hardie, of the barque Emblem, at Boston (U.S.), states that the light at Sisal, of which notice was given some months since, has been discontinued. It was not established by the government of the country, but by private individuals. Shipmasters having refused to pay the light dues demanded, led to its discontinuance.-Shipping Gazette. (94a) BOTTLE PAPERS. Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, May 15th, 1851. SIR. The enclosed paper was picked up on the beach by a labouring man at the south-east point of Andros Island, one of the Bahama Islands on the 7th February, 1851. This being the earliest conveyance by which it could be transmitted since that period, owing to his want of communication with the seat of Government it is now forwarded as requested by Sir, You most obedient servant, "H.M.S. Scorpion, 5th day of Nov. 1850. Lat. 21° 40′ N., Long. 60° 20′ W., wind south-east, light and fine, from |