number of meteors diffused in their descent towards the earth, and a more magnificent sight could not possibly be conceived. At 3h. 55m. the "shower" ceased, and after four o'clock all traces of meteors were gone; the stars shone, however, without either diminution in number or brightness, and the atmosphere became remarkably clear. The shower of meteors appeared to take their direction from N. N.E. and north, as if the course of their train was occasioned by the wind, which was blowing from the former point. The total number of meteors could not have fallen short of from four to five hundred. On the whole, we may conclude that the "meteoric shower" was equal in interest and splendour to those of any former year.* ROBERT CARR WOODS. ROCKS IN THE CHINA SEA. In our last number, (p. 721,) we gave an account of some newly discovered rocks in the China Sea. The following accounts of two more dangerous rocks in the same ocean, neither of which have appeared in the charts, are from the columns of the Shipping Gazette.f "Calcutta, July 28th.-Capt. Foster of the brig Corsair, while standing on his course from Singapore for China, fell in with a rock in the China seas not noticed in the charts. The following are the particulars:-May 2, 1838, at noon, by correct observation, was in Îatitude 9° 48′ N., longitude 108° 28′ E., steering N. by E., with a moderate breeze at E. by N. At P.M., saw from the maintop a rock bearing E. by N. N. distance off about one-and-a-half or two leagues, about twenty or twenty-five yards in length, and about fourteen feet above the water, of a white appearance when first seen. Was then in twenty-four fathoms, having run from noon seven miles N. by E., which will place the rock in latitude 9° 54′ N., longitude 108° 35′ E., allowing the island of Pulo Cecir de Mar to be in longitude 101° 58′ E., (this must be 108° 58′ E.,) which island we were within three miles of the next day at noon. Brig Corsair. "J. G. H. FOSTER." IMPORTANT TO MARINERS.-A newly discovered shoal by the ship Rob Roy, Captain Edward Rosetter, on her passage from Canton to New York. On Friday, 11th May, 1838, at 8 A.M., West Island, bearing S. half W., distance 7 or 8 miles, saw coloured waterput the helm down immediately, and while in stays, saw the rocks under the ship's bottom; I am quite sure there could not be more than from seventeen to eighteen fathoms water; sounded after the ship was about, had seven feet of water. The rocks could then just be seen under the ship. While in stays they appeared near tfie water's edge. West Island is in latitude 2° 44′ N., longitude 108° 40′ E., which will place the shoal in latitude 2° 50' N., and longitude *Last year we had no "meteoric shower," but a beautiful electrical display, an account of which will be found in our number for January last.-ED. N.M. These notices give additional value to the Shipping Gazette, and in point of naval foreign information, we have always found this paper ahead of every other.— ED. N.M. 108° 41' E. I consider the shoal very dangerous, and the discovery a very important one. EDWARD ROSEtter. The first of these rocks, that of the Corsair, lies in a S.W. direction from Pulo Cecir, and being so considerably above water, it is rather remarkable that it has not been seen by the numerous vessels which have followed the inner passage to China, or by Captain Ross while surveying the Catwicks, and Macclesfield shoal between which it lies. We shall, however, content ourselves with leaving it at present for the attention of navigators. Of the latter, ships must be careful. It appears to form a part of the bank on which West and Flat Islands are situated, and which Horsburgh says is but "imperfectly known." LARNE LOUGH HARBOUR LIGHT-HOUSE.-The corporation for preserving and improving the Port of Dublin, hereby give notice, that a Light-House has been erected at the entrance of LARNE LOUGH, Coast of County Antrim, from which a light will be exhibited on the evening of the first of February, 1839, and thenceforth from sun-set to sun-rise. Specifications given of the position of the Tower, &c., by Mr. Halpin, the inspector of Light-Houses. The Tower is built on Farres Point, at the eastern side of the entrance to LARNE LOUGH in lat. 54° 50′ 55′′ N. and long. 5° 48′ W. of Greenwich. and bears from the Maiden Rocks } 66 North Light-house..S. W. W. dis. 5 sea miles, Hunter Rock.. 64 The Tower is circular, coloured white, having the lantern fortyseven feet over the mean level of the sea. The Light is a stationary white light, showing to the Lough and seaward from S. to E. and in clear weather may be seen at a distance of eight miles. Shelving rocks project from Farres Point for half a cable's length from the Light-house. The bearings are magnetic. Ballast office, Dublin, 18th Oct. 1838. Var. (27° 30') By order, H. Vereker. Sec. New Light-HOUSE IN THE CATTEGAT.-The following has been received at Lloyd's from the Lords of the Admiralty, communicated by Her Majesty's Consul at Elsinore : Notice is hereby given, that from the first of November next, a revolving light will be shown on a quadrangular tower in the Isle of Hirtsholm, which lies on the western side of the Channel, between Lessoe Island and the coast of Denmark. The light will consist of a lamp with three reflectors, and will revolve in about a minute and a half: it will stand forty-three feet above the level of the sea, and may be seen ten miles by an eye elevated ten feet. From Easter to Michaelmas, the light will appear an hour after sun-set, and from Michaelmas to Easter it will appear half an hour after snn-set till sun-rise. As the tower is intended to serve as a sea mark by day, it has been carefully whitewashed. It is twenty-one miles distant from the light vessel on the Trindelen sand, on the north-east side of Lessoe Islands. COURT MARTIAL.-A Court-martial assembled on Friday, 19th, and Saturday, 20th, inst., on board the Royal Adelaide, to try Commander Richard Inman, late First Lieutenant of H.M.S. Lily, on charges preferred against him, by Commander J. Reeves, of the Lily. Commander Richard Inman was charged with being discovered, on the morning of 12th Aug. last, in bed with his servant boy, named Payne; and for being reported absent from the ship on the following day, and continuing so until the 19th, when he returned to the Lily. A number of witnesses were called, by whom the most material or criminal part was explained away; yet leaving blame enough to warrant the Court, as they thought, to come to the opinion and conclusion which they did. The defence of Commander Inman was, that on the 11th of Aug. he dined with some friends on shore, and having taken a good deal of wine during the evening, he was not perfectly conscious of what he was doing. He, however, returned to the ship and lay himself down to sleep, partly dressed, and never awoke until the morning, when the boy Payne (who had come into the cabin in a state of intoxication during the night, unknown to Commander Inman) was observed fast asleep, seated on a trunk on the outward edge of his bed. With respect to the charge of absence or desertion, Commander Inman said, that intimation having been brought to him, that a letter had come from the Admiral, stating that John Payne and himself were to be kept under close arrest until they fell in with the Pelican, on board of which sloop they were to be sent to England, to wait the commands of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, he was advised to go on shore, which he did, and where he remained till the 19th, in a most distracted state of mind at the imputation cast upon his character. He then resolved to return to the ship and report himself, which being done, he was kept under close arrest for two months. The evidence having been duly considered, the Court passed the following sentence:-"That the Court is of opinion that the fact of the said Commander Richard Inman having been discovered on the morning of the said 12th day of August, 1838, in bed with his servant, (whose name is John Payne) has been proved; but there has been no evidence to satisfy the Court that the prisoner was conscious of that circumstance. And the court is of further opinion, that the charge of delivering himself up as a deserter has not been proved against the prisoner, Commander Richard Inman. But the Court is of opinion that the conduct of the said Commander Richard Inman on the said 12th day of August, was highly irregular and unbecoming the character of an officer; and the Court doth therefore adjudge the said Commander Richard Inman to be dismissed Her Majesty's Service. And the said Commander Richard Inman is hereby so sentenced accordingly. Signed by the Court." ENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 12.-FOR 1838. 5 R LOG BOOKS-We request the attention of our readers to the following:-An order was issued to the royal navy in the year 1805, directing all log-books to be kept in civil time, instead of in nautical time. A few merchant captains follow the same rule; but the greater number still keep their log-books in nautical time. Since it is probable that such records will assume a new degree of importance as journals of the weather, and will be compared with one another, as well as with the observations made at the light-houses and other places on land, it is desirable that all should be kept in the same time. Those merchant captains who still use nautical time, are invited to conform to the custom of the world, by adopting that followed by people on shore, as well as our ships of war. The cause of this difference still existing may perhaps be traced to our navigation books and to those academies where navigation is taught. If there be no real advantage in using uautical time, it would be better to teach it no longer in schools. W. R. As for advantage, we can see none whatever in it, but we see great disadvantage tending to confusion, which occasioned the alteration in the logs of Her Majesty's navy. The matter, however, rests with ship-owners, and while our navigation professors publish books to perpetuate the absurdity, we must expect their example to be followed; but we do hope to see it gradually disappear. We annex the Admiralty order alluded to. General Instructions to Captains in His Majesty's Royal Navy. Admiralty Office, 11th, Oct. 1805. SIR, I have the commands of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, to send to you herewith a form of the log-book, which is intended in future to be kept in all king's ships, and to signify their direction to you, to cause the log-book of the ship under your command to be kept according to the said form, observing that the calendar or civil-day is to be made use of, beginning at midnight. It is their Lordships' further direction, that in future, you send a log-book instead of a journal to this office, and to the navy board, as directed by the general printed instructions. You will observe that there will be no necessity for making any alteration in the manner of marking the log board, but when it is copied into the book, the part beginning at midnight, is to stand first in the page. It is necessary to remark to you, that the private night signal for each day of the month, is to continue in force until day-light of the following day. I am, Sir, your very humble Servant, To Captain commanding H.M. Ship. J. B. Law Proceedings. POLICE.-Merchant Seaman's Act.-The master of the ship, James Ray, Mr. Edward Grierson, summoned to answer why he had carried out one Thomas Calaban, without having entered into an agreement as to the wages the latter was to receive, and in what capacity he was to do duty, as required by the act, under the penalty of £10. Admitted that Caliban, a boy, was taken to sea without signing articles, but not on day stated.-Ship was short of apprentices; going out of dock, Caliban's mother brought him on board, and entreated that he should be taken without any agreement as to wages-if he turned out well, he would be articled on his return-Caliban turned out badly, and on return of ship, an insolent application from him for wages had been refused-hence the present proceeding-Caliban present at the bar, a youth of 14, had never been at sea before. The magistrate considered this a case of extraordinary hardship on the Captain of the vessel who had never dreamt of giving offence. On referring to the act of Parliament, (clause 52,) he told him I regret that you have been brought here.' I consider your conduct has been praiseworthy, but I am compelled by the words of this act to fine you for having done an act of kindness. However, it shall be the lowest the law allows me to inflict, that is £5, but I will not order costs.-Our merchant Captains will see in this case of base ingratitude what their course should be on such occasions, and even be aware of receiving from the hands of the mothers themselves, such abandoned urchins as the one in question who appears to have been another of Shakspeare's Calibans.' Wages: Captain Jonathan Cooper, of the ship Confidence, summoned at the instance of John Forbes, a seaman for 121. 5s. for wages for the voyage from Stockton to Petersburgh, and back to London. Forbes was serving a topmast stay with a mallet, and a boy in a frolic passed several turns of spun-yarn round his neck, for which, as he would not desist from doing, Forbes gave him a tap on his head, which proved more serious than intended. Ship arrived at Petersburgh, and Forbes was handed over to Russian police, and imprisoned several days, till by the boy's evidence it was proved the lad was in fault, and the blow not premeditated. This alone liberated him-in the mean time, a surgeon had been employed by the captain, but the amount of the bill was not communicated to Forbes, and his wages had been witheld for its payment. The magistrate ordered Forbes his full wages, 121. 5s., and the captain had to pay the costs. Murder. This is one of those cases which arise from the lamentable insubordination of the Merchant Service.-Samuel Evans, a seaman of the ship Dispatch, a Southsea whaler, was brought to the police office, charged with the wilful murder of Robert Day, the second officer of that vessel, on the high seas on the 30th of April last.-As it is possible that this case may occupy the attention of a court of law, we shall give the following statement of it extracted from the log-book. "Extract from the log-book of the Dispatch, April 30, 1838. At 7 P.M., sent a boat with Thomas Johnson, William Freeman, Samuel Evans, John Smith, Antonio Joseph, on board the Woodlark Whaler, Captain Hardie to wait for the captain. At half past nine P.M., Captain May came on board, and went below, I told the boat's crew to drop astern and hook on. Mr. Day, the second mate, hearing me giving them repeated orders, came up out of the cabin; seeing they were in liquour, he went into the boat and hooked her on. While in the act of hoisting the boat up, Wm. Freeman came up and looked over the rail. I told him to go and assist in hoisting the boat up, which he would not, but gave me abuse. The Captain hearing him insolent, came up, and remonstrated with him, and ordered him to the fall. Not going, but being very abusive, the captain struck him several times with a walking stick. William Freeman then ran forward with the intention of getting a weapon, expressing himself that he would do for the captain. Captain May then got two cutlasses up, keeping one for himself and giving me the other, ordering me to follow him. William Freeman still being abusive, and using mutinous expressions, Captain May struck him with the flat of the cutlass. By this time the ship's company were on deck. The captain then went aft abreast the main hatchway, the larboard side. Samuel Evans came up to the captain, seized the cutlass, and endeavoured to take it away from him, by which he got his hand cut. William Robinson had hold of the cutlass, and endeavoured to keep Samuel Evans from getting it away from the captain. Mr. Jones and several others were trying to drag him away. Mr. Day going to the captain's assistance, a scuffie ensued, I was then endeavouring to prevent William Freeman from going to the captain, as he swore he would do for th |