more than a third of the taxes, he laboured to show that the general good was intimately connected with the well-doing of the national marine. His efforts have been partly successful, since, joined with other causes, there has been a gradual increase in their sea-officers, men, and boys, the last estimate of which gave this amount: 1827. Registered 63,581, of whom in the Navy 13,408 95,992, " These results are remarkable, inasmuch as they show that in an inter val of only sixteen years the Navy has doubled its numbers, whilst the merchant service increased its men but by one-third. By another tabular statement it is shown that, on the 1st January, 1843, the enregistrés were thus mustered : Still Dupin is discontented with the view "du personnel de l'inscription maritime," which he says gives one man for every nine tons of merchantmen actually afloat. He also thinks the number required to serve in the royal navy disproportionably large, since it gives, even for a peace establishment, -the exorbitant average of eleven years' service to his country from every individual between twenty and fifty years of age, throughout the seafaring population. This fardeau énorme must be compensated by foreign and domestic trade: but here no great comfort is derived by our Gallic brethren, since, on comparing the arrivals and departures of vessels of all nations in 1840, there appeared 9,586,924 tons for England, and only 3,737,197 for France. "La disproportion est bien plus grande et plus affligeante," sighs the patriotic discusser, "if we compare the actual national tonnage of the countries;" and he adds the following picture for the same year: We have been led to show up these details, both from the slumbers of our own statesmen and the bellicose clamour of Young France against what they stigmatize as the servile system of a close alliance with England. Loud declamation has followed M. Bignon's Rapport sur le Budget de la Marine, which he delivered last month; and it was seconded by ministerial assurances of continued intimacy with la perfide Albion. The Emeuteur papers are furious at the humiliating connexion, and groan aloud for a revival of such ministers as Colbert and Choiseul, who, they boast, soundly trimmed the jackets of our tars; and in a hot glory-fit they sigh for the sack of our towns which the Prince de Joinville, in his wisdom and valour, has promised to the rabid friends of his grandfather. "Attack those Britishers on two points equally vulnerable," says this dandysome sailor, "namely, the confi • In adopting this inelegant Anglicism have the French forgotten their own Bougette? dence of the British people in their insular position, and her maritime commerce. Who can doubt, but that with a well-organized steam-navy we should possess the means of inflicting losses and unknown sufferings on an enemy's coast, who has never hitherto felt all the miseries that war can inflict?" This is pretty plain for the son of a King at peace with these realms, and the tone was loudly applauded by Emeuteurs; but the Journal des Debats ventured to beg the Prince to moderate the excessive vivacity of youth, which led him to be guilty of such an indiscretion! Indeed, if not scribbled in waggish badinage, it was as intemperate as indiscreet to trumpet about those twenty English men-of-war, and 15,000 hapless prisoners, that are to be taken into Toulon by a flag which is tarnished under ages of bitter mortification. The visions of glory which haunt the Prince's "aching sight" in that notorious pamphlet, have become contagious, and vapour and menace without end have been wasted upon our lieges, who can only retort-Nullius in verba, Deeds not words. The ferment is one which "all the King's horses and all the King's men" cannot moderate; and, from the rank and station of the royal pamphleteer, it is spreading among the mobs and the press. Even so late as Friday, the 20th ultimo (June) the gentle rédacteur of Le National thus rails :- "La France est la seule nation maritime qui, soit par ses seules ressources, soit en se mettant à la tête des marines secondaires, puisse défendre avec succès le principe de la liberté des mers et opposer des obstacles sérieux au système d'envahissement poursuivi avec persévérance depuis un siècle et demi par le gouvernement Anglais. D'un autre côté, c'est l'Angleterre qui a toujours été l'âme des coalitions de l'Europe contre la France, qui les a entretenues de son or et appuyées de ses flottes; on peut même ajouter que, sans le concours de l'Angleterre, les coalitions du continent ne suffiraient pas à mettre en peril l'indépendance de notre pays. Cette double considération devrait assurément faire placer au premier rang, parmi les préocсираtions les plus constantes de la France, l'entretien et le développement pement de puissance navale. Cependant, dans quel état de délabrement et de faiblesse les partisans de l'alliance Anglaise n'ont ils pas laissé tomber notre marine!" sa Having thus shown that there is a wolf at the door, and hoping that every exertion to render it harmless and useful is commendable, we will now resume our theme. As the civic garland-Ob Cives Servatos-was more esteemed by the Romans than either the mural, gold, vallarian, or rostral crowns, so the means of saving a fellow creature's life must precede the other suggestions for naval improvement. Since we last wrote upon the subject various ingenious methods of saving men in cases of wreck, or other hazards of drowning, have been proposed: several of these are patented, and, on the whole, it may be presumed that the distressing casualties to which all are liable who plough the mighty deep, are lessened. We have already described Captain Manby's exertions in this cause, and we are gratified in adding that Lieut. O'Reilly has succeeded in illuminating the shot used in Manby's apparatus, by means of which a communication with a stranded ship can be effected in the darkest night. A fuze is fitted to the shot, and, when discharged, affords a splendid light, capable of withstanding the power of the water. Objects within its range become distinctly visible, whereby the projector is enabled to see the direction of his aim, and the people on board to distinguish the line which is attached to the projectile, should it pass over any part of the rigging or yards aloft. This obviates a glaring defect of the Manby mortar, and adds to its value and importance. The pyrotechnic Mr. Dennett, so well known as the improver of rockets intended for explosion, conflagration, propelling shot, and all other purposes of war, made the same weapon also instrumental in saving human life, on the principle of a very powerful propulsion, of easy application, great portability, and little incumbrance. The sizes of his rockets are 12 and 18-pounders; and, by a proper modification of the apparatus, they are equally applicable for conveying the line either from the shore to a stranded ship, or from a ship to the shore. During a heavy gale of wind, on the 8th of October, 1832, the Bainbridge, of Halifax, a merchantman of 430 tons, was wrecked on the Atherfield Rocks, Isle of Wight; the crew, consisting of nineteen persons, were in the extremity of peril, Captain Manby's mortar having been fired four times in vain, when they were all saved by a single discharge of Dennett's rocket. The Lieutenant's illuminated shot will equalise these effects. In like manner, Commander Beaden has proposed a life-buoy which corrects two great deficiencies in Lieut. Cook's excellent invention, namely, the rapidity of its drift, and its inert unhandiness. It consists of a metal tube eight feet long, by twelve inches wide at its greatest diameter; and it is tapered toward its after end so as to permit it to pass freely through the water. By this modification means of propelling are afforded, so that a man may regain his ship, while the leeward drift is materially prevented by the addition of a deep keel. The machine is conical at each end, and being divided into compartments or cases, which are water-tight, it is less liable to fill with water. These cases, or drums, are distinct and separate from the outer cylinder, but are made to fit its interior nicely, whereby it is much strengthened and supported on the inside from external pressure. On each side of the cylinder is a wing, which is secured by stop-hinges and screws to cylindrical blocks of wood fitted inside the cylinder. On the under side of these wings are semicylindrical buoys, terminating in semi-conical extremities; these wings hang down when the buoy is suspended at the taffrail, but form outriggers when in the water. It is fitted with a staff and fuze for light, and being suspended by chain-slings passed under its keel, and terminating in one shackle, it is let go and fired in the usual way. A double-bladed oar, or paddle, by which it is propelled, is attached to a moveable rowlock, suffering it to have a perpendicular and a horizontal motion, but securing it to the buoy. A portable life-preserver, called the Nautilus, which has lately received the royal patent, is well entitled to notice; but we are aware, that of all people in the world, seamen are the most inattentive to the means of saving their own lives in emergency. The Nautilus is remarkable for compactness, simplicity, and buoyancy, besides which, it is always ready for service without having recourse to inflation by the lungs, an operation that most persons are disqualified from performing, for want of opportunity or presence of mind in the hour of danger. The whole apparatus folds into a neat box, compassing only 6 inches long, 41⁄2 deep, and 4 broad; when expanded, it becomes a circular swimmingbelt, of sufficient capacity to inspire confidence in the wearer. The belt itself consists of a silk or linen case, varying in length from 4 to 6 feet, and about 15 inches in circumference, which is rendered impervious to air and water by a thick lining of Foster's patent waterproof varnish. Within this is placed a flat spiral spring, light, strong, oval in form, and consisting of from twenty to thirty coils. These coils are united by four broad tapes running down the four sides from end to end, strongly sewn to every coil at intervals of two inches, and to each end of this spiral is rivetted a wooden cap, on which is screwed a spring valve, closing on a circular air-hole about an inch in diameter. This spiral spring having been extended through the case, the ends are brought over the wood cap, and an external plate of polished metal, with a lip about half-an-inch deep, is then attached, to protect and render the extremities of the belt air-tight. A broad flat spring-hook and staple are firmly fixed, one on each metal plate, whereby the belt is secured round the person, and an elastic band is passed round the neck to prevent the belt from slipping below the centre of gravity. By pressing the fore-finger on the valves at either end, and at the same time extending the arms, the belt can be inflated in a second, and it can be adjusted and fitted to the person in the brief space of five seconds. Nor should we omit to mention, that no puncture or number of punctures can render it ineffective, since the spiral spring prevents a collapse. When no longer required for use, the air is expelled by pressing the valves as before, and squeezing the two ends of the belt together. It is decidedly efficient. Amongst other inventions to neutralize the dangers of the deep, the Kamptulicon life-boat, invented and patented by Lieutenant G. Walter, of the Royal Marines, merits distinct mention, since it appears to answer every reasonable expectation. It is constructed on the model of Mr. Greathead's well-known boat, but from the nature of the materials employed in the construction, is beyond measure more buoyant, added to which there are various mechanical improvements in the build. The planking is produced by a curious combination of ground cork and caoutchouc, the latter being in its natural state; the product is elastic, light, tough, and non-absorbent, and yet of such consistence as to be capable of being freely worked with common carpenter's tools. The construction of the Kamptulicon is very ingeniously managed by placing this elastic substance on frame-work; the planks being rolled out to the length and breadth required, are passed diagonally from the gunwale on one side to the gunwale on the other, so that there are no butt-ends, the edges of the planks being glued together by a solution of India rubber. The first and second courses of planks are half-an-inch each in thickness; on the outside of the second course of diagonal planking is applied a coat of the solution, and a coat of canvas saturated with the same preparation, resembling mummy-cloth, over which is placed the third longitudinal planking, of the thickness of three-quarters of an inch, making in the whole interposed matter about one inch and seveneighths. Before being copper-fastened throughout, the temporary supports are replaced by alternate ribs of oak and prepared India rubber, so that should one of the oak timbers or ribs be broken by a violent blow, the caoutchouc rib would support the fractured rib, whilst it defies a similar casualty. It is fitted with six thwarts, double-banked for twelve rowers, and is steered by an oar at either end; when sailing, by a rudder. The first was launched on the 7th of November, 1844, with twenty-five persons on board, when she was found to draw only fifteen inches water; since then, sixteen more air-boxes have been added, some of them made so as to unship with ease, thereby forming separate lifepreservers. Such is the Kamptulicon life-boat, the obvious advantages of which are extreme lightness, impossibility of its sinking, faculty of rebounding from a wreck or rock without splintering, and its capability of closing over a shot-hole, so as quickly to resume its wonted form. It is a promising invention. Many kinds of signals have been proposed for cases of accidents at sea. Of these, the Telephone, or Marine Alarum, recently laid before the Lords of the Admiralty by Capt. J. N. Tayler, R.N., might not only be used to prevent the collision of ships, but also to direct the efforts exerted in favour of a drowning man. Its object is to convey sound-signals to vessels at sea or in harbour, the principle being one of musical accord, composed of four alternate notes, given out separately, played like those of the cornet, and prolonged whilst the finger is on the note. The instrument is formed of a chamber, into which air is compressed through three or more alternate pumps, which are moved by a corresponding number of cranks, set in motion by a winch; and of a set of piston-keys, with valved apertures, giving free egress to the compressed air, which, in its passage, acts upon a series of metallic springs, and produces the required sounds through four pipes or trumpets. Another method has been proposed of making sound subservient to life-preserving, which has been denominated the Eolian Sea-Signal. The object is to make the breakers on a dangerous coast serve as their own warning to sailors. The inventor proposes to have hollow buoys moored near the spot to be avoided, to which buoy-pipes, somewhat like organ-pipes, are to be affixed; metal tongues, on the principle of accordions, are to be fitted to the pipes, so that when the buoys are tossed up and down by the agitated breakers, the air may be forced through, and cause them to utter warning sounds, which would grow louder and louder as wind and sea increased, and the danger became more imminent. A very useful set of signals is now under practical introduction. In cases of men being washed overboard, it often happens that there is a heavy sea running, and the people in the boats are unable to observe the position of the drowning man; but from the ship, the man being distinctly seen, they can inform the boat's crew how to steer. Most of those who have served will remember some fine fellow lost on such an occasion, who might have been saved by the simple process of the rescue being directed from the ship. It is now adopted, that if the boat is going to the object, and ought to steer steady, the ship should show a white flag; if they ought to pull to port, a blue flag; and if to starboard, a red flag. By confining the directions to these three only, the whole matter will be so simplified that no misunderstanding can possibly occur. Another method of ensuring safety to ships and seamen on coasts where stone-works are impracticable, or too costly, is by means of floating breakwaters, of which several modifications have been recently brought forward. One, invented by Capt. Tayler, is moored off Hove, near Brighton, at the distance of a mile and a quarter from the shore, and nearly parallel to it about east and west; it is composed of stout timbers well braced together, and is arranged in three sections. Capt. |