the long boat not succeeding, the vessel would still be in progress; for the cost and equipment I pledged the British government. About 5 P.M. the great man took his leave, accepting six time-glasses as a present, which these good people seemed to prize much, giving an assurance we should be supplied with provisions and a vessel, with every thing necessary to our comfort, but that we could not be allowed to leave the boundary of our abode, except to the wreck. A party of islanders and the crew employed at the wreck, recovered some of the ship's sails and provisions; and made some progress in making the long boat's sails. I omitted to mention yesterday that the mandarin who this day visited us, presented us with one large hog, twelve fowls, and a quantity of eggs. At Saturday 22nd, A.M.-Strong easterly winds and fine weather. daylight this morning the hands were turned up, and ten men volunteered to go in the launch with Mr. Field, chief officer. A party of the islanders and most of the crew employed at the wreck getting out stores and water casks, and others fitting out the launch with masts and sails. Noon, bar. 29.90, ther. 84; latter part strong breezes with squalls and rain from north-east. Sunday 23rd, A.M.-Light northerly airs and fine weather; 10h. 30m. performed Divine service, and returned thanks to Almighty God for our safe deliverance,-present, officers, passengers, and seacunnies. Noon, bar. 29-80, ther. 84; strong gusts from north-east and passing clouds; P.M. latter part strong winds N.N.E. to north-east, and passing showers. Monday 24th, A.M.-Moderate north-easterly wind and fine weather: long boat's crew and chief officer fitting out the boat; second officer and a party on board the wreck, and a party of natives endeavouring to break up the wreck. Noon, bar. 29.72, ther. 84; fresh northerly winds; observed the starboard bulwarks and foremast of the wreck cut away. Midnight, light northerly winds and cloudy. Tuesday 25th, A.M.-First part strong northerly winds and cloudy; chief officer and long boat's crew repairing and fitting out the launch; third officer and part of the crew employed on board the wreck. A party of the Loo-choo people breaking up the wreck. Noon, bar. 29-70, ther. 84-30; light winds and cloudy with rain. P.M. latter part light northerly winds and cloudy. Wednesday 26th, A.M.-Fresh N.N.W. winds and fine weather. A large party of islanders breaking up the wreck; second and third officer, with a party of crew getting the powder out of the magazine and landed. A party of islanders building a magazine of loose stores on the beach, under my superintendence, about one mile from our residence. Noon, bar. 29-70, ther. 87; strong breezes from N.N.W. and fine weather, landed the powder, seventeen barrels, and one keg of flints, and stowed it in the magazine, all of which appeared to me to be damaged. Long boat ready for sea, but consider it prudent for her not to sail until after the change of the moon, which with an eclipse of the sun takes place to-morrow. T ursday 27th, A.M.-Strong north-west winds and cloudy weather: islanders breaking up the ship, and a party of crew with the officers endeavouring to save ship's stores from the wreck. Noon, bar. 29-68, ther. 87; first part light north-west winds and fine; P.M. latter part light northerly winds and fine weather. A quantity of deck planks, &c. landed from the wreck by the islanders. Friday 23th, A.M.-Light north-west winds and fine weather. A large party of islanders breaking up the wreck. Crew and officers drying and stowing away the stores. 8h. bar. 29-70, ther. 71. Noon, bar. 29-70, ther. 87; light westerly winds and cloudy; latter part light N.N.W. winds and cloudy. Saturday 29th, A.M.-Dark threatening appearances and light N.N.W. winds; long boat all ready to sail, but consider it prudent to detain her another day, in consequence of the threatening appearance of the weather. 8h. received an invitation from the principal man Tung-chung-faw, to accompany him to the place where the junk was building to convey us to Singapore. Accompanied my friend, taking with me Mr. Field, the chief officer, and proceeding in palanquins of the country, but rather inconvenient being small; we were obliged to sit cross-legged on our hams, as the natives generally travel in India. In our retinue were several persons of the better class of natives, on ponies. Our route lay near the sea coast and rather rough, with a continuation of hill and dale. Had a good view of the Markerima and Kirema Islands, which bore by a Chinese compass, from the entrance of the river where the junk was building W.b.S.S. Each palanquin was carried by four men, by a yoke lashed across the pole. Kept on at a round rate for about two hours and a quarter,-supposed distance eight to nine miles; crossed a bridge built of stone, with three arches, and about twenty feet broad over a considerable river, on the banks of which the junk was building. After crossing the bridge, our route lay towards the sea, over a point of land on the north bank about two miles, we arrived at the place where the junk was building. At the mouth of the river is a small bay, in which were three junks of moderate size at anchor. The entrance from the sea is formed by two high headlands, a reef extending out from each about half a mile; visited one of the junks which came in during our visit. She measured over all sixty feet, and keel forty feet. On the north bank was laid the keel of a new vessel, intended for us, and a great number of workmen employed in preparing timbers and planks, which had been brought from the wreck, to be used in the construction of the vessel. The keel of the new vessel as stated, measured sixty-five feet, had three scarfs about twenty inches deep by eighteen inches broad. I intimated our wish to build the vessel on an English model, and to be allowed to superintend the work with the two Chinese carpenters belonging to our late ship. This they would not agree to. No deviation from their own method of building would be allowed, but requested that we would prepare the sails out of those saved from the wreck. The country through which we passed consisted of hills and dales, with very little level land, but all in a high state of cultivation. The plough and hoe, with a small bill-hook, appear to be their principal tools used in agriculture. All the cattle we saw were yoked to the plough; they are larger than the Bengal and generally black. Saw large fields of sweet potato, several patches of sugar cane and millet; the former appeared healthy but very small. The soil generally a reddish clay and sand, and in many parts very rocky. Passed several small villages but saw few inhabitants, and very few females except children, and all of the lower order. It is difficult to distinguish the females from the males, their dress being the same. About sunset returned to our camp. OBSERVATIONS (To be concluded in our next.) ON THE NAVIGATION OF THE BALTIC, AND GULF OF FINLAND, TO PETERSBURGH, with the customs of the trade.--By the Commander of a British Merchant Ship. (Concluded from page 224.) In laying the concluding part of this paper before our readers, there are one or two subjects in it on which we may add a comment. It would, in the first place, be desirable that the light-vessel were stationed off the Knobben rock, alluded to in p. 18, as it is evident that the light of Anholt, seven miles off, cannot be seen from a ship in its vicinity in thick weather. The passing trade would benefit much by such a measure, and we recommend the advice of our correspondent to their attention, not doubting that the Danish authorities would readily attend to any suggestion which has for its object the improvement of navigation. The next subject is, the proposal of our correspondent for stationing a beacon, or light vessel, at the extremity of the reef off Falsterbo Point, as "the lighthouse on the Point is so low as to prevent its being seen at a sufficient distance;" and "there is nothing to indicate the vessel's approach to the danger except judging of the distance from the land." This proposal is no less important than the former, and we trust will meet with attention from the Swedish authorities, who cannot be otherwise than ready to do their part in taking any measures that "are indispensably necessary to the safe navigation of the Baltic.' With respect to the Baltic lights generally, we are glad to hear so good a character of the Russian lights, and wish we could say as much for the Swedish. We are satisfied, however, in the present day when improvement in almost everything around us is making such rapid strides, that the complaint of our correspondent, that the Swedish lights "are only to be seen at a very short distance," and that "neither must any one trust to seeing any of the Swedish lights very clearly, or at any distance, as they are only of a second rate quality' (!) so much improvement we say is spreading everywhere, that, we are quite sure, no apathy on the part of the Swedish authorities can prevent it from extending to the Swedish lights. Leaving, however, these observations to the attention of our seamen with the pecular regulation of the Baltic lights, generally not being lighted in the summer months, we may point out the judicious remarks of our correspondent on shaping courses in narrow seas, recommending them to exert their own good sense with a chart and a pair of parallel rulers rather than follow implicitly the courses and distances given in the books of directions, and thereby run the risk of losing their ships. In fact, the whole remarks of our correspondent are worthy of special attention-they are particular useful to those who have not before made a voyage up the Baltic, and not only for his remarks on the navigation in general, but for those on the proceedings at Petersburgh with the authorities and the information concerning cargo, our shipmasters will be very much obliged to him.-[ED. N.M.] THE ship being ready to receive cargo, a note will be sent on board by the agent, stating that a lighter is arrived, her number, &c.; the sea. master, or mate, will then proceed to the floating custom-house, and request the cocket for the goods, (called a yerlick), which being first entered in a book, and that book signed by the receiver, is delivered. The craft may then go alongside the vessel, and when ready to discharge, an officer must be procured from the floating custom-house to take off the seals from the lighter's hatchway. Should the cargo come down in a barge, or cutter, (as they are called), the yerlick will be procured at the same place as before named, and on being taken to the officer stationed at the rooms, between the vessel and the landing-place, will be signed by him; the craft may then proceed alongside and discharge without further ceremony. A few days before the vessel is loaded, request the agent to procure the outward pass from Petersburgh. Without this precaution the vessel may be delayed when otherwise ready for When loaded, take all the yerlicks for the cargo, as well as the provision yerlick, (which will have been procured on arrival, from the agent's clerk, to enable the vessel's stores to be taken on board), and proceed to the floating custom-house. Then a manifest will be made out, which, when ready, will be carried to the agent's office. Bills of lading must now be signed, and the cash account settled with the cashkeeper, which being done, the pass and manifest will be carried to the clerk at the custom-house, when the trifling duties exacted on the ship's stores being paid, in about two hours the pass will be delivered. It must then be taken to the floating custom-house where its contents are entered in a book, thence taken to the inner guard-ship, and signed by the captain of the port, which being done, the vessel is at liberty to haul out and proceed to sea. On approaching the outer guard-ship care must be taken to heave to in time; when the pass is signed by the officer, sail may be made for Elsinore, where on arrival, the pass, bills of lading, &c., being taken on shore, the vessel will soon be cleared for her destination. In stowing cargoes it is customary to employ Russian labourers, they can be hired cheap. The stowage of hemp and flax, however, becomes expensive, as the price paid for the use of screws is high, and they occupy much time. Tallow and other articles are less expensive in stowage, and occupy less time. A vessel of 250 tons register, which loaded 340 casks of tallow, and 120 tons of hemp, cost about £25 for screws and labourers. The following comparative rates and other memoranda connected with the trade, I give on the authority of the Hull trader already mentioned. As he is a well informed man of great experience and observation, I am confident they may be relied upon, although in some instances they may vary from the printed rates. Bristles. It is customary to receive 2s. 6d. to 5s. per ton more for bristles than tallow; if the latter is at £1 10s. it is the same as bristles, at £1 12s. 6d., as five casks of tallow and three casks of bristles occupy the same room. = 72 feet. Deals and Battens. One standard dozen Ships of 200 tons register take 34 std. dozen per ton register, o.M.; 300, 4 to 4.; 400, 4 to 4; 500, 4 to 5. Junk. Ships take of good tarred junk, 10 per cent. more than their register tonnage. Bones. Ships of good size will take 10 to 15 per cent. more than their register tonnage. A ship of 270 tons took 320 tons of bones, and 80 tons of iron. Rips and Hides pay the same frieght as clean hemp per ton of 44 ps. Rips are however preferable frieght, as at £2 10s. per ton for clean hemp, the ship gains about 3s. per ton on taking rips. Linseed and Grain.-Ships will take of linseed 10 to 10 chetworts; wheat hard 9 to 94, and soft 10 ditto; rye 10 to 10 ditto; oats 12 to 124 ditto; barley 11 to 11 ditto, per ton register. The ship will gain 6 to 8 per cent. on the weight of the grain, when allowed to leave out the empty mat bags in which it is brought alongside. A chetwort is 53 Winchester bushels. Flax. Twenty-eight bobbins 9 heads, or 46 bobbins 6 heads, equal one ton weight. Tallow. A tier is estimated at 24 feet in depth. Three casks to a ton register is the usual calculation for ships of 250 tons and upwards, and some ships of 200 tons take 3 casks to a ton register. A ship will turn out 2 tons of tallow, beyond 24 casks per ton, gross weight, for each 100 casks; 100 casks tallow, equal 42 tons gross. For example a ship of 200 tons register, at 3 casks equal 600 casks, equal 252 tons. 600 casks at 2 casks, per ton equal 240 tons 66 252 66 Hemp and Flax. Ships of 70 tons to 100 tons stow one-third less than their regular tonnage; 100 to 150 tons, three-tenths; 150 to 200 tons, one-fourth; and 200 to 300 tons, one-fifth; but many full-built vessels, especially Scotch, will take their register tonnage of clean hemp, and flax. Flax as cargo is more profitable than hemp by 8 or 10 per Instead of the proportions of printed rates, which are per outshot one-eighth more than clean hemp, it should be one-twelfth only; and half clean hemp one-fourth more than clean, it should be one-sixth only. cent. Potashes usually pay the same freight as tallow; but they are worse for a ship by about 5 per cent. If tallow be 30s., potashes should be 31s. 6d. per ton. Freights. If tallow 30s. clean hemp should be 50s. to 52s. 6d. per ton; linseed 4s. 6d., wheat 5s., rye 4s., oats 3s. 9d. per quarter, and deals 80s. per standard hundred these are fair comparative rates for shipowners, taking the stowers' charges into calculation. NB. All the regular tons here alluded to, are by the old measurement, 5 casks tallow, 3 casks bristles, 100 casks tallow, or 27 to 28 tons clean hemp, or 273 to 30 tons clean flax, occupy the same room. Sixty cubic feet of tallow in measurement, and 85 feet clean hemp in bundles, equal a ton weight. One ton of flax codilla occupies 13 to 13 of a ton register; iron, hemp, flax, potashes, tallow, oil, &c. are calculated at 63 ps. per ton; and bristles, hides, wax, &c. at 44 ps. per ton. Provisions and stores for ships' use may be procured cheaper in Cronstadt, thau in England, such as beef, bread, canvas, cordage, spars, &c. All these articles may be procured of good quality, except the first; and it should be remembered, that beef cured in the summer season will not |