NIGHT AND FOG SIGNALS FOR STEAM VESSELS.-Suggested by Lieut. J. H. Bellairs, R.N. ALL proposals for supplying distinguishing signals for steam vessels in the absence of any generally established law regarding them are entitled to mature consideration, and accordingly we insert the following of Lieut. Bellairs, which appeared some time ago in the United Service Journal. It is much to be regretted that vessels are still left to follow the law of custom only, or that of their own choice, and the case of the Phoenix and Britannia the other day, is an instance of the ill effect of this deficiency. The Phoenix had one kind of light, and the Britannia another; but that of the latter at her masthead, we are informed, was taken for a fisherman's light. MR. EDITOR. The accompanying attempt at what I trust may be adopted, and prove of effect in obviating the danger of collision, I humbly submit to you. It is by many Naval friends that I am advised and urged to address you. This plan has by many nautical men been highly spoken of, and I received a complimentary letter last February from Monsieur de Rosamel," Ministre de la Marine et des Colonies," from Paris. The frequent and serious accidents by collision occupied my attention, and I drew up the plan, which, from its simplicity of combinations, makes it more acceptable than any which possess great scientific merits. Allow me to remain, Sir, Your very obedient and faithful servant, Coast Guard Station, Craster, Northumberland, 21st November, 1837. It is immaterial by what means the lights are produced, so long as there is a sufficiency, my attention being directed only to the brilliancy of light to be obtained, and to see it universally employed. This experiment (one hitherto not even attempted) is of the greatest importance to life and property afloat, as the moment the lights of the steamer are seen, the course she is steering is at once ascertained; this, to all nautical men, is obvious, and they are the most capable of appre ciating its true value. Arrangement of the Lights. 1. A circular white light at the foremast-head, to be seen from every part of the horizon. 2. Before each paddle-box a light to be fitted, which shall be seen a-head, on the bow or on the beam, forming, with the masthead light, a combination of three lights, when the steamer is taken end-on or right a-head, and of only two lights, when seen in a bow view or on the beam. 3. A light on each quarter, or after-part of the paddle-boxes, which be seen right astern and on each quarter; forming, with the light, a combination of three lights, when the steamer is taken end-on or right astern, and of only two lights, when taken in a quarter view. 4. The starboard lights to be invariably of a bright red-thus the course the steamer is running will be clearly shown. Fog Signals to be made by Steam Vessels. 1. A plate of shrill-sounding bell-metal to be fitted on the fore part of the starboad paddle-box. 2. A gong on the larboard; to be struck by fly-hammers, which may be put in motion by the steam-engine. 3. In going down a river, the starboard bells to be kept ringing. 4. In going up a river, the larboard gong to be kept going. 5. Steam vessels compelled by fog to anchor, to keep both bells and gongs going. 6. In coasting, or in the Channel, if the ship's course deviates from the east of north, or south of east, the starboard bells to be kept ringing. 7. If the course is west of north, or south of west, the larboard gong to be kept going. These will be sufficiently distinct to warn vessels from approaching too near in foggy weather. I would strongly recommend the above system to the attention of owners and captains of steamers. Common panes of glass will not answer. I have tried thick hollow convex lenses, filled with coloured liquid. The forelights are each composed of two glasses, one to throw the light a-head, and the other a-beam; the two after lights have each one glass only. The form of the masthead light depends on the rig of the fore-mast; but the most simple is, to have two lights; each lamp to be semicircular, to be triced up on a double jack-stay; when up, the effect would be as if one lamp only were employed. All steamers ought to be steered amid-ships. The plank, at present styled the bridge, is where the captain should be: it is in a steamer as much his station as on the quarter-deck of a man-of-war. A platform or gangway should be strongly constructed; it would tend to strengthen the paddle-boxes. The tiller-chains to lead forward through copper rollers and brought to the wheel. A tiller to be always ready abaft. The comfort of the passengers would, by the absence of the wheel from the quarter deck, be promoted, the helmsman's attention uninterrupted, and the captain so close as to render his orders of immediate avail. [We understand that Admiral Rosamel has referred this proposal to a committee, the report of which we have not yet seen. But, we believe, the French are equally anxious as ourselves for a system of general adoption.] TRIAL OF THE STYX. THE Styx, a steam-frigate of the second class, another of the vessels fitted with Messrs. Seawards' Gorgon engines, proceeded down the river a short time since for the purpose of trial, and to test the disconnecting and reconnecting process, the invention of those gentlemen so celebrated for their improvements on the marine steam engine. A large company of upwards of 150 persons, including many distinguished naval officers, and some of the most scientific men of the day, attended the invitation of Messrs. Seaward, to witness this interesting experiment, the success of which is of such vast importance to steamers making long voyages, but particularly to armed vessels destined for cruizing or attending fleets, and taking every advantage of their sails to save fuel. The motion of the vessel appeared to offer not the least impediment to the process, which was performed off Gravesend, to the satisfaction of the company, the engine being detached from the starboard paddlewheel in the short space of two minutes and a half, and connected again in the same time, after the interim of a quarter of an hour, during which the power of the two engines was applied to the larboard wheel. Amongst the naval officers present, we noticed Admiral Sir Philip Durham, Sir William Symonds, surveyor of the navy, Captains Phipps Hornby, Lord Prudhoe, Jones, Smith, Evans, &c. At three o'clock the guests were invited by Messrs. Seaward to partake of an elegant dejeuner; after which several loyal and patriotic toasts were received with enthusiasm, the prelude and responses to which gave opportunity to the speakers to do justice to the Board of Admiralty, for the high state of efficiency which the navy has at present attained, and also to Sir William Symonds for the great improvements he has effected in naval construction, not only as regards steam-vessels, but every class, from the first-rate to the packet-boat. Sir Philip Durham declared, in the course of his speech, that in the long experience of sixty-five years, he did not recollect a time when the fleet could be considered in such an efficient condition as at the present moment, and confessed his astonishment at what had been accomplished with respect to the increase of our force within these two years. We were gratified to perceive the estimation in which the many important improvements connected with steam navigation accomplished by Messrs. Seaward were held, by members of the naval profession, as well as the gentlemen present interested in shipping. As these im provements are much greater than is generally supposed, and independent of the disconnecting process, (itself a matter of no small consequence under certain circumstances,) we are but doing justice to the talent and indefatigable industry of Messrs. Seaward, in attempting a hasty description, the data of which our readers may receive as correct, and draw their deductions accordingly. The following is a comparative scale of the capability of engines by different makers; and while they show the great superiority of Messrs. Seaward's productions, it is but justice to the other eminent engineers to state, that they are also engaged in effecting improvements on this very important point. The three essentials in a steam-vessel of war are, 1st, capacity; 2d, power of locomotion for the greatest distance; 3d, security of the boilers and vital part of the machinery from destruction by an enemy's missiles. These items have never before been calculated and published, and they prove the great superiority of Messrs. Seaward's engines, principally owing to their compactness in occupying less space, as appears by the length of engine-room, the importance of which the reader will appreciate, when he is informed that every foot in length so gained affords stowage for fourteen tons of coals in vessels of the above class. The other advantages are, that the boilers and cylinders are below water, protected on each side by the coal, impenetrable to shot; and that the portion of the machinery above is of wrought iron, and therefore not so liable to damage either from shot, or from concussion, striking the ground or a vessel, as would be the case with cast metal. We give these hasty data, the importance of which our naval readers will readily appreciate; and we cannot conclude without congratulating the service in possessing the devoted ability of such talented engineers as Messrs. Seaward, who we are glad to perceive are engaged in completing two other vessels of the same class as the Styx. We may sum up their improvements as follows:-engines of 25 per cent. less weight, but of equal rated power to any other; engine-room 20 per cent. less length, affording this additional room for fuel; and last, but not least, 20 per cent. less cost; while the vessels can steam nearly double the distance of those fitted with other engines.-Naval and Military Gazette. LAW DECISIONS. THE ARDWELL.-A suit for salvage, instituted by Lieutenant Percival, the commander, officers, and crew, consisting of 33 men of her Majesty's revenue-cutter Badger, against the Ardwell, found derelict in the north seas on the 26th of February last. The vessel had been sold, and the net proceeds amounted to 29717. 4s. 3d. Dr. Lushington, would not give a moiety. The services were not long, nor the labour very severe, 1251. given as a fair distribution. THE PANDA.*-A motion to decree to Captain Trotter, and the officers and crew of H. M. S. Curlew, certain bounties alleged to have accrued to them for the seizure of a number of pirates in the year 1833. The case to stand over, in order that the crown officers might have an opportunity of inspecting the papers. See Nautical Magazine for 1837, p. 1. t THE ELIZA FRANCIS.-In this case a bottomry bond had been given to Messrs. Montefiore and Co., of Port Jackson, for the sum of 1,055l. 78. 2d. A primum decretum was prayed for, which the court granted. THE HARMONY.-A commission of sale having been taken out against this vessel, a sail-maker, who had possession of the sails, and on which he had a lien of 1811. 178. 83d., returned them to the vessel under a monition from the court, and now moved that the amount should be paid out of the proceeds of the ship. The court decreed payment, and also the costs. THE CHOICE. This was an action entered by Messrs. Bell and Co., the prior mortgagers of a quarter of this vessel, against Messrs Smith and Co., the subsequent mortgagers of the other three-fourths, to recover the amount of their claim. The court dismissed the suit, and condemned Messrs. Bell and Co., in the costs. For judgment see Shipping Gazette, 7th July. THE SCOTLAND.-A suit for salvage by the steam-vessels President, Albert, and Hero, for services rendered on the 16th or 17th of November last, to the Scotland, when on the Jordan Flats, near Liverpool. A tender had been made of 2507. and rejected. The court awarded 4001. See Shipping Gazette, 7th July. WESTMINSTER. This was a case of alleged salvage services rendered to this vessel, off Margate, from the 23d of November to the 1st of December last. The court awarded 1,500l. MARIE. This was a case of salvage effected on the 6th of February last by three smacks-the Tiger, Rosabella, and Abeona; and the yawl Whim, off Harwich. A tender had been made of 501. The court considered that sum insufficient, and awarded 80%, with costs. THE CASTOR.-Salvage-A claim for remuneration for salvage services rendered by two fishing luggers, the Agenora and the Black Joke, to the brig Castor, which, on a voyage from Cuba to Swansea, with copper, having met with boisterous weather at the commencement, in January, reached the English coast in March, and was assisted by the two luggers (her own crew being in a state of exhaustion) into Plymouth. The value of the property was 5,300l. Dr. Lushington, was of opinion, that although the service which lasted 11 hours, was not attended with any danger, and did not require severe labour or extraordinary skill, the vessel stood in need of the assistance afforded her. If the salvors asked 1,0007., it was an exorbitant demand, and he thought if he gave 2007. it was as much as they were entitled to. THE HELEN MARIA.-Salvage-An appeal from the award of the magistrates of Yarmouth, who had alloted a reward of 801. to a steam-tug for towing the vessel (which had, through carelessness, run foul of the Newark light vessel, and thereby lost her mainmast) into Yarmouth-harbour. The salvors contended that, considering the value of the property (3,0507.), and that the magistrates had awarded the sanie sum to some boatmen from Winterton, who could render no effectual service, the sum of 80l. was inadequate. Dr. Lushington was of opinion, that the magistrates had come to a just conclusion, and that there was no reason for the appeal. He affirmed the award with costs. THE MARY ANN.-salvage.- A claim on behalf of the Elizabeth, a small el of 28 tons, for remuneration for assistance rendered to the smack Mary from Shoreham, with a cargo of flints, which, in severe weather, she atpted to bring into Teignmouth, but the smack ran upon the Sprat-sand entrance, and sustained damages that reduced the value of the pro1. A tender of 5. had been made, but the owners contended |