At daylight on the morning of Sunday, the 30th day of May, being under easy sail off Whydah, with the wind off the land, our head being to the westward, a brigantine was observed on the lee bow. All sail was immediately made in chase; the stranger soon after doing the same, steering to the southwest. We at first, (probably in consequence of being inshore, and having the land wind stronger,) closed her so much as to rise the top of her hull; but the wind getting light as we drew off, and the stranger increasing her distance, I was induced, at half-past six, to despatch the cutter and gig armed, with Mr. Murray, mate, and Mr. Rees, second-master, under the orders of the former officer, to endeavour to come up with and detain the chase, (evidently a slaver,) before the setting in of the sea breeze.

At nine we observed from aloft the boats apparently pull alongside the stranger, her head being then inshore. Not long after, I had the satisfaction to see her bear up for the Dolphin, which had then made all sail to the light sea breeze, just setting in. Shortly after noon the brigantine passed under our lee, hailing, to say they had captured her, after a resistance of twenty minutes, with, I regret to say, the loss of two seamen killed, Mr. Murray, and one seaman severely, and two others slightly wounded.

On Mr. Murray's appearance on board, I found that, after about two hours and a half pull, they had come up with the chase, the gig being rather a-head; for which the vessel, having no colours flying, as well as the lightness of the wind would permit, bore down, opening a sharp and continued fire of musketry, which was returned; when both boats, after steadily reloading under their fire, cheered and boarded on each quarter. Great resistance was met with in the act of boarding; but a little after Messrs. Murray and Rees, with four or five men, had once got fairly on her deck, most of the crew running below, firing their muskets as they retreated. The bowman of the gig, William Allen, AB., was shot through the heart in the act of laying his oar in, and the bowman of the cutter, William Jacobs, AB., when getting up the side.

I have great pleasure in calling your attention to the conduct of Mr. Murray (mate of six years' standing), who was the first to board, though he was knocked back into the boat with the butt end of a musket, which broke his collar-bone, but immediately clambered up the side again, in the act of which his left hand was nearly severed at the wrist with the blow of a cutlass. Another cut was made at his head, which he fortunately parried, cutting the man down. This circumstance, together with Mr. Rees crossing over at the same moment and cutting down another of the party opposing the boarders on that side, was the occasion of her quick capture. I beg to observe, that this is the second affair of this description in which Mr. Rees, a most active and zealous officer, and who has been constantly away in the Dolphin's boats, has been engaged during his service on the coast, he having been one of the officers who landed at Corisco when that place was destroyed by Capt. Tucker, the senior officer.

I beg also particularly to mention the conduct of John Smith, AB., an old and first-rate seaman, who has served on the coast in her Majesty's ships Ariadne, Brisk, and Athol, five years and a half. He was the first man to board, with his officer, and was engaged with three of the crew at once; his right arm being disabled by the blow of a cutlass and badly fractured, he continued fighting with his left. His life was saved through Mr. Rees cutting down one of the three on him. Of the two seamen who were killed, William Allen and William Jacobs, AB, the first was a very steady well-behaved man, and supported his aged parents, who depended solely on him, giving all his advance, and allotting half his pay to them previous to his leaving England; the other was the smartest seaman in the vessel, and a very well-behaved man. He has left a wife, to whom he also allotted half of his pay.

I trust you will excuse my bringing to your notice the circumstance that the eutter of the Dolphin is but a twenty-foot boat, having at the time only nine persons, including the officer, in her, the gig only six; both boats were soddened from constant blockading, and pulled very heavy, and that the crews had had a

long harassing pull of two hours and a half, under a hot sun, without their breakfasts, after a squally rainy morning, during which they were constantly employed trimming, and making sail. The sweeps of the brigantine were rigged out, which prevented the party boarding by the chains, thereby rendering it much more difficult to get on board, or for more than one or two to get up her side at a time, she being as high out of the water as the Dolphin. Her crew fired well, the shot falling in every direction round and through the boats, and amongst the people, they themselves never showing above the gunwale of the brigantine.

The Firme, a beautiful vessel (179 tons), lately built at Baltimore, was direct from Bahia, and had only just made the land, not having had communication. The regular official papers, with the Brazilian flag, were found on board, proving her to be Brazilian property. There were ten passengers not down in the official list, two or three of whom were to remain at Whydah and other places, as slave agents. They were all I fancy using muskets; at all events they were handing powder up from the cabin, and to persons firing from the stern scuttles in the cabin. I secured them, with the crew, hand and foot, and kept them on bread and water for eight days, landing all at Accra (except those necessary for condemnation), not being able, through the heaviness of the surf, to land them to the eastward.

In consequence of the crew of the prize keeping always beneath the gunwale, and running below after our people got on board, only two were killed; one severely, and six slightly, wounded.

From the passengers we understood, that the captain and crew were determined not to be taken by English men-of war's boats, and had paid the greatest attention to their arms, &c. during the passage.

I have. &c.

To Captain Nurse, Senior Officer, &c.

(Signed)

ED. LITTEHALES,
Lieutenant Commanding.

Admiralty, November 2nd.

With reference to the above despatch, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have signed a commission, dated the 1st of October, promoting Mr. Augustus Charles Murray, mate, to the rank of lieu

tenant.

By a minute also dated this day, the Board have directed that Mr. John Fletcher Rees, second-master, be promoted to the rank of master, and that John Smith, able seaman, shall receive a boatswain's warrant, on their severally passing the required examination for their respective ranks.

NAUTICAL NOTICES.

HESSELO LIGHT, Kattegat.

Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, Oct. 9, 1841. The Board of Customs at Copenhagen has given notice that-a Lighthouse has been recently erected on the Island of Hesselo, in the Kattegat, and will be lighted in the present month. It will be a revolving light, every revolution occupying one minute in the following order. A very strong light will continue for 11 seconds, this will be succeeded by 19 seconds of a weaker light, the light then becomes altogether invisible for 11 seconds, but will again appear for 19 seconds previous to the return of the strong glare.

The light being 85 feet above the level of the sea will be visible from all parts of the horizon within the distance of 14 miles.

The building, which is 32 feet high, will be kept whitewashed and stands in latitude 56° 11′ 45′′ North, and longitude 11° 42′ 20′′ East of Greenwich.

GOTTENBURG LIGHTS.

Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, Oct. 26th, 1811.

The Board of Admiralty at Stockholm has given notice that

1. A light on the island of Winga will be exhibited on the 1st of November next, and will be continued every night throughout the year.

2. The lights on the islands Buskar and Botto will also be shown on the 1st of November next, but they will continue only between the 15th of August and the 15th of April, every year.

LIGHT ON ISLE PRÆSTOE, Norway.

Hydrographic Office, Admiralty, Oct. 26th, 1841. The Board of Admiralty of Stockholm has given notice that, a fixed light has been established on the island of Præstoe, in the Gulf of Folden, (Province of Drontheim) situated in latitude 64° 47′ 26′′ north, and longitude 11° 8' east.

The light is elevated thirty-three feet above the level of the sea, and is visible at the distance of ten miles.

It will be lighted every night between the 15th of August and the 30th of April.

Vessels bound to Næroe Sound, on leaving the Gulf of Folden, are to observe that the strongest glare of light is seen when it bears E.N.E. easterly, and that by steering for the light on this bearing they will avoid the dangers on each side of the channel to the south-west of Præstoe: and they are cautioned not to stand so far to the eastward as to lose sight of the light. As soon as they arrive at a quarter of a league from Præstoe, they should steer N.N.E. till it bears east, when a north-east course will carry them up to Næroe Sound. N.B. The above bearings are magnetic, the variation being 20° west.

BUOYS ON THE INDIA BANK, ARKLOW, AND GLASSGORMAN BANKS, East Coast of Ireland.

Ballast Office, Dublin, Oct. 14th, 1841: The Corporation for Preserving and Improving the Port of Dublin, hereby give notice that a buoy has been placed at the south end of the India Grounds Bank, and that a beacon has been attached to the buoy at the north end of the Arklow Bank.

Specification given of the position and appearance of the buoys, by Mr. Halpin, the Inspector of Light houses.

The buoy at the south end of the India Grounds Bank, is of black colour, having the words "India Grounds South," painted in white letters on its broad end; the buoy is moored in five fathoms at low water.

The buoy at the north end of the Arklow Bank is of black colour, with white zones or belts round its sides, the broad end painted black, having the words "Arklow Bank North," in white letters. A beacon of a conical form, coloured white, and borne on a triangular stand, has been affixed to the top of the buoy. It is moored in five fathoms at low water.

The Wicklow head lights kept in line lead between the India Grounds Bank and the Arklow Bank.

It is intended to place two beacons on the outer edge of the Arklow Bank, of which due notice will be given; its southern extremity is at present marked by the Arklow Bank Floating Light.

Westward of the Arklow Bank Floating Light, and off the coast of Wexford, is the Glassgorman Bank, on the north-east point of which there is a large buoy of black colour, having red stripes painted length-ways on the sides of the buoy ENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 12.-VOL FOR 1841.

58

and the words "Glassgorman Bank," in white letters on the broad end; it is moored in five fathoms at low water.

THE HAVRE ROCK, North of New Zeeland.

The following is important to navigators, not having yet found its way into the charts. It appears to have connection with a group of islands to the northeast of New Zeeland.

"Capt. Privat, of the whaler Havre, reports, that he has discovered, in the waters of New Zeeland, 5 leagues W.N.W. N. by compass, of the rock Esperance (middling variation 12° 10' N.E.) a dangerous rock. According to soundings of the captain, it is the extremity of a rock about the size of a ship with only three to four feet water on the top of it, whilst all around it there were from twelve to nineteen fathoms. This rock is situated at 31° 19' S. lat., and 178° 35′ E. long., according to two chronometers, which also agrees with the situation of the Rock Esperance. As this rock as yet never was laid down in any chart, the captain has given it the name "Havre."-Shipping Gazette.

LEGHORN LIGHT.

The Grand Ducal Government of Tuscany has given notice that the light of the Port of Leghorn (Livorno) in latitude 43° 32'41" North, and longitude 10° 17' 25" East, which has hitherto been a fixed Light, will appear from the 15th of next December as an Intermitting Light, alternately Red and White, each for an interval of forty seconds, and with intervening eclipses.

The height of the light, being 154 feet above the sea, will render it visible at the distance of 20 miles; and during the eclipses a faint light may be seen within the distance of 9 miles, the total darkness not being complete except beyond that distance.

LIGHT-HOU
HOUSES AND BEACONS.

Extract of a letter received at Lloyd's, from their agent at Sydney, Cape Breton, dated Sept, 27, 1841:

"I observe in some of the charts made up to 1839, that they have omitted to lay down the Light-house at Flat Point, at the entrance of this river, and instead of a beacon at the mouth of Louisbourg-harbour, a Light-house is laid down."

These are the kind of charts by which some ships are sailed; incorrect even to placing a beacon instead of a lighthouse, or a lighthouse instead of a beacon. Then the ships are lost and the charts are blamed. We advise their owners to consult the admiralty charts.

THE MAIDENS LIGHT-HOUSE IN A FOG.

To render our light-houses conspicuous at all times and under all circumstances of weather, is a very important object. In clear weather, by night or day, they are sufficiently visible, but in fog they are unhappily not so. There are conditions, however, which may assist in rendering them conspicuous, if due attention be paid to them. With few exceptions it has been a general custom to whitewash the buildings, or paint them white, thus rendering