tender, from Deptford.-8th. Rapid, 10, came into harbour to be paid off, and will be shortly recommissioned. Arrived a Danish frigate, 36 guns, and a Norwegian corvette, 22 guns.-10th Heroine, 6, Lieut.-Com. H. R. Foote, was paid off this day, and is ordered to be surveyed, and, if found fit will be recommissioned.

10th. Sailed Netley and Duck, tenders, the former for Portsmouth and the latter for Pembroke.-11th. Arrived Cyclops, steam-frigate, Capt. W. F. Lapidge, and came into harbour from Cork, and was hauled into dock the 17th, to have her defects made good. Heroine, 6, was hauled into dock, has been new coppered, and hauled out again on the 17th. Bloodhound, steam-vessel, was hauled out of dock, having been fitted with Dowton's pumps. Sailed Galatea, Danish frigate, for the East Indies and China.-12th. Arrived Dee, steam-transport, from Dover, with the depôt of the 14th regiment, which was disembarked at the royal victualling yard, and marched into barracks in Plymouth citadel. On the 16th the depot of the 43rd regiment embarked on board the Dee, and she sailed with them for Dover. 15th. Went out of harbour and sailed for Falmouth, the Swift, packet, where she will wait to take the next packet to Brazils. Jackall, steam-vessel, went out of harbour, and took a trip to try her engines, and returned to the Sound, where she anchored.-16th. Sailed the Ornen, 22, Danish corvette, for Norway. -17th. Rapid, 10, was paid off into ordinary this day. Dragon, steam frigate, is to be launched from Pembroke dockyard this day, and is ordered to this port. Government has purchased Kinterbury estate, near Devonport, for 23,000l. on which a new powder magazine is to be erected.

In Harbour-Caledonia, Calliope, Cyclops, Confiance.
In the Sound-Jackall.

Milford Haven, 17th July, 1845. MR. EDITOR,-The right wing of the 41st Regt. embarked at Hobbs Point on the 18th ultimo on board the Dee, steam troop-ship, for Dublin. The new steamer, Inflexible, was undocked at Pembroke the same day.21st. The Inflexible, in charge of that active officer, Mr. Henderson, Assist. Master-Attendant of Plymouth Yard, left for Liverpool, to take on board her machinery. Sailed also the Devon lighter for the same port.-23rd. Colonel Owen, Deputy Adjutant-General of Marines, inspected the detachment at Pembroke, under command of Colonel Pilcher. The Inspecting Officer expressed himself highly gratified with the steadiness with which the detachment went through the evolutions on the field, as well as with the barrack arrangements generally. Since the inspection, Lieut. Jackson has been appointed Adjutant of the detachment, and a Serjeant-Major has been added to the force. These are preparatory to taking charge of the new Marine barracks, which are all but completed. It is to be hoped the authorities will hasten that consummation, devoutly to be wished, before the winter sets in; for the present quarters, in the old Dragon, 74, have become so deplorably leaky, cold, and comfortless, that the healths of both men and officers must suffer, if compelled to remain there another season.-July 6th. The Devon lighter returned from Liverpool, with Mr. Henderson and the party of seamen who navigated the Inflexible to Liverpool. They will remain to rig and convey the Dragon to London.-8th. Arrived the Hamoaze lighter, from Plymouth, with stores. Same day the Saturn hulk was docked, to have her bottom examined, &c.-10th. Sailed the Hamoaze lighter.-13th. Arrived the Camel and Drake, dockyard lighters, with naval stores.-15th. Sailed the Devon, naval lighter. Commander Dunne has succeeded Commander W. Higgs as Agent for mail steam-packets at Pembroke. In consequence of some information of a most private nature, every possible precaution has been taken for the prevention of fire at Pembroke Yard. The men and officers of the steam-packets, as well as those of

the Firefly, lying off the arsenal, are ordered to be on board every night, and a strict watch to be constantly kept. The police of the establishment have been directed to be doubly vigilant, and the Marine guard-scarcely sufficiently efficient from the want of numbers-to be more frequently visited by patroles, both day and night. The resident officers of the dockyard are not permitted to sleep out of the establishment without specific liberty from the Superintendent; and, in fact, every method adopted which human foresight can suggest. The Dragon, a first-class steam-frigate, is to be launched to-morrow afternoon. Workmen this day commenced forming the north-eastern glacis of the new barracks, so as to lay open the approach

to the town in that direction.

REVIEWS AND CRITICAL NOTICES.

AN INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE AND COURSE OF STORMS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN, SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR, &c. BY ALEXANDER THOM, Surgeon, 80TH REGIMENT. Smith, Elder, and Co. 8vo.

1845.

Mr Thom has addressed this work principally to Officers navigating vessels in the Indian Ocean; but it will be highly useful to all those who are studying the science of storms, since it forms a very important addendum to the theories and facts already before us. It is considered that, perhaps, there is no subject in the whole range of natural knowledge of more universal interest than that of atmospheric fluctuations, since it comes home to every man's views and occupations, let his calling be what it may ; but to seamen it is a vital inquiry, and to them the sensible opinions of philosophical investigations of rotating storms, their formation, their paths, progression, centrifugal action, and focus, cannot be too strongly recommended for perusal and study. Indeed, an acquaintance with the origin of these visitations, and with the best established means of avoiding them, ought to be a sine qua non addition to the praxis of every future tropical navigator.

Mr. Thom espouses the Redfield and Reid theory, with its especial application and modification for the Southern Indian Ocean, having collected most of his materials during a residence on that jewel of an island, Mauritius; the which, notwithstanding its charms, is, in Hakluytian language, as “hellish a place" for storms as the "vexed Bermuthes." But though he is ready to break a lance with Messrs. Hare and Espy for their heresies, he is ready to admit of electricity as a pervading agent in atmospheric commotions; and, indeed, the fact seems so obvious, that we cannot but suppose that ere now Mr. Redfield is of the same opinion.

Among other matter brought forward by Mr. Thom, the details of what he designates the Rodriguez storm of 1843, will be read with interest and advantage, since they are both new and important. In tracing out this event, he repudiates the conjectural, and confines himself as strictly as possible to the simple ascertained facts of the case, in order to detail the daily conditions of its progress, the extent of its influence, and other points of its true character. The incident was truly favourable for the acquisition of knowledge, since there were fourteen or fifteen different vessels more or less entangled in the stormy circuit of the hurricane, either sailing on its skirts, crossing its path, following in its wake, rushing into the very focus, or scudding round the vortex till rendered unmanageable by the fury of the wind and sea. Besides obtaining possession of extracts from the logs of these ships, Mr. Thom gathered as much verbal and other collateral information as he could, and, however meagre some of the details appear to be, there is substantial evidence for carrying out his views and conclusions. That the several logs were not more accurately kept during such a tropical storm, is

not at all surprising: "The unceasing rain descends in torrents," says the author, "and mixing with the upborne spray, driven along by the fury of the tempest, realizes the idea of seas contending with the skies. The noise of the wind and waves shuts out every other sound, and sails are blown out of the bolt-ropes, and masts carried away without being heard. Imagine a tumultuous sea breaking on board a vessel without masts, and her crew up to the waist in water while working at the pumps, and the night closing in without the means of having light or fire during the long and dreary hours of darkness, and some faint idea may be entertained of the situation of the vessels in the Rodriguez storm. On the night of the 7th of April, thunder and lightning set in, the vivid flashes, from time to time, disclosing to the wretched crews the scene which surrounded their almost foundering craft in all its fearful reality: yet even this was, perhaps, comparative comfort to the awful obscurity which succeeded." Under circumstances like these, surely none but a well-fed government clerk would expect calligraphical graces in the official record.

On conviction of its utility, we therefore recommend Mr. Thom's book to the attention of navigators, as well as to every investigator of Meteorology. No scientific library can be complete without it.

MILITARY HISTORY OF THE IRISH NATION, COMPRISING A MEMOIR OF THE IRISH BRIGADE IN THE SERVICE OF FRANCE; WITH AN APPENDIX OF OFFICIAL PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE BRIGADE, FROM THE ARCHIVES AT PARIS. BY THE LATE MATTHEW O'CONOR, ESQ., BARRISTER-AT-LAW. In that genuine spirit of nationality which can never be deemed reprehensible but when carried to an undue excess, Mr. O'Conor is a warm and uncompromising panegyrist of the general ability, fine military tact, and dauntless bravery of his countrymen. Of the gallant bearing of the Irish, no rational person ever entertains a doubt: they have won and worn their laurels in every quarter of the world: that they may long continue so to win, and so to wear them, in the service of their country and of their Sovereign, is the heart's wish of the English, no less than of the Irish themselves. All that we complain of in Mr. O'Conor's book is the overweening praise which its author awards, and endeavours to exact, with respect to the Irish soldier, in preference to, and in exclusion of, the soldier of every other nation under heaven. While admitting the value of their services, and giving them full credit for their bravery, we laugh at the idle vaunts of the Irish, that, without their aid, England could not exist as a nation. Irish soldiers never yet found themselves superior, if equal to, a corresponding number of English. And the Irishman ought ever to bear in mind, that the English have more than once beaten the French, and conquered France, without the aid of a single Irish sword-that the battles of Agincourt, Crecy, Poictiers, &c., were fought and won when there was not an Irish soldier in the English Army. Moreover, we are not at all disposed to accord the same praise, either in degree or kind, to the mercenary as to the man who fights for his King and country, his altar and hearth. And the chief services of the Irish Brigade were performed for France and Spain, and against William III., in favour of James II.; while, says Mr. O'Conor, "the Pensylvanian line, Washington's surest troops during the war of American independence, were five-sixths Irish; and in a native of Donegal the young republic found her second General." To the Irish reader, however, Mr. O'Conor's book will be found very acceptable; and even by others it may, on some points, be consulted with advantage.

RECOLLECTIONS OF FOUR YEARS' SERVICE IN THE EAST, WITH H.M.'s 40TH REGIMENT. BY CAPTAIN J. M. B. NEILL, 40TH REGIMENT.

We welcome most heartily another excellent volume of military reminiscences, in which ample justice is done to the operations of the Army in Scinde, in the years 1839 to 1841, and the operations of the Candahar division of General Nott's "Avenging Army of Affghanistan," in 1841 and 1842. Captain Neill's narrative, though it scarcely brings forward any facts relating to the war with which we were not previously acquainted, is, from its graphic descriptions and many anecdotes, calculated to interest all readers, and must be considered as a valuable addition to the military records of our times.

THE FORTUNES OF FRANK FAIRFIELD. BY M. H. Barker, Esq., THE "OLD SAILOR."

A very charming and most attractive little volume, intended for the special delectation of young sailors, from the gifted pen of one of the Navy's best friends, the "Old Sailor." A clever story, with a multitude of graphic illustrations, carries the Mid through all the gradations of service, till he attains his flag and a baronetcy—marries, and settles down happily for life. Beyond mere amusement, Mr. Barker's moral, expressed or implied, is always excellent.

EVENINGS IN THE PYRENEES; COMPRISING THE STORIES OF WANDERERS FROM MANY LANDS. EDITED AND ARRANGED BY SELINA BUNBURY, AUTHOR OF RIDES IN THE PYRENEES," &c.

66

We rarely notice publications that fall not, directly or indirectly, within the range of one or other of the "Services;" but chance having thrown this unpretending yet beautiful volume in our way, we are tempted to say a word in its favour. For "edited and arranged," Miss Bunbury ought to have said "written," each of the seven or eight "stories" bearing indubitable marks of originality in composition; and, though varied in style and character, they are all evidently from the same elegant and accomplished pen. The book is handsomely and profusely illustrated by means of the new art of glyphography.

TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

To "A. B."-We know of no other accounts than what appeared in the Journals of the time.

The communication signed "A Swiss" arrived too late for this month: it shall have attention.

EDITOR'S PORTFOLIO;

OR

NAVAL AND MILITARY REGISTER.

THE petition from "The Undecorated Officers of the late War," presented to the House of Lords, on Monday night, the 21st July, by the Duke of Richmond, although ineffectual for the present, has placed the question itself on a firmer footing than it has yet attained. The manly advocacy of the Duke of Richmond, himself a tried and thorough soldier, though "undecorated" in the sense of the Petition, elicited, it is true, opposition from a personage, whose all-powerful influence is exerted to crush-not to promote-the humble pretensions of a neglected class of his devoted followers; but the arguments employed, however elaborate, comprise not one valid reason for the exclusion complained of, and go far even to confirm the justice of the claim. Well might the Duke of Richmond exclaim in astonishment, well might the House participate his amazement, and join in the exclamation— "What! only suffer a disaster, then rally, and you will receive decorations to revive your spirits!" and such was virtually the substance of a plea, meant to be convincing, why one army should be profusely, almost indiscriminately, rewarded, while the claims of another, which had marched from triumph to triumph, are spurned. But this is deplorable, and moves us more to sorrow than to anger.

What, again, can be offered in extenuation of the course taken by another military Peer in this discussion? We can hardly trust ourselves at present to dweli on the hostile exhibition made by the party in question on an occasion of so much interest to old brothers in arms, by whose co-operation he has himself been so gorged with honours as to have apparently turned squeamish from the surfeit; so, we must suppose, he interfered, taught by experience, to prevent the administration even of an infinitesimal dose of honour to patients so endeared to him as his comrades of other days! We cannot now stop to break a butterfly upon the wheel. Misled by a perverse infatuation, this nobie and gallant Lord meddles with everything only to mar whatever he touches; in the present instance he is again "too bad," and his old associates will doubtless draw a parallel between the Duke of Richmond and his opponent, the result of which we must leave to the imagination of our readers.

We repeat, the question stands all the better for the late discussion. The Undecorated" have been even reproached with not having carried their appeal to the fountain-head;-to the Queen then, all gracious as she is, and to Her Majesty's excellent Consort, let the appeal be made; and, if unobstructed, the result cannot be doubtful.

The following is a copy of the Petition itself, by which it will be seen that the object is not limited to any particular army, that the non-com