main, and the back of Wyadda, it will be seen that the space left clear for anchorage is not great; the best berth is with Koikla Point, N. 51°W., Wyadda Island N.W. point N. 39°E., S.E. point N. 77°E. There is also anchorage in the channel between the island and the main, but it is very narrow and difficult to leave without a leading wind. There is 3 to 4 fathoms in the best berths. It is high water full and change at 3 o'clock, the stream setting through the bay with the turn of the tide, but with little strength. When leaving the bay with light winds, care must be taken to allow for the set outside, as at the entrance the flood sets towards the rocky ledge off Wyadda Island, and the ebb amongst the foul ground which lines the coast to the westward.

This bay does not by any means offer a secure anchorage, as the heavy swell which often prevails outside is much felt. It is also exposed to northwest winds, which bring in a heavy sea, and are much dreaded by the natives. From Mec-na Point to Kydaka Point is S. 61°E., ten and a quarter miles; the coast is mostly low cliff covered with trees and fringed with kelp covered rocks. Two miles and a quarter west of Kydaka Point these cliffs disappear, the above point forming the eastern horn of a bay and having a ledge of rocks lying off it. This bay is open to the westward. A mile and a half to the eastward of Mee-na Point is the Klaholoh or Seal Rock, a singular white rock 150 feet high, composed of sandstone. This rock shut in with the south-east end of Wyadda Island, clears the rocks off Koikla Point. Six and a half miles in the same direction, there is a remarkable white patch on the cliffs caused by a slip having bared the sandstone. The soundings off this portion are regular from 5 fathoms at the edge of the kelp out to 40 fathoms, one mile and a half off.

From Kydaka to Sekou Point is S. 61°E., three miles; the coast is composed of broken cliff, with the deep soundings nearer to the shore.

Callum Bay.-Sekou Point forms the western extreme of Callum Bay, and bears from Slip Point N. 86°W., two miles, which gives the bay a depth of three-fourths of a mile. It is too open to the north-west to afford good shelter except from easterly winds, but it may be used as a stopping place for a tide. The soundings vary from 6 to 14 fathoms. A small river falls into the bay, and there are lodges both at its eastern and western sides; that at the eastern is called Hygèdith.

From Slip Point off which a ledge of rock extends, the coast trends S. 66° E., six miles and a half, it being one high rugged cliff with the exception of a gorge which connects a small bay at its eastern end with the bay beyond. It is faced by the usual rocks and kelp, the deep water approaching the rocks very close, not less than 40 to 50 fathoms being found a quarter of a mile from the cliffs.

ance.

From Pillar Point, which is so named from being formed by a high detached rock, the shore takes a sudden bend to the southward, forming a bay, the hills receding and leaving a passage for a good sized river, the Canel, which disembogues itself in this bight, and has nearly filled up with sand banks its best sheltered or western portion. An Indian village, called Ketsoth, may be seen on the eastern side of the mouth of the stream, the inhabitants of which do not bear the best of characters, and have a most repulsive appearThe distance from Pillar to Low Point is S. 74°E., eleven miles and a quarter, the coast between being principally formed of broken wooded cliffs, with small sandy bays between, into which numerous little streams run from the hills, which here rise at once from the beach. The soundings are not so deep off this portion, 33 to 38 fathoms being found, two miles and a quarter from the shore, which is very flat and shallow, the kelp line extending in some places three-quarters of a mile out, amongst which, numerous patches of rocks show themselves at low water.

CONSULAR FEES.

Shipowners will be glad to see the following order in Council, reducing the fees paid in Foreign ports to our Consuls for the certificates of exchanges in the crews of their ships, that were rendered necessary by the 6th of Geo. IV., which had the effect of imposing one dollar upon every discharge or desertion at the port, and one more upon every entry.

Some shipowners have lately resisted the dollar for every individual removed or entered, and have argued that one certificate including all the changes was all that was required by the act. The Consuls on the other hand maintain that a separate certificate should be given, and charged for each individual. The present order in Council sets at rest these doubts, by imposing two shillings upon each transaction, and shews the desire of the Government to diminish as far as they can, any pressure upon our mercantile marine. But, although this is a decided advantage to the owner, we think it would have been better if a specific charge had been made upon each vessel, for exhibiting her papers at the Consulate, and no other fees allowed, rather than that fees should be levied for desertions which by being thus made a source of revenue, it becomes the interest of Consuls to promote, whereas, their duty is to prevent these desertions. We do not imagine our Consuls would be guilty of any impropriety in this way, but, it should always be the effort of legislation to unite the interest of the individual with the zealous execution of his duty.

WHEREAS by a certain Act of Parliament made and passed in the sixth year of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Fourth, intituled "An Act to regulate the payment of salaries and allowances to British Consuls at Foreign Ports, and the disbursements at such ports for certain public purposes," it is amongst other things enacted "that it shall and may be lawful for all Consuls-General and Consuls appointed by His Majesty, and resident within the dominions of any Sovereign or any Foreign State or Power in amity with His Majesty to accept, take, and receive the several fees particularly mentioned in the tables to this said Act annexed, for and in respect or on account of the several matters and things and official acts and deeds particularly mentioned in the said schedules; and that it shall and may be lawful for His Majesty, by any order or orders to be by him made, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, from time to time, as occasion may require, to increase or diminish or wholly to abolish all or any of the fees aforesaid, and to establish and authorize the payment of any greater or smaller or new or additional fees or fee, for or in respect of the several matters and thingsmentioned in the said schedules or any of them, or for or in respect of any other matters or things or matter or thing to be by any such Consul-General and Consuls done or performed in the execution of such his office;"

And whereas such Consuls-General and Consuls have under the provisions of the said Act, levied fees on certificates as to the shipment and discharge and desertion of British seamen at Foreign Ports;

And whereas it is expedient to alter the said fees; now, therefore, in pursuance of the said Act, and in execution of the powers in Her Majesty in Council in that behalf_vested, it is hereby ordered by Her Majesty, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, that whenever a British Consul-General, Consul, or Vice-Consul shall be called upon by masters of merchant ships to give his sanction in writing as to the shipment or discharge of a seaman, or his certificate as to the desertion of a seaman, it shall be lawful for such Consul-General Consul, or Vice-Consul to demand, recover, and receive from all masters or other chief officers or commanders of any ship or vessel belonging to any of Her Majesty's subjects the sum of Two Shillings for each seaman whose shipment or discharge shall have been so sanctioned, or whose desertion shall have been so certified; and that it shall not be lawful for such Consul-General, Consul, or Vice-Consul to levy a larger fee for this service. And the Right Honourable Viscount Palmerston, one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, is to give the necessary directions herein accordingly. W. L. BATHURST, 2 T

NO. 6.-VOL. xx.

OPENING OF THE PORTSMOUTH SAILORS' HOME.-St. George's Day. April 23rd.-The Portsmouth Sailors' Home was opened this day with much eclat. The band of the Victory was in attendance, and a large assemblage of fashionables assembled on the occasion. The chair was taken by Admiral Sir Francis W. Austen, K.C.B., who was surrounded by a gallant circle of officers, warm patrons of the project. The business of the opening commenced with prayer, after which the chairman expatiated upon its benefits, and the blessings it was calculated to confer upon thousands of those classes who had so long been a prey to the sharks of the shore. Captain Sir Edward Parry, Captain Gambier, Captain W. H. Hall, and other officers addressed the meeting. Admiral the Hon. Sir Bladen Capel, commander-inchief, inspected the building (which is situated in the chief thoroughfare in the borough-Queen Street), and warmly complimented and congratulated Captain W. H. Hall upon the success of his experiment so far. Sir Edward having in his speech forcibly pointed out the necessity for such a home for seamen, for the sake of their temporal as well as their eternal interests, said that the seamen and marines were indebted to Captain Hall, he having been the originator of the Sailors' Home at Portsmouth; and that he had established one at Dublin, and had lately been visiting all the principal ports in Ireland, Scotland, and England, for the purpose of seeing what could be done for the amelioration of the condition of seamen when on shore unemployed, and for the purpose of establishing other seamen's homes, &c.

When Sir Edward Parry had concluded his speech, a number of gallant tars belonging to the Royal yachts, the Victory and Britannia, proposed three cheers for him, which were given by all present in a way that British seamen alone can cheer.

When silence was obtained, Captain Hall, evidently feeling the high compliment that had been paid to him, rose to return thanks, and said -I wish I could express all that I feel on this happy occasion, for what can be more gratifying to a sailor than to see the seed he has sown for the benefit of his brother seamen bring forth such good fruit? My love for the profession I embarked in led me naturally to take a deep interest in the welfare of sailors, and having served upwards of thirty years afloat in every clime with them, and at times under the most trying circumstances, taught me to value the many sterling qualities they possess; and knowing the numerous temptations to which they are exposed when they are cast on shore, I determined, with God's assistance, to promote the establishment of comfortable Sailors' Homes at every port, for I am convinced that these establishments will be the only means of improving and making our seamen better men, and prevent their becoming so easily the victims of vice.

The government have done much of late to improve and better the condition of our seamen on board men-of-war, and the homes will continue to improve their condition when unemployed on shore. Everywhere I went in Ireland, Scotland, and England, during my late tour to the sea-ports to promote the formation of homes, I was received most kindly, and I found but one feeling, and that was warm and sincere, in favour of sailors and the cause I was advocating. There is nothing dearer to my heart than to continue my earnest endeavours to promote and increase the number of these valuable institutions.

No one could have had the honour of sailing with her august Majesty, the Queen, as I have done, without well knowing the warm interest she takes in the welfare and comforts of her sailors; and I have the satisfaction also of knowing that Her Majesty and His Royal Highness Prince Albert will take a deep interest in the Portsmouth Sailors' Home.

At such a moment I cannot forget what a sincere friend this and all other naval institutions have lost in the death of the benevolent and good Queen Dowager, one of whose last acts was to erect a number of cottages at Penge, for the widows and daughters of naval officers, and nearly her last request was to be borne to her grave by seamen of the fleet.

The gallant captain was frequently cheered during his speech, and at the conclusion the cheering was deafening.

Captain R. F. Gambier, chairman to the directors of the Sailors' Home addressed the meeting, and explained in a clear manner the objects of the institution, and the many advantages it held out to its inmates (namely seamen and marines) and in respect to the charges he said—for each seaman 13s. per week or 2s. per diem; boys 10s. per week or 1s. 6d. per diem, with separate charges for those who come for single meals, or a night's lodging, while on shore on leave; their provisions will be of the best quality, and each person will have a separate sleeping berth and a place to leave his chest, and should he go away for a week or a month, without any additional expense. The perusal of books, maps, and newspapers, also the security of a savings' bank, and many other advantages they would enjoy at this institute.

As dinner was provided for about forty seamen, it was laid out on three tables in the dining-room, and in accordance with the dinners to be provided in future. The Hon. James Byng asked permission to preside at one table; Captain Gambier at the second; and Captain Fead, who lately paid off the Prince Regent, at the third. Nothing could be more happy and comfortable than the seamen appeared to be; and afterwards the elder seamen took their pipes, and the younger ones contrived to manage, with the assistance of some well looking young damsels, to make up a dance; and they enjoyed themselves till after sunset.

"A good many valuable presents have been given to the Sailors' Home, among which we may enumerate a very handsomely-bound large bible by the Hon. Mrs. Hall, as the foundation to a Sailors'- Home library, and by her little daughter Miss Hall, the 'Voyage of the Nemesis in China;' by the Dowager Vicountess Torrington, two volumes of 'Ekins's Naval Battles;' by Captain Hall, an admirable picture of Her Gracious Majesty's yacht the Victoria and Albert, with the St. Vincent, and Lord Yarborough's yacht; by Mr.H. Colburn, of Great Marlborough Street, publisher, upwards of twenty volumes of naval and other works; from the Pluto (steamer), lately paid off, a valuable chronometer, which will be exchanged, we understand, for a handsome clock for the hall.

"Sailors' Homes are to have the same advantage as that excellent establishment, the Dreadnought hospital ship, moored in the Thames-viz., to be open to seamen of all nations.

It would be unjust to terminate the proceedings of the opening of the Sailors' Home, without giving the chairman Captain Gambier, and the directors of the institution, the greatest credit for their arduous exertions.

The seamen will ever owe them and the promoters of it, a debt of gratitude for they have now a comfortable clean respectable boarding or club-house to go to, without fear of being robbed, or exposure to temptation. Hitherto they had no place to sit down in but grog-shops, or something worse, where unprincipled persons of both sexes are on the look out, to allure them to their haunts, where they manage to keep them in a half intoxicated state for weeks, or till all their hard earned wages were gone.

Her most Gracious Majesty ever ready to promote the welfare of her sailors, has given a donation of £100 to the institution.

RENEWED BRANCH EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF SIR JOHN FRANKLIN, By Regent Inlet, and the passages connecting it with the Western Arctic Sea.1851.

Ir having been ascertained last year that an important part of the field of search for the missing Arctic Expedition could not be explored by any of the ships then engaged, or about to be engaged in the service, it was resolved to equip a supplementary expedition for the examination of the portion thus unprovided for.

The part alluded to, includes Regent Inlet, and the passages connecting it with the Western Sea, south-west of Cape Walker, to which latter quarter Sir John Franklin was required, by his instructions, to proceed in the first instance. This search was assumed to be necessary on the following

grounds:

1st. The probability of Sir John Franklin having abandoned his vesssls to the south-west of Cape Walker.

2nd. The fact that when Sir John Franklin sailed, he believed that an open passage was to be found from the westward into the south part of Regent Inlet, according to the chart supplied to him from the Admiralty, and which does not exhibit the discoveries of Rae, made subsequently to that period. 3rd.-Sir John Franklin would be more likely to takes his course through a country known to possess the resources of animal life, with the wreck of the Victory in Felix Harbour for fuel, and the stores of Fury Beach further north, in view, than to fall upon an utterly barren region of the North coast of America.

4th. He would be more likely to expect succour to be sent to him by way of Lancaster Sound and Barrow Strait, into which Regent Inlet opens, than in any other direction.

In corroboration of the necessity of this part of the search, we may refer generally to the Parliamentary Papers of 1848, '49, and '50, and may here quote the very important words of an experienced Arctic Officer, Capt. Beechey, p. 31 of the first series. "If, in this condition" (that of being hopelessly blocked up to the south-west of Cape Walker) "which I trust may not be the case, Sir John Frankin should resolve upon taking to his boats, he would prefer attempting a boat navigation through Sir James Ross's Strait, and up Regent Inlet, to a long land journey, across the Continent to the Hudson Bay Settlements, to which the greater part of his crew would be wholly unequal." And again, in his letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty, 7th of February, 1850, Capt. Beechey writes, "the bottom of Regent Inlet, about the Pelly Islands should not be left unexamined. In the memorandum submitted to their lordships, 17th January, 1849, this quarter was considered of importance, and I am still of opinion that had Sir John Franklin abandoned his vessels near the coast of America, and much short of the Mackenzie River, he would have preferred the probability of retaining the use of his boats until he found relief in Barrow Strait, to risking an overland journey, viu the before mentioned river; and it must be remembered that at the time he sailed, Sir George Back's discovery had rendered it very probable that Boothia was an island." The memorandum alluded to by Capt. Beechey as having been submitted to the Lords of the Admiralty on the 17th of January, 1849, was the expression of the unanimous opinion of the Arctic officers assembled by command of the Admiralty to deliberate upon the best means to be taken for the relief of the missing expedition; and in this report, clause 14 is expressly devoted to the recommendation of the search of Regent Inlet.

Upon the grounds above stated, was founded the necessity of an auxiliary