once for Plymouth, where she will shortly be brought forward for commission. In hoisting in one of the masts, a seaman belonging to the guardship at Plymouth, lent for the purpose of navigating this vessel to the latter port, not understanding the cranes used in dockyards for such services, was struck by the winch handle, which so dreadfully fractured his skull that he died in a few hours.

Mr. Morgan, Inspector of Steam-Engines for the Navy, arrived at Pembroke on the 30th ultimo, and minutely examined the state of the engines on board the packets on the station, in each of which he took a short experimental trip down the Haven, to ascertain their speed, efficiency, &c. A new steam-engine is being set up in that arsenal for the united purposes of pumping out the dock, and setting in motion the drilling-machine, sawmills, &c.

Every possible exertion is being made at Pembroke to complete the Merlin and Medusa steam-packets, of the largest class; and already, although not more than a month or six weeks in hand, very considerable progress has been made on them. As the whole of the caulkers belonging to the arsenal are employed on these ships, others have been borrowed from Plymouth to complete the caulking of the Daphne, the next vessel to be launched from Pembroke, and which will take place in six weeks time. She, too, is to be hurried to completion, in order to have the slip for laying down the Cyclops frigate. A few hands (shipwrights) are employed on the Collingwood; but these will be taken off next week, and put on the two steamers, for they are to be finished by the latter end of September, and the rivalry of the workmen on these craft is carried to the utmost extreme. G.

Milford Haven, 17th July, 1838.

Mr. EDITOR,-The gaieties of celebrating the Coronation is the first topic I have to report for this month. At an early hour on that day this port exhibited every demonstration of joy and gladness. All the Queen's ships in harbour were gaily decorated, and at mid-day royal salutes were fired from the fort, the Skylark revenue cutter, and the Trinity tender. Indeed, it is but an act of justice thus to record the loyalty of the Haven generally on that auspicious day, and we heartily wish Her Most Gracious Majesty a long and prosperous reign.

A company of caulkers has just arrived at Pembroke-yard from Plymouth, lent for the purpose of expediting the completion of the Merlin and Medusa steamers, building in that establishment with every possible despatch; indeed, the exertions making to finish them are more like those of war time than anything we have witnessed since that period. The Daphne, 18-guns, a beautiful little craft of the present Surveyor's construction, will be launched early next month; and the Cyclops, another large steamer, immediately laid down on the slip she leaves. The erection of the new steam-engine is rapidly progressing in that Dockyard. The Monkey steam-packet was compelled to return to port with the mail on board, on the 6th inst., from inefficiency to proceed against a strong breeze from the north-west. This old vessel (formerly the Lightning, and then the Sovereign,) is not at all adapted to the duties of the station, and passengers frequently object to go over by her. Such was the case in two instances last week. The Prospero, Lieut. Hoseason, took the mail and proceeded, and got to Waterford quite as soon as the Monkey would have done had she been able to go from her original starting. If more efficient vessels were to take the place of the Monkey,-the Jasper and the Advice, the duties of the station would not only be more effectually kept up, but more passengers would undoubtedly be induced to pass this route. The Prospero and Adder are alone equal to the service.

G.

REVIEWS AND CRITICAL NOTICES.

NARRATIVE OF AN EXPEDITION IN H.M.S. TERROR. BY CAPTAIN BACK. NEVER did thorough-bred sailor produce a book more honourable to his noble calling than this; it is the record of a miracle effected by mortal means under God's providence.

We doubt whether, since the origin of navigation, the wonders and the horrors of the deep have ever been displayed in more baffling and terrific forms to those who "go down to the sea in ships." Arrested almost within view of the goal by insurmountable barriers, with the heavy discouragement of a position so critical as to be all but hopeless, under the physical pressure of a degree of cold hardly conceivable to southerns, and of the most dispiriting ailments, amidst the monotony of a toil which seemed fruitless and hopes indefinitely deferred, there was neither relaxation, nor despondency, nor murmuring amongst the sturdy crew of the Terror. That her commander and officers were noble fellows will be readily understood; but every one should read this wonderful narrative to comprehend the extent to which the qualities of foresight and resolution, and the capacity for command, were carried by Captain Back and his First Lieutenant, now Commander Smyth. The volume is adorned by exquisite sketches of the ship in every position, drawn on the spot by the latter

officer.

No vessel, we believe, still occupied by her crew, has ever been in a situation affording such accurate observation of the arcana of ice, in all its stages, varieties, and action. The journal of the Terror is, in fact, a Chronicle of Congelation in all its forms and effects, nascent and fullgrown, fixed or floating, offensive or defensive. It will constitute hereafter an Ice Guide for Mariners. Never was thick-ribbed ship so patted and hugged by "thick-ribbed ice" as the poor Terror; and how she escaped and got back to Lough Swilly, or rather how Back got her there, is a chapter of romance and reality which suspends the breath in the reading.

We are not going to review this volume at present, for two reasons: we have not room now, and we have other intentions respecting it; but we could not allow a month to elapse without making some allusion to a narrative so deeply interesting in its nature, and so highly honourable to the skill, intrepidity, and tact of the Commander and his officers, and to the enduring obedience of the crew.

STATISTICAL REPORT ON THE SICKNESS, MORTALITY, AND INVALIDING AMONG THE TROOPS IN THE WEST INdies.

OUR able contributor, Captain Tulloch, has, after vast labour, produced his first report on the vital subject to which his talents and industry have been so successfully devoted. The present document, which has been presented to both Houses of Parliament, contains its framer's researches into "the Sanatory details" of the military establishments of the West Indies-each colony and island being separately considered.

An appendix furnishes abstracts of the most important returns on which this invaluable report was founded. Here British officers will read the facts connected with the mysterious mortality of regions amongst the fairest of the globe, and be satisfied by indisputable data, tested by figures, and carefully collated, of the propriety of the means now in operation, or about to be so, for its future prevention. Amongst these are the rotation system, and the modification of diet amongst the troops, which were originally recommended by their author through the pages of this Journal, in which, we need not add, many other able lucubrations, by the same hand, have appeared at a period prior to his present official employment.

Mere speculative matter is entirely discarded from this report, in which "the main object kept in view has been merely to determine the extent of sickness and mortality at each station, the diseases by which it has been induced, and such causes of these diseases as appear sufficiently obvious or tangible to admit of remedy." This object has been admirably fulfilled.

We must add that much instruction of a geographical as well as statistical nature, and much miscellaneous information, may be derived from a perusal of this report.

Reports of the same nature respecting our other colonies will appear in succession.

Captain Tulloch was originally joined in these investigations, directed by the Secretary at War in 1835, with Mr. Henry Marshall, Deputy InspectorGeneral of Hospitals, in consequence of his having been previously engaged with that experienced statistician in some corresponding researches. Mr. Marshall removed to the charge of the medical department in Edinburgh, leaving the completion of this task to Captain Tulloch, by whom, however, he is still consulted.

NOTICES TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS.

ALTHOUGH We have this month added an extra sheet to our usual limits, in order to make room for the Coronation Promotions and other voluminous details, we have been forced to postpone several articles which were intended for insertion,-amongst the rest some concluding " Anecdotes of Sir Sidney Smith." Having, on our return to London, after an absence of a couple of months, occasioned by a domestic calamity, observed an obvious and accidental anachronism in the last portion of these "Anecdotes," where Buonaparte is prematurely styled "First Consul," instead of General-in-Chief, we pointed it out to the writer, by whom the error is corrected in the forthcoming sequel, now in type.

We are also under the necessity of deferring, till our next Number, an account of the presentation of new colours, by the Duke of Wellington, to the 20th Regiment; and an authentic narrative of the late operations of blowing to pieces the wrecks in the river, executed under the direction of Colonel Pasley.

A correspondent submits the following query :-" Have the Americans at this moment a ship, or ships, in Commission, rated as carrying a greater number of guns, and manned by a greater number of seamen, than any we have in our Service ?" We believe not, but shall ascertain the fact.

With our present Number we have given the Title and Index to the Volume, as well as those to the preceding one. It is our intention, in future, if possible, to give them with the last Number of each Volume to which they belong.

EDITOR'S PORTFOLIO;

OR,

NAVAL AND MILITARY REGISTER.

AFFAIRS AT HOME AND ABROAD.

THE CORONATION of the Queen was celebrated on the 28th of June, with much external pomp, and with every demonstration of respectful attachment to the monarchy and to her Majesty's person.

The Procession, announced by a salute of cannon, left the new Palace shortly after ten o'clock A.M., and proceeded along the indicated route from Hyde Park Corner to Westminster Abbey, through files of troops, both horse and foot, and amidst a vast concourse of spectators of all degrees, ranged along the sides of the streets, or thronging the adjacent windows and covered balconies prepared for the occasion. The pageant was brilliant-the weather favourable-the order which prevailed perfect and the conduct of the troops and police exemplary.

Towards five o'clock the procession returned in the same order from the Abbey, where the effect was grand and the scene exciting. The ceremonies, however, were abridged-the banquet and other customary forms, adhered to on the Coronation of George the Fourth, having been omitted in this instance. The reception of the Duke of Wellington was enthusiastic.

The equipages of the foreign Ambassadors formed a considerable and splendid portion of the cortége. The carriage of Marshal Soult attracted much attention, and the veteran himself received proofs of the estimation in which a distinguished soldier, of whatever country, is held by the British people. The members of the United Service Club, on the Marshal's passing that building, pointedly evinced their respect for an officer to whom a large proportion of them had been opposed in war; and it appeared to be the general desire to couple the former foe with the present minister of peace only in the most honourable relations of an antagonist.

The singular decorum of the people throughout the various and protracted stages of the main exhibition was exposed to a severe test by the Saturnalia licensed to "come off" in the Park in the form of a fair during three or four successive days, producing a most dull and dissolute scene, but operating, more in a military than a festive sense, as a diversion, by relieving the great thoroughfares from the pressure of the combined crowd from country and city.

The brigade of Artillery which fired the salutes was encamped in St. James's Park, and made both a picturesque and soldier-like appear

ance.

The troops employed on this occasion were composed and distributed as follows:

U.S. JOURN. No. 117, Aug. 1838.

20

equipment were, as usual, admirable; nor were the well-trained morements of the Rifles, who skirmished in front of the line, and, to the admiration of the crowd, loaded and fired as they lay on the ground, the least spirited part of the operations. The array and charge of the Household Brigade were splendid and imposing, though the movements showed a want of ensemble only to be acquired by practice in bodies, of which the British service affords few, if any, opportunities. The skirmishing of the 10th Hussars, in covering their retreat, was a little heavy; we have seen the 10th do their work more smartly on the Plain of Beauvais. The horses generally did not appear sufficiently used even to the squibbing of that most inefficient of weapons, the carbine. By the way, the economical cartridge issued on these occasions should be placed on full allowance to produce effect. Lord Londonderry, urged by unquenchable zeal, was seen actively directing the skirmishers of his fine regiment. One of the variations from the programme occurred in the retreat of the Cavalry, who retired, covered by the 10th, by alternate squadrons, instead of by threes from the right of squadrons; and both Cavalry and guns went past the Queen by threes between the slow and quick march of the Infantry. In the last deployment of the Infantry an unlooked-for gap was observed in the right centre of the line, which occasioned some comment, and was but tardily remedied. The final advance in parade-order was very fine. The Marquis of Anglesea, who commanded the troops, riding up to the Queen, requested Her Majesty's commands, and, on receiving the royal approbation of the military display, ventured to suggest, if we are rightly informed, that Her Majesty would have seen it to more advantage on horseback; to which the Queen is said to have replied that it might be so on a future occasion. We trust Her Majesty may not be advised to deviate from the more feminine and Queenly course, nor to aim at any comparison with "Queen Bess"-the times, the cases, and the persons are utterly different; and at all seasons in our humble opinion

Bellezza e leggiadria sono arme delle Donne.

We observed Marshal Soult, who was placed on horseback at the right of the Queen's carriage, watching the progress of the Review with marked attention, and at its close he addressed Lord Anglesea, who had joined him in the throng, with the air of a comrade who shared in the success of the field-day. "La revue a réussie au delà de l'expression," said the Marshal, as he shook hands with the victor of Sahagun, to whom, by the way, he bore the grateful acknowledgments of more than twenty French officers, taken by Lord Paget, some of them in that brilliant Cavalry action, and treated by their captor with the courteous generosity of a gallant cavalier. We well recollect seeing them as they passed through Mayorga, captive and crest-fallen, after the combat.

An immense crowd filled the Park and its avenues, and, on the departure of the Queen and the breaking up of the troops, the distinguished foreigners present, including the Duke de Nemours, Marshal Soult, Prince Christian of Holstein, and many others, adjourned to Holdernesse House, where the elegant hospitality of Lord and Lady Londonderry afforded ready and welcome relief to numbers of the parched and sunburnt actors in, and spectators of, the scene. George of Cambridge, a promising Prince, who bids fair for popularity, was amongst the latter.

Prince

The ground was well kept-too strictly, indeed,-in pursuance of a