The Press. — London, England, 1856-01-05 00:00:00

~' THE PRESS. JANUARY 5, 1856• The sale will commence on the 31st and be completed as rapidly as possible without any reserve. Though p oss e ss i ng little or no intrinsic value, the specimens aro curious, partly on account of their age and condition, but chiefly from the singularity of ha v i n g b e en all collected into one cabinet. The approaching dispersal of the collection has excited much interest, both among amateurs and the public in general. 13 Sir C. WOOD : Certainly, certainly, and I quite understand your case. The Admiralty directs, I think, that all lights shall be put out at a certain hour. Well, you object to this. Now, it is clear to me that the object of this order was to prevent fire. Well, now, fire is a very shocking thing—eh—don't it strike you in that light? (Sensation.) Mr. B. OSBORNE (aside): Answer that, old Strike-a-light. Captain KELsox : Avast there— Sir C. Woon : I shall be happy to avast, or do anything else to oblige you, there or anywhere else, consistently with my duty. But really, Captain, fires at sea are soffrequent and so dreadful that I think you must see the propriety of this maritime curfew. " Curfew tolls the knell of parting day," eh, you know ? Mr. B. OSBORNE (aside): Day and Betty Martin. Sir C. WOOD (aside): Don't be so flippant. Mr. B. OSBORNE (aside): Why not ? Flip's a nautical drink. Captain KELSON : We ask your pardon. But it's clear we don't understand one another. Mr. B. OSBORNE : Better go out, my good man, and confer together until you do. The time of her Majesty's Government is precious. Captain KELSON : Who are you ? Speak when you are spoken to. I thought, by your showing us in, you was the wally out of uniform. Don't shove in your oar. I mean that the First Lord and us don't understand one another. It's nothing about lights in that point of view, Sir Charles. It's the lights we hang out at night to warn other vessels Sir C. Woou Ah ! I see. I must have read the memorial hastily. Well, and what are these lights ? Captain KELSON : Lanterns, Sir Charles. Mr. B. OSBORNE : And the tar who hangs them out is called Jack wi the Lantern. Sir C. Wool): Just so, Captain. And you want an improvement —something more in accordance with the spirit of the age You want your ships lit up with gas, I suppose? Well, I see no objection, if it can be done. The pipes seem to me, as a practical man, the difficulty ; but possibly you might have your gas tube inserted in your cable, and so paid out—eh ?—isn't that the word ? Not quite a lubber, you see. Another CAPTAIN : 'Scuze me, Sir, but that's all my eye. The case is this, how•dumsoever. The Admiralty says to us, hang out a bright light. We hangs out a bright light. Consequence is, man at look-out can't tell whether a ship's close aboard or not, or what tack she's on ; then comes a collision, and all hands to Davy Jones. Sir C. Woon: I understand perfectly. Highly distressing. And you look to me for a remedy. You have a right to do so Well now, I'll tell you. I was observing the other night, as 1 drove along the Strand, a long glass box, or transparency, with coloured letters, and gas inside. I forget the words: they announced some foolish exhi bition—but that's no matter. Take the hint, and have such a box on your masthead, with moveable slides, to suit the emergency. On one side inscribe " Port your mainbrace ;" on another, " Haul your lee scuppers apeak ;" and so on. (A very rude roar of lauyhter.) Well, Gentlemen (tartly), lam glad you are amused. I think the suggestion a good one. Perhaps you have one of your own ? Captain KELSON (as soon as the Iguyhter had subsided): Well, Sir Charles, we humbly think we have. Sir C. WOOD: Out with it. Perhaps upon your rough notion I may be able to found something for you. Captain KELSON : First, Sir Charles, instead of one light, we should like two. Sir C. WOOD : Two ;—proceed. I think everything should be looked at in two lights. Captain KELSON : One of these green, the other blue. Sir C. Wow): Certainly not. How very ridiculous ! Green is the colour of the sea, and blue of the sky ; and how can such colours be distinguished from the expanse around ? Captain KELSON : Not much blue and green after dusk, Sir Charles. _ _ Sir C. Wood: That depends. No, no, we'll say red and yellow. Red for the light at the bowsprit, yellow for the light at the rudder. All the CAPTAINS Bowsprit and rudder be ! Who's to see lights there ? Sir C. WooD: Ah ! perhaps there may be something in that. Put the lights where you please, then; but mind they don't go out. Captain KELSON A bit of ropes-end prevents that, Sir Charles. Sir C. WooD : What, used as a wick ? Captain KELSON ; No, Sir, used as a cat. Mr. B. OSBORNE : I see—a joke about a cat and lights ; but — Sir C. WooD: No, no, be serious. What do you mean, Captain? Captain KELsoN : A bit of rope's-end laid over the shoulders of the first skulk that lets his lantern out keeps the others uncommon well trimmed. No more fear of their going out, until put out, than there is of your doing it, if I may be so bold. Mr. B. OSBORNE : Goo d—good—very good ! Quite up to my mark—quite. Captain KELsox (eyeing him discontentedly). Tell ye what, my lad, I can't say whereabouts your mark may be now, but I know where you'd carry one about half an hour after you was aboard with me. Sir C. WOOD : Gentlemen, I will give your wishes every considera tion, and my decision shall be communicated to you. At present I incline to light your ships with gas, so that they may be perceived at any distance ; while your sailors, for whose moral advancement we are bound to provide, will be able to improve their minds by reading during the watches. But I will consult my colleagues. Good morning to you. The deputation then withdrew, expressing to the servants all the way down stairs, and to the porter in the hall, their conviction that the First Lord of the Admiralty was an unmitigated humbug. K A R S. There is only one opinion about the heroic defenders of Kars, and never perhaps has a mili tary deed, unsuccessful in its ultimate result., conferred mere fame on its performers. The condition of Kars was frightful. Townspeople and soldiers alike suffered all the horrors of famine. The former crowded round the general as he rode out of his quarters, and prayed him with all the eloquence of despair to seek some means of putting an end to their misery. Women forced their way into his very rooms, and, throwing their starving children at his feet, Implored him rather to kill them at once than let them thus perish thus piecemeal for want of suitensuce.— Lctters from Conetantirsople, Dec. 11; and Erzeroum. Dec. 24. Within the leagued wall Brave Williams took his stand, To conquer or to fall At Duty's high command. By foe and famine prest, His courage, clear and bright, Rose high within his breast At thought of England's might. It whispered to him hope, It spake to him of home, Of watchful eyes 'neath Britain's skies, And succour sure to come. Huzzah ! to God be thanks! The Cossack columns form ; Mouraviefrs chosen ranks Advance, the town to storm. Each hot-contested post Saw Williams at his work ; Against the Russian host Ile led the conqu'ring Turk. Their triumph nobly won, They shout the victor's name ! Throughout that day of bloody fray Ho fought for England's fame. O'er forms that swiftly droop, O'er hourly-closing eyes, O'er many a famished group, The victor's banner flies. Oh, England ! can it be That in their sorest need Thy sons who fight for thee For help shall vainly plead ? To thee their hearts they turn, To thee their prayers address, They cannot think that they must sink Through thy forgetfulness 'Tis over, and they yield, Grim Famine standing by; O'er victors in the field He gains his victory. Not won by Russia's skill, Not lost by Turkey's blame ; Be Williams honour'd still— Thine, England, thine the shame ! Lost through thy rulers' wrong, The name of KARB shall stand In Glory's place—a deep disgrace Their heartless sloth to brand ! • • LIGHTS AT THE ADMIRALTY. TII E public has been apprised through the journals that a representa tion is being made to the Admiralty, by shipowners, ship-masters, and others connected with navigation, against the order which, with a view of providing against accidents at sea, compels all vessels to carry wbingle bright light. It is submitted that this light is at once insuffi cient and confusing, and the result of experiments induces the in terested parties to petition that a different system may be adopted. The details may be found in a memorial from North Shields, published during the past week. Yesterday, a deputation from the above classes waited upon Sir Charles Wood, the First Lord of the Admiralty, to urge upon him the necessity of rescinding the order in question. They were introduced by Mr. Bernal Osborne, and were received by Sir Charles Wood with his usual affability. Captain Kelson, the spokesman of the deputation, began by apologising for intruding a technical matter upon a lay Lord, but explained that no other course was open to them. Sir C. Wool): 0, no apology, Captain. I am happy to see you, being indeed partial to sailors. Besides, though, as you say, a lay Lord, I am one of th ose w h o h o ld th e h e l m o f th e State, and so far am a navigator myself. (Laughter ) Mr. B. 0813OhNE (aside to him): Besides being often quite at sea. Sir C. Wool) (aside to him): Hold your tongue—better at sea than half-seas over. Come now. (To the deputation). So I shall be very glad 'o render you any service in my power. Captain KELSON : We hope that you have looked over the memo lulls we had the honour to solid up.