The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-09-30 00:00:00

the lower prices for a watch are increasing yearly by
thousands. New, are we to shut our eyes to the fact that
we are not supplying this great and increasing demand,
and that the Swiss are'? Do we ask why? We'are soon"
answered by Mr. Bennet. His , Cheapside knowledge of
the watch business has shown him that he must lose his
trade at home and abroad so long as we obstinately refuse
to fight the Swiss with their own weapons—so long as we
will not employ women to compete with women, but will
insist on pitting dosr mon's against cheap women's labour.
And how insane this all seems while the cry over the
misery of Englishwomen is wailing through the land.
Here we are refusing just that employment to them which
they are most fitted for, and which can enable us to com-
pete with Switzerland. All success to Mr. Bennett, of
Cheapside, in his labours to secure a result which will
find cleanly, healthy, and pleasant employment, and com-
fort and independence for thousands of his fellow-
countrywomen."

PRACTICAL NAVIGATION.

GUIDE TO THE LOCAL MARINE BOARD

EXAMINATIONS

In a town like Liverpool, where the trade of the world,
as far as shipping is concerned, may be said to be cen-
tred—where boys are bound apprentices, as if it were to
the alleged duty of the ocean, and emerge from that
apprenticeship to the command of ships, admired by the
-world's inhabitants—education becomes something more
than a mere acquaintance with a few primary rules, that
might be got off by rote in a few hours, and so far qualify
the merest man "before the mast," or a landsman, for
that matter, to take command of a ship, having life and
treasure confided to his care., The term "sailor," has
been sadly misapplied; for, to pull a rope, and run up the
rigging of a ship, will not qualify a man to be a " sailor."
The "men who are able to perform such duties are only
machines, guided and controlled by others, who are prac-
tically acquainted with the engines they put in motion,
when to work, when to stop them, what is to be contended
against, and what is to be conwrecl. The importanee
of having ro:-:, who aspire to the command of ships,
thoroughly vtA -in all branches of nautical science,
became a national rrestion, and hence the necessity of the
State legislating; ea the all-vital question. The vast
responsibility resting on a man 'in' command of a ship,
where lite and property are cenerned, was one worthy of
the best attention of the wisest statesmen. It therefore
became necessary that such .responsibility should not be
confided to the ignorant, nor to the superficially educated
navigator. An ordinary seaman put at the wheel, with
the compass before him, and directed to steer the ship in
a certain course, can do that duty, but beyond this he
knows not the why or wherefore. Here, then, comes the
guiding mind ; but, to obtain the knowledge requisite for
such guiding mind, the man must be educated—not in
theory, but in actual practice. These remarks occur to
us in consequence of the careful perusal of an invaluable
work, entitled as above, from the pen of Mr. A. 111c-
diarmid, of Great George's-square—a work of which we
have, a short time since, given a cursory notice. The
work may be classed in two sections—the first consisting
of four classes of arithmetic, namely, elementary, decimal,
duodecimal, and logarithmical arithmetic. These are
absolutely essential to all who wish to make navigation a
profession, and without the knowledge of which hardly
any amount of practice can be really serviceable. In these
primary objects, the work is clear and comprehensive,
and will do more to assist the student than any treatise
we, have seen. Then comes the practical portion of the
work, which includes " practical navigation—longitude
by chronometers; great circle sailing— the law of storms,"
and a variety of matters in detail, which are or permanent
importance. The information on these vital points is not
of an ephemeral character ; it is derived from unerring
sources, and made plain to any ordinary capacity of mind,
and cannot fail to prove of deep interest, at the same time
that an impression is made, which cannot be effaced from
the mind of those who make the ocean a home, and who,
by ability, add to their own name, whilst ennobling the
nation. To a tyro, the work will be found pleasing and
instructive whilst to such as have some experience, and
aspire to higher positions in their rank, it will be found
the best instructor. Going for examination for certificate,
after some experience at sea, the work is indispensable;
it to
himself,
n t
and kingdom,
advantage and c
taen cannot a
mi
his
t em-
fail
but if properly used by the student during his first and
second voyage, he comes with irresistible force before the
mos
t searching
er
toonstas with examinersed
ployers.