Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-23 00:00:00

THE NORTHERN TIME S.:-fLIVERPOOL, WEDNES DAY, DECEMBER 23, 1857

TO THE EDITOR 011 THE NORTHERN TINES.

Sir,—Our best sailors are indisputably those who have been
trained to the sea from early life, and, as a natural conse-
quence, their education has, we are apt to say, been
comparatively neglected Yet, with as much justice,
may they apply the same remark to landsmen, who would
feel particularly ignorant if directed to perform a sailor's
duties. The fact is, we are requiring more than the public
are generally aware of, and shipmasters deserve the credit
of the move they are making; for not only do they present
themselves and say—" We wish to be thoroughly masters
of our profession, so far as any better system of training is
concerned ; but we, in aldition, mean henceforward to see
if we cannot, by a more free intercourse with each other
improve our minds, and make our class not only respected
as sailors, bat esteemed for such acquiremeute as pertain
in general to landsmen " Hence, I say, we are encourag-
ing the training of & class of men who must be highly
superior, because of the immense amount of sound, useful,
practical knowledge to which a sailor's life in its vicissi-
tudes infallibly conducee.
Every one in the responsibility of occasional command on
board ship, should have undergone a compulsory examine
tion, under parties appointed or sanctioned by the Board
of Trade. So far from shipmasters complaining of this
compulsion, they prefer it, while they feel and acknow-
ledge the insufficiency of the subjects and mode of the
present examination. A few veterans may rail at those
who would introduce " new-fangled" practices ; and we
may well permit them to enjoy the remembrance of their
successes in navigation before examinations were insisted
on. Now, I cannot avoid the expectation of great changes
in the form and size, and rig and speed of ships—nay, I
have long had a peculiar notion (which may, at some future
time, be inclined to burst into remonstanee), that, as a
general rule, and locking merely at the water lines of
some of our best clippers, we are sailing our
ships stern foremost I remember, many years
since (say thirty odd), when in Canton, offering to
match and row our own jolly-boat, stern foremost,
against any jol'y-boat in the fleet pulls l headforemost
This is eo digression, because I would call attention to
these expected cha-gas in our shipping, as a reason why
a higher standard of attainment in those who are to com-
mand them is desirable. As principles of naval architec-
ture become the subject of discussion between shipmasters,
analogy will suggest the want of a proper knowledge of
the principles of nautical astronomy and navigation.
I am about to recommend no hard study for young
seamen ; but only desire to appropriate the little time they
have at sea for mental improvemement, in such a manner
as to give them the greatest possible amount of the benefit
of sound-knowledge with the least possible labour, in the
shortest possible space of time ; and this is beat insured
by communicating, in the first instance, a proper insight
into the " why and wherefore." Years since (to prove the
possibility of this), I have taken village boys from my
poorer neighbours, and after the first or second voyage, am
convinced from them, that even ordinary minds, when
under patient guidance, and with careful explanations of
ground-work, are abundantly able to profit from all that
I am about to propose as necessary to form the accom-
plished navigator. I may be allowed, perhaps, to point
toe public schoci (and perhaps there are others) in which
this wholesome method has to a great extent long been in
practice (although without the facilities which now exist),
and in naming the Naval School at Greenwich, it is an
act of justice to declare that its pupils can easily be
detected among the many, when conversation turns upon
"principles" and the rationale of nautical astronomy. It
would, ut the same time, be casting an unfair reflection
upon teachers of navigation in general, were I to omit
explaining the', at Greenwich, boys have time for special
training, whereas in private nautical schools the students
are scarcely in "statu pupillari"—and merely read up for
examination of a prescribed limit
It is not generally known that the simple problems of
geometry, when properly explained, are eminently calcu-
lated to even entice the mind of young men towards re-
search, and low indeed must be the capacity of him who
can find no interest in them. Not only does the sailor
youth relish the daily and hourly proofs of his steady and
conscious advance in useful knowledge bearing upon his
chosen profession, but the four dation having been properly
laid in the first instance, much valuable time, is saved to
him subsequently, in working onwards towards his future
examinations, which he finally enters upon with confidence
and pleasure;—perhaps pride.
I must apologise to your readers for so much reference
to myself and "experience," but for many years it has
been my anxious consideration and purpose, to some day
speak plainly upon these subjects. I may be in error, but
only offer some humble remarks, to induce those who are
more capable, to take up this important subject. As a
maritime nation, we should be more sensitive to the wants
of shipmasters, and more watchful over their welfare, in
proportion as we witness the developement of science ;
of science pervading and changing not merely the ship
herself, but the "thousand-and-one" novel appliances
which form her outfit. The " wants" referred to
are apparent, whenever a new invention presents itself
which involves some new application of mechanics or
science—and many a useful improvement has become un-
popular, or has " not taken" with commanders, because its
principles have not been understood.
There is no obstacle to an engineer's adopting a better
form of boiler, or an improved paddle, or a better kind of
fuel, nor does a sailor object to such an innovation as a
Trotman's anchor, or wire rope, or Cunningham's reefing
topsails,—nay, he is not quite so full of prejudices
as the world believe him to be. He is eminently practical,
and therefore needs only opportunity for quiet considera-
tion over a novelty which is within the power of his
scrutiny, and none are more willing to see and adopt real
and useful comprehensible improvements. It is reserved
generally for sailors to sh:w indifference to innovations in
that branch of practice alone which refers to their most
important and exalted work ; they cannot, I say, easily,
as a body, e.vail themselves of improvements in nautical
science which the progress of the ago provides for them
(The Spherograph is an exception, as honourable to them
as pleasant to myself )
The burden of complaint against the present system is
rather against imperfect training then a4ainet examina-
tion. The art of " projection," or the solving of geome-
trical and nautical problems by scale and compasses (the
most pleasant, as it is the most useful and instructive), is
almost totally excluded both from instruction and examina-
tions.

To proceed to detail, I would abolish the present fallacy
of " extra" certificates altogether: Preserve the three
classes of masters, if you will, but let it be publicly under-
stood that certificates henceforth will relate more especially
to mathematical acquirement. We cannot, as before
insisted on, test accurately what ie denominated " Seaman-
ship"--there is a difEculty in even degning the word.
Bat I am transgressing the limit of apace you allowed
me, and will, with your leave, resume in another letter.—
I have, , S. M. Sexey.

The Times states that the G-overnments of Sweden and
Norway have solicited aid from the Bank of England, to
the extent of half a million sterling, to prevent the perma-
nent break-up of some of the extensive establishments
which have lately failed in these countries.
THE EARL OF STAMFORD AND WARRINGTON.—The
Leicesi`er Chronicle contains the following paragraph :
There have not been wanting many persons who have
suspended their judgments concerning his lordwhip's con-
duct in the late alleged treatment of one of his tenants ;
while among his tenantry at Groby, and the villages in
that neighbourhood, a very strong feeling has prevailed"
that their landlord has been subjected to gratuitous and
undeserved obloquy. They hare, accordingly, found out a
mode of testifying to ,he earl their feelings in respect to
this matter. They have had prepared an address, which
they have signed very numerously, and, we believe, almost
to a men. Sixteen pages aro filled with the names of the
tenants, signed in sympathy for his lordship under what
they consider unjust reproach
MxTROPOL TAN BOARD OF WORKS.—VIC board held
their ueuel weekly meeting on Friday, at the
et,sla balance, less sinking fend, was £130,853 Os Gd. The
Finance Co rmittee brought up a repo t lecoruelendieg
"that the sum of £10,170 Gs 7d a portion of a lo,n of
.E14:1,000 for main drainage, including interest, now
apportioned to the City of Loncl-n, and other parts not
heretofore included iu districts rated by the Illetrop.,litan
Commissioners of Sewers, be apportioned among the
several parts of the metropolis liable thereto." The
ndo2tion of the recommendation of the committee having
ben moved and see:,n.le, a very long and desultory coe-
vergation, which at times approached to a very pe,sonal
character, ensued, which was taken part in by MEssis.
Leslie, Burslern, Offor, Major Lyor, Deputy Harrison,
ard others. 11r. Howes moved, and Mr. Savage seconded,
an amendment to the eff ct " that the consideration cf the
subject should ba adjourned until counsel's opinion had
been ()helped " Upon a division there appeared for the
amendment, 16; against it, 15; majority in favour of the
amendment, one, which not being a majority of two-thirds
of the members present no order was made. Other
amendments, including one for the adjournment of the
debate, were made r.nd negatived, and eventually, at the
suggestion of the Chairman, a compromise was effected,
and it was decided unanimously that the draft of a case
for the opinion of counsel should be submitted to the
board, at their meeting on Wednesday next. Other
routine business having been transacted, the board ad-
journed.

REV. JOHN MACNAUGHT IN REPLY TO
THE REV. J. K. GLAZEBROOK,