The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-06 00:00:00

APPOINTMENTS.

WOOLWICH, MAY s.—Commander F. N. K. Wasey
(1850) to study steam at the factory at Woolwich Dock-
yard, vice Commander Bowyear, passed.
Commander Michael do Conroy (1848) to study steam
at . the factory, vice Captain Cospatrick B, Hamilton,
passed.
Commander Philip do Saumarez (1845) to study
steam at the factory, vice Lieutenant Richard Moore,

passed.
Commander Henry I. 'aeon (1842), to study steam
at tho factory, vice Lieutenant Macdonald Bourchier,
passed.
Lieutenants Macdonald Bourchier and Richard Moore,
having completed a course of study of steam, were
severally examined as to their knowledge of steam and
marine steam engines by, Mr. Charles Atherton, chief
engineer at Woolwich Dockyard, and on passing satis-
factorily received their certificates accordingly.
The Herald, 28, Captain Henry Mangles Dunham, was
visited to-day by a great number of ladies and gentle-
men, who were conducted over the vessel by Captain
Denham, who showed them the arrangements which have
been made for the long stay of the Herald on the sur-
veying service in the South Seas, and the numerous pre-
sents intended for the natives of the islands in that part
of the Pacific Ocean: •

LOSS OF THE BIRKENHEAD.
A court-martial, consisting of Bear-Admiral H.
Pretcott, C. 8., president; Captain Chads, C. 8., of the
Excellent; Captain G. B. Martin, C 8., of the Victory;
Captain Scott, of the Neptune ; Captain Henderson,
0,11., of the Blenheim; Captain S. T. lanes of the
Sampson; Captain Robinson, of the Arrogant; Captain
Loch, C. 8., of the Wiricheater; Captain Warden, of the
Retribution; Captain Symonds, of the Arethuss; Cap-
tain Harris, of the. Prince Regent; Captain Matson, of
the Bighflyer; and Sir G. L. Greetham, Deputy Judge-
Advocate of _the Fleet, assembled yesterday morning at
nine o'clnek, on board the Victory, to try Mr. R. B
Richards; master's- assistant; J. Bowen, T. Dunn, able
seamen; A. Stone, ordinary seaman; and John Ashbolt,
stoker, for the loss of the 13irkenheasi, or rather to in-
vestigate the conduct of the survivors of that awful wreck.
The witnesses' called when our report left were Thos.
Coffin, who had the first middle watch on the bight of
the wreck; Thomas Daly, of the first watch, and look-
out man on the forecastle; Colour-Sergeaut Drake, on
the poop when the ship.strack; JohnArehbeld. gunner, ,
in bed when the scold: at :happened; and Mr. W. Col-
bane, assistant-surgeon, in his cabin at the time.
All those witnesses were subjected to close and
lengthened examination, and deposed to a great num-
ber of facts connected with the dis34ter; but nothing
calculated to alter materially thk main incidents
already before the public. One of them stated,
that had the boats remainsd near the wreck, and not
pursued the sohpont-r, more lives aright have been
saved; but all seethed to egree that bath on board the
ill-fated ship and after she had sunk every 'effort was
used that, under the circumstances, was practicable.
The cc:1101ft; of the boats stated that they could not,
without datip, take in thore than they held; that they
heard no urirsAtL4znd, car:ea of
,distrdts which they
did ii6failit76 E tea lirafficizhaaiineS4 of the surf, in
their judgment, ren&reet landing impossible; and, in
short, that they awed far the bast in the trying emer-
gency. As to the course which the ship was steering, it
was l roved that she was some thro3 miles from shore,
which, however, was not visible in the darkness; that
the soundings were taken; that the rate of speed at the
time *as 7112- heeds; that a light had been discerned
shortly Mere the catastrophe wok place, and that the
sound of the serf was not di,tioguibhable. It was also
shown that the boats were in part, et order for launching
had-time permitted; that the captain was perfectly col•
lected, and that the orders which be issued were obeyed;
that the eagiace wore hacked for two nanntea after the
Chip struck, and that she )ielded to them; that in ten
minutes the fires were completely extinguished, and that
she went down in less than hdf an hour. Questions
, Were put to the witnesses, not only by the members of
' the court-martial, bat by the prisoners, and at six r m
the Court was adjourned till to-rasrrow morning.

EXPERIMENTS WITH ANCHORS.
WOOLWICH', MAY s.—Two anchors, in addition to
those 'previously described, were delivered at Woolwich
Dockyard on Monday last, one by an American named
Isaacs, which has an arrangement to prevent what is
technically termed "fouling." The other, by Brown,
Lennox and Co., Admiralty contractor, differs only
slightly from Sir William Parker's. plan .in section and
in length of shank, end with a palm more spear-shaped.
The testing the seven anchors for trial with the usual
strain applied to anchors of similar weight whoa tie.-
livored for service commenced on Monday afternoon by
placing one of Lieutenant. Rogers's anchors, weighing
i 9 cwt. Sibs., in the tasting-frame, and applying a strain
or 19i tow, when the first tested U. nil was found to have
defiemed s.l6ths cf an inch, and the other 5.161h5, both
returning to their original position when the strain was
withdraan. On Mr. MAGI): son's anchor, weighing 21
cwt. 141 b., being subjected to a strain of 21 tons, it 00-
fleeted #, tba point of the palm extending.* when mea-
sured twin the, shank, and the other aria gave exsctly
the same result, the palms returning to within * of their
original position from the &Election and to their entire
origiasl position when ectaasured from the shank.
Brown, Lennox, and Co's. anchor, of 20
applied, cwt.-
3 qrs. 10,1.., on having a strain of 21i tons
deflected ii and it from the shauk, both wans givinguao
and,..lhreias4rawca, anchor,
1 similar result, and on the strain being withdrawnarms resumed
deiLction was entirel removed,
their original position.., On Tuesday
,Pic •
~rame.
and a
of 21 cwt. 141 b.,
itinnd to deflect :1, of was placed. in the testing 1
strain of 2 ; il, tons applied,
plat of the arm 1.16 th
end w
an inch, 11, D d the distance of the p
ri.,2raaawragave a similar
from the shank, and the other at
both arms re-
result. On the strain beir2gwl?yr.
Trotman's anchor,
sumed their original p
weighing 21 cwt: 1 qr.,°hsititladha' strain of 21i tons ap-
plied,t e .point of the arm extending
and deflected i-,
.theother. belles-.
arm
3-16. from the shank; and on
was 1 without any extension
of the deflection s..
of the arm, and on the strain being ' withdrawn the
deflection returned to * and the arms to their. origi..,
nal position. Mr. Honiball's anchor, weighing 20 cwt.
3 qr. 71b-, had a strain of 21i tons applied, and the
deflection
was' i, and the extension of the arm
,i
00 exactly the-same result. Or; and the* ottedi arm' -
the strain -being' withdrawn the first tested are returned
to its original position, and the deflection of the other
to within *, and to its entire original position when
measaredlaam the shank. Lieutenant Rogers'a
weighing 20 cwt. 1 qr.ovas kedge
anchor, placed in a testing-
frame, and on a strain of 21* tons being applied, the
deflection was 1 inch, the point of the arm extending 1
of
an inch from the shank. The deflection when the other
arm was tested was 1 3-16th inches, and the extension
1 of an inch, and on the strain being withdrawn, the
deflection on the one side returned to 6.16 and the arm
to its original position. The deflection on the other side
returned to .-I of an inch and the arm its original pp.
to
'Alien. The anchors are now lying on the-
to be transferred to Sheerness to c wharf, ready
ontend for the palm
of superiority as rcgards their holding properties,- and
will subsequently be brought back to Woolwich dockyard
to-undergo an ultimate 'or. breaking -,
in order to
determine the greatest degree both of t th
and holding properties, thesix
ntwayoalroefafit essentialsa strength
rgan
anchor. oors and six of the
most eminent Shipowners, assisted by Mr. Atherton, chief
engineer it Woolwich dockyard, have contented to net as
jurors on this occasion. Oat of rather more than 30
persons who exhibited anchors at the Great Exhibition
in 13yde-park last year, 6. have responded to the invita-
tion to submit their inventions to actual tests and prac-
tical trial -.; :or superiority. The anchors
and tested wi.h at their stocks,''
were weighed

Yesterday a Court of Directors was bold at the East
India House, when lieutenant: General' Lord Frederick
Fitz-Clarence, G.C.H., was appointed Commander-in-Chief
of the company's forces on the Bombay establishment.
LINCOLN'S INN, MAY s.—The following members
of this s,,ci,ty have been called to the bar' and were sworn
in this evening in the Hall :—Jobn Buck, M.A. ; Richard 0
Turner, BA.; William J. Potts, Eig ; Charles Lees, B.A.
Francis 0 Adams, ; John b. Smith, B.A. ; and
Augustus A. Vausittart,
PRINTERS' DRAMATIC SOCIETY.—His 11°y
31Highness the Duke of Cambridge his sent 101. to th
tart' of th 9 Printers' Dramatic Society,
performance at St. James's Theatre, on Satu
(frith; Almshouse
in aid of alailtagymfaoaertethner
thuds of the Printers' Pension •Sotlell 8"
Endowment Fund.

DEATH OF MR. ALEXANDER MACKAY
(From the Chloille'e.)
I; is with sincere regret that we record the death, on
his way kome, of Mr. Alexander Mackay, the author of
the " Western World," and lately the Commissioner to -
India of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. Mr.
Mackay was for many years connected with this journal
and we cannot withhold from his nezne the tribute due
to the memory of an able coadjutor and of a valued •
friend.
By Mr: Mackay's untimely fate an opening career of
great promise is cut short. Endowed with high mental
qualities, possessed of a clear iutellect and acute and
rapid powers of reasoning—a keen observer, and an in-
stinctive lover of truth—Mr. Mackay added to these gifts
a most amiable disposition. These powers had been as-
certained, and Were in the -act of being applied to im-
portant Philo Purposes, -when the climate of a hot
country; acting upon a naturally delicate constitution,
cut him off =not, however, before he had to a great ex-
tent completed his task.
Akxander Mackay was the son cf Mr. Mackay, a
mach-respected banker in Inverness, and was born in
that town abdut 1820. He was educated at the neigh-
bouring town of Eight, and afxrwards at Aberdeen.
Family 'arrangements led him first to Canada, where
he was destined for the colonial bar, end for some brief
space praCtised with repute. Journalism, however, seems
to have had more attraction for Mr. Mackay than profes-
sional practice, and accordingly he soon became the con-
ductor of a highly respectable newspaper in Toronto. After
residing in Canada for several years, and travelling over
a great portion -of the provinces and the States, he re-
turned home in search . 'of . a wider sphere than could be
afforded by • colonial life. He was speedily engaged in
connection with this jourtlal, and so highly were his
acuteness and logical ebililLies estimated, that he was
sent out again, by the Morning Chronicle to th 3 United
States, for the purpose of• examining the diplomatic
bearings of the treaties as to the Maine boundary,lnd
observing the feelings of the. American public on the
question. His letters upon these subjects were replete
with most valuable information, and with
tchleeargraenadt
logical reasoning. Not long after his return, Mr.
Mackay publishd his " Western World,"
ability and comprehensive grasp of which were at
once acknowledged. The book was indeed
pronounced to be the best and most complete work ever
written upon the Transatlantic Republic. Its success
was great and immediate, and the volumes became at
once a standard Authority upon that most important
subject. The author's connexion with this journal Was
prolonged for some time afterwards. As one of our
specie' correspondentr, engaged in investigating the
condition of the English rural population, Mr. Mackay
rendered important services to the question of Labour
and
dd
atuhneePeaosofuril
y turned
while
histo versatileother topicspe o f
pen
was
wa
s general frequentlydite.e
.
rary and political interest. After the settlement of th
corn-law question ho devoted himselt to the topic of the
suffrage; and his pamphlet upon our system of represen-
tation, with its analyeis of the constitution
itu tion of the House
ofnfrCzemramonnns,tbheecaqinaeosatitoenxt-ohr which
ht a large class of Re-
itreated, and was
that
od quotedid r. i a
ein k
Mackay
the
determined House
oite denvaomttenmssi.Eelrf toom
political life. He joined the Reform y
livered many able speeches at public mpeertin'eb•s and de.
in
metropolis upon the franchise question. He had th
e
be-
fore him the hope of ultimately entering Parliament;
but he consented for a time to withdraw from home -
politics, and to accept from the Lancashire cotton
interest a mission to India to investigate -the
possibility of extending the growth of the plant
in our Eastern possesciens. Somewhat more
than two years ego he departed full of hope
and spirit. He died on his passage home. The
subjoined extract from one of our Manchester contem-
poraries will give additional particulars, besides ehow-
ing the high character Mr. Mackay had earned for him•
self iu the East. Oar melancholy task is over when we
again express oar heartfelt sorrow at the loss of a highly
promieing author, a rising politician, an accomplished
gentleman, and a most amiable man.
(From the Manchester Examiner and Times.)
I- is with feelings of deep regret that we announce
the death of Mr. Alexander Mackay, the Indian Com-
missioner, appointed by the Manchester Chamber of
Commerce. Mr. Mackay left this country on the 20th
December, 1850, under the moat favourable auspices—
being accredited and recommended to the Chamber
of Commerce of Bombay by the Chambers of Com-
merce of Manchester, Liverpool, and Glasgow,
and carraing with him the full confidence of
the mercantile and manufacturing public connected
with the cotton trade. The object of his mission also
received the unanimour approbation of the British press.
and we have reason to know that it was regarded with
goad will by the leading members of the Administration.
The main purpose of his appointment was to ascertain
by an unbiassed but minute investigation on the spot,
the real obstacles which prevent an ample supply of good
cotton being obtained from the East Indies, and the
causes which impede the extension of our commerce with
that country.
The mission was ono requiring great industry, intel-
ligence, and sound judgment, on the part of the indi-
vidual selected for the arduous and responsible under-
taking ; and it was peculiarly fortunate for the inte-
rests represented by the body with whom the mission
originated, that they were able to secure the services of
a geatleman so' eminently qualified in every respect to
carry out their views; Mr. Mackay's inquiry embraced.%
multitude of details, all bearing on the main subject of
the mieeion—such as the menus provided by the ladian.
Government to promote the internal as hell as the ex-
port trade of the country over which they rule—the
nature of the roads by which the produce of the interior
is brought to the cozet—the means cf inter communica-
tion between neighbouring districts—the state and
ineusg mint of docks, piers, quays, &e.—the condition
of the ogricaltural population, and the circumstances
which tend to stimulate or repress their industry—the
nature of the land tenure, particularly with reference to
the security of the cultivator—the amosnt and kind of
taxation, and the mode of levying and connecting it—
all departments of iegairy reqiuriog minute and im-
partial perannal observation.
Oa his arrival, Mr. Mackay was cordially received by
the B3n3bay Cnarnber of Commerce, end every facility
afforded to him for the prosecution of his inquiries,
which were continued Curing the whole of lat:tt year,
and the results of which have beea from time to time
transmitted honer. The infilence of the climate of India,
was, however, too much for a constitution not naturally
and he was compelled to terminate his labours
sreobnnuesrt,
than be had anticipated, and endeavour to regain
the country. In a letter ad-
dressedsnttoai fot
ens oCtfhoam t returningmbeeri
ecre
bty3hu-oett:he,ashvtei Bombayntnigh ee
e tsi
au Cme
sten r
his
seer:. e
einem had disabled him, he had succeeded in traversing
hisdtoatdhehl4 England,latthrochb
the greater portion of the cotton field of the
.Preaiden.cy,
as to the condition, wants, and pros-
, portant conclusions
and that he bad from actual observation arrived at Ira.
the great district in question,
b h •an hh
ee cottonhnpe
tameet of India sAnpdrEil,ngblaatadh„is
torna-heisinreturn ho.me, by the of
re-
newed health, to make the informion_ e a gathered
Cefthdafti
common
csrt:rafel'lnitti;:te7tsoihve.e,
gstrutoaidt.teiuhcaielpi taly coiled until thrho.c3.llsrt
i.to).:Tdotentisettihfnueeldie
vuteostelubgiejt
of e tech day he breathed Lttl -s • We e are told that
rap ,11 to
he suirs•red lit is until within hell an hour of his death,
to that rind no retained
r in Inverness
aiLdttehesuFltunre, havieer, preview to LIB
the
care of
eolsafstetnel
,r 1 et(ol 1 ovr-
filleetsepegaeurri
etothbeer tdreetraziattreed
eteniahtiaeilblefirdaomthielel
mercantile
-gentleman, below),UU, made
addres.sed by Mr. Arthur Lethete, a
his ivill and couffitd
-gentleman, who was on board the
j.aza..3a the president of the Chamber of Commerce.
With the regret ineeperehle from the
Afr. Marken' is mingled a tenting of setuntimely fate cf
maio object of his mission he iefaction that the
not been left untecoin-
pthhed.
" At sea, on beard the Ele
.n. Cempany's steamer
• AYdalie A 1
, pri 17, 1852.
" MY c3= ar She—you
Mr. Alexander Mlclia 11l no doubt have heard from
suff,red Indid, he yeY: that his health having seriously
the
steamer_
of
the
3d 3 about to leave the country by
would benefit him. last., in the hops that the change
This however, was not to be. His
strength gradually ,failed, until the evening of the 15th,
when the doctors abscess of the
liver burstsuppose that en
into the lungs, already diseased,
• • and sa fteetion end consequent death ensued. I
am glad to say that ho suffered little until with.
in half an hoer of his decease, and until then also re-
tained the full possession of his faculties. The captain
has confided to me his papers for delivery to Mr. Thomas
Mackay, of Inverness, whom be has left his sole legatee
and executor, under a will drawn•up• a few hours before
his derith. These I purpose to send by the first steamer
,
to- Messrs. Arbuthnot, Ewart, and Co., of Liverpool;
and I have suggested to Mr. Mackay that on their arri-
val he should select those of a private nature, and ar-
range with those of Mr. Mackay's friends on whose
behalf he came out to India as to the disposal of the
remainder.
"Itis at Mr. Mackay's own request, made when all
hope was at an end, that I now address you; and soy
further information respecting this sad affair I shall be
most happy to afford you, on your addressing me a line,
to the care of Messrs. Artbuthnot, Ewart, and Co.,
where I expect to be about three weeks or a month
hence.—Meantime I am very truly yours,
"ARTHUR LATHAN.
" Thomas Bosky, Esq., Manehester." •

GREII7.' MEN.
THEIRMOMENTS Or ComPosirrox.—Boasuet com-
poSed hie grand sermons 'on his knees• Buliver wrote
'
his first novels in full dress, scented; Milton, before
commencing his great work, invoked the influence of
the Holy Spirit; Chrysostem meditated and studied
while contemplating a painting of Saint Paul. Bacon
knelt down before composing degre work, and prayed
for light from heaven. r could compose well
without first declaiming forsome time at the top of his
voide. Bentham composed after playin g a prelude on
the organ, or whilst taking his
ar -den. Saint antelEntaculur" an
~postprandial" walks in his g Bellitr
composed his Meditations cmidst the woods. Caw E.
composed his verses with the roar
of battle in hii „ars;
for the Portuguese poet was a soldier. nitro wrote hi,
finest pieces in the lucid internals of madness;
Mill
dwar;trefihyi his
Byron, smeisdruiYigihnt: 1 s morning;
rdoui ro.eLsea at
scrapsi eP:afut-*m id .
morning, and wrot," t'll lox our in v.
at rlght. Li F n aina
wrote his Fehles chic fly under the shade of s, tree. 6 ',.---
011 wrcto most of bin Thoughwt:ioieuvralitltkliDgaou,
re °warm:
et his hy•rnoments. Luther, niktn s,,paper,
his dog lying at his ico,.
Iticirio Clcaposed his vergescalvin 113 g, always had
studied in. his bet
them in aloud voice.--Eliza Cook's
journal

-- - --
h
. The convict William Baldr
y, w o WO -left for
execution at the recent Suffolk assizes, for attempting to
murder his wife by means of administering arsenic" bag been
reprieved during her IL.tjesty's pleasure. He will be Bent to
come penal"ttiMel4 f9t Oa reouiadet of ..

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