The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-06 00:00:00

THE

LONDON,

consideration of the benefits altogether, looking in the
first place to the question of justice. Our readers will
recollect the strange reasoning of Mr. Webster in his
speech at Marshfield, when, having stated the import-
ance, the wealth, the advantage of the fisheries of Nova
Scotia, &c., he seemed thereby to have in his own mind
completely settled a question of right, and to have
proved (it he proved anything), that trespass and rob-
bery must, for such gains, be protected, even at the cost
of war. It is the argument that when a possession is
proved to be rich de facto, then it is proved to be
American de jure. Now in this new matter of the Lobos
Islands, be appears to remain faithful to the same
theory. He was quite overpowered by the statement of
the advantages which would accrue to his countrymen
if they had the monopoly of the guano of Lobos.
There is an evident confusion in his ideas respecting
rightful property and profitable possession. Be does
not say " Such islands aro ours, for such reasons; and
let us make the most of them." But " Had we such
islands, we should make a great deal of them; therefore
they are ours." The manner in which Mr. Webster
then proceeds to substantiate the novel claim of the
United States to what is unquestionably not theirs, nor
ever was, is quite astonishing in a statesman whom the
world supposed to be at least as well versed in history as
any ordinary schoolboy. "It is probable," says he,
!hat these islands were first discovered in the year
1823, by Francis Morrel, jun., citizen of the United
States " Did ever a celebrated orator and politician so
wonderfully stultify himself, so justly expose him-
self to universal and enduring ridicule? The Lobos
Islands first discovered some thirty years ago! and
discovered by a citizen of the Union! Long before
the Union had eitzmis at all, and even before that part
of America had British colonists, the Lobos Islands had
not only been discovered, but were well known to all
navigators. It is literally true to say, that these islands
were set down in maps before there was any map of the
Union in existence, or even of those countries which
now constitute the Union. "It is probable," to use Mr.
Webster's phrase with rather better authority than he
could produce, that the first European who really dis-
covered the Lobos Islands was Diego de Almagro, the
celebrated fellow-adventurer of the still more celebrated
Francisco Pizarro, just three centuries before the won-
derful voyage of "Francis Morsel, jun., citizen of the
United States," and about three hundred and thirty
years before the present time. It is certain that Alma-
gro descended upon the Island of St. Gallan, and
explored all the neighbouring waters off the main-
land of Parses, and the river and roadstead of
Pisco. In those waters lie the islands of Lobos, or the
sea-wolves, whose very name, with its lupine import,
was bestowed on them by the Spanish adventurers in
question. To come down nearer to our own times, but
still 137 years ago, or 110 years at least before Francis
Morsel's convenient discovery, we find sufficient mention
of the Lobos Islands in M. Frezier's " Voyage to the
South Sea, and along the Coasts of Chili and Peru, in
the years 1712, 1713, and 1714"—an authentic and de-
servedly esteemed work, of which a translation was
published in London 135 years ago. M. Fresier was en-
gineer in ordinary to Louis XIV. At page 179 of
the translation just mentioned we find the following
passage:—
" Eight leagues to the northward of it (the mountain
La Mesa de Dona Maria) is the island Lobos, or
Wolves, being a league and a half north-west from
Morro Quemado, or Burnt Headland; it is indifferent
high, &c. Between the island and the headland there
are flat and very low rocks, which stretch out towards
the continent, half-way this channel, leaving a passage
through which many ships have gone, mistaking it for
that between the island of St. Gallan and the continent of
Paraca."
Several minute particulars; of the situation of Lobos
and of the neighbouring shoal water, are then given;
and a chart of Paraca and the coasts, &c., is annexed.
Finally, Lord Anson describes the Lobos Islands in
1742. We seriously recommend Mr. Webster to enter
at once upon a course of light, but useful, reading.
Macklin, the actor, began to learn Greek when he was
some seventy years old. So, certainly, the well-informed
Foreign Secretary of the Union ought not to shrink
from making himself acquainted, if not with the history
of the principal discoveries of the 16th century, at least
with some of the more palmary books of travel which
have since been written for the amusement and instruc-
tion of the world. If he persists in the course he has
unadvisedly entered he runs the risk of, perhaps, soon
mooting the question, whether some American citizen
was not the first discoverer of Yarmouth and its herring-
fishery; and we are ready to admit that Mr. Webster
did discover the Lobos Islands for the first time iu 1852.

NAVAL IN ThLLIGENCE.
APPOINTMENTS.

Naval Instructor—Henry A. Speed
steampeedhasgobaeredn-shriep-,
Dapepvooionpteodrt.to the Hogue, 60, screw
Paymaster--Harrington R. Jones, to the Electra, 12,
Sheerness.
Clerk—James Ray, to the Termagant, 24, screw steam-
frigate, Portsmouth.
Midshipmen—Edward Denny, to the Waterloo, 120,
flag-ship, Sheerness; G. E. B. Potts, to the Niger, 14,
screw-sloop, Portsmouth; Percy Luxmoore and James
Ray to the Termagant.
Gunner—Abraham R. Mills, to the Higbflyer, 21,
screw-frigate, Portsmouth.
The 50-gun screw-frigate Imperieuse, built at Dept-
ford Dockyard, will be launched on the same day as the
screw three-decker Windsor Castle, 140, from Pem-
broke—namely, on the 14th instant. The Imperieuse,
like the Windsor Castle, will be the first ship of her
class afloat, and, we trust, they will be the precursors
of many really good, serviceable, and lasting men-of-
war, turned out of the royal dockyards under the sur-
veyotship of Sir Baldwin Walker. The launch of such
ships proves the gross and ruinous folly of repairing, at
so extrsvagent a cost, mere sailing ships like the Van-
guard, Vernon, Cambrian, &c. We must not forget
;bst our friends on the other side of the Channel are
still in advance of us in screw ships afloat, for whilst
they have their Charlemagne, 90, in actual commission,
their Napoleon, 92, which is running at the rate of 14
English miles an hour, a ith their Austerlitz, 100, to be
Winced on tho 13th instant, we have only the &insp.
reil, 81, in anything like -a serviceable condition. But
better late than ever.
The jury spars for rigging the Windsor Castle at
Pembroke, which ship will come round to Ports-
mouth, are now being put on board the Simoom screw
steam troop-ship, Captain Kingcome. Sixty seamen
riggers will also go round in the Simoom to rig and na-
vigate the Windsor Castle, and this short run will tho-
roughly test the machinery and engines of the Sinsoom
before she is employed to take troops to the Cape.
Lieutenant William G. Crowder (1848), senior of the
a gin
command felucca
Megmra, who died at MellviieloletenHanotspoitfalt,hoCßhaapthidr s
erevn
Monday last, was acting -
i 13 a
ilomfe
a l pat
nr
ad t iecnagl
on the coast of Africa in 1848, for which he obtained
supernumerary theto capture the
P h o
promotion. Ile was the third son of the late Colonel
Crowder, s
o f
a boat
ILli., of Brotherton, Yorkshire, and was in
his 29th year.
Arrogant, 36, screw-frigate, Captain Robinson, will
go into Portsmouth Harbour, and into the old basin, to-
day.
Blenheim, 56, screw-ship, Captain Henderson, C. 8.,
having found a defect in her foreyard, went into Tor-
bay on Wednesday. having repaired the defect, she
sailed again, and will probably cruize off Cape Clear
for a short time; she will look into Queenstown once
during her cruize.
Highflyer, 16, screw-corvette, Captain Matson, is dis-
mantling at Portsmouth for alteration in her masts.
A newly-invented life-boat, or rather a life-raft, by a
Mr. Perrotr, we believe, of Liverpool, arrived at Ports-
mouth, by railway, in the early part of last week, and
has been placed in the old basin of the dockyard. She
is shaped like a river trough, with wall sides. She has
two large nettings, which are spread out by out-riggers
travelling on central pivots on each side, on which, and
in the box or boat, 300 men can be safely placed. She
will be tried before competent naval officers in a few
days. She is to be available for troop-ships.
PORTSMOUTH, SUNDAY.—Thu Blenheim East India-
man, having embarked passengers for Calcutta, sailed
yesterday at ten o'clock, with a favourable breeze, down
Channel. The Devonshire East Indiaman, one of
Green's ships, arrived at Spithead, outward bound, on
Saturday, to embark passengers and stock.
The Meander, 44, Commodore Talbot, arrived at
Spithead this afternoon from the Nore, and saluted the
Port Admiral.

The Dauntless, 24, screw-frigate Captain Halsted'
was taken into the steam-basin yesterday morning ready
for docking.
The Inflexible, 6, steam-sloop, Commander Wolrige,
took on board her ammunition at Spithead yesterday
morning, and awaits sailing orders.
On the annual royal yacht promotions taking place in
a few days hence it is reported Captain Lord Adolphus
Fitz,ilarence will be raised to the rank of Commodore of
the first class, Commander Crispin to the rank of Cap-
tain (retaining, the captaincy of the yacht), and Mr.
Henry Nettle Scaife, clerk, to the rank of secretary to
the Commodore, besides the usual promotions of the
lieutenants and mates. We don't think the service will
grumble at any of these movements. Lord Adolphus
Fitzelarence is as much beloved by those immediately
about him and respected generally in the navy as he is
well known in the service; Commander Crispin's eleva.
don would re-open the door for that promotion of com-
manders which has now so long been stopped in the
royal yacht; and, as every flag officer must have a se-
cretary, Mr. Scaife's talents and gentlemanly deportment
peculiarly quality him for that post to the Commodore
of the Royal yacht. Altogether, we think dignity and
benefit will accrue to her Majesty's especial service by
the above arrangements.
The Cygnet, 8, Commander R. D. White, arrived at
St. Helena July 15, and the Prometheus, 6, steam.
slor p, Commander Foote, on the 18th, from Ascension.
The Sappho, 12, Commander the lion. A. Cochrane,
arrived at Forteau on the 25th of July; and the Buzzard,
8, steam-sloop, on the 7th of August, from St. John's,
Newfoundland.
The Dauntless, 24, Captain Halsted, and the High_
flyer, 21, Captain Matson, aro ordered to have their de-
fects made good as quickly as posible, and complete
provisions and stores for Six months' service.
Captain Martin, C.B , of the Victory, is on leave of
absence for six mouths. The duties of the ship will be
carried on by Commander Boyle.
PLYMOUTH, SEPT. s.—Her Majesty's steam-sloop
Geyser, Commander G. S. Hand, having taken her coal
on boatel, tt as placed at her sailing moorings on Satur-
day. She is appointed to sail on Monday for the West
Indies to relieve the Rosamond.
The steamer Argus returned on Thursday from
Portsmouth, and, having coaled on Friday, was placed
on her sailing moorings on Saturday.
The crow of the Hound, 6, Commander Robert Hall,
were paid off yesterday at the Pay-office in the dock-
yard.
At daylight on Wednesday,
dle•wbeel man-of-war, supposed to be a frigate, showing
tho Ist inst., a large pad-