The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-05 00:00:00

VIE 11. T DT/A.2ln E TB.

SOUTIIALL, APll7LZ.jOiTil7ukato-day was fairly
supplied with each kind of fat stork, the demand for
which was in a very sluggish state, at barely last weeks'
quotations. Beef, from 3s to 3s Si; Mutton, 3s 4(1 to
44 4,i; Veal, 3s 4d to 45; and Perk, 3s to 3s 10d per 81bs,
to sink the ciral.

liO3IFORD, APRIL 4.—We had a very inactive de-
mand to-day, and ;prices had a downward tendency.
Bcd, from 3s to 3s 10d; Mutton, 3s 6d to 4s Gd; Lamb,
5.; 2d to 6s 2d; Veal, 3s 4d to 4s; and Pork, 3s 2d to 3s
per Sibs. Suckling Calves, 18-i to 25a; quarter obi
store Pigs, 16s to 21s; and Much Cows, with their small
Calf, 141 to 18/ each.
LEWES, APRIL 3 —The eemand for. fat Stock was
avy, and at barely stationary prices. Beef from 3s 2d
to 44; Mutton, 34 6d to 4s 8d ; Veal, 3s 4d to 33 10d;
and Pork, 3s 4d to 34 8 1 per 81bs.

CORN AVERAGES.
GENERAL AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN
For the Week eaded March 29. 1849,.nade up from the Returns of the
Inspectors in the different Cities and Towns in Emgland and Walt
per Imperial Quarter.
WHEAT. I BARLEY.' OATS. I RYE. I BEANS. I PEAS.
PRICE .. I 44s Id I 28s 10d Its 4d 24s Gd 1 285 Id I 32s 2d
DUTIES ON FOREIGN CORN.
WHEAT. BARLEY. OATS. I RYE. BEANS. I PEAS.
IS Od is Olls 01 Is Od Is 01 Is 0.1

PRESERVATION OF LIFE FROM

SHIPWRECK.
TO THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY.

SIR,—In laying before you the model of a raft,
which is intended to show how the means already
furnished to every steam-vessel may be applied to an
object worthy of your serious attention, viz., the
preservation of life from shipwreck, I make no
claim to scientific invention, or, indeed, to any merit
beyond that of realising a conception which seems to
promise to be made useful to the maritime world,
and turning to account the never-failing resources of
seamen in time of peril; nor need I to affect to offer
any other apology to the First Lord of the Admiralty,
in calling his attention to the subject, than the obvi-
ous utility of the design, and the extreme simplicity
of its construction ; and I only ask as a favour, that
should it be found useful and deserving of your patron-
age, it may be called " Captain Bullock's Safety Raft,"
trusting that, sooner or later, it may connect my
name with the cause of humanity, towards the pro-
motion of which your approbation would contribute
most effectually, by causing its adoption, not only in
the Royal Navy, but in every merchant steam-vessel
in Great Britain.

If the difficulty of constructing a raft with suffi-
cient expedition, under trying circumstances, be
generally admitted by experienced professional men,
the great advantage of having such a means at hand,
and ready on an emergency, will be apparent to any
one ; and the consequence of wanting such a means
has been exemplified by numerous disasters in times
past, as well as melancholy occurrences of very
recent date.

The contrivance of a simple raft for saving a ship's
crew, and transporting them to the shore through
surfs and breakers which would inevitably swamp
boats of every description, has long occupied my
mind, but last year, when observing the fitting of
the bridges in the Polkstone and Boulogne packets of
the South-Eastern Railway Company, my thoughts
on the subject assumed a definite form, and on my
return from service I presented my model to Admiral
Dundas, who most kindly entered into my views,
and seeing there was no great expense attending the
experiment, permitted it to be fitted to her Majesty's
ve,sel Widgeon, at Woolwich.
Th© raft is easily described : it is in fact the bridge
—as the elevated and necessary communication be-
tween the paddle-boxes is called—and is formed of
four pieces of broad plank, strongly united at the
corners, and made more buoyant by the addition of
cork, conforming to the breadth of the frame, to
which I have added a centre plank for the conveni-
ence of carrying a boat of the lightest description,
which will afford a comparative security for the weak
and disabled.

The bridge, instead of being a fixture, as heretofore,
is now entirely detached ; and the planks being fas-
tened together by swivel bolts, allows it to adapt its
form readily to the circumstances under which it
may require to be launched or floated out of its
place, and, in case of fire, to be passed forward or aft,
between the mast and rigging, and prepared for ser-
vice at that part of the ship the most remote from the
danger.

I may also affirm, from experience, that the raft
would become a floating breakwater to the boats,
whenever the crews were compelled, from any dis-
tressing circumstances, to abandon their ship at sea,
by mooring them to it under its lee; nor can the
boat affixed to it by any possibility be capsized.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
FRED. BULLO::K, Captain, R.N.