The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-13 00:00:00

CA.PTAiN JOHNSTON, OF THE

SHIP TORY.
(Abridged from the John ('Groat Journal.)
Captain George Johnston is the son of a worthy man
named William Johnston, who lived in the parish of
Dunnet, county of Caithness, and was for many years,
and until his death, an elder in the church of Dunnet. He
was first married to Margaret Swanson, the mother of
Captain Johnston, a respectable woman. She died soon
after the birth of George. There were three brothers
and four sisters of the family. The father again married
the widow of a George Smith, at one time mate of a
Thurso vessel. This woman, who is also mentioned as a
decent, respectable individual, had a family of her own.
As the subject of this sketch grew up, he became quite
unmanageable, offering every insult to her whom he
ought to have obeyed and respected. He was conse-
quently put out to herd what is termed "The Town's
Cattle." The custom:is, that the herd takes his food and
bed in each house daily, in rotation. In this way he
had a new master every day, and if any of them crossed
him he had his revenge in same way or other. On his
half-yearly term of herding being over, he was again
taken home and put to the parish school, where
he continued for a short period. When there
he was still the terror of his companions.
He was taken from school and again put to herding.
Having occasion to meet many neighbouring herds he
used to beat them soundly, and many anecdotes are
told of him, all proving his fighting propensities.
Johnston was for a while post-boy between Thurso and
Moy, and in this capacity he manifested the same im-
petuous temper, and great daring. From this employ-
ment he betook himself to sea, and served his apprentice-
ship on board the " George Sinclair," of Wick. Having
disputed with the other apprentices, he administered to
each a severe drubbing, and forthwith left the vessel, with-
out completing his term of servitude. Johnston acted as
fisherman one season at Wick—he again went on board
ship. It is reported of him that when sailing out of
London, he had seen published, a challenge and bets on
a celebrated prizefighter, whom he took up, and won the
fight, by which he is said to have pocketed a little
money. For a short period he resided in Edinburgh
with a sister, who was married there, and at this time
he put himself to school and studied navigation, &c. He
afterwards went to Liverpool, and sailed out of that port
for a time as mate, and subsequently as captain. Capt.
Johnston married, in Orkney, a cousin of his own,
named Mary Johnston,' whose father belonged to Dun-
net. It is said of him that, when in good humour, he
was kind to the men under him, and hospitable to his
countrymen who visited Liverpool. He was fond of show
and pompJus appearance. When at Hong-Kong, it is
reported of him that he employed some of the natives
there to carry him shoulder high, in all the pomp of an
eastern monarch. Johnston is in his 35th year, but he
looks older. He has had several children, but only
one daughter is alive. His father died ten or twelve
years ago, but his step-mother is still alive and resides
in Dunnet. He has a brother living in Castletown.
His wife has been residing in London since his arrival
from China. He is rather under the middle size, so far
as height is concerned, but is stoutly built, and large
boned. Sinclair, the carpenter on board the Tory, is
a native of Wick, and a sober trust-worthy lad. He
has been about two years with Johnston. To his
exertions, as much as to any other, are the owners in-
debted for the safe arrival of their ship and valuable
cargo. The greater part of their crew were shipped at
Hong-Kong, and are described by those who had an op-
portunity of knowing something of their several histo-
ries as the "sweepings of all nations."

NEW MODE OF PROPELLING

STEAMERS.

A great improvement in the mode of propelling of
steam-vessels has recently been introduced to the notice
of the scientific, and others engaged in steam navigation,
by Mr. Peter R. McQuie, a merchant at Liverpool
The arrangements of their improvements are simply
these:—Underneath the steam engine and within the
vessel, a flit el: cular iron case is fixed horizontally below
the water line, into which the sea water flows uninter-
ruptedly through a hole at the centre of the
under side, by means of a conduit or pipe extend-
ing towards the bow; and is, in faet, the
bottom of the vessel perforated with :apertures to
admit the water freely. The upper surface forms the
floor of the fore-hold, raised a little higher than the
keelson. From the periphery of the iron caso a pipe
convey s the water to each side of the vessel, where a
nozzle or beset pipe discharges the water outside of the
vessel above the w4ter line. Inside the iron case a far;
wheel is suspended by a vertical shaft passing through
it, on which cranks are formed ; on these the piston
rods of the cylinders act direct with their connect
ing rods. By this arrangement the whole
power of the steam-engine is • employed to re-
volve the fan wheel, which carrying round the
water in the iron case, it presses by centrifugal force
towards the periphery, from whence it is discharged by
the nozzles. When the steam engine is put in motion
the discharge of water from each of these nozzles is si-
multaneous, and the seamen on deck have the entire con-
trol of the vessel without interfering with the steam-
engine, which never requires to be stopped or reversed
under any distress or sudden emergency ; in place of
which the vessel is stopped or impelled backwards by
pointing the nozzles downward, or towards the bow, which
can be done in a few seconds by means of a chain and wheel
(similar to a rudder wheel) on deck acting directly over
the nozzles. When these nozzles are pointed in opposite
directions, that is, to the bow and stern, the vessel turns
round as on a pivot, and is rendered in this way inde-
pendent of her helm. Besides these advantages there
are many others equally important ; in the first place a
greater speed is attained with the same power than by
the paddle-wheel or screw. Sail may be carried to any
extent combined with or wasting the steam power, a,
the hull is free from all outward obstructions to impede
her sailing properties, and no action of wind or sea
produces any reaction on the engine ; therefore, no
vibratory motion is communicated to the vessel, and the
power of propulsion is very slightly diminished by the
immersion of one or both nozzles in the water.—New-
castle Guardian.

INDIAN CORN.
(From the Sussex Advertiser.)
The importation of Indian corn, which is going on
both in England and Ireland, will prove of little. service
in alleviating the wants of the poor, unless they be in-
formed of the best method of preparing it for food.
This information it is now in our power to afford ; the
following receipts having been kindly forwarded to us
from North America.
Indian corn, when ground, makes excellent gruel,
prepared in the same way as oatmeal gruel; and what
is called mush, is the same thing as Lancashire oatmeal
porridge; but it is necessary in making this, that it be
very well boiled. In summer it is eaten cold, and is
very much liked. Treacle may be eaten with this.
Indian meal is considered a great improvement either to
white or brown bread; about one-third of Indian meal
should be mixed with wheaten flour; this is especially
advantageous in case of the flour being damaged by wet.
Indian bread is excellent, and is made thus :--To a
quart of sour milk or butter milk, as much corn meal
should be added as will make it into a thick batter; a little
salt, and a teaspoonful of carbonate of soda dissolved in
water, acts upon the acid of the buttermilk, and the ef-
fervescence causes the bread to be light ; a spoonful of
coarse sugar is an improvement, as is also a little butter
or melted lard. This must be baked in well-greased
tins, sufficiently large to allow the cakes to be
about an inch thick ; they must be baked in a
quick oven. They are best eaten hot, but are very good
cold. Treacle is excellent with these. When sour milk
cannot be procured, fresh milk may be substituted,
adding a table-spoonful of vinegar ; but the carbonate
of soda must not be stirred in until just before putting
into the oven. Another way of making this bread is to
pour boiling sweet milk over the meal, and when cool,
add three eggs and a little salt.
What is called Indian Slap-Jack would be very avail-
able in those parts of Great Britain where girdle cakes
and bread of that description is used. They are very
excellent, and are thus made:—Scald a quart of Indian
meal; when lukewarm add a few spoonfuls of wheaten
flour, half a tea-cup full of yeast, and a little salt, and
when sufficiently risen, bake them on a well-greased
bake-stone. They are best eaten hot. Another way,
aid the most approved here, is to mix about half the
meal into boiling milk and water; when cool, stir in the
remainder of the meal, so as to make a thick batter,
mixing in two or three spoonfuls of flour, three eggs, and
two teaspoonfuls of salt.
To make Johnny Cakes:—Scald a quart of Indian
meal with a sufficient quantity of water to make it into
thick batter; stir in two or three spoonfuls of salt ;
nacm.ld it in the hand into small cakes, rubbing a good
of flour in the hand, to prevent them sticking.
The.„ ca2tes are fried in lard ; when browned on one
side, turn tii,q other. They take about twenty minutes
in bakcng. Ea: them hot with treacle.
To m uke Hoe C.lkes:—Scald a quart of Indian meal
with a pin of water,
enough to make a thick batter;
stir in two tt:a-spoonfuls of salt, and a small quantity of
butter mated 3 put it into A well-greased tin, and bake
it half an hour. _

Hominy it, made from the unground Indian corn. The
husk is freed from the grain .in a mill, and the grain in
this state resembles the finest* tapioca. Boil it till soft
in water. It is extremely good !thus boiled and eaten in
milk, and with the addition of a little sugar and spice,
resembles English fermity. What is called Slut's Ho-
miny is made by steeping the g.ra.ins in weak ley, which
loosens the husk, so that it is easily removed, without the
necessity of the mill.
Bannocks or Indian Ctzkes are made tLus, and are fit
for the most luxurious tae :—Stir to a cream a pound
of butter and a pound and half of brown sugz..r ; beat
sir .eggs and mix together ; and a teaspoonful of cinna-
mon .and the same of ginger ; stir in three
pouncla and
a quartr of sifted Indian meal and a quarter of a p0.'111,1
of wheaten flour. 113ake in cups or small tin moulds, ani.
eat when cold. •

THE LATE FALL 01, THE BONDING WAREHOUSE AT
LIVER.POOL.—On Mond ty, the adjourned inquest on Peter
Laney, who was killed by the falling of Mr. Tipping 's
warehouse, in Moor-str, 'et, on the 31st of January, was
brought to a conclusion. ,Tn addition to the evidence, the
professional testimony of several surveyors, who had ex-
amined the ruin 2, was giv •a. They were all of opinion that
the accident resulted from .hidden causes, the priuch.al, of
which was the rottenness of the ends of the beams in the
eastern and western walls., cv.lich could not be perceived
when the building stood , I<e which is now apparent.
Evidence was given that ttbi warahouss was not overloaded
at the time of the accident; and the jury returned a verdict
of" Accidental death from-unforenen causes," accompanied
with a suggestion that a sal rveyor should be appointed to
snpect warehouses, especial, V. old ones.
CIIATHAM SAVINGS' 13; LNK.—At the thirtieth annual
meeting of the managers of • this institution, it appeared by
the report, that notwithstan4'ing the reduced rate of interest
allowed to depositors, There had been deposited in the last
year nearly 22,9001., mad e by 3,900 separate deposits; and
that in same period 23,t 1001. had been withdrawn from the
bank in principal and inhere: