Star.
London, England, 1827-09-26 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

We are given to understand that an improvement on the prln-'
eiples of ship-building is at this moment under consideration. The
Master Shipwrights of his Majesty's different Dock-yards are now
in attendance at the Navy Office, Somerset•house, for the purpose
of aiding and consulting on its feasibility.
Fatmourn, Sc,,. 44.—Wind S.W.—Seven p. as. his Majesty's
ketch Vigilant has just arrived from Lisbon.
POILTSKOIMII, Sam 25.—Wind S.S. W.—Sailed the Experimen-
tal Squadron, on a cruize.
DIAL, Sam 2.s.—Wind S.W.—Arrived the Ada, TIMM, from
Demerara. The outward-bound remain.

Scaonocse, Silt. IS—The Friends, Coascroacw, from Arch.
angel to Chepstow, put in to-day, leaky, and is discharging her
deck load.

DosLni, Barr. 2.l—The Amelia, Franc/sow, from Oporto, in
beating in this tile, ran on tilt North Bull, but got got off without
much damage, and put into Kingston.

THE ARCTIC REGION.

A circumstance, which must interest every friend of humanity,•
has been communicated by Captain Hooo,—that of the safety of
the greater part of the Dutch crew, who were left at Davis's Straits
last season. These unfortunate people, it will be recollected by our
Readers, belonged to a Dutch whaler, which had been frozen in,
along with the Dundee, of London, Captain Duncan, every effort
to force a passage through the immense and Impenetrable barriers
with which they were surrounded having failed. In this nearly
hopeless condition, the crew of the English ship were preparing, as
their last resource, and forlorn hope of preserving life, to secure
themselves on board their vessel in the best manner they could,
against the diie effects of that rigorous climate, when they were
put to a new and unexpected trial, by the arrival of their miserable
fellow suff , the poor Dutchmen, begging relief. Captain
I Duncan,—atter many hard struggles. between the resolution which
humanity Would have dictated, that of allowing them to remain and
share the scanty prevision and fate of himself and his crew, and the
painful alternative which stern necessity pointed out as ;he duty
he had to perform for preserving those placed under his charge, or
pethap, both crews,—was at last, after these miserable Creatures
igad twice come to implore his pity and protection, compelled to
order them away. The affecting narrative of the peculiar circum-
stances in which both crews were placed, during the time they
were on board the Dundee, but more especially on occasion of
their separation, when, in all hum'an probability, these unhappy
Wings, the Dutchmen, were soon to " sleep the sleep of death"
on the frozen ocean, was given in a former paper. A faint idea,
however, can, even from the particulars extracted from the log-book
of the Dundee, of the privations and hardships of her crew during
the winter, be formed of the appalling difficulties and sufferings to
which the Duch crew were exposed, in their open beat for a period
of nearly two months, during which they t r sod nearly 600
miles, under circumstances of distress at which humanity shud-
dery One of the survivors was brought to Peterhead, by Captain
Hogg, who, from the little English the Dutchman could be taught
to speak, has been able to collect but a very few imperfect portico-
lan.—Deprived of the assistance of the English, on which they
hung nearly their last hope of safety, the Dutch crew betook them-
selves to their boats, and pushed for the nearest Danish settlement.
Their progress thitherward was one scene of danger and toil; while
the accumulated evils of every succeeding day,threatened that ter-
mination of their sufferings which nature seemed no longer able to
withstand. The boats *ere drawn over large fields of ice,
until a spot of open water could be found, in which, again afloat,
they were sooto• impeded by the bay or lighter ice which
formed around them ; when the oar, being ne longer useful to thee%
nor the ice strong enough to allow their passage, the crew were awl
pelled to remain in their boats until next day, when all was solid,'
to admit their being taken on the ice and dragged on as before.—
For many days their labour and sorrow continued, until, at last,*
ray of hope of their deliverance being at hand, cheered their weary
souls on their reaching the northernmost Danish settlement, called
Opiernawick, in 1at.73 deg. The prospect of assistance here proved;
however, almost quite delusive—the poor residents, a man and his
wife, having barely provisions for their own subsistence during the
winter; so that all that they could do fur them was to allow them
to remain three days to recruit their strength sufficiently to attempt
the next station. Some of the natives, called in the language of the
country Tacks, were sent forward with them as guides; and after
encountering a series of like calamities to those to which they had al-
ready been exposed, they reached, about the 28th Nov. Four Island
Point, in lat. 69 deg. a distance of about 240 miles. Before they could
gain this station,it was necessary to cross an arm of the sea,and to have
the assistance of boats, placed for transporting the natives to tbat set-
tlement. Two days elapsed before the customary signals for the
boats to come over could, from the state of the weather, be observed;
and the miserable Dutchmen were compelled to remain during that
time in the open sir, without provisions. Several, it is understood
bad fallen victims to this aggravated distress, while others died after
reaching the settlement; .and the greater part of the survivors odd-,
bited the Lamentable effects of the intense frost,'either by the loss of
part or the whole of their toes and fingers, a of their limbs. Five or
six, who had escaped author ••- • • - • •
from which they have got on board British ships this summer, our
informant being of the number. On the passage be conducted himself
much to Capt. Hogg's satisfaction, and expressed his gratitude for the
kindness and attention be had experienced. Soon after be came
on board, his shipmates beheld him with astonishment, after get.
deg a biscuit, deliberately cut off a pieceof blubber from a whale
16111 had just killed, and placing it on the biscuit, eating it with the
greatest relish, although after being a short time accustomed to the
skip's provisions, he nauseated that species of food as much as the
other seamen: A Dutch ship bad been sent to Four Island Point
to bring home the more wretched part et the crew remaining there,
the pitiable condition to which, it is said, they were reduced, bring
such as to render it difficult to have them removed. The Enter-
prise bole away from Lancaster Sound on the 24th ultimo, previous
to which about ten ships had proceeded homeward, including the
lion Accord and Henrietta, of Aberdeen ; London, of Montrose ;
Fairy, of Dundee ; Bain, of Leith ; and all the Kirkaldy ships full,
with the exception of the Rambler, which remained to get another
lash to kill her op.-411,40ne amide.

THAMES TUNNEL—Yesterday Mr. BRUNEL reported,
that on the preceding day he had commenced a forward
movement with the shield, and that having overcome
the late serious difficulties, and the bed of the rivet
having been re•eramined by new borings, the expecta-
tions of a successful completion of this great undertaking
are higher than before the irruption of the river.
The Tunnel connecting the river Medway with the'
Thames is cot through a hill, to obvitte the necessity
of going round as far as the Nore. It is 25 feet high,
about two miles long, and as much as ten shillings is
charged for the passage of a small boat.

t \MUSH CHURN A8116A61
TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.
Stit—An erroneous statement having been recently
circulated that the late visit of Bishop Low (one of the
Prelates of the Scots Episcopal Communion) to France,
was foi- the purpose of inspecting a Protestant English
Episcopal Church establiOied in that country under the
superintendence of Bishop Luscombe, as the mis
sionary delegate; I trust, with your accustomed teadi•
nest to correct misrepresentation, that you will permit

the issertion, in your Journal, of an explanation of
this erroneous idea.

The fact is, Sir, that
_there neither is any Protestant
Episcopal jurisdiction whatever in France—nor would
the existing laws of that country admit the establish-
ment of any Episcopal Power, other than that which
they alone already recognise of a Catholic prelacy;
and above all with the jealous feelings of the nation as
to foreign interference, would it ever listen to the idea
of an introduction of an alien establishment.

With respect to the several English Chapels wh•ch
have been formed by iadividual zeal in various Conti-
nental towns, for the accommodation of their British vi-
sitors, they are one and all, without exception, dependant
upon no ecclesiastical authority whatever, nor do they
recognize any jurisdictional power of any Bishop hap•
peniog to lit resident abroad, each being separately so
perintended by Episcopal Clergy of our National
Church, in their services strictly conforming to the ri•
tual and rubric which it ordains. And 'therefore, as
such alone, it would be highly incorrect, if not, more
strictly speaking, illegal, in them to admit the controul
over them by another Church, or its representatives, to
whom they neither owe, nor can pay any authorized
allegiance. I am, Sir, your obedient Servant,
September 22,1827. ARGUS.

GREAT BELL OF GLASGOW.

-.MP-
'SOX THE 1111111.016

In the Cathedral steeple of Glasgow it a great bell,
which is twelve feet one inch in circumference, and has
a grave and deep tone. In 1789, it was accidentally
cracked by some persons wh• got admission to the
steeple. It was, therefore, seat to London, and cast
anew. Oa the outside of it is the following inscription t
In the year of race
1594,
Marcus Knox,
A merchant of Glasgow,
Zealous for the Interests of the Reformed Religion,
Caused me to be fabricated in Holland,
For the use of his Fellow Citizens in Glasgow,
And placed me, with solemnity,
In the tower of their Cathedral.
My function
Was to announce, by the impress on missions.
(Me audito venias doctrinam sancta.) ut discos ;°)
And
I was taught to proclaim the hours of unheeded time.
195 years had I sounded these awful warnings,
When I was broken
By the hands of inconsiderate and unskilful men.
In the year 1790,
I was cast lato the furnace,
Refounded at London,
• And returned to my sacred vocation.
Reader,
Thou also shalt know a resurrection,
May it.be to eternal life!

• Come. that ye may learn holy doctrine.

PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.

Since the last Session of Parliament several altera-
tions have been made in the chambers and buildiags
asout the House of Lords. The most convenient On-
provement is a new coffee room for the Peers, on a le-
vel with Howard's room. The door under the Piaiza,
through which the late Quavr proceeded to her trial,
has been closed up, and a window made. The space
upon which the door formerly opened will be converted
into a coffee room, and become a most desirable ac-
commodation to the Peers. The arrangement has been
made under the direction of Sir T. TTawarrT.

The works at the back of the House, which front the
River, are nearly completed, and the appearance now
made, if not equal to the Speaker's House, is far from
Forming that remarkable contrast which a short time
since was too glaring. All that belonged to the old
House of Lords is now removed.

In the range of general improvements, we may notice
the advantage which the low swampy land above the
Penitentiary upon Milbank must derive from the large
quantity of soil which is daily brought in barges from
the excavation for St. Cathetine's Dock. During some
time past, a body of labourers have been employed
conveying the soil from the barges over an iron railway
to a field a short distince west of the Penitentiary.
This Field, when raised to a proper level, is to be built
on, and form a line of houses to join a new street which
is to run from the Kines•road, Chelsea, to the water side.
By official documents, it appears that upwards of
SOO indiv idualrhave been put into confinement in the several prisons
of England for contempt of Court, under process issuing out of
the Court of Chancery and the Court of Exchequer, since 1820.
the commitments to the Fleet prison not included. In Glocester
gaol, within- the period just mentioned, more than 40 persons
base been confined for contempt; in Devon, 2.3 ; in Somerset,
34; in Letcester, ; in York Castle, Si ; in Warwick, 18; in
Suffolk, SO; in urrey, 13; in Essex, 25; in Huntingdon, 15; in
Northampton, 19; in Stafford, 33 ; in Oxford, 13 ; In Monmouth,
6, one of whom died, after an imprisonmtmt of six years, for the
non•payment of costs amounting to 9.1. 79. 9d. in Montgomery, 2,
' one having retnained in prison since 1817. In mow of the other
Igaols of the kingdom there have bees persons Imprisoned for coo-
templivarying from 1 to 10. At present .here are nor many iq
prison far contempt.
AURORA BOREALIS.—This Metropolis was surprised
last night, by a splendid display of northern lights,
which but very seldom stray so far to the south. The
northern parts of the Heavens displayed, about eleven
o'clock, so ruddy a blaze, as to appear like the reflection
of a mighty conflagration. When we observed the sky an
hour later, we found that the red hue was gone, but the
whole horizoa,in a circular direction, from the North to
the East, was lined with a thin cloud, or condensed
mist, from which waves of snowy light rolled up to
the empyrean, or sudden rays flashed up, and as sod.
denly vanished, to appear in a different part. A few small
clouds broken inta fantastic shapes slowlyfloated,or rather
were suspended in the North-east portion of the Ilea•
vens, but evidently lower than the region of the Raid,
for they remained dark while it spread and brightened
above them. The rest of the sky was clear, and the
piercing lustre of the stars flashed vividly through the
snowy veil, which the sportive and ever shifting light
flung and unrolled beneath them.
Wednesday last, at ten minutes past five o'clock in
the morning, several persons at Grandholm manufac.
toty observed in the heavens a round body of a re-
markble brilliant appeerancorwhich remained stationary
directly above them for about 30 minutes. Two tails
ptoceeded from it, one in a N.W. direction, resembling a
serpent twisted round the trunk of a tree, the other rose
perpendicularly to a great height.—Aiterdeen Chronicle.

eiNOVA'S
When Mr. H--=;-- i., the architect; Wit at Reali.
and Mrs. H. wete bn a friendly footing with that grtAi
sculptor. 0 ice at a patty, some one observ*Ji It
wonder if it be true that CANO4IA wears a wig?" a I
can answer for it that lit does not," said Mr. H. "And
why so," said the others " Beesuse," replied Mr. 14
•• I have heard it aalerted, that he Wore a wig, ant'
doubting it to be tree, determined to take particulai
notice of his head, and being seated near him at dime
resterclAy, I had sufficient opportunity of ascertaidint
the fact, and am now satisfied that he wears his owr
hair."

" And why are you satisfied?" inquired ones
' " Because," said he, " I perceived a certain propnr•
tion of grey hairs, and that is evidence sufficient that
his is not artificial hair."
" That test may not be infallible, however," observed
Mrs. 11.

Every one present at this conversation were of a stir.
ferent opinion, considering this evidence final; until
Mrs. H. vho was well known to be a Lady of great ta•
lent, and a favourite of CANoves. replied, " I know
chat he wears a wig t I asked him the question, and he
owned that he did, adding, r but, Madam, as fitness is
the first feature of art, it we; fitting that I should show
a sprinkling of grey amidst the brown, and, therefore,
to avoid suspicion, ordered the peraquier to weave some
grey hairs into my wig. "
• This may aff ad a hint to some vain old wigs-bys,
whP, in wi.bing to appear young, are prone to render
themselves ridiculous; for nothing can be more unfit-
ting, than the sight of a dandy head of hair, all auburn
ringlets, as a thatching to a wrinkled brow.—. Lit. (:hr.

r.FRANCE.

PARTS, Sm. 22.—Yesterday a Swiss soldier, accused
of having stolen a watch under aggravating circum-
stances, which, according to the militar law of his
country, brings with it the punishment
she deb, was
ti
tried according to e forms prescribed ithn treaties
between France and Switzerland. A Council of War
assembled in thiLplain of Grenelle, not far from the
place where the exception was to take place in case of
conviction. The evidence being clear and positive,
sentence of death was passed. A Council of Revision,
composed of Officers of a superior rank to those who
waisted at the Council of War, was immediately con-
voked, and proceeded to examine whether the rules of
the special military code for the Swiss regiments had
been observed. The proceedings having been found
regular, the soldier, who was only allowed time to pre-
pare for death, was immediately conducted, and placed
near the wall of the outer Boulevards, and shot.

•••••041

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