The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-10-04 00:00:00

!ered merely I

:cal navigator

ronomical attain-

ments, and a „,ce of proficiency in those nautical ac-
quirements, which come under the denomination of " seaman-
ship." Formerly (by which term he meant previously to the
invention of the chronometer), three important things were
diligently attended to by the navizst,,-

referred to " the

lead, the log, and the look out."" Of late, be regretted to
say, that these had been much neglected. Chrouometers, in-
egardeu in their proper light as valuable
ad-
n exalted from simple regulators into infallible
h so, that some of our very experienced na-
they have doubted their compasses, their lu-

;toad of

vigators,

nars, and dead reckoning, have, from a fatuity quite asto-
nishing, never been led to doubt the accuracy of their chro-
He scarcely ever met a captain yet but what he
.1 his chronometer as one of the very best. But
r all, a mere machine (a most va-

considere

what if it was

~ but still a mere machine), whose rate
not only by temperature, magnetic influence,
concussion, &c., &c., but even by being wound up
in an improper manner. Is this then, he asked. an instru-
ment to which we should almost solely commit ourselves,
without using every endeavour, by dead reckoning, lunars,
and astral observations, to check even the slightest inaccu-
racy that might arise ? Surely not. lie could fancy a ship-
owner calculating upon the safe return of his vessel, en-
trusted to the charge of a cautious seaman, who pays as
careful attention to his dead reckoning, and checks it as often
as possible by a lung'
him justified in so d
the utmost retch of ins

may be affect

_ lunar Wiser
in eo doing •

ould knowingly

would tru

view of the c

the ablest writers in the

yet, no (

y excel:

a Cand he could imagine
ould not fancy, nor would

it justify the shipown,

,erty to
.the charge

chronom

ho hesitate

?s have been lost by

Athem ;and

that they are not, without

ble invention the

of the corn

then_ proceeded to
.notic

essential

ded to—at least

) rely g

oning, the varia-
ictly attended to whenever the weather permitted.
From what he read and

it so strictly attended to now
,bould

a ship, and that

t ; and yet,

how much more reason

since so much iron has been intro-

well as the material of

D, close to.the compass, in the shape

fillers and el

upub ILLG •az a...v.
of the compass on board a ship, is also materially
effected by the direction of the ships' head and stern,
owing to the iron, which is in every vessel becoming mag-
netic by induction. This subject he also purposed bringing
under their consideration in its proper place; and, it was
only incidently mentioned here to show, that all blame is not
to be attached to the captain of a ship, who often only joins
a few days or hours before ship sails, and has no opportunity
of ascertaining the correctness of his compasses ere he sails.
No such excuse, however, was available for his reputation,
if the lead, log, astrological, and lunar observations have been
unattended to. From these few observations then, he drew
the following conclusion, viz., that to be an efficient practical
navigator does not consist in being a thorough seaman solely,
nor does it consist in being possessed of adequate attainments
in both, unless combined with the physical properties of a
firm nerve, and a sharp eye. For what would avail knowing
where you were situated, if you had not sufficient knowledge
of se

—..manship to manage your ship in the various situations
of danger in which she may be placed ?—or, what would it
avail your knowing how to do so, if .you had not sufficient
knowledge to direct your vessel towards her intended port?
—or, lastly, what would either avail if you were physically
unable to attend to the duties required ?
The lecturer proceeded to comment upon, and to depre-
cate, the jealousy existing between the navigators of the old
and the new school. Such jealousy is especially detrimental
to the nautical interests, at the present moment, when com-
plete unanimity amongst shipmasters ought to prevail. In-
deed if the present opportunity, when the legislature,
merchants, and shipowners, together with the first and best
in our land, are striving for their improvement and welfare,
is allowed to slip. without some united demonstration of the

shipmasters' wishes and opinions, they may write themselves,
in all that constitutes a.claim on the consideration of the coun-
try, as " nil" for the next 20 years. Mr. Tracey then brought

before the meeting the subject of nautical education as it is
effected by the proposed act of parliament, one of the clauses
of which prescribing the nature of the examination required to
be passed by the applicants for captains' certificates be read.

I •
From this he argued that the legislature contemplated the
progressive improvement in qualifications of. the candidates ;
and it was therefore the duty of every parent, training up a
boy to the sea, to take care the, in the education given him,
he kept pace with the march of science; that he was well
grounded in geometry and spherical trigonorlietry, a descrip-
tion of knowledge which ' acquire to At him for his
nt.least, should be

profession, and of which the foundation

laid in his early years.
Mr. Tracey concluded his lecture, which was well received
throughout, by a few general reinhrks, urging the advantage
which would accrue were the masters of the merchant service
to endeavour to raise their standing. in society. None ought
to be more fitted than men conducting important commercial
operations in every quarter of the globe to have a voice in
political matters, and especially in pointing out the commer-
cial policy of. the country. At present, however, they were
not united ; and, to aid in establishing the union required,
he strongly advised the formation of a club-house, upon the
principle of the Junior United Service Club-house in Lon-
don, which might easily be done by 300 shipmasters taking
up debentures of £2O each.
Mr. Tracey having sat down, amidst hearty approbation
from the meeting, _

The CHAIRMAN then rose and spoke as follows:—
Gentlemen, before we separate I would just observe, that
as my name has been mentioned by the worthy lecturer as
one of the committee, who, through Mr. Moss, invited him
to lecture on practical navigation, I roav he allowed to say
the committee met a few days ago for the purpose of consi-
dering what course should be adopted for rendering the asso-
ciation still more useful to shipmasters, and it was deter-

:nant Tr

mined that Lieu

should be invited to deliver a
course of lectures on practical navigation, and Mr. Living-
ston, on currents generally. Both of these gentlemen gave
ready and cheerful compliance to the invitation of the com-
mittee ; and after the mental treat we have had to• night, you
will agree with me that a good step was taken to render the
institution instrumentally beneficial to those for whom it was
in its formation designed to benefit. If we are to judge from
this introductory lecture, which has so admirably shown in
what practical navigation consists, we may fairly anticipate a
lucid and useful exposition of the several branches of prac-
tical navigation in the succeeding lectures. lam sure you
will, with me, regret the small attendance of shipmasters this.
evening ; those who have only an indirect interest in mari-
time matters, seem to take delight in promoting this branch
of the association, if I may judge from those present. But
I would suggest, that each of us who have nautical friends,
should bring one with us to the next lecture, so that the
rooms may be crowded to hear the succeeding lectures. I
feel perfectly satisfied that it is only to make known to these
gentlemen that a real and lasting benefit is to be derived from

these lectures by the younger branches of the profession ;
and I am equally sure that those whose experience is matured,
would feel deep interest in them. As to their becoming
members of the association I am perfectly at ease, assured
as I am that for their own interests sake, they will he obliged
to avail themselves of its aid. The day will soon arrive when
they will discover the necessity of banding illemselves to-
gether (if for no other purpose) to meet the various questions
that are from time to time agitated in parliament and else- ,
where ; and which way can shipmasters protect themselves
from legislative enactments, damaging their interests and
prospects, but by combination of themselves. It is the
only way that they can be fairly represented as a body,
and whose suggestions would, on matters of maritime cha-
racter, especially as to the mercantile marine, be of infinite
service to our legislature; and should not a body of men so
numerous and so respectable be represented, as well as other
professions ? We may fairly estimate the number of ship-
masters in port at one time to be about two thousand ; and
have such a body of men (I repeat so respectable) no inter-
ests to protect? My wonder and astonishment is, that they
have so long neglected a matter so vastly important to them.
There are, I believe, nearly a thousand shipmasters attached
to this association, nearly all of whom are at sea. But these
are few compared with the aggregate number trading to and
belonging this port, who will, doubtless, become members as
they become acquainted with the nature of the association.
Now, on Monday next a meeting of the shipmasters will be
held here, to consider and discuss the merits and demerits of
the bill which Capt. Fitzroy has brought before parliament as
to shipmasters passing an examination. You must agree with
me, that any individual, as an individual, could do but little
in protecting the interests of the whole body of shipmasters.
But it may be admitted that suggestions respectfully made
to parliament by an association whose interests are the sub-
ject of consideration, would carry weight with them at
least, and by this means the interest of the whole body
would be protected. I feel I need say no more to show you
the necessity of shipmasters combining and forming an asso-
ciation ; and I may add, neither its respectability nor utility
could by any other association be expelled. Those nume-
rous kind friends who take an interest with us in the cause
of shipmasters I most cordially thank, and I would venture
to thank them also in the name of the association. In con-
clusion, I must tell you that a few days ago I had some con-
versation with the mayor, on the subject of this association,.
and I am glad to inform you that, in addition. to his kind
donation to the association, he will at all times render. it all
the service in his power. Mr. Tracey has suggested, in my
humble opinion, an excellent plan for erecting a building for
the purposes of this association, and as he has referred
wuosutldo
the "Junior United Service Club" as an example,
suggest that Mr. Moss obtain the original prospectus and
rules of the club, and submit. them to the consideration of
the committee of this association. With these remarks, I
beg leave to move a vote of thanks to Lieut. Tracey, for so
kindly favouring the association with his aid in promoting it
by a lecture calculated to do so much good.

THE SPECIAL COMMISSION.—The special commission,
for the trial of the rioters in custody and admitted to bail in
this county, is advertised to be opened in Liverpool, on Mon-
day next.

Custom-house frauds are not of course confined to this
country, nor, as it seems, is the discovery of them. Accord-
ing to the Dutch Papers a system of extensive frauds has just
been found out at Rotterdam, the explanatory details of which,
however, are not, given, further than that they have taken
place in regard to sugar, and that the Handelmaatshappy,
the great Netherlands Trading Company, will be the sufferer,
and not the government. __,_

The following distinguished families are put hi mourning
by the death of the Marquis of Wellesley :^— Bea_ufoutt
Fitzroy Somerset, Begot, Clarendon, Westmoreland, Ilkley
Long, Anglesea, Winchelsea, Cowley, Cadogan, Ely, Totten-
ham, Fitzwygram, Loftus, Besborough, Sallibtuy, and Cullen
Smith.

COIL RES PP ArDIi.;NC2

N.N EXCELLENT SUGGESTION

TO THE EDITOR OF THE LIVERPOOL STAND:II.

Six,—While reading the account of the lamentable fire
in Liverpool, and having witnessed the one a fortnight ago,
and seeing the great peril to which the firemen, policemen,
and others are exposed, and having now to depict e the serious
loss of life and accident occasioned by the late fire, another
sad calamity recurred to my remembrance, namely, the coal-
Newcastle, when I think

pit
47 lives

cident a few;

be one to r
widows am

t)St ; I/

;0 a fund for the wa
liildren of all men wit
fact, all casualties.

that one of the most

aed, would
edom, whereby the
leir lives from fires,

establisl

ave some provision
alleviate the severe

uft-erin

I have not time to
is case, iu fact, the

a sympa

In r!th
1 1 hot

ud trust it Wi

and, if the gent!