NAUTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

BEACONS, BUOYS, AND LIGHT-HOUSES-SCOTLAND.

NOTICE TO MARINERS-OFFICIAL.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, December 20, 1852.

The annexed notices to mariners, respecting beacons, buoys, and light-houses, transmitted to this Department by the United States Consul at London, are published for general information:

The Commissioners of Northern Lights hereby give notice that they have moored buoys and erected beacons, of the position and appearance of which a specification is given in the following tabular form by the Engineer to the Board.

OBAN DISTRICT.

NAME OF STATION. Bonoe Rook, off Easdale Sound.
DESCRIPTION OF MARK. Ten feet buoy-black.

DEPTH AT LOW WATER SPRING TIDES. Nine fathoms.

BEARINGS OF MARKS AND OF LINES OF INTERSECTION MEETING AT THE STATION. Extremity of Ross of Mull in line with north end of Toiay Island-bearing N. W. 4 W. South end of Scarba Island in line with south end of Blada Island-bearing S. S. W.

W.

West end of Inish Island-bearing N. E. § N,

NAME OF STATION. Ferry Rocks, Kerrera Sound.
DESCRIPTION OF MARK. Seven feet buoy-black.

DEPTH AT LOW WATER SPRING TIDES. Five fathoms.

BEARINGS OF MARKS AND OF LINES OF INTERSECTION MEEting at the STATION. Middle Chimney, Mr. Marcus' House, in line with Sonnachan Point-bearing E. § N. Easdale Point, north-western side of island in line with south end of Kerrera Island -bearing W. S. W.

Dunolly Castle, clear of west brow Fruachin Island-bearing N. E. by E. † E.

FRITH OF FORTH DISTRICT.

NAME OF STATION. Sand End.

DESBRIPTION OF MARK. Seven feet buoy-black.

DEPTH AT LOW WATER SPRING TIDES. Five fathoms.

BEARINGS OF MARKS AND OF LINES OF INTERSECTION MEETING AT THE STATION. Inchkeith Light-house-bearing S. E. 4 S.

North west extremity of eastmost clump of trees near Pettycur in line with center of Road Metal Pit-bearing N. E. by E. E.

Dod Head Cottage in line with high-water mark, eastern extremity of the Black Rock Burntisland-bearing N. N. E.

Center of Lousdale Farmhouse in line with spire of Parish Church, Burntislandbearing N. W. & N.

Light at end of Burntisland Pier-bearing N. W. W.

ORKNEY DISTRICT.

NAME OF STATION. Barrel of Butter.

DESCRIPTION OF MARK. Beacon.

BEARINGS OF MARKS AND OF LINES OF INTERSECTION MEETING AT THE STATION. A beacon of stone, 15 feet high, surmounted by an iron cage, 63 feet high, has been erected on the Barrel of Butter Rock, situated near the western side of entrance to Scapa Flow, and about 14 miles E. from Cava Island.

NAME OF STATION. Bar Rock, off Græmsay Island.

DESCRIPTION OF MARK. Seven feet buoy-black.

DEPTH AT LOW WATER SPRING TIDES. Four-and-a-half fathoms.

BEARINGS OF MARKS AND OF LINES OF INTERSECTION MEETING AT THE STATION. High Light-house Tower on Græmsay--bearing S. by E. E.

Windy brack Farmhouse in line with Sandside Farmhouse-bearing South.

Fillit's Farmhouse, south end, in line with north end of Clate Farmhouse-bearing W. S. W.

W.

Low Light-house Tower on Gramsay-bearing W. by N. N.

SOUND OF SKYE DISTRICT.

NAME OF STATION. Calliach Stone.

DESCRIPTION OF MARK. Beacon.

DESCRIPTION OF BEACON. A beacon of iron, 15 feet high, surmounted by a ball, has been erected on the Calliach Stone Rock, in Loch Alsh, at the entrance to the Sound of Skye. By order of the Board,

(Signed)

ALEX, CUNNING AAM, Secretary.

OFFICE OF LIGHT-HOUSE BOARD, EDINBURG, November 17, 1852.

STORNOWAY LIGHT-HOUSE AND BEACON.

NOTICE TO MARINERS.

OFFICE OF LIGHT-HOUSE BOARD, EDINBURGH, November, 25, 1852.

The commissioners of northern light-houses hereby give notice that a light house has been built upon Arnish Point, at the entrance to the harbor of Stornoway, in the Island of Lewis, in the county of Ross; the light of which will be exhibited on the night of Saturday, 1st January, 1853, and every night thereafter, from the going away of daylight in the evening till the return of daylight in the morning

The following is a specification of the light-house, and the appearance of the light," by the engineer to the commissioners :

The light-house is in N. L. 58° 11' 28", and W. Lon. 6° 22' 10". By compass, the light-house bears from Chicken Head N. W., distance about 3 nautical miles.

The Stornoway Light will be known to mariners as a REVOLVING LIGHT which shews & BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT once every half minute. The light is elevated 56 feet above the level of high water of ordinary spring tides, and may be seen at the distance of about 10 miles, and at lesser distances according to the state of the atmosphere; to a near observer, in favorable circumstances, the light will not wholly disappear between the intervals of greatest brightness. It illuminates an arc from about N. N. E. to about N. W. by N. N. facing the entrance to Stornoway, and an arc from about S. W. S. to about E. S. E., facing up the harbor, the intervening arcs being masked.

The commissioners further give notice that a BEACON has been erected on a reef running out from Arnish Point, placed about 200 yards from the light house, on which a light will be thrown from the light-house tower; and from the top of the beacon an apparent or REFLECTED LIGHT of low power will, in favorable states of the weather, be visible to vessels entering the bay.

The commissioners hereby further give notice, that by virtue of a warrant from the Queen in council, dated 11th February, 1851, the following toll or duty to be levied in respect of that light shall be as follows:

"For every vessel belonging to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, (the same not belonging to her majesty, her heirs and successors, nor being navigated wholly in ballast, and for every foreign vessel which, by any act of parliament, order in council, convention or treaty, shall be privileged to enter the ports of the said United Kingdom, upon paying the same duties of tonnage as are paid by vessels belonging to the United Kingdom (the same not being navigated wholly in ballast,) which shall pass or derive benefit from the said light at Stornoway, one farthing per ton of the burthen of every such vessel for each time of passing or deriving benefit from said light, if on a coasting voyage, and double the said toll for each time of passing or deriving benefit from the said light, on an oversea voyage, and for every foreign vessel navigated as aforesaid not privileged in manner hereinbefore mentioned, double the amount of the respective tolls hereinbefore specified."

By order of the Board,

ALEX. CUNNINGHAM, Secretary.

NEW LIGHT AT THE MILITARY PORT IN THE GULF OF NAPLES.

From the 1st of November, 1852, a new light of the fourth order was exhibited at the entrance of the Military Port in the Gulf of Naples, of a small model, on the revolving principle, rising 33.7 French feet (metres 10.945) from the medium level of the sea,

and visible, in ordinary weather, to an observer at the height of seven feet above the horizon, at the distance of ten geographical miles.

The position of this light is, South 26°, 30′ East, and distant 458 metres from the large lighthouse of the third order, situated on the angle of the two moles which form the mercantile port, and has been visible since 1844, the position of which (already indicated) is latitude 40° 55′ 13′′ North, and longitude 11° 55' 18" East of Paris.

The elbow of the military port, on the end of which the light is placed, looks towards the N. N. E., and the entrance to it stands between these two lighthouses, with a free open passage of 401 metres.

Vessels entering the military port at night will keep the new light above-mentioned on their left, at a distance of not less than thirty nine metres, in order to avoid the breakwater of rocks that extends towards the E. N. E. to a short distance from the point on which it is placed; and when the light bears W. S. W. by compass, the helm to be immediately put to starboard.

Finally, this new revolving light is situated South of the small fixed light of the fifth order, existing for some years past at the extremity of the mercantile port, and is distant from it 540.86 metres, and which small fixed light of the fifth order bears from the large lighthouse of the third order already mentioned, in the direction of N. E. E. by compass.

Consequently, in order to enter the mercantile port, after having from a considerable distance sighted the large lighthouse of the third order, there will be seen subsequently projecting further out than it, the new light in question of the fourth order already passed; and after leaving the last-mentioned light on the left or port side, the vessel to be steered to the N. E., towards the small fixed light of the fifth order, keeping it on the port side until abreast of it, when the helm should be put to starboard, and the anchor let go at once, in consequence of the narrowness of the entrance or mouth of this port.

THE CHANNEL OF THE BAY OF SMYRNA.

T. PRATT, Commander of Her Majesty's steam vessel Spitfire, has addressed the subjoined letter to Her Majesty's Consul at Smyrna :—

ALTERATION IN THE MARKS FOR ENTERING THE CHANNEL OF THE BAY OF SMYRNA.

SIR,-Having, since my arrival at this port on August 13, been enabled to examine the Spit off the mouth of the Hermes, upon which a beacon was placed in 1842, and having ascertained that it has considerably grown out by the depositions from that river since that time, I therefore felt it my duty, as early as possible, to inform you of the fact, for the benefit of merchants and captains interested in the navigation of this Gulf, and to point out to them that the marks given in a copy of a chart of the "Channel of the Bay of Smyrna," by Captain Graves and the Officers of H. M. S. Beacon, which was then published at this port, viz, "that the North end of the Old Castle on Mount Pagus on with the South end of Sanjac Castle, clears the Hermes Spit" is no longer true, the Spit having grown out beyond these marks.

It is now necessary to substitute the following for the former marks:-A large and conspicuous tree, with a house under it, which appears to the South of Sanjac Castle, on with the North end of the Old Castle on Mount Pagus. This latter object will, in consequence, be more than twice its breadth open to the South of Sanjac Castle, instead of touching it as by the old marks. N. B.-This spit is the only one of such rapid increase as to sensibly affect the navigation of the Channel in a few years. But it is one of least danger where a proper look-out is kept, since the reeds growing on the lips of the river are within a cable's length of the spit, and the shallow bar is generally seen to break, or with trunks of trees aground upon it.

As the other spits extend some distance from dry land, they are not so easily indicated; the marks for them being very distant and indistinct. It is, therefore, the more to be regretted, that the buoys formerly placed upon these spits, by the subscription of some few merchants, have been entirely removed, through the apparent want of interest or care about their preservation by the local authority. The consequence is, that many vessels now ground upon these spits, much loss of time and expense follows, which is often far more than would be the cost of replacing and maintaining such necessary guides to a great commercial port. Finding that notice of their entire removal is not generally known, strangers arriving at the port of Smyrna are thus often placed in a difficulty.

Her Majesty's Consul, Smyrna.

(Signed) T. PRATT, Commander.

MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.

BOSTON MERCHANTS AND MEN.

“DEMOCRITUS,” a correspondent of the Transcript, furnishes the subjoined sketch of "the noble men of Boston"-principally merchants of that city, who have distinguished themselves by their deeds of benevolence and patriotism. The sketches of character, though brief, so far as our knowledge extends, are in the main just, and we therefore transfer to the pages of the Merchants' Magazine the entire article, in order to give it a more enduring record than the columns of a newspaper afford, and in the hope that it may stimulate the merchants of every city in the Union to "GO AND DO LIKEWISE."

The city of Boston contains many men, of whom any city or country might justly be proud. Men who have created a character for themselves which properly entitles them to the name of noblemen. They have laid the foundations and erected the superstructures of their own eminence; and are not indebted to others for the merit of their position and reputation. Not like the noblemen of Europe, obtaining a factitious title and wealth by inheritance from ancestors more worthy than themselves; and whose titles and wealth serve as a thin veil to cover the moral and intellectual barrenness that exists beneath; but nature's noblemen, who have obtained the title which deservedly belongs to them. They have hewn out their own fortunes by industry and labor. They have accumulated wealth sufficient to satisfy the utmost dreams of avarice; and being blessed with the means, are likewise blessed with the disposition to use them for the benefit of the present and future generations. They are honorable men, not from the circumstance of being, or having been, members of Congress, or of legislative bodies, among whom many dishonorable men could be mentioned; but honorable men from the acts of their lives, from the good they have done, and continue to do; they are not weary in well-doing. The present generation enjoys the fruits of their beneficence, and ages yet unborn will rise up and call them blessed. Among the first of these noble men of Boston, who has claim to a distinguished rank for his donations, both public and private, stands conspicuously the Hon. Thomas H. Perkins. The objects of his munificence need not be mentioned; they are known to the whole country. To the literary world his name will ever be held in remembrance as the founder of that noble institution, the Boston Athenæum; and posterity for ages to come will revere his memory for the bounteous means he has afforded to furnish intellectual and moral light to the blind. Without the aid he has freely given, how many of that unfortunate class would now be groping in mental darkness; in ignorance of the light of science, or of literature, or of the arts, or of religion, which now illuminates their minds, and renders their existence pleasant to themselves and useful to others. He enjoys his reward in beholding the fruits of his good works; and from Him, who has given to him the means and the disposition to benefit bis fellow-creatures, he will receive a still greater reward.

The Hon. Amos Lawrence is entitled to a high place among the noble men of Buston. His bounties are scattered broad-cast throughout the State. He has given, and is constantly giving, of the abundance of his wealth. No worthy object of charity ever applies to him in vain. All benevolent and literary institutions find in him a never-failing source to establish them, and sustain them in the time of their necessities. He is a liberal and a cheerful donor.

And who stands more pre-eminently liberal, who in this country has done more in the way of donations for the promotion of science and literature, than the Hon. Abbott Lawrence? The objects of his bounty, numerous though they be, are too well known to be mentioned. The present generation are reaping the benefits of his munificence, and countless ages will hereafter have abundant reason to bless his name. His country, too, has reason to thank him for his distinguished services in his official capacity, and he will be welcomed to his native land, upon his return from his foreign mission, in a manner that will reflect honor upon the citizens of Boston.

The lamented William Lawrence, whose death was so sincerely mourned, was likeVOL. XXVIII.-NO, I.

9

wise distinguished for his private charities. This Lawrence family may well be called Nature's Noblemen.

The Hon. William Appleton has long been known as a liberal public benefactor His charities, like himself, are quiet and unostentatious, but not the less productive of good to the recipients. He has built churches and founded academies, and in the distribution of his charities has been as judicious as he has been liberal. He has done a great amount of good, and is willing, in an official capacity, to sacrifice his ease and comfort for the good of his country.

Another of the same name, who is thrice honored, is the Hon. Samuel Appleton. No one of the noble men of Boston deserves a higher niche in the temple of fame than this venerable man. It is impossible to measure the hight or the depth, the length or the breadth, of his munificent gifts. Academies and schools, churches and societies, attest to the liberality of his disposition. He never, while life lasts, will rest satisfied with the good he has done, but will continue to bestow as long as he can find objects deserving of his bounty. He has been a faithful steward in the service of his Master, and from Him he will receive the reward of the "good and faithful servant."

The Hon. R. G. Shaw stands high in the ranks of the noble men of Boston, especially in his private charities. This gentleman's manner of bestowing his alms carries the appearance of considering it as a favor to himself in having an opportunity to relieve an individual. Accessible to all, no one who calls upon him ever departs without a strong impression of his kindness of heart, as well as of his liberal disposition. One there was, who is not now among the noble men of earth; he is gone to his high reward for all his good deeds here; he is in the company of the spirits of the "just men made perfect." As the principal founder of the "State Reform School," his name will be remembered by the living and by those yet to come. Charities, such as were bestowed by the Hon. Theodore Lyman, do not cease to produce their beneficial influence during the existence of one or two generations, but are extended through a long vista of time. Not only the youth, who are now receiving the benefit of that institution, will have cause to repeat his name in grateful remembrance, but countless numbers will yet appear to bless him as the means whom God has raised for their salvation. His courteous manners and polite bearing to every one who had intercourse with him, endeared him to all, and associations the most pleasant, will ever be connected with his name. It may be truly said of him that he was a perfect gentleman.

Wealth alone does not make men noble. There have been men in Boston, now numbered with the dead, of whom all that can be said is, that they died rich. “Even half a million gets them no other praise." "And when the earth was shoveled on them, if that which served them for a soul were still within its husk, it would still be dirt to dirt."

There are many now living, who are as rich as any of the noble men of Boston, but they have lived to accumulate-to add house to house-field to field-dollar to dollar-to leave to heirs who will quarrel about its division, and then squander their father's (I will not say ill got) ill-kept earnings; or, inheriting their father's penurious disposition, will keep all they have received, and continue to increase their bloated fortunes.

Yet such cumberers of the ground are ever ready to exclaim that the generous and the liberal give from motives of ostentation-to get a name among their fellow-men. What right have such men to judge of motives? Do they ever give from any motive! Their alms are done in a corner-they make no show of them-they suffer not their left hand to know what their right hand does, not they-their charities are of no concern to any one-what they give is nothing to nobody. Of such poor rich men, it is proper to say, "By their fruits ye shall know them."

MACKEREL FISHING IN THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE.

Reports from the Gulf of St. Lawrence state that the mackerel fishing has been unusually unsuccessful this season. This is attributed not to a want of fish, but to the prevalence of high winds, which by agitating the water, rendered it muddy and prevented the fish from biting. On the Bay Quinte considerable quantities of white fish are caught. This year about 1,500 bbls. have been taken. The exertions of the fishermen are receiving a new stimulus in the increased price of their wares. Before this season the price has seldom exceeded $3 a bbl, but owing to an American demand it has now risen to $4 50 and $5. White fish are also caught on some parts of the Georgia Bay, but the enterprise has not been carried on to any great extent.