breaker upon it; as the Waller was carrying dispatches, and had a fine breeze, after being nearly becalmed for eight hours, it prevented her commander from sending a boat to examine it more particularly, especially as it was at that season of the year, which made it doubtful what passage the vessel would make. He has since heard that an American vessel was either lost, or nearly so, upon one of these shoals. Having a strong current setting to the southward, lieutenant Davidson attempted to pass to the northward of those islands and shoals, which lie in the south entrance of the Straits of Macassar; being apprehensive that if he went to the southward of them, so late in the season, he would be drifted too far to leeward of the Straits of Salayer, to pass through them before the contrary currents would become too strong to accomplish it; the winds being light and variable, between N. E. and S. E. On the 29th of the same month, at 7 A. M. passed over the tail of a shoal, saw the bottom clearly, it appeared to be of fine white sand, with several small coral rocks, had only three casts of the lead upon it, viz. 9, 11, and 14 fathoms, then on the ground with 40 fathoms; about three miles to the southward of this; at 9. 30 A. M. found the Waller upon the edge of another shoal, apparently much more dangerous; saw the sharp pointed coral rocks under the bottom, had soundings upon it, from 8 to 15 fathoms, and then no ground with 22 fathoms. About four miles farther to the southward perceived near noon, the vessel to be on the edge of a third shoal, and again beheld the rugged coral rocks under her keel; had sound ings on it of 9, 9 and 104 fathoms, afterwards no ground. The two last, the Waller avoided by instantly putting the helm down, heaving all the sails aback, and letting the vessel pay round upon her keel. The latitude observed when on the edge of the last-mentioned shoal was 4° 37′ S. and longitude per chronometer was 1' 7° 8 E. Finding the current now setting to the northward, and having been three times on hitherto unknown dangers, the Waller stood away to the southward, close-hauled on the larboard tack with a fine moderate breeze, and at 2 42 51 P. M. the observed longitude per sun and moon, from the mean of three sets of sights, was 117° 5' 20′ E. From noon to the time the sights were taken, the vessel had run about four leagues on a S. W. course, from the near agreement therefore of the observed longitude with the chronometer, lieutenant Davidson believes 4° 37' S. and 117° 8' E. to be the correct latitude and longitude, nearly of the last-mentioned shoal. He says that he is not acquainted either with their extent or danger from the same reasons before given for not examining that shoal off Surootoo. The sights for the latitude and time were taken by a Ramsden's Sextant: those for the longitude by a Troughton's, and all of them under the most favourable circumstances. The chronometer varied about half a degree from the 13th of April to the 12th of July. At the time of taking the distances of the sun and moon, there were four islands in sight, from the mast-head, at 6 P. M. they bore E. by S. half S. distance thirteen miles, they are low and woody, and cannot be seen far ther ther than 7 or 8 leagues. From not seeing any land to the west ward, supposed them to be those called Noosa Comba; if so their position on the latest charts extant, very ill agreed with the latitude and longitude deduced from the above observations, and the bearings and distances of these islands from two stations. The chart lays them in 5° 12′ S. and 116° 48′ E.lieutenant Davidson 5° 2 S. 117° 9' E. The Waller, in returning from Amboyna to Madras, steered for, and made Christmas Island, which she passed about eight leagues to the southward. It appeared pretty high land, and about five leagues in length from east to west. Lieutenant Davidson made its latitude 10° 32′ S. and longitude (by three single sights per sun and moon) 105° 53′ E. Navigators differ considerably in the longitude of the Island, and some of the new charts have omitted it entirely, probably from a dangerous mistake, or a doubt of its existence. Extract of a Letter from Bombay. Captain Gardner had been under the necessity of relinguishing the command of the Scaleby on account of a very severe indisposition. The crew of the Scaleby have been rather sickly, and they have lost several people on the passage by the scurvy. Mr. Manesty, the British resident at Bussora, has been under the necessity of taking up a temporary residence on board the brig La Belle, in consequence of a very great inundation at Maghill, which obliged him to quit his house; great apprehensions have been entertained for its safety. tc4 BOMBAY Occurrences for Sept. 1803. Private Trade. In pursuance of authority received from his excellency the most noble the governor general in council, in consequence of the orders of the honorable the court of directors, the public are hereby informed, that sealed proposals will be received at the office of the Secretary to government, on or before the 5th October next, for freighting to the honourable Company, ships built with teak within the honourable Company's territories in India, of the burden of three hundred tons or upwards, for the conveyance of private trade from Bombay to England, in the season of 1803-4, under the express condition that such ships shall not return to India, but be sold in England. 2. The proposals must express the place where the ships were built respectively, also the time when each ship was built, and the place where each ship actually is at the date of the tender. 3. The ships shall have three flush decks or two complete decks, and a poop, and be coppered. 4. Previously to the acceptance of the tender of any ship, the governor in council shall cause her to be surveyed by the superintendant, or other proper officer, and if, on such survey, she should not be approved of, the said governor in council shall be at liberty to reject her 5. In the event of any ship, after survey by the superintendant, or other proper officer, being approved of by such officer, she shall be repaired, fitted, and stored, (agreeable to an inventory, which, whee when prepared, will be sent to the office of the superintendant for general inspection) under the orders of the superintendant, or other proper officer, who shall have à right to object to such articles as shall in his judgment appear not to be sufficiently good; and shall report thereon to the governor in council for their decision. 6. The ships shall be loaded at the option of the governor in council, at such time as the Company's want of tonnage and the several circumstances of the ships may render necessary, so that the commencement of the loading of any ship be not protracted beyond four months after the time of her being contracted for, provided she be ready and competent to receive cargo. 7. The ships shall, if the owners chuse it, carry kentledge, but the Company shall not be required to pay freight for the same. 8. The ships shall be armed as follows: Ships of 300 to 400 tons, not to have less than 12 carronades 9 pounders. Ships of 400 to 500 tons, not to have less than 14 carronades 9 pounders. Ships of 500 to 600 tons, not to have less than 16 carronades 12 pounders. Ships of 600 tons, or, upwards, not to have less than 18 carronades, 12 pounders. Every ship to carry a stand of arms, and a cutlass for each man on board. Every ship to carry not less than thirty rounds of gunpowder and shot. Should the above articles not be procurable, substitutes to be allowed at the discretion of the master attendant. 9. The crew of each ship, on her departure from Bombay, shall be composed of two-thirds, at least, of European seamen, provided they can be procured. Should any part of the crew consist of lascars, they shall be reckoned in the proportion of forty-five lascars to thirty European seamen. The following is a list of the number of officers and seamen required to navigate each ship: Commander, chief mate, second ditto, third ditto, surgeon, boatswain, gunner, carpenter, 2* midshipmen. Cooper and steward, captain's cook, ship's cook, boatswain's mate, gunner's ditto, * carpenter's mate* and caulker. 2 quarter masters. An additional quarter master required for every 100 tons of ships above 600 tons. 2 commander's servants, 30 European foremastmen, or 45 lascars, for ships of from 500 to 600 tons. For ships below 500 or above 600 tons, 8 Europeans, including petty officers, or 12 lascars for every 100 tons, of the ship's burthen. * Not required for ships less than 500 tons. 10. The ships shall be commanded and officered by persons to be selected by the owners, which persons are to be qualified according to the following regulations, provided persons so qualified can be procured, by the owners, in time for the ship's departure from Bombay. 11. The commander shall be of the age of twenty-three years, or upwards, and shall have performed one voyage, as commander of an extra ship, to and from England, or as chief or second mate in the Company's employ in a regular ship. 12. The chief mate shall be of the age of twenty-two years or upwards, and have performed one voyage to and from England, or been six years at sea. The second mate shall shall be of the age of twenty-one years or upwards, and have been five years at sea. The third mate shall be of the age of twenty years or upwards, and have been four years at sea. 13. After the discharge of the ships in England, the commander, mates, and surgeon, shall be at liberty to return to India, without prejudice to the indentures or licence under which they may have come to India. 14. The commanders, and chief and second mates, shall be examined by the Marine board, or by such persons as the governor in council may appoint for that purpose, and when approved of, be sworn in before the governor in council. 15. The surgeon to be entertained, as required by article ninth, shall be previously examined and approved of by the Medical Board, and must be qualified to act as surgeon's mate of a regular ship in the Company's service; but if a person so qualified cannot be procured, a medical person, a native of India, must be entertained, who shall be previously examined and approved of by the Medical Board." 16. The several persons who may belong to their ships, engaged under this advertisement, shall enter into the usual contracts for the performance of the voyage, similar to those signed by the commanders, officers, and mariners of the regular ships. 17. The commanders and mates shall be entitled to indulgence in private trade, in the proportion of five tons per cent. on the ship's tonnage, by builder's measurement. 18. If the ships shall not be loaded and dispatched to England within the undermentioned periods, from the time of their being ready for the reception of cargo, in con sequence of the orders of the governor in council for that purpose, viz. Ships of 300 to 400 tons 80 days. Ditto, -400 to 500 ditto 85 ditto. Ditto, -500 to 600 ditto 40 ditto. Ditto, above 600 tons, 5 days for every 100 tons, above that burthen in addition to the forty days above-mentioned, Demurrage will be allowed to the owners at the rate of sixpence per ton, per day, on the builder's measurement, for every day the ships may be detained beyond that time. If detained beyond that time by any default on the part of the owners or commanders, the owners shall pay demurrage to the Company, at the rate above-mentioned, for the period of such detention. 19. The ships shall proceed with or without convoy, at the option of the Company. If detained for convoy, demurrage at the rate of sixpence per ton, per day, on the builder's measurement, shall be allowed, until the commanders of the ships shall receive their sailing orders, and signals from the commander of the convoy. 20. If any ship shall not be able to load, on the Company's account, to the extent of her tonnage by the builder's measurement, the owners shall be liable to a penalty of ten pounds per ton, for such tonnage as shall be deficient of the builder's measurement. 21. The governor in council shall have liberty, if he should see fit, to send the ships to the Cape of Good Hope and St. Helena, on making the usual allowance of demurrage. 22. The honourable Company shall not be obliged to lade goods on any ship until she be reported by the superintendant or other proper proper officer, to be ready and fit to receive cargo. 23. The ships shall not touch at any other port or place in the voyage to England, than such at which they may be permitted or directed by the governor in council to call. Should any ship put into any port or place, on her voyage to England, without such permission or direction, demurrage will not be allowed by the Company; and the Company shall be at liberty to charge demurrage to the owners, for any improper delay or deviation, at the rate of six pence per ton, per day, on the builder's measurement. 24. The ships shall carry to England such passengers as the governor in council may direct to be received on board, on the same terms as are allowed for passengers proceeding in the regular ships. No passenger shall be received on board of any of the ships, either in India or at the Cape of Good Hope, or at St. Helena, or else-where, on the voyage to England, except by the express order of the governor in council, or of the governor and council of St. Helena, under a penalty of 500l. sterling for every passenger so carried without order. 25. Special care must be taken that the cargo be properly dunnaged at the expence of the own other goods (sugar in boxes excepted) whether packed in bales, bags, or cases; for as much as can, in the opinion of the superintendant, or other proper officer, be conveniently and safely taken on board and stowed in any part of the ship, under the middle deck of the three deck ships, or lower deck of the two deck ships; sufficient room being in the opinion of that officer reserved under the upper deck for the accommodation of the crew and the stowage of the cables, provisions, and stores; and the draft of water being approved of by the said officer. 29. An additional freight of one pound ten shillings per ton, shall be allowed for sugar in boxes. 30. The freight on the cargo shall be paid on such goods only as shall be delivered into the Company's warehouse in London. 31. The tonnage of the cargo shall be calculated agreeably to the annexed table, and in all other instances according to the established custom of the company. 32. The wastage on salt petre shall be calculated according to the established custom of the company; and an allowance at the rate of two per cent. on the weight shall be made to the owner for wastage on sugar, provided the wastage shall amount to that tonnage; but the owners shall not be entitled to this allowance if the deficiency by waste should not be equal to that tonnage. 33. If any of the cargo should be lost, damaged, or not delivered to the company, except by wastage as before-mentioned, the owners shall pay the full prime cost of such goods so lost or undelivered, together with 30. per cent. on such prime cost, except there should happen to be a total loss of ship and cargo. |