New Books.

THE VARIATION AND DEVIATION OF THE COMPASS RECTIFIED BY AZIMUTH AND ALTITUDE TABLES, &C.,—By P. Cameron. Glasgow. Mr Cameron's treatise on the elementary principles of magnetism preceding these tables, cannot fail to be appreciated by those for whom it is meant. The theory of the adjustment of the compass by magnets is treated by him at length; but the principal feature in the work before us is the judicious arrangement of his azimuth and altitude tables. In the former, the arguments of latitude, declination, and time from the meridian (hour angle), give the seaman at a glance the true azimuth required; by comparing which with his compass he ascertains at once the amount of deviation and variation combined. The range of the latitudes are from the equator to the parallel of 80° N. or S.; and of the declination from 0° to 23° N. or S. In the altitude table the sun's true altitude is given at different hours from the meridian, with the same range of declination, viz., from 0° to 231°, and the latitude from the equator to the parallel of 60° N. or S.

Mr. Cameron introduces to the reader his Dial Compass, merely an azimuth card (fitted with a magnetic needle), on the centre of which is fixed a style, made of fine brass wire or other suitable metal, about 2 inches in length. A line is to be drawn, parallel with the ship's keel, on the top of the companion or skylight, and the centre of the dial placed on this line. Should the sun's rays be strong enough to produce shadow, and the ship's head changed in direction, it will be evident that if the shadow pass over one point, the compass, if correct, will indicate one point likewise, and whatever be the difference indicated is the deviation of that point. For, suppose the shadow to indicate two points and the compass one and a half, this would at once show half a point of deviation on the compass. This mode of verifying the table of deviations is only available in very fine weather.

Several useful tables are added, with examples of their use.

Mr. Cameron, it appears, is also the inventor of the Slide Rule, the use of which he explains by the solution of practical questions in navigation, an instrument that will be found useful as a check on calculation.

A MEMOIR OF CAPTAIN W. THORNTON BATE, R.N.,-By the Rev. J. Baillie, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. Longman, London, 1859. We have here the genuine impressions of a warm and generous heart, such as may be expected to be seen in the private journal of a British seaman, whose loss we have recorded in our last year's volume. The journal records the impressions of scenes in the trying duties of the Palawan survey, scientific duties (as well as general) but too ill appreciated we regret to say in Her Majesty's naval service, and also those during the siege of Canton, in which their author fell. The perusal will well repay him who undertakes it, and as we find that the proceeds of the work are to be applied to those charitable objects in which the author interested himself, it may be said to have some more than ordinary claim to patronage, for Bate himself speaks in every line.

LIGHTHOUSE ILLUMINATION, Being a Description of the Holophotal System and of Azimuth Condensing and Apparent Lights, &c.,--By T. Stevenson, F.R.S.E., C. E. London, Weale.

If to Fresnel belongs, as it no doubt does, the credit of introducing the system of building the dioptric lens for our lighthouses, to Stevenson belongs that of its application to them and the addition of the holophotal (all-saving) system, as well as the azimutbal system for lighting channels, throwing as

it were an accidental illuminating ray to show out or to avoid a danger. The perfect manner in which every particle of light is used in these days is in good keeping with the improvement which is every where seen. The object of the present treatise is to explain the principles of the new system, by which, as is shown by the author, the utmost can be obtained from a single source of light. We commend this highly approved invention of Mr. Thomas Stevenson, with the valuable treatise, in Weale's Library, of Mr. Alan Stevenson, to the attention of those who wish for the best system of lighthouse illumination.

METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS OF THE BOARD OF TRADE, No. 1 to 3 One of the most important steps in the history of meteorology resulting from the patronage accorded to this important subject will appear hereafter in the reform of the barometer. So truly philosophical an instrument, and one of so much value to the seaman, required to be looked to from authority, for its imperfect construction had become notorious, and the different readings between different instruments in no wise creditable to this country. Thanks to the earnestness with which the subject has been taken up, one standard and portable barometer is now common afloat,-and not only afloat, but at those observing stations which were established in following out the measures of the government in reference to the whole subject. The other instruments of temperature and moisture also received similar attention, and we have now before us the few first numbers published from the office committed to the direction of Admiral Fitz Roy. We confine ourselves to a general statement of their contents, such as our limited space will at present only admit.

In the first number, following the introductory remarks, we have the indicatory letters and figures, being the Beaufort Notation and "another method," in which, although six figures are lost, the gain is not apparent; but we have an interesting addition in the force exerted on the square foot, expressed by the figures in each of the above notations. This is followed by a series of observations made at the following stations:-Bermuda, 1853-4; Halifax, 1854-5, also Ascension and Valparaiso; Ceylon, 1854, Point de Galle, Trincomalee, and Colombo. The Menzies typhoon in the China Sea of 19th May, 1855. A series of deep sea temperatures not much over 400 fathoms. showing the lowest to be 43° at that depth. Then we have some important directions for observers; followed by Captain Drury's excellent paper on New Zealand meteorology, which we have already transferred into our own pages. The same follows of the Cape and also the Mauritius, accompanied by an interesting discussion on the whole subject of hurricanes in connection with the trades and monsoons in that most important quarter. We have then a meteorological journal of H.M.S. Scorpion on the isthmus of Darien and Carthagena; and some important remarks on the barometer and other instruments useful at sea concludes the first number of these valuable papers.

The second number is commenced with a passage table, or number of days' passage between different ports throughout the world, followed by an abstract of general sailing directions, a branch of nautical pursuit involving almost the whole art of navigation. As these papers have large circulation, we have no doubt our commanders have profited by the numerous hints on many important subjects which this part contains, concluded by Maury's paper comparing sailing voyages only with those of sail and steam.

In the third paper we come at once to the subject of hurricanes--the storms, a subject which, with the mode by which the winds are observed to change in the two hemispheres, occupy amply the whole number.

It is gratifying to see the very important subject of sea meteorology thus patronised by the Government of this maritime country, and we shall look forward to some great results derived from it as a consequence which must eventually follow.

A GLANCE AT EARLY PORTUGUESE NAVIGATION-as it was nearly Three Centuries ago.

It is both profitable and interesting sometimes to look back into the history of the past in the early days of navigation. We turn from the picture of the rude and ill contrived appliances for effecting a purpose, with a kind of pity for those who employed them, to those of our own day followed by a feeling of satisfaction at our superiority, and perhaps with an improved respect and regard for those great advantages which we enjoy. These will be tolerably evident on the perusal of an extract from the "voyages and trauailes" of a Dutchman named John Hugen van Linschoten, who embarked with the early Portuguese; and being an observing individual, given to collecting information as he went through life, has left behind him an account of his voyages and what he saw, affording a good insight to the mode of navigation as well as management of their ships by those early Portuguese on their voyages to India. From Linschoten's book then we propose making a few extracts, commencing with his embarkation, in accordance with that spirit of adventure which induced him, as it has done many others since, to seek his fortune in a foreign land, with the laudable view of finding an independence and enlarging the boundaries of knowledge.

THE VOYAGE INTO THE EAST OR PORTINGALE INDIES. Being young, and living idlelye in my native countrie, sometimes applying my selfe to the reading of histories, and straunge advenNO. 5.-VOL. XXVIII.

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tures, wherein I tooke no small delight, I found my minde so much addicted to see and trauaile into strange countries, thereby to seeke some adventure, that in the end to satisfie myselfe I determined, and was fully resolved, for a time to leave my native countrie, and my friendes (although it greeved me) yet the hope I had to accomplish my desire, together with the resolution, taken in the end overcame my affection and put me in good comfort to take the matter upon me, trusting in God that he would further my intent. Which done, being resolved, thereupon I tooke leave of my parents, who as then dwelt at Enckhuysen, and being ready to imbark my selfe I went to a fleete of ships that as then lay before the Tassell,' staying the winde to sayle for Spaine and Portingale, where I imbarked my selfe in a ship that was bound for S. Lucas de Barameda, being determined to travaile unto Sivill, where as I then had two bretheren that had continued there certaine years before: so to helpe my selfe the better, and by their meanes to know the manner and custome of those countries, as also to learne the Spanish tongue.

And the 6: of December, in the yere of our Lord 1576 we put out of y Tassel (being in about 80 ships) and set our course for Spain, and the ninth of the same month, wee passed betweene Dover and Callis, and within three dayes after wee had the sight of the Cape of Finisterra, and the fifteene of the same moneth we saw the land of Sintra, otherwise called the Cape Roexant," from whence the river Tigio, or Tagus, runneth into the maine sea, uppon the which river lieth the famous citie of Lisbone, when some of our fleet put in and left us.

THE 2 CHAPTER.

The beginning of my Voyage into the East or Portingale Indies.

Staying at Lisbone, the trade of marchandize there not being great by reason of the newe and fresh disagreeing of the Spaniards and Portingales, occasion being offered to accomplish my desire, there was at the same time in Lisbon a monke of S. Dominicks order, named Don frey Vicente de Fonseca, of a noble house: who by reason of his great learning, had of long time beene Chaplen unto Šebastian king of Portingale, who beeing with him in the battaile of Barbarie, where king Sebastian was slain, was taken prisoner, and from thence ransomed, whose learning and good behaviour beeing known to the king of Spaine, hee made great account of him, placing him in his own chappel, and desiring to prefer him, the Archbishopricke of all the Indies beeing voide, with confirmation of the Pope he invested him therewith, although he refused to accept it, fearing the long and tedious travaile he had to make thether, but in the end through the king's perswasion, he took it upon him, with promise within foure or five yeares at the furthest to recall him home againe, and to give him a better place in Portingale, with the which promise he took the voyage upon him. I thinking upon my affaires, used all meanes I could to get into his service and with him to tra

vaile the voyage which I so much desired, which fell out as I could wish and we prepared ourselves to make our voyage being in all five ships of the burthen of fourteene or fifteene hundreth tunnes each ship, their names were the Admirall S. Phillip: the vize Admirall S. Jacob. These were two new ships, one bearing the name of the king, the other of his sonne, the other three, S. Laurence, S. Francisco and our shippe S. Salvator.

Upon the eight of Aprill, being Good Friday in the yeare of our Lorde 1583 which commonly is the time when their ships set sayle within four or five dayes under, or over, we altogether issued out of the River of Lisbone aud put to sea, setting our course for the islands of Madera, and so putting our trust in God, without whose favour and helpe we can doe nothing, and all our actions are but vaine, we sayled forwards.

CHAPTER 3.

The Manner and Order used in the Ships in their Indian Voyages. The shippes are commonly charged with foure or five hundred men at the least, sometimes more, sometimes lesse, as there are souldiers and saylers to bee found. When they go out they are but lightly laden, only with certain pipes of wine and oyle, and some small quantitie of marchandize, other thing have they not in but balast, and victuals for the company, for that the most and greatest ware that is commonly sent into India, are rials of eight, because the principall factors for pepper doe every yere send a great quantitie of mony, therewith to buy pepper, as also divers particular merchants as being the least ware that men can carry into India: for that in these rials of eight they gain at the least forty per cento.

When the ships are out of the river, and enter into the sea, all their men are mustered, as well saylers, as souldiers, and such as are founde absent and left on land being registered in the bookes, are marked by the purser, that at their returne they may talke with their suerties, (for that every man putteth in suerties) and the goodes of such as are absent, being found in the ship are presently brought forth and prised, and an inventorie thereof being made, it is left to be disposed at the captaines pleasure. The like is done with their goods that die in the ship, but little of it cometh to the owners hands, being imbeseled and privily made away.

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The master and pilot have for their whole voyage forth and home againe, each man 120 millreyes, every millreyes being worth in Dutch money seven guilders, and because the reck of Portingale monie is onely in one sort of money called Reyes, which is the smalest monie to bee founde in that countrie, and although it be never so great a summe you do receave, yet it is alwaies reckoned by Reyes, whereof 160 is as much as a keysers gilderne, or four rials of silver: so that two reyes are foure pence, and one reye two pence of Holland money. I have thought good to set it downe, the better to shew and make you understand the accounts they use by reyes in the countrie of Portingale.