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morning he found the landmarks and compass bearings precisely the same as on the previous evening. A flag like that at Hokianga, was raised as a signal [probably by a native] in reply to a gun; Captain Patten appoached the land in full confidence; and the ship struck within three miles of the shore.

In his defence Commander Patten gives an account of the subsequent proceedings of the ship's company, so much to their credit, and affording so strong a contrast to the miserable scenes that followed a wreck in former days, that it is worth preserving. The gallant officer says:

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Every effort was instantly made by bracing the yards round to extricate Her Majesty's sloop from her dangerous position. This, unfortunately, could not be accomplished, as the rudder soon became unshipped and the main boom carried away, which rendered the vessel unmanageable. The afterpart of the upper deck was also knocked up from striking the bottom with much force. Four feet of water being in the well, and the heavy rollers pouring down, I directed the mast to be cut away, the guns thrown overboard, and hatches secured down, which was most promptly and ably done, reflecting the greatest credit on the officers and ship's company, by whose energy the lives of all were saved at that critical period; and the Osprey being a new vessel, and very strong, fortunately held together. Being relieved from this important weight, and by keeping the lower stays fast, it assisted very much in dragging the hull nearer the shore, the heavy rollers forcing the mass of yards, masts, and sails before it. The starboard bulwark was then cut away, and with the

assistance of the spare topmasts, the pinnace was launched overboard with safety through a heavy surf. I opened a communication with the shore, which enabled the crew, with their arms and ammunition, to land in detachments from the bowsprit on the following morning. Not knowing whether the wreck would fall over on her broadside the following tide, or a gale of wind knock it to atoms from the exposed position, as much ordnance material and provisions as could possibly be got was saved that night, guarding against the numerous natives that assembled near us (the country being in a very unsettled and excited state); but fortunately they were amicably disposed, although previous to our departure thence a large tribe at night plundered a quantity of lead for warlike purposes, which with some difficulty I compelled them to return on making preparations to attack them.

"I trust, Mr. President and gentlemen of this honourable court, that the evidence laid before you will have shown that every exertion was made to save the vessel, also to heave her keel out of water to ascertain the extent of damage sustained, and to save nearly everything belonging to Her Majesty's service, including shot, tanks, ballast, and nearly all the copper off the ship's bottom, and 1800 copper bolts drawn from the hull, and transporting them through a deep sand of more than a mile in extent, which the surveys laid before you (taken by the officers of Her Majesty's ship Castor at Auckland) will certify. Having accomplished everything that could be effected during two months of the most indefatigable labour by the officers as well as the ship's company, and the provisions being expended, I

proceeded with them to the Bay of Islands, 110 miles overland, with their arms, ammunition, and three days' provisions, crossing a country little known, through forests and rivers, where we embarked on board of Her Majesty's ship Racehorse, after a most severe march of five days, during the most inclement weather; in addition to which various circumstances have transpired since the unfortunate wreck, a period of ten months: their conduct has been so exemplary that I feel it my duty to state it to this honourable court, eight months of which time they have been victualled at two-thirds allowance, agreeably to the Queen's regulations.

These facts appearing clear, the court acquitted Captain Patten, the officers, and ship's company, from all blame, and pronounced that every exertion had been made to save the ship. The President returned Captain Patten his sword, with a highly complimentary speech.

31. FIRE AT IRONGATE WHARF. -A very destructive fire occurred in the day-time at Irongate Wharf. These extensive premises were situated at the east end of the Tower, and opposite the south wall of St. Katherine's Docks; they extended more than 200 feet along the river, were of considerable depth, and were filled with valuable goods. Between three and four o'clock in the afternoon flames were discovered by the workmen ; attempts were made to extinguish them, but in vain, and the building was rapidly fired throughout. Assistance of all kinds-soldiers, policemen, dock-hands, and firemen-was soon obtained, but the wharf was utterly destroyed; and some vessels which were moored to it, the tide being low, were also more or less

damaged. The low tide was likewise unfavourable to the working of the engines, water being rather scarce. The destruction, however, was prevented from extending to the Tower buildings and the Docks, and a public-house adjoining the wharf was only partially injured. The firemen had two narrow escapes from the fall of the walls. The loss of property-hardly any of the contents of the wharf having been saved-has been estimated as

high as 200,000l. The proprietor, Mr. Coleman, is insured to a considerable amount. The cause of the fire could not be ascertained, it being attributed generally to spontaneous combustion.

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THE WEATHER.-The cold weather, which had mitigated for a few days, set in again on the 24th instant with increased severity, the thermometer frequently indicating ten or twelve degrees of frost. The different waters in the Parks were again covered with ice, and crowded with skaters. fatal accidents occurred in London, though the daily newspapers record many cases of drowning in the country. The sufferings of the poor were of course very great, and many distressing cases of death, produced by cold and destitution, were made known. Northumberland, two men were returning from their work, towards Bishop Auckland; when they got to the Etherley Lane bridge they heard a groaning, and on looking about under the bridge, they found a man lying on the north side of the line against the bank, in the snow, with his feet in the gutter. They tried to raise him up, but he could not stand, and was quite cold. He appeared to mutter something. One of them then took him up on his back, and

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proceeded towards the Auckland station with him. He carried him to the gas-house, but he was then quite dead. It appeared that the poor fellow had been drinking in Bishop Auckland on the Saturday night, and had probably been wandering about in the snow until morning, and from the intensity of the frost had been unable to walk any further.

A man named Arthur Monaghan, was employed near Helmington Row in cutting snow on the roads near that place. He had been drinking at Helmington Row, and he left to proceed homeward about eleven o'clock at night. He was then very tipsy. Not having returned home next morning, some persons went off in search of him, and found the poor man lying in a field, about 100 yards off the road, quite dead, among the snow. He appeared to have lain down on the spot where he was found, as there were no marks of his having wandered about.

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GUN COTTON.-The interest of scientific men and of the public has been strongly excited by the discovery, by Professor Schönbein, of an explosive compound, appearing to possess many advantages over gunpowder, called "Gun Cotton. The process by which the cotton is prepared is not yet divulged. It possesses many remarkable properties hitherto unknown. On the application of a spark, the solid mass is at once converted to a gaseous state, producing scarcely any smoke, and, if carefully prepared, leaving no residuum behind. It is not in jured by wet, as was proved by an experiment tried with some which had been steeped in water sixty hours, and dried by exposure to the air, and which ex

ploded with the greatest facility. The experiments in blasting, tried in the Cornish mines, were most satisfactory and conclusive; the almost entire absence of the smoke

attendant upon an explosion when the common gunpowder is used, and which is so great an annoyance and injury to the workmen, being a most important improvement. Gun cotton explodes at 200° of heat, gunpowder at 600°; indeed, the difference of temperature and the rapidity of combustion are so great that gun cotton may be placed lightly upon gunpowder and exploded without the latter igniting. It will explode on being struck a smart blow with a hammer on an iron anvil, but only the part struck explodes; and it may be so prepared that the rapidity of combustion may be regulated at pleasure.

Professor Brande, at a lecture at the Royal Institution, on the 15th of January, described this important invention, and stated that, about fifteen years ago, Braconnot ascertained that sawdust, wood-shavings, starch, linen and cotton fabrics, when treated with concentrated nitric acid, produced a sort of gelatinous substance, which coagulated into a white mass on the addition of water this substance, which he called "xyloidine," was highly inflammable. In the course of investigation of the changes thus produced, Professor Schönbein ascertained that this substance, prepared in a somewhat different manner, produced a compound, possessing extraordinary explosive properties - hence his discovery of " gun cotton.' method used by Schönbein is yet unknown; but the preparation of a substance supposed to be iden

The precise

tical is as follows:-Cotton-wool, to be attended with the following

having been first well cleaned and carded, is immersed for a short time in a mixture of two parts of sulphuric with one of nitric acid; it is then taken out, well washed with water, and carefully dried. The cotton remains to all appearance unchanged: it is an insulator of electricity, being powerfully negatively electrical; it is singularly hygrometric, catches fire at 360°, and burns with far greater rapidity than gunpowder; yet the combustion of a train may be stopped by strong pressure. The products of its combustion arecarbonic and nitric oxides, carbonic and oxalic acids, cyanogen, nitrogen and steam. With respect to its expansive power, it appears that half an ounce of gun cotton carried a 68 lb. shot 255 feet from an eight-inch mortar, while two ounces of gunpowder carried a shot of the same weight from the same gun only 152 feet. A rifle, charged with 60 to 80 grains of gunpowder, carried a ball through three inch elm boards, while 30 grains of gun cotton carried a ball, under the same circumstances, through six inch boards. The use of gun cotton in fire arms is said

disadvantages:-Its effects are less regular than those of gunpowder; it is more dangerous, being inflammable at a lower temperature; it does not take fire when compressed in tubes, and burns slowly in cartridges; and that the barrel of the gun is moistened by the water produced during the combustion. On the other hand, its advantages are:-Its extreme cleanliness, there being no residuum after combustion; its freedom from all bad smell; the facility and safety of its preparation; its great explosive force; the absence of smoke; and that from its filamentary nature it can be used over-head, and in other situations which preclude the use of gunpowder.

It is said that Professor Schönbein has disposed of his discovery for a large sum to Messrs. Hall and Co., the celebrated gunpowder manufacturers, and that preparations are in progress for making it upon a large scale. It will, there is no doubt, be extensively used for mining purposes, and in warfare for many engineering operations; but it seems doubtful whether it is adapted for the use of large or small guns.

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APPENDIX TO CHRONICLE.

The MINISTRY, as it stood at the period of Sir Robert Peel's

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President of the Board of Trade

Earl of St. Germans. Earl of Dalhousie.

Vice-President of the Board of Trade and Right Hon. Sir George Clerk, Bart.

Master of the Mint.

Paymaster-General

Master-General of the Ordnance Attorney-General

Solicitor-General

Lord Lieutenant Lord Chancellor Attorney-General Solicitor-General

Lord Advocate

Solicitor-General

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Right Hon. Duncan McNeil.
Adam Anderson, Esq.

HOUSEHOLD APPOINTMENTS.

Earl of Liverpool.

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Earl De Lawarr.

Earl of Jersey.

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