a year; South Australasia, £2,000; and Tasmania and Queensland, £1,500 a year each towards the surveys, and the English Admiralty has sanctioned a similar sum of £10,000 a year out of the imperial treasury to meet the contributions of the colonies.

THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.

At the October meeting of the Ethnological Society, New-York, the recording secretary read an account, by Mr. JOANE, of the Micronesian mission, published in June last, of a voyage of five hundred miles and back, made by a few natives in their little canoes, without a compass, and with only two stopping-places, guided by the stars, currents, winds, &c. This writer remarked that this fact proved that the islands of the Pacific might have been peopled either by accident or by design, and accounted for known resemblances in language, &c.

The author considers it certain that the Sandwich Islands were peopled from the Society Islands, and that voyages were made between them before the days of Captain Cooк. Mr. GULICK stated, at a former meeting of the society, that he had seen natives who had recently performed that voyage in canoes; and they declined accepting a compass, saying that their pilot had one in his head.

NEW LIGHT-HOUSES.

Roman Rock Light, False Bay, Cape of Good Hope.-Official information has been received at the Department of State, from the Colonial Government at the Cape of Good Hope, that a light would be exhibited from the new light-house on the Roman Rocks on the 16th September, 1861, which will supersede that shown at the light-vessel now moored a cable's length north of the rocks. It will be a revolving white light, showing a bright face for the space of twelve seconds twice every minute, which will serve to distinguish it from the Cape Point light in thick weather, as that light revolves only once every minute. The light will be fifty-four feet above the sea, and visible in clear weather, from a ship's deck, thirteen miles distant.

The light-tower is forty-eight feet high, the lower half of which will be painted black and the upper half white. From the light-house, Noah's Ark bears S. 56° W.miles, and the Dock-yard clock W. by N. 1.65 mile.

N. N. E. E. 2 cables from the light-house, lies the Castor Rock, with only fifteen feet on it at low water, springs. Its position is marked by a beacon, with a flag, having the word "rock" painted on it. There are patches of nineteen and twenty-four feet between the Castor Rock and the light-house, which renders it necessary for large ships to give the light-house a berth of at least three and a half cables, when passing to the N. E., before hauling in for Simon's Bay.

In sailing for Simon's Bay, by keeping the light-house in line with Elsey Peak, bearing N. W., a ship will pass midway between the Whittle Rock and Miller's Point.

Scotland, West Coast, Sound of Islay-Fixed Light on Macarthur Head.-Official information has been received, that on and after the 1st

day of September, 1861, a light would be exhibited from the light-house recently erected on Macarthur Head, on the western side of the south entrance to the Sound of Islay, Argyllshire. The light will be a fixed light. It will show white up the Sound, from the eastern shore of the Island of Islay, till it bears about S. W.; red towards the Island of Jura, from S. W. till it bears about west; and white from west, round southerly and as far to the westward as it can be seen, or until obscured by the south side of Islay. The light will be elevated about 128 feet above the level of high water springs, and should be seen in clear weather at a distance of 17 miles.

The illuminating apparatus is dioptric or by lenses, varying with range from the first to the third order. The light will show its greatest power towards Cantyre to the south and the Sound of Islay to the north. The light-tower is circular, built of stone, and painted white. It is 42 feet in height from the ground to top of lantern, and its position is lat. 55° 45′ 55′′ N., long. 6° 2′ 55′′ west of Greenwich.

Bay of Biscay, Spain, North Coast-Fixed and Flashing Light at Rivadesella. Notice has been given, that on and after the 20th day of August, 1861, a light would be exhibited from a building recently erected on Mount Somos, the western extremity of the entrance of the Ria or Inlet of Rivadesella, in the province of Oviedo, on the north coast of Spain, in the Bay of Biscay. The light is fixed and flashing, showiug a bright flash every four minutes. It is placed at an elevation of 370 feet above the mean level of the sea, and should be visible from the deck of a ship, in an ordinary state of the weather, at a distance of 17 miles, but only through an arc of the horizon of 167 degrees to seaward. The illuminating apparatus is catadioptric, or by lenses of the third

order.

The light-tower is square, surmounted by an octagonal lantern, and rises from the centre of the keeper's dwelling to a height of twenty-five feet from the ground. All the buildings, including the lantern, are painted white. The tower stands 30 yards from the margin of the sea, in lat. 43° 28′ 40" N., long. 1° 5' 0" east of the Observatory of San Fernando, at Cadiz, or 5° 7′ 16′′ west of Greenwich.

Jupiter Inlet and Cape Florida Lights.-Official information has been received, that on or about the 23d August, 1861, a band of lawless persons extinguished the lights at Jupiter Inlet and Cape Florida, on the coast of Florida, and removed the illuminating apparatus, &c.

Cape of Good Hope, Simon's Bay—Revolving light on Roman Rocks. -On and after the 16th day of September, 1861, a light will be exhibited from the light-house recently erected on the Roman Rocks, near the western shore of False Bay, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa. The light will be a revolving white light, showing a bright face for the space of twelve seconds every half minute. It will be placed 54 feet above the mean level of the sea, and in clear weather should be seen from the deck of a vessel at a distance of 12 miles. The illuminating apparatus is catoptric or by reflectors of the third order. The light-house is circular, of iron, and 48 feet high; the lower half will be painted black, the upper half white. Its position is lat. 34° 10' 45" S., long. 18° 27' 30" east from Greenwich. Noah's Ark Rock bears from it S. W. by W. three-quarters of a mile, and the Dock-yard clock W. by N. 1 mile. The

light vessel hitherto moored on the north side of the Roman Rocks will be removed on the exhibition of the above light.

The Castor Rock, with only 15 feet on it at low water springs, lies N. N. E. E., 2 cables from the light-house; it is marked by a beacon, with a flag having the word rock painted on it. Between this rock and the light-house there are patches of 19 and 24 feet water. To avoid these dangers a vessel of large draught, when passing to the northeast of the light-house, should give it a berth of 3 cables before hauling in for Simon's Bay. When bound to Simon's Bay from the southward by day, the light-house kept in line with Elsey peak N. 4 W., will lead between the Whittle Rock and Miller's Point. By night this bearing of the light is the only guide.

Caution. The mariner should be on his guard in misty weather against the possibility of mistaking the light on Roman Rocks for the light on Cape Point, as they are both revolving, and only ten miles apart. The distinction consists in the difference of interval of revolution, the light on Cape Point showing its bright face every minute, and the light on the Roman Rocks every half minute.

South America, Coast of Brazil-Revolving Light on Santa Barbara, Abrolhos Islands.-The Secretary of State for the marine department at Rio de Janeiro has given notice that a light is exhibited from a lighthouse recently erected on the island of Santa Barbara, one of the Abrolhos Islands, on the coast of Brazil. The light is a revolving white light, attaining its greatest brilliancy every minute. It is placed at an elevation of 189 feet above the mean level of the sea, and should be seen in clear weather at a distance of 17 miles. The illuminating apparatus is dioptric, or by lenses of the first order. The tower, which is circular and surrounded by a dwelling, stands on the highest part of the island. It is built of iron, 51 feet high, and surmounted by a bronze lantern. The position of the eastern summit of the island is latitude 17° 57′ 42′′ S., longitude 38° 41′ 30′′ west of Greenwich.

Revolving Light on Ponta dos Naufragados.-A light is exhibited from a light-house recently erected on Ponta dos Naufragados, on the southern bar of St. Catharine. The light is a revolving white light, attaining its greatest brilliancy every thirty seconds. It is placed at an elevation of 149 feet above the mean level of the sea, and should be seen in clear weather at a distance of 18 miles. The illuminating apparatus is dioptric, or by lenses of the second order. The tower is circular, and its position is given in latitude 27° 49' S., and longitude 48° 42' 37" west of Greenwich.

South Pacific Ocean.-Reef off Stewart Isle, New-Zealand.-The following notice to mariners has been received from the Admiralty, London: "It appears from an examination of the weather-book of the ship BRUCE, THOMAS MEIKLEJOHN, commander, in his passage from Otago, by the south of New-Zealand, to Calcutta, in November, 1860, when passing the southeast extreme of South or Stewart Island, discovered a dangerous reef, which is not laid down in the Admiralty or any other charts, or noticed in the New-Zealand pilot or sailing directions. This danger, which is described as two low rocks, from three to six feet high, and close together, on which the sea breaks heavily, lies in the direct track of vessels closely rounding Stewart Island in proceeding to or from the

southern settlements of New-Zealand. Its position, which appears to have been determined with some accuracy, is as follows:

"7 miles E. by N. & N. from Owen Island, off Lord's River.

"51%

66

E. by N.N."

66 E. by S. S. 66

S. E. E.

the extreme of the Break Sea Isles. Wreck Reef, off Port Adventure. East Head, north of Port Adventure.

"Or, in latitude 47° 7′ 35′′ S., and longitude 168° 21′ 35′′ E.

'Soundings, though tried for, were not obtained in its neighborhood, from the rapid rate of sailing of the ship in passing the danger.

"Caution. It is creditable to Captain MEIKLEJOHN to have entered the discovery of this reef in his weather-book, but it is greatly to be regretted that he did not take some steps, immediately on his arrival at Calcutta or in England, to make public the existence of this very serious danger, which lies but little out of the sailing track of ships bound to the southern settlements of New-Zealand. Had not the remark been seen by Rear Admiral Fitz Roy, (who was scarching this book for meteorological facts, and at once transmitted it to the Admiralty for publication,) this reef might not have been heard of until it had caused the wreck of a vessel. On being applied to for further information, Captain MEIKLEJOHN readily sent up his original chart on which the reef was marked at the time, and there can be but little doubt of its existence. Masters of vessels are, therefore, warned to keep a good lookout in this neighborhood. They are further requested, on the discovery of any danger, to report the same immediately on arriving at the first port, in order that other vessels may be put on their guard, and for the general benefit of the mariner."

IRON-PLATED SHIPS.

Three of the tenders made to the English Admiralty for iron-plated vessels were promptly accepted by Mr. MARE, of Millwall, Mr. LAIRD, of Birkenhead, and by the Thames Iron Works, where the WARRIOR was built, and they were ordered to commence the construction of the vessels forthwith. The length of the new ships will be 400 feet on the lowwater line; breadth, extreme, 59 feet 4 inches; depth, 21 feet below the gun-deck; and tonnage, 6,815. The length of the WARRIOR class is 380 feet, breadth 58 feet, and tonnage 6,170. The breadth of deck, however, in the proposed frigates, will not be greater than the WARRIOR, as the Admiralty have most wisely decided on giving the sides of the new vessels a greater incline towards the deck. Thus, the slope of the WARRIOR'S sides inwards, from the water's edge, or the "tumble home," as it is termed, is an incline of about one foot in thirteen; whereas, in the ships to be built it will be at an incline of one in eight and a half feet, which, of course, not only increases the chances of the shot glancing off, but has the more important advantage of getting the weight more in the centre, and diminishing the tendency to roll. The internal subdivisions, as to water-tight compartments, &c., will be almost precisely similar to those of the WARRIOR. The main decks are to be armed with 36 100pounder ARMSTRONGS, and the spar-deck with 21 guns of a similar calibre. Two forward guns will, it is said, be 200-pounders, and so, also, will the pivot-gun at the stern.

COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS.

I. THE CONFISCATION ACT OF AUGUST, 1861. II. RESULTS OF CONFISCATION ACT. III. COMMERCIAL TREATY BETWEEN FRANCE AND ITALY. IV. FREE IMPORTATIONS INTO FRANCE. V. TREATY BETWEEN ENGLAND AND FRANCE. VI. TREATY WITH TURKEY. VII. TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CHINA. VIII. DECISIONS OF THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY ON HOLLOW WARE-WoolLEN CARD CLOTH-PRINTED COTTON HANDKERCHIEFS.

AN ACT TO CONFISCATE PROPERTY USED FOR INSURRECTIONARY PURPOSES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That if, during the present or any future insurrection against the government of the United States, after the President of the United States shall have declared, by proclamation, that the laws of the United States are opposed, and the execution thereof obstructed by combinations too powerful to be suppressed by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, or by the power vested in the marshals by law, any person or persons, his, her or their agent, attorney or employee, shall purchase or acquire, sell or give, any property of whatsoever kind or description, with intent to use or employ the same, or suffer the same to be used or employed, in aiding, abetting or promoting such insurrection or resistance to the laws, or any person or persons engaged therein; or if any person or persons, being the owner or owners of any such property, shall knowingly use or employ, or consent to the use or employment of the same as aforesaid, all such property is hereby declared to be lawful subject of prize and capture wherever found; and it shall be the duty of the President of the United States to cause the same to be seized, confiscated and condemned.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That such prizes and capture shall be condemned in the district or circuit court of the United States having jurisdiction of the amount, or in admiralty in any district in which the same may be seized, or into which they may be taken and proceedings first instituted.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That the Attorney-General, or any District Attorney of the United States in which said property may at the time be, may institute the proceedings of condemnation, and in such case they shall be wholly for the benefit of the United States; or any person may file an information with such attorney, in which case the proceedings shall be for the use of such informer and the United States in equal parts. SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That whenever hereafter, during the present insurrection against the government of the United States, any person claimed to be held to labor or service under the law of any State shall be required or permitted by the person to whom such labor or service is claimed to be due, or by the lawful agent of such person, to take up arms against the United States, or shall be required or permitted by the person to whom such labor or service is claimed to be due, or his lawful agent, to work to be employed in or upon any fort, navy yard, dock, armory, ship, entrenchment, or in any military or naval service whatsoever, against the government and lawful authority of the United States, then and in every such case the person to whom such labor or service is claimed to be due, shall forfeit his claim to such labor, any law of the State or of the United States to the contrary notwithstanding. And