The mean of twelve observations gave the latitude 18° 28′ 25-9′′ N. April 18th, 1850.-Circummeridional altitudes of & Certauri; index 10"; barometer, 30:07°; attached thermometer, 75-7° F. detached thermometer, 74° F. Chronometer fast of mean time at place at meridian passage 17m. 11.9s. error The mean of three observations gave the latitude 18° 28′ 7.1 N. ein Mean of north and south stars 18° 28' 14.5" north. During the stay of H.M. surveying-vessel Scorpion, the results of the observations of the officers for the latitude of the Consulate were as follows: Mean of north and south stars 18° 28' 9" north. ... 3702 .... 3928 18° 27′ 59′′ 18° 28′ 6′′ 4090 -18° 28′ 2′′ 4211 18° 27′ 50′′ Mean 18° 28' 0' The mean of the two sets would therefore give as result of the latitude of the Consulate 18° 28' 117" north. For the purpose of identifying at any period hereafter the site where these observations were taken, should the Consulate be transferred to some other house, I add the following true bearings and distances: Homenaje or Signal Tower Cathedral (Cross on the Western Portal) Church of Regina (Cupola) eastern part) Church of La Merced (little Lantern or Turret on the According to these determinations the cross of the western portal of the cathedral of the city of Santo Domingo would be in No coasts require more a careful and detailed survey than the south and east coasts of the Dominican Republic; that is from Cape Mongan to the Bay of Samana. The chief article of export of the Dominican Republic is mahogany; and the vessels that are exporting it are mostly chartered at Saint Thomas with the condition to load on three or four places of the coast, some of which are of such a nature that it is almost impossible to effect the taking off the cargo without risk of life and property. To this must be added that the pilots are ignorant men, a few only acquainted with the English language, and some among them so devoid of principles, that a fraudulent shipwreck may be procured for a couple of doubloons. All my exertions to put a stop to this nefarious system have unfortunately been hitherto in vain. The absence of an accurate survey of the coast places the master of the vessel almost entirely at the mercy of the pilot; it is therefore sincerely to be trusted that Lieut. Lawrance will receive instructions as soon as possible to extend his surveys to this coast. None have more seriously suffered from the present state of things than British Insurance Companies. In the interval, I continue to occupy myself with completing my knowledge of the Bays and loading places along the Coast, for which purpose I am on the point of departing for the southern provinces of the Dominican Republic. I will forward the result of my information, on my return, for publication in the Nautical Magazine. NOTES ON A VOYAGE TO CHINA IN HER MAJESTY'S LATE SCREW STEAMER REYNARD.-P. Cracroft, Commander. (Continued from p. 375.) In the afternoon I saluted his Highness's flag with 21 guns, which compliment was duly returned by the fort, a wooden building, on which are mounted six guns, which most probably once did duty on board the Royalist. They are almost à fleur d'eau, and admirably situated to enfilade the river. I afterwards proceeded to inspect the city, if the collection of wooden and matting huts, extending at least a mile on both banks of the river, are worthy of the name. Unfortunately the afternoon turned out very wet, so that I could not effect my object 80 fully as I had intended. I saw, however, enough to convince me of the rapid advance which civilisation is making in a country, until yesterday sunk in the lowest depth of barbarism. At the court-house, justice was being administered by two Englishmen (magistrates) in the English fashion. The native Dyacks bow to their decisions, satisfied apparently of their infallibility. The church, English of course, under the care and supervision of the Rev. Mr. Mc Dougal, is rapidly progressing; its site is admirably selected, and it will form a most conspicuous object in approaching the town. Mr. Mc Dougal's dwelling house, just completed, is quite a stately building, and at present serves as a temporary chapel for his congregation. His wife, the only lady in Sarawak, has taken "the school" in her charge, and ere many years have elapsed the tribe of little heathens, now scarcely able to lisp, will be singing their Redeemer's praise; in short, the great work for which England has been specially raised up by Providence "among the nations" has been here begun. I next visited the Rajah's antimony stores and smelting houses, the works of which are for the moment suspended, and then returned on board. In the evening I had the honour of dining with His Highness, together with all the officers who could be spared from duty, (for a general invitation had been sent,) and we afterwards witnessed a "levee extraordinary." As soon as the dinner was over and dessert placed upon the table, the native princes entered, and having each pressed the hand of their Rajah, retired, and plumped themselves down on their haunches, close to the wall of the apartment, preserving a most solemn silence. Meanwhile we passed the wine and continued our conversation, apparently taking no notice whatever of the extraordinary looking group around us. On this occasion there entered, for the first time, a number of the pirate chiefs who had been lately defeated by the Rajah in the expedition which he conducted up the Sarebas river with the boats of the Nemesis and Albatross, and who had come to Sarawak for the purpose of making their submission. Fine looking fellows they were, but I was surprised to find no trace of ferocity in their expressive countenances; all wore their kreeses, and there could not be a more forcible illustration of the power of moral force, than that a party of unarmed Englishmen, not more than a dozen in number, should permit themselves to be surrounded by such a set of ruffians at heart as these, for I fear their promises of amendment are but temporary, and that, when the time comes, in which they think they can do so with impunity, "their hands will be once more turned against every man's." The next morning the ship was crowded with these people, and their curiosity was gratified by an inspection of the novelties presented to their view. At 7 o'clock, in tending to the flood, the ship's heel caught the pinnacle of a rock on the left bank of the river, which is here not more than 200 yards wide at high water, and the kedge had to be laid out to free her. At 9h. A.M., we bade adieu to Sarawak, I trust only for a time,-and proceeded down the river, piloted by a Mr. Cruikshank, who took us on the opposite side of the Samarang ledge, where, however, to my surprise we had only 2 fathoms. At the junction of the Moratabas, we found only 2 fathoms, but as the the bottom was soft mud, the ship dragged over it very well. At the junction of the Quop with the Moratabas, the river widens considerably, and becomes indeed a noble stream, with water enough for a threedecker. This was the highest point the Meander reached, when she brought out Sir James Brooke, in 1847; and here our pilot, Mr. C., left us. From hence to the sea, the river gradually increases in width to upwards of a mile and a half, and the scenery is of the most magnificent description. Most sincerely do I hope that the resources of a country so rich in almost every production useful to man, may be ere long developed. Before noon, with the help of a strong tide, which swept us through the numerous fishing stakes, and increased our speed to nearly 10 knots over the ground, we were abreast of the entrance of the river; and at 2h. P.M., a breeze having sprung up from off the land, we got the screw up once more and shaped a course for Labuan: Memo. There is no fresh beef to be had at Sarawak. Pork, how, ever, could have been procured if necessary, and, probably, vegetables enough for our ship's company twice a week. I took the opportunity to fill the boilers with the river water, as well as the tanks that were empty, only intending it, however, for washing and culinary purposes. Judging from its appearance, it is wholly unfit for drinking, and would most probably occasion dysentery. Thanks to our distilling apparatus, however, we are not likely to want it for drinking. I was anxious to take on board some wood, which the Rajah informed me I could have in almost any quantity, for the purpose of ascertaining whether we could use it for steaming. Unfortunately, however, the tide did not suit for getting it off, and I could not afford to wait another day, so this important point must be settled some other time. Contrary to my anticipations, the fair wind, although very irregular in force, continued. We kept the land close aboard, rather a nervous proceeding when charts are so indifferent as those we are supplied with, even Sir E. Belcher's latest!!! is very incorrect. We had heavy rain squalls at night, very threatening in appearance, but, except as a measure of precaution, rarely requiring sail being shortened. In one of these, however, at midnight on the 28th, (Sunday,) I was obliged to drop the anchor, we were so close to the land, and scarcely able to see a ship's length. On the 29th, at 1h. P.M., we entered the harbour of Victoria, Labuan, off which we found the Nemesis, Mr Wallage, Commander, underway for Sarawak and Singapore. Of this infant settlement I can say but little. The position of the town seems badly chosen, owing to the unhealthiness of the site, and it will probably have to be removed. There is nothing yet like trade, a few small proas were at anchor close to the beach, and a few straggling houses of bamboo and matting, like houses on stilts, were. scattered about without any order or form; one of these was the Post Office. I walked to the Lieut.-Governor's by an excellent road which already extends nearly three miles into the forest. The houses of the Offi cials, Barracks, Jail, &c., are dotted on either hand, in the course of this distance. I observed a guard parading idly in their cross belts, and thought they might have been much better occupied with axes in their hands. The Governor and his lady received me courteously, and, after some tiffin, I rode back; and made sail for Coal Point, situated at the other extremity of the island, where the coal vein, on which the prosperity of this colony mainly depends, is being worked. I found the Hon. Company's steam-vessel Semiramis here, busily employed completing fuel, and Commander Daniel came on board to Sir Edward Belcher's charts of the coast of Borneo, were not on board the Regnard; the single sheet chart, we believe, is here alluded to. ED. bet Vide page öðlassza offer me every assistance, though in consequence of the want of hands to work the seam, he was himself getting on very slowly. The Eastern Archipelago Company, who have a lease of the mine, commenced their operations nearly five months ago. Their superin tendents, Messrs. Mottley, have made great exertions; but the diffieulties that have been, and are daily being, thrown in their way, effectually check their proceedings. The great want is labour; but Malays and Chinese will not settle in a place where they are not per mitted to hold a lease except on the most extravagant terms. If any encouragement were held out to these people, I have no doubt hun dreds would collect here. Again, in a country where every man who cuts down a tree ought to be considered a public benefactor, Messrs. M. have had an injunction to restrain them from cutting "a stick," excepting on the land, (about 50 square acres) which the Company has actually taken possession of and paid for. The consequence is, that excepting almost the ground which they stand on, this part of the island is still impenetrable; not from jungle, but from densely packed huge forest trees, of the most valuable timber; and I had great diffi culty in getting a few yards beyond the limits of the E. A. Company's property. Then, inasmuch as the "English" is the law of the land, every petty theft must needs be tried by a jury, and Messrs. M. are summoned repeatedly to Victoria; although during their absence, which cannot well be less than twenty-four hours, on account of the distance, there is no one to superintend their labourers! The coal is of excellent quality, quite equal to some Welsh we have had, which it resembles very much in appearance, and in the light colour of the smoke. Owing to the assistance Captain Daniel gave us, we got on board, in about nine hours, twenty-two tons. This was nearly all surface coal, and every piece had to be washed separately to cleanse it from the sand and soil that adhered to it. But although it is so good, there is every reason to believe that the quality will yet improve as the workmen get deeper into the seam. I cannot help, in conclusion, recording it as my belief, that if "let alone" this concern will flourish, and return an ample dividend on the capital invested. I should doubt, however, whether the "Colony," under its present auspices, will ever thrive. "Dissensions are fatal in small communities," and here, it is said, the conduct of a Lieut.-Governor has been too successful in sowing the seeds of discord. On the 30th, at 6 P.M., we steamed out of the anchorage; got the screw up soon after, as there was a nice light breeze from the southward, and shaped a course to pass to the westward of Mangaloon. This part of the coast is not so studded with shoals as it is to the southward of Labuan; and the soundings are more regular. I may remark here, that off Barram Point the soundings are very uneven, With the point just in sight from the deck, probably about fifteen miles distant, and steering N.E.b.E.4E., we had 31, 17, 7, 10, 15, and 6 fathoms; shoaling in one cast from 17 to 7 fathoms, hard ground. As to the Five, Comrades, I should very much doubt their existence at all; we passed over the position assigned to the easternmost, and had |