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This has followed the usual set of the equatorial current, and travelled about 1260 miles in the interval.

A bottle from H.M.S. Curaçoa, Commander Phillimore, on the 3rd September, 1859, in lat. 16° N. and long. 26-3° W., was found at Colon on the 10th November, 1860, making good a W. S. course and distance about 3300 miles.

Both of these bottles seem to have been influenced in the latter part of their voyage by northerly winds.

The following appeared in the Shipping Gazette of the 15th January last:

The following is a copy of a paper found in a bottle which was washed on shore at Figuera on 31st December last

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"July 2nd, 1860.-The bottle was dropped by Dr. Ira W. Bragg, in lat. 50° N., long. 20° W., from the packet-ship Fidelia, bound to New York from Liverpool. If ever picked up please inform where, when, and by whom. Direct to Dr. Ira W. Bragg, Croydon, New Hampshire, United States of America."

The course S.W.S., distance 780 miles. This seems to have been influenced by northerly winds, all the bottles thrown over near it, having been set to the coast of France across the bay.

We add the following, received from Revel, the bottle having been found on Dago Island, a short distance to the southward of where it was thrown over, at the entrance of the Gulf of Finland, on the 23rd September, showing the southerly set of the current :

"This bottle has been dropped into the Baltic from on board the Leopard, steamer, bound from Hull to St. Petersburg, on the morning of the 14th (2nd) September, 1860, in lat. 59° N., long. 23° E. Passengers all well. The object of this is to find the course of the stream flowing out of the Baltic, and it may be reported to any the Admiralty offices in London."

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The foregoing concern the currents of the ocean, but the following rather relate to the current of life!

South Ronaldshay, December 7th.-A bottle was picked up floating past the Barth Head, in Pentland Firth, containing a piece of paper, seemingly hurriedly torn from a log-book of some unfortunate vessel sunk at sea. The writing, which was in Norwegian, states:

"The Norwegian schooner Albion, of Christiania, sunk on the 4th of December, about abreast of the Brekaress. The crew, consisting of Captain Frantz Holst; the mate, Robert Bockman, who in the hour of death invokes the forgiveness of his aunt and uncles, and that they will pay my debts at Christiania, about twenty specie dollars, which my cousin, A. Bockman, knows of. Lars Dahl bids his wife farewell. The rest of the crew send remembrances to all.

Remembrances are sent to Ludwig Host and his wife. They live at Sandefiord. In a like manner my beloved Ellen Han-, an eternal farewell, until we meet in another world. Likewise my father, mother, and brother, greeting, from their obedient son, Frantz Holst." "Thea Jorgensen, at the house of Frisch, I hope to see in another world. Farewell, Thea; comport yourself better in this life than I have done. Farewell, Thea,-Thy Robert."

"Care of Messrs. Lorum and Wegner, Timber Merchants, Christiania."

"Dear Frederick Host,-Fare thee well, and think on God while you are living,-Your cousin Rasch."

"We have just commended ourselves into God's hands. I hope he will forgive us our manifold sins.”

The Albion, Holst, sailed from Portsmouth for Christiania on the 4th of last November; and not having since been heard of, it is supposed she must have foundered.

Wyck-on-Fohr, December 12th.-A bottle picked up a few days since on the strand at Sylt, containing a memorandum, without date, as follows:-"English brig. Several will be lost to-day, as the ship is very leaky. We have lost all boats, therefore we are lost.—William Boller, master, of Shields,"

A bottle, containing the following, has been picked up on South Shields sands ::

"North Sea, February 2nd, 1860.-Dear Friends,-When you find this the crew of the ill-fated ship Horatia, and Captain Jackson, of Norwich is no more. We left Archangel on the 8th of January, all well. On the 2nd of February we hove to under close-reefed topsails, after scudding before the gale for ten days. We have not been below for six days. A Norwegian brig hove to for our assistance. Four men got into the jolly-boat, but after leaving a sea struck her and sank her, and the four men were lost. Our crew consisted of eight men, master and mate, second mate, and two boys. When I am writing this I have just left the pumps. We are not able to keep her up-eight feet of water in the hold, and the sea making breach clear over her. Our hatches are all stove in, and we are worn out. Our master made an observation to-day. We are in 60° N. lat.; wind N.E. I write these few lines and commit them to the foaming deep in hopes that they may reach some kind-hearted friend who will be so good as to find out the friends of these poor suffering mortals. I am a native of London, from the orphan school-John Laing, apprentice. We are called aft to prayers, to make our peace with that great God, before we commit our living bodies to that foam and surf. Dear friends, you may think me very cool, but, thank God, death is welcome. We are so benumbed and fatigued that we care not whether we live or die. John Ross, John Thompson, James Lee, Jos. Brig took the boat on the 21st of January.-William Ham,

Peter Young, Sam Jones, James Bruce, William Ham, chief mate; Thomas Wilson, second mate: John Laing and Frederick Maff, apprentices."

ARGO. A friend has sent us the Bermuda Gazette of the 1st January, in which we find the following:

:

A bottle containing a paper on which the following is written was picked up at Bailey Bay on Christmas Day.

"To show the set of currents this bottle was thrown overboard in Atlantic Ocean, lat. 30° 41′ N., long. 81° 5' W., April 10th, 1860, wind South, from U.S. surveying schooner Argo, Lieut.-Commanding Alexander Murray."

This bottle has made good 600 miles on an E.b.N. (true) course in 259 days, an interval which gives it a rate of 23 miles nearly per day. The locality in which this was thrown over renders it interesting from the circumstance of its having to cross the Gulf Stream; with which it would be set to the northward, and then, like the Vulture's bottle, drifted with a northerly wind over to Bermuda.

LUNAR EQUINOCTIALS.

22nd February, 1861.

Sir,-The fearful nature of the gale on Thursday last ought to excite us all to increased energy; in our attempts to encourage precautionary measures. If weather warnings be possible, let us have them.

The first thing to be done is to set the public right as to the barometer, some rely solely on it, while others ignorantly repudiate its warnings, and even ungratefully upbraid those who do their best to help the question.

Let us propose, then, that I attempt, in your next number, to show both the dangers and the advantages which attach to the use of that valuable instrument. I am convinced that the subject is capable of still further elucidation.

I beg to add another list, in advance, of periods on which the weather may reasonably be suspected as liable to change, most probably towards high winds or lower temperature, being emphatically periods of atmospheric disturbance.

1861, March 4th-11th-18th or 19th-25th.

April 7th-15th-21st-27th or 28th.

The equinoctial gales are very likely to set in about the 25th, and we may look for a very high tide on the 27th of March.

I have, &c.,

To the Editor of the Nautical Magazine.

S. M. SAXBY.

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F. Fxed. Fl. Fixed and Flashing. R. Revolving. I. Intermitting. Est. Established.

(a.) 2.-The Russian Imperial Ministry of Marine has given notice that the following alterations will be found in the lights of Kronstat, on the opening of the navigation in the spring of 1861:

The three fixed lights in the midst of the fort of Emperor Paul I. or Risbank Fort are to be discontinued.

The eastern light of the Nicholas Battery at Kronslot, that is 45 feet above the mean level of the sea, is to be raised to 58 feet above the same level, and should be visible from the deck of a ship in clear weather at a distance of 12 miles.

The western light, which is now 21 feet above the mean level of the sea, will be raised to 23 feet above the same level; but there will be no change in the horizontal range of these lights.

(b.) 3.—The Russian Imperial Ministry of Marine has give notice of the following changes in the beacons of the Gulf of Riga:

Two mast-beacons, to show the direction of the channel into Riga, are surmounted by a triangle with the apex upwards, and over it a small barrel. They are 85 and 87 feet high and 478 yards apart, in a direction N. W.b. W.W. The N.W. beacon is higher and its base larger than that of the S.E. beacon. They can be seen 10 miles distant.

The lower light at Riga has been opened out 30° to the westward, so as to be seen from N.} W. to N.W. W.

The following beacons are to be in their places on the opening of the navigation in 1861

A red broom turned downwards on the South side of the banks of Kuno, S.W. S. 6 miles from the church of St. Nicholas.

A red broom turned downwards at 3 miles South from the end of the Sorkholm Reef.

A black broom turned downwards on the coast of Livonia, on a 9-fect shoal, S.W.b.W. 2 miles off Cape Taker-ort.

A double broom, red above and white below, on the 11-feet shoal W.b.N.IN. 4 miles from the village of Kablukula.

A white broom placed upright on the 17-feet bank N.W.b.N. 34 miles from the farm of Ainensch.

A double broom, white above and red below, on the end of the reef off the entrance of the River Att Salis, about 6 miles from the beach, in 26 feet

water.

The bearings are magnetic. Variation at Riga 8° 15′ W. in 1861.

ALTERATIONS IN FRENCH LIGHTS.

We find the following in the Moniteur de la Flotte.

Port of Cette Light,-Change of Position.

Mariners are hereby informed that on the 15th of February the fixed light of the port of Cette will be removed to the tower recently completed at the mole head of the port of St. Louis. The neighbouring sea light of Fort Richelieu will be established at the same time at the S.W. angle of this fort, in a manner to show, with the light, the course for entering the port.

The tower stands in lat. 43° 23′ 30′′ N. and long. 3° 42′ 4" W. The light is 82 feet above the ground, and 105 feet above the sea, and may be seen 15 miles distant.

Light of Fort Richelieu.

Is 253 feet to the West of the lighthouse. Mean height, 272 feet; distance seen, 4 miles.

These two lights will appear to be one at the distance of about 11 mile. They will be hereafter replaced by two lights; one of which will stand at the end of the jetty of Fontignan, and the other at the end of the breakwater.

Light of Biarritz,-Lower Pyrenees.

Navigators are hereby informed that the revolving light of Biarritz, about 2 miles S.S.W. of the mouth of the Adour, the eclipses of which are now every half minute, will be altered in the month of July next to every 20 seconds, and that the light will be alternately white and red.

A temporary light of the same character as the intended light will be shown at the tower while the works are going forward; but that will not be visible so far off as they will be.

IANTHE SHOAL,-Caroline Islands.

The following extract from the log of the barque Nile confirms the existence of the Tanthe Shoal; but the position given by the Nile, although agreeing in longitude differs in latitude.

Barque Nile, Destin, reports:-"Left the Sea October 1st; had moderate weather down. February 9th, in lat. 5° 31' N., long. 145° 42′ E., at 6.15 p.m., passed over a sunken reef, with little room to spare, the rocks being plainly visible on each side of the vessel, and the man aloft reported breakers on one side. The barque was

very

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