NAUTICAL MAGAZINE FOR 1871. A JOURNAL OF PAPERS ON SUBJECTS CONNECTED WITH MARITIME AFFAIRS. BIBL London : SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., STATIONERS' HALL COURT ; AND J. D. POTTER, 31, POULTRY, AND 11, KING STREET, TOWER HILL. THE NAUTICAL MAGAZINE. NEW SERIES. JANUARY, 1871. EDITORIAL ADDRESS. THE good old ship the "Nautical" has now for close upon forty years made her monthly voyages, freighted, it may truly be said, with cargoes which have been of great value to the maritime community of our Country. Guided by the veteran knowledge and wise judgment of the well-known officer who bade his many good friends an editorial farewell in the last number of the magazine (and who now retires from active command to spend, it is hoped, in peace the remainder of an honourable and useful life), the good old ship has made prosperous voyages and has gained a good name among nautical men. She has ever been kept clear of the troubled waters of politics, and the rocks and shoals of party or personal feelings of all kinds, and with the fair wind of public favour has kept steadily on her course, her voyages having been always made with the worthy motives of the advancement of navigation, the welfare of mariners of every grade, and the safety of all who travel across the seas. But it will be well to speak more plainly on the subject of the Magazine. The Editor feels called upon to put before subscribers and maritime men generally some sort of programme as to what may be expected of this New Series. It is intended to make certain changes in the magazine which are in a measure necessitated to bring it more into VOL. I. B harmony with the spirit of this advancing age; and these changes will, it is confidently hoped, have the effect of maintaining the high character of the work, of enlarging its usefulness, and rendering it still more valuable as an instrument for the diffusion of nautical information in all its branches. The Editor is much gratified at being enabled to announce that he has the promise of assistance from numerous men of mark in the nautical profession. Hydrography will continue to be an important feature in the work; the information will be obtained direct from head-quarters and will be so arranged as to be of the greatest use to the mariner, and may be trusted to as a reliable and lasting record of information essential to navigators. The scientific element of navigation will be brought prominently forward in the pages of the magazine. A new feature will be the introduction of articles, etc., intended to minister to the moments of leisure or relaxation of the sailor. All work and no play is said to make even "Jack" a dull boy, so now and then will be published papers of an interesting or amusing kind, not necessarily on nautical topics; or a tough old yarn will be introduced in the form of a serial story. In fact a strong endeavour will be made to render the magazine useful and entertaining, adapted alike to the requirements of the state-room or cabin and the lower deck or forecastle. The size of the magazine will not be limited, but will be adapted to the amount of interesting or useful matter which may be at the Editor's command each month. Nautical men are invited to co-operate with the Editor, and to send to him any particulars which may be useful to the seafaring community. All letters containing enquiries on nautical subjects will receive careful consideration, and will be promptly replied to in the pages of the magazine. With these changes it is hoped that the magazine will continue to be animated by the spirit which has hitherto made it the sailors' friend, and that its original high purposes may never be subordinated to unworthy ends. The friendly support and co-operation of the nautical community will maintain the prestige of the Nautical Magazine |