closed in until the direct communication is established. We are not quite so sure as to the non-interference by the natives with the proposed line from Port Darwin, but we admire the spirit that prompts the establishment of the proposed line, and hope that it will be carried out successfully.

THE Sultan, 12, our last new armour-plated monster, has had her official trial trip which has been pronounced a success; she made a run beyond the Nab light, when her engines were worked up to seventy revolutions. The running on the measured mile produced a mean speed of nearly 14 knots, with a horse power worked up to nearly 10,000, but we have always been of opinion that these trial trips are by no means indicative of speed for work-a-days. A ship, when comparatively light, drawing 26 feet water, becomes quite another thing with all her stores and equipment on board and drawing about 28 feet. As we have not given the dimensions of this great ship, we subjoin a brief account of her. Her dimensions are, as nearly as possible, the same as those of the Hercules—viz., length between perpendiculars, 325 feet; breadth extreme, 59 feet; depth in hold, 21 feet; burden in tons, 5,226 5.94; proportions of length to breadth, 5.5. An all-round fire has been held by all the advocates of turret vessels to be an essential element of success, and in arranging the armament of the Sultan great pains have been taken to give her guns advantages equal, if not superior, to those of turret vessels. The central battery on the upper deck carries at each of its projecting ends one 12-ton 9 inch muzzleloading gun. The ends are each pierced with two gun ports, one looking out on the broadside, and the other across the ship's stern. From the broadside port the gun has a range of fire to within 37 degrees of the keel forward, and through the after port-the ship's sides rounding in sharply, and hammock nettings, and mizen rigging being set well on board- -a fire is obtained from 4 degrees across the keel. The main deck battery is 87 feet in length, and has mounted on each side, on Captain Scott's patent carriages and slides, four 18-ton 10 inch muzzle-loading rifled guns, having a range of fire of 35 degrees each side of the beam. The turntables and after apparatus for transferring a gun from one port to another appear to be most perfect. The forward gun on each side through the recessed port has a range within 15 degrees of the ship's line of keel. The two 12-ton guns under the forecastle fire from 4 degrees across the keel forward to within 42 degrees of the beam athwartships. The central upper deck with its massive armourplates had the effect of raising the weights a little, but this has

been compensated for by placing additional ballast in the hold. Steam is utilized on board the Sultan in steering by means of Forester and Co's. patent steam apparatus.

ROYAL NAVAL BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.-A general court of the Governors and Subscribers of the above Institution was held on the 17th ult., at Willis's Rooms; Admiral Goldsmith in the chair. The Secretary read the report, which stated that during the past year 39 members had died, and 32 new members had joined. The sum of £1,851 had been distributed in relief during the year to 259 applicants, being widows or orphans of deceased naval officers. The total income of the year, including the balance of £214, had been £2,428; and the expenditure, including the £1,851 in relief, and the purchase of £100 Stock, had been £2,283, leaving a balance of £145. The invested fund was now £43,634. The income for the past quarter, ending the 25th of March, had been £1,219, and the expenditure, including £455 in relief, had been £538, leaving a balance of £681. The report was adopted. The sum of £550 was then voted in grants to the widows and orphans of deceased officers. We cannot too earnestly recommend this Society to the attention of the younger officers of the Royal Navy, not as a charity to which they are asked to subscribe, but as a measure of common prudence, one that they may hope their relatives never may require to benefit by; but should that unfortunately be the case, they will have the satisfaction of knowing they will not be refused.

Ir has been very properly determined that no more foreign officers shall be permitted to serve in the Royal Navy while so many of our own officers are unable to find employment.

CAPTAIN HALL the American Arctic explorer is about to start on another expedition to the north in a vessel now preparing for him. Dr. David Walker who accompanied Sir Leopold McClintock, in his memorable voyage in search of Franklin, in the Fox, sails with Captain Hall, and we believe the route the expedition will take is that of Captain Hall's countryman, Dr. Kane, known as the Smith. Sound route. We hope that Captain Hall will be enabled to set at rest the somewhat doubtful problem of the open Polar Sea as seen by Morton and Kane.

A LIGHTHOUSE is to be placed on Galley Head, on the South West Coast of Ireland, which will, it is hoped, aid in preventing the recurrence of wrecks in Clonakilty Bay and the adjacent neighbourhood.

HOLMES'S INEXTINGUISHABLE MARINE AND STORM SIGNAL LIGHT.— We are much mistaken if this invention will not create a revolution in certain signal and other lights in use both in Her Majesty's and the Merchant Navy. We have had the opportunity of witnessing the light, and if in actual practice afloat it retains the same properties as exhibited to us, we consider the value of the invention and the extent of its adaptation cannot be over- estimated. As the magnesium light throws that of gas into the shade, so does the light under our notice throw that of blue-lights, port fires, and other lights used as signals, and when we state that ordinary newspaper print can be read at a distance of fifty to sixty feet by its light, it may give some idea of its intensity. The light as at present constructed burns forty minutes, but this we suppose can be regulated by the size of the chamber and the charge of the compound; it is lit by means of bringing water into contact with the compound, and, therefore, water being necessary to its combustion, the light cannot be extinguished by it. The uses of the light have to be developed, but some are apparent to our nautical experience, viz.: as signals of distress for a pilot or tug, illuminating the coast for landing from wreck, directing life-boats in connection with the Rocket line apparatus to indicate the position of the falling line, life-buoys, and on pitch dark and rainy nights for illuminating the ship while reefing or performing any other evolution. In construction the machine for producing this light is as follows: A small tin canister, four inches high and three inches in diameter, is fitted upon the upper side with a conical nozzle burner for the emission of the flame. A tube passes through the centre of the case which projects some three inches below the under side, the portion of the tube within the lamp is perforated with holes to permit water to flow in to the interior of the lamp. Both the nozzle hole and the bottom of the table are rendered air-tight by soft metal caps soldered on. The interior of the lamp surrounding this tube is charged with the preparation consisting of lime burned with a certain proportion of phosphorus in a closed crucible at a high temperature. This material broken into small lumps fills the lamp. To prepare the light for use is only the work of two or three seconds. With a knife cut off the soft metal top of the nozzle, and make a hole in the bottom of the tube sufficient to admit water freely. The lamp is now ready, and will, when placed in water, burst forth with an intensely brilliant flame, not to be extinguished by wind or by water.