442 
issue than that of his friend and fellow 
traveller. The geographical position of 
some of the small islands had been 
incorrectly laid down by former navi- 
gators. The weather continuing re- 
markably fine during the navigation of 
the numerous and dangerous passages 
of this archipelago, Mr. Duferry and 
his assistants were enabled to make the 
most detailed surveys of the coasts, and 
in-‘many instances'to make astronomical 
and magnetic observations on shore, 
notwithstanding these islands are mostly 
inhabited by savage tribes of very great 
ferocity. Ina second letter, dated the 
17th Oct. 1823, at Mattavei, after des- 
cribing a successful and remarkably 
healthy voyage, the writer gives a very 
gratifying account of the improvement 
of the savages of Otaheite, by the un- 
remitted exertions of the English mis- 
sionaries, the greater part of the in- 
habitants being, as far as may be judged 
from appearances, converted to Chris- 
tianity ; during the last fonr years, the 
most intelligent of the natives have been 
sufficiently educated to assist the mis- 
sionaries in the conversion and civiliza- 
tion of their countrymen, many of the 
smaller islands even shewing an exam- 
ple to Otaheite in the work of civiliza- 
tion. The writer, however, adds that, 
according to the opinion of many per- 
sons, the missionaries had carried their 
pretensions too far, so as to reduce the 
people to a state of slavery, under pre- 
tence of rendering them civilized ; inter- 
fering. even with the most innocent 
sports and customs, and condemning 
those who are refractory, in these res- 
pects, to labour on the high roads. 
The decay of new line-of-battle ships 
has been attributed to the practice of 
felling the timber in the spring, in order 
to obtain the bark ; this object may be at- 
tained by stripping the tree in the spring, 
and letting it stand till winter, for the 
use of the navy—as the timber becomes 
harder and drier, and much improved in 
quality by the length of time it stands. 
These advantages would be increased, 
if.a scale of premiums were to be pro- 
posed in proportion to this; and by the 
flattening of the roofs, in the cover- 
ings used while ships are building, 
a greater circulation of air would be 
produced, and a consequently benefi- 
cial effect on the timbers. 
A Metropolitan New Milk Company 
has been formed, in the vicinity of 
Islington, and already sends round 
its milk to most parts of the town, 
in covered cans, locked up, so that 
Literary and Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
[Dec. 1, 
their carriers cannot add watery mix- 
tures (of flour and treacle, as is almost 
universal) for its adulteration : they also 
send round cream under the like pre- 
cautions; and to the poor in their 
vicinity sell the skimmed milk, retail, 
at a low price. [See an Article in cor- 
respondence of this month, p. 416.] 
In consequence of the environs of 
London becoming so very extensive, 
great inconyenience is daily felt through 
the present mode of delivery of let- 
ters “off the stones,’ where there is 
a continuation of neighbourhood. The 
parishes surrounding London have 
signed a petition to Parliament, praying 
for an extension of the limits of the 
delivery. The reasonable cause of the 
application, gives every reason to hope 
that no impediment will be thrown in 
the way of complying with the prayer 
of the petition. The arrangement 
prayed for must cause a great increase 
of revenue, by a greater number of 
letters being circulated, and by a free 
delivery of newspapers to the envi- 
rons. ; 
From the returns just printed by order 
of Parliament, it appears that the popu- 
lation of Ireland amounts to 6,801,827 : 
Males, 3,341,926 ; Females, 3,459,901. 
The number of persons chiefly employed 
in agriculture is stated at 1,138,069 ; 
those engaged in trade, manufac- 
ture, or handicraft, at 1,170,044. The 
population of Dublin is stated to be 
227,335. 
Mr. Thelwall, whose success in re- 
‘moving the most afflicting impediments 
of speech, and in cultivating the higher 
accomplishments of Elocution, is so 
well known, has quitted once more the 
retirement m which for some years he 
has been living at North Brixton, and 
has removed to Pall-Mall East, where 
he purposes to resume his professional 
pursuits. 
The average price of Wheat, through- 
out France, on the 31st of last July, 
was 35s. per quarter ; in England it was, 
at the same time, 59s. 9d. The average 
price of Oats was 14s. 9d. per quarter 
in France, and 26s. 7d. in England. 
The average price of Rye varies from 
14s. 10d. to 25s. 3d. per quarter in 
France, whilst in England the average 
is 41s. 1d. 
A meeting was held on the 13th ult. 
at the house of P. Moore, Esq. M.P., 
when it was unanimously agreed that 
the public integrity and private virtues 
of the late John Cartwright were most 
highly deserving of some lasting testi- 
testimonial 
