164 Miscellanies. 



share too little in our sympathy. The additional security given to 

 our coasting voyages may be inferred from the fact that since the 

 commencement of the efforts of these gentlemen, insurance on ves- 

 sels in this trade has been reduced one half, and in some cases, even 

 still more than this. 



The chart of Long Island sound, we are informed, is from trigo- 

 nometrical surveys by a Theodolite and Azimuth instrument. The 

 base was measured on Greenwich point, and the triangulation was 

 carried on by means of signals on both sides of the sound. A line 

 of verification on Gardiner's island, shewed an accuracy in the oper- 

 ation, sufficient for the nicest practical purpose. The soundings are 

 full, and were determined by means of angles observed with the sex- 

 tant, depending in no case on the compass, according to the method 

 first used by Dalrymple, and afterwards systematized by Beautemps 

 Beaupre. The chart is six feet eight inches in length, and in neat- 

 ness of execution, will compare well with the best foreign charts. 



We alluded above to what our government has done, or rather 

 what it has not done on this subject. Why is it, that with a com- 

 merce inferior to that of no nation on the globe, with a coast exten- 

 sive, stormy, abounding in shoals, fringed with numberless inlets, and 

 swept by strong and singular currents, why has government done so 

 little towards ascertaining and helping us to guard against these dan- 

 gers ? We have public vessels enough, and there are now more than 

 a hundred officers on shore, fit, or in a state easily to be fitted for 

 this duty, and earnestly desiring release from the ennui of doing 

 nothing. The English have their survey-ships in almost every sea ; 

 their sounding leads have been dropped in almost every furlong of 

 the Mediterranean ; France has done much also ; even Spain has 

 her whole coast delineated on a set of most beautiful and accurate 

 charts ; — on this subject, what has our government done ? 



5. Use of Chloride of Lime in the U. S. Navy. — We are happy 



to learn that in the U. S. sloop , recently returned from a 



cruise in the West Indies, the chloride of lime has been employed 

 with good success. The offensive smell of the bilge-water was in- 

 stantly removed by dropping into it a small quantity of this article. 

 The efforts of the officers to sweeten water for their table was not 

 so successful. The smell was removed, but the taste of chlorine 

 remained. Had they however passed the water through pulverized 

 charcoal, previously well ignited, they would have obtained it per- 



