417 
THE FIELD. 
- SAVING LIVES IN CASE OF SHIPWRECK. 
Many years have elapsed since Captain George Manby 
proposed" his excellent system of using a small mortar and 
jj-gji f or carrying a line to a stranded vessel ; and the 
success of the system is best indicated by the many 
imitators who have followed in his track. The best inno- 
vation was that of the substitution of rockets for carrying 
the line; and on that system two important modifications 
have been recently brought forward in France. In 1818, 
M. Pelvigne tried some interesting experiments, at 
Lorient, on an improved system of saving life; and wo 
are now enabled to give the engraving of an ingenious 
apparatus, proposed in 1S53 bv M. Tremblay, an officer 
in the Marine Artillery. Subsequent experiments have 
demonstrated the applicability of this apparatus; and, by 
order of the Minister of Marine, these apparatus are to 
be established at Boulogne for trial at that port, pre- 
liminary to their being provided at the other ports. And 
certainly there is great need of such means of safety, ! 
when we see by the statistical returns that, out of 1-1,500 
sailing ships of all tonnages composing the mercantile 
navy of France in 1852, she lost 102 long-voyage vessels 
and 241 coasters — total, 343 vessels of all tonnages; and, 
as a memorandum, it must be noted that, between 1S32 
and 1852, she lost by shipwreck 42 vessels of war. 
When wo compare these statistics with those of our 
more eminently maritime country, it is evident how in- 
teresting must bo to us every improvement in the means 
of saving the lives of our brave mariners in the daily 
risks of their career. 
— DESCRIPTION OF THE'ENGRAVING. 
1. Elevation and partial section of the rocket with grappling- 
irons, before expansion. 
2. Section of the cap. 
3. Wrought-iron cap, forming the end of the stem of the 
grapples, and showing the holes for the escape of the pro- 
duets of combustion of the fusee. 
4. Section of the stem, with the attachment of the coiled 
cord. 
5. Elevation of the triple rocket and grapples. 
fi. Flan of ditto. 
7. The box containing the rocket ami grapples, with the 
cord coiled for running out freely. 
8. Elevation of the apparatus prepared for firing the rocket 
and throwing the grapples. 
1). Elevation of the case containing the safety apparatus. 
!)’. Bird’s-eye view of the apparatus ready for action from 
the (leek of a vessel. 
10—11. The method of throwing the rocket from a ship to 
the shore. 
F. Carcass of the rocket, containing 121bs. of composition. 
G. Grappling-irons. 
XX. Barbes intended to cause the grappling-irons to expand 
in their (light, iu case of the springs failing to net. 
('. Cap.— f. An auxiliary fusee which, at a given lime, burns 
thro’ and severs the lanyard holding down the grappling-irons. 
15. Rocket-stick. 
c. The chain to which the life-line (a) is attached. 
A. Frame for elevating the rocket. 
<>. Quadrant lor regulating the (light. 
T. Rods for directing ditto. 
8. Seizings to hold the case in position, 
m. Slow match for firing the rocket. 
« 
a good deal of coaxing. It was only when the Russians 
had proceeded to nearly the last outrage of barbarians 
(the firing upon a flag of truce, exhibited by the 
Furious, which was sent to fetch off the Consuls 
that the Admiral thought it time to act. And with the 
same disposition to do justice, we are compelled to add, 
that the fleets appear to have done about as little as 
was consistent with doing anything at all. The official 
account of the operation is extremely meagre, and we 
must wait for further detail ; but if the outline which 
has been given he correct, the bombardment has simply 
destroyed a few public buildings, and the palace of 
Prince Woronzow, with some Greek columns which he 
had built on the cliff, (and which gave a classical 
appearance to the town, as you turned into the bay,) 
and has burned something under a score of ships. As 
to taking the place, or even expelling the garrison, so 
hold a step does not seem even to have been contem- 
plated ; and so far as we are informed, if Lord Aberdeen 
himself had done what Sydney Smith said that the 
Earl’s colleague, Lord John, was ready to do, namely, 
take command of the British fleet, the affair could not 
have been transacted with more tenderness towards 
Lord Aberdeen’s “ friend of forty years.” There is a. 
statement, moreover, that the Russian fleet had left 
Sebastopol, and was induced to give battle, aided, of 
course, by the live thousand men whom' Admiral 
Dundas thought it his duty to permit the Russians to 
carry away from the Circassian fortresses ; a piece of 
Mches, by the way, most unsatisfactorily explained 
away by Sir James* Graham. We are also told, but 
scarcely on such authority as entitles the information 
to be received sine grano , that the squadron, having 
wreaked its mild vengeance on Odessa, had sailed back 
to the coast, and was landing marines to assail the forts 
on the Danube. News, despite the telegraph, comes 
hut slowly, and such of it as is supplied by Russia, is, 
of course, coloured, in accordance with the views ot fet. 
Petersburg, but it seems more and more probable that 
a serious collision in the Black Sea is approximating. 
We confess, and with some shame we are compelled to 
avow it, that we should be glad to hear that circum- 
stances had induced the French Admiral to take the 
initiative. We have no doubt whatever that ©ur noble 
vessels and gallant crews will worthily maintain the 
honour of their country, when permitted to do so, but 
the strange reluctance to give them a chance, savours 
far too much of Aberdeen policy, to be long satisfactory 
to the people of England. 
There seems every reason to believe that the gallant 
Omar Pasha has concentrated his forces, and has fallen 
upon the division of General Liiders, and has defeated 
the Russians with great slaughter, and that this engage- 
ment has taken place in or near the Dobrutscha. We 
must here, also, wait for details, hut it is most satis- 
factory to see that the belief in the courage and re- 
sources of Turkey, which has been so manfully asserted 
by Lord Palmerston and his friends in the cabinet, has 
been more than vindicated, and that, single-handed, 
the Turks have been able to hold their own against the 
powerful armies sent down from the North. We have 
now only to hope that the forces of Eugland and 
France will be brought up with as little delay as pos- 
sible, and that the strength of our gallant ally may not 
be over-taxed. The “sick man” has been marvel- 
lously cured, and we can imagine Nicholas meeting 
him in the words of Sir Oliver to Sir Peter Teazle, 
when the latter has been reported in the School for 
Scandal to have had a smallsword through his middle, 
and a bullet in his thorax— “ Well, for a sick man, 
you really' walk about in a most imprudent manner.” 
The troops of England appear to have been exposed 
to a good deal of hardship and privation at Gallipoli, 
and although the authorities at home affect great 
indignation that a newspaper correspondent should 
have set out these grievances in lively colours, we are 
disposed to think that the obedience of officials abroad 
lias but lamely seconded the will of the executive at 
home. But the magnificent barracks at Scutari, on 
the Asiatic side, are to be the future head quarters ot 
the British, and the palatial comforts ot that residence 
will more than make amends for temporary' hardships. 
On Thursday night, Sir James Graham stated in the 
House of Commons, that 2,2o0 horses had been sent 
out for the use of the army’, and that they had performed 
their voyage, so far as was known, in a most satis- 
factory manner. Are not twenty dead 1 
It only remains to add, in reference to the war, that 
we are 'still without any important news from the 
Baltic, but that as about this time the ice usually 
breaks up, Sir Charles can hardly be long inactive, it 
that term may properly be applied to the commander 
who is perpetually exercising his fleet in the most 
energetic fashion, and at all hours. Perhaps, too, we 
ought to include under the head of war, the fact, that 
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, having determined 
to raise six millions, has issued his proposals, and his 
first series of bills has been subscribed for, to the amount 
of two millions. While he waited for tenders, there 
was some hesitation about taking the securities, but ns 
soon ns he announced his own price, people came in 
with their money. 
There has been no business of any great note taken 
in Parliament since its re-assembling. The Oxford 
University Reform Bill is the present cheval dc hataillc , 
and it Ls being discussed in committee very slowly. 
The bill is one introduced by Government, who sus- 
tained a defeat upon it on Monday night, at the hands 
of Mr. Wulnole. The Railway interest has been too 
strong’ for Mr. Cardwell, who has been compelled to 
surrender all the most important clauses of his bill, and 
to adopt only such as may serve to satisfy the public 
that something is done, while really they afford little 
protection against the arbitrary decrees ot the Iron 
Heptarchy. ' The Lords hav« had long debates on the 
Income Tax Bill, but it has, of course, pursued its way. 
Mr. Bo wyer’s measure for doing away with the present 
system of damages in actions for crirn. con., and punish- 
ing the male offender by a fine, and for allowing the 
wife to be a party to the trial, has been rejected, but 
the Attorney-general has expressed on the part of 
Government a strong opinion that the existing system 
ought to be altered, and that cheaper divorce ought to 
be provided, so that something has been gained by the 
“ ventilation ” of the subject. 
The only interesting topic in the continental journals 
of the week, are the details of the marriage of the 
Emperor of Austria. The young bride seems to have 
won all hearts by her beauty and affability, and even 
to have induced stern English special correspondents 
to talk of the “ charms and spells ” which she scattered 
around her. “The Greeks were right, says Sir 
Bulwer Ljtton somewhere, “when they sculptured 
Persuasion with a crown upon her head. 
TRUE RACING INTELLIGENCE, 
do not pretend to be Prophets false or true, which 
n tails loss of money, circulation, and respect- 
We are no Sir Oracle’s for the green l urfates, 
)e honest opinions, founded on sound judgment 
jest privileged information. Let the lovers ot 
