Fifth.-Rate at which Atlantic mud is forming. See Nos. 2 and 10 extracts.

Another case of "wholesale plagiarism," which it will be impossible for any one to detect except my accuser. Dr. Wallich ought to have remained silent on this subject, for notwithstanding the time he has expended in "discussing" it, his writings show that he is behindhand as regards facts long since made known by Darwin (see my Supplementary Note in Nautical Magazine, December, p. 654) and Dana relating to the "rate of growth of coral-reefs."

Sixth.-Balance of Nature. See Nos. 8 and 9 extracts.

This subject reveals another attempt on the part of Dr. Wallich to lay "claims to originality of thought," which must be conceded to others. Some of the most beautiful passages in Maury's Physical Geography of the Sea (pp. 182 to 184, 195 to 204, likewise 258 and 259, sixth edition), also others in Bischof's Chemical and Physical Geology (p. 172, par. 2, and p. 182, par. 3) treat of this subject in much the same terms as we find in the North-Atlantic Sea-bed; yet Dr. Wallich has not made the slightest acknowledgement of having borrowed from these prior authorities! The reader will be amply repaid by consulting the passages to which I have referred.

Seventh.-Consistency of Atlantic mud with reference to submarine telegraphy. See last passage of No. 12 extract.

Again, what resemblance, &c., &c.?!

Eighth.-Oolitic character of Atlantic deep-sea mud. See No. 5

extract.

I must now admit that Dr. Wallich has anticipated me in having detected the resemblance between "pure Globigerina-deposit" and "fine Oolite." It is unfortunate, however, for Dr. Wallich's case that I have not seen, until within the last two or three days, his Lecture containing the passage he has adduced; nor was I aware that he had written or published anything on the subject before I read his charges !

I may here take the opportunity to state that my Preliminary No

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These soundings, were communicated to the "Submarine Telegraph Committee" upwards of three months before Dr. Wallich left England on board the Bulldog. It is a remarkable circumstance, too, that Ehrenberg discovered in Co'onel Schaffner's soundings abundant evidence supporting his "biotic" views (see Report, p. 223): consequently, contrary to Dr. Wallich's assertion (Notes, &c., p. 9), the "long mooted question as to the occurrence of certain species of Foraminifera in a living state at vast depths" was solved" (and probably to the extent it ever will be) before he detected "sarcodic contents" within the chambers of Globigerinæ, forming "NorthAtlantic" ooze. (Nay, his "startling" and presumed "discovery of highly organized animals at great depths was anticipated more than forty years ago by Sir John Ross!" This correction, made by Jeffreys, (Annal. Nat. Hist., April, 1861,) still remains unacknowledged by the author of the North-Atlantic Sea-bed!) Colonel Schaffner's depths are also ignored in Dr. Wallich's map; though they are very properly inserted in the map appended to Captain Sir F. L. M Clintock's Survey of the "Bulldog," read before the Royal Geographical Society in January, 1861.

tice, with the exception of the fourth, fifth, and sixth paragraphs, likewise a few sentences and verbal alterations in other parts, was written and forwarded to the Cambridge meeting of the British Association, at which Dr. Wallich himself was present, before I had an opportunity of reading the North-Atlantic Sea-bed! Indeed, I have good reason for believing that my paper was drawn up before this work was in the hands of the booksellers. When the additional paragraphs were written I certainly had a copy by me; but their subject matters have nothing to do with Dr. Wallich's "originality of thought." Next, with reference to my Supplementary Note, although it was written after I had cursorily read portions of the NorthAtlantic Sea-bed, there is nothing contained in the former, as will have been seen, to justify Dr. Wallich in bolstering up his charges against me. It may also be stated that I had neither read, nor seen Dr. Wallich's Notes on the Presence of Animal Life at Vast Depths, &c., until within the last three weeks! All I knew of his researches at the time of drawing up my Preliminary Notice was gathered from stray notices and an advertisement in the Athenæum, announcing that his last work was on the eve of publication.*

Ninth.-Oolites have originated from Orbulinæ. See No. 13 extract. Dr. Wallich admits, in this case, that our respective views are "at direct variance." Why then has he introduced the subject in his paper? Such an ineffectual attempt to overthrow the proposition!

Tenth.-Calcarcous constituents of the ocean. See No. 3 extract. Having expressed in my Preliminary Notice that "there is little chance of a telegraph cable getting injured if laid down on foraminiferous bottoms," I was requested by a friend, deeply interested in Atlantic telegraphy, to state to him briefly, for publication, my reasons in support of this opinion. To do so, it was necessary for me to allude to the calcareous salts of the ocean; but not being able to consult, at the moment, Bischof's Chemical and Physical Geology, well known as the latest authority on the subject, I referred to the NorthAtlantic Sea-bed (which was at hand at the time) and found in it a copy of the learned chemist's table of the average composition of sea water, founded on the analyses of Von Bibra. Necessitated to be brief, I simply quoted the name of the latter, he being, though not the latest, the principal authority. But in doing this, and in the hurry of the moment, I misunderstood the application of a parenthetical passage, and misconceived the authority for it. I also cited a calcareous constituent (often present in sea water) erroneously given by Dr. Wallich in his copy of Bischof's table. Now, instead of unblushingly and ecstatically charging me with having "appropriated his error," it would have been more resonant to the good taste of this

* I feel it necessary to mention that it is only within the last three weeks that I have seen or read Dayman's Report on Deep Sea Soundings and Huxley's addition to it. I have avoided, as much as possible, consulting any work on the subject until after I had published my Preliminary Notice, wishing to form independent conclusions from data in my own hands. If Í have been anticipated in anything I am quite ready to make the admission.

mistake I had made, and apologising for having been the means of causing me to commit another. It will now, I trust, be evident, notwithstanding Dr. Wallich's imposing array of "extracts" and italicisms, that his charge against me of "wholesale plagiarism "--both in its general nature and particulars-is a gratuitous imputation. As to the "original thoughts" for which Dr. Wallich claims to be "protected," the reader will have seen that other writers have far more reason to claim the like protection against Dr. Wallich himself!

[This controversy must now stop. Our limited space is wanted for its legitimate matter.-ED.]

SHORT SAILING DIRECTIONS.

If brevity really be the "soul of wit," as agreed on long ago, then must brevity be the first principle of good writing, and perspicuity the spirit of it. But brevity has another charm also very well known. Who, for instance, does not turn away almost in despair on meeting with an unbroken page of long drawn out, scarcely ever ending, sentences, and wish the writer all kind of questionable blessings. Would he not rather take one of at least a few paragraphs of well considered periods, where every word fits its place and is left to do its duty unmistakably. To leave a correct impression of his meaning on the mind of his reader is of course the first intention of a writer; but how often does he fall short of this by going a round about way to his point? Innumerable arguments might be advanced in favour of perspicuity and brevity in plain honest writing, the fair selection of what may be considered John Bull's vulgar tongue in contradistinction (possibly so expressed) to that mealy mode of expression considered by some as fine writing.

Now if there be any part of our literature that demands attention to those qualities, it is that which is intended for the use of our seamen. That which they generally employ is plain and straightforward to the point; their expressions are full of meaning not to be mistaken. Then why not copy them,-not always perhaps in the choice of words, but in terseness and vigour of expression. It would be doing them a service in reducing the sailing directions to which they are obliged to refer for every day use. Every one, for instance, who knows Horsburgh's East India Directory knows well that it is an invaluable work, in fact, the seaman's Vade Mecum, indispensable to his safety. But Horsburgh is not free from the common objection of the ponderous size to which such works have grown. And as nautical discovery is being daily extended in all parts of the world, (for it may be said that as yet we do not know half that we have to know,) NO. 3.-VOL. XXXII.

T

to what a size must Horsburgh's two volumes be continuing to expand for many years to come.

But now the question naturally arises, is Horsburgh, full of information as he is with his two volumes, is he as concise and yet as expressive as he might be? Might not Horsburgh, in fact any of our nautical works, not excepting the similar works of Mr. Laurie and other publishers, be reduced at least by one third of their bulk? However, to leave other works, although they are all much of the same composition, let us take our newest book at hand and select an illustration of the foregoing. Here is the New Zealand Pilot, and the first page that opens shall be taken. For instance, here are the directions for entering Wangari Harbour in New Zealand taken as a sample of what the seaman has to follow.

It is stated that

To enter Wangari from the northward or eastward, and after rounding or passing Bream head extreme, the mountain (Bream head) should be brought to bear N. by W., keeping half a mile off the shore; when this bearing is on, steer W. by S., or parallel with the coast, for 2 miles: the Sugar loaf off the west point of Busby head will then bear N.W. by WW. and the western sandy entrance point will be just open of it; observing that in approaching Wangari on this course, the Sugar loaf will not appear as detached from Busby head until the above marks are nearly on.

When the above marks are on, steer immediately W. by N. ₫ N. for nearly a mile, which will lead abreast the Sugar loaf, and 2 cables' lengths from it; when abreast it at this distance, alter course to N.N.W. W., or for the left extreme of the high islet on the north shore of Calliope bay; little more than half a mile on this course will be abreast and 2 cables' lengths from Home point. If the first anchorage is desired, haul close round this point, proceeding to the eastward a quarter of a mile, and anchor in 4 fathoms, 1 cables' lengths or less from the shore: here a vessel will be almost out of the tide and in safety.

If the second anchorage is preferred, (and which is recommended for vessels of large size,) when abreast Home point and about two cables' lengths off it, steer N.W. by N., or one point to the left of high islet on the north side of Calliope bay, for one mile; or until the sand hillock on the western sandy entrance point bears W. by S. S., or High islet centre N. W.; then alter course to W. by N., to pass one cable's length to the southward, or on the port hand of Channel islet in 13 fathoms ;-anchor N.W. by W. from the centre of the islet 4 cables' lengths distant from it in 5 fathoms; a vessel will then be quarter of a mile from the shore, and the same distance from the nearest part of the Snake bank, or Middle ground.

By following the above directions a patch of 4 fathoms will be passed over, E.S.E. one mile from Busby head, from thence midchannel to abreast the Sugar loaf, from 6 to 9 fathoms will be carried. From the Sugar loaf to abreast Sandy point, 10, 12, and in some

places 14 fathoms. From thence to Channel islet from 8 to 9, and close to the islet 13, when it immediately shoals towards the anchorage to 7 and 5 fathoms over sand and mud.

The banks of the channel are rather steep; and if a vessel gets into 4 fathoms on either side, she is too close.

Now all this occupies the best part of a page, and most important it is. But for mere directions to the seaman as to what he is to do, even the page is much space considering how little is conveyed. Might it not be reduced? Perhaps so. A mode of abbreviation of words might effect this. Let us try.

To entr Wangari from Nd or Ed, and aftr rndg Bream hd, 'mntn (Bream hd) shd be brgt N.b.W., kpg mle off shre: whn ths brng is on steer W.b.S., or parll to cst 2 mls; Sugar lf off W. pt of Busby hd w1 thn br N.W.b.W. W. and Wn sndy entr pt wl be jst opn of it: obsvng tht in aprchg Wangari on ths crse, Sugar lf wl nt apr as dtchd frm Busby hd til abv mrks are nrly on.

6

Whn' abv mks are on steer W.b.N. & N. for nrly 1 mle, whh wl ld abrst Sugar If, and 2 cls frm it: whn abrst it at ths dstnc, altr crse to N.N.W. W., or frlft ex ofhgst islt on N. shre of Calliope bay; Itle mre thn mle on ths crs wÏ be abrst and 2 cbls frm Home pt. If 1st anchrge is dsrd, haul clse rnd ths pt, prcdng to Ed mle and anchr in 4 fms, 1 cbls or lss frm shre: hre a vsl wl be almst out of tde and in sfty.

If 2nd anchrge is prfd, (whh is rcomdd fr lrge vsls,) whn abrst Home pt and abt 2 cbls off it, steer N.W.b.N., or 1 pt to lf of high islt on N. sde of Calliope bay, fr 1 mle; or til snd hilk on ' Wn sndy entr pt brs W.b.S. S., or high islt cntre N. W.; thn altr crse to W.b.N. to ps 1 cble to Sd, or on prt hnd of Chanl islt in 13 fms:anchr N.W.b.W. frm cntre of islt, 4 cbls frm it in 5 fms: a vsl wl thn bemle frm 'shre, and 'sme dstnce frm 'nrst prt of' Snake bk, or Middle grnd.

6

By flwng abv dretns a ptch of 43 fms wl be psd ovr, E.S.E. 1 mle frm Busby hd, frm thnce md-chl to abrst Sugar lf, frm 6 to 9 fms wl be carrd. Frm 'Sugar If to abrst Sndy pt, 10, 12, and in sme plces 14 fms. Frm thnce to Chnl islt from 8 to 9, and clse to 'islt 13, whn it imdy shls twrds 'anchrge to 7 and 5 fms ovr snd and md. 'bks ofchnl are rthr stp; and if a vsl gts into 4 fms on eithr sde, she is too clse.

seamen.

Not much space saved certainly, and the system would not suit all It would have to be learned, and even then would be open to the charge of ambiguity. Therefore we will dismiss it, although there are certain words which are continually recurring, such as the points of the compass, cape, point, &c., that might be abbreviated and kept so always.

But let us look into the extract. It has been taken as it is at random, and let us see if a recast of the information conveyed in it can