NORTH END

from Consuls and others on behalf of seamen. The Post-Office department has been very active during the year; some thousands of letters have been received and distributed, and many seamen assisted in their correspondence with those dear to them at home and elsewhere."

The Report pays a tribute to the work of the SHIPWRECKED MARINERS' SOCIETY, the Secretary and Manager of both Homes, Mr. Thomas Hanmer, being also Honorary Agent to the Society, in which he takes a great interest. Mr. Hanmer is constantly supplied with tickets and medals, so that intending subscribers may receive them without any trouble or inconvenience to themselves, and all shipwrecked men are forwarded by him, without delay, to their homes, at the expense of the Society. Honourable mention is also made of that excellent local Institution, the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society.

The Seamen's Dispensary, in connection with the Sailors' Home, is open to seamen of all nations, and is conducted by well-known medical practitioners, with most satisfactory results. There is besides a Nautical School, which has been well attended, and a large number of candidates from the school have passed their examinations for masters and mates.

Religious services are conducted, and everything done to promote the moral, intellectual, and professional improvement of the inmates.

It is to be regretted that the old Sailors' Home in Canning Place is in so confined a space. They would require an entire wing of the Custom House for the purposes of a Home in such a port as Liverpool. Everything that would be attractive for the men should be devised. Museums, models of ships of all nations, lifeboats, and all appliances for saving life, should be open for inspection; while pictures, particularly seascapes, should adorn the walls. There are many private picture galleries where numbers of pictures are

shunted into back rooms, to be replaced by better ones, or consigned to the hammer at a great sacrifice, which, if hung on the bare walls of the new North End Home, would add to the appearance and comfort of the place. On the whole it is highly creditable to the public spirit of Liverpool to record the large outlay that has been made for the well-being of our sailors since 1844, when the question of a Home and a Seaman's Savings Bank was first mooted. £30,000 was expended in, the purchase of land and erection of a Home in Canning Place, which was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1860, and rebuilt as it now stands by voluntary subscriptions. No less than thirteen new docks have been constructed, so that the necessity of the new North End Home did not arise too soon. Thus we see that upwards of £50,000 have been expended by the shipowners, merchants, and people of Liverpool for the benefit of seamen exclusively, who otherwise would be left to the tender mercies of the crimps and villains with which this great seaport is infested.

CAPTAIN COOK.

VARIOUS are the circumstances which arise to revive the names and deeds of the departed great.

Three generations have passed away since the lamentable death of the great sailor whose name appears above, but among the intelligent of them all that name has been a household word; yet it was with a generosity worthy of the French nation that the Paris Geographical Society commemorated on the 14th February last the centenary of the death of Captain James Cook. (He was killed on 14th February, 1779, at Owhyhee.) It was emphatically a commemoration-not a rejoicing, for men rejoice on the birth-days, not on the death-days of those they reverence. It was held at the Society's Hall on the Boulevard St. Germain, and there, it is most pleasing to contemplate, the flags of England and France were united as peaceful decorations of the room. But this centenary was not observed from any mere fitful sentiment suggested by the day. Cook's character and work were always appreciated by the French people, and when he was on his third and fatal voyage, and war had broken out between England and France, orders were issued by the Government of the latter to all the commanders of French ships and Governors of colonies, informing them of Cook's expedition, and requesting them to treat him as a commander of a neutral power, or to render him any reasonable assistance. It was reported, prior to the meeting, that "researches will be executed in the Archives to discover the original of the Ordre du Roi, forbidding French cruisers to molest Captain Cook's expedition."* The chair at the meeting referred to was occupied by Admiral La Roncière Le Noury.

* Louis XVI. became King of France in 1774.

It is not a little singular that our own Royal Geographical Society should have stood aloof on an occasion designed to celebrate a remarkable period in geographical discovery, and to do honour to one of Britain's most illustrious navigators. However, our Admiralty was not so indifferent, but sent several original charts, which were exhibited on the walls. Mr. Brassey sent for exhibition several views which he had taken when he visited the spot on which Cook was killed; and we learn that the club which struck the fatal blow was also exhibited.

The gallant Admiral, as chairman, opened the proceedings by an address, in which he spoke in high terms of Captain Cook as a man of science as well as a sailor, nor did the Admiral forget to pass a high compliment upon the British Navy. Several addresses followed. M. W. Huber, a colonel in the Swiss Army, gave an account of the life and discoveries of our great sailɔr. He spoke of Cook's wonderful abilities, of his perfect simplicity, of his kind and humane disposition and untiring zeal. Hard as iron, able to endure any amount of hardship and heat and cold alike, James Cook was the very man for the work he loved so well, and grandly did he carry out his ideas. He discovered the Sandwich Islands and many others in the Pacific Ocean. He obtained exact knowledge respecting New Zealand, Australia, and proved that the latter was unconnected with New Guinea; he also dispelled the notion as to the existence of a southern continent within the Antarctic circle. He improved nautical astronomy, studied the ocean currents and the variations of the compass. Every British sailor will honour Cook for his great kindness and care of those under his command. During his second voyage, which occupied three years and eighteen days, he lost only four men, and but one of them by sickness, and in his great run in all latitudes between 9° and 70° he sprung, as he says, neither low-mast, top-mast, lower nor top-sail, nor so much as broke a lower or top-mast shroud. But we must forbear entering into more details in this place, for our purpose is to speak more particularly of the subjects noted at the celebration of this centenary, and we think, too, that a sketch of Cook's early life and of the principal events (and the lessons to be taught by them) in his three great voyages, may profitably be placed before the readers of the Shipwrecked Mariners' Magazine at a future time.

The circumstances which led to the massacre of Cook were, of course, very fully commented upon by our French neighbours; and the general impression is that it was not treachery which impelled the fatal blow, but vexation or disappointment; for the islanders had regarded him as a superior being, and associated his appearance among them with the tradition of the return of their god Rono (also written Orono and Lono,) but a blow with a club caused pain and proved him human.

The blow, however, was struck by a man who was ignorant that Cook was regarded as Rono. "The natives had no idea that Cook could possibly be

killed, as they considered him as a supernatural being, and were astonished when they saw him fall."

The tradition of Rono is briefly this. He once lived near Karakakooa. Through jealousy he murdered his goddess, placed the body in a morai, near the bay, and long bewailed her loss. But through remorse he determined to explore the seas, and sailed away, promising to return, after six generations, on a floating island, “bearing cocoa-nut trees, and swine, and dogs." He was long worshipped as a god. Cook's ships were looked upon as the floating island, and he as the god. But in the conflict he cries out with pain. "He cries, so he is no god," and is slain.

The natives, however, were sorry for the death of Cook, and long paid him divine honours, worshipping such remains as they had for forty years. It was commonly stated that his remains were obtained and buried in the sea, but a remarkable story not long since published goes to show "that the large bones of Cook's body had been retained by the islanders, and tended and enshrined as those of a hero, if not as a deity."

Whatever amount of truth there may be in these statements, there is, notwithstanding any doubt as to their accuracy, ample proof that the islanders sincerely regretted Cook's sad end.

The people of New South Wales have not forgotten this centenary, for we note the following report from Sidney; the ceremony was a few days later than the 14th, being observed on Feb. 25th: "The statue of Captain Cook, which has been erected in the Hyde Park, was unveiled to-day (Feb. 25th). The ceremony, which was of an imposing character, was performed by the Governor, Sir Hercules Robinson, in the presence of the Ministry, the public bodies of the city, detachments of the naval and military forces, and upwards of 20,000 spectators. The day was observed as a public holiday in celebration of the event." S. H. M.

THE ISLE OF MAN.

MONA'S ISLE, notwithstanding the temporary shock occasioned by the failure of the City of Glasgow Bank, of which the Bank of Mona was a branch, is steadily progressing. In Douglas numerous new hotels have sprung up, and the houses in Strand Street, whose " backs were facing the front" towards the Loch Esplanade, are now being eclipsed by the stately buildings in course of erection on that favourite boulevard, which has become an effectual barrier to the inroads of the sea in this locality. The new Victoria Street, leading from the pier to Dumbell's Bank and Athol Street, consists of substantial blocks of houses and shops that would do credit to the metropolis; while numerous private dwelling-houses are being erected in the suburbs.

The Isle of Man will ever be a favourite resort of visitors. Its easy means

of communication "with the neighbouring island" by the fine fleet of steamers of the I.O.M. Steam Shipping Company; the salubrity of the climate, rich in ozone; the variety of scenery and the historical remains, will ever make it popular with the tourist, the invalid, or the man of science. Much is due to the wisdom and energy of the Governor, whose entire aim is the development of the resources of the Island, and who realizes in his person the truth of the adage that "the proper study of mankind is Man." Among the projects now being introduced are the extension of the pier at Douglas, and the establishment of a daily mail with England,—a boon, the advantage of which can only be estimated by business men, whose letters are delayed for days in foggy and stormy weather. It is also proposed to introduce a poll tax on those visiting the pier, but this project will, it is feared, find no more favour with the Manx people than a tax on legs.

In a former number of this Journal we noticed the deficient accommodation in Peel Harbour for the immense fleet of fishing boats lying up in winter; as also the absence of a lighthouse on Langness, where many a life and much valuable property have been sacrificed. The latter work, we are happy to say, has been commenced, and the improvement of Peel Harbour is one of the projects of the insular government now being introduced. Castletown and Port St. Mary come in for their share of the insular outlay, while Ramsey, which for a quiet select retreat cannot be excelled, has put in claims, apparently irresistible, for a share of the expenditure. The low-water landing stage, which was erected at a cost of £500 a few years since, has been entirely swept away. We are satisfied Ramsey will be done full justice to some day, and ample accommodation at all times of tide will be afforded.

STAGE COACH TRAVELLING ON THE ISLAND.

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The communication between Douglas and Ramsey has been, up to the present time, by means of a stage coach of the most primitive pattern. Up hill and down into the dale, it ambles along by the picturesque village of Laxey, whose great wheel steadily revolving is proudly pointed out to the tourist as he ravels along by the great lead and silver mines. We have seen the last of the Mohicans" in the matter of shanderdans plying between Douglas and Ramsey, for, happily, the railway is being rapidly constructed, and the occupation of Jehu will soon be gone. Like certain houses in the suburbs of London, built to last the lease, the cabooche in question will probably hold out till the railway is opened, if it does not drop to pieces in the meantime. This vehicle is of the omnibus form, constructed apparently to carry two passengers outside with the driver, and six inside; but into which ten people are frequently crammed. A man of moderate height must wear a low-crowned hat, or no hat at all, so low is the roof of the vehicle; and a tall 'man must carry his head slantindicularly, like a giraffe, for he is made to feel he would be more comfort.