' THE MATE AND HIS DUTIES.' By flw late Capt. JOSEPH J. KELLY. Third Edition.

TAYLOR, IMRAY, and SON, Minories, London; ROCKLIFF and SON, Liverpool.

Price 2s.

IN our 29th Number, in an account of the wreck of the barque, Mary Stoddart, near Dundalk, we related the circumstances of the death of Capt. J. J. KELLY of that place, whilst engaged in a gallant and persevering effort to save the lives of those on board the above-named vessel, then ashore in Dundalk Bay. Since then our attention has been drawn to the small work having the above title, a third edition of which had been published by that gentleman some time before his lamented death : a work which we should like to see in the hands not only of every mate, but of every master, of every shipowner, and of every seaman in the Merchant-service; and not only in the hands of the members of that service, for whose use it was especially written, but also in those of officers of the Royal Navy, very many of whom might learn a profitable lesson from the pen of the merchant Captain.

For different as are the duties and the requirements of the two services, there are many general principles that are applicable to both, and the qualities which fit a man for command in the one, qualify him for command in the other also. Professional knowledge, firmness, judgment, courage, forbearance, self-respect and self-government, observation, knowledge of human nature, gentlemanly bearing, the art of governing others, patriotism, morality, all are qualities which together form the character of a good officer, whether he hold the proud command of a royal ship with a bevy of educated gentlemen to aid him and carry his orders into effect, or whether he be the single unsupported man who walks the merchant vessel's quarter-deck.

From whatever point it is viewed, the education of the officers of our mercantile marine is a subject of immense importance.

Whether we contemplate the enormous amount of property that is intrusted to their care, or the number of human beings whose health and happiness, indeed, whose very existence is greatly dependent on them, being placed under their absolute care and control; or whether the influence and example of so numerous a body of men as our merchantseamen, scattered over the whole surface of the globe, whither their duties carry them, how great, in the aggregate, is their power for good or evil. And yet so little attempt., has hitherto been taken to improve or afford opportunities for improvement to this important and numerous section of our community, that, as Captain KELLY in his work observes, it has loifg been matter of notoriety that our merchant officers and seamen are, as a body, more illiterate and less respectable than those of any other civilized maritime community. Feeling the reality of this evil, and the incalculable importance of its being remedied, we hail with much gratification a work which, written by one of their own body, and taking a comprehensive and practical view of the question, is calculated We believe to render an immense service to the mercantile community, and'through that medium to the country at large.

.As nearly every master of a merchantvessel must have first passed through the grade of mate, Captain KELLY rightly and judiciously addresses his book to the latter, for it will, in the majority of cases, be in that grade that the character of the future master will be formed, or, at least, that the germs of that character will be sown. Nevertheless, there are few masters who could study its contents without profit, and not even the most skilful and accomplished could do "so without gratification.

The space we have at command will not admit of our giving extracts from this valuable little work, or we might quote numerous passages, which, if we had a son at sea in either the Royal Navy or the Mercantile marine, we would urge him to commit to memory.

We however recommend every officer in the merchant-service, and every seaman in it, who looks forward either to advancement in his profession or to self-improvement in his present useful and honourable calling, to procure and study the book for himself. It contains many useful suggestions in matters of practical seamanship; although, as its author justly observes, the rigging of a ship and other departments of seamen's work can never be learned from books. It defines the duties of the mate to the master—to his employers—to the crew—and to himself.

It contains many excellent remarks on the management of men, and general discipline, id on sanitary arrangements on shipboard— some useful information on the making and respiring of sails—a vocabulary of sea terms and phrases in the Spanish, French, Italian, and Bengalee languages; and also a series of questions and answers on the marine steam-engine. The leading feature, however, and the most valuable portion of the work, is that general instruction and good advice to the officer of the merchant-service, and those unsparing but temperate remarks on his too common failings, which cannot be studied by him without conducing to his mental, moral, and professional improvement ; and many parts, of which from their high tone and practical and universal character may with the same benefit be read by persons in any other profession or position in life.

Capt. KELLY was also the author of a useful collection of Navigation Tables, entitled " Companion to the Nautical Almanac" —a work deserving the attention of seamen.