IN a former Number of this Journal we published a description, with illustrations, of this valuable little instrument. Subsequently, in 1867, the Committee of the Institution presented to J. MACGREGOR, Esq., the founder of the " Canoe Club," one of these Compasses, when that enterprising gentleman was about to start on his " Voyage alone in the Yawl, Sob Hoy." There could be no better opportunity for testing such an instrument, and discovering any defects in it, than on such a tour, when the solitary voyager, like his famous predecessor, Robinson Crusoe, was thrown entirely on his own resources, and through many nights and days had his mind continually occupied with the consideration of how he might improve them.

Accordingly, during his voyage above referred to, several improvements in this little portable binnacle and compass suggested themselves to Mr. MACGREGOR; and the same being afterwards effected, under his superintendence, by the manufacturers of them, Messrs. DENT and Co., of 61 Strand, London, another instrument, so altered, was taken on board the Rob Soy by Mr. MACGREGOR, during the summer of 1863, when it afforded him entire satisfac- ,ion.

We are happy to have the opportunity o bring these alterations in the instrument to the notice of our readers, as we are of opinion that they are all of them decided improvements, and that he is entitled to credit and thanks for having devoted so much time and attention, as he has done, to so useful an object. Accordingly, we now give a description of the improved compass and binnacle, as embodied in a Paper on the subject, read by Mr. MACGREGOR before the Society of Naval Architects, in April last.

The improvements in the Binnacle all speak for themselves, on an examination of the instrument; but the Compass-card, being so complete an innovation on the established form, may at first be looked on with doubtful aspect by practical seamen., We think, however, that it is a considerable Fig. 1.

improvement on the old form of card, as from the greater dissimilarity of the points they cannot be readily mistaken one for another, whilst it is a decided advantage that, whatever may be the steering point, the letters, which are large and legible, are always viewed in an upright position.* It may be thought that this is a matter of not very great importance, and, as regards a ship's compass, it may not be so; but in a life-boat, where if the lamp should burn dimly, or the glass of the binnacle have become obscured by rain, or the eyesight of the steersman be bad, or his eyes be blinded by the salt-water spray beating in his face, it is most desirable that the letters on the card, indicating the course to be steered should be as legible and plain as it is possible for them to be made.

Figs. 3 and 4.IMPROVED LIQUID BOAT COMPASS BINNACLE.

By J. MACGREGOR, Esq., M.A., Assoc. Mem.

Council.

[Read at the Ninth Session of the Institution of Naval Architects, April 2nd, 1868.] THIS binnacle and card have been designed to remove the defects of the liquid compass, as hitherto used by the ROYAL NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION, while preserving the valuable features of the instrument. ' The improved compass card is applicable to all kinds of ships' compasses.

The alterations comprise the following:— 1. — The card is diagrammed, so as to be more intelligible and clear. Instead of the " north " point being a fleur-de-lis, and the others symmetrical, the " north " and " south " are designated by one arrow right along the card, and the east and west by two pear-shaped pointers.

Instead of the letters being sideways when at the lubber's point, and very small, they are large, and placed so as to have always one readable in its proper position. (See Fig. 5.) 2.—The compass bowl is removable by the side of the binnacle, instead of the bottom.

3.—The bowl and the pivot stud are darkened, so as to direct the eye to the important spot—the lubber's point.

4.—The lantern is lower and more incorporated with the binnacle. It projects less, and yet has the same room inside. It has much better ventilation, and is less liable to catch obstacles on its corners.

5.—The lamp (which in the other binnacles always casts a shade about the lubber's point) has its wick so placed as to avoid that. Air can get into the lamp by an aperture independent of the wick, and the reflector is fixed, and not exposed when the door is opened as it was before.

6.—The match-box is not, as before, a separate drawer, liable to fall out, and very shallow, but is fixed on the door, and readily accessible.

The binnacle and compass thus improved have been tried at sea with complete success.

Fig. 1 is a front, and Fig. 2 a side elevation of the binnacle, on a scale of about one-fifth lineally (the total height 8 inches), and with the lampdoor open. The same letters refer to both figures.

A B C D the copper box with cover E, and car- * The lettering of the cardinal and Inter-cardinal points of the compass so as to face the helmsman, has been adopted in the Royal Navy for many years; but it is by no means general either in compasses of our town mercantile marine or the marine of foreign countries.

We are indebted to the courtesy of the Institute of Naval Architects for the loan of the wood-blocks of the accompanying compass illustrations.

ried by the handle F. This is closed by a strong plate-glass inclined front, C D G H, and at one side is the lantern, projecting inwards J-inch (as the dotted line D H, Fig. 1), where a pane of glass allows the light of the lamp J (Fig. 2) to shine on the compass-bowl (dotted Fig. 1), carried on gimbals. The lower part of the lantern projecting inwards is bevelled upwards near H, so as to allow the bowl a full swing, and yet to permit the lamp to have its wick JVl (Figs. 3 and 4) so far forward and imward as to throw light on the corn- Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

The card itself is marked according to the diagram in Fig. 5, which is of natural size. The pass-card without any shadow from the rim of the bowl. The lamp is of copper, 3 inches long, 1J inch broad, bevelled off at one side below, and 1£ inch deep, holding oil for 8 hours' burning.

The wick is near one end and near one edge, see ground-plan, Fig. 4. Air enters through a tube in the stopper N, which can be unscrewed to allow oil to be poured in, but which, as shown in Fig. 2, affords a good handle for holding the lamp when it is to be removed. This wick is flat, with its larger side towards the glass window. A silvered reflector, inclined downwards and inwards at the side at the lantern D H, throws the lamp-light towards the lubber's point of the card, where most light is required.

The door of the lantern opens backwards, on hinges, and carries at the bottom a match-box (with cover), the lower part of which is curved, so as to fit in with the curve, as at O in Fig 2, and P in Fig. 1.

The upper part of the binnacle at E is domed with a brass-covered air-passage and a projecting eave, curved upwards in the middle, so that rain or spray runs to each tide.

The roof continues over the top of the lantern, and the outer side of the lantern comes within this upper curved hood, so that air can escape all round above the lamp, though neither water nor wind' enter. The fixed part of the lantern (shaded in |Fig. 2) has perforations at the back, and in the curved bottom near P, to admit fresh air below.

By thus intruding the lantern inwards, it projects less on the outside, while its inner part does not at all interfere with the clear view of the card; and by rounding the top and bottom it is less liable to catch ropes, &c., by angular projections, and is simpler and stronger in construction.

As an additional improvement (already adopted and in use), the whole lantern, with its glass pane, opens back on hinges, so that both glasses can be readily wiped. In this modification the bowl can be removed without a separate sideopening.

The bowl of the compass can be removed by opening the door hinged, at G, Fig. 1. In the former plan of binnacles, the bottom had to be removed for this purpose, and two loose screws were thus required.

The gimbal may be fixed by a small stud instead of by a screw awkwardly projecting. The bowl of the compass is that of Mr. Dent's usual make, but the rim is blackened except at 1 inch near the lubber's point. The interior of the bowl also is black, and no engraving or printing is placed so as to distract the eye.

The compass-card has the stud on its centre bronzed, so as to avoid the bright gleam of light from the polished brass stud usually employed.

ordinary card is represented below for comparison, both being of natural size.