formed with a degree of exactitude and readiness of response that called forth repeated signs of approbation from the audience, and at the conclusion elicited the thanks of Mr. Stokes himself for the assistance thus rendered him by pupils who had so recently acquired the system.
Mr. Stokes having returned to Hastings in the winter gave a lecture on Mnemonics at the Mechanics' Institution on the 14th of December, in which were set forth the great utility and easy acquirement of the system taught by him. Some of his pupils were present and evoked warm applause by their feats of artificial memory. Mr Stokes announced his intention to form classes in Hastings.
Municipal Matters
The Municipal Elections took place on March 1st, when Messrs. Anthony Harvey and James Breeds were chosen auditors:John Fisher and William Edward Skinner, West-ward assessors: Thomas Tutt and John Ashbey, East-ward assessors.
The Town Councillors elected on the 1st of November were Messrs. Putland and How (unopposed) for the West-ward; and Messrs. Harvey, Jas. Reeves, F. Duke and H. Winter for the East-ward. The election of Mr. Harvey at the head of the poll appeared to give as great satisfaction to the independent Liberals as to his own political party, the Conservatives.
A Central Ward was agitated for, chiefly by Mr. J. Brown, and at a meeting held at the Royal Standard hotel in Robertson street, it was decided to memorialize the Town Council on the matter.
Maritime Casualties.
Damage to a Smack. During the gale of the 19th of May, the "Britannica" fishing-smack, of Ramsgate struck upon the rocks at Hastings, while towing a small boat to the shore, and ultimately grounded on a sand bank. The crew were taken off by the lifeboat, the latter attempting for an hour and a half to secure the vessel. At a later period, the smack having become water-logged and immovable, a party of beachmen proceeded in a boat to recover some of the property and claim the vessel as a derelict. The master (Coates) was part owner of the Brittanica, which was said to have cost £900 about 16 months before, and was insured by a Ramsgate society or club for £400. There would therefore be a considerable loss to the owners. The nets and gear were all removed but the hull was still partly submerged.
The 19th of May on which the disaster to the Britannica occurred was ushered in with violent winds and dashing showers, the former continuing throughout the day and the latter occurring at short intercals. On many parts of the coast as well as inland, the north-easterly gale was very severe causing shipwrecks and other disasters. Thunder and Lightning also visited many parts of England and France. The mean temperature -
