hich in mechanical structure, symmetrical build, and neatness of
finish, is not probably surpassed by anything of the kind to be seen in
Ireland. It has been minutely inspected by competent judges, who assert
that its _tout ensemble_ a more perfect piece of ingenious workmanship
they have never seen; nor could the most experienced ship carpenter do
more justice to the various compartments, appendages, and riggings than
has its mute architect, with but very indifferent apparatus--a penknife,
a file, and a bradawl being the principal instruments employed in the
work. It measures exactly six feet from the figure head to the helm, and
is precisely the same extent in height from the top of the mainmast to
the keel, the width being of proportional dimensions. The materials are
all of the best description, are tastefully polished or painted where
necessary, and are so exactly fitted in every part as to baffle the
detection of any conspicuous fault whatever. It is fully manned with a
crew of little wooden men, and officers in uniform, and completely
equipped with boats, capstan, blocks, hawsers, cables, davits,
cat-heads, bars, bolts, buckets, chocks, compasses, and even three brass
cannons; in short with everything that may be seen in a large ship. She
bears the significant name of "The Star of the Sea." Had he been able to
exhibit it, as he intended, at the late Dublin Exhibition, there is no
doubt that it would have attracted considerable attention, which perhaps
might have led to a substantial recognition of merit having been awarded
to a poor dumb youth, the chief support of his widowed mother, as a
well-deserved recompense for the patience and native talent displayed in
the construction of this tiny chef d'euvre of naval art, which must have
given him an immense amount of trouble and anxiety during the two years
he has been engaged in building it.--_Irish Journal._

ALEXANDER FERGUSON, THE FAMOUS DEAF AND DUMB SWIMMER.

[Illustration]

Alexander Ferguson, a dock mason of Dundee, (though now in employment at
Irvine), has rescued forty-seven persons from drowning--one paper says
fifty-one--in the Tay, Forth, Clyde, Dee, Tyne, Mersey, Wear, Ayr,
Irwell, Calder, Humber, and other rivers in England, Scotland, and
Ireland. He is thirty-nine years of age, and made his first rescue when
about ten years old. We have before us accounts cut from the newspapers
and other publications, from which we give the following particula