_Friday at Sea_ (Vol. v., pp. 200. 330.).--Stranger still to your
correspondent W. FRASER and the readers of "N. & Q." must the assurance
be that the "Birkenhead" troop-ship (whose disastrous loss was
accompanied by such a terrific sacrifice of life), sailed from
Portsmouth harbour on the _2nd January last--the identical day_ (_being
a Friday_) on which the lamented Capt. Symons in the "Amazon" left this
port, no more to return. Can we wonder that uneducated minds, usually
prone to superstitious observances, should at least _marvel_ at these
strange coincidences?