The Sun. — London, England, 1859-10-29 00:00:00

TILE Cpl Ed EASTERN IN THE HOLYHEAD, OCT. 27. During Tuesday and -Wednesday last the Great Eastern has been most sharply tested, and has had to weather as heavy a gale as has swept into the harbour of Holyhead for years past. Most fortu nately, the tempest was of short duration, or none can say what the consequences would have been. While it lasted, however, it equalled in violence a ny of the fiercest Channel storms that ever strewed our coasts with wrecks. On this part of the coast, indeed, we already know that the destruction. of I life and property has been great and wide-spread, for, though brief, the gale was one of terrific via lence. A large part of the breakwater works at Holyhead have been destroyed, and vessels anchored far inside and sheltered, compared to where the big ship lay, have either gone dow n bodil y , or been driven high and dry ashore. For one hour or so the Great Eastern herself was as near destruction as she is ever likely to be, and nothing but the unceasing vigilance and long experience of Captain Harrison and the officers under him could have saved the vessel from driving ashore with the others. For some days past the weather has been break ing and unsettled, and as unfavourable as can well be conceived for water excursions of any kind, and the visitors to Holyhead seem to have been quite alive to this most unpleasant discovery. Each day during this and the last w:ek has shown a consi derable diminution in the number .of venturesome tourists who have put cif to the great ship, and when all the circumstances were taken into consi deration, the wonder was, not that there were less, bat that there were any at all. On shore the wea ther has been sloppy and damp, at sea the air was raw and keen. During the greater part of this and last week little squalls, with hail and sleet, have oc curred at short intervals to vary the monotony of Holyhead harbour, to which the Welsh mountains, now thick with snow, form a dreary and cheerless background. The season for excursions, whether by land or sea, was evidently over, and more than enough had been seen of the Great Eastern's pre sent anchorage to show that Holyhead was no place for her to winter in. She could not come inside the most awkwardly constructed breakwater, but lay abreast of its eastern extremity, exposed during a north-easterly gale to a heavy sea, and with what was supposed to be but indifferent holding ground for a vessel of such size and with such an area for the wind to act on. Both these circumstances told strongly to her disadvantage during the late most fearful storm. Since last Thursday night the weather has been more or less severe with heavy squalls, driving clouds of snow and hail, and brief intermissions of storms of lightning. The fires have, therefore, been kept banked up day and night, and everypre paration made for the vessel to steam out to sea at a moment's notice. On Friday night, indeed, the gale increased to such an extent that Captain Harrison was obliged to let go a second anchor, and occasionally keep the paddle engines moving gently head to wind, to relieve the strain upon the cables. During that night the frozen snow and hail covered the decks thickly. Since then the weather has been tolerably calm (though with the usual nightly interludes of hail and lightning) till Tuesday night last. When it does begin to blow at Holyhead, it blows very hard indeed. The gale rises slowly, but does its work well. Tuesday ap peared a calm cold day, though the air seemed un naturally clear, showing every cliff and crag among the Snowdon mountains with as much distinctness as the awful and gloomy-looking group of rocks on which the Skerries Light stands a little way out to sea. The wind gradually freshened towards the after noon, though not very much till over the moun tain came a thin black haze, which rose into the air with ominous rapidity and overspread the sky. Then everybody seemed to guess with sur prising unanimity that it was going to blow, while the wind hummed among the spars and rigging, loud and more loud, as the storm advanced. By six o'clock it was pretty generally seen that it would be a " dirty" night. The sea and Wind kept rising as the glass fell, and before eight it blew a heavy gale from the eastward, with fierce squalls and storms of rain. The night was very wild and dark as pitch, though tolerably clear too, showing with sufficient distinctness the dull red light on the head of the breakwater and the lamps on the pier astern, but that was all. Everything seemed to augur very badly, so that the fires were carefully attended to by the indefatigable chief engineer, Mr. M‘Lennan, and Captain Harrison gave orders to have steam ready in case of being suddenly obliged to slip and stand out into the Channel. As night wore on the wind increased and came in fearful gusts, tearing away among the spars and rigging with a hoarse, sustained roar that was awtul to listen to, especially when one bore in mind that the glass was still falling, and that what we then saw was only the commencement of the gale. Sea after sea ran tumbling by, only dis cernible through the darkness by its snow like foamy crest, or the heavy jerk it gave to the great ship as the chains surged and rumbled in the hawse holes, as though she was going adrift altogether. Vessel after vessel could be seen in the gloom by their bright lights dipping' and rolling over the heavy waves as they bore up for the protection of the breakwater, glad to run for any shelter in so wild a night, and one which was hourly becoming worse'and worse. At 10 o'clock the rain set in like 'a second deluge. Each gust of wind seemed longer and worse than the last, striking down upon the ship, as sailors say, with a blow like a hammer, and testing everything in the way of masts and rigging to the very utmost they could bear. Still, in spite 'of all, the Great Eastern rode steadily and lightly head to wind, and without perceptible motion, though a fierce sea was rolling in, and we could see by the rapidly moving lights among the other shipping far inside the harbour that .they were dipping heavily and making tho worst of their bad weather, From 8 o'clock Captain Harrison never left the deck or bridge, but was either sounding the lead overboard to see if she dragged, giving directions about the steam, or watching the chain cables, as under the strain they rose up out of the water like bars of solid metal. Everything that could be done under the circumstances was done, and there was nothing for it but to hold on and wish for daylight. This latter Captain Harrison did most devoutly, for the wind almost equalled the force of a hurricane at times, jerking at the masts as if it would snap them off at the dck, and making the Great Eastern tremble perceptibly throughout her immense length and breadth, as if some giant hand was shaking her. From this time, till between two and three o'clock in the morning, the gale increased in violence till the din was appalling; and the rain and hail, driving with the force of small shot, made it painful to face it. The gusts revelled over the huge expanse of deck till none dared stand before them. Well was it for the great ship that nothing happened at this time, or her chance would have been poor indeed. The air was filled with spray, torn from the rugged waves—the darkness was impenetrable, while the hoarse roar of the wind drowned every other sound save the dull, threatening booming of the waves upon the rocks and breakwater, the sound of which came up on the gale like peals of distant thunder. Words of command would have been useless, and even if heard, neither men nor ship could have struggled long against the gale which was rushing past. Those who heard its deafening roar that night from sea are never likely to forget it. Between one and two o'clock Captain Harrison went forward and endeavoured to pierce the thick gloom, and see what was going on ahead. On his way along the deck his waterproof coat was blown to ribauds off him, and he himself at last carried before the kale and thrown down, and tumbled along with such violence as to receive some most severe contusions. ToWards two or three o'clock in the morning the gale seemed at its worst. To the roar and scream through the shrouds other and more unpleasant sounds were soon added, as the wind blew up the saloon skylights, dropping them down with a bang and crash of glass that to those below was startling in the extreme. Crash after crash the glass in these skylights went, one alter the other ; the rain and wind pouring down through the apertures into the saloons, and, above all, into the grand saloon, to decorate which so much that was really need e d in the ship has been deferred. It wanted not such aids to let in wind and water, for the upper wooden deck was leaking at every seam, so th a t on all the sofas, carpets, and tables below was an array of ves sels of every size and kind which could contain the ceaseless drippi ngs f rom a b ove . Yet, in spit e o f a ll this, the lower decks were sopped and plashy, and seemed under the mattines to be much like walking on an ill-drained. marsh. At 4 o'clock, a wistful look out was kept fur the light on the breakwater, for it was evident th at i f th gale continued much longer the Great Eastern must endeavour to run out to sea. Two anchors were down, one of seven tons, with 80 fathoms' chain, on the starboard bow, and one of 3 tons, with GO fathoms, to port. The cables of both seemed taughtened to the very ut most which they could bear; and though it was quite_ possible they would _hold on through s till w orse weather, yet, with what was_y lee then feared to rocky , it h hore be bad holdino•-ground and a dc 'Therefore would not do ° to calculate too finely. T was the light on the breakwater kept anxiously in view as a point to be carefully rounded in case of the worst. Fortunately, it was easy enough to see this dim, red beacon at intervals, that is to say, when the sea allowed it, for the tremendous rollers came tumbling in, lashing over the timber work pu the head of the breakwater and shieldi ghe light in a cloud of foam and spray. At last, after a most anxious night, dawn broke in a thin gray light with sky and ses , the cold was hard to say a waterdou btfu e haze, aed aiatillthe Above, all was thick and gloomy ; below,. the wa inwhineVeedthine clouds began.tei seemed lashed to fury, and the waves came hissinF and writhing in, " curlin g their monstrous heads, ' and breaking upon the rocks like avalanches of snow. It was, in truth, a very wild and dreary scene. Over the lighthouse on the inner pier-head the waves seemed to surge almost unimpeded, while the breakwater itself was so completely hidden that the tremendous" jets of spray and foam which cloaked it from end to end more resembled in their distant boom and snowy clouds the constant dis charges of heavy artillery than the break of waves, however dangerous. Within the very extremity of the breakwater, where one would have thought the Channel fleet might have ridden through any gale, much damage had been done. High and dry ashore, under I.olyhead mo untain, lay a fine bark, and around her, in the same predicament, were three smaller vessels. Out in the t cen re of the harbour the tops of two sender tapering masts showed where Captain Henry's beautiful schooner yacht, the Mariquiti, had gone down bodily. Im mediately behind this was another and larger ves sel, which had apparently only escaped the same fate by driving on the rocks, and which, with a fierce sea breaking over its hull, and its jagged and tattered sails blown out to riband streamers by the wind, looked the very picture of a melancholy wreck. Other vessels there were, too, which al though still afloat seemed very little better off than those which were ashore, and which, dipping bows under to the angry sea, appeared about to illus trate by fresh examples the force of the tempest which now howled and worried round on all sides. It was indeed what sailors call a " wicked" gale. Very little could be distinguished through the drifting snow, half rain, half cloud, which was driving through the air. Only occasionally could the headland to the north be seen, like a heavy fog bank, with the breakers surging up 100 feet into the air as they came thundering in against the iron coast. Round this point, as we afterwards learnt, a still more dreadful scene was enacting, for here at a place called Red Beach, the Royal Charter had been driven ashore, and was then breaking up. Beneath this headland, also, later in the day, as we were informed, a smaller vessel stranded, and re mained amid the roaring surge, with the sailors clinging to the rigging, waving their rags of shirts aloft as signals of distress, beseeching the succour which, alas, to such a place, could never come. At 6 o'clock there were symptoms of the storm breaking, and, as usual, the last gusts were the worst, and the situation of the Great Eastern was a matter of deep anxiety on the part of Captain Har rison and his officers. There was scarcely room to steam out, yet it was evident that, if the gale con tinued, it would be impossible for her to remain much longer where she was. Inside the breakwater the sea ran high, with waves of a deep yellow hue, while the ocean without resembled hills of muddy half-thawed snow, reflecting their whitish glare upon the clouds above, as if the very laws of nature had been reversed and light came from below. Both wind and tide were rising, and as the great billows came dashing in upon the massive frame work of tithber which marked the end of the break water, it became a nice calculation which would yield first, the timbers or the gale. Wave after wave swept in upon the mass of stone and wood, and seemed to explode in a cloud of smokelike spray. Yet still the red light in the lighthouse held on, and shone out cheerily above the desolate and angry scene around. Sorely was it tried minute after minute, and well must the framework have been put together to hold aloof so long the destruction which all could see was now inevitable. At last, soon after 6 o'clock, a monstrous wave came in upon the horizon. Nearer and nearer it rolled, a white crest towering high above the green wall of water as it reared. up its monstrous bulk, and seemed to gather might for one great rush upon its prey. In another second the foam towered a hun dred feet over the head of the breakwater, and the red light was seen no more, while the wave, broken, but not disabled, came tearing on, hurling aloft, as if in triumph, a black mass of timbers, which seemed like rocks among the seething waters. This was introducing, so to speak, the thin end of the wedge, for the work of demolition once com menced went rapidly forward, and the massive timbers began to disappear by a hundred feet and more at a time, melting away into the angry sea like a mere fretwork of sugar-candy. The cranes and machinery at the top dropped off into the water one by one, as if the-sea possessed the properties of an universal solvent ; for when once the waters covered them obstacles were seen no more. Some lengths of framework, however, held out long and gallantly, resisting every effort to overthrow them, till the tide was at its height, and at last they too disappeared, some in splinters and chips like fire wood as the beams were rent to pieces, some in great angular masses, as if an island of timber had come to sea. The whole harbour was covered with such rafts, till their black masses showed up like reefs of rock in all directions. Still the storm swept on as wild as ever, and where the breakwater makes that most injudicious inward curve and forms a concave surface for the sea to act on the waves broke high and fiercely, even here damaging the cranes upon the high scafiblding, and threatening a clean breach into the harbour. This scene of destruction was, for the time it lasted, as grand and awful a sight as can be well conceived. The great waves not only looked irre sistible, but showed themselves to be so in sad and sober earnest, and everything went down like sand before their terrific onset. Matters now began to look very bad, and such tremendous evidences of danger on the part of the wind and sea were by no means overlooked. by those on board the Great Eastern. In fact, it was with most considerable anxiety that Captain Harrison saw the turn affairs were taking, for the wind was now dead from the north-east, and the whole sweep of the Channel was pouring into the harbour. Some profitable bargains might have been made in Great Eastern shares had the shareholders been on board - and seen the state of the weather—the lee-shore behind, and the timber work of the breakwater (the great and only shield ahead) disappearing by hundreds of yards at a time. Yet still the Great Eastern rode out lightly for her bulk, and without a sign of dragging, though the chains apparently could bear nothing more. The whole harbour was now one immense mass of wreck-wood, the huge piles tumbling over and over one another, and rearing up 15 and 20 feet from the water, as the waves tossed them to and fro like playthings. The sea had set in, too, so violently that it was necessary at once to do something to relieve the ship from the strain upon the cables, and to effect this the screw was set to work. But here an obstacle intervened of the most serious kind, as the masses of timber wreck were round the ship, going down upon the screw at every minute, and once or twice so foul ing it as to force the engines to a dead stop. To clear these it was necessary to put the helm hard a-port, though this was only a choice of evils, as the vessel's head payed round and threatened soon to foul the anchor chains. The latter accident, in fact, took place at last, and the heaviest anchor and longest scope of cable on the star board bow appeared to be doing nothing to retain the vessel, while the small anchor ap peared to be doing too much, and its cable flipped out of the water with every surge in a startling and. ominous manner. Tosiards 8 or 9 o'clock the wind went round more to the N.E., sending in a beam swell, to which the Great Eastern began to roll very heavily. As the surge swept in, the position of the vessel - hourly became worse, and at last, at 10 o'clock, Captain Harrison had no alternative but to try and raise the heaviest anchor, get the vessel's head more under the lee of the breakwater, and then let it go again. This was a difficult and most critical task, for every part of the harbour was now so completely covered with drifting beams that the screw could on'.y be used with the utmost caution. The paddles, unless in ease of a most dangerous emer gency, could not be used at all, as the timbers would of course knock the floats to pieces. Gradu ally, therefore, the Great Eastern was brought up to her starboard anchor, though with the utmost difficulty. Before the screw could well get play it was fouled and had to stop. Directly this occurred the steam from the screw boilers was let into the paddle engines, which in turn went ahead, till the propeller was free and able to work again. At last, after some time, the anchor was under the . bow, the slack chain hove in, and the huge mass of iron got up to the bow ready for letting go again in a better berth. But the wind now allowed no choice of situations. The vessel had partly swung off into a beam sea, which was then sweeping over and past the Breakwater with awful force, and the Great Eastern began • to roll quickly and heavily. In spite of the relief afforded by the screw, the cable of the remaining' anchor kept taut ening more and more, until at last, at about half past 10, it sprang like a cord out of the water, and in another moment the Great Eastern was adrift, rolling and tuttbling like a drunken ship towa r d s the shore. So quiet and orderly was everything when this most alarming- incident took place, that reallyhappened, very few kne w w h a t had though all could pretty well guess by the heavy lurches of the vessel that something had indeed gone wrong. Captain Harrison and Mr. Kett were forward, an% iu an instant all was ready for letting go a second. heavy anchor, while word was passed to go ahead with the screw, for the great ship, lurching from side to side was making rapidly for shore. The second anchor was la go and the screw moved SUN, LONDON ah ( ?ad, but the vessel had now great way on her, 44. .1d could not be easily stopped on what seemed her road to destruction. Just as the screw began to tell: an immense mass of wreck wood fouled it and brought the machinery to a dead stand. Not a second could be lost in waiting till-it cleared, so the steam was at once turned into the paddle engines, which were driven round at great speed, though the floats got hurt among the mass of wreck, and the great ironwork, of the wheels was bent in many places. To avoid this and the serious damage it might occasion, the screw was set to work again the instant it was freed, but it was seldom able to revolve more than a few moments without becom ing, jammed, again, when the paddles . were again resorted to. But for the Great Eastern's double engines very little could have been done. The an chor svhich.was let, go "bit" .at once, and as much scope was given to the cable as dare be let out when the vessel had driven back so far and the lee shore loomed so close astern. Still, for a time, the position contiued dangerous in the extreme, as, in spite of both wind and steam, the great ship lay open to the sea rolling dangerously for such a place, and making way as if nothing would hold her. At last she brought up, though she seemed to make desperate efforts to break from the grip of hew new holdfast—tugging and rolling to her chain as though she would pull up a mountain. Fortu nately both chains and anchor held fast, as they did before in heavy weather at Portland, when two screw colliers, each with 800 tons of coals on board, two brigs, two dummies, and a large galliot, all hung on to the Great Eastern, riding at the same single chain and anchor. After one or two more in effectual efforts to break away, her head at last swung round, and she rode lightly to the gale as before, In this last struggle some of the links of the chain cable were actually dragged cut one-third longer, and one which passed under the sharp bows of the vessel was bent nearly double. The cable on the port bow was then hove in, when it was found that the shank of the anchor, after bending con siderably, had been torn_ in half about a foot below the crown, showing good anchor and holding ground both. From this time (about 12 o'clock) the glass began to rise fast, and the worst of the gale was over, though it still came down occasionally in wild and heavy gusts, rendering every precaution necessary in the way of full steam power, for with such a ship and such a sea none knew what next might happen. Soon after one o'clock two schooners came upon the coast ; one with good way on her stood right down upon what remained of the breakwater, un aware of the fact that much of it had been swept away, and that the head which they ran for was far inside a dangerous reef of breakwater debris, on which :even the Great Eastern herself would be beaten to pieces in an hour. Fortunately, both vessels saw their danger when almost on the breakers, and - one weathered safely round the awful shoal. The second, in trying to recover her self, lost way and drove too much in shore, and for the next two hours had to struggle with the gale, poised between life and death, and hundreds look ing on at the unequal contest with breathless inte rest, but unable to aid in any way. Happily for the little ship and all onboard, she fought a successful, though arduous battle. One minute she seemed carrying on well, and hope beat high as with her little rags of sail she faced the storm, and, all hid with foam, broke doggedly through the great antagonists which rose around on all sides. Another minute, and, reeling over under the effects of a tremendous wave, she fell off before the wind and again drove rapidly towards the dismantled breakwater, over which the sea was now roaring in a succession of cataracts. Twice did she seem overpowered, amid these fearful breakers, and yet again emerged, her little black hull rising sharp and clear above the line of foam. Her utter destruction appeared almost impossible to avert, and Captain Harrison had ordered 12 hands to be ready for lowering away in one of Gladstone's boats, in order that no effort might be spared to save those on board, when the little vessel made another effort, aided by a momentary lull, stood further out to sea, weathered the dreadful reef, and reached the harbour. From this time out the gale continued to decrease in violence, so that in the afternoon the Great Eastern again screwed ahead, and dropped a - second anchor more under the lee of the breakwater, and rode se cure. Then, and then only, was Captain Harrison enabled to leave the deck, and take that rest which was so much needed after his labour and long anxiety. In the evening the wind went round to the north west, and then, sheltered by the breakwater, the Great Eastern rested quietly, though still with all steam ready. To-day (Thursday) the weather is fine and mild, and steamers were again able to come alongside. On shore the gale appears to have done considerable damage, and, as we are informed, chimneys were blown down and houses unroofed at Holyhead. Part of the line between Bangor and Conway has been completely washed away by the dash of the sea, and the engincering triumphs of the late Robert Stephenson have been laid waste in hideous gaps. At these places the surf seems to have swept in with awful violence, carrying before it both the sea wall and the outer line of rails. Thus at present the long railway trip to Holyhead is diversified by having to dismount and continue the journey by coach round the steep headland of Penmaenmawr. The company have done their ut most to remedy a disaster which was no f ult of theirs; but' the mountains of North Wales afford but few facilities for remedying mishaps of any kind so the primitive inhabitants of these districts are occasionally refreshed by the sight of first-class pas sengers struggling up a mountain road under a heap of carpet-bags, or looking with anxious excitement after their luggage, which comes after - them in carts. It has been many years since any easterly nip has ever done such mischief. The place where passen gers to London re-enter the train is about three miles beyond Conway, and if the officials there showed a little more alacrity the company would be saved some blame and the public unnecessary delay. Ainong the valleys and mountain passes of North Wales the gale appears to have raged with dread ful fury. Trees have been uprooted, rocks set roll ing down the sides of the mountains, and cottages unroofed or entirely destroyed. Tuesday or Wednesday next is the date at present fixed Lr the departure of the Great Eastern for Southampton ; the latter is most likely to be the day, as the tides will then suit better for taking the vessel through Spithead, and up to her moorings in Southampton Water. The spot selected for her winter berth is about half a mile distant from the new military hospital at Netley, and some two and a-half miles from the town of Southampton. The moorings which are being laid are chains of 4 inches square, and, of course, of the best con struction. The vessel rides to a swivel on what is termed a " bull ring," the mooring chain being laid in the form of a cross, up and down and across the stream. The chains going up and down are secured by tWo iron mooring lumps of eight tons each, with two shackles of three tons more, backed by two an chors of 98cwt. each without the stock. Those across the stream, where no tideway is to be dreaded, are secured with anchors. Light as the Great Eastern rides, she must be well secured to rest safe' in a strong tide way. It has been stated. repeatedly that it was by a de cision of the Board of Directors that it was an nounced that the Great Eastern should leave Eng land for America on the 27th inst., and that this sudden change of destination from the United States to Southampton argues great infirmity of purpose on the part of the directory. We believe that no Board resolution was ever passed that she should leave on the 27th. It was merely hoped that she would be able to leave this month, and the idea was, given up for the very best of all reasons—namely, that when the company' surveyors and arbitrators came to inspect the ship they at once emphatically declared that she was not in a fit state to cross the. Atlantic. In the face of such a declaration there was, of course, no alternative but to postpone the sailing sine die. That this decision was a wise one none can doubt, and . it is sincerely to be hoped that no divisions in the councils of the directory may arise to set aside a resolution which is not only prudent, bill actually necessary. Many may question the propriety of having a body of directors to manage the affairs of a single ship, and nothing but the most perfect unanimity on all matters concerning the welfare of the undertaking will reconcile the public to such administration: As regards the ac tual departure of the Great Eastern for America it will make very little difference if the directors decided that she should start for the United States on this day week, for the whole question as to the date of sailing now rests with the Board of Trade. Until their requirements have been complied with no passenger certificate will be given, and the precau tionary measures which they insist on arc only likely to be completed at Southampton, and cannot possibly be done in less than two months at the earliest. Fire hose have yct to be fitted to the auxiliary engines aft, more sails have yet to be bent, spare spars, extra boats, and feed pumps to the engines have all to be completed. The fixing of the wheel and tiller chains must be alterel, east iron stanchions placed amidships beneath the iron upper-deck, and some apparatus or another devised fur warming the saloons. The cold on board the vessel during the last f ew d a ys has been very severe, though, of course, a mere. trifle to what must have been endured if the Great Eastern had started for America this winter. In fact, it is not too much to say.that without some m eans o f i n - . creasing the temperature in the forecastle and be tween decks scarcely any officers or men could have been found hardy enough to venture across the Atlantic at this season of the year. American SATURDAY EVENING, gentlemen best acquainted with the feeling which prevails in the United States with regard to the Great Eastern think that any voyage there now must prove a perfect failure for showing the vessel, while, on the other hand, they are as confident that if the ship starts for New York in the spring she must realize between 600,000 doll. and 700,000 dots. clear of all expenses. How far this estimate may or may not be exaggerated we c2.nnot take upon ourselves to say; but there must, doubt less, be a wide and most important margin between the receipts if taken this winter and those which may be fairly expected next year. But in real truth, as we have said, these speculations are quite beside the question, when the plain fact remains that the ship sholild not leave England till thoroughly com pleted, which at present she most certainly is not. It is said that the berth chosen for her at Southamp ton is a perfectly safe one, and it is beyond a doubt that that port offers such facilities for completing the vessel as makes it imperative she should go there at once. A great many rumours are afloat as to a pro gramme of winter voyages, but for this we believe nothing definite has been settled. It is just possible that before leaving England the Great Eastern may visit Glasgow aneKingstown, but beyond such mere plausible conjectures nothing whatever is known or determined on. On leaving this port on Tuesday or Wednes day the course will be made under easy steam for the Scilly Islands, and a very general hope is entertained that Captain Harrison will give them a sufficiently wide berth to enable the Great Eastern to try her power a little way down Chan nel, where at this time of the year a sea will cer tainly be met with. If such a route is adopted the question as to the speed of the ship may be fairly settled. It can never be tried in smooth water. In justice to the captain, the shareholders, and the contracting engineers, both engines should be tested to their utmost speed, together and separately. Until this is done, and the number of revolutions, indicated horse-power and consumption of coal carefully registered, no one can form a correct estimate of what the Great Eastern is capable of doing. If either screw or paddle machinery is at all wrong, the sooner the fault is found the better. It will never do to find out in a trial trip in the centre of the Atlantic that the piston or air-pump rods of the paddle engines are too weak, or that the screw boilers do not generate sufficient steam to drive the propeller at 45. We by no means intend to say that such faults will be discovered, but merely that it is as well that all matters of this kind should be placed beyond a doubt. As we have before pointed out the Great Eastern is not in good trim for testing speed. Her paddles have too little immersion, and she ought to be a couple of feet more down by the stern to put her screw blades fairly under water. On ordinary voyages she must start with at least 3,000 or 4,000 more tons of coal than is yet on board, and this, with cargo, will bring her down some five or six feet deeper than her present trim. It must not, however, be forgotten that with a deeper immersion there will be greater bulk to drive, so that on the whole the gain in rate of speed cannot be anything greatly beyond what was attained during the late trial trip. Her present displacement of water is a little over a million cubic feet, to propel which through the sea her nominal horse-power is only 2,600, or at the rate of about one-horse power for every tons. It is most important that the daily consumption of coal at full and easy steaming should be ascer tained as soon as possible, in order to afford a basis from which the future expenses of the ship may be calculated. As far as could be seen during the run round from Portland, it appears very probable that her average will not fall short of 300 tons a-day. It is not easy, however, to tell off-hand the amount of fuel required daily for a vessel which, when all her machinery is at work has no less than 118 furnaces blazing away together. Taking it at 300 tons the consumption is very.small when compared not only with the power developed, but with the consump tion of other fast sea-going steamers. 300 tons a day is only at the rate of 21 cwt. per horse-power, whereas the Persia consumes no less than 180 daily, or at the rate of 4 cwt. per horse-power. For the Great Eastern to consume at the same rate in pro portion to horse-power with the Persia, she would have to burn upwards drso"o tons a day, and be only capable of carrying fuel for a 20 days' run instead of as now for a voyage to Australia of from 36 to 38 days. If the Great Eastern makes a long stretch out to sea in going round to Southampton ; so as to get within scope of the swell of the Atlantic, a very fair estimate of her consumption in a heavy sea way can be formed, but till the test of driving ,her head on to a south-westerly gale is applied, the estimate of her cost in fuel must be more or less conjectured. While at Southampton the ship will be thrown open to visitors, though at the same time the work of fitting for sea will be diligently pursued. Up to the present, in spite of all that has lately been dote, an immense amount of work remains to be accom plished during the winter. THE LOSS 011 TILE I?OYAL CHARIER, LIVERPOOL, FRIDAY. No further intelligence of importance has been received from Moelfra, the scene of the wreck. Measures have been adopted by the authorities for the protection of the property of the owners of the vessel and cargo, and of the passengers, and also to take care of the bodies as they are cast ashore. At 4 o'clock an order is given to clear the beach of those who are led to the spot by motives of plunder or curiosity by a strong force of coastguardsmen and detachments of the military. With the ex ception of two, who were unable to leave owing to injuries received, all the survivors arrived in Liver pool last night. It is stated that one of the crew of the Royal Charter at the time she struck rushed to the store-room and broke all the bottles containing , spirits, fearing that his fellow-seamen might intoxi ego themselves. Many of the crew on the day after the wreck expressed themselves to the effect that the sad event appeared as though it had been a dream. and at the office of Messrs. Gibbsthe,Brilngahtdnst , i a g n - dc ag o. e , , some affecting scenes have taken place among the relatives of those who were on board the Royal Charte.r. There appears some probability of another gale to-night. The following is an amended list of the saloon passengers, as far as can b e ascer t a i ne d : Save—W. H. Morse, F. Gundy, and H.C.Taylor. Lost—Mr., Mrs., and two Misses Fowler, and one servant; Mr., Mrs., and Master Murray; Mr. Tweedale, Mr. and Mrs. Grove, Mr. Molyneux, Rev. Mr. Hodge, of New Zealand, Mrs. Foster, Mrs. Fenwick and six children, Mrs. Halton, Dr. Hatch, Mr. and Mrs. Pritchard, two children and servant, n s. Beams, J. S. Henry, La Fargol, Mrs. Woodruff and child, Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins and five sons, Mr. and Mrs. Davies, two daughters and two sons, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce, child and servant, Mr. M'George, Capt. Withers, H. C. Taylor's daughter and nurse. List of Saloon Passengers landed at Queenstown : Mr. Gardner, Mr. M'Evoy, Mrs. Nahmur and child. The following statements are published in t 4 local papers "Numerous people in Liverpool had relatives on board. 1)r. Churton had a son among the passen gers. A son of Mr. Walton, of the Theatre Royal, was an assistant steward. " The captain succumbed to a sailor's fate. He was seen on deck from nine o'clock, exerting himself to make all right, until he was exhausted. Time after time was he knocked down by wave And spar, and had to hold on by a rope. He was seen giving Ordere - On deck, with a spar lashed to him, so that he might be prepared to float. He was again seen struggling in the water, laying hold of a yard-arm, and it every now and then being washed from his grip. On recovering his spar by a deterniined:effort,he en two occasions cried out cheerfully, " There is hope yet." After this he and Mr. Dowie, the second officer, were seen on the lee side of the ship, struggling to reach the shore, when a boat fell from the davits and struck them both on the head, after which they were ,seen no more. One iceideLt is related, that when the captain had been' struck prostrate on deck, ex hausted, he saw the water steal a child from its mother's arms—a Jewess—and dash it about the deck. He cried out to the chief officer, Mr. Stevens, to give a hand there, and to lash the child by a rope, no doubt expecting at that time that help would soon be available. Not a superior offi cer was .saved, neither a female nor child. "The following is thenarrative of the boatswain's mate, John Suaicar, which is given nearly in his own language:- - "' Oa Monday we left Queenstown in the after. noon, after putting some passengers on board the pilot-boat Petrel who desired to he landed. We proceeded on with calm weather and water smooth. We made Ballycotton light at half-past 7 p.m., and Yvughal light, on the Irish coast, at half-past 8. Reached the Menai light at 9, made the Nook light, in half au hour, and sighted Tuskar at about half paA 11. On Tuesday morning saw Bardsey, at which time the wind began to freshen. The wind heading, we took in the square sails ; and at 10 a.m., the wind increasing, took in all the fore and aft sails. In the afternoon made Holyhead at half pastdo in 1, and b nd ou a rt alongside,Could halt-past a n 4 s dee handed were t right g steamshiph t o aheadn board some fGreatHoly head Eastern. Off B ur d se y the steam-tug United King newspapers, asking if we would give a free passage to 11 riggers, as we were going t o Li verpoo l , and the tug was not going until she got a tow. The riggers OCTOBER 29, 1859. were taken on board. At a quarter to eight on carried over him, and both were pitched on shore for Tuesday evening were abreast of the Skerries, dis- a moment together. For a time he had given up tarit about a mile and a half. At this time the wind all hopes of being saved, especially as his repeated had increased to a heavy gale, and the ship was attempts to fasten hold of the sea-weed were making little or no, progress through the water: failures. He found himself much bruised and cut She was driving up with the strength of the tide when he recovered his full consciousness ashore. and nearing the shore; the steam had no effect, He believed, if he had not been a swimmer, he but we did all we could to keep the ship off. The . should have been inevitably lost. maintopsail was lowered, but she still drifted. " A second cabin passenger's account was, Clewed up the maintopsail, and the hands were that he remained np all night, as he was appre sent up to furl it. The wind had now increased hensive all was. not right, He did not feel considerably, almost blew the sail from the yard, there was any immediate danger until half-past and it became entangled on the starboard side. It one, but Captain Taylor came down and assured was difficult to get the sail stowed. At this time them there was no immediate danger, and that Mr. Bean, the third offi cer , w ith severa l seamen she was righting very easily, and the steam was and myself, were trying to make the sail fast, but almost overrunning her anchors. So confident was could not succeed in accomplishing it. Shortly he that he ordered coffee for himself and the pas afterwards orders were given to cock-bill the port sengers, but they never lived to drink it. One of anchor, and let go. This was done, giving her 75 the mates called the captain, however, on deck, fathoms of chain. The vessel was steaming the and shortly afterwards they learnt she had parted whole time. Finding she was dragging, we let go with her port anchor. About two o'clock he went the starboard anchor; still finding her dragging, on the poop and could see land. The sea was run • we paid out all the port chain. The vessel was niug tremendously high, and lie could not remain still steaming, and the wind had now increased to on the poop unless he held by something. He saw a perfect hurricane. We then went to get the a number jump overboard as the land seemed so stream anchor up, and while doing so the starboard near, but he only sa w one ge t as h ore. He let him chain parted. I then f e lt th e s hi p cant i ng over to Self clown by a rope on the lee side, and made a port, and fancied the wind had changed. Orders spring out to clear the masses of people huddled were then given to cut away the mainmast, which about the shore side of the ship. He had on a life was done, and in a few minutes afterwards she belt, but the struggle was so desperate that he had struck on a bank. The captain gave orders to the not the slightest hopes of being saved. He held engineer to give her as much steam as he could, to on to a spar, and was ultimately washed on to a harden her on the bank. It was then about three- rock, where he held on by grasping the seaweed quarter ebb tide. The place where she struck was until two men came to him, just as another wave was to the west of Moelfra, eastward of Point Lynas. going to nip him back. The narrator believes if Heard the captain give orders to starboard the they had commenced operations for saving life helm, to keep her on the shore, so that the sea earlier, a greater number would have been saved. would not have so much power on her broadside. All were waiting as patiently as could be, in the When she became hardened on, the chief officer hope of the tide leaving them, but the tide must gave me and the boatswain orders to cut the main have been flowing at the time they thought it was and maintopmast stays, as they were lying across ebbing, unless the storm drove the water that way. the boat, so that the boat could be cleared in case .n A third saloon passenger exercised himself as of need. We did so. The chief boatswain and long as he could in serving the other passengers. myself were afterwards sitting on a sp A Wave washed hi m f rom t h e poop, and how he got ar on the deck-house, the sea at th e ti me making atom plete ashore he is unconscious o f, b u t b e li eves h e was l e f t breach over the ship. I th en wen t for ward to look well in on land. out, and ascertain whether we were on sand or " John Judge, a steerage passenger, of herculean rock, when I discovered the land distant about 30 size and strength, stated that he was in the forecas yards. I went back, and told the chief officer that tae below, patiently waiting the time for action, it was land, and he said, 'We will loose the foretop- when the ship snapped asunder, and he was washed mast staysail, and when the tide makes run her out on the weather side. He saw hundreds of people up.. I said it would be as well to give her the fore- closed up in the jaws of death around him, but he sail. It was then getting daylight. I volunteered was enabled to catch a spar, and work his way to to go ashore with a line to get a hawser ashore, im- shore. mediately after which I felt the ship striking " Wm. Barton, a rigger of Liverpool, said that he heavier than ever, supposing it was in consequence and 10 others having taken the Typhoon round to of the tide making. The sea still broke over her Cardiff, went on board the United Kingdom, tug with even greater violence than ever. The captain steamer. Meeting the Royal Charter going was at this time on deck, standing by the steam towards LiVerpool they got on board to work their telegraph. I told the chief officer again that I was passage home, at 11 o'clock on Tuesday morning, willing to go ashore with a line and do everything when off Bardsay Island. As evening came on a in my power to save life. Asked him if he would strong gale from the N.E. sprang up. They allow me a few minutes to put my lifebelt on, and fetched Point Lynas about 9 o'clock, and hove to he said of course he would. I afterwards told the for a pilot. They fired rockets and guns, but no boatswain I was going to try to get a line on shore, pilot came. About 12 o'clock they found them and he said it was useless, the sea was running too selves on the lee shore, off Malvery, and still no high. Afterwards had a small line slung round my pilot, when they let go the port anchor in 15 body, and wished some one to attend to it while I fathoms water. The anchor parted about two swam ashore. After some hesitation, a man volun- o'clock, when the second anchor was sent down teered. Just as I was being lowered into the water with 110 fathoms, the port having used 80 fathoms sonic one called out that there was a line on shore on the starboard. The steam was up, and the from forward. Upon hearing that I did not go. A vessel was turned with her head to the wind; but hawser was got on shore and made fast to a rock, she continued to drag stern in ashore, with Point and with this myself and some of the other seamen Lynas light on the port side. The ship saved our lives. The hawser was made fast by struck on an iron-bound coast, .in Mal several of the inhabitants on shore who came to very, not far from Amlwch. She beat against render assistance. After the ship struck all the the rocks very heavily, and, after' striking and passengers were directed to go aft until the hawser dragging about half an hour she parted her star could be got properly out, so that as many as possi- board anchor, and she fell right foul close into the ble might be saved. Shortly after this the vessel land in four fathoms. The tide was ebbing about parted amidships, and a large number of passen- the last quarter at this time. It was as dark as gers, standing on the deck where she parted, were pitch they could not see their hands before th em . swept into the sea and drowned. The boats were The boats were all in readiness, but they were in smashed to pieces by the fury of the gale, and the total ignorance as to what sort of a coast it was, others could not be lowered, so that none of them and the sea was so rough that no boat could have could be made available. The passengers saved were lived five minutes in it. Under these circumstances driven on shore by the force of the waves. 16 of the the boats were given up. They made up a tar crew got ashore by the hawser. An endeavour was barrel, ready to set fire to, as a torch, to send made to get a second hawser ashore to rescue the ashore, to light the coast and let them know what female passengers, but this could not be accosts- kind of a place it was ; but the ship thumped so plished. Not a single female passenger was saved. heavily and danger was so imminent that the idea In three hours after the vessel struck she began to was not carried out. About 6 o'clock, the dawn of go to pieces. Saw about 70 passengers on the port light, they saw a man on the shore, to whom they • bow, all anxiously awaiting some means of getting called. He seemed quite bewildered at what he saw them on shore; but a heavy sea which struck the and ran to fetch assistance. He brought five or six starboard - bow stove it in, the ship gave a lurch, men to the shore. In the meantime the ship was and the people were all driven into the sea and rapidly giving way, and a Portuguese sailor, Joseph drowned. Some of the passengers saved were thrown R ogerson, t i ed a rope roun d hi s wa i st, and swam upon the rocks and picked - up by the crew and ashore. By this means a hawser was run and • others who came to render assistance.' fastened to the rocks, on which a boatswain's chair " Mr. James Russell, a passenger, belonging to was fastened so th a t it cou ld b e h au l e d to an d f rom Scotland, who had been seven years i n Australia the ship and shore. The crew got into it, one by and acquired considerable wealth,was below in his one, and were hauled to land. They commenced berth when the vessel first struck. He had with landing parties in this way about half-past 6 o'clock, him his wife and two children, one aged 10 and the and got about a dean ashore, when the ship sud other 9 1- years. He was aroused by hearing a coma- denly parted in two, giving way amidships. The motion on deck, and a fellow-passenger, Mr. Smith, whole of the passengers' had been kept below by the saying, Oh, Mr. Russell, we are all g o n e ; we are captain and officers' advice ; and on the vessel break - drifting on shore.' On getting to the deck his worst ing up they were instantly swallowed up along fears were confirmed, as it appeared evident that with the iron and machinery. As soon as the ship little, if any, hope of rescue existed.- The sea was struck the masts were cut away, the foretop going breaking over the ship with tremendous fury, and with the mainmast. He last saw the captain hold ' the persons on board were running frantically about ing by the rigging on deck, giving orders, with a the deck in a state of despair. Having brought his spar lashed to him. The riggers had recom family from below, he held them together as they mended the cutting away the masts at 10 o'clock I stood on deck, the waves surging over them at on the Tuesday night, but it was not then every moment. In a minute or two a surging sea done. The ship broke up at a quarter to seven, ' carried away his wife and two children, and he and not a vestige was left above water. The greatest o never saw them more. He himself was then washed order and di sc i p li ne prevailed on boaid, off the deck towards the shore, but a succeeding "Patrick Devine and Thomas Cunninglianilalso wave brought him back again. Another sea then riggers belonging to this town, gave similar state struck him, and he was driven forward o n the men t s . Th e last man saved' came ashore about ' beach, and, as he himself described it, saved by the 8 o'clock. The sea rolled tremendously, and the I miraculous hand of Proseidence. Mr. Russell had a ship thumped constantly. • considerable sum of money on board, the produce " Walter Hughes, an apprentice on board, whose of his enterprise and skill in Australia, and is now, parents reside at No. 1, Toxteth-street, is lying in • comparatively speaking, penniless. bed at the village of Malvery, near the scene of th e "A passenger says,—' On T ues d a y n i g ht , w h en disaster, suffering from severe crushings and the gale became so strong, opposit e th e Sk err i es, bruises, he is not in a hopeless state. His ac ' the ladies and many of the passengers became ex- count of his escape is of a marvellous character. • ceedingly nervous. For his own part, however, he He was standing on the deck amidships when had such confidence in the captain, officers, and ship, the vessel suddenly parted under his feet. He particularly as she had gone through such long -was precipitated with the crashing ironwork 6 voyages and was now near home, that he went to deep into the water, but ascended immediately. bed at 10 o'clock. He could only dose, and was He was then thrown ashore and secured. In aroused in an hour or two by the fearful storm. He Udine, the tumbling lumber and machinery knew they could not be going more than a mile an struck against him, and he felt as if he was hour, for they had been dodging Holyhead all day b e i ng kil led. -,The slain was torn off his face and and all evening. He heard a voice in the cabin cry- hands by coming in contact with the rough and ing out, Come directly, we are all lost ; I will take pointed rocks. He saw just before the ship parted your child; come along directly.' He knew the three little children, holding each other's hands, L voice to be that of Capt. Withers, a passenger, who screaming.. They had ' fine weather until 6 o'clock had lost his own vessel in the South Pacific. He on Tuesday evening, and at the time she hugged jumped out of bed and opened his cabin door, but the shore she was trying to get her head to wind all were gone front there, He hastily put on a few ward, but her screw was overpowered by the severe articles, and ran up on deck. He heard the ship gale, and she was drifted ashore stern foremost. , bump, bump, heavily, t wo or th re e times against Every effort was made to get her head to the sea, the ground. On going into the general saloon he but the cables parted a little before 12 o'clock, and found it crowded with ladies and gentlemen in the she struck with her broadside to the rocks. utmost state of tremour. Families were clinging to "Mr. Councillor Wagstaff, of St. James's-street, each other, the young children were crying out who was a passenger by the steamer Druid, piteously, whilst parents were endeavouring to from Bangor yesterday, has kindly furnished us soothe them with cheering hopes. The Rev. Mr. with th e f o ll ow i ng particulars, which lie ob- Hodge, a Church of England clergyman, belonging tamed on the spot. Mr. Wagstaffs statement is to East Retford, instituted a prayer meeting, and aas follows I was at Beaumaris yesterday (Wed great number of passengers fervently participated nesd a y), an d h ear d th ere was a l arge vessel on shore . the service. The ship struck, however, so fear- at Moelfra, about three miler from Dallas-head. I fully, and the huge waves came down upon her i went to the Custom-house agent, wh o con fi rme d t h e with such tremendous force, rushing into the cabins ntelligence, and showed me a communication as through the skylights, broken by the falling rig- follows The Royal Charter is on shore-400 ging and hatches, that all became absorbed in the passengers drowned.' I and some friends imme idea of personal danger. The narrator was ex- diately took a car, and started about one o' c l oc k i tremely anxious to know whether danger was m- for the place named. When we reached the spot mediate, or whether they could wait for the blessip there was very little of the vessel to be seen, but so of daylight ; but all tried to soothe the ladies and near to the shore had she been stranded that I children. Capt. Withers came into the cabin, re- could easily pitch a coin on the wreck. The first marking, Now, ladies, you need not be at all thing I saw was the body of a man lying in a field afraid; we are on a sandy beach, and imbedded in close by. He was a stout able-bodied man, and the sand ; we are not ten paces from the shore, and dressed in corduroy trousers and pea jacket. Some the tide will leave us dry, and in 10 minutes you will sort of a cloth had been thrown over his face. His be safe.' Dr. Hutch, a Government medical officer, head had been injured and was covered with blood, also cheered the passengers. Capt. Taylor came and as I got over the style into the field my hands down afterwards to give encouragement, and made were stained with it. Upon getting to the beach I a similar representation, which had the effect of found a large number of people, apparently belong greatly allaying the excitement. Great order was ing to the locality, with a few of the survivors consequently kept on board, and perfect discipline. from the wreck. One of the passengers was At half-past 6 o'clock the bumping went on worse rambling about the shore more like a maniac than ever, until at last the water came rushing in. than anything else. The poor fellow had lost When daylight began to peep he was knocked by the wife and child. While standing on the force of the waves against the ship with great vie- poop with his child in his arms a tremendous sea lence against the side of the saloon, and the screams washed the young creature front his grasp and his now were dreadful. It was impossible to know what wife from his side. He then became insensible, and to do. He, went on deck, but with the greatest dif• could not say how he got on shore ; but on recover ficulty maintained his equilibrium. At this time a ing consciousness he found himself clinging to the great sea came against the broadside, and dividedthe seaweed on a rock. I also spoke to two men— ship into two, just at the engine-house, as one would Cornish miners—who had been long in Australia. smash a pipe stump, and the sea washed quite They were returning home with their savings, and through her. The two parts sleeved.' round, and h a d l os t a ll b ut 10 sovereigns. After conversing became total wrecks. Pat ties were carried down with these men I spoke to William John Ferris, one with the debris, and as many must have been killed of the surviving passengers, who told me that the as drowned. Having made up his mind that he ship struck between 2 and 3 o'clock on Wednesday had best jump overboard on the Ice side, he at- morning, and that those on board 'set the bay on tempted to descend by a rope, but fell deep into the fire' with signals of distress—that they set off blue water, which was hero so thickly strewn with tim- lights and rockets, and fired cannons in the hope of ber, &c., that his head had to open up a passage. obtaining assistance from the shore. We heard it He was a good swimmer, but ;,is chief service was said that as long as the screw was kept going the only in allowing him to keep afloat, to seize hold of vessel kept to heranehors, but as soon as it stopped timber. His senses were nearly knocked out, and she began to drift upon the beach. It was also said he was repeatedly- thrown ashore, and as often that a coloured man swam on shore with a hawser, washed back again, until some people on shore which was pointed out to us as the one which the watched him, and managed to catch him. By this seaman succeeded in bringing to land. time he was almost worn out and insensible. When " Some of the survivors, it was said, had been he first came on deck he had a bag of 35 sovereigns, saved by this means, but soon afterwards the ship but lie lost 25 in the struggle. He saw Captain went to pieces, and the hawser was no longer avail- Taylor in the excitement, and said Captain, this able. The vessel broke in two at seven o'clock in is a fearful state of things,' but the captain made the morning. amidships, and, of cours e , w ith t h e part fellow is time about 200 p assengers were no reply. When b e i ng d r ift e d as h ore h e saw a poor s h e lt er i ng astride on a large spar, who had on a lifebelt, ing of the ship, the whole of them were engulfed in but some one clung to him and both were drowned. the sea. He was momentarily fearing that his brains would "We saw a . portion of the screw of the vessel, and be knocked out by a large yard that came on the near it was punted out somethin g w hi c h was stated weather side of him ; bat, stra nge t o sa y, it was , to be the bullion c h es t, w hi c h contained the gold on board. The masts, which had been cut away when the ship stranded, were high and dry on shore, where they had been washed by the sea, and plates of iron had been thrown up and were twisted into all manner of shapes. We observed a portion of the deck, about five yards square, lying in a pool of water, high up. The woodwork appeared as if it had been burnt. " 'We saw a number of people busily looking among the stones, and .when we asked what they were looking for they replied For gold ;' and we were told that one man had picked up a bag con taining 100 sovereigns, and that altogether £2OO or £3OO in gold h a d b een recovered. The whole of the money found was handed over to the Custom-house agent, who took the names of the finders. I saw a man bringing two sovereigns, and he seemed to part with the money very unwillingly. A photo graphic likeness was picked up by a man, who was about to appropriate it to himself, when he was observed, and obliged to hand it over to the Custom house agent. The photograph was retained for the purpose of identification. There were about 20 men employed in taking charge of the property that was washed up on the beach. We saw many bodies brought up which had been washed ashore. Among these were the bodies of two children, one of whom it was said was supposed to be alive when taken out of the water, but upon a man taking it into his arms, life was found to be extinct. We sauntered about the shore, and picked up what information we could, but saw everywhere nothing but dis tress. I got tired at last of the heart-rending scene, and wanted to go away, but being in" formed that some bodies were being brought uP from Red Wharf Bay we went in that direction. On our way we saw, in a field just above the shore, the body of a stout able-bodied man, whose face was dreadfully bruised. We waited there a few minutes and I asked a man what they were going to do with the body ? He replied, ' I cannot get the people here to do anything.' I said, 'lt is not likely you will get them to assist you unless they are paid for it.' He then said, ' I am churchwarden of th e parish, but do n o t k now w h a t I can d o ; would it be right to p u t th e b o d y i n th e b oa t-h ouse ?' / replied, ' Certainly ; do not let the bodies lie her e . all night ; put th em i n th e b oat -h ouse an d low& , them up.' At this moment I saw them bringint up another body, and of all the frightful sights, ever witnessed I never saw anything like this' , Both legs were broken about a foot above the ankle' and the feet, which o n ly h ung b y th e s kin, had been bent backwards, and tied to keep them , gether. The bones wer e visitle, the head was twiste d round, and the bowel s p ro t ru d e d. A no ther body we noticed with half the head off. One ear was hanging down, and the brains had been washed ouv_• We went to the beach, an d th e fi rs t o bj ec t that v(l 3 _ observed was the b o dy o f a g i r l, apparen tly 14 . 0 r 15 years of age, but a friend said he noticed a rin a on her finger. Sh e h a d on a bl ac k jacket and petticoat. Her f ace was very muc h cut with WI knocked about among the rocks. While we we7i standing there a no th er b o d y was b roug h t was identified to be that of the sailmaker—a powerful fellow, who presented no - marks of Wall: There were some four or five bodies further on, but we did not go near them ; in fact, our feelings wel so harrowed by what we had s e en th a t we would go no further, and we came away. " Among other affecting incidents of the store one is mentioned by a gentleman who returned *0.7. the neighbourhood of Conway on W e d nes day nigh t ' During that afternoon two little boys, one 11 0 0 _ 0 the other only nine years of age, lashed to a Pie () of plank or small bit of ti m b er , were was hed ns l °'`, at Conway, both still a li ve . It appeare d that tlity, had been th us l aunc h e d on th e stormy w aves ' their father, from a little vessel, on its proving un seaworthy. COUNTRY MARKETS: LIVERPOOL--OCT. 28. The arrivals from Ireland and coastwise since Tilos e j have been light. From foreign ports we have meg/ r t. only 2,170 qrs of India n corn and 500 barrels of fi t The exports in the same time comprise 942 qrs of .1111— .1! 1,349 qrs of oats, 429 qrs of Indian corn, 282 loads 4; 0 meal, and 1,280 sacks of flour. The weather has . w de r. milder of late, but vary stormy. There has been con late able firmness in the trade during the past two day s, , a t . pad• rates. Our market this morning had a rather thin a_ . ,""; ti ,J ance of the town and country trade, and only a I,cies sale was experienced for wheat and flour, at about n o day's prices: Oats in ra th er f a i r reques t, an d oatineal igr o with a better sale, at late rates. Barley and Po s o o nt well supported, as also beans, at retail q uo t a tions., ot met little inquiry. I n di an corn me t a f ree sa l e , and r 6d dearer. WAKEFIELD—OcT. 28. ig The arrivals of wh ea t are very f a i r, and th er e be9 da y firm demand, price s were a t th e extreme of those a E: b ile ‘ r i last. Fine h eav y b ar l ey i n request, at late rates/ iow inferior qu a liti es were dull, and prices still tending d o wards. Beans rather dearer. Oats and shelling at sbo previous prices. osa Wheat, per qr. of 8 bushels 601 b., Essex, Stiff 0 red, Kent, white, o ld, 48 s t o 51 s; new, 48s to 51s; ditt old, 42s to 445; new, 42s to 44s ; Lincolnshire and shire white, new, 45s to 50s ; red, 41s to 445. $ MANSFIELD—OcT. 27. h I neet s _. We are tolerably sup Plied with wheat, milk ' slow sale; b u t we ma k e no a l terat i on from the quoY 4 O w of last week. Fine' heavy barley in request; inferior seriptions almost unsaleable. Bea ns a nd othr articles altered. EXETER—Ocr. 28. The business to-day was at the following prices :-- 4s 0 _., Wheat, white 5s 9d. to Cs Od I Barley.. ......4s Od •to Os IA Ditto red 5s Gd to 5s 9d Oats ..... . 33 Od t k. Flour, fine, 32s to 335 ; seconds, 30s to . 31s per otte • CATTLE. i 4.1,0 St' . The market was fairly supplied with stock, a nd "" ti r tendanca was not numerous. Pork carcases in largo 6 ply. Ad t. 0; Fat beef, p score, 9s to 10s6d Ewes, per lb ....6id to 6 04 0 Pork carcases,doBs Od to 9sod Wethers, d 0... •• • od to Sheep, per lb. . 6d to 7d Fat calves, do.. •• Rough fat, 41d per lb. BRISTOL SUGAR—OcT. 28. Only a moderate amount of business has been done 1 1(114 . 0 since our last report, but prices are unaltered. Refiner a produce of all descriptions is in very good demand , a nd sol ls very large sales are reported at fully late prices. RIO still quite neglected. FOREIGN MAIL PACKET LIST. In the following table E signifies that letters are despatelli by e-ening mails from London, and 111 by morning plait - . , - Ne" -7-ct - ral l DESTINATIONS. Despat c h P or t o f due , of Mails. Despatch. ____---• Australia and Mauritius, via ~ 10 Southampton Ditto, via Marseilles Nov. 18, E ............ IA Bahamas and Havana via New York Canada, &c. (by. Canadn. pckt ) 0 N c 0 t y . ... - 1, E E L L i i v v e e r r p p o o o o l l .... 4A‘ TNCIVY: 124 Cape of Good Hope, Ascen- ° sion, and St. H e l ena Nov 5, E Devonp ort D ee " China, Penang, and Singa- O. 2 . pore, via Southampton Ditto, via Marseilles Gibraltar, via Southampton , Nov. 4, 31 SouthamP• Z,!' or . 16 Honduras and Blewfields India (Calcutta) and Ceylon, s NO. z via Southampton rnDdilattoeuvoimabilalya)r, via a es South- Nov. 4, 31 SouthamP• fl ora 0 endu e ampton N0v.12, 31 Southall* s Ditt liailsxu o,vriaziarseeiiliies s Ayres Nov.lo, E ............ " o Nov. 3' E ......... Lisbon,... over oy. 4 No v and P. Islands Lisbon, Vigo, and Oporto Nov. 7, M SouthanlP• Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via °Or d" : Sou thampton Nov. 4, 31 S o uthamP• ra dii Ditto, via Marseill es N ov. 3, E . .......... . V a . 1 Mexico and Hava na N ov. 2 , 31 S o uthamP• ''' -- • Newfoundland Nov. 4, E GalwaY •' • ' United States and British N NOV. 2 America (by British pack e t) O c t . —, E Liverpool. • .....: Ditto (by H. S. packet) West Coast of Africa, Ma- ?W deira, and Teneriffe Nov. 23 E Liverpo ol. West India, Califo, nia, V ene - 1 sues, Chili, l'eru, G re y- NO' town, New Granada, &c. • . 7 [ADVERTISEMENT.] Mr, just published a new illustrat by post for two stamps). It about buying a watch,' as it c information as to—What wat and how to use it I Benson, si Ludgate- hill, tecl pamphlet on watches ("`.; should be read by all who ; !on t a ins prices and imPor t 532.0 teh to buy ! where to WI at • I . fa GALLIVEY.—OR tho 27th ins , at ThirklehrP tu- ' l ' e Payne Gallwey, of a daughter. ll ,w ri f o o , t o . r f E e .-- ap O ta n ia tb ir o e 2 y s g th at i o •n , s it t.., E a 2 t otfhae son. Hill, the PO MONCRIEFF.—On the 25th inst., at St. Androw% - -e of Major-General DI •fl f merle o a son. . 1 .,,,ad• WHITE.—On the 25th inst., ' at Park-gatos, Ille' — green, the - wife of Henry White, Esq., of a son. MARRIAGES. r at IRTIY—SAUMAREZ.—On the 27th inst , at St. °f 8 .,-, r a Knightsbridge, the Hon. Mr. Irby, Only son of j" - e el Boston, to Augusta Caroline, second daughter of Colonel the llon. John St. Vincent Saumarez, and n i ece to Carlisle, the do SaUMarOZ. LOCOCK — DEALTRY.—On the 27th inst , Church, the Rev. A. Henry Locock, incumbent off-41)104 ford, Hertfordshire, second son of Sir Charles L ° loo Bart., to Anna Maria, tho-youngest daughter of the Archdeacon Dealtry, rector of Clapham. at Battersesit, DEATHS. I/ I V BATLEY.—On the 23d inst. , at Oxford, Tho mas Esq., formerly of Hampton Gay, aged 73. Box.—On the 24th inst. at th e res idence of his fatherl,lln ... Rev. Charles H. Box, ' B.A. of Featherstone-street, ',yea road, son of the Rev. Charles Box, of Woolv.ich9 " 40. 13 ritir DIDDEAIL—On the 21A inst, at Quatford , near tree north, Charles Bannister Diddear, Esq., late o f They ' Royal Covent-garden and Drury-lane, aged 61. king -- GuovEs.-On the 26th inst ., at the Royal Mews, 13 "" r i, ham Palac e , M a j or J o h n R. Groves, Crown Bquer aged 56. , 'OW MANsELL.—On the 23d inst., at Haslar Hospita 1 r " - til William il ie llan ap i i Mansell, and Fleets , a l nsel M.D., .D.,Ba.gAed. 5 , D o. eputy Inspector -oene ViCAltY.—On the 27th inst., at Exeter, Gilbert D:S riettrYl Esq., aged 54. ___.----!--"'...---- _ . ----- ~ r - r•T r LONDON : Printed and Published by 1,111113) 0 N , u )- , 1 2, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The 5i.92, 011 ice, I\ T°' .- o f Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the COIII O - Mititlioaez, Saturday, October 29, 186 P.