The Sun. — London, England, 1859-11-04 00:00:00

THE WRECK OF THE ROYAL CHARTER. The adjourned inquest was resumed on Wedges , day. The Coroner (Mr. W. Jones) inquired if there was any gentleman present representing the owners of the vessel. Mr. Tindale Bright, of Liverpool, replied that he attended as the representative of Gibbs, Bright, and Co., and that he was prepared to call all the evi dence that it was possible for him to call. The witnesses whom he would bring forward were the following :—N. H. Morse, H. Carew Taylor, and Thomas Gundry, all first-class passengers ; W. Fos ter, carpenter; George Suaicar, boatswain's mate John O'Bri en , sailor; T. M. Cornick, steward ; Jas. Russell, second-class passenger ; W. Bradbury, con fined with a broken leg ; Walter Hughes, an ap prentice, also ill in bed ; and J. W. Field, thitd elites passenger. The Coroner said it then became his painful duty to institute distressing inquiries—distressing alike on account of the number of valuable lives lost, as well as the circumstances under which that dreadful calamity took place. He hoped the jury would lay aside everything which they had previously heard or seen concerning this sad affair, and confine their ' attention to the evidence only. He wished, for 'facilitating the business of the Court, to explain the ritedei t i Which he intended t o con d uct t h e proceed sitsga. *irist of all he would examine the witnesses . himself,then he would ask the representative of Messrs. Gibbs, Bright, and C o ., t o exam i ne th em , who he trusted, would assist him as much as lay in his power to discharge his duty with justice to them and satisfaction to the public. Mr. Robert Pritchard, of Bangor, was sworn, as interpreter, the Coroner observing he was sorry he could not get a jury that could all understand Ems lish, but that they were the most respectable farmers of the district that he could get. He then called upon W. Henry Morse, who, being sworn, said—l was one of the saloon passengers of the Royal Charter, which was wrecked on this coast on the morn , ing of Wednesday last. The Royal Charter sailed from Melbourne on the 26th of August last, bound for Liverpool. Wh en we started there were 61 saloon passengers and about 300 of the other pas sengers. The vessel did not turn or call at any place on her passage. Had a full supply of coal on board and a full complement of crew. There were about 110 of the crew altogether. There never was any difficulty in her sailing up to the day of the wreck. The first day we saw land was on Monday morning at daybreak. It was the Irish coast. Landed some passengers near Cork, in the pilot boat, about 13 in Number. Passed Holyhead about 4or 5 o'clock on the afternoon of Tuesday, the 25th. Two passen gers landed at Holyhead, the wind blowing at that time rather fresh, and against us. The storm con tinued to increase, until it came to a perfect hurri cane. About 12 o'clock, when in sight of Point Lynas, the anchors were let down. Had passed that point, but did not knw what part of the channel it was. Had seen the captain during the progress of the storm, but did not speak to him. No one made any remonstrance to him in my presence. Saw him giving directions and orders to the crew up to five o clock on Tuesday evening. I was not much on deck afterwards. At the time the anchors were let down did not notice anything the matter with the machinery, the helm, or the screw. Anchors were let down about 10 o'clock in the evening. At two o'clock in the morning one of the cables got loose, and parted with another about an hour after wards. Guns were fired and signals given before we came to Point Lynas, and continued until day break. Struck on the rocks about three o'clock. I was below at the time, and cannot say which part struck first. It was but a very slight shock at first. Vent up on deck once after that. She broke in two 'about seven o'clock. Heard of the hawser being sent ashore, but saw nothing of it. Saved my life by swimming. Had no conversation with the cap tain after she struck, but he had some conversation with the ladies, to whom he said there was no dan ger, and that they might shortly walk ashore. He was perfectly sober at the time. Did not see him or any of the officers once intoxica'ed during the passage —everything going on favourably until the storm came on. Captain Withers told the ladies that faey were on a sand beach, but had no conver eati'm with Captain Taylor at all after three o'clock. By Mr. Bright—There was a testimonial given to Captain Taylor by the psssengers, in which all the saloon passengers joined except two. Th ere was some difference between the second and third-class passengers and the captain, because they were not allowed to dance on the poop. After the anchor was put down, heard Captain Taylor speak cheerfully to the passengers. He was calm and collected in !speaking with the ladies. He was down several 'times in the same temper. The captain's object in coming down upon one occasion was to order some coffee, of which I myself partook. lle Was not din jag with us that evening. I heard the captain tell ing the passengers in the saloon that he had been forward, and that no stress was on the cable. The - vesssel was in 16 fathoms of water, but cannot say how far,she was from the rocks. Mr. Mellor, solicitor, of Oldham, said he repre sented several families who had lost friends and re latives by that vessel, and coped if he sometimes became a little excited they would bear with him, as he himself had lost a brother and a cousin by the same unfortunate steamer. He then went on to examine the last witness, who said that a testimo nial had been given to the captain on the Saturday afternoon or Monday previous to the wreck. Took some riggers on board after passing Queenstown. Had no such rough weather during the passage as they had on Tuesday last. Remembered a storm off ti River Plate; not so hard there as here, when the ship was wrecked. Up to the time when the anchors were let go the weather was not so bad as it afterwards was. It might have been as bad on the River Plate as it was up to the time of the letting Fo of the anchors at Moelfra. I only know by hear ing that riggers were shipped. I don't know how long the vessel was off Queenstown. I was on deck there. I was not much on deck before the ship struck that evening. Cannot say :what time. Not anticipating any accident, I did not come up ; and not being a nautical man did not know off what part of the coast we were. Did not see the captain on deck at that time. Was on deck several times after half-past three o'clock in the afternoon, but I don't remember to have seen Captain Taylor, excepting about ti ree times. He was in the saloon when the anchor got loose from the ship, and I heard the captain being informed of it. By the Coroner —No one in my hearing asked the captain to turn to Holyhead or any other harbour. By Mr, Mellor— It was when the first anchor parted that he was in the cabin. He did not dine with us on Tuesday evening, because he had been up the two previous evenings. By Mr. Bright—When the captain ha ird that the anchor had parted he went up on deck immediately. H. Carew Taylor—l heard some of the evidence of the last witness, with all of which up to Cork I agree. There a portion tot' the passengers landed. About half-past 4or near 5 o'clock on Tuesday, when I went on deck to see the Great Eastern, it was blowing very fresh, and it was also very foggy. Never saw Capt. Taylor the whole day until I lumped overboard ; at least I have no recollection of having seen him. Saw him when I jump e d over board. S w him in the saloon when the ship struck, but have no recollection of having seen him on deck ail that time. I saw him before daylight in the saloon assuring us that all would be landed in safety shortly, and that she was firmly embedded in the sand. CApt. Withers also said cheerfully to the ladies, " Why, you will be able all soon to walk on shore." I was deputed by the ladies to make in quiries of the officers as to our exact position,when I saw Capts. Taylor and Withers look in such a Way as made me believe that we should all be sikved ; I was so perfectly satisfied that there was no danger that I went to beclett 11 o'clock, when I 'heard Capt. Withers addressing somebody, "Come directly ; I shall take your child." There was some answer to that, hut I don't know what. He said she had struck, or something to that eff . e.6t ; that was _habout half-past 2in the morning. I jumped out of ed, and looked at the saloon, when, seeing some body there, I put my coat, trousers, and great coat on, and went up. Believe that person to be Mrs. Woodruff. I then heard the ship giving tremendous 'jerks or concugsion‘when I felt she was aground. Gentlemen and ladies were in the greatest consterna tion, praying, &e. The Rev. Mr. Hodge stood prayin g extemporaneously. I th en went to the end of the sa loon to look for my child and nurse. I found the lobby of the saloon crammed with people, so that n o e cha nce remained to g t out, and it was' impossible to find th e nurse and m y child. I eventually found them, a n d the thumping of the vesse l went on in quicker succession and violence than before. Water began to come in. so that I perfectly wet I was saved. 'through hours before Captain Taylor s l aw the ship divi led in half, and saw lying there with a log of wood tied to s' h ° i r m on I de sa c i k d to him " Oh ! Captain Taylor, what a fearful scene this is !" He did not reply to me. Another wave came over, when I took off my coat, and jumped overboard. I got on a piece of wood, to which I saw another man clinging. After that I got a piece of board, from which I was washed twice and at last somebody took hold of my fineersi, when near the shore. Three men men assisted we when on shore, and the people paid me every possible attention. I think it was Robert Lewis who put me in his own bed and treated me with the gre atest 0 kindness. v My little daughter and nurse were lost. The ship was thumping against the rocks for hours before she went to pieces, As far as I know, the captain was perfectly sober, and nothing approach ing to drunk; in fact, he was averse to drink, as he invariably, when invited to take a, glass; reftl.sed it, I lost every thing hiteiat 10 sovereigns and my gold watch. If I had thought the captain was tipsy I never would have gone to bed. I did not hear any one remonstrating with him to turn back, By Mr. Bright—Saw Captain Taylor knocked down by a wave. I jumped overboard, for fear of being killed myself. By Mr. Mellor—Saw the captain knocked down two or three times. and so were the women and children. On Tuesday, when off Holyhead, went on deck to see the Great Eastern. We were going very slow indeed, until I thought we should never have passed her. Made the remark to several ,gentlemen, " How very slow we are going." I saw Holyhead the greater part of the day, but it was rather difficult to see, as it was very foggy. Only saw the captain once in the saloon on Tuesday,and once on deck after. The port anchor was out when I went down. About teatime (about seven o'clock) sky-rockets were let off. I never heard a gun fired. Did not see the masts cut down, but we were ordered to go to the lower saloons, by whom we did not know. I heard there was a difficulty in steering the ship. On Capt. Taylor assuring the passengers there was no danger the ladies became pacified, and Mrs. Fenwick ordered her children to put clean shoes and stockings on. Thomas Gundry, a saloon passenger—The Royal Charter passed Queenstown at half-past 12 on Mon day, when 13 passengers went ashore, and Holy ' head at 5 o'clock on Tuesday. It was blowing rather fresh, which ultimately increased. Between 6 and 7 the captain put some signals out, and the gun was fired about 9 o'clock. We did not appre hend danger until the anchor was let off, which was shortly after 11 o'clock. Saw Captain Taylor previous to that on deck, but had no conversation with him. Heard nobody remonstrating with him as to turning back. He seemed perfectly sober, and competent to give orders, and doing his duty. Never saw the least sign of liquor on him. This witness was subjected to a severe cross-exa mination by Mr. Mellor, after which the court was • adjourned until 10 o'clock the following morning. The inquiry was continued yesterday afternoon before Mr. Jones, the county coroner. The National School-room in which the inquiry i s b e i ng h e ld , was again filled, several of the relatives and friends of the persons drowned being in attendance. A small piece of parchment, with a few verses in He brew written upon it, was cast up at an early hour this morning. Mr. Tyndal Bright was again present on the part of the owners. As the jury consisted entirely of Welshmen, Mr. Robert Pritchard, of Bangor, at tended as interpreter. The first witness examined was Samuel Edward Gapper. He said he was a second-class passenger on board the Royal Charter. Ile had been working thrashing machines in New Zealand, and was re turning to England. The vessel left Queenstown on Monday, October 24th, about half-past 1 o'clock. Either 11 or 14 passengers were sent on shore there. The vessel arrived off Holyhead on Tuesday afternoon about half-past 4 o'clock. The weatkcr was hazy and it was blowing fresh. Off Holyhead a tug boat, called the United Kingdom, came along side and put some men on board. He did not re collect seeing the captain on the deck on Monday. Ile saw him on deck frequently OR Tuesday. After leaving Ilolyhead the wind blew strongly on the port bow. The first signal was put out about eight o'clock at night. It was a rocket and a blue light, and occasionally a gun was fired. The witness con tinued—The anchors were let go about 11 o'clock, after we had passed Point Lynas. Previous to that no one remonstrated with the captain, or asked him to turn back. It was six or seven o'clock after the anchors were let go that the vessel struck. It was about two o'clock when she parted from her anchor. I don't know how far we were from shore when the anchors were let go. It was too dark to see. She struck on the sand first, and about six o'clock she struck on the rocks. She was three-quarters of an hour upon the rocks before she went to pieces. As soon as it was light enough to see a hawser was sent ashore. I frequently saw the captain on deck during that time. The captain was on the quarter deck during the time the signals were being sent out. Up to the time the anchors were put down the captain was constantly on deck. I was near enough to hear him, but never heard him give any direc tions to the seamen. He was looking at Point Lynas light. He appeared to me to be perfectly sober. I had no conversation with him after the vessel struck. I did not hear him say they were safe. He said to the ladies, " Ladies, I think we are on a sandy beach, but I hope by the help of God we shall all get ashore when daylight comes." To Mr. Bright—When we passed Holyhead we could see the Great Eastern very dimly. Between Holyhead and Point Lynns the wind increased very much. After passing Point Lynas, and to the time of dropping our anchor, the wind was much stronger. I cannot say whether it was blowing a hurricane. It blew tremendously after the anchors were let go. Capt. Adams, a second-class passenger, was below at 10 o'clock at night examining the chart, and he told us that we must go ashore from the position of the ship. He said he should not be surprised if we were ashore before morning. We were then to the east of Point Lynas. I never saw Captain Taylor the worse for liquor. To Mr. Pitcher (who lost a relative)--I heard some persons in the second cabin express a wish that the ship should approach, Holyhead to ace the Great Eastern. When the wind was blowing so hard on the port bow I heard no orders given to put the vessel out to sea off. Holyhead. To the Coroner—The wish of the passengers to approach Holyhead was conveyed to the captain, but I do not know by whom. His answer was, " We may sight the Great Eastern, but I must not stand away for you to see her, as I wan t t o ge t h ome. " To Mr. Mellor—Lo o ki ng at the chart produced, we were in hopes of getting into Dulas Bay. That was after the anchors were let go. Captain Adams said, about 10 o'clock, that the ship was on her course. I can't say that it was 10 o'clock when Cap tain Adams said he would not be surprised if the ship went ashore. It was after the anchors were let go 'that Captain Adams said we should get "ashore, and that we should have to swim for it. When off Holyhead we saw the Great Eastern very dimly. That was on account of the distance, cou pled with thick weather. I cannot say it was very hazy when we were off Holyhead. The wind was not continually shifting when we were off Holy hood. From 6 o'clock in the evening until 11 the wind was constantly shifting. It was not dark when we were off Holyhead. The masts were cut down after the anchors had broke from their moor ings. The mainmast was cut away before the ship struck on the stern. I did not hear any one ad• vise the captain to cut the masts away before he did so. Captain Withers and Captain Adams had a consultation with Captain Taylor in the saloon as to the best means of saving the ship. That was before the mainmast was cut sway, and after the anchors had parted. There were two guns on board, both of which were used for signals. The last time they went to charge the weather gun it was full of water, and they could not charge the lee gun. The ship ceased to use the screw when she was hard and fast in the sand. She was lying on the sand from half-past five to six o'clock. No rocket was fired to the shore with a rope or anvthicg of the kind. Between half-past five o'clock and when the struck I did not see the captain or crew try to put a hawser ashore. It was too dark. Many of the passengers put the life-belts on. After half-past five o'clock, and until the jship struck, I did not see any light on deck that could be seen from the shore. Previous to hal r-past five I had seen a globe light on deck, at the telegraph leading to the engine -room. Rockets were fired and blue-lights were burning more or less all night. I can't say that any were let off after the ship parted from her anchors. I do not know the result of the interview between Captains Taylor, Withers, and Adams. I saw Capt. Adams after this interview, but I had no conversation with him. He then seemed very quiet. Mr. Mellor here observed that, unless he should be instructed by others, he should confine his ques tions as to the course of the ship on the night when she struck. He suggested that it was of import ance that some nautical man who well knew the coast shou:d be called and examined. He also thought it right to call the attention of the owners to another circumstance. He understood that some time ago the Royal Charter was altered, and that such alterations had weakened her, a fact known to the owners. A chart was here produced, and Captain Martin explained it to the coroner and Mr. Mellor. The proceedings were then adjourned for half an hour. There are a great number of witnesses yet to be examined, and just as our parcel was despatched the coroner intimated that he did not expect to finish the inquiry before Friday. [ADVERTISEME:!7T.I—EPPS'S cllomeeopathie Chemist) COCOA. —This esteemed preparation is sold by the prin cipal groctri at is. Gd. per lb., in llb., flb., and Ilb. packets. Each packet is labelled " James Epps, Horaceo. pathic chemist, London." [ArovEnTrsEatENT.]-11olloway's Pills and Ointment.— Diarrhcea—Stomach. — Whenever the stomach fails faithfully to perform its functions, indigestion Ut sure to be produced, the issue of which is ever uncertain. The undigested food, after passing through the sluggish stomach, irritates the bowels, and sets up diarrhoea, by width it is carried off, and the body is relieved for a time. Perhaps fhb; is the least ob jectionable product of disordered stomachs, though gradually it will pull down the strongest. To check the - first symptoms rothing previously prescribed, equals Holloway's Digestive Pills, aided by his Ointment, .rabbed over the stomach and right aide. Their action over stomach, liver, and bowels is immediate, beneficial, and lasting, restoring order and ease, and removing* at one and the same lithe bott f the cause and repulto of the disease. -- : MT AMERICAN ?MINISTER'S VISIT TO PEKIN. The following account of Mr. Ward's visit to Pekin is taken from the korth China I~ertit'd The United States' steam frigate Powhatan, flag ship of Commodore Tattnall, having on board his Excellency the American Minister, Mr, Ward, and his suite, arrived on the 22d from the Gulf of re chili, after an absence of rather more than two months. The principal events of her voyage, and of the journey of the American Embassy to Pekin, have been furnished us for publication. The Powhatan left Woosung on the 17th of June, and reached the mouth of the Peiho on the morning of the 21st, where she found the English and French fleets at anchor. On the 24th the Minister and Commodore entered the mouth of the river in the tender Toeywan, to communicate with the Chinese authorities, but found no proper efficer to meet them at the forts. The few soldiers who came to the end of the jetty opposite theswater entrance of the fort to meet the deputation sent from the Toeywan to learn what could be ascertained, gave information, however, that the Emperor had given orders to re ceive the American and the other foreign Ministers at Pehtang, a place said to be situated a few miles up the coast. These men could furnish neither sedans nor carriages to take a messenger over to this hitherto unknown place, r e st even a pilot to guide the steamer to the entrance leading to it; but they had no doubt it could be easily found, for the masts of some junks seen over the land to the north-east indicate its position. The battle of Taku occurred next day, and the Toeywan left the river on Sunday morning, the 26th of June. It was not till Wednesday that she was despatched with a letter to the Governor-Gene ral of the province of Chili, who was supposed to be at or near the town of Pehtang. It was not quite safe to navigate far up this unsurveyed coast, and the tender took advantage of a high tide to run as near as she safely could to the first village, and then sent a boat with the letter to be handed to the elders for transmission. The name of the village was Chin-tau-kau ; and the people, after they had recovered from their alarm at seeing a foreign shin approach and send a boat ashore, were reassured sufficiently to come forward to learn its errand, and then willingly received the letter. It was acknow ledged the next slay by the Intendant of Tien-sin, who confirmed the report made by the soldiers at Taku, that orders had been sent from Pekin to re ceive not only ,the American Minister at Pehtang and escort him to the capital, but that they had originally referred to the English and French Ministers also, and that preparations had been made to escort them all. On the 2d July a despatch was transmitted to the Intendant, appointing the sth as the day of meeting the Governor-General, if agreeable to him ; but, through delay of the junks in getting out to the ships, his Excellency's reply was rot received till the evening of that day, too late to reach the place of in terview. The despatch of Hangfuh, the Governor was couched in courteous terms, expressing his great desire to carry his 'Majesty's orders into effect, and to do everything to facilitate the journey of the American Envoy and his suite to Pekin. In it he said a few words in reference to the battle of the 25th ult., describing his feelings at the occur rence, which was evidently a Ferplexing disap pointment to him, and added that lie had been ordered to conduct all the foreign Ministers to Court for the purpose of exchanging their treaties. Failing the sth, the Bth was appointed for an in terview at Pehtang, and on that day the Minister and Commodore, with several officers in their com pany, proceeded towards Pehtang in the Toeywan. The distance to the town is about 12 miles, but it could not be seen from the ship. They were met by three junks handsomely fitted up, in one of which they proceeded two miles to the landing place, which was likewise ornamented with coloured silk festoons. A guard of hour lined the streets up to the house, and the foreigners rode to it in car- riagss ; and though the equipage of these vehicles, and the discipline and uniform of the soldiers, were not equal to what they would have been in Paris or Vienna, they exhibited as much courtesy as could be desired. This interview over, the party returned to the frigate to wait for more express orders ex pected from Court, for Hangfuh probably felt a de gree of embarrassment as to the intentions of his superiors after hearing of the battle, and wished to ascertain whether any change had occurred in their views. He also confirmed the statement made at Shanghai, that it belonged to the two Imperial Commissioners to atte n d to the exchange of the treaty, for whose arrival at Pekin it would be ne cessary to wait. On the 16th he received a reply from the capital, and the 20th was fixed upon by Mr. Ward for his departure from Pehtang. This town is reckoned by ths natives as contain ing upwards of 30,000 inhabitants; a dozen ham lets are in its vicinity near the seaside, showing that the trade on the Pehtang river and elsewhere and the fisheries off the coast are sufficient to main tain a larger population than the poor barren tract can support. The houses are constructed mostly of mud and millet stalks, and are wretched looking dwellings, while the soil in the neighbourhood is too saline to produce any valuable crop. As one looks from the deck of a vessel lying off the town, not a green plant or tree of any kind can be seen on either side of the river ; and a heavy shower is sufficient to convert the streets and banks into a marsh of unmitigated mud. The amount of water flo w i ng from the river apparently exceeds that from the Peiho, though the native maps describe it as not half as long, nor having as many effluents. The necessary preparations were all made for de parture on Wednesday, July 20, and the Minister left the Powhatan on Tuesday to proceed into the river in the Toeywan. At his departure from the frigate he was politely saluted by the two Russian steamers at anchor there, and kis Excellency Gen. Mouravieff, Governor-General of Eastern Siberia, came on board to take leave and hand him a letter of introduction of Gen. Ignatieff, the Russian Mi nister at Pekin. On reaching the river the two officers who had been deputed to escort the embassy came on board, with a number of attendants. Their names were Tsunghau, a brevet commissioner of the gabelle de partment, and Chang Pingtoh, a colonel in the army, with brevet rank:of hi igadier-general ; the first a Manchu, with a blue button, and the other a Chinese, wearing a red button. A third officer, named Li, a sub-prefect, was joined with them as their aid to manage the supplies, besides others still lower, in all amounting to nearly 20 officials above the 7th or Bth grade of yellow buttons. The amount of baggage was ascertained and the few necessary arrangements concluded prepar a t or y t o cs leavin the next morning. The _Minister and his suite, in all amounting to 20 foreigners and 10 natives, land e d early. Mr. Ward was received by Tsunghau and Chang with great politeness. The carriages provided for him were the common vehicles of this part of China—a covered box set on one pair of wheels, and drawn by one horse or by two tandem ; the occupant sits on cushions laid on the bottom, and the driver rides outside between him and the horse, himself and the animal both being sheltered by an awning. These articles would be comfortable conveyances if 6*y were furnished with springs, for they can carry a traveller's baggage within and behind, and protect him against rain and heat. The Chinese were asked i;) provide bearers for two sedans to be used on this journey, but a short experience on the road proved that their objections to such a conveyance were well founded, and that coolies would haTe soon been knocked up. " Aftrr a little detention, arising from the almost unavoidable confusion of starting, where it was so difficult for the parties to understand each other, the cortege left for Pehtang about 9 o'clock, going nearly due west across the vast plain, which stretched away as far as the eye could reach, un broken in its level by house or hillock, except the conical graves near the town. The soil of this plain is alluvial and saline, so that it was not till we nearly reached Kiun-liang thing, about 16 miles, that any crops were seen. At this village, the Minister was met by Wanhiuh, the provincial trea surer, who courteously entertained him he also recommended him to remain there till morning, as the next stopping-place was less commodious. Seve• ral officers of rank came in to pay their respects to Mr. Ward and the Treasurer, among whom Hu, the prefert of Tien-tsin, a venerable man of 60, was one of the most engaging for his unaffected politeness. The company moved on at an early hour the next morning, and reached the town of Pehtang, on the banks of the Peiho, about 5 p.m., after a hot ride across the same unbroken plain, rendered more wearisome at this time by the miry condition of the roads. The distance from the last reziting-place was about 30 miles, and most of it ran through a highly-cultivated country, covered with crops of millet, beans, hemp, sesamum, Indian corn, and other vegetables, whose flourishing condition proved the fertility of the soil. The ride was relieved by a rest of au hour or two at Si-ti-tu, where we were served with a collation. A bridge near this village crosses the small ditch-like stream which connects the Peal() with the Pehtang river, but no boats were in sight, and the water at this time would hardly float a ship's gig. At Pehtang, 10 miles from Tientsin by the river, five boats of different sizes had been pro vided for the Embassy, in which the gentlemen found good accommodation, the escort occupying as many more. The trip up to Tung-chau occupied five days, and for the whole distance, 4001 i, the boats were drawn by tracke rs . Th e b an k s of the Peiho or White River, are well cultivat e d, an d during the passage up he people living near them THE Si3N, LONDON, NUDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 4, 18b9, thronged the landing or followed along the margin to catch a glimpse of the "far-travelled strangers;" their etiriosity was doubtless stimulated by the re port of the occurrences of the 25th of June. The city of Tung-thou lies at the head of the boat navigation I one, if not two, affluents join the Peiho near ii, and only small craft can penetrate further. The escort, whose atteation to our comfort was un wearied, had provided the same sort of carriages to take us to the capital ; but the stone road was so broken tip that after a short trial we all left the ex cruciating machines to walk or ride on horseback. There could be no more appropriate commentary on the indifference and mismanagement of the Chinese Government than the existence of a road of such " unutterable depravity" leading to its capi tal; and the answer of Tsung when asked why the authorities did not mend it, " that the road would soon get out of order again," was rather an apt com ment on most of the political as well as the natural ways of the Manchu dynasty. The near approach to the capital by this thorough fare leads through a wide street lined with well built shops, extending about half a mile to the Chau yang Mun, or Morning Sun Gate ; their size and show present such a contrast, indeed, to the mean and and dingy shops in the same street within the walls, that there is probably some great ad vantage to tradesmen in living without the gate. The wall of the city near this gate was in good order, about 60 feet high ; and the five-storied tower rising 40 feet above that presented an imposing appear ance. The avenue inside of the gate is over 100 feet wide, and unpaved; the recent rains and constant travel had rendered the centre of it a quagmire, through which carts, horses, and drivers floundered in great confusion. The sides of the street at this time were lined with a solid array of spectators, the men and women of the better sort standing in groups be hind the front rank ; and all exhibited the quiet curiosity and good order for which Chinese crowds are noted, though the policemen made a show of authority in the occasional use of their whips. The way to the lodgings prepared for the Embassy, situated in Thirteenth-street, about a mile and a half from the gate, led to the northern part of the old or Manchu portion of the city( On arrival at the house, at 3 o'clock on the 27th July, it was met by two high officers deputed from the ,fu-yin or Mayor of Pekin, whom he had appointed to attend on the visitors. The next day a notice was sent to the Imperial Commissioners IC weiliang and Hwashana, who had been in Pekin about a week, that the American Minister had arrived, and was ready to confer with them. It was deemed by Mr. Ward as only a suitable mark of respect to the Chinese Government that until he had seen the Commis sioners the members of his suite should not appear abroad. The letters brought up from the coast for the Russian Legation were sent, and an acknow ledgment received the same evening. The next day, Friday, Sich, the provincial judge of Kiangsu, came to confer respecting the meeting with the Imperial Commissioners, and to speak of the higher audience with the Emperor. Like a genuine son of Ham, he began to extol his Sove reign, and then to praise himself for his expertness in settling knotty questions, from which he pro ceeded to dilate npon the honour in store for us, its unusualness, and its "distinguished consideration." Attersuitably impressing his views he gently turned to the mode in which we, a few far•travelled stran gers, whose country lay on the outskirts of creation, and had just sent her citizens to the Middle King dom, and after great travail had at last reached the capital, should show our sense of this "Heavenly favour:" He was told very briefly that when the Plenipotentiaries of the two nations came together on the morrow they would discuss this matter, and as their subordinates could do nothing definite, it was better to drop its consideration. He then informed us that in consequence of the part taken by the Toeywan in the battle at Taku, the Emperor was in some doubt as to the sincerity of the peaceful professions of the Americans; and their movements on that day only corroborated the hostile expressions used in one of Mr. Reed's de spatches of last year, in which he spoke of being forced to join the allies; but he was not disposed to press those equivocal sayings and doings. This ob servation furnished an opportunity to state just what was done by the commodore on that day, and also to tell the judge the serious consequences which had arisen to his own Government from its ne glect in not stationing a proper officer at the mouth of the Peiho, to meet the other Ministers, as well as the Americarebut turning them off to the unknown port of Pehtang by the mouth of a mere underling, for whose veracity there was no guarantee. It ap peared from his further remarks that the idea was prevalent among the Chinese that the Americans landed their own men from the boats towed up by the Toeywan, and this impression had been strengthened by the assertion of one of the English prisoners, that he was an American, and had landed in the boats. The charge was declared to be nnfounded ; and it was added, that though the man might be a citizen of the United States, who had shipped as a sailor in the English ships, just as there were English subjects in Ainerican men-of-war, yet the Toeywan had never fired a gun nor landed a man; the American Minister had nothing to do with the prisoner, and could never claim him. After making arrangements respecting the number of Mr. Ward's suite ,to accompany him to the approaching interview, ;and giving orders for horses to he brought, the judge took his leave, again reminding us how fortunate it was for our interests that he was in Pehtang ! About 11 o'clock the next day Mr. Ward, at tended by only three of his party, went to the pub lic hall, where the Imperial Commissioners met him, surrounded by a crowd of officials of every shade of button, all dressed in their easy summer costume. Kweiliang looked more hale than when at Shanghai, and said that his journey of 36 days had been ox the whole pleasant. He soon began, however, upon weightier matters, and vindicated the late acts of his Government in respect of its plans for the ex change of the three treaties. He declared that the Emperor had a right to obstruct the channel of his own rivers, and had done so at the mouth of the Peiho to prevent foreign ships ascending to Tien tsin ; that lie would have been blameworthy if all ingress had been closed, but on the contrary every arrangement had been made for conducting all the Foreign Ministers to Pekin by way of Pehtang. The English Envoy, however, had not gone to that place, but had tried to force his way through the barriers at Taku, even when warned of the conse quences ; and that by so doing the English had broken the treaty and not the Chinese, upon whom the responsibility of the violation did not rest. He then went on to compare the refusal of the Eng - lish and French Ministers at Shanghai to see him and his colleague, after having waited in that region many months for that purpose, with the visits which had taken place between them and the American Envoy, and his offer of a ship of war to bring them up the Gulf which the regulations of their own Governrnen' prevented them from accepting; and concluded his harangue with the remark that the hostile feelings of the English were also seen in their bringing as large, if not a larger, force to exchange their treaty than they had to make it, while the peaceful de signs of the Americans were proved by their coming in only one vessel. _ _ This aged statesman could certainiy be excused for this expression of his feelings and views on the recent events,in which he had borne so large a part at . any place ; but it appeared to his foreign auditors that he was at the time talking rather to his coun trymen in the room. The sang froid of some of them in taking off their hats and seating themselves at side tables, led to the inference that they were much higher in rank than their crystal buttons in dicated, and the Premier must explain his acts be fore them in unmistaken terms. He then proceeded to state that, as the Emperor had a regard to the Americans, he wished to do them honour by grant ing them an audience, and it only remained for the parties then present to settle upon the manner of approaching the throne. Without going into need less details upon the interesting conversations which ensued on this topic at this and subsequent inter views, it will be better to recapitulate the main arguments used by the Chinese functionaries in ex plaining and urging their views, as these show most clearly the real nature of the ceremony used at the Chinese court. The different estimation in which the Emperor re garded a friendly and equal nation like the United States, whose chief magistrate was in every respect equal to himself, from tributary nations like Siam, Corea, Lew chow, or A n nam, was repeatedly referred to by Kweiliang. He sometimes styled the Presi dent " ta-hwangti," or Great Emperor, and some times " President" (a word which he has learnt), and occasionally " kiun-chu," or Princely Ruler, to prove his respect for him. Such being the relations between the two countries, the ko-tau or regular firm of obeisance required of envoys from these nations, namely san-kwei kiu-hoh, " three kneelin,gs and pine knocks," would not be expected ; " but," said the judge, " one kneeling and three knocks will do for a friendly Power." This remark was not taken up by the Commissioners, nor was the ceremony even in this mitigated form again referred to, so that it cannot be said that the ko-tau in any shape was demanded of Mr. Ward by the Chinese as a preliminary to his audience of their Sovereign. To this Mr. Ward replied, that while he enter tained the greatest respect for his Majesty, and in that only felt what the President himself had ex pressed in the letter cf which ho was the bearer, he wished to declare in the plainest terms, that, highly as he would regard an audience, and important as he deemed it under the present circumstances, still hO had never asked it, and the treaty said nothing about it ; but he would not kneel when he came before the throne ; he could only salute his Majesty as he did his own ruler, and as Ministers of the United States did the Sovereigns of all other nations when they saw them ; he knelt only as an act of worship before God, and would never do so before any man. They were subjects of the Empe ror, and they must obey his ritual, but he repre sented a nation whose dignity he could not compro mise by such a compliance ; and, furthermore, true respect must always proceed from the heart, and if the outward ceremony was not voluntary it was hypocrisy. He would bow very low, and even nine times, if that would add to the solemnity in their view ; or he would stand uncovered during the whole audience, while the Emperor sat. More than this he would never willingly perform. While this form of salutation exhibited all the respect he felt towards the President, which they must themselves acknowledge was quite as great as he could feel towards the Emperor of China. " The Commissioners answered that if they were in the United States they would conform to any re quirements made of them at an audience with the President, and that the American Minister ought to act on that principle in their country ; that they could not show respect to their Sovereign otherwise than by kneeling, for anything short of that was absolutely nothing in their estimation, and would be deemed so by the Emperor. He would regard it as an indignity for a Minister from a friendly nation to come to his capital and refuse to see him when he required so much less of him than he did of his own courtiers, besides which, the President would be offended with him for not show ing proper respect to his Envoy. In some Euro pean Courts, even in the English, persons knelt be fore the Sovereign when presented to him, and it is no more derogatory to do so here than there. They did not hesitate to say that they regarded the hom age paid their monarch as of the same sort as that given to gods, and would even burn incense to the President, as well as make the ko-tau to him, if re quired at Washington, in order to manifest entire respect. "You are a plenipotentiary," said Hwa shana, turning to Mr. Ward, "and certainly have full powers to do such an act." " I am not invested with powers sufficient to en able me to change the laws and usages of my coun try, and cannot do anything to degrade it," was Mr. Ward's reply. The discussion had now continued for two hours, and the Commissioners waved any further debate until they returned the visit. They invited the party to a sumptuous repast in an adjoining apart ment, where the novelty of knives, forks, and nap kins was seen, as well as the foreigners to use them. ro Mr. Ward's request to have horses sent to the legation, so that the members of the suit could have exercise about the city, had taken place, everything of interest in the city and suburbs would be shown them with the utmost pleasure: Such we know is the usage at Pekin in relation to foreign embassies, and it was referred to in one of the letters received from the Russian Minister. The conversation turned on a variety of topics, and at the conclusion of the visit all parted in the best of humour. The same three officials returned Mr. Ward's visit on the 2d of August at the legation, coming in the same sort of carriages that are in use at the capital, and had been furnished the Embassy on its journey. There was no military escort, nor was the number of attendants upon the Prime Minister large ; it was a plain and unpretending visit, cha racteristic of the little display usually seen among high Chinese officers. The subject of the audience was resumed after all had taken their seats, and nearly the same ground again gone over. The Commissioners adhered to their former argument, that as kneeling was prac tised at some European Courts, and Mr. Ward had agreed to do at Pekin whatever he would do at any of those courts, he was bound to kneel at the Chinese, and referred to the usage at Rome of those who had audiences in the Vatican. This brought up a.referense to the similarity in the religious sense given to the kneeling before the Emperor of China and the Pope ; but it was shown that the Commis• sioners had made a mistake in their reasoning, for no foreign Ministers, American, English, or any other, ever kneeled to the Pope when presented to him. The explanation evidently was not altogether satisfactory to them, and they recurred again to the practice of kneeling before the Queen of England, which had been already shown was only practised by her own subjects when they received an order of knighthood or some other honour, and had never been demanded or accorded by foreign envoys. They wished Mr. Ward to embody an account of the ceremony be was willing to perform in a communication to be sent to them ; and the draught of such a paper was made up before they left, but it was too straightforward and explicit. They said it would be useless to take it. They concluded the discussion by saying that they had better report to his Majesty that the customs of the two countries were so unlike it was better that no audience took place, much as he desired to do honour to the Ame rican nation in its representative. An agreement was made with the Commissioners that the business which had brought the Legation to the capital should all be finished, so that it could retinal on the 11 th ; and they entirely disclaimed all restraint upon the movements of the American Minister while at the capital. The policemen had been stationed about the neighbourhood, indeed, merely to restrain the crowds of natives who would otherwise throng it. ' But,' asked Sieh, 'pray what reason can we have to stop a few peaceable foreigners like you from going abroad ? There is no guard of soldiers stationed to keep you in the house.' fhe facts about this matter are perhaps more easily ex plained by a reference to the ideas entertain 3d by the Chinese respecting the dignity of an embassy that its members should not concern themselves about the trivialities of trade, especially until public business was over, and its chief head had seen the Emperor. However, the Chinese were afraid of our seeing the Russians; and a letter which came to hand that evening from his Excellency General Ignatieff proved that they had detained his correspondence six days. The Chinese Commissioners were obliged to go out 12 miles to the summer residence of Yuen ming-yuen to report to his Majesty, who was pass ing the hot weather there, and no reply was ex pected from them till the 4th ; but the next morn ing the judge, with countenance anything but joy ful, unexpectedly appeared. He had come from the summer palace, where he and the Commission ers had been all night, with a plan which he thought would succeed. This was that they should address Mr. Ward a letter, stating that the Em peror intended to honour him with an audience to receive the President's letter ; he should then reply that he was willing, if granted the honour, to make his respects to his Majesty in the same manner that he would before the President, neither diminishing nor adding thereto. There was of course no objec tion to this procedure, and the draughts of both documents were made out, and the judge took copies away with him. The detail of the expedient to be observed was also explained, which was, that when the Minister came towards the throne, the table on which the President's letter was to be placed standing between the two, he should bow as low as he had represented, and then two Chamber lains would approach and raise him up, with the exclamation, "Don't kneel !" He would then pre sent the letter by placing it on the table, whence it would be taken by another Chamberlain, who on his knees would hand it to the Emperor. The judge went away with a happier visage than he came with, and the next despatch from Kwei- Hang was looked for with impatience. Instead of the expected document Sieh himself returned next morning to tell us that the Commissioners had bcch outvoted, and his Majesty's decision was, that un less the American Minister would either touch one knee or his fingers to the ground he would not see him. While this concession was refused as being much more than an American representative ever performed before his own or any other ruler, it was again declared that in this persistance of our usages there was no disrespect intended to the Emperor, who must of course be the final judge of what he deemed suitable to his own dignity. The question of an audience was thus settled, so far as the Ame- rican embassy was interested, after five days' ear nest discussion. During the Whole of it the Chinese Commissioners made use of nothing but fair argu ment. They never even alluded to the helpless po sition of 20 foreigners, as a reason for their comply ing with a ceremony which seemed to them, doubt less, the extreme of liberality. It is impossible to decide the question satisfactorily, but the final ob stacle to the audience seems to have been the con viction in the minds of the Chinese, that Mr. Ward would not do what was really done at Euronean Courts ; and what they declared the English Mini ster had promised last year he would per form the same ceremony before the Emperor which he would before the Qu'en. The judge remarked once, that he was certain th, t the Ministers had come to an understanding at Tientsin last year re specting the proper ceremony at an audience, but he was assured that Mr. Reed had never come to an agreement on this subject with anybody. It is unfair to the Chinese, in reporting this discussion, to take up the idea that they were insincere or dog matic in all their assertions, and had no scruple in what they said; for in their position erroneous ideas might easily be firmly believed; and it was known :o 'rn:that Lord Amb - erst did agree, to kneel before the Emperor as he did before his King, but neither we nor the Chinese alluded to that embassy. The next despatch from the Prime Minister was very characteristic of Chinese diplomacy, for in it he referred to the unsatisfactory discussion about the ritu4l, and then asked the American Envoy what he had come to Pekin for; he took the whole argument for granted, that every Minister expected to see a Sovereign when he came to his capital, and that as.he would not see the Emperor the Presi dent's letter could not be received ; and then what was the next step ? There was a deadlock, for, until this was over, how and where could the treaty be exchanged? The reply conveyed to Kweiliang a brief recapitulation of the circum stances under which Mr. Ward had accepted his own invitation at Shanghai to coma up, and quoted the Emperor's rescript as communicated by the Go - vernor-Oeneral at I'ehtang, permitting him to do so ; and then proposed to deliver th e President's letter to him, after which the treaty could be ex changed. The answer of the Chinese came late on Saturday night. It was short, and stated that the Commissioners were awaiting his Majesty's rescript fixing the place for exchanging the treaty ; but added that, as the audience could not take place, so the letter could not be received, and that it would be unsuitable to exchange ratifications in the capital. A delay of 36 hours took place before answering this communication, and the reply was ready to go forward when Judge Sieh came in to learn the cause of the silence. He said that if Mr. Ward would ask the Commissioners to receive the letter the request would be granted, and likewise, if he would express his preference for a place at the north to exchange ratifications, it would be acceded to. Both propo sitions were declined. The Commissioners had said the letter could not be received ; and the Emperor would of course fix on the time and place for the exchange. However, expressions were introduced into Mr. Ward's reply, regretting that the customs of China and America pr :vented an audience, but that this had no effect upon the real regard felt both by the American Plenipotentiary and the ?resident towards his Majesty. The Chinese were now some what apprehensive that they had persisted too far, and wished to learn whether the Government at Washington would be angry at this non-reception of its Envoy. The next day (Tuesday) a courteous response was received, enclosing the Imperial rescript, ordering Kweiliang and Hwashana to apply the Great Seal to the treaty of Tientsin, and then receive the letter from the President for transmission to the Em peror. Hangfuh, the Governor-General of Chihli, was designated to exchange the ratifications of the treaty at Pehtang. The troublesome points were now arranged, and Wednesday was fixed by Kweiliang for receiv ing President Buchanan's letter. It was taken by him with much respect, lifting fie box above his eyes as he delivered it to an attendant and gave orders for a guard of honour to be placed over it. An entertainment was served in a style which would hate done honour even to Soyer himself, and the Prime Minister appeared, as he usually had done, a mild and courteous gentleman. He informed Mr. Ward during the interview that his functions as Imperial Commissioner and those of his colleague Hwashani would now emu, and they would soon return their see' of office to his Majesty. It is im possible not to feel a high degree of respect for a man like Kweiliang, although he may have the vices and failings of a pagan, not only from his high po litical position as the first statesman in the king dom, but from his venerable age and the unaffected urbanity and kindness of his demeanour. Darin.. '' the evening of this day p re p ara ti ons were made for departure on the following morning, and some of the gentlemen went out in the afternoon to view the city walls. Letters were received from the Russian Minister, with a file of the Times newspa per to May 19, but no personal intercourse took place with any member of that Legation. Several tradesmen came in with their wares and curiosities, but the shops were mostly situated in the New City, about three miles from Thirteenth -street, and the assortment consequently was small. The state of currency in the capital is deplorably bad, and much of the traffic is carried on with paper money, which is now,taken at a great discount. The Mexican dol lar was. almost unkown, and at first was refused. It was reckoned at 58 cantercens of sycee, and ex changed for 470 copper cash, while a bank bill of 1,000 cash is worth only about 170 copper cash. The new iron-copper coin called tang-shih, or 10- piece, has deteriorated till it is worth only two of the common cash ; and a tael of pure silver can buy 1,500 paper cash, The supply of copper and silver is inadequate even for the wants of the capital, and nothing indicates a prospect of improvement in trade or increase in the metallic currency. Two of the gentlemen in the embassy, Dr. Sand ford, of the Powhattan, and the Rev. W. Aitchison, one of the interpreters, were too weak from illness to ride in the carriages, and our kind-hearted escort provided two mule litters for their conveyance to Tung-chau; and not only to that spot, but sent them on to Pehtsang, so as to be ready on arrival there to carry the invalids across the country to Pehtang. To the deep regret of all who knew him Mr. Aitchison yielded to the violence of his disease, and died in his litter a few hours after leaving the boats at Pehtsang. Dr. Sandford improved daily on the road, and reached the ship stronger than when he left Pekin. The return to Pehtang was by the same route and in the same boats as the journey to the capital, and the assiduous attention, especially of Tsunghau, ceuld not be exceeded, while his gentlemanly conduct won the regards of all. The trip was made in five days, and the only interruption of the pleasant weather experienced during the whole expedition of four weeks occurred the evening before reaching the Toeywan, when it rained violently and flooded the roads. In the alluvial soil of this plain the high ways are soon cut up by the carriages, and when the embassy reached:Pehtang about 2 o'clock on Tues day its streets were already ankle-deep with mucl. The Governor-General and Treasurer of Chihli, Hangfugh, and Wanhiuh, were already in waiting, surrounded by a large retinue of officers, whose numbers were now increased by our escort, and they proposed to wave all ceremony of preparation and exchange the ratified treaties at once before going on board ship. This was accordingly d one , and certificates of the exchange signed before even ing. After the exchange was over the Chinese pro posed to deliver one of the two prisoners taken fromthe English, who had declared himself to be an American, to the Minister, and brought him forward for that purpose. He proved to be a Cana dian by birth, and it required some time to explain to the two Chinese officials the political difference between Canada and the United States and their geographical proximity, the more so as no maps were accessible. After a full explanation of all the points of the case they concluded to deliver the man over to Mr. Ward entirely on grounds of humanity, and he was thus received. The next day, Aug. 17, the Toeywan returned to the outer anchorage, where her arrival was gladly hailed by the Commodore and his officers, and on the evening of the 18th the Powhattan sailed for Shanghai. SAVING LIFE DURING THE LAZE ST01?.111S. Yesterday a meeting of the Royal National Life boat Institution was held at its house, John-street, Adelphi, Thomas Baring, Esq., M.P., chairman of the society, in the chair. There were also present—Admiral Sir Thomas Herbeit, K.C.8., Sir Edward Perrott, Bart., Mon tague Gore, Esq., Admiral M'Hardy, Admiral Bul lock, and Captain Ward, R.N., Inspector of Life boats to the society. Mr. Lewis, the secretary, read the minutes of the previous meeting. A reward of £l4 was granted to the crew of the institution's lifeboat stationed at Filey, for putting off in the night and rescuing the crew of three men from the sloop George and Mary, of Hull, which, during the fearful gale of the 25th ult., was stranded off Filey. A reward of £6 10s. was also voted to the crew of the Rhyl tubular lifeboat, which belongs to this society, for going off and saving six men from the schooner. Oriental, of Lancaster, which, during the heavy gale of the 25th of October, was wrecked near Rhyl. A reward of £9 was also given to the crew of the society's lifeboat stationed at Aberdovey, for putting off in her and rescuing four persons from the schooner Endeavour, of Portmadoc, which was seen ina sinking state o ff Ab er d ovey d ur i ng a ga l e of wind on the 20th ult. It was said this lifeboat had only been a few months on her station ; the officer of customs who reported the case said " this service and the last quarter's exercise have created un bounded confidence in the new lifeboat. Having been myself in the boat on both occasions, I can testify to her behaviour in a heavy sea." When ever the new class of lifeboats of this institution have had fair trials, and have been handled by able and willing crews, they have on all occasions per formed noble service. The Dean of Norwich also reported to the meeting that he was the other day at Walmer, and had been himself told by the cox swain of the institution's lifeboat on that station that her behaviour on 'the Goodwin Sands during a recent shipwreck had been marvellous. A reward of £7 10:4. was likewise voted to the institution's lifeboat at Berwick for rescuing the crew of five men from the schooner Majestic, of Dundee, which, during a hurricane on the 25th ult., was wrecked off Spital Point. The crew of the lifeboat expressed their admiration of her behaviour on that occasion. A reward of i!Ji 103. was also voted to the crew of the society's new lifeboat stationed at Tenby, on the Welsh coast, for going off and saving th e crew of three men from the sloop Brothers, of Milford, which was wrecked off that place during a gale of wind on Tuesday last. _ _ _ The Lowestoft lifeboat, which is in connection with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, suc ceeded, on Tuesday last, during a heavy storm, in rescuing the crew of 14 men from the steamer Sham.- rock, of Dublin. The sea at the time was breaking over the mastheads of the wreck, and it was oni r by the greatest skill an d d ar i ng that the poor f e - lows were rescued from the boiling elements whic h , were yawning to engulf th em . During the pest, month this lifeboat has performed most valuable services in saving the crews of other vessels. The society's lifeboats stationed at Appled Pakefield, and Yarmouth, an d o ther places, had else put off to the rescue of shipwrecked crews d uring the late heavy gales. In som e places the crews of the boats had also been as sem bl e d, so as to be re ad y instantaneous se rv i ce , b u t th e reports of th ese valuable services had not as y e t reached the soci et y . The reports which had reached the instit ution from many of its bra nc h es on var ious parts of th ? English and Welsh coas t s , d escr ib e such a general orep disaster of the late storms as was perhaps never be fore witnessed by th e o ld es t person living. 'lig l ir the words of the inspector, Lieut. Hippislen of the coastguard, at D ungeness , "It was a per" se" hurricane at times, as d ar k as pit c h, and such a a ' that 20 vessels might have been lost before ail one could have reached th e i ns titution's life hea a In fact, I expected that the lifeboat houses ha been blown down, f o r it bl ew s ometimes s° "der that the buildings along this coast shook reeky me. Had the poo r crews o f th e nu merous wrec' d on this coast made signals before dark, and r esolve e to quit their vessel s , I doubt if tin y boat cou ld have reached them." It is imp oss ibl e to state with i n f ti degree of accuracy th e num b er o f these drew-Lon It disasters ; for too ma n y vesse l s h a ve sunk wit h bands on board that will never be heard of. „ 0 cannot, however, be doubted that the late terrlu gale proved fatal to upwards of 800 of our fell °. creatures, from more than 350 wrecked vesse ls ' t e a Several rewards, amounting to £35, were gral l en , to various crews of boats f or th e i r courageou s c nt duct in rescuing shipwrecked crews on differ e „ fy parts of the coast during the r ec ent boisterous Nrii, ther. One of these, a fishing boat in the noJ lth bourhood of the wreck of the Royal Charter,lvivia a crew of eight men, to whom was voted £ l2, ry , striven for upwards of an hour to save life fro wrecked schooner, and after having been driven,hue shore four times, succeeded at last in reaching `in wreck, and bringing the poor fellows on s hore ho a most exhausted state. Another boat's crest'!" received £3O from the society, had remained oYor, wreck all night, watching for a favourable °PP o n tunity to snatch her crew from a watery gr v, l e v the Goodwin Sands. At last it occurred, an d , ye were brought to Alaro•at., the next morning., gentlemen of England, who sit at home a'. Thait think of these castaways, and consider whether) to . of your abundance, you cannot spare a little l i s t be cour in the hour of distress, sailors who n li f ar dlf shipwrecked on the Scotch coast. It is Bring, possible to conceive a more suitable thankofferol and one which is more calculated to confer a l ess boon on the cause of humanity in its most helP, in . state, than the presentation of a lifeboat to a u gerous locality. Were The gold modal of the institution and c o lou red ordered to be presentedtoJoseph Rogers, a ea,w, oa d• man, who, when the noble ship was thrown ",,` er ed side on the rocky beach, had bravely whin:- to to battle with the boiling surf and convey we re the shore. By this means several Pera° ns d o n rescued from the watery grave, which close 450 others. boat s A report was read by the Inspector of 1 1, 8 life to the Society, on his recent inspection of s d boats on the north coast of England and in See' 0 A benevolent military officer offered to gi ve — e a to the Lifeboat Institution, if five other gen tleu i s a would contribute the like amount towards th e e blishment of a lifeboat station. a life' An urgent application had been made f or - boat to be stationed at Folkestone. abou t to It was reported that the i ns tit u tion was ron. forward lifeboats to the Lizard and Foweif wall, and Skerries, near Dublin. ;feboa ts ' Payments, amountin g t o £l,lOO for '; ,been transporting carriages, an d b oa th ous es, having made, the proceedings closed. COUNTRY MARKETS. MANCHESTER —No A. 3. alicl There was a tolerable supply of wheat to-dal' . t attendance was good. A firm business doing. P e i .'iliars" lish wheat sold freely, at the extreme rates of las". o . n day; other sorts a slow sale. Business in forelOos limited, but stiff prices were asked. Little boar to to done in flour, and quotations maint a i ne d. Oats s more per 45Ibs, and oatmeal 6d per l oa d higher. Be a n the inquired for. Indian corn w as taken freely, and 13.1- turn in sellers' favour. BIRMINGHAM—Nov. 3. • n g, O ld Our market WAS p re tt y we ll attended th i s marT l 2 tracle ! there was a full su ppl y o f E ngl i sh wheat, b u t a uw-,11 desn and the price s no t l ower. Barley, grinding, 6d to 11 110, 0 malting unaltered. Oats, heaps, and peas were u only taken in retail. LOUTH —Nov. 2. and the ed A rather inactive business was dons to-daY , he at, T o 4 prices we re a t no a d vance on l ast week , its , 4 " -. and mixed, old and new, 41s to 44s per qr. ; ' l4 , to 410. Oats, 21s to 248; bean s , 42 s t o 46 s ; b ar l ey , 33 MARKET HARBOROUGH—Nov. 1. ra ther There was a better supply of wheat, which m et i ,l 3 40$ t 0 active demand, at previous rates. White wheat, c.) ;l via l ; 45s ; new, 38s to 41s per 36 stone ' Barley in 1i rn , 1 , 7 1 6 fns tities at a slight advance on forn 9 . 1. terms- 0 , ' 2 1 3 - ,, t to I n '; new, 30s to 36a. Oats we f l re a air show, 'mu'. 38 „, to I , v per 24 stone. Beans (old), at 45a to 50s ;Jo' s ' , per 38 stone, EDINBURGH GRAIN—Nov. 2. Sales were again heavy to-day. od do' Bll. Wheat on the top 2s Od down .average °:., id uf!„ . Barley on the top O s 3d d own average r 6d da"' Oats on the t o p O s 3d d 0wn ...... avera ge us i d doh' Beans on the top is down.... average is Averages per Imperial quarter. the Wheat.... - 9tha 115 Barley n ohs 7 Oats 1 6 6 vvitha Beans .. 2 5 7 - " Total Supply and Sales. a Wheat .1234 qrs 8ar1ey........ 2908 qrs Oats .2291 qrs Beans ll9 qrs Sold d d d 1421 b qq q 4 rrri DERBY SMITHFIELD—Nov. 1 . w ith g There was a moderate supply of fat stock to-dn the fair attendance o f b u y ers; high prices were toNe s old. best quality, but a few of the middling sort left ao rico . Sheep were in average sup with no alteration' n,,P t b, of Fat calves were plentiful. pigs a good supp l y' English and Iri s h. Fat - 7d to "i 1 Beef .......... d too Mutton .. . Lamb 6d to Odd Pork .......... s t l e. .. Od to Od Rough fat, 5510 d Per Hides, 34d to 51d; calf skins, 6d to 6id. I TT FOREIGN MAIL PACKET th In the followin table E signifies that letters are desP a j c u ej by evening mails from L on d on , and M by morning 131 i by evening mails from London, and 3n2 , _ . __,--- ----, " mo rn... 4 . nail DESTINATIONS. Despatch Port of due' of Mails. Despatc. 0 1 ____,...--- ------ Australia and Mauritius, via Nov. Southampton Nov. 12, M Southall:in . N o v. '1 Ditto, via Marseilles Bahamas and Havana via New Nov' ^ ,„ e York Nov.2s, E LiverpOo_ , .. •. overdo Canada, Arc. (by Canadn. pckt ) N ov . 8, E Liverpoo l. Cape of Good Hope, Ascen- t ° cc ' 2 sion, and St. Helena Od e China, Penang, and Sincra- ove v pore, via Southamptonl Ditto, via Marseilles Gibraltar, via Southampton Nov. 4, 31 SouthaluP Nov. 1 Honduras and Blewlields India (Calcutta) and Ceylon, ov a ll via Southampton Nov. 4, M toP . iSoutha Nov. ' Ditto, via Marseilles 1 0 India (Bombay), via South- Nog. ampton Nov.l2, 31 SouthaloP* NO. Ditto, Ditto, via Marseilles 6 Lisbon, Brazils,Buenos Ayres, Nov' ,i and F. Islands Lisbon, Vigo, and Oporto Nov. 7, Di SouthanlP. Kalil, Egypt, and Aden, via ~v e rclu, • SouthamptonaaTrsaenialles NewfoundlandMexicou nDit e 0 a,,i.ca da 1 es i Nov.N v Nov.—, 54: 331E11: GSS. ' :a. uul 1: hhiran:: PI :: : N TS: o g i lf- -.: 11° America (by British packet) Nov. 5, E Liverpool" -- Ditto (by U. S. packet) West Coast of Afri .r. t) , I 9 oh. . deira, and Teneriffeca, Ma- Nov. 23 E Liverpo West India, California, Vene- 16 zuela, Chili, Peru, Grey- SO' town, New Granada, &c. Nov. 17, 31 Southall BIRTHS. BEDINGFIELD.--0/1 the 29th u l t. , at Lowestoft, the at P. 13edingfield, Es LL D . St Jo hn's College, Cf- bridge, of a son. q.' " HERBERT.—In the Ist inst ,at Wrockwardine, co. SaloF► the Hon. Mrs. Robert He . rbert, of a son. M F oo ra N n .— cis o l% n io t o h n e , 2 E d s i g ns , t o ., f a a t sßonic.hmond, Surrey, th© w ife of Su m NER.—On the 3d inst , at Clapham-eommen, Stirc,;,: the wife of Charles Sumn . er, barrister - at -lewf daughter. MARRIAGES• K b rn y w sp A e N c — ial lf i A ce s n 'r e tzo j s o .— hn on tr t a h tf o or 3 d ls K t i i. rw ilt. a , n a , t E C: l s l ti ; f moyo u e: ter of George, Tipt c lh o oae . ri G srphrl a seo l s w eNel a :_ui y ti , ppe t her o :ir L ii a xi d eo : 'Victoria Mary Louisa, third daug _i• 3', and Stan second Marquis of Hastings, and sister u' street, cit daughter of William Del 'yof A l'ns ano, —sq., sp I , hnn►. I —On fy:d;3l-rhitail hills l e i s t 2 o p r t h l j i oann u , pe l tsivo, na;:cTfito'bct,ftFeton;;; BASER.—.OnDEATS. „ Adlillrai Sir Henry Loraine Baker , . the 9AI inst at Dunstable House. RichrooliP "ice-Admiral • aged 73. n ea vitree , 11 %22 , NE 8 . On the Ist inst., at Richmond-grove, Henry Barnes, Esq., aged 68. e et, C t , - - . i's:\ oN.—On the Ist inst. at 5 9 , Cumberlandstr Portmansquare, Edward B. Cann - on, Esq., a ged 8 6 . we, GRII;BLE.—On the let inst , at BarnetaPie, Wm. Or ib Esq., solicitor, aged 69. • lIAYLLAROrr. the Ist inst at Chichester, Thos Ifollar, .) Esq., aged 66. Bart., C. •, PRINGLE.—On the 31st ult., at Torwoodlee, Selkirlohire, Vice -Admiral Pringle, of Torwoodlee. _____...--_:_-":_ LONDON : Printed end Published by MURDO Y°'•l2 of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The &n OtFee, 1" • 0 1 strand, in the Product of the Savoy, is the au nt/ Middlesex, Friday, November 4, 1859.