The Northern Daily Times. — Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-11 00:00:00

L OSS OF THE THESCHOMBERG -- - - OFFICIAL ENQUIRY INTO THE CONDUCT OF CAPTAIN FORBES BY the overland mail which arrived at Southampton on 'Wednesday evening, 21st copies ot the Melbourne Argus, of the and 23a of January, have been received, and from the m conductw qUote the following report of an enquiry into the of Captain Forbes, in connection with the loss of th e Schoenberg : Information having been laid by the crown, charging Captain Forbes of the Schoenberg, and Mr. Saxby, the third pia In. ate) with neglect of duty, an examination took ~ place la the Williamstown police court, before Lieut. rase° 'fp ‘,. ir , -' '""A• (chairman), Captain Ferguson, and Lieut. -ra„, -Lord, it . m .. ~• The case of Captain Forbes was first called on- Mr. Shillinglaw, of the water police, sup riled the prosecution ; and Mr. Read, solicitor, appeared . or the defence. The following is the wording of the Information— °r at 3t he did, on or about the ..,... be int at th e time mast, Of duty as ancho su ch Master omi t to do b ", such act, among ot: voYnytroae le pre, erving the said snip All yto t Schomberg from immediate lo s s, trad e form of the statut e in that casemade and provided. tk .-ie Witnesses having been directed to leave the .. ;` ft, Mr. Read said the information had been laid against 1041:taa_ba.Forbes under the lith and 18th Tictoria, chapter th. ... tic ' was similar to that which had been dismissed at t ,, district court a few days previously. He was no aw are ~., ha g th 'nether or not their worships knew, prior to issu seru: summons in the present case, and which wa s d a „,,'," ell C aptain Forbes in the court on th o p rev i ous 0 0 ,;;: h at the case had been brought before the district Lou rs an d dismissed. There h a d h ar dl y t wen t y -f our he cli d e k la Psed since the issue of the s ummons , an d rea ll y agii'ePe there would b e some li m it t o prosecu ti ons net Captain Forbes. be e : e 2 3 etich said they were n o t aware th a t th e case h a d Om: ` 43r aissed. They thought it had been simply struck sth day of December last past T of the British ship Schornb.?rg, ly neglect acts, to wit, to let rs, being lawful and proper to be done r. Shillinglaw said that in the first information, so., w as drawn by the crown solicitor, the charge th t at . e defendant was called on to answer was not a 8 tp:ceitly specified. The defendant's solicitor asked for sot s "e charge, and the information had been amended to af t supply the deficiency. 1 484,, mad said that the case was remanded in the first th at 'cc for seven days, on the specific understanding be t t ," distinct charge would be laid within that time, ha,,, 1 L 18 Was not done. Mr. Shilliuglaw then asked to to 1 1 : 1 -te ease remanded to Williamstown, where it ought si l t e been brought in the first instance, but their tvial-"t's dismissed the case, refusing to refer it to tiziostown. eV: merits enquired if the question had been dismissed th e eLltead replied that the magistrates refused to send miss'se to Williamstown, and it was struck out as dis call% Re only stated this to the bench, that they might lest whether or not it wa s com p e t en t f or t h em to nes e h . '"u a case which had been dismissed by another r. 8 ,- vf uil linglaw said, that Mr. Read want e d t o arrange air. is r Gurner to send the case to Willia ms t own , b u t Th e ``lltaler said he would not be a party to any compact. 1 1Peet a i r r , re° ,gettlents concerning the seven days' notice of . a trat e „" charge must have been made between the magis aothi' and A i r. Read, after he left the court, as he knew )4`l3g about it, until he saw it in the papers. h r ' i l ead denied that he wanted to make any compact abusGurner. If their Worship s th oug ht th ey were t eaa s . e # ' in going on with the charge, h e was p er f ec tl y , h" 0 Meet it, but he must state that it was a course Ted never heard of before. had n aench thought that as the merits of the question intobeen investigated, nor evidence taken, it was th e i r ") go on with the case. If the case had been gone 414' arld then dismissed, it would have been a very c lue rent matter, and they would not have asked another a peBrtion about it. Now they were in the same position as ers ep sc .' ll charged with a criminal offence, in whose case an whi ch the the preliminary proceedings had been . made, iw.." of course, would not vitiate the prosecution. . ashi",_§hillinglaw having been sworn on the information, Iler,aii!le instructions in laying the matter before the • Were to explain to them the position the govern had had taken in the matter. The present proceedings be t ,been, taken in consequence of the representions of p s ,• t deputations which had waited on the government. sh`uc Bench interfered: They had nothing to do with else statements ; all Mr. Shillingla w h a d t o d o was to Lau witnesses in support of the information which had laid. ne f d 0110 by w ing witnesses were th ereu p on ca ll e d an d 'katni Mr. nglaw thur ' Melville, a Shil se li cond class passenger on board the Luthone berg, ex am i ned : On the night of the 26th December otra the a nchor was let go about two hours aft e r the ship ed. kr, 1) • ...ead submitted that that ended the case. Itet, Tab ° Bench understood the information to refer to such would have saved the ship from stranding. aid e urination continued: He was standing by the port P. cif the bulwarks of the ship at half-past ten o'clock '', ol l the night of the 26th December, about midships. Co n l s ..`ated to his wife and several passengers that he they see see land about two miles off, directly ahead, and lahl b e3 ade the same remark almost simultaneously. Iy lafe '` e s hould not like to go to b.sl till he saw the ship th e ' About ten minutes after this, having seen one of to,,,ofticers go to the captain's cabin, he saw the captain stge,eut. He (witness) went down stairs, and the ship is Ira about a quarter of an hour afterward , . hasten he Bench: He had no experience in estimating the c _ce of land from a ship. Isaess-examinea: He had been at sea before, having doing a v oyage from Barbadoes to E ng l an d. He was not Ao7,at Clapton when he left, b u t a t Honacrton. Hethe, the,:t no t swear he wis on the port side at the time, th e e bs w as such c on f us i on . H e was near the ma i nmast, on eat m ain -deck. His b er th was b e t ween d ec k s . Th e ahih--"ee to th e secon d ca bi n was i n the m i ddle o f the A he looked o v er th e s id e , h e s h ou ld say th e w i n d vfat o ,"Piving in his face. He was standing on a iron eabt,; L atik, which was on the same side of the ship as the eabr' l l's Cabin. The tank went as far as the cook's Pat ti l t l Ond went half way round the ship. One part was Isah p _ti red, the other blue. He was at the part 10 0 , ‘9, blue. He proposed no resolution concerning the t l l ship at the Mechanics' Institution. bea Shillinglaw said he should produce no more of the ToL er tgers for the principal ones had gone to Hobart lair, He would then call Mr. Saxby, the third mate. ti o need took a preliminary objection to the examina gc,:. of this officer, a similar information having been laid to b ills t him, and he submitted that Mr. Saxby o u ght not `elf, called to give evidence which might criminate hina takt„ If the anchor should have been l?t go, the third was the man who should have dope it, thethird e -B ench pointed out that the evid ence requ i re d o f kr mate was concerning the 26th, whereas the she ertna tion laid against him was for a neglect of duty on ii 4 2s tfa, and s o cou ld no t pre j u di ce hi m. sav e Bead: Decidedly it might, if it was his duty to 1 ,, got the anchor ready. fo "e bench sa id the information against the master was t h at of givin g certa i n or d ers on the 26th, and certainly lvr e ettid not affect the third mate on the 25th. n os . Read'said he would a d v i se t h e third mate not to . himself any questions which had a tendency to criminate The ex am i nation then continued. Jonathan Richard Saxliv, late third mate of the bpbera, examined: H e k new th e d e f en d an t, C apta i n He remembered the night of the 26th. He was kikeek in charge of the watch. He took charge at eight At that time they were on the starboard tack, close t ie„aled, standing in f or t h e shore, under single-reefed ,IVsails and topgallant sails. The ship was heading - with her bowlines hauled. si,;wie- Read objected to the witn ess answering :the ques tof whether or no he looked at the compass. Vie Bench thought if such objecti ons were allowed xeY would not be able to examine any of th e officers. 4' 4 . Read co n t e nd e d that the Bench w ere bound to pro °Pile witness. p" question was waived. eia l arnination continued : The land was not i n s i g h t at stil,gt oclock. Between a quarter and half-past ni ne th e rose,fl __ and he saw something like a fog-bank right sad He called Captain Forbes, and he came on deck, sal to ld him to " stand on.'' The captain :T stood 0f .,, i went offtie f till ° 2 l deck • he could not say where. He 80,„, -41 o'cloh. He saw land then himself distinctly. He deck Captain Forbes at the same time, on the poop terz, lookin g a t th e l an d . C a pt a in Forbes left, and went tee, - rd with his glass in his hand. About half-past Th e. " (witness) asked th e doctor to call the captain. s to h2aPtain came up, an d or d ere d a ll c l e ar for the ship 447 Pitt about. His reason for calling the captain was at fl g eei ng land pretty clear. Th e w i n d was falling ht th 5,,..",, time, and the ship w a s go i ng f our or five knots he doW n i magine. In a few minutes after, the helm was put cal m ' t he after yards were hauled, an d it f e ll qu it e a d ead 4 / 1 1 11 ) So that h e cou ld no t t e ll w h ere th e w i nd was. Th e Ish„% w taild not come round. The captain took charge ore t o came on deck. After this many things were Th: r e,d, and after a bit the after yards were squared. bee r , B ,"iP went off, heading off the land—it must have tip r ,".°Y the force of the current. A light breeze sprang as " ti, t l the land at the time, and the ship payed off well, 4 fte; at , he thought she was clear of the land, but just s he struck. Had the anchor been let go at the F e be:ll hands would have been lost. He heard Capt. ) 3 at give orders to heave the lead after the orders to iic ha about had been given, and before she struck. tisk,,,Td no occasion to call the captain again, after he the - , i `` the doctor to call him, for the captain did not leave at s s' e eh after that until the ship struck. He had been ttec e ,,a sixteen years, and it would not have been a proper Ilhis?Lseamanship, to have dropped the anchor when the 6 was wearing round and heading out ailb, °es-examined : There was no sand-bank marked in atA e hart he had seen on the place where the vessel hs,,,, e k;_ He w as no t sure b u t th at the captain might 1 %4 4 : " ( ten in the forecastle, from the time he first called Its>. exatnined: He had seen a place marked Cutter's e_t, but never Curtis's Reef. it TA, Bench : The last time he saw the captain he was perfectly sober, and:attending to his duties in his usual way. By Mr. Read : He had never seen the captain drunk. Mr. Shillinglaw asked for the official log-book. Mr. Read stated it was in the custom house, and that that was the first time it had been applied for. Henry Cooper Keen, late chief officer of the Schoenberg, was then examined. The first question asked was on what night the port and'starboard chains were got up. Mr. Read objected to the question. It had nothing to do with letting go the anchor. The Bench decided on confining the questions to the night of the 26th. The next question was whether or not the anchor was bent on the night of the 26th, when the ship struck, which was also objected to, on the ground of its rendering the witness liable for a neglect of duty if answered in the negative. Witness examined : The anchor was let go after the ship struck. He could not tell the time,' as he was not then on duty. The ship was under the captain's direc tions. He had charge of the forecastle, putting the ship about. The captainiva giving orders. The after-yards were hauled, and the - ship, after heading about, missed star. Her head pointed right round, and a light breeze sprang up when she struck. The order was given to heave the lead and there were 17 fathoms of water reported, which he entered in the log. The leads and lines were on deck. It took thirty seconds to let go the anchor after the order was given. The night had been hazy, but it cleared up. He saw the land, but did not feel uneasy. His words to the boatswain were " We must have made a good lee on this tack as we are well in to. the land." He heard the captain give orders to call all hands to put the ship about. There was nothing in the captain's voice to make him suspect any dancer. The vessel was going at the rate of three or four knots. He never knew her miss stays before, and had no doubt of her coming round at the time. There was a little swell on when the anchor was let go. The anchor was let go to prevent her getting on the rocks. No seaman would have let the anchor go when she was in the act of wearing. The cables were bent when the order was given to let go the anchor. The anchor was pinched off in a proper manner. He got the chains on deck on a previous day to that on which the ship struck. Had he been master he would not have let go the ane' , Dr at all. He had been captain of a ship for ten years, and held a first-class certificate. The captain kept sail on the vessel an hour after she struck, with a view of gettinz her over the sandspit. Her head was out to sea at the time, and kept so a long time after. After she struck a cast of the lead was made to see if she could be got off. There were eighteen or twenty feet of water all around her, but the ship drew more. Cross-examined: Mr. Melville told him he had been an assistant purser's steward. After the captain gave the first order to let go the anchor, it was let go in thirty seconds. He put the stock of the anchor over the side himself. There was plenty of slack chain before the windlass. One chain was on deck, ready for bending. five days previous to the loss of the ship. The other was got up either the same day or the day before. The star board bower anchor was bent an hour before she struck. The port anchor was bent after the starboard anchor had been let go. The Bench asked Mr. Shillinglaw if he was in a position to show that the anchor ought to have been let go, as the question had been narrowed down to that. Mr. Shillinglaw could do no more than examine the witness. The Bench suggested that the information should have been laid for Captain Forbes to answer the charge of neglecting to have the anchors bent. Mr. Shillinglaw had evidence, written depositions, which, if substantiated, would: have clearly shown that the anchors ought to: have: been let go, but the cross examination of Mr. Read had falsified them all. The witness was then asked if he ever asked "the captain's permission to bend the chains to the anchors, but this question was objected, and abandoned. Mr. Shillinglaw relied on the words " any other "in the information for asking questions other than these pertaining simply to anchors. Mr. Read replied, that a special offence had been pointed out by the words "to wit," and contended that the only question they had to answer was, "did the not letting go the anchor before endanger the safety of the ship ? " Mr. Shillinglaw would call witnesses to show this. Mr. Keen's examination continued. By the Bench : He never saw any circumstances re quiring the chains to be bent. He had been on a voyage to Australia before, as an officer of the Great Britain, but never in a sailing ship. James Hodge, boatswain of Schomberg examined : He remembered the night of the 26th December. He kept no watch. but he was on deck. He had a communication with Saxby between nine and eleven o'clock that night, when he was called to turn out the hands. He heard that the ship was close in, and came out of his own accord. He ordered out all hands by the direction of the third mate. He saw the captain on the poop, but the ship was not put about for three quarters of an hour. There was talk of the shore among the passengers. The lead line was on deck ; it had been brought up the day before. The ship was going about five and a half knots. He saw the land when he came up. The ship appeared close, he should say about three miles off, when the wind died away. They were on the starboard tack, heading on to the land. He did not expect the ship would come about, as he had seen her miss stays before. He saw broken water ahead, and reported to the captain and mate that breakers were a lee. The captain said he saw the breakers, and was looking out for them. He saw the ship miss - stays on the passage from Aberdeen to Liverpool. The 'ship was not quite around before she struck ; the after-yards were nearly square, braced a little into port. She came up head to wind, but fell off again. Land was on the beam when she struck, her head being out to sea. It was two hours and a-half after the ship struck, that the anchor was let go. He let the starboard anchor go himself. The anchor was in the forecastle, lashed for sea, when the shin struck, with no chains bent. The chains were on deck. They were got up four or five days before, and passed round the windlass, ready for bending. It would take an hour and a half to bend them. It would take three quarters of an hoar to get the hawse plugs out. They were not of iron. The chief mate was on the forecastle. All he did was to give the order of " let go." The sails were clewed up at the time. The anchor had been ready a quarter of an hour, but not much more, before is was let go. A cast of the lead was taken over the bow. He could not tell how much water there was, but he could see the anchor at daylight in the water. The third mate was the officer of the watch. Cross-examined : The ship was heading i❑ to the laud. He did not know to what point of the compass. He knew Mackintosh's British Hotel. He had seen the passengers several times there, with the carpenter and others, but they never offered him a bribe. He was at the British the day before yesterday. He told the carpenter he would tell the truth but he had had no further conversation with the passengers concerning his evidence. He saw Melville at the British, and half-a-dozen others. There was not a word passed between them, other than about the luggage. He did not know why he said he would speak the truth. He had never sent any message at any time toj Lloyd's agent, offering to give evidence, or to any person else. He never desired any passengers to inform Captain Matthews that he would give evidence if he were paid for it. (The witness per sisted in saying that he had no recollection of having had any conversation wits any of the passengers concerning the evidence he was to give, which led to a remark from the bench that his memory could certainly not be so defective as not to remember anything which had occurred s o recently.) The ship might have been going five or six knots per hour. tie would not swear she was going at that rate. The ship was not put in stays when going at that rate, as the wind died away. If they were only three miles off, and going at the rate of five knots, they would have been high and dry before they struck, only that the wind died away. So soon as he saw that the ship was in danger he would have let the anchors go. If he had been master of the ship, when he saw the ship would net go about when she missed stays, he would *have let go the anchor. In his opinion, as a seaman, the ship would not have been lost thereby. Tho Bench: And yet you would have hove the anchor ten minutes before. Witness : But the breeze freshend. The spanker was set. Everybody appeared hurried. The captain hesi tated a bit. All hands had been on deck some time. ----- By the Bench : He had been at sea twenty-two years, and had made four voyages to the colonies with Captain Forbes. As a seaman, if he had had charge of the ship when he came on deck, he would have put the ship about. In the event of her missing, he would have bent the anchors directly. Captain Forbes had been in the habit of bend ing his anchors three or four days before making land. He never knew him leave them so long before. It was not Captain Forbes's practice to bend his anchors after making Cape Otway, but two or three days before. It was the duty of the captain to see that the chains were ready for bending. The shackles were by the ring of the ancnor, but the chain was not quite close to it. The hawse plugs were wooden ones, and only required to be knocked out. They were not ring rove. In the common run of ships it would take from five to twenty minutes to knock out the plugs. There had been a good commanding breeze all day. The topgallant sails were either reefed or furled during the day. He thought they were in. The ship was not close to the wind when she struck, but heading out to the sea. By the Bench : He would have let go the anchor with out any reference to the depth of the water, seeing the breakers were so elose. By Mr. Read : He had seen the ship miss stays in light breezes since she left Liverpool. He could not say how many times or when. He did not know whether he was on deck or not at the time. He had heard that she had. He never had anything to do with it since leaving Liverpool; and the vessel being loaded, he would not swear that she had ever missed stays. Mr. Shillinglaw wished to ask the witness if it had not been openly said by Mr. Saxhy, (among the passengers) that he had called the captain three times before he came out, and that he told him to go to the devil. The Bench pointed out that Mr. Saxby had already denied having done so, by saying that he asked the doctor to call the captain, and that he came out imme diately. Captain Forbes wished to have Saxbv recalled to be further examined on this question, but the bench thought it unnecessary. Osbaldiston, purser's mate, examined: Was in bed when Lhe vessel struck, and did not know anything about it. lie had made no statement to the law officers of the crown in the matter. Mr. Shillinglaw said he could put other passengers In the box, but he did not see how their testimony would 11 NORTHERN avail the case, as they were not seamen. That would ; therefore, be the case for the prosecution. Mr. Itead submitted that no case had been made out. The Bench having occupied a short time in consultation, enquired if there was any further evidence. Mr. Shillinglaw replied that he was not prepared with any further. Mr Read rose to address the bench for the defence, and commenced by saying that the information against Capt. Forbes was that he did not let go the anchor. It had been proved that the anchor was let go, and of course that ended the case. The only question that arose—and that he was willing to answer —was, ought the anchor to have been let go at any other time than when it was let go? On this question they had the evidence of the chief officer—a man of great experience, who had been ten years master of a ship, the master of a steamer, an officer on board the Great Britain, and held a first-class master's certificate; and this experienced navigator gave it as his opinion that if the anchor had been let go when the ship missed stays not only would the ship have been lost, but, the lives of every soul on board. How did the case stand ? The ship was sailing towards the land with a gentle breeze, and by tacking in the manner they did a considerable distance had been saved. They were running at the rate of four or four and a half knots per hour when the third mate, the officer on duty, apprised the captain that he saw a fog-bank ahead. The captain might have been on the look-out at this time for all they had heard or the third officer knew, for directly he was - called by Mr. Saxby, and pointed out what he considered to be a fog bank, the captain's more experienced eve detected that it was the land. But what did Captain Forbes dl ? Why, with cool judgment he ordered all hands out ready to put the ship about, and it was not for a full quarter of an hour that the order of " about-ship " was given by him, which plainly enough showed that there was no neglect on his part in standing so far in to shore. The only question, as it appeared to him (Mr. Read), was, who were to be the judges—experienced men like the captain and chief officer, or the boatswain and Mr. Melville? for there had been no imputation that the ship had been run on shore intentionally. The wind blowing at the time must have been a most extraordinary one, if they took the story of the boatswain, for it lulled as they approached the land, and in a few minutes after, when the head of the ship was off the land, it blew fresh. It had been clearly shown that the captain was on deck during the whole of the time; and he was coolly giving his orders, and that at a certain time, without any hurry, the order was given to " about ship." The wind failed at the moment, and instead of the ship coming about, she " missed stays." Had the captain dropped his anchor at this moment, as the boatswain said he would have done, it was the opinion of experienced men that every soul must have perished. The captain then " weared" the ship, and succeeding in getting her head round clean off the shore, and she was paying off and at the rate of three knots an hour. Should he have let down the anchor then, when there was every prospect of the ship running off? The captain thought he was safe then, when he had got the ship round, and what pre vented him from being safe ? Why, a hidden sandbank not marked in any chart with which their worships, as experienced men, were acquainted. And so the present charge resolved itself into this,—Captain Forbes ought to have let go his anchor before he came to a spit of land which neither he nor anybody else knew was there. The only question that arose in the captain's own mind on the occurrence was whether he ought to have let go the anchor at all or no. The chief officer said he ought not, but the captain said yes, and the only question was which was right. How the captain was to be blamed for neglect of duty in not letting his anchor go under such circumstances he (Mr. Read) was at a loss to comprehend. They all knew how mistaken landsmen were in estimating the distance of land at sea, and so no value could be set upon the evidence of its proximity given by the passengers. Because Capt. Forbes had been so unfortunate as to lose his ship he was to be dragged about from court to court at the complaints of such men as a boatswain, and the Mr. Melville who had made such an exhibition of himself with regard to the beef and pork. With respect to the boatswain, he said it openly and advisedly, for he had received a note from Mr. Mackintosh, the landlord of the British Hotel, informing him of the fact that the passengers had bribed him to swear particular things. He said this openly, and, if it were necessary, Mr. Mackintosh, a man well known, would be prepared to substantiate on oath what he had written ; and the boatswain, in his cross-examination, admitted that he had been drinking with the passengers in the British Hotel. Mr. Read referred to the palpable contradiction which the boatswain had given to his own evidence with regard to the Schomberg missing stays on the passage from Liver pool, and remarked that if such had been the case—if the vessel had missed stays—the boatswain must have been present, for it was his duty to be on deck when the ship was put about, and yet he had sworn that he was not on deck at the time, but that he had heard so. The act complained of was an act done, and must either have been wilful or otherwise. It was alleged that the anchor was not let go at the proper time, but was this wilful ? Where was the evidence to show it ? Where were the motives which could have induced Captain Forbes to strand so noble a ship ? He contended that there was not a shadow of evidence of wilfulness ; and therefore he would not take up any more time of the court ; but he confessed that he did feel anxious about Captain Forbes, that his reputation should not be blasted by their Worships attaching any weight to the opinion which had been given by a boatswain tkat day. He did not see that he had anything to contradict; but should their Worships think to the contrary, that the evidence supported the information, or that the slightest blame attached to Captain Forbes, he would ask them to adjourn the case, to enable him to bring witnesses to meet any suspicion which their Worships might have remaining in their minds. He would also produce Mr. Mackintosh, if they thought there was anything in the evidence of the boatswain —who was the only man who had spoken against the captain—for this he should con sider to be due to his client as well as to himself. At the conclusion of Mr. Read's address, the bench adjourned the court for half an hour, to enable them to consider the course they should adopt. The court resumed at the expiration of that time. The Bench said it appeared from the remarks of Mr. Read that he rested his application for a dismissal of the case upon the specific expression used in the information " not letting go the anchor," The terms of the informa tion, however, were in strict accordance with the terms of the act, and included all acts consistent with the safety of the ship. It might be that as not letting go the anchor had been distinctly set out in the summons, that Mr. Read had been misled by it, in not being pre pared with evidence on other points, and if so, if he wished it, the case would be remanded. The opinion of the bench was that one matter required to be cleared up ; in fact, that it had not been shown that the anchors were in readiness, or that it was impracticable to prepare them. Mr. Read submitted that, whether ;the anchors were bent or no, it had not been shown that any act could have been done with them which would have saved the ship. He desired, however, that, if their worships adjourned the case, they should know distinctly what they had to answer. The Bench said this was only a preliminary investigation, and therefore it would be competent to them to take evi dence concerning the neglect of any act which was proper to have been done to secure the safety of the ship. Mr. Read hoped the bench would point out what points they thought required to be met. The Bench replied that they were of opinion, from the evidence already given, that the defendant had omitted to perform certain acts, such as having his anchors clear and ready to be let go. and that he had altogether omitted to show that it was unnecessary to have the anchors clear. The further hearing of the case would therefore be adjourned to Tuesday next, at eleven o'clock, in order to give Captain Forbes an opportuninty of bringing forward evidence on these points. The case against the third mate was also adjourned to the same day, to be called on at the conclusion of the captain's case. The information against the third mate (Mr. Saaby is as follows : For that he did, on or a' - tout the 25th of December last past, being at the time third mate of the British ship Schomberg, by neglect of duty as such mate, omitted to do certain acts, to wit, to keep a careful look-out on board the said vessel, Bach act being, among others, lawful and proper to be done by you to preserve the said vessl from the danger of immediate loss, and whereby the lives and limbs of parsons belonging to and on board the said vesse were endangered, contrary to the form of the statute in that case' made and provide]. On the case being called on, on the second day _ _ Mr. Read said, the charges which he had to meet were— that the chains were not bent to the anchors, and the anchors not, ready to be let go, The only evidence on this point adverse to the captain was that of the boatswain, and with regard to his evidence he would produce Mr. Mackin tosh, who would prove that negotiations had actually been made in his house between the passengers and boatswain, and a bribe given concerning the evidence h e was t o g i ve on the question. He was ready farther to prove not only that the anchors were ready, but that everything requisite to the safety of the ship was done. The 229th section of the act, —that on which the information was laid—demanded that the act omitted to be done should be such as to endanger the safety of the ship ; and this being the law of the case, it was no matter to this case if they had no anchor or cable on board if such anchor or cable had not been shown to be necessary to the saving of the ship from loss. It had not been shown that the non bending of the anchor, or not letting the anchor go before it was let go, tended to the immediate loss of the ship. H a d the anchor been bent five or six days before, would the ship have been saved ? The evidence on this question left it as a matter for nautical skill to determine whether the anchor ought to have been let go at all or not. The loss of the ship had been clearly traced to her striking on a hidden sandbank, which no person knew was there. He was in a position to show by evidence that every thing requisite to be done in the matter was dons by the captain and officers of the ship. He contended that the evidence did not support the charge of such neglect as endangered the safety of the ship, and as was required to be produced by the act. He would make one remark with regard to the man ner in which these prosecutions were got up. He said it advisc d'y, that it had been pr )mised to the witnesses that after these prosecutions against Captain Forbes were concluded theyishould receive appointments under government ; and he could not but express the severest censure on the manner in which the evidence in this prosecution had been got up. He hoped their worships would consider these points calmly before calling upon him to enter upon the evidence. The Bench, having deliberated for a short time, said Mr. Read had stated mush to shake th e ev idenoe of the boats- POOL, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 18.66. wain, but with reference to his having been offered a bribe by the government, they could not allow that to pass with out its being substantiated. M. Read : If the boatswain is present let him be called. The boatswain, however, was not in attendance. Mr. Read did not expect he would be, knowing that Mr. Mackintosh was to be in attendance. One of the officers of the ship, the purser's mate, had told h m that the boatswain had said that Mr. Shillinglaw had promised, when the prosecution was concluded, that the boatswain was to have a government appointment. Mr. Shillinglaw said the statement was perfectly false and absurd. Joseph o.baldistone, purser's mate, examined : Had often sm. Mr. Shillinglaw. The boatswain told him that Mr. Shillinglaw had promi,ed him, after this prosecution was over, to get him the situation of boatswain in the water police. Mr, Read said he was glad to hear the statement denied ; and, as it rested on the statement of the boat swain, it furnished them with another instance of the veracity of that gentleman. A chart of the coast and tho official logbook of tha Schomberg was produced. „ Mr. Shillinglaw desired to call Captain Mathews, Lloyd's agent. — Captain Mathews, agent for Lloyd's, examined : He remembered the night of the 29th December. He was on beard the wreck of the Schomberg on that night. Some of the ship's papers were given to him, in his official capacity, by Captain Forbes. Among them was, he believed, the ship's log-book, but he was not positive whether or not it was the official log-book. The book appeared to have been fairly kept. A conversation took place between Captain Forbes and himself. He told Captain Forbes that it was reported in town that his cables were not bent. Captain Forbes said that they were bent. Witness then asked Captain Forbes to allow him to look at the log book. The chief mate, who was present, corroborated the captain's statement. He asked him if he had been particular to enter it in the log-book. He said he had. He then asked the mate to produce the log book, which he did. It was looked over by the captain and chief officer, and they found that the entry had been omitted. Witness then said to the captain, "If you were certain that the chains were bent you should have inserted it ; but if you have neglected to do so, and are certain that they were bent, you had better insert it at once, in my presence. The entry made specified the day on which the anchors were got up, and was concluded by the date of the day on which the chain' were bent to the anchors. The ship's log was saved. The Bench enquired for the logbook, but it was not pro duced. The log-book was in the possession of the agents, and a telegraphic message was sent for it. Examination continued : He did not recollect the date when the chains were entered as being bent. Cross-examined : It had been inserted in the log-book when the chains were got up, but not when they were bent; but there was a line left. The entry of the chains being bent was put in after the entry of the chains having been got on deck. Cross-examined : One of the passengers came to him early in last week, stating that the boatswain was prepared to give evidence, but he did not remember the person. As a nau tical man he should not have thrown the anchor overboard when the ship was heading out from the land. He conceived the wreck to be half a mile off the shore. The Bench pointed out that the only evidence to be dis proved was the statement that if the anchor bad been let go at a certain period of the evolutions of the ship she would have been saved. Henry Cooper Keen, late first officer of the ship, examined : As a nautical man he would not have let go the anchor when the ship was wearing round, considering there was abundance of room to wear her, and her head was off the land. There must have been a current there or the ship would not have settled on the reef in the way she did. When he was on shore he observed a current. He would not have let go the anchor at any one time, thinking it would save the ship. By the Bench : In the place they were he did not believe any anchor, if it had been let go, would have the ship, if she had been driving in to the shore. Captain Ferguson : To tell seafaring men that such a heavy anchor as the Schoenberg had would not have held the ship would be a waste of words. Re-examined : If the anchor had been let go when the ship missed stays, he did not think it would have saved her. He would not have let it go then. He thought there was room to wear her, and his opinion was correct, because she actually went round bead first. He asked Captain Forbes if ho saw the breakers. He said "Yes, we are all clear." A copy of the chart which Captain Forbes used was produced, to give an opportunity of showing that no sunken reef was marked in it on the spot where the ship stranded. On the chart being produced no such reef was found to be marked. Mr. Keen's examination continued : They were going safe out to sea, he considered when he pointed out the breakers to the captain. The atter-yards were well up, and the main-tack boarded. He had seen land before, but not breakers. Where the ship lay was about a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half from the shore. The reef on which the ship struck was connected with the rocks. It was formed part of rocks and part sand. The hawse plugs were put in on the voyage, and htd not been taken out. Everything was ready to bend the anchor!. The chains were ready to go out, and were around the windlass. Captain Forbes said he would not bend them before he made Cape Otway. In the weather they had, if the anchors had been hove they were certain to have lost them, Some of the lashings used on the voyage to fasten an anchor had been taken off, and a chop of a hatchet would have released it. In the state the anchors and chains were ono could have been got ready bent in ten minutes, and thrown over. Re-examine' : The current he saw ran all ways, sometimes up, sometimes down, The entry in the log book was in his handwriting, and is as follows : " The ship struck on a hidden sandspit, and became a total wreck." James Parkinson, late carpenter on board the Schomberg, examined : He made the hawse-plugs, and took them out in five minutes. He knocked out the inner one with a mallet, and the outer one with a boom. Ho made the plugs in Liver pool on account of the water coming in and washing out the forecastle. The boatswain was not present assisting in getting the hawse-pipes clear, or bending the chains when the plugs were got out. He had been at sea two years. It was an un common thing for a ship to take wet through the hawse•holes. It took hardly ten minutes altogether to bend the chains to the anchors. Captain Forbes informed the court t hat the second officer had gone to Adelaide with his brother, and that was the reason of his not being present. By the &meit From the time he commenced to clear the hawse-plugs till the chains were shackled, a quarter of an hour might have elapsed, not more. He did" not see the anchor let go. Aubrey John Somerville, late fifth mate of the Schomberg, examined : He had been at sea in her Majesty's service nearly four years. He had been two years navel cadet, and two years midshipman. He was on board the Schomberg, on the night of her wreck. The ship was standing in towards land. Ho did not see any danger until the ship struck, nor did he apprehend any. Ho came on deck when the hands were turned up, about half an hour before she struck, and a quarter of an hour before the order of " about ship" was given. They were all standing by the ropes a quarter of an hour before the order to go about was given. The ship " weared" after missing stays, and was going round on the other tack, head off. To the best of his belief the spanker was set before the ship struck. He did not look at the compass. He saw no occasion for letting go the anchor, and did not expect such an order to have been given that night. Ho heard Captain Forbes give orders to heave the lead-line before the ship struck, but ho could not recollect the exact time, or the soundings. He heard afterwards that there were seventeen fathoms. lie would not have let go the anchor at any time as he saw no danger. The moon was up, and the night clear :. . Captain Forbes said that seventeen fathoms were reported by tho second officer, who hove the lead. The ship's head Was west, paying off well to the southward. He replied, " All right." . _ - Jonathan B. Saxby, late third mate of the Schomberg, examined : He was the officer of the watch on the night when the ship missed stays, and until she struck, it would not have been a seamanlike action to have let go the anchor, because the roll of the sea at the time would have rolled the masts out of her, and she would have tailed on the rocks and gone to pieces, and so endangered the lives of those on board. When the vessel missed stays they had plenty of room to wear her, and there was no necessity for dropping anchor. If the anchors had been let go, and the ship had dragged them, they must have gone on the rocks. The ship would have gone round if it had not fallen a chock calm. Ile heard the order given to heave the lead by the captain. He saw the carpenter knoek the hawse-plugs out. It took him a very little time, not more than ten minutes, and perhaps not more than five. One of the plugs was knocked out by one blow of the mallet. Everything about the anchors and chains was fully ready for bending, and the anchor bent full a quarter of an hour before it was hove, It was the last of his thoughts to see the Schomberg strike, as he thought she was safe. At no one time would he have thrown the anchor over. By'the Bench : If the anchor had been let go when the ship missed stays, she might have dragged it, and so have been driven on to the rocks by the swell. Samuel William Hurdy, late doctor on board the Scbom berg, examined : I was on board the Schomberg on the evening when she struck. He heard the captain's order to heave the lead. It was cast, and he heard the reply given that there were seventeen fathoms. The captain's answer was " all right." This was sometime before she struck. It was while she was wearing. This was his second voyage. The last thing he would have done in seventeen fathoms water would have been to let go the anchor. He did not apprehend any danger. Shortly after the lead was cast he saw and heard breakers. There wrs no swell or wind at the time. Ho should have thought it the act of a madman if the order had been given to let go the anchor. Mr. Read was about to produce the evidence of captains of vessels, to show what should have been the proper course to adopt in such circumstances as Captain Forbes found himself, when The Bench said it wat not a question of nautical skill. All the evidence they wanted was on the question of fact, whether or not the anchors were in a state of readiness. Mr. Read thought the only question was whether or not, i a ship was in seventeen fathoms of water, with her head out to sea, it was proper to let go the anchor. The Bench would confine themselves to hearing evidence of the anchor being ready. Captain Forbes explained that the ship was standing in towards the shore on the evening of the 2Gth December. The wind was blowing SE. or S.S.E. He had stood in shore so far as he could judge, at a distance of about four miles from it. Saw no breakers. The chief mate called him at eight o'clock to go about. Ho came on deck, and said it was not necessary yet, as they were not within sight of land. They stood on till about ten o'clock, when he saw land. A few minutes after he ordered all hands up to go round at half past.' After being on deck a quarter of an hour he attempted to put t..e ship about, but she refused to come about. The sails were then altered and she commenced to pay off, when the wind failed. When the head of the ship was off to the west the officer said he saw breakers. He called out "all right," as he thought the ship was clear of them, but immediately after she struck. There were no rocks or breakers marked on the chart, He could produce the statements of the cabin passengers, who all thought they were safe. The anchors could easily have been let go, for the car penter could prove that all was ready, and that the chains had been got up some time previously. If the anchors had been got out before, they would certainly have lost them, as on tha previous afternoon it was so rough that they split a new main sail. The reasons why he did not order the chains to be bent to the anchors was that, as the chief officer would prove, it could he done in five or seven minutes. William Gunn, chief officer of the ship Gulnare, examined : The ship Schomberg passed the Gulnare at sea on the 25th The port anchor was over the rail, and the other lying on the lee of the rail. The Gulnare was half a mile off. He saw the anchors through the glass. He did not see that the chain was bent. There were no shoals marked in his chart where the Schomberg struik. After the ship missed stays in seventeen fathoms water, and she had wcared with her head out to sea, he would certainly not have let go the anchor. One "P" of the anchor was over the rail, and it was not, he should think, as it had been stowed for sea. Captatn Forbes said, if the ship had been in shoal water at the time, it would have been better for him to have let the anchor go, but as she was in seventeen fathoms, he did not see that it was necessary. Had ho seen the least occa sion for letting go tho anchor, he could have done so in five minutes at any time ; but, as far as his opinion went, when the ship was coming round, and tailing off land, there was no necessity for such an act. Daniel Mackintosh, proprietor cf the British Hotel, examined : There was a meeting of the passengers at his house on Thursday night, 14th inst. He saw a collection of money made and given to the boatswain. The meeting was held in a room in the British Hotel. The room was asked for by some of the passengers, who said that an appointment had been made by a government officer to meet them there. There were about fifteen passengers in all. They passed several resolutions. One was, that two of them should attend as a deputation on the crown solicitor, enquiring why he did not prosecute ; and another, appointing a deputation to watch the proceedings at the examination on Friday last. He saw the boatswain receive money. One gentleman, Mr. Melville, tendered him half a sovereign, but as the boatswain had no change, Mr. Melville returned it to his pocket. He saw money collected, and paid over to the boatswain, who put it in his purse. He saw one person hand him five shillings. The boatswain was to attend to give evidence concerning the bending of the anchors : that was all that was wanted of him. Ho could produce several of the passengers that paid him. One of them was a fellow.passenger of his own in the home voyage before the last of the James Baines. The government official who was reported to have called the meeting was Mr. Shillinglaw. The meeting waited for him until nine or ten o'clock, when, on his not appearing, they went on with their proceedings by themselves. By the Bench : He could not say if the money was given to the boatswain to pay his expenses, or as a bribe. Mr. Read thought it would be readily understood. Witness continued : Mr. Osbaldistone, the purser's mate, told him that the boatswain had said he had been offered a Government appointment by a Government official after the case was over. Mr. Read said he would call no more witnesses. The Bench adjourned the Court for half an hOur, to enable them to consider on their decision. After the expiration of that time, the Bench said : James Nicol Forbes, you stand committed to take your trial at the next sessions. Mr. Read said he would suggest to their worships that the depositions of the witnesses must be read over in their pre: sence before Captain Forbes could be committed. The case had been dismissed at Melbourne, and, unfortunately, they had allowed the second mate to go away. The bench had no power to commit before this act had been done. The Bench : So the decision stands. Mr. Read : The bench was not in a position to commit before the evidence had been read over. The Bench said Mr. Read appeared to be resting his obser vations on the supposition that they were entirely relying on the evidence of the boatswain; Mr. Read said he relied on certain acts which it was necessary should be done before committing. Tho Bench said if they were wrong Captain Forbes would have the benefit of it. Mr. Read requested to have a note taken of his objection to the committal, as illegal. The witnesses were called to be bound over, when the boat swain and Mr. Melvil!e did not answer to their names. Mr. Shilrnglaw applied for a warrant to issue for the boatswain's apprehension, which was granted. Captain Forbes was admitted to bail, himself io £5OO, and two sureties of £250 each. Mr. Read pointed out the law to their Worships, that they had no authority to demand more than the personal recog nizances of the witnesses. The bench therefore reversed their decision, and the witnesses were severally bound over in the sum of £5O to appear at the next Court of Criminal Sessions, on the 15th February next. THE INFORMATION AGAINST SAXBY, THR THIRD MATE. . . On this case being called on, Mr. Shillinglaw applied for a warrant to apprehend Hodge, the boatswain, he heing the principal evidence against Saxby. The other witnesses told him plumply that they would not come to Williamstown any more, as they had no more money. They asked him for money to pay their expenses, but this, of course, he could not accede to. The Bench thonght that if some evidence had been adduced, and an application made for a postponement to produce further evidence, they should have been justified in granting a post ponement, but as no evidence had been given, the only course open to them was to dismiss the case. Case accordingly dismissed. The court rose at half past four o'clook. LITERARY AND DRAMATIC SOCIETY. Last evening the members of the Literary and Dramatic Society gave an histrionic performance, at Clayton-hall, and were honoured by an elegant, intellectual, and crowded audience. The spacious hall was tastefully prepared for the occasion ; the stage arrangements were complete ; and the courteous attention of the stewards of the evening were such as might be expected from a body of gentlemen, and hence all that could be desired. Of the performances of the evening, it is with the highest gratification that we are enabled to speak in terms of the most unqualified praise. The programme developed the claims to the title by which the society has chosen to designate itself. Its literary character was upheld by the original prologue and epilogue, written by two of its members ; its dramatic name and fame was sustained by the admirable histrionic efforts of the gentle men who embodied the dramatis porsonce ; and while thus far everything was excellent, the exquisite vocalisation of Mr. Samuel Campbell would justify an extension of the society's nomenclature, by the addition of the definition " musical." But we have run on to that which really ought to have been the end of our task, and must retrace our steps to pass a comment on individual exertions in the night's enter tainments. With a punctuality which would have done credit to a patent theatre, the curtain rose precisely at half-past seven o'clock, when the following original pro logue, written by Mr. Edwin Young, was delivered with great taste, effect, and expression by Mr. Robert B. Cromp ton. The prologue ran thus No longer Discord o'er the nations wields Her blood-stain'd sceptre ; nor on eastern fields Unfurls her standard, urging to the fight, Man arm'd in wrong 'gainst man defending right ; The herald-trump proclaims the contest past, The demon Havoc quails before the blast. War's low'ring thunder-clouds have roll'd away, And Peace, o'er Europe burst, with genial ray To glad the hearts of fond confiding ones, Whose lion-mettled husbands, sires, or sons, Have pass'd unscath'd through Alma's gory fray, Heroic Balaklava, and that day Of Albion's triumph, when full many a serf, In Inkerman's dark valley strew'd the turf ; To fill those hearts with hope that Concord's reign Will give the long-lost to their arms again ! Now, when on lightning wing, from shore to shore, The cry is borne, " Peace ! Peace !" and war no more Shall drench Crimean plains with priceless gore ; Wben infant lips glad acclamations raise, And veteran age takes up the note of praise ; When booming cannon and the pealing bells Echo the cry, and every bosom swells With joy, exultant at the declaration, We, beg to issue our " PIECE Proclamation !" [Showing a bill of the evening.] Our piece proclaimed, thus, our terms are plain, All that we wish is your (to house) goodwill to gain ; To please is e'er our motto ; and to-night We'll do our all to give the mot' o light; And in return, ask for our sev'ral parts, The welcome f your hands, and of your hearts! The prologue ended, the first dramatic performance com menced. Most judicionel the celebrated trial scene, which ends the fourth act of Shakspere's " Merchant of Venice," was selected, to put to the test the stage capabilities of the members of the society. And most nobly they passed the ordeal The Shylock of the scene was carefully and chastely embodied by Mr. Lowten Lowten, who, eschewing conven tional points, presented a perfect portraiture of the " Jew," which Shakspere drew. The reading of Mr. Lowten evi denced a scrupulous study of the author, and though no .hits" were attempted, his succeis in the part he had under taken was complete. To the Bassanio of Mr. E. Wilson, and the Antonio of Mr. A. Rogers, the most cynical critic could not take exception. Perfect in their respective parts these gentlemen contributed much to the general effect of the scene, and never outatepped that characteristic of the actors' art, " the modesty of nature," What shall we say of Mr. R. Crompton's Gratiano? A word will almost convey our estimate, when we say that the open ing raillery, and the curt rebukes of Shylock, were rendered with an effect which might almost place this -ank of the best light comedy actors. Far gentleman in the st of the ch acters necessary for the general raise to scene, our Want of space preclud.:3 our saying more than that the Duke of Venice was most ably personified by Mr. E. Young, whose clear intonation added considerable effect; and that the parts rendered of Solanio, Salarino, and .Nerissa, which are subordinate in this ex2erince of a most splendid play, were scrupulously rendered by Mr. J. Jones, by Mr. J. Gibson, and by fir. L, Wainwright. The curtain enclosed the actors amidst the most rapturous applause, and it evidences the good taste of the audience that no preference was given by a call before it of any one of the gentlemen who had so well and so perfectly contri ,ed to their ayusemeut. The ballads so sweetly filled sweet up ly sung b y edthe o say that this gentle. Mr. S. Campbell, intervals, and here we may pans man was encored in his first essay, " Gaud bye, sweetheart, good bye," and only escaped a similar d u mand for the repe tition of the charming ballad, " Thera is a flower that lnloomoth," by the kindly consideration of the audience for his tasteful and highly gratifying exertions. The affiehe of the night closed with Douglas Jerrold's most elegant comedy " St. Cupid, or Dorothy's Fortune." The caste of the characters was excellent, and evidenced the admirable judgment of the stage manager (whoever he may be), of our amateur corps dramatique. We assume that the plot is familiar to the play-going portion of our readers, and, under that assumption, they will well comprehend the allocation we are constraiced, unwillingly, to give to the characters. Imprimus, we would ask where Mr. G. Meyrick borrowed his vis comics, and so quaintly, so perfectly, and so naturally presented so perfect a realisation of Jerrold's design of the character of Dr. _Budd. The pedagogue was shown to a truism, and Mr. Meyrick ()aye indications undeniable that an amateur can tread closely on the steps of the practised actor, without indulging in imitations which denude original talent of its worth. We might say more, but fear that eulogy might discourage the ardour of this budding specimen of comicality. The Sirralentine May, of Mr. R. B. Cummins, was easy, and therefore gentlemanly. Mr. E. Wilson was the best of cousins, and most ardent of lovers, as Ensign Belle/cur; Mr. Lowten exchanged the sock for the buskin with great effect as Hr. Under Secretary Zero. The Queen Ree of Mr. R. Compton was admirable, and the other characters were supported with an exactitude and perfection that must have won the approbation of the most severe stage director. As a whole, the comedy was acted to perfection, and, at its termination, an original epilogue was spoken by the characters. The epilogue was thus distributed : Valentine. So ends our comedy! But, ere we go ; If we deserve them, pray your smiles bestow. [A pause. Juno. Hollo, your feller there! Let down the curtain. [Speaking to Prompter Zero. Our actings sent him off to sleep. Valentine. That's certain. Do ring that bell ! You see we cannot stir. Queen Bee. It's your affair to ring the belle, my sir ! Valentine. If you don't quickly let the curtain fall, I'll [To .Prompter. speak again Zero. - So I. Doctor Budd. So I. Onmes So all Zero.• And I'll begin (to andience.)— Pray join your hands, because Our Prompter's sure to wake at your applause. I've been so cheated in affairs of state. My secretaryship I abdicate La - dies, to you I must entrust my cause Pray, smile forgiveness ! Dare I seek applause, On promise to be more gallant amain; Of course, I'd ask it of the gentlemen. A jealousy for Eug and's high renown ; The people's weal, the honour of the crown, My aim was ; —and to put all treason down. Valentine. Suppose you put the modern bonnet down ! Since it's the new " Pretender to the Crown." Zero. I trust my zeal this loyal house commends, And that I gain the approval of my friends. Juno. I'm servant at " the Lalocs," as you know, Give me a character afore I go ! I'm told to ax this favor, 'cause Queen Bee Has told my fortin, and says I shall see. That like Miss Dorothy's, 'twill all come true, It is that I shall gain appla use o f you. I shall be happy ii it turns out so :, Gaining youi smiles and favors, I shall know The happiness these folks already do know, " The Laloes" will be Paradise to Jano. Budd. My traitor nephew's 'scaped the traitor's death, The news has put me almost out of breath ; And if blown, what a blossom should I be You'd look for great things from a Budd like me. Before I make my bow, I wish to say, I've been " the Schoolmaster abroad," to-day. But treason's dead, henceforth I shall not roam ; Then smile upon the Schoolmaster at home! If any here should frown, they surely would Blight all my well-meant efforts in the Budd. Queen Bee. Ladies to gain yonr sweet approving smiles, The poor old Gipsy would tramp many miles. I'd like to tell your fortunes, one and all; For smiles instead of sixpences, I call. These bright blue eyes, these foreheads lily white, And rosy cheeks, a flower garden quite. From flowers so blooming I would never roam, For where could a Queen Bee be more at home ? Red cheeks, white foreheads, blue eyes, Britons true, Do well to sing of their " Red, White, and Blue." And, ladies, keep 'em to their colors, do ! For this is Leap year. Ere its course is run, Jump at a husband, my pets! every one. _ [To the Gentlemen. And now, my sirs ! don't think the old Queen Bee, Is over bould if she shoul az to see, Your hands all round. I don't want to come near 'em, Nor care to see your palms —so might I hear 'em. Valentine. May I, a votary in Love's high court, Be here a suitor—for your kind support? Should you accord to us such generous meed, My happiness will be complete, indeed ! [Handing Dorothy to front] Here's one in whose behalf I need not move : Dorothy. Dorothy's fortune's mane. If you approve. To say that the performances terminated amidst rapturous applause, is only to borrow a hackneyed expression. We may truly say that applause was as enthusiastic as it was well and justly bestowed, and merited. Our own enthusiasm has rendered us oblivious of our gallantry. Time was when we should have paid our first tribute to the ladies to whom last night we were so much indebted. The Portia of Miss Page in the play, was indeed a gem, and proved that that young lady possesses an ability which one day must rank her at the head of her profession. In like manner she displayed her varied powers as Dorothy .Budd in the comedy, and to her, our mead of highest approval are due. Of that perfection of soubrettes, Mrs R. Power, we have only to say that as Juno in " St. Cupid " she was perfection personified. Both these ladies gave their services by permission of W. R. Copeland, Esq., .of the Theatre Royal, and did honour to his establishment. The musical arrangements of the o!chestre were directed by Mr. W. Meyrick, and achieved a perfect s uccess . In fine, we retired at the conclusion, impressed with th e excellent objects for which the society was designed, and with admiration of the ability with which those objects are carried out by the executive committee; and with the hope . that the day is not far di s t an t when we may have a repe tition of the same intellectual enjoyments which last night they afforded us. THR OCEAN CHIEF. —A RRIVAL OF CHARLES G. D uFFY, ESQ , AT MELBOURNE.—The Melbourne Argus, of the 26th of January, announces the arrival at that port of the " Black Ball" mail ship, Ocean Chief; from Liverpool. She left Liverpool at ten p.m. on the 6th of November, in tow of a steamer. Heavy south-west winds were encountered till reaching 23° N. On the thirty-seventh day out the equator was crossed. The longitude of the Cape was passed on the 31st December, north- wes t an d sou th-west winds prevailing. The lower studding sails were never taken in from the time of setting sail till the vessel entered Port Philip. The greatest distance run in any twenty-four hours appears to have been on the 7th January, when the ship made 326 mil e s. Th e run from the equator was accomplished in the short space of forty one days. A very handsome testimonial, consi s ti ng o f a s il ver salver, and bearing an appropriate inscription, was presente d to Captain Tobin by the chief cabin passengers. The written addresses, accompanying the presentation, breathes a warmer feeling than is usually the case with these documents. Captain Tobin is thanked for his " agreeable unruffled urbanity of manner, which speaks from true kindness of heart," and these very gratifying expressions are echoed by the second and third class passengers. Addresses of a similar nature were also handed to Mr. Brown, the chief officer, Mr. Tobin, the second mate, to the surgeon, and even the crew are spoken of in terms of kindliness. Captain Tobin, if he did not make so good a run as he could have hoped to have done, succeeded in gaining for himself, his officers and crew, the friendly feeling of his passengers, which must not only be gratifying to himself, but to the owners and agents of this " Black Ball" liner. Charles Given Duffy, Esq., went out passenger in the Ocean Chief.