The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-01-24 00:00:00

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

COMMERCIAL TREATY BETWEEN
ENGLAND AND FRANCE.

We read in the Manchester Examiner of Friday:
"We have reason to believe that a treaty of com-
merce between France and England, carrying out
that portion of the Emperor's letter which is of most
importance to us, was signed yesterday, or will be
signed to-day. As we have already stated, the pre.
liminariim were fully agreed upon before the publica-
tion of the imperial manifesto addressed to M.
Fould, though it is possible that still further negotia-
tions will be required to arrange the precise details of
the alterations on either side. It is agreeable to
learn that the new commercial policy has been
hailed with immense satisfaction in France, and
that it is universally accepted in England as a gua-
nuitee of peaceful relations with that country."
The Paris correspondent of the Brussels Intlipen-
dance alleges that a commercial treaty is about to be
signed between England and France, and that the
following are the leading provisions :—The Imperial
Government undertakes to admit without distinction
all English products, either raw produce or already
manufactured, at a proportionate duty in no case to
exceed 30 per cent. All French products, also with-
out distinct: , will enter England freely; wines
and brandies alone to pay duty, the duty not to
exceed that levied on English colonial wines. It
will be stipulated that if a new law reduces the duties
ou the colonial wines of England, French wines will
receive a similar favour. The treaty, it is said, will
come into operation in England immediately that
the signatures are exchanged ; but the Imperial
Goveniment is allowed, in account of engagements
entered into, to delay the execution of the treaty
until July. 11461. The Senate has given the Ern'
peror the absolute right to modify the tariffs.
The I ntlOpeurlance adds that "a princely dinner
Ihas been given to Sir Richard Cobden, at the Palais
I Royal, whence, it is known, an energetic supis•rt
has been obtained for the future treaty of commerce,
and at this dinner toasts, it is said, were given to
free trade."

SOUTHAMPTON.
DEPLORABLE ACCIDENT.= DEATH OF

CAPTAIN HARRISON.
A dreadful accident occurred in Southampton
Water, on Friday morning, resulting in the death of
Captain Harrison, commander of the Great Eastern,
and the son of Captain Ley, purser of the same ship.
It appears Captain Harrison was coming from his re-
sidence at Hythe in a gig, together with Dr. Watson
surgeon of the Great Eastern, Captain Ley, purser.
his son, a youth of seven years, and crew of six men.
The boat was running before the wind with big sail
set, and in rounding the corner of Dock entrance,
Captain Harrison gave orders to lower sa, but hal-
yards would not act, the boat immediately capsized,
immersing in the water all on board. The Indus
steamer, which was lying outside, quickly lowered
brats, and every aid was given to rescue the sufferers
who, as soon as landed-, were placed in the dock
engine•bouse, and medical assistance was instantly on
the spot, but in spite of all efforts, Captain Harman
breathed his last a few minutes before be was brought
on shore. The body of Captain Lay's son is still
missing, but the rest are prime:Wing favourably.
tritnneir Vtatittottritl,

The year which openod so gloomily for all con-
nected with the Great Eastcru, has already more
than fulfilled the most sinister auguries of continued
ill fortune. Another most tragic incident has been
added to the long list of catastrophes which seem
to have dogged the course of this ill-fated vessel from
the first day of her existence. The victims in this
case, however, are not poor stokers. The lot of
death in this instance has fallen, among others, on
no less than Harrison himself—the very type of an
English sailor, of all that was frank and manly, of
all that was skilful and brave. It is quite impossible
to describe the gloom which this calamity has spread
through the town of Southampton. Grief and con-
stemation seemed, indeed, to sit on every counte-
nance; business on Saturday was, for a while, quite
suspended, and the sorrow was more general than
was perhaps ever witnessed before for any merely
private individual, no matter what his character or
station. Though but a few weeks, comparatively
speaking, at Southampton, yet Captain Harris:in was
as well and widely known as if he had dwelt in the
town for years. A short period sufficed to maim all
acquainted with his open heart and kindly nature,
and those who knew him best liked him most, and
were always those who could say most in his praise.
Nor will the feeling of heart felt sorrow for his loss be
confined to the town over which it has shed so deep
a gloom.
-From the time that the ship had been fairly moored
at her winter quarters, Captain Harrison with his wife
and family had occupied a small villa, called Hytise-
house, on the opposite side of the Solent, to Soutbautp-
ton and almost facing Netley Abbey. Every morning
, at about half-put 9 o'clock. his gig, in charge of his
coxswain, called for him at Hythe pier, and theme he
went by water either to the Great Eastern or South-
' ampton as the business of the ship required. As =eel
the gig 'darted from the ship to call at Hythe at about
[ 8 o'clock last Saturday morning. Captain Lay, the
I chief parser, with his sin, an engaging youth of 13,
left in the boat to breakfast with Captain Harrison
before coming up to town. Ogden, as usual, was DI
charge of the boat, with his crew of five picked men.
It is the case in the Solent, as in sU large inland
sheets of water, that the wind in bed weather comes
in strong and heavy gusts, sweeping up the Channel
at tittles with the force of a hurricane, though with
intervals of almost perfect calm between. The captain's
gig is a fine, though rather a light boat, 32 feet long.
Iby rather less than 5 feet broad ; of course, very swift
and light, though, like all boats of her class, rather
j wet, and almost too fine for very rough weather or
I very bold sailing. When the wind favoured she car-
ried one large log sail, which was often set with •
i I single reef in it, though n leaving the Great Eastern OD
j Saturday morning last it was close reefed, for the sky
, looked bed, though as yet the sea was tolerably calm.
I Ogden, the captain's coxswain, who was always in
Icharge of her, was one of the most experienced boatmen
in the great ship, and, though • young man, was well-
known for Lis skill, and to be equal to managing any
boat in any weather. This brave young fellow, too, is
one of the victims of the late calamitous accident—sur-
viving it. however, for many hours, till he learnt that
Captain Harrison was no more, when he gradually sunk
and died.
A few minutes before ten o'clock Captain Harrison,
with Dr. Watson and Captain Lay, and his son came
down again to the pier to embark and cross the water.
Captain Harrison having that morning received the ens-
totuarychequeit to pay the weekly bills connected with the
great ship, had, of course, to get them cashed at Soutk-
ampton before going on board with the doctor. The
whole party, therefore, seated themselves in the gig,
which immediately got under way and stood straight
across the Solent for the entrance of the tidal dock at
Southampton.
Hut during the time that had elapsed since the boat
had first arrived at Hythe, the weather had changed
sadly for the worse. The sky li‘d gradually become over-
cast, the waves were white and turgid, and everything
seemed to threaten • squall of no ordinary fierceness and
duration. Between 9 and 11 o'clock, on the Southampton
side of the water, it blew almost a hurricane. This, it
may he said, was bad weather for any party to venture
I out in an open gig, but it must be remembered that the
I wind was fair for coming over the docks, and that under
the lee of the hills on the other side the rough breeze
was scarcely felt at all. Dr. Watson distinctly states
that though the weather was bad, it was far from being
at all dangerous, or even very bad, when they left the
opposite shore.
During the run across, the boat, though rather wet,
Iviliaved well, but as it neared the opposite side, and
the land opened out the squall increased fearfully in vio-
lence, while the gig began to pitch and move unsteadily
to her helm. Still she bore stoutly up, sending the foam
from her bows, though her yawing increased so that her
helm scarcely controlled her at all. When she got into
the channel between the Indua and the docks. The
chopping sea was worse than ever. Captain Harrison
gave orders to stand by with the halyards, and immedi-
ately afterwards to down with the sail. The order was
at once obeyed by the crew, brit both the sail and hal-
yards were wet through; neither moved freely, and the
sail, after coming down a foot, stuck fast. The rest oc-
curred in a minute. The boat had still weigh enough on
her to take her abreast of the opening to the docks,
when a counter eddy of wind struck her on the opposite
tack. The sail instantly "jibed," as it is termed, that
is to say, the 0111,1114 was tweed back against the mast,
and the boat in a second, heeling over on the side on
which most the crew were sitting, filled, and turned over.
Dr. Watson, who exerted himself so energetically to
save others, and who was himself picked up exhausted
and insensible, says that in the first moment all went
'town together underneath the gig, but almost imme-
diately afterwards, as it appeared to him, they roes
to the surface. The spray from the sea was wild and
stifling, the water deadly cold, and for a moment or so
of course none could say what had happened. Dr.
Watson, who swims as well as poor Captain Harrison
did, struck out and seized the younger Lay. While
doing so he saw Captain Harrison also striking out
towards the boat, which was pitching about keel upper-
most, and called to him to make for the boat and
hold on, to which Captain Harrison replied, "All right,
all right." Always cool and collected, no matter
what his danger, Captain Harrison then wised the
boat, and made a desperate attempt to right
it. But it was filled with water, and turned over No
completely as to rise again with the keel uppermost
still. Between this movement of the boat and Use fury
of the ass, Dr. Watson wee separated from young Lay
and the boat for an interval. After a while, however,
he again succeeded in catching the poor lad and jamming
him ..ii between himself and the stern of the boat ,• on to
which lie held with one hand, while with the other he
tried to support Captain Harrison, who was buffetting
strongly with the waves, by keepieg his hand under has
arin. In this manner some minutes passed, and Captain
Harrison seemed almost powerless, and to be becoming
insensible. After a short while, however, he again
threw himself on the keel of the boat, and strove to
. . .

turn it over. The struggle, however, was like the first,
ineffectual, and seemed to exhaust his strength, for be
relaxed his hold, threw his arms up, and fell back in
the waves, after which Dr. Watson saw him no more.
Two boats had put off from the Indus, with two from
the docks, and one from a cutter named the Fawn, ahnuet
immediately that the accident was seen. The boats
from the docks picked up poor Captain Harrison, who
was Boating about a foot below the surface of the water
with his head and feet doubled together, and his arm
cast loosely over an oar. When lifted out, he had been,
it is supposed, about 12 minutes under water, and his
body was perfectly cold and dead ; not a sign of
animation could be discovered. He was immediately
carried to the shore and placed in one of the new houses
of the docks, where there was a large fire, but though
Dr. Watson, Dr. Chapman, Dr. WMliu, and many other
medical gentlemen were instantly in attendance, and
every possible method was used to restore animation for
upwards of an hour-and-a-half, all efforts were useless,
and he never moved or gave a sign of life. The body of
the younger Lay was not found till late in the after-
noon. Ogden, the coxswain, was picked up near Cap-
tain Harrison. He, after a long time, was metered to
consciousness, but, as we have said, sunk and died the
same evening at 8 o'clock.
Mrs. Harrison, we deeply regret to say, was on Sun-
day morning last in a most precarious state, though
every possible care had been used in breaking the dread-
ful news to her.