The Express.
London, England, 1851-10-20 00:00:00

AMERICA.

FUND rot/. Kosscrit..—AN e find by a correspondence in
the American papers between an enterprising citizen and
the mayor of Now York, that Mr. John N. Genii' propose,
to be one of a hundred persons to contribute 1,009 dollars
each towards a gift, which will render the great Hungarian
independent upon his arrival on our shores. the mayor
has consented to act as treasurer of this fund.

THE COURT MARTIAL ON COMMANDER CILi-
CROFT, FOR TIIE LOSS OP THRURTNAILD STEAM-SLOOP.—
A court-martial, assembled on board her Majesty's ship Fox,
in Penang Harbour, on the 3d and 4th Sept., 1861, pro-
ceeded to try Commander Peter Cracroft and the re-
maining officers and crew of her Majesty's late steam-
sloop Reynard, upon the following charges, via.:—For that
the said Commander Peter Cracroft, together with the re-
maining officers and ship's company of her Majesty's
late steam-sloop Heynard, on the 31st of May last,
all of them being at that time in actual service and
full pay in the fleet, did, through negligence or
other default, run upon the reefs south of Prams Island,
known as the Prates shoal, her Majesty's said late steam-
sloop Reynard, thereby causing the said steam-sloop to be
wrecked and lost ; and having heard the narrative of the
said commander Peter Cracroft, together with that of Mr.
Henry M'Ausland, rcting master of her Majesty's late steam-
sloop Iteynard relative thereto, and having very maturely
weighed and considered the whole of the evidence brougut
forward, is of opinion that the said late steam-sloop was set
on shore by the irregular currents, which have been
proved to be very uncertain both iu strength and direction;
and that after she struck upon the shoal every effort that
could have been adopted was made to save the vessel, and
that she was not abandoned until it would have exposed her
crew to (treat danger and loss of life by remaining. by the
wreck, fhe court is also of opinion that an error in judg-
ment was committed in approaching the shoal from the
south-east, where it was steep to, instead of from, the
north-west, where it appears, on the authority of Horsburgh's
Directory and the Admiralty chart, that soundings project
two or three miles; also that due preeaulons, as laid down
I in the Admiralty instructions, were not taken, inasmuch es
no leadsmen were in the chains, nor any casts of the deep sea
lead taken. The court is thereforeof opinion that Cumman-
I der Peter Cracroft and Mr. Henry M'Ausland, acting master
of her Majesty's late steam-sloop lteyuard, are deserving of
I censure for the said omission; but that, in consideration of
the high testimonials produced by Commander Peter Cm-
croft from various distinguished officers under whom he
bad served, as well as the efficient manner in which her
Majesty's late steam-sloop Reynard had up to that period
been conducted; and also to the high character given of
Mr. Henry M'Ausland, acting master, by Commander Cra-
croft, as well as the evidence adduced before the court as
to that officer's general zeal, ability, and attention, the
court doth only adjudge the said Commander Peter Cracroft
and the mid Mr. Henry M'Ausland, acting master of the
said late steam-sloop, to be admonished to be more careful
I in future, and the remaining officers and ship's company to
be fully acquitted. And the said Commander Peter Cracroft
and the said Mr. Henry M'Ausland, acting master, aro
hereby admonished to be more careful in future, the other
officers and thip's company to be fully acquitted accord-
' ingly. And the court cannot separate without expressing
their high approbation of the exemplary conduct displayed
by the commander, officers, and crew under the most trying
i circumstances.

DEPARTERE OP THE ROYAL NIAIL STEAM SHIP
Euitora.—On Saturday afternoon, at a quarter past one,
the British and North American royal mail swam ship
Europa, Capt. L►ng (in place of Capt. Lott, who remains
in England this voyage), left the Mersvy for Boston, having
on board upwards of one hundred passengers, a very full
cargo of merchandise, and one of the heaviest mails we have
seen despatched for many months. About half-past one she
reached the rock, and stood oat to sea.