The Express.
London, England, 1847-04-09 00:00:00

upMt their own reputations. One of their organs
sets forth, " Ignorance is the cause of much vice, but
by no means to the extent supposed is it the cause of
crime." We do not stare at such an assertion, for we
believe it to be true ; the genealogy is fairly set forth;
ignorance is the cause of much vice, and vice the
cause of much crime. But we do stare when
a Christian gentleman wishes us to infer that
because ignorance is the cause only of vice,
that therefore the nation, in its jural capa-
city, has neither obligation nor right to at-
tempt its removal. Are we to understand that vice
has suddenly become so sacred in the eyes of patriots
that ignorance must be continued to secure its per-
petuation? Really, a serious proposal to convene a
conference of divines for the prepense purpose of pre-
serving the constitutional privileges of vice, is some-
thing too much for the gravity of the nineteenth cen-
tury. The same writer seriously asks, "Is punish-
ment or protection the end of the law ? " We at
once answer him, protection; and we further deny the
right of any government to inflict punishment except
for the purpose of protection. Thanks to the
Christian dispensation we dwell not under the law of
fear, but under the law of love ; end we trust that no
conference of Christian ministers, however excited,
will avow a deliberate preference for the terrors of
Sinai over the divine benevolence of Calvary.

THERE can be nothing more highly dramatic, or
we might say histrionic, than the attitudes assumed
by M. Nlussultus, the representative of Turkey, and
Gen. COIITTI, the minister of Greece, towards one
another. The original right to feel aggrieved is
certainly on the side of NIUSSI:RUS. King Urn °,
having a klepht, or old robber-chief, for prime
minister, has of course a set of raking aides-de-camp,
who have been all their lives making plundering
excursions into Turkey, and exciting border fends.
M. MUS,,URUS refused to sign one of these gentle-
men's passports to Turkey, for the same reason that
FERDINAND VII. would have refused a passport
to Sir Ron Ear WILSON. Thereat King (hlto takes
the matter into his own hands, and, Nsrotzos-like,
insults Mt:sot:tuts at a court ball. 'Alyssum:B, of
course, declined to eat dirt, and quitted Athens in con-
sequence ; and General Coutrrt has since sworn by
all the gods of Olympus, which he ever chanced to
learn the names of, that he would make no apology
to the unbeliever.

As there is no possibility of making up a quarrel
between persons who know they will not be allowed
to come to blows and fight it out, so the quarrel of
NIUBSUBUB and CotErrt is inextinguishable. Little
Greece, and its dynasty, and its frontiers, have been so
trebly guaranteed, that none of them can be in the
least danger. We have guaranteed OTIIO his throne,
Greece its neutrality, and utterly forbade it to
think of, or to fear, conquest. The threats of Gene-
ral CotErrt against Turkey are, therefore, pretty
much those of General Tom THUMB against any pass-
ing giant; the dwarf knowing that his patron, Mr.
13AaNnts, would instantly interfere to prevent any
real trial of strength. The poor Sultan is almost as
much be-guaranteed and be-protocolised, so that the
two heroes, swaggering and squaring at each other,
offer the most ludicrous and unreal spectacle possible.
There is no one who must not admit that the king-
dom of Greece has turned out a most lamentable and
ridiculous failure. It has realised not one hope
of its friends, but has fulfilled all that the
hatred and contempt of its foes could desire.
Its government has been neither dignified, nor lib- -
rel, nor economical. It has conferred aeither order,
nor wealth, nor content, nor education, nor enlighten-
ment. The king has not even performed the only
duty which might be expected of him: viz., kept
peace on his frontiers, and ceased to menace Turkey,
but he has literally striven to do the very thing which
he was elevated to prevent. The only pretext for a
king at all was, that he might impose a restraint
upon the military and provincial chiefs, put a stop to
their rapine, introduce some order in their rule, and
favour the growth of a middle and commercial class,
in a country so fitted to develop such. In this, too,
the successive rulers of Greece have gone pre-
cisely against all that was desirable. The
trading class, the shipowners of the islands,
the commencement of town populations, have been

ruined and rooted out, and government of the
ceuutry transferred to those very hleplits, those local
tyrant. and ruffians, to keep down whom was the first
step towards the civilisation and improvement of the
country. No sworn foe of Greece could have more
completely succeeded in putting the brute part of
the country and the b u'e influence of it uppermost
than has been done in the name of King Grim. The
consequence is, that both Greek agriculturists and
Greek traders prefer the government of the Porte to
living under the extinguisher that the five powers
have set upon their land.
We have certainly the credit of the English go-
vernment having protested against this state and ten-
dency of things. We would, however, havr done
more wisely in withdrawing our envoy altogether, a
spirited man, who fretted and strove against a system
which he could not prevent, and which ho irritated
and rendered worse and more reckless by his opposition.
It is disgraceful to have ministers in a come'', where
they are disregarded—where their life is a state of
petty war, and where the representative of England is
eternally in a fever of vexation and vain remonstrance.
Better to have recalled Sir EDMUND LYONS altogether;
when the French and Austrians might, perhaps, if
left to themselves, have engendered some kind of
government, less brutal and more favourable to pro-
gress and to liberty than the prestnt.
The diplomatic struggle between us and France is
too unequal. They support courts .nd courtiers :
we support the people and popular interests. But in
this combat our arms are tied, for we cannot seriously
oppose or injure the monarch whose throne we
guarantee ; nor can we incite the popular party to
use its strength, which always goes beyond the mark,
and creates a ruin, in seeking a remedy. Mu
Greece and Spain present the same diplomatic spec-
tacle : the British envoy, huffed, slighted, and soli-
tary in his palace, frequented by malcontents, whilst
the French ambassador is at court, uniting the high
qualities of prime minister and master of the cere-
monies, and ruling the roast, as the tole, staunch sup-
porter of monarchic rights.
Even if it be worth while maintaining this per-
petual rivalry at Madrid, Greece is decidedly not
worth it. There is a lowering of dignity, and a
begetting of strife, for.no imaginable purpose; and
it is quite time enough—when the sovereign of Greece
begins to respect the principle upon which his throne
was founded, and to reign in a spirit at least as
liberal and civilised as that of the Turks—it is time
enough for England then to accredit an ambassador to
Athens. For the present, we might as well have an
envoy at the court of BEDERIIAN BEY, of Matsui, or
of any other stupid and tyrannical little eastern
despot, as at the court of King Onto.

We are glad to see, from the reply Mr. Batonr
made to a question put to him in the House of Com-
mons, just before the recess, that he does not intend to
let the session pass away without calling the attention
of the house to the evidence taken before the game-
km committee. Mr. BRIGRT, at the same time, er-
mined a hope that he should be able, during the
present session, to bring in a bill for the repeal of the
game laws. We hope that he will do so promptly,
and before any half-measure has been propounded.
It has been said that " the game laws are a great
difficulty; and that difficulty has been prop used to
be solved, by enacting " that if a man snares or kills
game under circumstances which do not constitute •
trespass, he shall be guilty of common larceny. If his
offence includes a trespass, then it shall be like larceny
in a dwelling-house. If it be committed at night, let
it be like burglary." And each a change in the law
is assumed to be sufficient to reconcile the feelings of
the people to the game laws, because " every one
must see that a great portion of their [the gam-
lame] unpopularity arises from their being misunder-
stood." Now the fact is that there is neither difficulty
nor misunderstanding in the matter, except with 'ser-
mons who have not taken the means of obtaining infor-
mation on the subject, or with persons whose prejudices
.
- That

Ashton Keynes, has authorised his tenants to destroy
" in what manner they think proper, the rabbits on,
their respective farms. So we learn from Derby-
shire, that the Duke of DEVONSHIRE has gone a step
turther, having "ordered all the hares to I e destroyed
on his grace's domain about Chatsworth:' But the
noblest example—nay, the only rational and honest
oourae—for the adoption of landowners, is to give their
tenants full permission to kill game, without any reser-
vation or condition whatever. We suspect the day is not
far distant when it will be an indispensable qualifica-
tion in candidates for counties, that they do not
preserve game. We have reason to know that, in one
county at least, the farmers are making preparations
to contest the representation with the 'squires, by
merging many shades of political opinion, in order to
support an anti-game-law candidate. Let this be
only once commenced with spirit, and the example
will be followed.
There is another class of cases which mark the
current of opinion on the game questif n : we mean
such as show the administration of the game laws.

For instance, take the following, from Oitfordshire
THE (isms-Laws.—The Secretary of State has released
John Baker and John Hunt from Oxford gaol. They were
committed from the petty sessions at Woodstock, on a game-
law charge preferred by Elliott, head-gamekeeper for the
Duke of Marlborough. At the last petty sessions Elliott
preferred a game-law charge against Theme Herbert, o.
Handborough, labourer, but it could not be proceeded with
in conselvence of one of the two magistrates present re-
fusing to act. This magistrate, T. Thornhill, Esq., said, " I
should be glad to see a discharge sent in every case of game-
law conviction."
In this sentiment we believe that nine-tenths of
the people of this country, not interested in game
preserves, will entirely concur. Yet there are more
than 4,000 game-law convictions annually in England
and Wales.
And an indication of the same just spirit with re-
ference to these highly penal laws, is to be found in
the trial of a game case at Shrewsbury, before Mr,
Justice MsuLr. Three men were indicted under the
Night Poaching Act (9 Geo. IV., c. 69), for being toge-
ther armed at night in inclosed land, for the purpose
of taking game. Two of them were seen to come out
of one cover ; the third was not seen in the wood,
but was taken in the adjoining field. All of them
were armed with guns, and two of them had game
in their possession. The judge told the jury, most
properly, • that they must be satisfied that the three
prisoners were together, acting in one common pur-
pose upon the land in question. Though all three
were out with the same intent, yet, unless they were
confederates together, they could not be convicted
under the statute, which was of a penal nature, and
should he construed strictly." The jury with great
propriety acquitted the prisoners, for there was
nothing like proof of confederacy. But does any
one for a moment suppose that a bench of justices, os
game-preserving justices, would have stood upon such
strict legal distinctions? On the contrary, it is a
matter of notoriety that the Home Secretary is con-
stantly called upon to direct the discharge of men
convicted of poaching upon improper or insufficient
evidence, accepted by justices of the peace as legal
proof.
Yet the game-preserving justices alone seem unable
to read the signs of the times. Thus,
In the comparatively small county of Hens, there were
15 cases of thiskind publicly heard within a week. In these
one defendant was ordered to be committed, in case of non-
payment, for three months, eight for two months, one for
six weeks, two for one month, two paid tho pecuniary gees,
and only one was fortunate enough to secure his discharge
without punishment. The gross sums which thirteen of
these persons were called on to pay amounted to 331., of which
the costs formed a large proportion.
Possibly it may be deemed a mitigation of such a
code as the game-laws to convert it into simple felony.
At all events there would be this advaxtage in such a
change, that every case must come before a jury.
That alone would diminish game convictions sur-
prisingly. But a very slight examination of the sub-
ject will show that finch a change would be a most
inappropriate remedy for the evils of the game-lawe,
In truth, that change is the very alteration in the law
for which the most strenuous game-preservers con-
tend. They want to convert the police force into
gamekeepers ; which would be at once effected if any
attempt was made to assimilate the interest in game
to that in domestic animals. Birds and beasts of
game are essentially wild creatures, and BLACKSTONE
tells us that both the forest-laws and game-laws were
" founded upon the same unreasonable notions
of property in wild creatures." These creatures
belong to no one ; they are bred on one
man's land and pass, perhaps in a few days, on to the
land of another man ; they cannot be identified or
confined within any defined limits. They are strictly
in fact, as well as in law, fcra naturre; like air or
water they belong to any man no longer than they
remain upon his land. And even whilst so remaining
the landowner has only a qualified and imperfect pro-
perty in them. And there is this further peculiarity
in the modern system of game preserving, that these
wild creatures are preserved by one man not on his
own land, but on land of which he has, for valuable
consideration, surrendered the possession to another.
It is one of the grievous oppressions and anomalies of
the system that the landowners preserve their game
at their tenants' cost ; and that most frequently in
direct violation of an expressed or implied agreement
that the tenants should not be injured by game.
To render the taking such creatures under any cir-
cumstances an offence of the same nature as the steal-
ing property, would be an outrage on common sense.
The law of trespass is all the protection which ought
t) be afforded to game-preserves.
Nor would there be the least difficulty in thus
dealing with the subject, though it must not be sup-
poeed that the total and immediate repeal of the game-
laws would not at once remove the mischief caused by
game-preserving ; but such repeal is a necessary
preliminary to an abatement of the nuisance. Game-
preserving, in itself an evil, would, for a time, be
attempted, after the repeal of the game laws ; but
when the special code for the protection of game had
been removed, it must be preserved at greater cost,
and the good feeling and intelligent self-interest of
landowners would gradually lead them to abandon
this remnant of barbarism. In the next period of low
prices landowners would at last discover, what all
other classes connected with land have long known,
Ithat game-preserving cannot co-exist with good culti-
vation, and that without good cultivation the present
Irents cannot continue to be paid.

Our Paris journals and despatehes of Wednesday
have reached us. The debate on M. de Remusat's
project of parliamentary reform has commenced. The
object of this measure which is so cautious and mode-
rate as to disarm opposition, is merely to render a
certain limited number of salaried functionaries of
the state, ineligible to the representative chamber,
among which are included ambassadors and diplo-
matic agents of every grade, judges of the public
tribunals, and various military functionaries. There
are at present 1)0 place-holders in the chamber, de-
pendent on the government for their existence or
promotion. The present project of law would merely
reduce the number to 120. Although the stage of the
measure which corresponds to the first reading of a
bill in the House of Commons, is granted, it appears
certain that the question must fall before the deter-
mined opposition of the cabinet, aided by the 200
votes, against so large a portion of which the measure
itself is aimed. The measure which is about to be
debated, for the abolition of the stamp on such news-
papers as may relinquish the publication of works of
&ilea in their foolletons, meets with the general
ridicule of the press, and, being opposed by the
government, will also fall to the ground.
O correspondent writes that a rumour was pre-
valent in the Chamber and on the Bourse on Tuesday
afternoon that the government had received, by ex-
traordinary courier, intelligence of the fall of the
Coletti ministry at Athena, and the establishment at
a government more in accordance with English
views, but that being unable to trace this to any
authentic quarter he abstained from sending
it. On Wednesday, however, it appeared with
an extensive comment in the Atitional. In
the 9th bureau, where the question of the Greek
loan was under consideration on Wednesday, a deputy
put a question to M. Duchatel respecting the alleged

certain. M. Onisot has, by a telegraphic despatch
transmitted to Toulon, ordered the French fleet, under
the Prince de Joinvillc, to proceed to the coat of
Greece and the neighbourhood of Athens, there to
cruire and remain in observation until further orders,
and one vessel had actually sailed. This measure is
taken as a precautionary step in the present uncertain
state of the relations between the cabinets of Greece
and Turkey.

The journals and correspondence of Madrid of the
2nd iast. confirm what we have already given in our
correspondtace of yesterday respecting the recall of
M. Olozaga. The Gazette contained royal ordon-
nances accepting the resignation of Generals Manso
and De Salcedo as Captains-General of New Castile
and the Canaries. M. l'atricio FACOSSUra was defini-
tively appointed Political Chief of Madrid, and the
Marquis de Someruelos eorregidor.
The Duke of Gliieksberg, as Minister Plenipoten-
tiary of France, delivered his credentials to the Queen
on the evening of the Ist. Et Eco del Comerein
says that several Progressistas will be named senators,
among whom M. °liven is mentioned. The came
journal says that M. Gonzales Bravo had resigned
hie embassy at Lisbon, hoping to enter the ministry.
El Iferaldo says that the Spanish Minister of Fi-
nance has ordered an immediate payment to be made
to the two degas of Active and Passive creditors.
The Madrid Bourse was closed during the latter part
of holy week.

HAYTI, MARcit 8.

Jean Baptiste Riebe, the late President of Hayti,
died at Port au Prince on the 27th of Feb., to which place he
had returned from Govaines on the 24th of February. He
was stout seventy years of age, but apparently hale and
strong, though blind of an eye and literally covered with
wounds. The hard service he had seen must have, to some
extent, had the effect of impairing his health and affecting
generally his constitution, but ,he more immediate cause o:
his death was undoubtedly his conscientious and indefati-
gable discharge of those onerous and important duties which
his high office entailed on hint. Courageous as a lion, he
was also an able tactician, which enabled hint to foil and
ultimately. overcome his enemies, and to restore peace and
tranquillity to the island, which his after life was spent in
maintaining and consolidating. The lot of March was the
first anniversary of his accession to the presidency, and
which was being celebrated in towns at some distance from
the capital; but the day after people were employed in the
churches paying a tribute of respect to his memory, and
listening with apparently deep and unfeigned sorrow to the
funeral oration. You will readily believe that the
friends of order were much concerned to hear
of the President's death, and not a little appre-
hensive of a return to those scenes of anarchy
and confusion which the late President had so effectually
sucoeeded in suppressing. Their fears, however, were soon
relieved by the announcement of the election of General
Faustin Soulouque as President. He published a prochuna
tion on the 3rd instant, and confidence is again restored and
everything going on tranquilly. 1,200 soldiers were, how-
ever, marched to Jacmel, in case of any disturbance.
Great praise is due to the ministry (which it is reported
wiil remain unchanged) for having with such promptitude
secured the election of a man who is in favour of the reforms
proposed by the ministry, and so energetically carried out
by the late President, in addition to which he is very gene-
rally respected, and what is perhaps of still greater impor-
tance, he is a courageous man, so that the ili•disposed are
afraid of him.

Riche and he both occupied the same places when they
were elevated to the Presidency, via., General of the Place at
Port-au. Prince. An extraordinary chamber is convoked for
the 10th inst. The steamer bringing from England was
late, and I tun informed the cause of her detention was the
having to deliver the letters outwards atthe different islands,
the small steamer destined for this purpose having been
wrecked.

FRANCE.—PARIS, APRIL 7.—Lord and Lady
Normanby yesterday gave a private dinner party. Among
the company were Lord and Lady Wilti.n, the Marquis and
Marchioness of Ailesbury, Lord and Lady 6almesbury,
Lady Tankerville the Count de Kielmanaegge (Hanoverian
Minister in London), the Marquis of Hertford, Lord anti
Lady Granville, the Earl of Os tilston, Lord and Lady Herd-
w icke, Sir William Massey Stanley, the Comte de la Tour
Dupin, the Marquise de Carman, the Comte E. de Jiiron,
General Fox, Mr. Spencer Cooper, Mr. Baring, &e., &c.—
The horses of the carriage of the Austrian am-
bassador took fright in the Champs Ely,ers, and ran
on with great speed, in spite of all the efforts of tho coach-
man to restrain them. Fortunately they encountered no
obstacle, and on arriving in the Place de la Concorde mode-
rated their pace, and were sopped. The ambassador then
descended and returned on foot —The Council of State has
just decided that the capture of the Sardinian vessel Notre
Dame de Grace by the schooner Fine, off the coast of Africa,
on 15th March, 1846, was illegal.—Negotiations are, it is
said, about to be entered into between France and Prated&
for a treaty for the protection of literary property, on the
same basis as that contracted about a year ago between
Prussia and England.
SPANISH TURATRICALS.—A company of Spanish
comedians, singers, and dancers has arrived at Paris: they
are to give representations at the Italian theatre, which are
to commence on the 15th instant. The manager is a M.
Lombia, who is also one of the principal actors.
BELGIUM.—LANDEN, APRIL 4.—ACCIDENT ON
TEE BELGIAN RAILWAY.—An accident, which might
have been attended with most disastrous consequences,

happened on Sunday night the 4th inst. on ill 114 e!
mont and Landen section of the Belgium Nations'
Railway. About a mile :from the latter station the
azle-tree of the tender suddenly snapped, the wheels
were broken, and two luggage waggons were thrown
off the rails. The damaged tender and the two other vehi-
cles were dragged about five hundred yards along the line
before the accident was perceived, or before the locomotive
could be stopped. Fortunately, the stoppage was effected
without causing any very violent shock, and only a few of
the passengers were slightly bruised. The road was torn up
in several places, and a portion of the line otherwise da-
maged. After a delay of two hours and a half, the train
was again set in motion.
SWITZERLAND.—BASLE.—Professor Schonbein,
the inventor of gun cotton, has succeeded in preparing a
fluid which may be put to the same use in surgery as vapour
of ether. This preparation has the advantage of being free
from the danger to be feared from the use of ether, viz.,
that of the accidental breaking of the glass apparatus in
which the ether is confined.—Allgemeine Zcilung, April 2.

SPAIN.—CATALONIA, MARCH 31.—A letter in the
Phare de Bayonne gives an account of a sharp skirmish be-
tween the column appointed to watch over the district of
Viet, on the frontiers of Catalonia, and a band commanded
by Gras. After a hot pursuit, the commander, Juan Gon-
zales, came up with the rebel., who had entrenched them-
selves in what they thought an impregnable position. They
were however driven front it, after a brisk action, both parties
leaving dead and wounded on the field. On the 24th ult., in
the evening, at Saragossa, as a police-offieer was leaving the
house of a commissary, in charge of a man who had been
committed, a blunderbuss was fired at him, which missed
him, but destroyed the lantern he carried. On hearing the
report the commissary came out, but had scarcely got beyond
the step of the door when he received the charge of another
blunderbuss in his body, and was taken home in a hveless
state.

-----
GERMANY.—VIENNA, MARCH te =sorted
that if the project of law on the liberty of the press, said to
be presented by the Prussian minister to the German Diet,
is adopted, Austria has threatened to separate herself (loathe
oonfederation. The Austrian government has decided that the
administration of the state railways is to be joined to that of
tho poet-office general, and that the head of this new depart-
ment is to have the title of privy councillor of state. Baron
Kraemer, head of one of the departments of the ministry of
the interior, will, it is said, be appointed to this office.
The society formed some time back in Posen for
purchasing land, and letting it out at a moderate rate to poor
Jews, in order to induce them to follow fixed labour, instead
of getting their living by selling pedlar's wares, or other
tuarecormed pursuit', is continuing its operations with suc-
cess. pto the present time more than 15,000 Jewish fami-
lies have demanded portions of land, and this fact proves
thakthe Polish Jews are beginning to prefer agriculture to

- '
The dugaburg Gazette announces that one of the
Russian fortresses on the Black Sea has been taken by assault
by five of the Caucasian tribes of the Abchaset.
VENEZUELA.—CARAccAs, FEB. 14.—We pub-
lished, some time sinoe, an account of the arrival of the first
Spanish consul at Cantos. This, however, being but an
isolated fact, we take advantage of files of Venezuelan jour-
nals of one day's later date to fill up the gap left in our corre-
spondence. A new president, Jose T. Monagos, had been
installed, and &commission bad gone en board the national
welcomer Constitution, to felicitate him upon the attainment
ofhis new dignity. The chambers were sitting, and at their
opening, la message had been read from M. Carlos Soublette,
tho chief of the old administration, in which mention is made
as follows of the external relations of the republic of Vene-
zuela :—" As far as regards Venezuela, I am happy to inform
you that, though this republic may have been ir.ternaily
troubled by deplorable factions, her relations with foreign
powers have remained entirely friendly. I think it not im-
isrzfewir to mention tatt
tfretaf,tiave lteatelliya takoneny, place which
has
been my constant object to maintain, has been consolidated
not only by the policy and justice, but by the sympathies of
the generous nations of the old world. The government has
learnt with satisfaction from the protestations of the Euro-
pean press, and the stop pat to sn expedition projected in
a hostile view against the republic of the Ecuador, that the
lot else- - &nth American's' -- is

WRECK OF TILE TwiiEt).
(Prom an Eye {cans.)
The Tweed started from Hurnnnah at n p. in. on Tues-
day. the 9th of February, for Vera Cruz, laying on board
the English out mails of the 2nd of January; and on Fri-
day, February 12, while the captain wan tea deck, at half.
past 3a. m. one of the look-out nun foraard called out, -
breakers a-head !" Instantly the captain wa• leward with
the officer of the watch, midshipmen, and look.out men, arid
then as quick as thought the orders were givr,i to " stop the
engines,' and "turn astern full treed," !lie helm being
ordered " hard a-starboard." The ship io a few seconds
went crash on the reef with almost HI hn• force, so
she had been under full steam, with sails set. She
went over a little to leeward on tit,: ••riking, then
uprighted, and being rsis:d by the swe'l, the way
scarcely off her yet, she again crashed nu the rocks
with all her weight. This seemed fatly to dub her
whole bottom in, sending the machint,s, boilers, and
funnel up with a jerk some inches. The engines imme-
diately stopped of themselves, the steam • .raping f:om the
boilers, filling the engine-room, and flying op through the
hatchways in a thick white cl..ud. There we, then no hope
of getting the chip off the reef, and order• were given about
the sails, to prepare the life-boats, and stal.,l toy the others.
All this was the work of a few minutes. T passengers and
crew now crowded on deck, some almost naked, and but few
dressed. On striking the second time the ship swung broad
(port) side on the reef, and then fell over to windward.
The sea then struck her, carrying III•oq in a moment,
as if they were feathers, the cutter, at, and dingy
astern. She then reeled to leeward, is 4 back to
windward, each time the timbers u..,t,nseath being
heard to tear, crash, and give way oitb a fearful
i grating noise. The next pea dashed away the starboard
paddle-box boat. By this time the Salta I, after reeling
once or twice from side to side, fell over t , windward, sad
the masts, as she reeled each time from side to side,_ wens
seen to shake like willows. The captain gave orders fe stand
by the two remaining boats on the lee aide, to preserve them
from injury as the ship rolled, but not to lower them till the
last moment, although by this time they were crammed full
of people. It was feund impossible to •.a.4 to pet the
lee-paddle-box boat out; besides, if she could have been
moved, she would have been dashed to piece,. By this time
the masts had gone over the side. A few minutes more and
the destruction was complete. The ship parted fore sad aft
the sponsons, leaving thu machinery an 11 ho.lers standing on
the reef. One or two seas tore the deck off :1 a after part of
the ship, as the latter divided from the machinery. At the
last moment orders were given to lower the two boats, which
was done, and they drifted a little astern; hut they were
without oars, it is thought, and there is no doubt the boats
were much stove when swinging at the ship's side full of
men. One more sea sent all the after part of the ship,
boats and all, flying in a thousand pieces, end all that had
remained on it were scattered in the sea. The writer
recollects being seated, with the captain and a few others,
on a part of the ship's side to which the netting
' was attached, with the water up to our breasts. A
ftarful cry was heard, and the capta said, "Oh,
thaw poor men in the boars, they are pane, God have
mercy on them!" All was still In a moment more,
it seemed as if tons of broken wood were hurled on the top
of us, and we were scattered and buried beneath the waves.
Then came a fearful chokinr struggle with death. The
prayer to G. thoughts of " home," and struggles for life,
all at the same moment ! _

In lees than 30 minutes from the first norm of danger the
' destruction of the Tweed was caplete. Hl4 10 many were
afterwards saved, is a miracle. The writer mentions his own
ease only to show the way in which many others were saved.
After being all but drowned, the receding waves dashed him
on a piece of wreck, which he found to be a skylight, perched
on a piece of the stern-post, to which a few ragged timbers
were attached. To this he clung with nine others, the sea
beaching over all, until at last we found we had been drifted
inside the breakers to rather smoother water. At length we
got so far on the reef that one of our party, on stepping out
ea a piece of wood, said he found the bottom, in only a few
hat of witer. It was joyful news to hear him say he saw
many people scattered about, standing on the wreck,
which had grounded inside the surf. It wu then
about 4.30 am. When daylight fairly lame, all that
remained in the surf of the once proud Tweed was
the port aide from the sponson to the figure-head, over which
still stood the bowsprit and jib-boom, bending, as each sea
covered it, like a reed. Tke wheel was still attached to the
sponson, and the paddle-'ox boat still covered the paddle-
box, all held together by the machinery and the shaft. To
this portion of the ship there still clung about 40 individuals.
We then began to think that it must he the " Alacranes"
where the ship had struck. These reefs are completely under
water, at low tide there being here and there small patches
where there might be abeet 18 inches water, the same places
at full tide being covered by perhaps 3 feet of water ; other
places having four, five, and six feet, with here and there
open spaces with several fathoms of water. Most providen-
tial was it that the wreck took place at ebb tide.
At daylight on the morning of Friday, Feb. 12, the sur-
vivors began to creep together, and consult what was to be
done. Few had escaped without severe cuts and bruises, and
some poor fellows were dreadfliiy mangled, The morning
was bitter cold, and few hod any clothing ; so the first act of
all who could crawl about among the wreck, stones, and water,
was to search for any sort of clothes to protect them from the
cold ; and, on coming alongside, some poor fellow's well pack-
ed trunk was seized, broken open, and the clothes turned over
in search of flannels, trousers, and coats. These were in
great demand, but few were to be found. Atter the stragglen
had been gathered together on the shoelest spot, about 250
yards inside the breaker!, information was gathered of the
state of the boats. Two boats were reported unfit for use,
and the trail-boat had her entire stem tern out, all the lining
boards gone, and the stern, bottom, and sides stove in. Our
position seemed hopeless. By 10 a.m. the tide was observed
to be flowing. We had never thought of that; and now
came the question from every mouth, " How far is it likely
to flow?" but no one could tell! Some few at last put
their heads together and said that our only hope of salvation
was in getting one of the boats patched up any how,
to make the attempt to reach the main coast. The
mail-boat was fixed on es the only one worth attempting
to make swim. She was hauled out from the wreck and
pushed to the place where we steal, which had then some
12 inches of water on it. The carpenter was drowned, so the
chief engineer, chief, second, aril third officers, boatswain, and
half a dozen men were appoin•ed to take her its hand; a
copper bolt was torn out of a timber to serve as a hammer;
every ene was desired to look among the broken wreck and
gather together all the nails to he had; some picked up
oars, others odd sails, &c., and the patching of the boat
commenced. About this time tome one happened to pick
up one of the ship's compasses. Wonderful to relate, it
was uninjured, although it had been torn out of the bin-
nacle, washed on to the reef, and was found lying among the
mass of wreck and stones with not even the glass broken!
We hailed it as sent by Heaven to assist in our deliverance.
A rough seat of bulkhead was made in the boat, about three
feet from the bow, the space before it being stuffed fall of
anything which could be laid hold of, such as old blanket*,
pillow-cases, shirts, de. A piece of sail was then covered
over the broken bows and the fore part of the boat, extend-
ing under the bottom some five or six feet, and there nailed
on, and fastened as well as passible. The other defects in
the frail boat were tinkered up as much as possible,
so that by 4 p.m. she was thought fit to swim. Her
mast and sail were found, and put on board, with half-a-dozen
oars, a few bottles of wine, a ham. a bit of cheese, and a little
oatmeal and flour, after which the chief officer was appointed to
take charge of her, with six men the Admiralty agent, Mr.
Davies, and Mr. Dimond, the American consul, bound for
Vera Crur, being allowed also to gs in her, the first on ac-
count of his age and injuries, the latter to act all interpreter
on the coast. Before setting off we all shook them by the
hand, wishing them God weed from the bottom of our hearts,
They shoved off, and we gave them three cheers, which they
returned; but both sides cheered with sorrowful hearts.
She set off at 5 p.m. with orders to steer south ; her chance of
being kept afloat over 100 miles was very doubtful, and on
her depended all our hopes ! it was now time to set about
constructing some sort of fabric on which to take shelter.
As the pieces drifted near, we secured them, and placed them
one above another, anyhow, without any sort of order, or
distinct idea at first what we could or should do. At last so
many were piled up that we g it on the top, above the water,
and began to arrange it in something like order. It was squared
aa much as possible, and the flat boards laid along the top.
The size might be ten feet square. There were no lashings
to any part of it, as we had no rope. The few bottles of
wine and odd previsions, fac., which we had gathered
during the day, were placed on the top, by which time
it began to come on dark, but still the tide was flowing, and
rose to the very level dour raft. There was not room to
lie down, but all huddled together in a sitting pasture as
close as possible, to keep enca other warm. Some tried to
talk in a cheering tone, but it was a faint attempt ; so each
relapsed intosilence, busy with his own sad reflections, and
longing for the morning,
But all this time " the wreck" has been forgotten. Dur-
ing the day a few managed to reach the reef in safety, but by
far the greater number were killed by the floating timber la
the surf as they tried to reach us. Half-itdozen might be
seen to jump off at a time to make the attempt, but seldom
more than ens lived through the serf Those who came safe
said that, although the side of the ship, from the figure-head
to the port-sponson, might be seen by us at daylight still
hanging together,
or
so after yet,er igh
reality,damylt
the
aidethat
of thewas all that
t from the
t.
In an
browses far aft as the fore partof the sponson, was seen to move
backwards and forewords with every wave, until gradually
b all broke away, leaving only the spouts's and wheel,
aeresonnted still by the life-heat ; but the latter was observed
men to be washed away, falling to windward, and dashed to
atoms in a few minutes ; so now, all that remained to be Kea
above water were the sponson and the top of the wheel ; the
whole only a few feet above water now and then, but oftener
buried in the sea, as it broke over it every minute. To this
small portion still clung some dozen people. It should have
before been observed, that before the little boat left us to-day
we all gathered together, and offered up our thanks to Al-
mighty God for our wonderful preservation. One of the
passengers had saved a Prayer-book, and kindly read prayers.
To-day each had a little wine and a little oatmeal.
SATURDAY, Fin. 13.—8 y 6 a.m. all were up and astir.
As each was cold and benumbed, a small drop of brandy was
dealt round in the neck broken off a bottle, with a cork in
work divided into