The Express.
London, England, 1858-03-24 00:00:00

THE WRECK OF THE AVA.

..............
On 01110 Y TSB PASSING'S/1a

The steamer Ava left Calcutta for Suez on the
morning of the 10th of February. On board of her
were Lady Inglis, the wife of the General late com-
manding at Lucknow, and her three children • Ge-
neral Michell, bound for Bombay ; Colonel Greathed,
the hero of the Delhi flying column; Captain James,
the saviour of the Lucknow garrison; and many
other ladies and gentlemen lately besieged there :
altogether the passengers numbered upwards of 60.
After the Ava left Calcutta it transpired that she
was engaged on the part of Government to take
up Treasure at Madras and convey it to Trincomalee,
thus making a deviation from her course. She
arrived at Madras at 4 p.m. of the 14th January,
took in some more passengers—chiefly ladies and
children—and the Treasure, and left for Trincomalee
at the same hour on the 16th.

At 10 a.m. on the 16th the ship was running
about 11 knots and a half in the hour, and the
Captain calculated that he was about 79 miles from
his destination. At about 4 pm. the rocky coast of
Ceylon was discerned ou the starboard bow. With-
out changing her course the vessel gradually ap-
proached nearer, as the coast bulged out consider
ably at this point A little after 5 o'clock the Cap-
tain imagined he must be nearing the port, and ac-
cordingly altered the course a point towards the
shore. A light was there visible, and it appeared as
if there were a settlement of some kind on the coast.
Half an hour had not elapsed after this had been
done before a large rock was visible, immediately in
the course of the ship. The ladies at this time were
sitting on deck, perfectly unconscious of danger ; the
gentlemen walking up and down, or smoking on the
forecastle. They were suddenly roused from their
occupations by cries, immediately following one
another, of " Hard starboard," " Stop her. The
words were scarcely out of the Captain's mouth
before the ship *truck hard and fast on
a rock. The paseengere were all aware
that something serious had happened—they did not
know what; they, however, acted, for the most part,
in the most exemplary manner under the circum-
stances—they remained perfectly quiet. One or two
gentlemen, who happened to be forward at the time,
noticed the water rushing in furiously in that part
of the vessel, and at the same time the crew were
observed quietly lowering the boats. All this was
ominous enough, and it was, almost at the same
time, rendered more so by the Captain quietly pass-
ing an order for all the ladies to congregate on the
deck. These arrangements were completed without
the slightest disorder or confusion, and the six boats
belonging to the steamer were lowered without a
single accident Into these, the ladies first, the
gentlemen afterwards, many of them scarcely con-
scious of their danger, were hurried, and in fifteen
minutes from the time the ship struck, all the
pas-
sengers had been safely placed in the boats. The
orders issued to the several boats' commanders were to
keep near the ship all night. Fortunately, the night
was not dark, the breeze was moderate, and there
was no sea on. Between the ship which they had
just left and the shore was about a mile of water,
studded with breakers, and it was absolutely neces-
sary to obey the captain's orders most strictly, and
to keep near the ship. Our situation can be ima-
gined. Upwards of seventy passengers (some having
been taken in at Madras), besides stewards, ship's
officers, Chinamen, and children, were crowded into
six boats at 7 o'clock in the evening to cruise in a
space about one hundred yards square for nearly 11
hours; to be careful to approach neither too near to
the ship on one side, nor to the breakers on the other.
The sea was sufficiently rough to cause the most un-
pleasant sensations amongst many of the passengers,
and sea-sickness raged in all its horrors. All this
time signals were being made from the ship ; guns
were fired, rockets discharged, and blue-lights
burned, all without the slightest effect; for, although
• light was visible on the nearest coast, it proceeded
only from fishermen, and these made not the slight-
est effort to come to our assistance. The Captaio
(Kirton),assisted by some of his offioers and the Laacars,
remained on board : their presence there was at-
tested about 11 p.m. by the fall, with a tremendous
crash, of the fore and main masts, without, however,
injuring any one. All this time the fore part of the
vessel appeared slaking, whilst the stern was high
above the water. This was visible to the passengers
from the boats, as they set waiting for the dawn
which was to disclose to them more fully their own
position. At last the day broke, and the wind
dually increasing made the waves rise higher. The
prospect was by no means cheering. Between the
boats and the coast were breakers in abundance—
many visible, others just showing their heads above
the horizon. Trincomalee itself was about twelve
miles distant. It was therefore resolved that the
boats with ladies in them should make for Trince
melee, making a large offing to avoid the rocks,
whilst the others should attempt the coast. This
course was adopted: three boats with ladies and
their husbands put out to sea. One of these, the
cutter, arrived at Trincomalee about noon, and gave
the first intelligence of the disaster ; the ether two,
being slower sailers, heavy boats, and with a tired
crew, were picked up by a native cutter bound
for Trincomalee, where they arrived about 3 p.m. 'the
other boats managed, after one or two attempts, to
reach the land. fhe kindness of the residents bad
sent on conveyances to meet them on the first inti-
mation of the disaster, and all arrived safely before
the evening.
It would be impossible to convey an adequate sense
of the kindness and hospitality of the residents of
Trincomalee, and of the measures taken by them to
make the disaster light to the sufferers. It is a little
place with from 20 to 30 European residents. On
these was suddenly thrown the task of entertaining
some seventy unfortunates, possessing only the
clothes on their backs. And yet they :did it—in
such a manner, too, as to impart a real pleasure to
those who availed themselves of • hospitality evi-
dently so genuine. Mr. Morris, the Government
Agent, Colonel Weir and the officers of the 50th, and
Mr. Cooper, took the lead in this, as well as in those
other measures necessary for affording shelter to the
officers compelled to remain near the ship, and pro-
tection to the baggage which might be washed on
shore. Everything that could be thought of was
done, and in the welcome which they received the
passengers forgot alike their misfortunes and their

These losses were of no ordinary nature. Many
of the passengers belonged to the Lucknow garrison.
They had arrived in Calcutta =possessed of any-
thing in the world. They had been fitted out by
the Relief Fand in Calcutta, and the resource thus
obtained was gone. But there was perhaps even a
greater loss. Many of them bad kept journals of
the siege: most of these had gone the way of the
rest of the baggage ; only one, so far us I have heard,
was discovered. A few boxes were subsequently
washed on shore, but their contents were entirely
spoiled by the salt water, and for the week that the
passengers remained at Trincomalee they were de-
pendent for a change of linen entirely on their kind
hosts.

The account of the accident was despatched with
the utmost promptitude by the Government Agent,
Mr. Morris, to Galle. It fortunately happened that
the Granada had arrived at that port two days pre-
viously, en route for the Isle of France. The news
reached her at 5 p.m. on the evening of the 19th.
She was then partially laden with coffee. However,
at 7 p.m. her cargo was unladen, and she was
steaming for Trincomalee. She arrived there
on the morning of the 21st ; left the same
evening, and then started on her return to Galle.
Galle was reached on the morning of the 23rd. The
shipwrecked passengers were there able to procure
clothes of some sort, and the ladies again experienced
the kindness which scents to have taken root and to
be indigenous in the island, having shown itself not
only at Trincomalee and Galle, but at Colombo also,
by the despatch thence of necessaries for ladies' use.
These acts can never be forgotten by those on whose
behalf, strangers as they were, they were perpetrated.
The Ava we visited on the 21st; she was then just
below water; her back had broken on the evening
of the 17th, and since then she had gradually sunk
down. 'Whatever might have been the conduct of
the Captain in running the ship on the rocks, it must
be admitted that subsequently to the accident no
man could have exerted himself with greater energy
or daring. The Captain and the Admiralty Agent
remained on board to the very last moment; the
hitter in the hope perhaps of saying hie mails, but

they were submerged almost immediately after the
first strike. Conspicuous also was the conduct of
Lieut. James, of Lucknow renown, who was co
board when the vessel made her first tremendous
crack in the centre ; and for a minute or two he wee
actually alone on board—the others having Pushed
off without him. By Captain Haswell, R.N., mg
by the various officers in charge of the boats, the
greatest coolness and self-possession were shown. It
is to the display of these qualities, indeed, that it
was owing that not a single life was lost, although
nearly half the passengers consisted of women and
children.

It is unfortunately necessary to add one testimony
of an opposite nature. The vessel had no sooner
struck than the Lamars and others of the native
crew rushed down to the cabins and commenced
rifling them. On the following morning, whee
some gentlemen returned to the ship, they found the
boxes in the still-accessible cabins broken open
and their contents scattered. Every valuable lied
been abstracted. These had been necessarily lefton
board, the boats having been sufficiently loaded ei it
was, and in the absence of the psseengera the devas-
tation had been committed by the native servant/ of
the Peninsular and Oriental Company.

PROSECUTION FOR A LIBEL 027 THE
EMPEROR OP THE FRENCH.

Yesterday afternoon a Polish refugee named
Stasilaw Teleoristoaki, keeping • bookseller's shop at 39,
Rupert-street, Haymarket, woo brought before Mr. Jardine,
at the Bow-street Polioe Court, upon a warrant, executed by
, Inspector Whirler, of the detective force, charging him wick
" having, on the let of March inst., unlawfully printed and
published a certain false, scandalous, malicious, seditious,
and defamatory libel, concerning his Majesty the Emperor
of the Emrich, with intent to incite divers persons to assami-
nate his said Majesty."
Mr. Bodkin conducted the prosecution on the part of the
Crown, and Mr. Leverscm, a solicitor, attended for the Me
fendant.

The alleged libel Is a small pamphlet, in French, Warta(
the signatures of "Le Comite de la COOII3IIIIIA Revoln-
tiormaire, Fells Pyat, Beason, et A. Talandier ; " being the
document recently referred to in the parliamentary debates.
Mr. Bodkin said—Theee proceedings are taken by thedirso-
lion of her Majesty's Attorney-Gannet against the prisoner
at the bar, who has been apprehended on the charge of pub-
lishing and selling the pamphlet which I hold in my hand.
It is written in the French language, and like another which
has been also the subject of • late prosecution, it trariss,
enforces, and justifies the crime of asaassituition. The pri-
soner, although a foreigner, resides In England, and enjoys
the protection of our English laws; and it is not to be tole-
rated that a person in such • situation should break and defy
those laws with impunity. I shall prove that the publica-
tion in question wee purchased at the prisoner's house, with
five or six other copies, the same having been advertised
on sale at his place of business. I shall have several pu-
rges of the book translated, and when your worship has
seen what the character of the production really is, I doubt
not you will feel it your duty to hold the prisoner to bail on
the present charge.
Jonathan Whicher deposed that he was an inspector of the
London detective police. On the Ist of the present month he
went to • small book-shop in Rupert-stieet, called the
" Librairie Polonaise." There was a boy there, and the pri-
soner came in afterwards. Witness asked prisoner if be wu
the proprietor of the shop, and he replied " Yet" Saw
several copies of the work now produced lying about on the
counter, and asked the price of them. The primmer said the
large ones were 3d., and the others 2d, each. Witness then
purchased tiaree of ach size, and paid him le. 3d. for them.
He requested a memorandum, as they were not for himself,
upon which prisoner wrote as follows on a strip of paper
" 39, Rufert-etreet. Lettre an Pariement et ala Preen.'
6 make
Tne memorandum and pamphlet were both produced, and
8 t Rogers, an officer of the C division of pollee, trans-
la=he passages upon which the prosecution was founded.
Theywero to the following effect :
" Has Bonaparte attempted at the court, as at the assem-
bly, as at the law, as at the people ?—forced every resistance
and every VS assassinated citizens and representatives,
arrested, transported, executed the defenders of the
constitution, compelled the remainder to vote with the
bayonet at their ribs P Is all this • fable • story, or a
dream ? Have we dreamt it, invented it, lielgined it for the
reqairemeata of our opinions or of our passions, sa mentioned
in the Welewski note ? Is It a reel, recent, patent, public, his-
torical, and judicial fact ?—undeniable by the author him-
self, who bouts of it ?—crying aloud and bleeding in the
memory of all demanding vengeance from God and man,
deserving chastisement from below as from above—from
everybody and every arm, unpunishedbecause triumphant ?
• • • • At the ordinary maims the garter would rise
to his neck (serve to hang him). This Emperor is an
assassin. Then the question le if an unsain, who is also
an Emperor, may be killed ? A wrest question we know—
even ridiculous—pregnant with ' Yes' and No; ' according to
place and time; an old question, having all its beard and
teeth iarrived at maturity), like the Supreme Being. An
especially idle question, which arose with the first tyrant,
end on only be solved with the last. Constitutional kings
are reported inviolable, they having responsible ministers;
yet they someftenes pay with their persona ; but are tyrants
also iftvidable ? These are some of the worst species in the
oldest and moat odious acceptation of the word. Such en
one, for example. who would have fallen under the guillo-
tine, had he net by the forte of murder risen above it ; had
be bees Ism criminal, lees atria. Let us suppose that a
king of England-this has been seen—weary of his council,
of his parliament, of hie press—of all the rights acquired
without contest to our time—took it into his head on • fine
December niOt, also to make a soup d'etat, to outrege
ail
.public libertim, to stifle them all in the blood
of hie people to be what is called a perfect Emperor,
what the English people do if they could ? What
they have already done. Ws will no longer discuae the right
of regicide. In the country of Charles I. it is aupertiuom.
. . . . Are not tan thousand muskets iced a hundred
cannons worth four bombe ? They are of the same veils
with him. It is he, always he, who presides at the executions
from which Rome never ceases to bleed. It Is he, and he alone,
the chief and author of invasion and occupation, of civil end
religious despotism—the enemy, we say, the mama
enemy, forewarned by his own act—the principal end model
enemy—the enemy armed and encamped.in the bosom of ,the
country. Has not every citizen the right and the duty to
save lus country—to strike the enemy wherever he may be I'
Say? And yet the Italian patriots did not attack him
in London. when he came ea if to insult by his
pressure all the proscribed. They respected the mutest
end free country. They would not stain the hospitable soil
with such blood. They made the attempt on Bonaparte in
his own country, on his own ground, in his camp, =cage*
and in spite of his 'oldie' and hie police—as if better to
prove to him the vanity and frailty of his tyranny—to prove
to him this mathematic truth, this word of gospel spoke by
the very lamb of resignation, who lives by the sword shall
, die by the sword.' The Italians, then, are not asesanine—
thr7 are combatants. They have rendered tooth for tooth,
grafted* for grenade. They are prisoners whose throats the
savages are about te cut. They are vanquished—they will
not be punished. The enemy may kill, but cannot judge
than. Al! the poison of Chas-Cita Aege can
never tarnish them. They may die, but cannot be
disgraced. Punishment for them, disgrace for others. They
die for their country. As for us, untortunately we have no
gilnto the merit of their work. We have not the
participate in their enterprise. But the cock
would avow twice if • French voice did not salute them before
the judgment-sent. Friends unknown, but not misunder-
stood, we salute you I you shall be avenged. If our means
differ, our cause Is the mine."
Mr. Bodkin, observing that the passages jut quoted
sufficed for the present, now asked that the prisoner might be
committed for trial. A full translation of the pamphlet
would be produced at the trial.
Mr. Levers= applied for a remind to Saturday to enable
him to prepare his client's defence. He should oppose the
committal on legal grounds, apart from which be regarded
the proceeding as an atrocious encroachment upon the liberty
of the pees. And why wee his client arrested on • warrant?
He suspected and dreaded the facility with which warrant,
were now granted in these owe, while every obstacle was
raised when they were sought to bring ordinary criminals to
justice.
Mr. Bodkin—The warrant is • mere form. It remained
in the officer's hands until the prisoner was wanted here, sad
then he was sent for.
Mr. Jardine—Besides, it is notorious that In half the
assault cases heard In every police-court in London the de-
fendants are brought up by warrants. It Is the comma
practice. If the client's attorney tells me ho is not reedy
with his defence, that I. ground for a remand, and his appli-
cation shall be granted. It is aam in which I can take
ball.

Mr. Lererson uM be had one of the bail pretent.
A person, epparently a foreigner, stepped into the wanes.
box.
Mr. Bodkin—Ars you the printer of the pamphlet which
forms the subleet of this prosecution P
Wilmer—Yes. I am.

Bedlti;:liten I object to this person's bail.
Mr. Leversae—Then you will drive toe to send for the
grottiest philosopher of the age, J. Stuart Mill. He will be
bail, and I will send to the India Howe for him.
Mr. Bodkin—Will you oblige me with the private adder*
of the greatest philosopher of the age.
Mr. Leveranu did not know it. but he would undertake to
Isteh Mr. Mill within twenty-four hours. He cMr. Laur-
ent) looked upon these prooredines with awe, with dread to
the liberty of the subject, and the purity of even junta:sigma.
Mr. Bodkin was linable to understand why rum guilty of
printing, and publishing, and promulgating dootrinas which
every right-minded Christian most loathe and detest, should
be treated in the tender drawing-room style s
the prisoner's attorney. He did not oppose %reednal
although the object of it wu apparent enough.
The prisoner wee then committed in default of bail, sad
lart la as prism Yea.