The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1807-06-19 00:00:00

Cslcutt', October 14, 150 G.
" Ste—The SyMew left Port Jackson on the leth
of April, 1806. hound to Bengal. Intending to pro-
ceed through Dampier's Stoats. her course was di-
p-I:led as neatly as possible in the Hack of Capt.
Hogan, of the C•,,liconllts, which, as laid down in
the charts, appears a clear safe passage. On the
islth of May, at 1 0.//1. iu latitude 3, `l.) south. long.
146. 50 east, we ran upon a most dangerous rock
or shoal ; and as this reef is nut noticed in any map
or chart, it appears that we were its unfortunate dis-
ctov eeeee •
" On Sunday, over the tatfrail, we found 25 fa-
thoms water; over the larn"ard gangway, 6 fa-
thoms ; on the starboard side, only 9 feet ; and
over the bows, 12 feet. One of the boats was im-
mediately got out, with a boxer anchor ; but, on
sounding to fathoms distance from the ship, found
no ground at 60 fathoms.
" It must have been high water when we struck ;
for, at that time, there was no appearance of any
reef or breaker ; but, as the water subsided, the
shoal began to spew itself with a number of small
black rocks.—The ship bad been striking very hard,
and began to sue forward. At Sa. es. there were
6 feet water in the hold, and increasing rapidly ; at
5. the ship was setting aft, and her top sides parting
front the heads.
" Upon consultation with my officers, it was the
unanimous opinion, that the ship was irrecoverably
gene, and that no exertions could avail for her
safety. 111'e therefore employed all hands in get-
ting the boats ready to teceis e the crew, 108 in
Panther. Eight beaks of 'ice, six casks of water,
and a small quantity of salted beef and pork, were
put in the long-boat, as provisions for the whole.—
We were prevented taking a large stock, as from
the number of people, the three boats were barely
sufficient to receive the whole with safety.
" We remained with the Sydera till sp. •,?. on
the `2lst of May, when there were three feet water
ou the orlop deck; we now thought it Lull u.oe to
leave the snip to her tate, and to seek our safety an
the boats. Accordiegly I embarked in the long-
boat, with Mr. Trounce, second officer, and
Lawns ; Mr. Robaom first officer, and Stalkart,
third, with 16 Lasers, were in the cutter ; and the
jolly boat was allotted to 15 Dutch Malays and
one Sepoy.
" Being desirous to ascerta:u the position of the
libel, by making the Admiralty Islands, shaped our
course accordingly, steering N. by E. half E. Dur-
ing the night it blew fresh, and the long-boat nuk-
ing much water, we were obliged to lighten her, by
throwing overboard a great deal of -lumber, and
two casks of eater. The three boats kept close in
company, the long-twit having ti.e jolly boat in
tow. indiug, at d iy-light. that the cutter sailed
ectosiderably better, 1 duetted Mr. Robson to take
the jolly-boat in tow. The wind increased as the
morning advanced, and a heavy swell rising, at
10 s. as. the jolly-ban sunk, while in tow by the
cutter, and all on board, sto the number of 16, un-
fortunately perished It was lamentable to witness
the fate of these unhappy man, and the more so,
as it was not in our power to render them the
smallest assistance.
" At noon on the 22d, we saw the Admiralty
Tslands, bearing N.N.E. distant three or four
leagues, and as we had run about 58 miles in i:.e
boats, torin a N. be E. halt E. course, the situation
of the snoal, on wf.ich the Sydney struck, was accu-
rately ascertained, and will be found as above laid
down.
" From the Admiralty Islands, we continued
standii g to the vestward ; and on the 25th made
a small island; we stood towards it, and from its
appearance I was induced to land, in the hope of
obtaining a supply of water. Mr. Robson, myself,
and 20 of the best of our hands, armed with heavy
clubs, brought from New Caledonia, our fire arms
being rendered useless from exposure to heavy
rains, approached in the cutter, and landed, thtuugh
a heavy start, to the utmost astonishment of the
inhabitants, who, as far as we could judge from ap.
penances. Lad certainly sever before seen people of
our complexion. The men were tall and well
made, wearing their hair plaited and raised above
the head—they had no appearance of Malays, nor
OiCaffrees ; and, excepting their colour, which was
of a light copper, they had the farm and features
of the natives of Europe; they were entitcly naked.
We saw a number of wunien, who were well form-
ed, with Mild pleatiog features.
Wo were received on the beach by about 20 or
30 of the actives, who immediately supplied each
of us with a tmcoe.nut. We then succeeded id
making them niadersumd hat we want water,
upon which they made sigt ns for us to aeccd ompany
them towards the interior of the Wand :—we did
ab ; but after walisiog above a mile, they condaßed
us into a flick jangle, and as their number was
qnickly increasing, I judged it imprudent to pro.
recd further, and returned to the beach. where
was ala'wsed to 6nd the nativas had assembled to
the flambee of 153 or upward., armed with spears,
Si or In feet long. One of them. an old man, tat
venerable appearance, and who seemed to be their
Chi-f, approached, acd threw his spear at my feet,
expressive, as I understood it, that we shoold part
with our clubs in like manner. Perceiving at this
time a crowd of women to have gut hold of the
sternfatt of the ratter. and endeavouring to hen,
her on shore, from the grapnell with which we had
come too, we hastily endeavoured to gain the
boat ; the natives followed us closely, cone of them
pointed their spears at no as we retreated * the
boar, and tome were thrown, though happily with-
' they appeared to be very iota.
mot of their weapons. On my
ite, three or four of the na-
thrtaien'ng to throw their
ran in teach of the WA. One 01
, which was prevented taking
Imam of ..Ir. Robson, who
upon. When we had got men
notinig col; they thus, at least
twhosh took effa2. eszeptiwg

one, which gave a severe wound to my cook, en•
tering immediately above rue taw, and passing
through the mouth.
" Having thus escaped from this perilous adven-
tore, we pursued our course. and got as far as DAM-
ier's Streights, as favourable' as our situation could
well admit. Being now within reach of land, the
Lascars became impatient to be put on shore. it
was in vain that I endeavoured to persuade them to
persevere ; they would not listen to argument, and
expressed their wish, rather to meet with immediate
death on shore, than to be starved to death in the
boats. Yielding to their importunity, I at length
determined to laud them on the N.W. extremity of
the island of Ceram, horn whence they might travel
to Aruboyoa in two or thtee days. On the 9th of
June, being off that part of the island, Mr. Robson
volunteered to land a part of the peoplc in the cut-
ter, to return to the long boat, AIM the cutter to be
then given to such farther part of the crew as chose
to join the party first landed. Mr. Robson accord-
ingly went 1.5 shore with the cutter ;hut to roy great
mortification. after waiting two days, there was no
appearance of his return or the cutter.
" We concluded that the people had been de-
r tined either by the Dutch or the natives ; yet as
the remaining part of the Lascars were desirous to
he landed, we stood in with the long•boat, and put
them on shore near the point, where we supposed
the cutter to have landed her people.
" Our number in the long-boat was now reduced
to seventeen, viz. myself. Mr. Trounce, Mr. Stalk-
art, fourteen Lascars and others. Our stock of pro-
visions consisted of two bags of rice, and one gang
cask of water ; with this stock we conceived we
might hold out till we reached Bencoolen, for which
pert we determined to make the best of our way.—
We fixed the allowance of provision to each man;
at one tea-cup full of rice, and a pint of water per
die at ; hut we soon found it necessary to make a
considerable reduftion in this allowance.
We proceeded on through the Streights of
Bantam, meeting, in our course, several Malay
prows, none of which took notice of us, excepting
one, which gave chase forfora day, and would have
come up with us. had we not got off under cover of
a very dark night. Continuing air totem we
passed through tae Streight of Saypay, Whine we
caught a large shark. Our spirits were much
elated by this valuahle vce, which we lost fin time
in getting on board, and having kindled a fire on
the bottom of the boar, he was roasted with all et.
pedition ; and such was the keenness and extent
of our appetite. that, although the shark must have
weighed 150 or 160 lbs. not a vestige of it remained
at the close of the day. We suffered most severely
from ur indulgence; on the following day we were
all aaitiesl with a most violent complaint of the
stomach and bowels, which reduced us exceed:nett'',
and lett us spiritless and langnid, insomuch that we
now seriously despaired of our safety.
"On the 2d of July, I lost an old and faithful ser-
vant. who died feom want of sustenance. On the
4th, we made Java heat, I caught. at the same time,
two large boobies, which afforded all hands a most
precious and refreshing men.. On the 9th, at mid-
night, came-to off Pub Penang, on the West Coast
of Sumatra. At day Fight, we endeavoured to
weigh ottr anch.,r, and to run close in shore; but
we were so much exhausted, that our united strength
was insufficient to get up the anchor. We made a
signal of distress. on which a sandpan, with two
Malays, came off. As I was the only person in the
long boat, who had sufficient strength to move, I
went on shine with the Malays On landing, I
found myself so weak, that I fell upon the ground,
and was obliged to be carried to an adjoining house,
Such refreshments as the place afforded were im-
mediately sent off to the lens boat ; and we re-
visited so quickly, that in two days we found nee-
selves in a condition to proceed on our voyage. On
the 12th of July we weighed. and on the l9th so-
chewed off Rat Island, at Bencoolen.
" Here I met with an old friend. Capt. Chattvet•
of the Perseverance, whose kindness and humanity !
shall ever remember, and gratefully acknowledge.
On the day following my arrival. I waited on
the Resident, Mr. Parr, from whom I recaifred every
kindness and attention.
" I left Bencoolen on the 17th of August, in the
Perceperneee, for Penane, where I arrived On the
27th, and where I was most agreeably surprised
to meet with me late Chief Mate, Mr. Robson,
who, with the LASC:trS landed on Ceram, had safely
reached Amhoyna, where they were received by
Mr. Cranstuun, the Dutch Governor, with a ho.
mAr,:iy and benevuience that reflea honour on his
thara4t..r. The Governor sbpplied them with
whatever their wants required ; he accommodated
Mr-Rabson at Lis own :able, and, on his leaving
Amboina, rurnihl.ed him with money for himself
and his peopl-, refusing to take any acknowledg-
ment or receipt fur di:" amount. He also gave Mr.
Rohson letters to the Governor• General of Batavia,
recnmeoending him to bis kind offices. Such ho-
nourable conda:l from the Governor of a foreign
country, and witis which we are at war, cannot be
too widely proit.ulgated
tom Ainb-ymt, Mr. Wasson embarked in the
notch frigate far Batavia, and on the pas-
sage thither, felt in with and was captured by His
hiijesty's ships Grobtund and Harrier, and brought
to Prince of Walts's Island.
" From Penang, I went to Bengal, with the 'Va.
..4, C41)1.11111) nuii.in, and arrived sa
F fely in Ca
.. r-
cstta. a 1... w days Aga. " A. osaarr."

MARY Wsti sir, daughter of a labouring man
at TiLwy, near Lynn, Norfolk, a 6ne young wo-
man, about twenty years of age, poisoned herself
last week, by talon?, a quantity of arsenic, from the
etreAr of which site died, in extreme agony, in a few
:I,:urs. An illicit conneflion with a married man
in neighbourhuod is supposed to be the cause of
this desperate aft.
On Tuesday last, Richard Hllllllllolldt, j;/arcs
Ovotn, and °amid Thomas, were brought bt•
tLe Siring Magistrate at the Town Half, Shrews-
b charged with having, a few days since, thrown
storms. and otherwise assaulted a party of Mr. Bes-
s eve{ friends. princip4lly it:males, who were sail-
ing upon the river to Archam. Th, charge was folly
pr..ved ; nut at the intercession of the complaining
parties, the men were dismissed, ow paying a small
tine each, and promising newer to offend is Ma same
sarauuer again.

; ao4ltonsl
pert in the mariagem•
getting into the era
hwes followed me.
and when I an
;na-le a thrust.
Kea by "s• interfe
warded at tne weap
boat mei ,7,ere in
• - .e