The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-03-21 00:00:00

THE BLONDE FRIGATE.

A great prase of vcry important temporary matter ren-
dered it impossible fur ns to give yesterday the whole of
the fuliosving details, respecting the voyage of the Blonde
frigate, which appeared in the Hampshire Trlegraph that
we received on sltntlay night; and we deemed them much
too interesting to give only I xtracts :
On Wednesday his Majesty's ship Blonde, commanded by Lord
Byron, arrived from the Sandwich Islands, whither she conveyed
the Wiest ot the King and Queen of those Islands. with the Chiefs
whn had accompanied them to England. The Blonde left England
in the autumn of 1824. On her arrival at Valparaiso, 31r: Charl-
ton. Consti. General of the islands in the Pacific, was sent forward
to Wonhoo, to announce the death of the King and Queen, and ,he
espeeted arrival or the Blonde with the hstites. It was regarded as
a remarkable circumstance by the natives, that just previous to the
period of Mr. f hariton's arrival at %Violin°, certain natural pile-
nonuma—such as the extranrdinary overflowing and reces4on of the
tide, an eclipeerifthe moon, &c.—had taken place, which impressed
n) the with a belief that some fatality bad happened to the Ring or
Queen ; similar occurrenccs being observed when Tamahania 1.
died, the first Sovereign who ounquerel all the seven islands,
brought them under one Government, and afterwards ceded them
to Vancouver in 1794. This omen or presentiment was confirmed
by Mr. Chailtnn's arrival. When the Binas arrived at flonortuu
(the anchorage of Woahoo) in May last, she wan. however, imme-
diately saluted by nineteen guns from the fort. The day afterwards
Lord Byron and all his officers had an audience of the Regent
(Karaisnoku, the brother of Boki, the Governor, who came to Eng.
land), at his new. at which were delivered, in the presence of all
the heads of the nation, the presents sent out in the Blonde by our
King. The present King of the islands is Kankisuli. a lad about
eleven years of age, brother of Rio Rio, who died in England. On
the tad of May (lour days after the arrival of the Blonde), at eleven
a.m., the bodies of the King and Queen were landed, attended by
Lord Byron and all the officers of the Blonde, dressed in their full
uniforms. On the arrival of the boats at the landing point, they
were placed on two funeral cars, and drawn by native Chiefs (about
forty to each car) to the late room of audience belonging to the
Prince Regent. the tomb-houne not being finished. Kaukiauli
(brother of the late King) and the Princess Nahienaena were the
chief mourners, supported by Lord Byron and the British Consul;
the numerous Chiefs of the island and the officers of the Blonde
formed an extensive funeral ea/shade. The Blonde continued at
the island about six weeks, during which Lord Byron attended the
meetings o(the Chiefs. who gravely deliberated respecting :he suc-
cession of the young King and Princess to the throne, as, hereto-
fore might had constituted right. This important matter was
however very amicably atranged, the heads of the nation and all
the Chiefs expressing theit cattiest desire to conform themselves
sitistly to the laws of legitimacy and of consanguinity. This i,land
is descrihed as the moot fertile of all the Sandwich Islands. The
inhabitants, by a late census, amounted to 40,000.
The Blonde proceeded from Woahoo to visit the Isle of Owhyhee
(about three days' run), and swift there. She anchored its one of
the finest bays in the world (now called Byron Bay), which Van-
couver was deterred from entering by a coral rock appearing to ins.
pede the entrance, but which actually forms its principal security.
It is a most safe position, and its rich and beautifully varied
scenery has obtained for it the appellation of " The Eden of
the Sandwich Islands." In the neighbourhood of this bay the
island is in the highest state of fertility ; hut the natives are in
nearly the same state as they were when Captain Cook discovered
them In 1779. An American Missionary had arrived there about
six months since, whose instructions would, no doubt, advance
them in civilisation, as those of his brethren had the natives at
Woahno. The Blonde then returned from Byron Bay to Woahoo,
and Lord Byron toot leave of the King, Regent, and Chiefs, and
fulfilled the purpose of his visit to the islands, in the highest degree
satisfactory to them and beneficial to the country. The kindness, '
grace, and attentions of his Lordship to the natives, we are assured,
have made the most favourable Impression on them of the
English character. The Blonde was literally laden with stock
and provisions of every description, by the natives, who re-
%teed payment for any thing they could supply the ship. The
Blonde left %Foshan for Karakokooft Bay, where Captain
Cook was unfortunately killed. Here Lord Byron erected a
humble, simple monument, to the memory of the great circumna.
vigator—not on the spot where be was killed, as that was found
impracticable, it being under water, but where his body was cut
up, on the top of a hill, about a mile from the shore. The datives
of the Island. having embraced Christianity, the Regent gave per-
mission to Lord Byron to visit the sacred sepulchre, and take
therefrom whatever relies of their former religion he wished to
possess. The sanctuary was filled with their various Gods—i the
work of men's hands'—some manufactured of wicker-work and
feathers others carved of wood, with numerous articles Which had
been made sawed by being Awed to them, in token of gratitude,
for success in fishing, hunting, and the other occupations of their
simple life. But the article that most struck the visitors as remark-
able, was an English consecrated drum. The temple *as despoiled
of most of its former sacred treasures, which are brought to Eng.
land In the Blonde. (We understand it is intended to publish a
detailed account of this very interesting voyage and visits to the
Islands.] The Blonde left the Sandwich Islands to proceed to
°White, but, in consequence of the trade winds, she could not
fetch It by 60 smiles, and therefore made a direct course for the
coast of Chill, dining whisk she fell in with Malden's, Husbruck's
end Parry's Ishichs, the two former uninhabited, the latter only
known to the inhabitants of Otaheite. and Made a wonderful run
of 4,600 milsaiwthree weeks, and 7,693 miles in ?cupid's* days.
The itioadelmaing arrive¢ at Valparaiso, found the Camltri.*p,
84, Captain IllertiaM that Place, wha lied nuaived Writes from
Lima up to November 2—General Rodil was still holding out at
Callao, but he was seduced to great so-eights from want of provi-
-110111. On the 28th of November, an expedition, consisting of nearly
all the military and naval force of Chili, under the command of the
Supreme Director (retire) and Admiral Blancoomiled against the
island of Chloe. The land fortes consisted of 2,600 troops, who
were to be augmented by 1,500 from Conception and Valdivia. To
meet them General Quintanells, it was understood, had 10,000 de.
tertnined Mimes, all-strongly attached to him.--The Milan naval
forte eisetheted of the following ships : Maria Isabelle, al, Admiral
Blanco. Captain Fadjimr ; Laataro, 46, Capt. Hall; Independencia,
26, Captain Cobbet3thAehillsa, 22, Captain Waster ; Oalvarino,
18, Captain Wynt , and the Chamtruco, 22. The Blonde left
Valparaiso on the November, when the success of the expedi-
tion wee not known. The chances of success were considered rather
against the Chilians. Our .padres in the Pacific was thus di-
vided :—Briton, st X2torilloa, Intending to sail for San Bias early
in December ; Mersey, at San Bias ; hclair, at Arica and Interme-
dies. The Blossom had sailed on her voyage of survey and disco-
very. The Blanche and Ranger were on their passage round Cape
Horn, to relieve the Briton and Mersey. The French squadron at
Valparaiso consisted of the Mans Theresa, 60, Admiral Rommel;
Thetis, 46, /apeman, 20, Aigrette schooner, and Lybio store.
ship. The Admits' was about to sail for Rio Janeiro; the Thetis
and Kewanee to Lima. Mr. Ricketts, the Consul-general for
Peru, was daily expected at Valparaiso, he having passed the Cor.
(Mitres, from Buenos Ayres. The Blonde was only six weeks run-
ning from Coquimbo (the station of the Mining Associations in
South America), and five front Juan Fernandes, to St. Helena;
she traversed a distance of 42,4500 miles in 318 days.
The Blonde left St. Helena on the 28:h of January. Sir Edward
Paget left St. Helena. in the ship Madras, on his return front the
command in India, on the 17th. The latest news from India was,
that the armistice had been extended between his Majesty's forces
and the Burmese. The Blonde afterwards spoke the Madras, in
the chops of the Channel. She also spoke the Atlas, linen Madras
and Colombo, on the 3d February, eight days from the Cape, in
lat. 6 S. long. 15. (i 3 hi'.
(in the evening of the 7th inst., when going at the rate of 12
knots, with a strong breeze, a vessel to leeward in distress was pro.
vide dally descried from the nixes-head, foe which the Blonde Ins-
mediately bore up and boarded. She proved to be the Francis and
Mary, a ship of 396 tons, of and from St. John's, New Brunswick,
belonging to Captain Patterson, and consigned to Campbell and
hlsclrie, of Liverpool. She was a complete wreck, and water-
logged, and only kept afloat by her cargo of timber ; her mainmast
and maintop-sail-yard were the only spars standing, and all her
boats were waaliestaway.
It seldom tills *our lot to have to record such unparalleled and
unheard of sufallige as those whirls the unfortunate beings of this
!orbit:chair Zteart.reusliag cimumstance have gone through.
Two times orpsc ivarrette, thinning use .-essa till t
*bole of the crew-and passengers, in all sixteen souls, were coni-
pelted to getup in the maintop, with only a few pounds of biscuit,
where thepiensaieed fire days. With the remainder of their scanty
stock of bread they kept themselves in existence for five days more,
who, horrible In relate, the cravings of nature. scarcely supplied
in any one way for the space of ten days, compelled them to live on
the corpeincefib. deceased fellow.sufferers, and drink their blond,
and thus.* the space of 22 days, they subsisted in this horrible
manner.

When Abel were picked up, their number was reduced to si% J. Kendall, master, aid hie wife; John Clarke, mate; John
Willson, carpenter; a seaman of the name of 31`1ntire ; and a
young woman., a passenger, named Ann Saunders. They were In
the most deplorable situation when taken on board the Blonde,
some of them being scarcely ably to move, and all being reduced
to mere skeletons. It ix scarcely possikte to conceive, much less to
describe, the intensity of suffering these unfortunate individuals
must have gone through—the total want of food and water, which
lass they were without tram the commencement of the disaster. All
those that died had fallen victim» to an unquenchable thirst and
raving madness, produced from drinking salt water, which they
could not resist indulging io. The two women were stronger than
the men, some of whom wouli Wt have survived even when on
board the Blorsde, bt.t for the great care and attention shown them ;
and they all say that a very few hours must have terminated their
sufferings and their lives. They were picked up in Ist. 44. 43 N.
and Img. 21. 67 W. having drifted since their shipwreck from lat.
a. 30 N. and long. 36. 30 W.
We have received, since the above was written, the following
account of the °entre-nee% on board the Francis and Nary (3tlB tons'
hurient). John
.Kendall, master, laden with timber, from St.
John's, Now Brunswick, bound to Liverpool, consigned to Messrs.
Mackie and Campbell
" Sailed from St. John's, Jan. 18—Feb.1, Strong gales from the
W.N.W. t carried away the main-topmast and Mizell-must head :
hove to got boats galls In the main-rigging, to keep the ship to
the wind. At II P.M. shipped a heavy eta, which washed away
the ett'ioule, jolly -hoat, and disabled five men.—Feb. 2, Cleared
sway the wreck, and made sail before the wli4; strong breezes.—
Feb. IF, 11 A.M., Strong gales. with a heavy sca—clewed the sails
up, and bore to—head to the Southward : shipped a sea, which
carried away the long boat, companion, rifler, unshipped the rud.
der, the best bower chain, and washed a man overboard, who was
afterwuds tared. At il. 10, another heavy sea struck us, which

stove our stein in. Cut away our foremast, and both bower
anchors, to keep the ship to the wind : employed in getting what
provisions we could—by knocking the bow pert out, saved fifty
pounds 0 bread and five tettinds of thecae, which we stowed in the
maintop • got the master's wile and female passenm up, whilst
we were clearing away below, lightening the snip ; most of the
people slept in the n p; at daylight round Patrick Cooney hanging
by his legs to die tatharpins, dead from fatigue; committed his
body to the deep.—Feb. ti. at II A.M Saw, a strange sail standing
towards us, made signal of distress—stranger spoke us, and re-
mained in company twen•y-four hours, but received no assistance,
the American making an excuse that the sea was running too high.
Made a tent of spare canvas on the forecastle—put the people un
a short allowance of a quarter of a biscuit a day.—Feb. 0, Saw a
brig to leeward : strong gales. —Feb. 9. 111 a.m., observed the same
vessel n• windward—made the signal of distress; stranger bore up
and 'hewed American colours.—Feb. 10, He spoke us, asking how
long we had been in that situation, and what we intended to do—if
we intended leaving the ship 2—answered yes ; he then asked, if
we had any rigging ? answered yes; night coming on, and blow.
ing hard—saw no more of the stronger. Suffered much from hunger
and thirst.—On shout the Feb. 11, Saw a large ship to the North.
ward : did nut speak her: wore head to the northward. At this
time all our provisions were out—suffered much from hunger, lion-
ise 'revived no nourishment pr uirr dsse!—Feb. 21, departed this
life, James Clarke, (seaman): read prayers, and conarniued his
body to the deep : we were at this time on half a gill of water a-
day, and suffering much front hunger . during the whole period of
bring on the wreck, we were wet front top to toe. Feb. 22, John
Wilson (seaman.) died, at 10 A. at.: preserved the bo.ly of the de.
teased : cut him up is gnarters, washed them overboard, and hung
them up on deck.—Feb. M. J. Moore died. and was thrown over.'
board, having eaten part of hint, such as the liver and heart. From
this date to Saturday the sth of March, the following number pe.
fished from hunger:—llenry Davis (a iVelsh boy), Alex. Kelly,
seaman, Jolin Jones, apprentice-boy, nephew of the owner; James
Frier, cook, Daniel Jones, seaman, John II utchintion, seaman, and
John Jones, a boy ; threw the last named overboard, his blood
being bitter ; also James Frier, who was working his passage home '
under a promise of marriage to Ann Saunders, the female passen-
ger, who attended on the Master's wife ; and who. when she heard
of Frier's death, shrieked a loud yell, then snatching a cup from
Clerk (mate) cut her late intended himband's throat, and drank hie
blood, insisting that she had the greatest right to it--a scuffle en. 1
,sued, and the heroine (the words of the narrator) got the better of
her adversary, and then allowed him to drink one cup to her two!
Feb. 26. On or about this day an English brig hove in sight—
hoisted the ensign downward—stranger hauled his wind toward us,
and hauled his foresail up when abreast of us, kept his course,
about one mile distance, set his foresail, and we soon lost sight of
him : fresh brew., with a little rain, the sea quite smooth, but he
went off, having shown English colours: hail he at this time taken
us off the wreck, much of the subsequent dreadful suffering would
have been Spitted us.—March 7. H. M. S. Blonde came in sight,
and to our relief, in lat. 44. 43. N. long. 21. 57. W. Words &requite
inadequate to express our feelings, as well as those which Lord Byron
and our deliverers most evidently possessed, when they found they
had come to rescue six of their fellow.creaturet (two of them fe-
males) from a most awful, lingering, but certain death. It came
on to blow during the night a fresh gale, which would, no doubt,
have swept us all overboard. Lieutenant Gambier came in the
ship's cutler, to bring us from the wreck. Ile observed to us,
• you have yet, I perceive, fresh meat.' To which we were com-
pelled to repky, " No, Sir, it is part of a man, one of our unfortu-
nate crew ! It was our intention to put ourselves on an allowance
even of this food this evening, had nor you come to our relief."
The Master's wife, who underwent all the most horrid enfferings
which the human understanding can imagine, bore them much
better than could possibly have been expected. Site is now, al.
though much emaciated, a respectable, good.looking woman,
about twenty-five years of age, and the mother of a boy seven years
of age. But what must have been the extremity of want to which
she was driven when she eat the brains of one of the apprentices,
saying it was the most delicious thing she ever tasted ; and it is
still more melancholy to relate. the person whose brains she thus
was forced by hunger to eat, had been three times wrecked before,
but was providentially picked up by a vessel, after being two and
twenty days on the wreck, water-logged ; but, in the present in.
stance, he perished, having survived similar sufferings for a space
of twenty.nine days, and then became food for his remaining ship-
mates I Ann Saunders, the other female, had more strength In
her calamity than most of the men : she performed the duty of
cutting up and cleaning the dead bodies, keeping two knives in her
monkey-jacket; and when the breath was announced to have
flown, she would 'sharpen her knives, bleed the deceased in the
neck, drink his blood, and cut him up as usual. • From want of
water, these who perished drank their own urine and sal: water;
they became foolish, crawling upon their hands round the deck
(when they could), and died generally raving mad."
We cannot forbear to repeat that a more horrid and affecting nar-
rative of human woe and suffering, it has never been our painful
duty to record. The public, who will deeply sympathise with the
sufferers, will hear with some satisfaction, that the six survivors
out of the sixteen persons are likely to recover front the effects of
their sufferings. We are requested by Mr. Kendall, the master of
the unfortunate ship, to express his heartfelt gratitude to Lord
Byron for his great humanity, distinguished benevolence, and un-
ceasing kindness and attentions to himself and fellow-sake* who
can never forget their obligations to him and his officers. We un-
derstand that Lord Byron and the officers of the Blonde have sub-
scribed uLIW., and the ship's company 1001., toward the relief of the
sufferer. The ship Francis and Mary was on her fire voyage.
The fi.ing of the Sandwich Islands, Tamahansa the First, who
did in 18Ift, bad made most considerable advances towards civilisa-
tion : be had erected, for the defence of his island, three forts, one
of vihiaisounts forty-two pieces af ordnance ; he possessed also a
considerable fleet, with which he had subdued the whole groupe of
ialande, and at the time of his death was arranging an cape.
dition for the conquest of Otahelte and the other Society Islands.
situated at least a thousand miles from him. The simple habits
roi
lir and et* modes of living of the natives do not prompt to much
' exertion I they require no clothing, and their fish, which
abepdant, with the terra root, which grows spontaneously,
afford them a gratuitous, constant, and plentiful subsistence. h
has tweer, until now, been ascertained with certainty how they dis-
posed of their dead. It appears that this duty of concealment de-
volves upon the next of kin, who buries the body in the middle of
the night following their death, and when the flesh has been con-
sumed they Other up the bones, which they convey into the interior
and lodge in a cavity or cleft of the rocks ; these spots are then ta-
booed, or held sacred, by the erection of four poles, to go within
which. Is death. The only symptoms of anger any of the natives dis-
covered towards the Blonde's people, was when, accidentally, one of
then removed a portion of one of these depnsitorirsof the remains
of mortality. The bones of the Royal Family in the same manger
are collected in a temple or sepulchre, and which is the only re-
maining building of the former religion now on . the Island, and
which is situated In Karakakooa Bay. The bow, arrow, slings, and
dolts of the deceased Kings and chief warriors are also deposited
with their remains.

The dagga with which Capt. Conk was killed is in the posses.
slots of a literary gentleman of the Blonde, who has collected many
nme, interesting, and curious particulars, relative to his death, and of
the past history of these interesting islanders.