The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-05 00:00:00

T 7

had regarded as but at best Atl Inevitable evil, Is Un.ll4' ic?:?:Itl-f,;;;:tr'-''
eclt. a beneficent antidote to the ln
of a 111Ciattilii.',,,
tile age—and that the manly virtues would becomekez‹,ii-e:
• tinct, unless invigorated by the siege and battle-field.----'
There are minds so wanting in moral continence that ,
they abandon themselves to every popular emotion or
freazy 'of the hour—who, when all hearts exulted at the
signs of international peace, declaimed of the horrors of
war—who now that the demon of carnage has sway for
a season, sing of the " canker of peace," and who would
be ready to mop and mow with madmen to-morrow if
Bedlam cauld be but one day in the ascendant. Such are
they who now ask us to believe that the spectacle of
human passion and suffering which has been enacted dur-
ing the last year in she Crimea, and which has converted
that fair scene into an earthly pandemonium, is neces-
sary for the social regeneration of mankind ; that the
purer feelings and affections of our nature find a healthy
development in an atmosphere so foul and unnatural that
domestic life cannot breathe it ;—that an employment
where men bring every faculty to the task of destroying
others and preserving themselves from destruction—that
there is the school to unlearn selfishness, and to train us
to the disinterested love of our species ? We are asked
to believe these things. Yes, when we are prepared to
pronounce e New Testament a fable, and Chribt's
teachings au untruth, we will believe them; and not
till then.
Pray receive my apology for trespassing at such
length upon your space.—l remain faithfully yours,
Midhurst, 31st Oct., 1855. RIC"). COBDEN.

r

THE CASE OF TEE ROYAL MAIL sErn3
MERMAID, AT PERNAMBUCO.

LIVERPOOL, Saturday.—Mr. Mansfield, stipendiary
magistrate, was occupiel in the magistrates' room of the
Police-court during the greater part of to-day, on an in-
quiry from the Board of Trade, demanded by Captain E.
Devey, of the Royal mail-ship Mermaid (belonging to
Messrs. Pilkington and Wilson's White Star line of
Australian packets), into certain charges made against
him by Mr. Cooper, her Majesty's consul at Pernambuco.
The case being one of considerable importance to ship-
owners and underwriters generally, ' the Board of Trade
sent down Captain Robertson to conduct it, while
Captain Devey and the owners were represented by Mr.
Hull, solicitor, of Liverpool.
The investigation was private, being only accessible by
the parties interested and the reporters of the press.
B,fore the case was entered into it must Le noticed
' that the certificate of Captain Davey was demanded by
' Captain Robertson, but, by the advice of counsel, re-
fused ; and the magistrate did not think it necessary to
enforce its production.
The facts of the case, as appeared in evidence, were as
follows :—The Mermaid sailed from Melbourne on the
13th of July for Liverpool, with about 200 passengers
and a valuable cargo of merchandise, which comprised
about 400,0001. in gold. Between Melbourne and Cape
Horn, owing to adverse winds and stormy weather, the
vessel began to leak slightly. Some of the cabin
passengers becoming alarmed, entered into corres-
pondence with the captain, who assured them that,
did he think it necessary, he would put into some
Brazilian port, intimating his opinion that such a step
would be unnecessary. Having arrived off Pernam-
buco, and being in want of fresh provisions, he called
there. While engaged in making the purchases required,
some of the passengers reported to the British con-
sul at that pert' that the vessel was leaky, and not fit
to proceed on her voyage. He (the consul) immediately
ordered a survey of the vessel, which being assented to
by Captain Devey, was held, and the surveyor reported
the Mermaid as not seaworthy, and recommending re-
pairs. The conclusion at wheel the surveyors arrived
was dissented from by Captain Devey, and another
survey was wade by American captains, who also ad-
vised re[ airs. It should be stated, that during the
period of the surveys, the vessel was outside the harbour
of Pernambuco, and could not enter it without discharg-
ing her cargo and running the risk of great damage to a
' vessel of the magnitude of the Mermaid, even fur repairs.
The consul, it appears, on the strength of the reports of
the surveyors, required the ship to come into p irt and
repair the leak, and in answer t) the question of Capt.
Devey said that neither the Government nor any of
the banks would take charge of his gold, but he
(the consul) would ; and that for so doing his
claim would be 24 per cent. (which on the gold
alone would amount to 10,0001.), besides his per-
centage for cargo, repairs, &c., which it is believed
would reach 20,0001., a ruinous demand certainly
for owners and underwriters. Accordingly, finding it
impossible even to repair at Pernambuco, where there
are no conveniences fora vessel of such large dimensions,
and having every confidence in his ship (and having
provided extra pumps in case of the leak gaining ground),
and in defiance of the consul, who threatened to report
him to the Board of Trade, and endeavour to stop his
certificate. Capt. Devey set sail for Liverpool, and
ar-
rived, after a fine passage of 34 days, his cargo in capi-
tal condition, his passengers, happy and contented, and
his vessel in first-rate order. Knowing the charges
brought against him by the consul at Pernambuco, Capt.
Devey and the owners of the Mermaid (relesers.
Pilking-
ton and Wilson, of Liverpool) demanded this investiga-
tion. Since her arrival in port the vessel has been sur-
veyed in the graving dock, and the repairs required are
known to be of the most trifling character.
In the course of the examination, in answer to a ques-
tion from Mr. Hull, Captai❑ Devey stated he had been
connected with the sea since 1826, and had been a com-
mander of a ship since 1833. He had perfect confidence
in the Mermaid during the entire voyage. He had com•
mended her ever since she was built.

Captain Robertson said it was evident that it would
have been iwpossible for the Mermaid to have gone into
the harbour of Pernambuco, and very injudicious to have
attempted it.

The examination of Captain Devey lasted about four
hours, when Mr. John Napier and Mr. Faugg, both
cabin passengers on board the Mermaid, on the voyage
from Melbourne to Liv,rpool, and who were present at
the interview between Captain Devey and the consul at
Pernambuco, were examined, and confirmed Captain
Devey's evidence in every particular. In addition, they
stated that in common with the majority of the passen-
gers, they had. throughout the entire voyage perfect con-
fidence in the prudence and seamanship of Capt. Devey,
who never (both witnesses stated) seemed to entertain
the slightest doubt of the sea-worthiness of his vessel.
The British consul's letter to the Board of Trade (on
which the present inquiry is founded), the surveyor's (at
Pernambuco) retort, and the memorial from Vie passen-
gers to Captain Davey, before calling off Pernambuco,
asking him to proceed on his voyage (having every con-
fidence in the ship) were put in as evidence, after which,
it being six o'clock, the case was adjourned until to-day,
when the evidence of the local surveyors will be taken.

i

THE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, Nov. 4.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
46—highest since noon yesterday.
42—:owest this morning and during the night.
47—this day at noon.

BAROMETER, 30.03.
WIND, N.N.E.—Light, with fine clear eunshiny weather,
NOVEMBER 5.
49—highest since noon yesterday.
39—lowest this morning and during the night.
46 —this day at noon.

BAROMETER, 30.28—still rising.
WIN r —W.S.W.—Light, with fine sunshiny weather.
A fog in the morning.