The National Register.
London, England, 1820-10-01 00:00:00

EICTRACI OF A LETTER FROM IROMR AY FROM ONE OF

THP: ►NUR PERSONS WlllO ESCAPED.

" We left Bassorah on the 12th of NI arch 1820, and
had a tedious passage down the Euphrates, On the
17:h we bore off Hiatt'', an island about 40 miles from
Bushire. During the night of the 17th it blew fresh,
►with a considerable sea. Abort 3a. m. of the 18th it
fell calm, was Wad: and cloth', with thunder anC
lightning. The mainsail ►was battled up, and the top-
sails wt. re lowered snail after. About half past three a
sudden squall tame from the northward, accompanied
with thunder lightning, and rain. I was in bed, but
awake. I tented out on hearing the wind ; and
as our birth opened on the main-hatchway, I went out
and mood between decks to see what was the matter.—
As I looked up, the vessel keeled, the water came rushing
over the larboard gunwale, the launch went over the
side, and and at the same time I her.rd a crash above me,
whtt•h must have been the mainmast. At this time I
heard a horrid shriek, and found myself below water.
" All this must have taken place in less than a mi-
nute and a half from the first coining on the squall. On
eu ing to the surface I loand myself among pieces of
boards, and haerd a few men around. I, however, felt
myself irresistably pulled below the water, and Went to
the depth of three or four fathoms before the power
that drew me desisted. There was nothing had hold of
me, but some power I could not overcome, drawing me.
It was the vortex formed by the sinking vessel. On
reaching the surface a second time, and swimming a
little, I saw a boat bottom up, towards which I made,
sod got upon it. Hearing some people in time water
mar me, (for it was quite dark and rainy), I called out,
and was joined by six nr seven inure of may unfortunate
companions. All else was quiet, except the tossing of
the waves, and Ma cries of a little boy at a distance, but
to whom we could give no assistance. In a few minutes
he sunk, and we were left the remainder of 83 persons,
whoa kw minutes before had no idea of danger. The
squall was now over, hut a heavy sea continuing, made
the canoe roll over and over, which always threw us to
sonic distance in the water and exhausted us very much.
After tumbling about i❑ this way for smite time, three
or For men could stand it no longer, and dropped off.
There were now four of us only reinaitting, of 83 persons
who composed the ships company, and expecting every
moment to share the same fate. However, we at last
contrived to right the boat, and kept her on her keel,
although hill of water, by placing a few s;'ars accross the
gunwale, which prevented her from rolling. We fas-
tened these with strips of our shirts and handkerchiefs,
and eat upon them. At daybreak, the lands of Har-
rah was seen, about 12 miles distant. We also saw the
high land about Bushire, but that was far off. At this
time we were joined by two other men, who had kept
near us on a spar mai! our little raft should be ready
One of these poor fellows died before we reached the
shore. Satiug upon this swamped boat, naked, and
every sea coming over us, we continued to drill towards
the island, and ahout two p.m. we got within a mile or
two of the beach, and expected in half an hour more to
land. At this time 1 observed that the tide lavga I/ to set
us oil again, and drift us round the island. As we were
evidently leaving the shore List, it was proposed to swim
ashore, but on making the experimeta we ffintal our-
selves weak, and time distance so great, that we were glad
to put about, and with great difficulty sonic of us reached
the canoe. Luckily the current soon changed and
rem us back again, and a little after sun•sct we were cast
upon a reef of locks, over which waded till we got upon
dry land. After walking two or three hours along the
beach, we arrived at the town, and were immediately
taken to the Shiek. We remained there three days, and
dining that time received every attention and kindness
welcould expect. On the 22d March the Snick gave us
a boat, mu which we arrived at 11.ashire the same even-
ing. We kit Bushire on the 28th, and arrived here a
few days ago.

alarm in Sl. Sepulchre's Church.—About seven o'clock
yesterday, while the evening service was performing
in the church of St. Stpllithre, a young mall of reSntCl-
i able appearance, a native of Konigsberg, named lints-
tein, entered the church, and, turning towards the
• organ gallery, fired a pistol at the organ. The congre-
gation, who were at that time chanting a part of the
service, were throw'. into the greatest consternation and
alarm. The exercise of devotion Were interrtipted, and
a general cry was raised to st la: the offender lle was
immediately !,ecitred, and carried to the C liter. Oil
ins apprehension he manifested no symptoms of fear Of
regret, and appeared, wiles) tak.:n w the Col.llner, to
lie Compos,l and self-satislied. When walking up the
aisle, Mier tiring Ow pistol, he scattered profusely print-
ed copies of the following sentence, which at once shows
the getier.d derangement of his mind and particular
direction which his previous isrejudice had given to his
insanity:—
" The abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel
the prophet, that shall stand in the holy place, is the
organ :—t is the image of the kingdoin of Antichrist;
the music Baby lon the beast."
11 is pockets were filled with copies of the same rhap-
sody, which plainly evinced his meditated hostility to
the gift of St. Cecilia. We remember that the Scotch
covenanters, in their pious abbot rence of church instru-
mental music, called the organ a cites/fatty. whistles ;
and no doubt this act of insanity was perpetrated under
a similar imprevion that the use of the organ was a
profanation of religiiso and an insult to Heaven. Since
he has beets in the Compter lie has been recognised, and
several other instances of Ins insanity, unconnected wilt
religion, have been detailed.
Extract of a letter from the Agent to Lloyd's at Gibraltar,
dated Sept. 7.—.. By advice to-day from Tangier, it cppears,
that an Algerine squadron, consisting of two corvettes and a
schooner, passed these Straits to the westward, on the 4tli
A corvette, of 24 guns, stood into Tangier, but immediately re-
joined the others and made sail."