The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-12 00:00:00

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The 03i-ione at Diamlifiai.
Ihe following are extracts from privergellaa.: g
• " Masulipatane, Nov. 6.
" I cau only write a short note to tell you to be
thankful for us had Cur preservation. A moat awful
calamity has happened to this place. On the night -
of the Ist we had a most furious gale, with torrents
of rain, which brought up the sea upon the place,
though we aro three or four miles from it. In our
compound it was Oft or 7ft deep, carrying every- .
thing mov.kble before it. Our house is well raised,
so little came in, but those who were lower had the
water in according to their position; and Sou may
fancy the condition of the poor natives and the
Sepoys, who live in mud-walled huts on the
ground. The Sepoys' houses were literally swept
away, and about 200 men, women, and children
perished. It was in the dead of night, which
made it more awful. In the hrge native
town the loss can hardly be calculated ; but people
say 2,000. I hope that is exiggarated. The diftia,
culty is to bury the dead, also the cattle, which are
so numerous. We have lost a valuable horse and
three of our find cows, all our turkeys, fowls, &c.
Mau' of our outhouses fell down ; but I am thank.
ful to say none of the servants who live there were
killed, which has happened to many others. In.
deed we have been mercifully dealt within compa-
rison with many, the:sea water:having ruined the
whole of their property, their carriages broken by
the falling in of coachhouses, Sae. The trouble now
is to get good water, as of course the wells have
been filled with sea water ; also to get provisions,
We live almost upon rice, and that scarce ; no bread
can be made at present,--flour spoiled and apparad
tus-destroyed. Today is Sunday. I heard it just
now with surprise, as I had lost all reckoning of
days.

" On the evening of the day after the night of
the storm the rain began to abate. All but the
Europeans, and some of these, too, and a few native
servants were utterly prostrated. There were fears
of want of food for the people and Sepoys, and of
an outbreak in consequence ; fears of not being able
to get away or open communication ; and fears of
the awful stench which must ensue. From the
morning of the 3d, 1 believe, no European who has
not been ill, and few of the best natives have
been idle from sunrise to sunset. In the Sepoys'
lines or barracks alone about 300 bodies were
buried; these parties were organised with Sepoys
to press the natives to work, and for two days
I was burying in charge of a party, like all
others. Then the rice warehouses had to be
opened and guarded by Sepoys under us, so as to
supply the people and prevent looting. Then there
was terrible fear of failure of water. At last one
well was found for the whole town and cantonment.
Now we are digging in all the high places, and I
think sweet water may come soon. Yesterday I
took a cask of water to the fort, which is two miles
off, standing by itself ; about a quarter only of the
population is left there. But, thank God, all of lei
men, women, and children are well, and we aro all
very hopeful. I am in hopes that sickness may
keep off, and the sun is now bright, so that we can
burn the bodies and drift in a few days."
" Masulipatam, Nov. 4.
On :the night of the Ist a most terrible cyclone
blew here. At ten o'clock the cry of The sea is is
1 upon us!' took us out into the verandah, and the
taste told us that this was true, with no hope of
life. J— and T—, in whose house I was, saved two
or three drowning servants on the steps of the
verandah, though nearly blinded and blown away
ourselves, and after feeling the sea water rise over
the verandah into the house, retreated upstairs.
This is one of the few storied houses here. There
for five hours we sat, alternately fearing to be swept
away by the sea or crushed under the falling roofs,
we knew not which was our most terrible foe. Hav-
ing swept round the compass nearly, the wind
abated a little, and, wet through, with 12 people
besides ourselves, we slept from sheer fatigue.
"By God's mercy we were more favoured than
others, some of whom, ladies with children at home
alone, sat on tables downstairs all night ; some
with no light, some people standing up to their
waists in water all night. Ntxt morning's light
showed us not a tree standing—nothing but water
to be seen on every side. We went and brought to
our house one lady, three children, and her hose
band, who had floated in the one room left in their
house for some hours ; we waded through the can-
tonment up to waists and found no European life
lost; but life was almost all that was left. In fear
of the return of wind, or rain, or sea, we passed the
day.

"The native town is entirely washed away ;
5,000 natives at least have perished. Food for the

living, to enable them to bury the dead, and so
prevent cholera, is most needed. We are cut off from
most places,—Your loving son,

"F. B."

THE BROTHERS DAVENPORT AT OXFORD.—
RIOTOUS PROCEEDINGS.—The Brothers Davenport
visited Oxford on Thursday, Dec. S, and gave a private
seance at the Town .hall and adjoining council chamber.
The public entertainment was announced for seven o'clock
in the evening, and notwithstanding the counter attrac-
tions of the Oxford University Ama ter r Musical Society,
the hall was well filled with members of the -University—
the undergraduate element vastly predominating, 1)r.
Ferguson proceeded to explain the nature of the
performance of the brothers, but from the moment he
appeared on the platform a most determined opposi-
tion sot in against him from the " choice spirits" in the
body of the hall, who kept up a perpetual disturb-
ance to the conclusion of the seance. Those who
remember the reception given to " Barnum" and other
impostors by the undergraduates, who have always appre-
ciated genuine talent, will no doubt think there was some-
thing more in their conduct than appeared on the surface,
and from the animosity displayed to the lecturer when he
informed them that certain conditions were necessary for the
realisation of the phenomena, it was at once observable
that the performance of the brothers was regarded by the
students as a " false pretence." Dr Ferguson having at
short intervals of quietude explained the conditions,
called upon some of the audience to come forward and
do the brothers, &c., and several gentlemen imme-
diately offered their services, and after a little delay
Captain Owen, the chief constable of the county, and
Mr Talboys, a gentleman commoner of New Inn Hall,
were selected to represent the public. IVithout going
minutely into the performance we may say that the brothers
acquitted themselves most satisfactorily, and the most rigid
scrutiny of the captain and his colleague failed to throw the
slightest light on the mysterious cabinet. Dr. Ferguson
was assailed with all sorts of remarks during the entertain-
ment, and his approach towards the cabinet was regarded
with the gravest suspicion, and caused repeated cries of
" Keep away, Ferguson.'' The suggestions of the audience
to " open the doors of the cabinet," while the manipula-
tions of the cord were proceeding in the interior, seemed
at one time likely to be realised ; but a feeling of
honour prevented the undergraduates from making
such an attempt. After the success of the cord trick
suggestions were made by the audience that Capt.
Owen should do the brothers with tape or whipcord; but
they remained unheeded. As the performance approached
its termination the students became more unruly, breaking
down the barriers which separated the room, and destroying
the city scats in the most reckless manner in their desire to
reach the platform, Having gained this end with the os-
tensible object of inspecting the cabinet, they commenced a
series of "manifestations" of a character strange to the
brothers (who looked on with feelings of surprise and fear),
and the cabinet was in immediate danger of total destruc-
tion, as they commenced swaying it to and fro with a deter-
mination which at once implied wilful mischief. At this
critical period the Junior Proctor, the Rev. Mr Harrison, of
Oriel College, made his appearance on the scene, attended
by three followers, and after some little difficulty, order
was restored. During the melee one of the brothers
exhibited his pluck by a short encounter with an undergra-
dute, which Was speedily checked. The appearance of the
hall when empty, was one of devastation, and the spirited
caterer for the Oxford public (Kr Thomas Hall) who en-
gaged them will regret, more then any one else, the un-
popular recreation awarded the Brothers Davenport at Ox-
ford. Later in the evening the brothers gave their dark
seance at half a guinea, which was attended by about sixty
persons. The proceedings were most orderly, and the re-
markable performances of the Brothers Davenport and Mr
' Fay gave the utmost satisfaction and created an immense
amount of interest. Yesterday (Friday) the performances
Were freely canvassed in the town, and the unanimous
opinion was ono of wonder and admiration for their remark-
able talents.
LADVEIITISESIENT.I—IioIIoway'S Ointment and Pills.—
Rheumatic Pains.—Many thousands of martyrs from
rheumatism have found human life one long disease, and
after consulting all the most eminent medical men in vain
have ceased to hope for comfort on this side of the grave
until some lucky accident has called their attention to Idol-
loway's pills and ointment. These are genuine remedies
indeed ; persons bedridden for months with rheumatic pains
and swellings, after the ointment has been well rubbed into
the affected parts and the blood purified by the course of
these pills, have found themselves restored in as incredibly
short time to perfect health and ease.

LrFEBOAT SERVICES,—During the storms
of the past year the boats of the National Lifeb4at
Institution saved 417 persons from different wrecks on our
coasts, The Institution also expended £13,819 3s. 2d. in
the same periud on lifeboat estab ishments, in addition to
granting .£1,351 65. od. as rewards for saving 714 shipwrecked
persons by its lifeboats, and other means.
The Committee of the Institution earnestly A OPEAL to
the public for ASSISTANCE to enable them to meet the
continued heavy demands on the Institution's 137 lifeboat
establishments. Contributions are received by all the Lon-
don and eountry bankers ; and by the Secretary, Richard
Lewis, at the Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
The Last Night but Five previous to the commenca-
mencement of the Christmas Pantomime.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR, THE WEEK.
The performances will commence with YOU K OW WHO.
Followed, THIS EVENING (Monday), Wednesday, and
Friday, by LA SONNAMBU LA.
To-morrow, Thursday, and Saturday, FAUST.
Conductor, Signor ARDITI.

Doors open at Half-past Six, commence at Seven. Opera
at Eight.
Box Office (pen from Ten till Five. Private Boxes, from
10s. ed.; Stalls, 7s. ; Dress Circle, 55.; First Circle, is. ; i it,
2s. 63. ; Gallery, as. No charge for booking places. No fees
to box-keepers.
In preparation, a Grand Christmas Pantomime.

itOYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT
GARDEN.
(Opera Company, Limited.)
Last Appearances but Three of Mr. Charles Adams.
THIS EVENING (Monday), Dec. 12, the performances
will commence with Weber's overture to I'reciosa. After
which, Verdi's opera, IL TROVATOR E. Leonora, Mdlle.
Z. Martorelle ; Inez, Mrs. A. Cock; and Azucena, Madame
Fanny Huddart; Count di Cuna, Mr. A. awrence ; Ferrando,
Air. A. Cook ; Ruiz, Mr. C. Lyall ; Gipsy, Mr. Melville ; and
31anrIco, Mr. Charles Adams.
To conclude with the Third Act of MASAN lELLO.
Conductor, Mr Alfred Mellon.
The Incidental Divertissement will be supported by Mdlles.
Duchateau and Boni anti.
Commence at half-past 7 o'clock. Private boxes, from
105. 6d, upwards ; stalls, 7s. ; dress circle, is. ; upper
boxes, 4s. ; amphitheatre stalls, is. and 2s ; pit 2s. 6d. ;
gallery, is. No charge for booking places. The box-office is
e'pen trom 10 till 5.

THEATRE ROYAL, D RURY - LANE.-
Managers, Messrs. E. Falconer and F. B. Chatterton.

THIS EVENING, to commence with A YOUNG LAD
FROM THE COLIN rRY. Messrs. G. Belmore, Fitzjames,
and G. F. Neville; Misses Helen Howard, R. Leclercq, etc.
After which, Shaksoere's Tragedy of MACBETH. Mr.
Phelps ; Messrs. Creswick, It. ltoxby, G. Belmoi e, Rayner,
2r. F. Neville, Edmund Phelps, J. Neville, Bartleman, Ito. ;
Misses Rebecca Isaacs, Emma Heywood, and Miss s. elen
Faucit.