The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-12 00:00:00

LONDON MONDAY
E tr.
E 4 „
•
• 04
. ,
, •
.•• -

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE LOSS OF THE BIRKENHEAD.

We are glad to state that the officers and ships'
companies of the ships and vessels at Spithead have
followed the example set by the Commander-in-
Chia', the Admiral-Superintendent, and the ships in
harbour, and have all subscribed a day's pay towards
the relief of the 'Widows, orphans, and distressed
relatives of the unfortunate persons lost by the
melancholy wreck of the Birkenhead.- A committee
will he immediately formed, we hear, consisting of
Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs, Rear-Admiral 11. Pres-
cott, Captain Chads, and other officers, to consider the
best manner of carrying out the philanthropic inten-
tion of the suhscribers. A large sum will, no doubt,
be realised, which will be distributed in a somewhat
similar way to that adopted for the relief of the dis-
tressed persons who lost husbands and relations in the
late Avenger.
At Devonport the following general memorandum
was issued by the Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir
John Ommanney, K.C.B.:—
" Impregnable, in Hamonze, April 9, 1852.
"The distress that must be caused to many of the
families of the unfortunate sufferers in the Birkenhead
is a subject that cannot be viewed with indifference, but
mast create a sympathetic feeling for them, and a desire
to relieve their sufferings, so far as pecuniary aid can be
effective. These sentiments are in perfect accordance
with the ideas of Commodore Seymour, who with myself
is desirous of contributing one day's pay towards any
fund that may be established for that purpose.
" In bringing the circumstance to the notice of the re-
spective captains and commanders of her Majesty's ships
at this port, I hope they will ascertain from the officers
and crews under their command whether they may re-
spectively wish to make a similar contribution.
(Signed) "J. A. OMMANNEY, Admiral.
" To the respective Captains and Commanders, &c."

We are glad to hear that Mr. Scaife, who has been
long serving as clerk in the royal yacht Victoria and
Albert, has attained his long-merited promotion to
the rank of paymaster.
Commander Henry Downes died on the 3d instant,
aged 62.
Lieutenant George H. Godden died on the 3d
instant, aged 27.
Paymaster Edward B. Robins, late of the Cormo-
rant steam-sloop, died on. the sth instant, at South-
sea, from the effects of illness contracted in a tropical
climate.
Clerk—Tobias E. Palmer (1848) has been ap-
pointed from the Jackal steam-tender, to be clerk in
charge of the Bloodhound steam-tender, coast of
Africa.
Fairy screw-tender yacht, and the Elfin dispatch-
boat, will be taken into dock this day, to have their
bottoms looked at. .

Hecate, 6, steam•sloop, Commander Hand, was on
Saturday dispatched from Devonport to cruise in the
chops of the Channel, to relieve the homeward-bound
ships detained by the continued easterly winds.
Jackal steamer, Lieutenant-Commander Bedding-
field, was at Lagoa on the .19th February, as also the
Penelope steam-frigate, Commodore Bruce.
Magicienne steam-frigate, Captain Ramsay, in
command of the steam reserve at Devonport, went
into the Channel on Saturday on a trial cruise. On
leaving the harbour sbe saluted the flag of the Com-
mander-in-Claief, which was returned by the Impreg-
nable flag-ship.
Simoom steam troop-ship, Captain Kingcome, got
up steam on Friday afternoon, and went into Ports-
mouth harbour, going alongside the Malabar, coal
depot, to complete her fuel. She is preparing to take
detachments to Halifax and Quebec ; from the latter
place she will bring back a regiment.
Victory, flag-ship at Portsmouth, having received
new chocks for her mooring bridles, was ,taken back
to her moorings, off Common-hard on Friday evening.

PORTSMOUTH, APRIL 11.—The Retribution, 28,
steam-frigate, Captain Warden, embarked Mr. Staf-
ford, the Secretary to the Admiralty, and Colonel
Green, the Admiralty Engineer, yesterday morning,
and left with them for Plymouth.
The Vulcan steam troop-ship, Master Commander
Penn, was taken into the steam basin yesterday to
have her defects repaired.

THE COAST OF AFRICA.
By letters from the above. squadron to the 19th
tilt. we are informed that Commodore Bruce has
entered into treaty with every native chief in the
Bight of Benin for the abolition of the slave trade,
protection of missionaries, &c. The blockade is
entirely withdrawn, except at Whydah, and there it
will not last long, as Commander Forbes, of the Phi-
lomel, has gone to Abomey to treat with the King of
Dahomey. The capture of Lagos brought about these
happy results. The chiefs, who six months ago would
have killed any English officer who had the misfor-
tune to be thrown in their power, now hail us as their
best friends, swear the slave trade shall never be
renewed in their territories, and desire nothing but
merchant ships for legal traffic.
Commander Forbes, additional of the Penelope
steam-frigate (Commodore Bruce's ship), is very se-
riously ill with dysentery at Abbeokuta; great doubts
are entertained of his recovery.
The Harlequin,l2, Commander Wilmot, is sickly
in consequence of her boats having been employed in
the rivers. The sickness is not of a fatal character.
She has gone to the southward to refresh her crew.
An English merchant at Accra bas, it is alleged,
been sent to Sierra Leone to be tried for slave dealing.
Capin Lyster, of the Penelope, has quite reco-
vered from the wounds received at Lagos. • •
The Wasp, 14, Commander Crozier, arrived at
Sierra Lebte on tWo 10th*Of March froth Ascension,
and Commander Crozier Was invalided home on the
13th. 111r.IBonha`m, the Commodore's flag•lieute.
nant, is appointed•acting commander of the Wasp• ;
and Mr. Bruce, mute; :acting flag-lieutenant.
Mr. De Kantzoii, mate' Of the Volcano, is appointed

to the Wolverine."
Mr. Wright, clerk of the Philomel, to the Water.
witch, as acting paymaster and purser, vice Cum.
ming, returned tcrEngland.
Assistant-Surgeon James Henry, from the Pene-
lope, to the Dolphin.
Second Master Robinson, of the Myrmidon, to the
Tortoise, vice Green, to the Myrmidon.
Assistant-Surgeon Govett, of the Penelope, to the
Myrmidon, vice Mangle, to the Tortoise.
The Wolverine, 12, Commander Falcon, will be
the next vessel home from the Coast f Africa
squadron.
Fitemouru, APRIL 9.—The Augusta Schneider, a
very fine new barque, of 420 tons, which sailed from
this port yesterday for Australia, has taken out to
that colony the first expedition of the Port Philip and
Colonial Gold Mining Company, comprising, with
officials, miners, women and children, not less than
130 persons. Besides these passengers, the Augusta
Schneider has loaded a large quantity of effective
mining materials and machinery, and a considerable
amount in gold specie, all under the charge of Mr. W.
H. Ritchie. Three of the directors of the company
(Messrs. Rich, Horucastle, and Hanson) made a
special visit to the Augusta Schneider prior to her
daparture, which has taken place
„under favourable
auspices of wind and weather.
SHEERNESS, APRIL 10.—Her Majesty's paddle-
wheel steam-frigate Cyclops, 6, chief engineer Mr.
William Chillcottr has been removed from the dry
dock to the west side of the fitting basin, underneath
the sheers. She wits taken into dock on the 20th of
January, and has consequently required nearly eleven
weeks' work on her to make good her defects.
Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-yacht Black
Eagle, Mr. Sohn E. Petley, master, passed by here on
Thursday evening, en route to Portsmouth, for the
purpose of attending on the First Lord of the Admi-
ralty,'who pays an official visit to that port next week.
Her Majesty's screw-steam-frigate Horatio, 24,
Captain the Hon. S. T. Carnegie, will proceed, on
Thursday nest, on an experimental cruise, in order
to try her machinery to the. fullest extent, and the
efficiency of her screw propeller. The officers and
crew, hulked on board• the St. Lawrenee.during the
time she has been in the dock, were turned over to
her on Saturday.
Her Majesty's paddle-wheel steam-vessel Avon, 3,
Mr. Alfred Veitch second master, tender to the Im-
pregnable, flag-ship at Devonport, made her number
on Friday morning, and proceeded on her voyage to
the westward.
Her Majesty's screw steam-frigate Amphion, 34,
chief engineer Mr. George Elcock, is complete in her
rig. She wasremoved yesterday from the fitting
basin to the dry dock recently occupied by the Cy-
clops,
fair the purpose of having her bottom cleaned.
livirH.rlkl_ajeaty's paddle-wheel steam-vessel Myrtle,
Lnpregnabl
W. 6.aßt onuinrcehAie.r,ri,.,moanstseerr,vilceeft
foprortthfeor Chatham
yesterday dockyard,
and returned '
Able
floland Wilson, of her Majesty's ship
The Rev..
am the afternoon.
supersede the-R4egvsbip Devonport, will in a fe w days
.4. W.. Kirby as chaplain of Sheer-
ness Dockyard_
1812,ab.0u tantodrwe
taisr
ea
Kirby entered her Majesty ,s
the post from" which I:I
are informed, verse navy on the Ist of ,j,rin•
performed) on the 30:11 of
eintdeudtietos
of which he has faithfully appointed
A great number of the.timbers of her M
informed that the Order in Council
defective, sjesty's
and that her repairs will occupy a 3:
August,ship
lvLe eha
anlvdBee2rbeen
e , v ,
pe-
riod of time. considerable
relative to the hew plat cf.remuneratiug the mune-

7"; "..;-

tens and pursers of her Majesty's navy
has been signed
by the proper authorities. The details thereof have
not yet been made public.
The Duke of Northumberland, accompanied by
several members of the new Board of Admirely, will
visit the various dockyards during the present week.
Mr. Stafford, M.P., the secret iry, Colonel Green, the
Chief Director of Work., and Mr. H. J. Grant, have
departed from Whitehall on an official visit to Ports-
mouth and Devonport.
Commander Shepherd M'Cormick (1841) died on
Sunday, the 28th tilt., at New Ross, kVexford, Ire-
land. He served in many parts of the globe during
the late war, and was ongeged in many hard-fought
actions. He was last employed in the St. George,
120, and was superseded from that ship at his own
request.
Lieutenant Andrew Robert Dunlap (1842) died a
few days since. He passed seven years of his pro-
fessional career on the west coast of Africa, where
he was present at the capture of 34 slavers. Alto-
gether, he served 15 years in tropical climates.
While in the Eclair he was one of the first attacked
with fever, and although he recovered, his constitu-
tion received shock, the effects of which were never
removed. His last employment was in command of
her Majesty's steamer Acheron, on the coast of Ire-
land, in 1847, during the famine in that part of the
United Kingdom.
The brig Isabella, of Whitby, Grainger, master,
bound for Rochester, got on shore on the Sheerness
Middle Ground on the Bth inst. at nine A.M., having
at the time all her canvas spread, including topmast
and topgallant studding sails. Shortly after,, veering
round upon tide, she let go her anchor. The hands
were ordered to the pumps, and she remained ashore
until eleven A.M., striking heavily. Whilst getting
in her anchor she again took the ground, but shortly
afterwards, floated off, and proceeded cadier voyage.
The schooner, Elizabeth and. maibilt of Whitby,
laden with a cargo of coal for Lon on, ran on shore
on the morning of the 9th inst. on the Black Tail
Sand, a little below the beacon. Some hands belong-
ing to the smacks in the vicinity were employed to
lighten her, and a portion of her cargo having been
thrown overboard she got off at high water yesterday,
and proceeded on her voyage to London.
As a caution to the masters of vessels trading to
this port, we would strongly advise them not to at-
tempt to pass on the north side of the Sheerness Mid-
dle Ground buoy (which lies nearly midway between
the Great and Little Nore) before half flood, or after
half ebb tide, especially when the sea runs high, un-
less their ships are light. On the south side of the
Middle Ground there is from 20 to 28 feet water,
while on the north side, at low water, there is only
from 13 to 17 feet water.

THE BIRKENHEAD.
(From the Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette.
It is with sorrowful feelings and with a heart ful
of sympathy for those bereft of friends and kindred
by the dread stroke of fate that we take up our pen
to comment upon the rueful and appaling loss attend-
ing the wreck of H.M.S. Birkenhead. Fain would we
shun the task, but the service look to us for some in-
formation, and we have gone to some trouble and ex-
pense in the endeavour to show a desire to fully meet
their wishes, as our supplement will amply testify.
The loss of the ship is accurately and circumstan-
tially detailed in the morning papers, therefore it is
unnecessary we should recapitulate those details.
But we are in posses ion of da'a touching the cha-
racter of the Birkenhead which the daily journalists
are not, and can assist in doing that which the me-
tropolitan press has taken but a partial view of in at-
tempting to establish, vizi—a cause for the happen-
ing of the harrowing disaster. Most of our brethren
journalists have, with more or less precipitancy,
placed the blame on the Master Commanding
(Mr. Salmond), and attach the cause of the catas-
trophe to his supposed hugging of the shore to save
time and distance in the discharge of his important
duty. We do not believe such to have been his cul-
pability. We know the Birkenhead to have ever
been a most dangerous vessel to steer, in consequence
of which vital fault she had been very nearly lost on
more than one occasion previously. We know from
the best of evidence personal acquaintance—
that her compasses would not act under, the com-
monest circumstances, and were always, or nearly
always, in error; we know the Birkenhead has been
swung round the entire circle at Spithead three times,
and her compasses have never showed the shadow,
even, of a movement! We know, further, that on
another occasion, whilst at sea, so utterly impossible
was it for the Master to navigate the ship owing to
the attraction of the iron upon the compasses, that
the Master was compelled for safety to take them up
into the mizen top to endeavour to steer the ship by
them !
With :such facts as these (for they are facts, and
have all been duly reported to the proper authorities
at the time) staring us in the face, and many more
which we could adduce in support of our reason
[See the letter of
" G. H. G.," and a paragraph
Shipping quoted from the SIC •Gazette, ng in another
column] for believing there was something wrong
with the ship more than with her commander, we are
inclined to put a very mitigated construction upon the
reports of others as to the apparent want of discretion
on the commander's
part in the matter of the route
. steered.
•
It is impossible -to - describe the sensation this
melancholy event has occasioned in this port, to
which nearly all the crew belonged. The dock-
yard has been the 'Scene of many heartrending
exhibitions of grief;
and' numerous have been the
applicatiens"for'information by widows and orphatis.
The Port-Admiral and Admiral-SuPerintendent
have evinced the utmost anxiety and readiness to
render all the information in their power, and to alle-
viate as far as in their ability lies the distress occa-
sioned by this unlooked-for calamity. The Birken-
head was an iron steam-vessel, of 1,400 tone, built by
Laird, of Birkenhead, for a steam frigate, but so far
from being enabled to carry a battery of guns, she
could not carry her coals ! was consequently converted
in to a troopship,
op
held-hi
which character she never en-
joyed a good reputation, as many officers who have
sailed
a
appointments
in her can testify. She
sp, in
left this port last on the 2d of January, on which day
she victualled as her own troop service complement
aae Masters
Mr.
129 persons, her apportioned complement being 131.
Salmond ranked among the most
of the Royal Navy. His latter
skilfulAs an
ovfigthto
services were in the Retribution steam-frigate, and
the Vengeance, 84, under Captains Lushington and
the Earl of Harwicke ; then the Fisgard, 42, at
Woolwich, from which ship he was appointed to the
command of the Birkenhead on the Bth of February,
1851.
The melancholy intelligence was published on
Tuesday afternoon, and caused a sudden gloom to
spread over the port, as Master-Commander R.
Salmond and Mr. W. Brodie, the additional master,
were well known and greatly respected in the ser-
vice. Mr. W. Brodie had been but recently married
to a sister of W. Bunnett, Esq., of the Bank, Hard,
Portsea. Mrs. Salmond is residing at Gosport. Her
grief we will not attempt to intrude upon. The chief
engineer, Mr. W. WYndhatn, and the assistant-engi-
neers, were also known to many in this quarter.
Many of the officers who were drowned were well
known to the officers of the
garrison here. Cornet
Rolt, of the 12th Lancers, Was the son of Peter Rolt,
Esq., the contractor, who has become a candidate for
the borough of Woolwich, and all feel deeply for the
loss he has sustained.
Although no amount of pecuniary benevolence can
compensate for the loss_ s_ociety and th 3 country has
sustained by this frightfulaccident, yet we rejoice at
the noble spirit manifested by the gallant and distin-
guished in the service, in their desire so spontaneously
by
manifested to alleviate . their purses some of the
poignant distress which is the natural consequence of
such a large bereavement- On Wednes ,
day, the very
day the dire news was officially confirmed,
Admiral Sir Thomas Briggs, G..c.m.G.,
the
Commander-in-Chief at this port, proposed,
and his views were most warmly espoused
Rear-Admiral-Superintendent Prett
by Rear-Admiral..0 SCO ,C .B ~ that
they, together with the , captains, officers, and ships'
companies of her Majesty's y
so
ships and vessels at Spit-
head and in Portsmouth a ur, should in demon-
stration of their deep , regret at the loss of the Birken-
head,3 pay toward
subscribe one day
orphans of
relief of the widows and the seamen and
that
marines who perishedoii
call hasmelancholy occasion.
We are proud to add this been most readily
officers
acknowledged by all the. and crews of the
fleet at this port, in a most eager. and
spontaneous
the 4( good intent" '
manner, and we hope will not stop
'
here, but that every inhabitant of this
mite also i port, at least,
will contribute their towards the same
object.
-------

INATSMOUTH TIMES AND
Other iron ships in the
TO THE EDITOR, ONFATy
Sir,—l beg to send you an extract from a letter I
and the atmosphere
it will tend to
throw some light on the can s of the late disastrous
loss of her Majesty's •hip Birkenhead
" It is supposed that the corpuses were much out,
sthuerewhaeragthederwbietiirii
have just received frolimAlE'the"CElTipTeE: as
bay (Table Bay) yse.tt
experienced a great variation in their
oompitsati, , The captain of the mail [item:tier Bars bits
being
I verye
o t ri cui unsettled,