The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-07 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

His Grace the Duke of Northumberland held a levee
at the Admiralty at Whitehall yesterday for the recep-
tion of &g-officers, and it was attended by the follow-
ing: Admiral Thomas Le Marchant Gosselin.
Rear-Admirals—Robert Wauchope, Sir James Stir-
ling, Hercules Robiasou, Bertie C. Cator, and Sir Henry
Hart, K.C.H.

COURT-MARTIAL ON THE SURVIVORS OF THE
BIRKENHEAD.

PORTSMOUTH, THURSDAY.—The inquiry into thel oss
of this vessel was resumed on board the flag-ship Vic-
tory this morning, when additional evidence was given
by Mr. Edward Wilson, the boatswain's mate, who was
washed off the paddle-box' and, with 14 others, got
ashore on the soonson; by George Till (coxswain of the
cutter, containing the women and children, and com-
manded by the muster's-assistant, Mr. Richards, one of
the prisoners on trial), who said the other cutter was a
ten-oared boat, his was only an eight-oared boat—he
had as many in his boat as she would hold, eighteen
women and children and fourteen men; by John Lewis,
coxswain of the first cutter, who stated that bout was
also full, having thirty-seven souls in her; and by Mr.
C. K. Renwick, the second engineer. The last-named
gentleman threw some light on the actual circumstances
attending, and the effects resulting from, the ship's
running on the rocks. Re said, " I was assistant-en-
gineer on board the Birkenhead on the day she struck,
and was at the time sleeping in my cot. The engines
were stopped. Mr. Whyham, the chief engineer, and
his assistants, Mr. Kitchingman and Mr. rber, were
in the engine-room at the time orders were given to re-
verse the engines, which was done, and continued till
the water rose and put out the fires. The fires were
put out in consequence of the rapidity with which the
water rose in the engine-room. Wo took the injection
from the bilge, but it had no effect in lessening the water.
Mr. Whyham reported to the Captain that the fires were
out, and the Captain sent for me, and asked if nothing
more could be done. I answered that the water was
making three or four feet a minute. I then proceeded
on to the poop, and witnessed the efforts made to get
the port paddle-box boats out. The safety valves about
a minute after I entered the engine-room wore eased to
take the shock off."
By the President—l am of opinion that the " back
turn" hastened the crisis of the wreck by rending the
bilge of the vessel and admitting an immense
flow of water. After the back turn I heard the
rending of the iron plates. If the back turn
of the ship had not been given, I believe the
framework of the vessel would have remained intact for
some time—at least sufficient to have enabled the paddle-
box boats to have been got clear. The flow of water
was not very great in the engine-room before the back
turn was given, but it was in the fore part of the vessel.
She struck very severely after the back turn—a second
time. I do not believe the back turn made a second
hole, but extended the previous rent. The ship was
divided below by bulkheads into compartments; the fore
and aft ones were sub-divided, and were water tight.
conceived that the whole of the fore divisions w
extent
of
one by the bilge being "buckled" up the whole
tho forward pact.
By Captain Chads—l considered that the hole was
made in the fore part of the bilge of the vessel. The
main and after compartments, bad theyremTahineedmiindtsahcitp,
ought to have resisted the flow of water.
main division was filled in five or six minutes after the
ship's striking, which was caused by the extension of
the fracture forward. I believe that the action of the
swell with the motion given by the engines to have
shifted the vessel in such a way as to give her a ful-
crum; she thus rested on the rock and broke her back.
I do not know of any misconduct on the part of the
prisoners.
By the prisoner Mr. Richards—l do not consider you
could have landed without staving the boats. I did not
see any appearance of a landingplace.l conasisd:hr eedeethualdt'
the second cutter had as many people in her
carry with safety.
William Robert Madge,
or
master of the Vict d
posed that the Birkenhead was swung under hisdyi'rece:
lion, on the 15th of
February, when she got a new stan-
dard compass; she was also swung before that, on the
22d of October, 1850.
By the President—The cohmemwaansdearleoef the veshseelrewbays
supplied with the result. s
Mr. Thompson, the late master. I thinkBwstihneghad been
swung at Greenhithe by Captain_ Johnson. I do not
think she has been at any foreign station. (Wi
tness
was then requested to look at the chart,and stateitwnheess
- ther ho would steer such a course as that marked down.)
d
It depends on the deviation; if it had been
would not have cleared the point; but if it
it would have cleared the inner point by two miles. It
on circumstances; would depend very greatly
had there
been any swell or a current, I might not have taken
that course; if it had been smooth,l might have taken
that course.

This concluded the first trial. The court was then
cleared for deliberation;and after remaining closed about
two hours was reopened, when the Judge-Advocate read
the following finding:--
" The Court have to observe, in the first
place, that
from the unfortunate circumstance of the
tairster corn•
mantling and the principal officers of tho ship having
perished they feel that it is in the highest de-gree diffi-
cult, and that it might be unjust to pass cewuze upon
the dcceaied, whose motives for keeping so near the
shore cannot be explained; but they must record their
opinion that this fatal loss was owing to the course
having hen calculated to keep the land in close proxi-
mity. If such be the case, they still are not precluded
from speaking with praise of the departed, for the cool-
ti! ss which they displayed in the moment of extreme,
peril, and for the laudable anxiety shown for the safety
of the women and children to the exclusion of alltrare
fish corsiderationi. With respect to the prisoner tniad.
under the authority of this order, the Court, having
turd,/ and deliberately weighed
whole of the evidence, is of opinion that n_ blamer.
and considered
is
imputable to them, and Both adj
udge the
Ts ahiodrot
Dunn Pow,
land Bevan Richards, and John B°wefunily acquitted, and
John Asbolt, and Abel Steno to
be folly
they are hereby fully accordingly."
to-morrow, to try
Another court-martial assembleacquiyed