The Sun.
London, England, 1839-08-21 00:00:00

a boat was to be sent to them as seen as poiiilile; ane treat
no human 1-,e:rig having approached them fee teethe days,
they died of starvation, the body of her son being found
with the head reclining upon the breast &t the second mate.
The ship carpenter assured the Lord Mayot that the
suspicion that there was no fair play exercised towards the
deceased men was quite unfounded, He was one of the
persons employed in the Toward Castle in tbe whaling
voyage. After the vessel struck, they all got into four
boats and rowed away for land, the captain and the first
and third mates, and two others of the ship's company. soon
got out of sight in the first boat, into which they flung them-
selves, leaving the rest to shift for themselves. It ap-
peared that some time afterwards the captain and those
who accompanied him in the boat were picked up, but that
the captain not being able to reconcile himself to the cala-
mity, leaped overboard. The rest of the ship's company who
had got into the three other boats succeeded in reaching a
small place called Ceres islaed, but finding that there was
nothing to be had there, they preceeded to another at a
greater distance, called the Mermaid Island. lipen land-
ing on that shore they perceived that there was as little
promise of relief in their extremity, and then it was pro-
posed that they should, after a short stay to rest themselves,
return to the wreck. This proposal was agreed to, but
the second mate being toe ill to stir, and young Wade and
one of the crew and a native of the coast having agreed
not to leave him, it was resolved that one of the brats
should be rowed back for them in the event of success.
When the boat reached the sands on which the ship struck
it was ascertained that almost the whole of the property
was driven ashore, and that the vessel had gone to pieces.
The LORD MAYOR—Did you go back as soon as you
could to Mermaid Island to the relief of those you left
there ?
The ship carpenter replied, that a boat went off as
soon as water and biscuit were procured, but the surf' was
so great she could not venture close to the island. The
difficulties and horrors they had to encounter were so dreadful
and so numerous that eight days elapsed before they came
within sight of the island. As they dared not to venture
to the shore on account of the surf, they rowed round, but
saw no sign of any living thing. They then returned.
Subsequently, a vessel called at the island, and the three
bodies of the white men were found, but not even a bone
of the black man was to be seen.
The LORD MAI OR—I apprehend that, under the horri-
ble circumstances, those who survived bestowed but slight
consideration upon the poor fellows on the island ?
The uncle of the second mate said that the
crew, as he understood, got hold of a rum
cask, which was, with the casks filled with oil,
cast ashore, and drank to excess. He believed that
Gerard had property on beard, and lie believed too that
every thing the ship contained was saved. He therefore
apprehended that there might have been no great dispo-
sition to look after those who might put in their claim for
what was found.
The LORD MAYOR—Do you accuse this man of being a
party to any plan for appropriating goods found on the
wreck ? The second mate's uncle—No, Ido not accuse
him, but Gerard had money and other property ; there is a
likeness of his wife, which was left in the wreck. Why was
not his other property also taken care of.—( Here the like-
ness of a genteel looking young woman was produced.)
The ship-carpenter said that the likeness had been
washed ashore with other things, and was preserved,
Gerard having expressed an anxious desire that those
who went to the wreck would be particular in looking for
what he regarded so much.
The LORD MAYOR—Did you see any money ? The
ship-carpenter—l saved a few dollars, which we put into
one of the boats. Some of the dollars were my own.
Mrs. Wade—My Lord, this man's account differs in
many respects from what I understand he first stated. I
am quite convinced that my poor son and the rest of the
poor creatures who were left to perish might have beer,
saved, if there was the least disposition to save them. We
are given to understand that this carpenter was left in
charge of the boat in which the second mate and my son
were to have gone, and that he could of course have gone
round to the island in proper time. The distance was
only 60 miles.
The ship carpenter most solemnly declared that the
boat was put under the command of Barbury, one of the
crew ; and that be (the ship-carpenter) was wholly in-
capable of reanaging craft, never having had any practice
of the kind.

Mrs. Wade—lt was the cruellest thing in the world to
leave your comrades on a barren rock, where there was not
an atom of vegetation by which they might have kept life
in them fora time until succour might arrive. My poor
child survived several days, for I have been informed that
the captain of the vessel which afterwards touched at the

island; said he saw on a tree which stood near the borders,
a diary which was kept by the poor unhappy boy, who
scraped his name upon the bark, that those who next arrived
might he certain of his fate, and communicate it to his mo-
ther. The mother sobbed bitterly when she mentioned this
t filictinr, accident.

The LORD Mitvon—What became of the two other boats
which left the Island of Mermaid in order to go to the

wrvek ?

The ship-carpenter—They were lost no doubt. It was
night when we got to the wreck, and we lighted a fire, and
held it aloft, as a beacon to the two other boats, but we
saw nu more of them, and we concluded they went to the
bittom. As soon as we could we communicate with the
English Consul on the coast of California, we told him of
the wreck, and requested he would send down to secure
the property.
The LORD MAYOR—You Of Course told him about the
men you had left on the island?

The ship• carpenter—NJ, we did not exactly tell him
about them, hut we told the Captain of the vessel who
was sent to take charge of the cargo, that they µere there.
The second mate's uncle—lt is evident that there was
At any rate, a total carelessness about the dreadful situation
in which the four unfortitnate fellows were left. A more
amiable and affectionate creature never lived than the
second mate. He was beloved by every body.
Mrs. Wade--I am convinced of that, for I have here a
letter from my poor departed boy, mentioning what a warm
and disinterested friend he had lost in Mr. Gerard. lam
sure that my boy never could leave him in his illness.
The ship-carpenter stated that young Wade had himself
proposed. unsolicited, to stay with the second mate. He
again protested that he and those in the boat with him had
done all fur the best. They had witnessed all the horrors
of the wreck and the loss of the two boats, and the aban.
(hutment of the captain, and they did not know the moment
when they were tobe swallowed up themselves—what could
they have done in such as ful circumstances ?

The uncle of the second mate—lt is quite impossible
that in so fine a climate (perhaps the finest in the world)
the wind could have continued so violent as to render a
visit to the island, which was only sixty miles distant from
the wreck, and quite close to the coast on which you were,
danger us. You ought to have performed your promise,
and saved the lives of your fellow creatures.
The Lou) MAYOR—We must make allowances for the
situation of those who had already undergone so
many perils. It would have been a noble act,
and one of which thousands of our seamen arc capa-
ble, if the promise had been performed at all
hazards, but self preservation is a principle of
immeasurable strength, and of its operation in this case
there is not the least Question. The details which I have
heard are melancholy is the extreme Providence has f
its own wise nurposcs determined that some of us shall
enc.Dunter sufferings in the loss of those who are most dear
ti us, which appears at first sight to be unparalleled; but
we have only to look round to be convinced that there are
others who are as much enti:l,d to commisseration.
Mrs. Wade—lf my poor boy had sunk to the bottom of
the sea at once, there would have been something in the
idea to console me; but to think that he lingered out
many miserable days in the agony of hunger and thirst,
that is what I cannot bear.

The aunt of the second mate appeared also to be
completely overpowered with grief, and both of the afflicted
women reproached the ship-carpenter in the midst of their

The ship-carpenter informed the Lord Mayor that be
should be at all times ready to come fotward, and be
hoped that when any of the crew who escaped with him
should appear in England, they would be called upon to
give their account of the whole prry2eedings. He trusted,
too, that the Captain of the vessel which took up the
wrecked goods would come forward and state Ilia impres-
sion f. orn.what he had heard and observed.

The LORD MAYOR, after having soothed in the most
consoling terms the feelings of the relatives of the de-
ceaied, stated that he should be ready to pay the utmost
atten•ian to any furthi r intelligence on a subject so deeply
affecting and impressive.

VAN ANIBURGII.-The police, with the fore-
sight which characterizes it on all occasions, has waited
until seven o'clock in the evening, the hour at which the
public thronged the Porte Saint Martin Theatre, to pro-
hibit the performance of M. Van Amburgh and his ani-
mals. The reason given in a bill was, that " measures of
precaution required the postponement of the representation
to next day."—Paris Print of
ANTA ItCTIC EXPEDITION.—Her Majesty's
Government having some time since, in accordance with
representations made to them by the Royal Society and
other scientific bodies, determined on sending out an ex-
pedition of scientific discovery to the Antartic Regions,
under the command of Captain James Cark Ross, the
Council,of the Royal S.miety were requested to draw up
a Report, enumerating the objects which should more
especially receive attention, and embracing disputed points
in physics and natural history. That Report has just been
completed, and a copy forwarded to the Admiralty Board ;
and among the individuals of eminence who assisted in its_
construction were the Marquis of Northampton,
Herschel, Dr, Faraday, Professors Grant, ',yell,. art •
The expedition, which is abundantly provided fort,,,:eneve,
conduct its observations in concert, on a Sir J._,Fe
moat
Royali
scale • and several of the leading, members e theh
n
the Geographical, and the Zoological Societies a . .
tied their intention of joining it.
The Cassel Gazette says that ping Russiao f a d
Aus-
tria have addressed a note to the Hanover,
questing him, amongst other things, to change the person.
is Cabinet.

is /of h

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMMONS, AUGUST 20.
IRISH BANK.