The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-03 00:00:00

SHIPWRECKS AND LOSS OF LIFE.

Since Saturday night the equinoxial gales have
set in along the north and northeast coast with I
unusual severity, considering the early period of the
season. The casualties among the shipping, especially
those in the coasting trade, have not only been
exceedingly numerous, but in several instances
involved the loss of all on board. Up to Friday
morning the weather continued fine ; as the day
advanced, however, foge and drizzling rain came on, '
which prevailed the whole night. The gale, which
had been gradually increasing in violence from the
N.E., had by Saturday night reached a most alarming
aspect, raging along the coastfrom Harwich northward
to Scotland, with a heavy breaking sea, that excited
general alarm for the safety of the shipping. The
subjoined, it is feared, forms but a brief detail of the
havoc caused by the gales.
Between Seaton Carew and Hartlepool the damage
occasioned in the course of Sunday was enormous.
No fewer than fifteen vessels were driven ashore.
Two of them afterwards sunk, and the others
became perfect wrecks. The agent of Lloyd's
has obtained a list of some of their names,
and among them we find the brig Janes and I
Francis, Mr. Ross, master; brig, John Watson, Kirby, I,
belonging to Hartlepool; the Malta Siren, Curlew,
Cumberland, Elizabeth, the schooner I Y Z, the
George and Eleanor, Voyager, Swallow, Nimrod,
Aid, and two German brigs laden with coals. A
most providential circumstance connected with this
terrible instance of wreckage is, that the crews suc-
ceeded in saving their lives with one exception, viz.,
those belonging to one of the German brigs, who are
reported to have been washed off the rigging and
drowned. From Shields we hear that three vessels
are announced to have been lost to the north of the
Marsden Rooks. One is described to have been the
Verbena, Captain Watson, bound for St. Petersburgh.
Here, happily, the crew were preserved. Another
was a schooner, which was totally lost, and all hands
belonging to her perished in attempting to gain the
rocks. In this neighbourhood of the coast, the fury
of the gale created the deepest terror ; the sea rolled
fearfully, and many painful forebodings are expressed
for the safety of those vessels who put out in the
course of Saturday. Further northward, fragments
of wrecked vessels, and several bodies have been cast
up. Sufficient time as yet has not transpired to
collect further information, but there appears to be
little doubt that one or more vessels foundered with
every soul on board during the storm. In the vicinity
of Redcar four distressing losses happened. In two
instances every unfortunate creature belonging to the
vessels met with a watery grave. They were the
Albion, a brig, Mr. Brotherton master, of Newcastle,
coal laden, and the schooner John of Sollcoats, with a
cargo of linseed and deals. They were driven ashore
in the dead of the night, the gale blowing tremen-
dously from N.E., and very speedily broke up. The
other two were a Dantzic brig, called the (Johanna,
and a vessel named the Frankfort, bound for Shields.
It is expected that the latter will be got off, but the
foreigner was thrown on the rocks and became a
complete loss. Off Sunderland, Middlesborough,
Whitby, and other places along this part of the coast
great mischief was caused. Between the upper part
of the coast of Durham, and nearly as far as Yar-
mouth, as many as fourteen vessels are reported to be
ashore. Several have gone to pieces, and should the
gale not have moderated, it is doubtful whether the
remainder of the vessels could be got off. At present
it is difficult to conjecture the aggregate amount of
property lost.

COMMERCIAL LEGISLATION
AND LAW.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING CHRONICLE.

Sir,—The unlimited extent that commerce has at-
tained through the energy and persevering character
of the people of this country is the most conclusive
evidence that the unfettered action of the mind is the
principal source of its expansion. Individual industry
is the best promoter of advancement and prosperity,
indepcndently of any ether agency. Still, from the
intimate relations that exist between an established
state of society and the Government, no scheme can
be devised in reference to any commercial improve-
ment without keeping in view the existing laws and
constitution. If; then, we seek, in the adoption of
reforms in the Executive or Parliamentary department
of our legislation, the promotion and protection of
commerce, we must not be understood to admit that
commerce owes its elastic energy to legislative in-
terference, but simply that from the opening of better
channels, and the operation of more efficient instru-
mentalities, those questions that necessarily come
under their supervision may be more beneficially and
practically carried out.
A glance at the influence exercised in our legisla-
tive assembly by those who represent the great foun-
tain of riches flowing from fixed property, labour,
and commerce, will supply ample materials for con-
sidering how far, numerically and faithfully, such
important instruments of the common prosperity are
represented. But if from effects we are authorised to
inter the causes, it cannot but be acknowledged that
the commercial power is deprived of that weight and
voice which its importance demands. In the advanced
state of commerce, possessing undisputed power and
influence, commercial questions in the hands of the
Legislature can but seldom meet with any formidable
opposition ; and it is therefore of the utmost impor-
tance that such measures be framed with a tendency
to general and practical good. A knowledge of the
requirements of commerce at large, and a clear un-
derstanding of the various interests affected by any
measure, are essential for sound and impartial legista-
tion. That a deficiency in this respect exists, the
prolonged discussions on any commercial measure,
the changes and amendments proposed, and often
passed, in Bills brought forward even by the Ministry
itself, are the best evidences. It seems, then, to ire,
that if some project were set on foot, by which the
Executive, and particularly its commercial department,
could attain to greater practical knowledge of the
trade and commerce of the United Kingdom, an
incalculable advantage would thereby accrue to the
community.
To produce this effect, I would suggest that Cham-
bers of Commerce be tormed in the principal com-
mercial towns in the country, representing the wants
of commerce, independently of party spirit or con-
flicting notions of commercial policy, and that they
should send each a member, representing the general
views and interests, to form a standing committee,
attached to the Board of Trade, and by whom, under
the supervision of the Ministerial President, all
commercial measures may be initiated.
Another object of the greatest importance has also
attracted my attention—namely, the inadequacy and
insufficiency in the administration of our commercial
laws, in the Nisi Prius Court, sitting at the half-
yearly assizes. Whether we look at the
re-
sulting to trade from the want of immediate aadjtudof
cation of commercial disputes, or at trh:iaw
1 terms
special knowledge of technical' commercial
fail to be
. amongst judges and juries,
fwae cannot
radical reform. I
injuries
impressed with the necessity
u do
o be most desirable that
think, therefore, that
uisnsals of commerce, composed of
diction of local tribe ithloin. id be left under the juris-
diction questiiobt
"' PrWe have evidences of the re at
esided over by legal judges, per-
them generally
m such local tribunals a
throughout
heldt in high estimation, whilst the extremely limited
s beneficially"re see
to commerce.
benefitsrn
ohseatnuc ofcommercialv:dnnt continent
derived
eetvcmdtei
observationsoua7rter: Europe.
pe r a t e
be
S
important to call for a full
the subject, I shall feel gratified
considered sufficiently
remarks ap,p_ear in
add,the and public discussion of
well qualified froth af3rto see the present
columns of your valuable
journal.
comprehen-
sive and correctovnile
that many eminent individuals
their_ positionto form s
on the subject, have concurred
with me in opinio❑ as to the importance of the fore-
going suggestions.
I remain respectfully, Sir, your obedient servant,
Liverpool, Sept. 28, 1849. L. L.
he

AI_VS WORTH.
The chapters of Mr. AinSWOrth'S novel of " Guy
Fawkes," continued in the present number, are. 13, 14,
15, and 16, and the illustrations by Crurkshank,
Humphrey Chetham from
" Guy Fawkes protecting
" "Dr. Dee resuscitating Guy Fawkes.
CateshY"
Metal," an
These a' and ~ Man versus
re followed by
chronicle of the downward progress of a
amusing c
/it/craft-7(r for fame and dinings-out, to obscurity and
starvation. His first attempt at a visit to the
liF"
e:
brouers is admirably describedice--
April 15—It is all very fine
baggage of virtue;' but if the
CANADIAN BUTTER.—An importation of 107 pack-
moiety of my experience, he philosopherwould have had but a
owned that ages of butter has taken place by
poverty is the true impedimenta, very tempter to Clark, from Montreal, the producoof h province of
vice. To MO it looks little -laeissantdhathllecrime to break British North America. the vessel George
t At province of