The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-10 00:00:00

THE LOSS OF THE TWEED.

The following letters respecting this melancholy
event will sufficiently explain themselves:— _ _

Sisal, February 19.
We, the undersigned, captain and officers of the royal
mail steam-packet Tweed, on behalf of ourselves and of
the ship's company, and we also, passengers by that
vessel, wrecked on the shoal of the Alacranes, the morn-
ing of the 12th inst., are desirous of expressing in the
strongest terms our heartfelt gratit4de to Captain Don
Bernardino Camp, and to Don Guillermo Villaverde,
chief officer of the Spanish brig Emilio. Under the
blessing of Almighty God, they have, by their noble
and disinterested conduct, been the means of preserving
severity.nine souls from a most horrible fete, and, in
making the attempt, have not hesitated to encounter
ever: risk.

From the first moment that their aid was sought it
was mot generously given, and in the execution of their
purpose they have displayed the promptest and must
skilful judgment.
We have, each and all of us, individually, endeavoured
to express our deep feeling of thankful gratitude to our
preservers.
We now publicly join in the attempt with a hope that
others, beside ourselves, may pay their tribute of admira-
tion to the successful accomplishment of a most generous
and humane action.
EMILIO BANCEL. ANTOINE PIERRON.
T. F. KNOX. LEWIS. H. PRICE.
C. 0. LEDWARD. J. M. ESPINO.
FREDERICK PROBST. G. PARSONS.
F. M. DIMOND. E. J. L. ELLISON.
GEORGE JONES. C. H. ONSLOW.
J. B. CAMERON. E. KNOTT.
BENITO GoBIEZ FARIAS. J. P. RoWLATT.
D. J. BOLET. S. B. ROWLAND.
WILLIAM ELLICE. J. BALLARD.
F. CASTRO.
To Captain Don Bernardino Camp and
Don Guillermo Villaverde, of the Spanish
brig Emilio.

Campeachy.
Sir,—As the agent for ",Lloyd's," appointed by the
managing committee, as soon as I was made acquainted
last rvening, by my correspondence from Madrid, with
the unfortunate loss of the steamer Tweed, on the
Alacranes, I induced several parties to send vessels to
give assistance to the passengers and crew, and to rave
the quicksilver which it was reported she had on board.
Captain John Verde is going on board the schooner
Constante for the said purpose, and I feel confident will
be useful, being an able seaman, and very intelligent.
At the same time, and in the same vessel, I send air.
Thomas Casasus, one of my clerks, who may be of
service to you and of benefit to the underwriters, and
who will prevent anything from being misplaced.
By a vessel that sails this evening for New Orleans, I
give notice to Lloyd's Committee of the unfortunate fate
of the Tweed.

If you think proper to send back this schooner Con-
stante for provisions or any other purpose, you may
mention it to Captain Verde and Mr. Casasua, and
arrange with Captain Verde the terms.
I have recommended to Captain Verde to be obliging
and attentive. Other crafts are preparing also to depart
for the same purpose—of saving the cargo.
There is no English consul here, but there is one in
Laguna—Mr. William Johnson, who is at the same time
the managing partner of my house there; and if you
think proper to enter into communication with him, I
will forward your letters with pleasure. Any assistance
you may require will be more easily procured here than
in Sisal, and, being in my power, will be gladly ren-
dered by me.—l remain, dear Sir, your obedient servant,
JOAQUIM GUTIERREZ DE ESTRADA.
Captain Parsons, of the British steamer Tweed.
P.S.—As I am not certain whether this letter will find
you in Sisal or on the Alacranes Reef, I send a copy to
the latter place, addressed to you, or in your absence to
your agent. If you require it, I have a suitable vessel
to carry the correspond. nee to Vera Cruz.

Sisal, Feb. 20.

beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 18th inst., and in reply have to inform you that
the royal mail steam-ship Tweed, under my command, '
was wrecked on Ole Alacranes on the morning of the
12th inst., at 3h. 30m. A m., and in thirty minutes after
she struck parted in midships and immediately went to
pieces. I now beg to return you my most grateful
thanks for your kindness and prompt assistance in send-
ing several vessels for the protection of the passengers,
officers, and crew of the unfortunate Tweed.
The Tweed, on sailing from the Havannah, which was
on the 9th, had on board 1,115 bottles of quicksilver—
the greater part of this may be recovered ; the ship's
chest, which contained from 7001. to 8001. sterling, be-
longing to the company, may also be recovered. lam
not aware of anything else, except luggage, &c. I am
confident that no part of the machinery could ever be
made available again without great expense to the
company, allowing it could be recovered, which the chief
engineer is very doubtful of. I have pointed out to Mr.
Casasus the' spot on the reef where the Tweed was
wrecked, and sincerely hope he may be fortunate in his
endt avours towards the recovering of the quicksilver, &e.
I have held a consultation with the officers under my
command, and they all agree with me, that nothing can
t,e done towards benefiting the company; I therefore
leave the whole of the arrangement in your hands for
the benefit of the underwriters.—l remain, Sir, your
obedient servant,

GEORGE PARSONS,
Late Commander of the Tweed.
To J. G. de Estrada, Esq., Campeachy.

Sisal, Feb. 20.
Gentleman,—We who, by the mercy of God, in
common with yourselves, have been delivered from
the prusp.'ct of a lingering death, are anxious before
part to bear testimony to the personal exertions
you have made during the very trying period of our
shipwreck.

In de first place, we most sincerely condole with
you upon the loss that has been sustained, for we can
I well understand what must be your feelings with regard
to this visitation of Providence in the IN rformance of
your duty.
To Captain George Parsons we will only express our
sprnpa.hv, and regret that so heavy a misfortune should
have fallen upon one whose vigilance and carefulness are
well known, and whose reputation as a skilful and expe-
rienced navigator has been firmly established by 20 years
course of service as a master in the Royal Navy.
To Mr. Edward Ellison, the first officer, we feel star
that all who have survived the wreck entertain but ore
feeling with regard to his gallant and resolute condo:•
in the performance of a most arduous duty. In the only
remaining ship's boat cast upon the reef, with her bows
stove in. and her sides and bottom much damaged, he
undertook, without a moment's hesitation, to c nvey to
the Campeachy coast the news of our distressed condi-
tion, after a most arduous passage through the shoals :1
night, and exposed during another day and night to all
the risks of starvation or of foundering; he and his gal-
lant boat's crew accomplished this object after runnine
a course of not less than 100 miles. He was the first,
after all bis hardships and fatigues, to sheer us again by
his prese►.ce. We once more beg to express the deep
sense entertained by each and all of us in respect to his
manly and courageous conduct.
To Mr. Charles H. Onslow, the second officer, and to
Mr. Edward Knott, the third officer, but more particu-
larly to Mr. Onslow, we offer our best thanks for their
unceasing exertions; and to the animating example set
by them to the men, under most dispiriting circum-
stances, we bear the most willing and grateful testimony.
To Mr. John Ballard, the purser, and to Mr. Samuel
B. Rowland, the ship's surgeon, we have also to express
our warmest thanks and acknowledgments for their inde
fatigable attention, and to their very orderly arrange.
ments we feel due, in a great measure, the harmony and
good fellowship that existed among us, and the cheerful
participation of all in the common lot.
With our united best wishes for your future welfare,
We are, Gentlemen, faithfully and gratefully yours,
WILLIAM ELLICE. F. CASTRO.
C. 0. LEDWARD. GEORGE JONES.
T. F. KNOX. ANTOINE PIERRON.
B. GOMEZ FARIAS. LEWIS B. PRICE.
EMILIO BANCEL. JOSE M. ESPING.
J. M. DIMOND. J. BLACK CAMERON.
FREDERICK PROUST.
To Captain George Parsons, and the surveying officers
of the Royal mail steam ship, Tweed.