The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-28 00:00:00

.DREADFUL -STEAM-BOAT COL-
LISION ON THE MERSEY.
GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.
LIVERPOOL, TUESDAY.—We have this day to send you
the particulars of a dreadful accident which occurred on our
river last night, and which has been attended with very
serious and fatal consequences, upwards of twenty human
beings having lost their lives by the calamity, whilst a great
many more have been bruised and wounded—some of them
it is feared fatally. Shortly before. eleven o'clock last night,
the steam-ship Sea Nymph was leaving this port for Newry,
and had proceeded down the river as far as the Magazines,
when she was met by the Rambler from Sligo. Both vessels,
on seeing each other, ported their helms, but before this
movement could take effect, the collision had occurred. The
starboard bow of the Sea Nymph struck the larboard bow of
the Rambler, and carried away her stern. The Rambler was
now on shore near the rock, and the Sea Nymph was brought
into the Claience dock, and the cargo discharged—that
having escaped with slight damage, though the ship is ma-
terially injured. We have already stated that more than
twenty persons perished through the catastrophe, and many
others have been seriously wounded.
We have learned since writing the foregoing that the
Rambler had a licensed Liverpool pilot on board, and that
the Magazine life-boat succeeded in bringing 220 persons
from her.
At the Northern Hospital the sufferers are going on as
favourably as can be expected. One man has died therein
since we wrote our previous remarks.
Both the ships are nearly new, and constructed entirely of
iron. The Sea Nymph was lately sold to Mr. W. Tear, of
Water-street, for 20,0001.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.

It is impossible to say, at present, what number of persons
have been injured, but we fear that it will turn out that up-
wards of twenty are already dead, and many others more or
less injured, and some of them very seriously, if not fatally.
e ol
gaunter-boat the
s tar-
In the Magazine boathouse there are fourteen dead bodies,
three more are lying dead at the Northern Hospital, and
fourteen other persons are at present in that excellent
institution, having their necessities attended to. Among
those who are injured, and at present in the Northern Hos-
pital, are--Catherine Gill, Mary Rowland, Patrick Feeny,
John Roach, Mary Carney, Bridget O'Meally, Eliza Con-
nolly, Mary Batty, Margaret M'Oundy, Bridget Lelly, Michael
Finney, and Mary Connolly.
After the Rambler grounded some of the passengers, e
davitg-rea fall, and andeae
de-
spiteexhibited of the persuasion of Captain M'Allister, who we learn,
.gtohftthmaoftinpd,erstooonsk
the stern fall. The
boar
boat
for the purpose of getting ashore. They let go
the for
moment some one cut away
(some say seven, some eleven) possessioni
n th
to her reaching the water, caused her to upset, previous
to ascertain, but at all
the actual result it is impos-
sibleOn going on board the Zents, five were saved.
en-
tering through the chasm ambler, which we did by made through her larboard side
into the steerage, a most extraordinary sight presented
itself. Part of the flooring of the
smashed through, and the remainder a quarter-deck.onf used was
smashed tables, forms, boxes, &c., some floating in3nassthe
of
water which had filled this part of the vessel. The-scene on
deck was still more horrifying, the whole, both fore and
abaft the funnel, being covered with dead pigs, part crushed
to death, and another portion of which seemed to have been
stabbed, the whole saturated in the blood. The most awful
sight, however, was the bows of the vessel, which were com-
pletely bedabbled with human blood, and strewed with
crushed salmon, broken boxes, cordage, &c., &c., and the
fragments of the windlass. From this part of the vessel
thirteen human beings had been extricated, some with
broken arms or dissevered legs—all dead, and so crushed as
to be almost beyond recognition. One poor woman, with her
infant child, was taken up from underneath the broken wind-
lass, the iron spindle of which had fallen upon her head and
smashed it completely ; a portion of her brains was to be
seen adhering to the iron spindle. When taken up her infant
had fast hold of the poor woman's breast. These 13 unfor-
tunates lie in the Magazines Lifeboat-house for recognition,
which, in many cases, from the crushed state of their bodies
and features, appears to be very improbable. We were in-
formed that on the bodies being searched by the constable of
Wallasey, Mr. Scambler, not a coin of any kind was found
upon the whole.
We believe that nearly all the persons on board the Ram-
bler were persons intending to emigrate to America.

IRELAND.
REPEAL ASSOCIATION.
DUBLIN, MAT- 25.—The weekly meeting of the association
was held this day. Mr. Fitzpatrick (barrister) in the chair.
The SESIRETARY read the following letters from Mr.
O'Connell and Mr. Smith O'Brien :
" British Hotel, Jermyn-street, London,
May 23, 1846.
"My dear Sir,—lt is with the most sincere pleasure that I
announce to you my strong conviction that at five o'clock on
the day on which you will receive this letter, that noble--
hearted patriot, Mr. William Smith O'Brien, will be at full
liberty to discharge all his duties to his country and to hie
constituents. He has kindly consented that I should move
for his discharge without making, or being required to make,
any kind of concession, or any species of compromise, but
adhering to every opinion and principle he has avowed, or
acted on. I understand from every quarter there will be no
opposition to his liberation. He will come out of custody as
he went into it, an unswerving, true-hearted patriot.
" It is impossible for his country to estimate too highly hla
services in the sacred cause of Irish nationality.
" I beg leave to give notice of a motion in the Association
that I will on Monday, the Ist of June, move 6 for the ap-
pointment of a select committee of the Association to take
into consideration the best mode of paying a tribute of na-
tional gratitude, admiration, and affection to William Smith
O'Brien.'

" Nothing can be more cheering than the manner in
which this affair has terminated. Our enemies rejoiced that
an alleged dissension had sprung up among the Irish re-
peelers. There does not live a human being who would dis-
countenance more promptly and emphatically any attempt
at exciting any differences among the repealers than Smith
O'Brien. I would readily pledge m existence that there is
not one single individual among the repealers who would
make greater sacrifices to preserve and maintain unanimity
in the Repeal Association than he would. Nay, I am con-
vinced that if necessary he would sacrifice his life to preserve
union and harmony amongst the supporters of the cause of
Irish nationality.
" Dissension has ever been the bane of Ireland, and her
destruction. It has often afflicted our friends, and given a
triumph to our enemies. But, with the assistance of Smith
O'Brien, we are certain it shall never again rear its hideous
head amongst the Irish popular party.
" I beg to remind the Association of the imperative neces-
sity of preparing for ensuing elections. Sixty or eighty re-
peelers in the House of Commons would, in the present
state of parties, protect Irish liberty, enforce Irish rights,
and render repeal itself certain and speedy.
" The Irish public are already aware that the Coercion
Bill is virtually abandoned. It is the first Coercion Bill that
has been defeated. It is the first important victory that the
Irish have achieved in the British Parliament. There never
yet was a public measure so completely, demonstrated to be
futile for its alleged purposes, and so insultingly oppressive
in its enactments, as this last Coercion Bill.

" I, of course, take to myself credit for having exposed, in
public letters, the defects and the iniquities of the proposed
measure. I made its atrocious provisions familiar to the
minds of a considerable section of the English Members of the
House ; bat, at the same time, lam quite ready to afford
the meed of praise to the very many able, argumentative, and
highly eloquent speeches delivered by the Irish Members in
the debate on that Bill. Nothing could exceed the manner
and matter of these discourses.

" The Ministry must attempt to do something for Ireland,
as they have not succeeded against her. Ireland cannot be
left in the state she is in at present, and if England refuses to
attend to the welfare of Ireland, why we know our remedy—
it is the multiplication of our unanimous and strictly consti-
tutional exertions to restore Irish nationality, and replace the
Parliament on College-green.
" Believe me to be, yours very truly,
"T. M. Ray, Esq." " DANIEL O'CONNELL."
" Prison, House of Commons, May 20, 1846.
"My dear Meagher,—As you are about to return to Dublin,
perhaps you will take charge of my subscription to the repeal
rent for the present month.

" Although from prudential considerations the Repeal As-
sociation has forborne to identify itself with the proceedings
which I have felt it my duty to adopt in carrying into effect
the declared policy of the repealers of Ireland, I am still
most anxious that all whom I can influence should support
and strengthen the great confederation through whoseinstru,
mentality we hope to win for Ireland a domestic legislature.
"Unavoidable differences of opinion will occasionally arise
amongst men who are struggling for the same end—such
ferences result from that freedom of thought and toleration
of opinion which we uphold as the most secure foundation
for national liberty; but we must be careful lest honest dif-
ferences of opinion may lead to personal dissensions which
cannot fail to be injurious to the cause of Ireland.
" Mutual forbearance is a sacred duty which we owe, not
only to each other, but to our country.
~
Believe me, yours very truly
" WILLIAM S. O'BRIEN."
" Thomas F. Meagher, Esq."
Mr. Meagher, Mr. O'Gorman, Mr. M. J. Barry, and Mr.
Doheny (barristers), addressed the meeting, and on the part
of " Young Ireland" denied most emphatically that there
were any grounds for the suppositions indulged in so freely
that the members of that party were in antagonism to Mr.
O'Connell. The latter gentleman trusted that "on this day
week steps would be taken under the guidance of the Libe-
rator of Ireland to do honour to the martyr of the Rouse of
Commons, and to receive him on the shores of this country
as the descendant of one of her kings ought to be received,
but, above all, to receive him as a man in whose intrepidity
and honesty Ireland has the fullest reliance."
Captain BRODERICK congratulated the Association on the
probable withdrawal of the Coercion Bill, and believed that
the joyful news would be hailed throughout Ireland with
delight, more particularly so as the announcement was made
on the birthday of the Sovereign.
On the motion of Mr. STEELE, the meeting gave nine
cheers for her Majesty.
Mr. GRA:rrAN, M.P., and other gentlemen having ad-
dressed the meeting, the rent for the week was announced to
be 109/. 13s. 11d. • •
The meeting then adjourned.

THE FOREIGN MAIL VESSELS.—POST-OFFICE
following notice of the vessels appointed to convey the
next foreign mails was on Tuesday affixed at the chief office, St.
Martin's le-Grand :—The Peninsular mails—The Queen is appointed
to convey the Peninsular mails of the morning of the 27th instant,
and will sail from Southampton. Holland mails—The Deem
is appointed to convey the mails of the 27th instant (this,
morning). Madeira, Brazils, Buenos Ayres, &c.—Her Majesty'
brig Seagull will convey the mails of the morning of the 2d June, and
will sail from Falmouth. :West Indies, &c.—Tho Seven: will con -
vey the mails of the morning of the 2d June, and will sail front
Southampton. Sydney, New South Wales—The Trafalgar will con-
vey the mails of the morning of the 31st instant for Rotterdam. The
Batavia for the mails of the 30th inst.
THE SIDON STEAM FRIGATE.—This fine war steamer,
built from a design by Colninodere Sir Charles Napier, was floated
out of the dry dock at Deptford dockyard on Tin a lay, in the presence
of a great Concourse of spectators. On Sunday afternoon Sir Robert
Peel and Sir James Graham visited Deptford Dockyard, and accom-
panied by Mr. Murray, master attendant, went over the Sidon steam
frigate, remaining
a considerable time on board. Yesterday Com-
modore Sir Charles Napier was early at the dockyard, and at half-
past twelve o'clock Lord John Russell arrived on horseback, and was
received by the gallant Commodore, when his Lordshiplvith Lord
Rodney went over every part of the Sidon. The Sidon was com-
menced on the 24th of June, 1845, and has just been eleven months
in construction. At half-past two o'clock, yesterday, Miss Hill,
daughter of Captain-Superintendent Sir John Hill, of her Majesty's
dockyard at Deptford, having drank success to the Sidon, broke a
bottle of wine on her bows, and named the vessel. Amongst the
company present were Sir John Bill, Mr. John Seaward, of the firm
of Seaward and Company, who are to fit the vessel with her engines,
Captain Smith, inventor of the paddle-box boats, and a number of
naval and military officers. The vessel on entering the river was
taken in tow by the Monkey steamer, and proceeded to Seaward and
Company's docks at Limehouse.
PRICE OF GOLD.—The premium on gold at Paris is
16 per milk which, at the English Mint.price of 3/.4l7tah.eleOlichdan. perge
oz. for standard gold, gives an exchange of 25 55 and
at Paris on London at short being 25 75, it f
per cent. dearer in Paris than ill .London. BMows that gold is 0.78
y advices from Ham-
at the English Mint
burgh, the pfice of gold is 435% mark,per
which,
price of 31. 17s. 10y2d. per oz. for standard gold, gives an exchange of
13s. 1014 d. ; awl the exchange at Hambargh on London at short
being 13s. 1130.,
follows
that gold is 0.57 per cent. dearer in Len-
don 'than in Hamburgh.
His Excellency Lord Heytesbury, the Lord Lieute-
- • :
„to' tof Ireland, is expected W wire this week from Dublin,