The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-28 00:00:00

TILE GREAT BRITAIN.

(From the BelAst Norihern TVhig of Saturday.)
We are enabled by the kindness of Mr. Gabriel, R.N.,
to give the annexed account of the state of the Great
Bruairi up till noon yesterday. The writer, as the
public are aware, is the gentleman who carried off the
Gorgon steam-frigate, when she got high ashore. In
a former letter tou she expressed his confidence in being
able to do the same by the Great Britain, if the oppor-
tunity of doing so were afforded to him; and ho now
reiterates his conviction, stating that two or three weeks
would serve for that purpose. The following is his
letter :

"TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN WHIG:
" Dundrum, Thursday Evening.
"Sir,—This ill-fated steam-ship, Great Britain, has
had some very severe weather to contend with during
the last three days. Yesterday it blew a strong gale,
veering from W. to S., accompanied with heavy h
her w
rain.
At high water, it appears, the ship
t
was struck
three or four heavy seas, which have moved stern
from ten to fifteen feet further in shore, and lifted her
over the rock which was under her starboard bilge.
She has suffered no damage further than a large
dint or bilge on her larboard side. No other vessel
in the world could have stood this weather but herself.
She is still perfectly upright, and reflects the highest
credit for her stability on her constructors. It is very
plain that withal she cannot stand through the winter,
subject to the heavy gales that attend the spring tides
on this coast at that season of the year. It is proposed
to erect a floating breakwater astern of her. This cer-
tainly may tend to her security, but I fear the holding
ground is not to be trusted.
" I still persist in saying that if I meet with due sup-
port from the directors this noble vessel can be saved;
and, in my opinion, the longer she remains upon the
sands the greater the doubt will be with respect to her
salvation. It is quite evident she must have floated
abaft, or she could never have been hove over the bank
of sand that had accumulated on her lee or starboard
side. Her stores that were landed last week, are, with
the exception of the bonded stores, all embarked for
Liverpool.
There have been in many of the London journals,
and other periodicals, several animadversions passed
upon the Great Britain's having been placed as she is,
tending, in no slight degree, to raise public excitement.
It is well for those parties who pass their anonymous
opinions upon such an occasion that they can do so with-
out seeing blue water, or leaving their firesides. The
captain of the Great Britain is a well-known seaman and
navigator. It therefore reflects but little credit upon
any parties (ignorant as they are of the particulars of
the case) making any allusion upon that officer's conduct.
"In conclusion, I beg to state, through your valuable
journal, that lam fully prepared, if supported by those
interested, to place the Great Britain once more afloat,
and that within a space of from One to twenty-one days.
Friday, Noon.
" During the whole of yesterday it" blew a fresh gale
from the N.N.W., accompanied with heavy showers of
rain. The Great Britain retains the same position she
took on Wednesday's tide, and in which sho will remain
until the next springs, unlei:, some exertions are made
for her,rescue. It is the general opinion here that
she will never be .moved off her present bed ; but as I
can find no person of sufficient knowledge to convince
me of the correctness of such opinion, >< rema gig firm