The Sun.
London, England, 1834-01-23 00:00:00

COURT OF ADMIRALTY. JAN. 22.

(Before Sir JOHN NICHOLL.)
THE CLIFTON:"
This was a salvage cause. The Clifton, on her
homeward voyage from the Mauritius to Greenock
laden with sugar, was placed in a situation of danger
on her arrival on the western coast of Scotland, in
consequence of sickness among her crew, eight men
out of eleven being ill of the scurvy, which they
had since they crossed the line. On making Loch
Rue the wind became unfavourable, and signals were
made for assistance. Lieutenant Kelly, of the coast
guard, and four of his boatmen, put off and went to
the vessel's assistance, and succeeded in getting her
into anchorage. For this service the owners ten-
dered .501., which was rejected, and the Court was
appealed to by the Lieutenant and his men for a
greater reward, it being alleged that only two men
were on board capable of duty when the vessel was
boarded.

Sir J. NlctioLL shortly stated the nature of the
suit. The Clifton was nearly at the end of her
voyage, and while off the southern part of the Frith
of Clyde was in distress, owing to a principal part
of her crew being unable to work, and the vessel
having been boarded was taken ..to anchorage by
Lieutenant Kelly, though the wind had changed and
was fair for her to proceed direct to Greenock. Was
there anything in these services which constituted
the main ingredients of salvage ? Was the vessel in
great danger, or had Lieutenant Kelly hazarded life
and property in the service? The officer was in the
public service, and it was his duty to have gone to
the assistance of the vessel. Under all the circum-
stances the Court thought that the tender of 501.
was a sufficient tender, and the Court therefore
pronounced for it; and the parties refusing the
offer must pay the costs incurred since such refusal
was made.

THE ARDINCAPLE.

, This was another salvage suit, and was of some
public importance, in consequence of the decision
' of the Learned Judge as regarded the reward given
for salvage services to steam-boats in distress.
The Ardincaple steam packet left Leith for New-
castle in September last, having forty-two persons
on board, of whom thirty-two were passengers,
with a cargo. When half way between Holy Island
and Bamborough Castle, a storm having come on,
she was struck by a heavy sea, which carried off
every thing on deck, stove in the bulwarks, washed
over nine men, of whom four were drowned, and
among them the master. A second sea swept away
two more of the crew and the boat, and the vessel
was driving on shore, when the wind changed, and
by putting up a jury-mast, she went to sea. The
engines, however, were disabled, and destruction
appeared to await all on board. Signals were made,
but no boats could put out. The Renown, a fish-
ing•boat, which with other vessels was lying for
shelter, slipped her cable and went to assist the
vessel, all on board considering that by the Renown
alone could they save their lives. With the greatest
difficulty the passengers were taken into the fishing-
boat and put on shore, and with the assistance of
the Favourite, another fThing•boat, the steam-
packet was towed into the Tyne river. The value
of the vessel was estimated at 1,2651. The owners i
had offered 2001.f0r salvage services, and 501. for
damage done to the two smacks. This offer was
refused,

Sir JOHN NICHOLL said the Court could not help
thinking that salvage services performed to steam-
vessels ought to be considered different to other ves-
sels. They were making profitable voyages, and as
they carried many passengers, the interests of hu-
manity as well as the safety of the lives of his Ma-
jesty's subjects rendered it proper that higher rewards
should be paid for salvage services rendered to them
than customary. By establishing this principle owners
would be rendered more cautious in the outfit of
vessels, and compel them to place persons of skill
in them, and also render them less hazardous in
going on their voyage under dangerous circum-
stances. The Renown and Favourite had left a
place of safety with spirit and alacrity ; had, at the
danger of the lives of the crew, saved the passengers
and the vessel; and the Court thought the tender
Insufficient, and awarded 3501. to the two vessels,
which would include the claim for damages, &c.,
with costs.

ANECDOTE OF BURNS.—" Burns paid little
deference to the artificial distinctions of society. Oo his
way to Leith one morning he met a man in hoddin-
gray—a west_country firmer; he shook him earnestly by
the hand, and stopped and conversed with him. All this
was seen by a young Edinburgh blood, who took the Poet
roundly to task for this defect of taste. ' Why, you fan-
tastic gomeral,' said Burns, it was not the great coat,
the scone-bonnet, and Sanquhar boot-hose I spoke to, but
the man that was in them; and the man, Sir, for true
worth, would weigh you and I, and ten more such, down
any day.'",—FromAllan Cunningham's New Edition
of Burns.