The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-23 00:00:00

HER MAJESTY'S SHIP REYNARD.

Intelligence has reached England by the overland
mail of the total loss of her Majesty's steam sloop
Reynard, Commander Cracroft, on the Prates Reefs,
160 miles south-east of Hong Kong. It is with
pleasure we add that all hands were saved. Her
Majesty's ship Reynard, being under orders for
England, was coaling, provisioning, and refitting
previous to starting " homeward bound," when, on
Wednesday, the 28th of May, the longboat of the
Velocipede' a merchant brig, arrived with intel-
ligence that the Velocipede was ashore on the
Prates, and that the crew were in a sad state for want
of water, Sec. The Pilot, Commodore Victor Hick-
ley, and the Reynard, Commander Cracroft, were
immediately ordered to the scene of the disaster,
and, havilig hastily provisioned, sailed in company,
but parted on tho 30tb. Soon after three
A.M. on the morning of the 31st the watch
below on board the Reynard were aroused from
their slumbers by the striking of the ship, and the
cry of "Heave all aback," " Fall power astern." The
ship then struck with tremendous force ; all hands
rushed on deck, and it too soon became apparent
that all hope of saving the Reynard was gone. The
very calmness of the night had proved her destruc-
tion. Had there been the slightest wind the position
of the rocks would have been indicated by the
breakers" ahead being heard, if not seen ; on the
contrary, the sea was like glass, and the water es
blue as the sky. But this lasted but for a time. As
the tide fell up rose the sea, and the ship falling " broad-
side on," had her side knocked completely in by 12 at
noon. From this time she became a total wreck—masts
being cut away, a raft was formed. One can hardly
picture to oneself the:scene that existed as night came
on—the ship, full of water on the starboard side,
lifted bodily 4 or 5 feet, and coming down with a
thump more easily felt than described, knocking
every one off their legs ; and the noise of the water
inside rushing from one part of tne ship to another,
as those parts rose or fell, carrying away
"bulkheads," &c., is indescribable. All Satur-
day night the crew were seated on the larboard
side of the ship (the side out of water), and on the
following night, Sunday (all hope of saving the ship
having vanished), the crew took to the raft and landed
safely on the Prates island. On Monday morning
tents were rigged out ; wells dug (being a sandy soil
the tide as it rose filtered through), and the water,
although salt and nasty, was drinkable. The captain
of the
Reynard made up his mind to stick to the island
until fine
weather came, and then attempt to save the
stores ; but, sickness beginning to show itself, he
was compelled to embark his crew on board the
Pilot, Which vessel hove in sight the afternoon of the
day
the Reynard got on shore, but could not approach
on account of the heavy sea running. The Pilot kept
sailing "off and on"
safelysendingher boats in to help,
Se c., till everybody was landed.Alost providen-
tially wan it t.hat two ships were sent on thisexpedi-
tion, fig by this means the Pilot had the satisfaction of
saving not only the crew of the merchant- h• bat
likewise the craw of the ReYnard, one of thes lastlP' of
whom that boarded the Pilot was the I
commander's
own brother, a lieutenant of the Reynard.

CLOTHING.—The reason why white hats and
dresses are worn in summer may be thus stated,—dark
colour absorbs most heat, and is cooler wear. A white dress
in winter is good, because it radiates or receives little heat.
Polar animals have generally light furs. White horses are
both less heated in the sun, and less chilled in winter, than
those of darker hues. A flannel covering will keep a man
warm in winter, and also keep ice from melting in summer,
because the flannel has the property of preventing the
passage of heat from the man, and to the ice. Loose cloth-
ing is found warmer than such :as fits tight, because of the
inof imperfectly conducting air thus con-
fined quantity
asreoundthebody, resists the escape of animal heat.
Linen is found disadvantageous for wearing next the skin,
on account of its tendency to retain the matter of perspira-
tion in its texture, speedily becoming imbued with it ; it
gives an unpleasant sensation of cold, is very rapidly
saturated with moisture, and conducts heat too rapidly.
_ ---
EIVARDED.—The day bsfore yesterda . Woollens, on the contrary, allow perspiratory matter to
escape more freely through their texture; and they have a
IfoNEsTY R
'n -oftlee
a youn- apprentice in the prin fa g ,ef AL -vinchon
is
,hy greater power of preserving warmth under all circumstances,
Rue M'ontmartre, found a gold watch in the street. il •`" e being bad conductors of heat. Several of the most beautiful
mediately carried it to the office of the commissary of poIIT- and important laws of nature are involved in the rationale
of the quarter, but finding the place closed, he went intocee of the covering of man and animals.
watchmaker's shop adjoining and left it with him. IL left NEW CONVICT DEPOT.—Spike Island depot being
his name, saying that he should be glad if
of his mother, party made overcrowded with convicts, and the gaols being seriously in-
him any reward, for it was the fete day
the mother, and commoded by this class of prisoners, inspections have been
~....,•-hig -"flailed to make her a present. In course of the made of the several Government islands around the coast,
te e . mornlohN lady entered the shop to
purchase
a watch to re- with av* iew to their adaptation for the safe custody of con-
e. The
e., place one Which she had lost on the previous evening.h Bats. It was at first thought that Whiddy Island, in Bantry
2/I'te:,. watchmak*lnformed her of what had occurred, and
thattion, no for some reason unexplained, was abandoned. Bere
'"" ''"doubt could 1 • dof its being that which she had Island. at the entrance of '
.-
.• Bantry harbour, was the next place
lost. It witOherefore given to her. She at first gave the 1
Scattery Island eon, but that was r® orted as unsuitable
tisi t man 15f. for the honest boy, but being told of the purpose to .
believed ,in the Shannon' P
is that it has been , was the next place, and it
40 ' which inte ... it,he ided devotiug the money, she doubled the sun. dep6t,—Cork Conat't • t utton.
determined to make it a convict
-*Paris-kap
....--