The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-24 00:00:00

WRECK OF THE RANDOLPH.

Considerable anxiety has recently been excited in
respect of the facts of the Randolph, East India
trader, Mr. Dale, master, which had been reported to
have foundered on ber outward passage to Calcutta,
with 300 persons on board. Through the courtesy
of the owners, D. Dunbar and Co., of Limehouse, we
are in a position to lay before our readers the sub-
joined details of the catastrophe, by which it will be
perceived that the ill-fated vessel was cast ashore on
a reef of rocks off the north-east part of the Mauri-
tius, and although the wreck was not attended with
so awful a loss of life as had been stated, yet a great
many who were on board perished. The disaster
took place on the night of the 25th of July, a day or
so after she had taken her departure from Port Louis
for Calcutta. She had received on board at that port
250 steerage passengers, natives, consisting of men,
women, and children, for Calcutta; also Lieutenant
Holland and Ensign Scott, of the 48th Regiment,
who occupied the chief cabin. The cargo comprised
sugar, rum, and other produce of the island. The wind
at the time of the Randolph's leaving was blowing
rather fresh. All went well, however, until half-past
eleven o'clock at night, when a cry was raised
forward of " Breakers a-head," which at once
convinced the captain, Mr. Dale, that he
was close to a dangerous reef of rocks which run
out to sea some two miles off the north end of the
island. It should be stated that the night was ex-
cessively dark, and there were other unfavourable
circumstances acting against the ship's progress, but
it would seem that she was not so far distant from the
coast as the captain anticipated. However, on danger
being seen the helm was instantly put hard aport,
everything done that human power could suggest in
keeping her off the land, but all was of no avail. She
drifted in, and struck on the reef with great
force. The utter destruction of not only the ship
but the lives of all on board being threatened, the
crew were directed to cut away the masts, which was
speedily effected without injury to any of the many
atTrighted creatures who crowded the deck. This
succeed in keeping the ship upright for a short time,
but the heavy waves soon bilged her, and she fell
over on her beam ends. The scene then became one
of a painfully distressing character. Men, women,
and children were seen hanging to and crawling up
the sides of the wreck. Some fell into the surf, and
by clinging to fleeting spars preserved themselves,
while others were swept away and met with a watery
grave. After a night of suffering daylight disclosed
their actual position. Laud was observed two miles
distant, the space between the wreck and the
beach being studded with small, steep, dangerous
patches of rock. The captain, who throughout had
displayed much presence of mind, consulted with
the officers as to the best means to be
adopted in preserving the unfortunate creatures,
nearly 300 in number, who were on the wreck. The
boats happily remained whole and safe. They were
lowered, and Mr. Scott, the first officer, Mr. Shand,
the second, with some of the seamen, set out to ex-
amine the position of the rocks, and ascertain whether
there was any safe passage between them by which
they could land those on board. One course partly
practicable was traced to a certain distance whence
the shore could be reached by spars and planks thrown
across the rock.. Returning to the wreck a difficulty
presented itself as to how the passengers could be
lowered from their peculiar and dangerous position—.
as they had clung to all parts of the ill-fated ship—to
the boats. At length two of the sailors took their
stand upon the bowsprit, and so let them down one by
one by ropes—a tedious and hazardous task, for the
vessel was fast breaking up, and the heavy surf roll-
ing was several times nearly dashing the boats to
atoms against the wreck. After much suffering Mr.
Dale succeeded in seeing all safely landed, and the
chief officer, Mr. Scott, was dispatched to Port Louis,
about thirty miles distant, with intelligence of the
calamity. In the meanwhile Mr. Dale proceeded to
ascertain the number of the missing passengers, as also
of the crew, and found that of the former between 20
and 30 had perished, and that two of his crew had
also been lost. Among the bodies picked up on that
day was that of Ensign Charles H. Scott, of the 48th
Regiment. He was in his 21st year, and was the
only son of Mr. Charles Scott, surgeon in the Bom-
bay. The moment the news of the catastrophe
reached Port bou!s the Governor forwarded a steamer
to the spot, but on its arrival it was found that She
could render little service in saving the ship, as it
was fast breaking up, and the cargo scattered in all
directions.

Lloyd's agent at Port Louis, who had made an
investigation into the circumstances of the loss, thus
writes .—" There can be no doubt that the great loss
cf property is caused by the neglect of our Govern-
ment in u t putting up a lighthouse on that part of
the island. Wo, as Lloyd's agents, took advantage
of the feeling at the moment and waited on the Go-
vernment to request them to have a lighthouse forth-
with erected, without waiting to refer to the home

" Office for the Executive Committee,
Exhibition Building, Sept. 15, 1851.
" Sir,—l am directed to acknowledge the receipt of
your communication, and to say that whilst the Execu-
tive Committee are willing to bear testimony to the
useful services of tho attendants of the Exhibition, they
have to inform them that the decisions of her Majesty's
Commissioners in respect to the award of medals apply
only to exhibitors; and that the duo recognition and
appreciation of the services of the attendants who were
employed by the exhibitors rest with the exhibitors
themselves.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
" J. WADE.
(For M. D. Wyatt, Secretary.)
" Mr. H. Rouse (Attendant in Class 6)."
We most readily bear testimony to the zeal with
which the attendants have discharged their duties;
and we trust that, from whatever source it comes,
same acknowledgment may be made to them for the
important services they have rendered throughout
this great undertaking.
A memorial has bee❑ presented to the Royal Com-
mission from the city of Bristol, advocating the ap-
propriation of the surplus to the scheme of a colle-
giate institution in London, somewhat resembling
the Central School of Arts and Manufactures in
The memo: Mists, in strong terms, press
upon the attention of the Commission the import-
ance to our industrial classes of a sound, scientific,
and practical education ; and they express their hope
that this species of education rnly " not be be con-
fined to one locality," but rendered as diffusive as
possible.
Yesterday the mean temperature in the building,
according to Bennett's thermometers, was 64.4.

REGISTRATIONS.

1 CITY OF LONDON.
The court met at ten o'clock yesterday, when Mr.
I T. Y. M'Christie, the revising Ibarrister, proceeded to revise the householders' lists for the
wards of Alder's-
Tate Within and Without, Aldgate and Billingsgate,
;and Bissishaw and Coleman-st'reet.
Mr. Fisher Jackson, of 3, Crown-court, was oh-
Jected to by Mr. Brown, on the part of the Conserve-
' Lives. The parish in which Crown-court stands is St,
Botolph, Alderegate, but that description was omitted
in the list.
Mr. Ledger said the question would arise whether
the notice could, in the due course of post, have been
served on Mr. Jackson within the prescribed time,
namely, by the 25th of August. The notice was ad-
i dressed to " 52, Crown-court," in consequence of
which it had been carried to four distinct Crown-
courts before it reseed the right party, and then it
was not delivered till the 26th.
Mr. Brown said the address on the notice corre-
sponded with that inserted on the list, and the list
must always be copied.
The REVISING BARRISTER said the address must
be correctly described on the list. The 100th section
of the Act directed that notice should be given at the
place of abode described in the list of voters. In this
case the notice had been posted in sufficient time to
have reached the voter on the 25th of August, had
it been taken in due course of post to the CrcAwn-
court in which Mr. Jackson resided, but the acci-
dent that occasioned its del Ay had rendered it impos-
sible that it could be delivered within the stated
period. The notice was not thereby invalidated, and
the description not being correct, he should hold the
objection to be good.
The vote was expunged.
Mr. Anderson, M.P. for Orkney, who was inserted
for premises 137, Leadenhall-street, was objected to
by Mr. Brown, on the ground that he did not pay the
rates for the premises described.
Mr. Anderson appeared in person, and said he was
a partner in the Peninsular and Oriental Company to
the extent of 324 shares, for which he would not
take 20,0001. He occupied the premises in Leaden-
hall-street in connexion with Mr. Wilcox, M.P. for
Southampton, the rental being r,ooot. per annum. It
was true the business of the company was carried on
there, and that the company was collectieely rated,
but no shareholder had any right whatever to remaia
or sleep et the office except himself, as chairman, and
he alone could give permission for any of them to
do so.

Mr. Smith contended that the company being rated,
Mr. Anderson, as a partner of the company, was rated
to all intents and purposes.
Mr. Brown said, in that case every shareholder must
be considered to be rated.

Mr. Anderson said he occupied the premises for
other purposes, as well as for the transaction of busi•
ness connected with the company.
The BARRISTER was of opinion that Mr. Andersen
was virtually rated, and therefore overruled the ob-
j ection.

The result of the revision for the two days is as fol-
lows :—Claims by the Liberals, allowed G ; objections
sustained, 212 ; failed, 21. Claims by the Tories,
none ; objections sustained, 79 ; failed, 14 ; names
expunged by the barrister, 17.
Tne Court, having completed the appointed list
rose at four o'clock, and adjourned until Friday next.