The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-18 00:00:00

IFE LOSS OF THE A -p-A.

The announcemtaitof the tot d lots of the Penin-;
sular and Oriental Steam Navigation Compan'y'S
flue Ava, yesterday, created a: thOst p
sensation; not only in commercial brit also in i-
vate circles. The arrival of the versel at Suez had
been anxiously looked -for, as it was known b)
her would be brought many of the unhappy sur-
vivors of the miseries at Lucknow ; and the greatest
sympathy has been *expressed on their behalf, par-
ticularly as they seem fated to meet with dire cala-
mity upon the ocean as well as upon the land. It
is not a little extraordinary, too, that although
arrangements- were made for their passage by the
previous mairsteamer, but few, if any, were enabled
to avail themselves of it, and thus they were ex-:
posed to the present unfortunate catastrophe.
From the fact that up to .last evening the com-
pany had not received any details of the loss, it is
impossible at preient to enter fully into the sub-
ject ; but the vessel being employed in the govern-
ment mail service, a searching inquiry will be made
by the marine department of the Board of Trade,
upon the earliest opportunity. There appears no
doubt, however, that. she was wrecked off the coast
of the island of Ceylon, near Trincomalee, and the
cargo and mails—the latter so valuable at the pre-
sent moment—totally lost, together with a large
amount of treasure, but fortunately the passengers
and crew were saved.

The Ave was an iron screw steam ship of 1,600
tons, and propelled by engines of 320-horse power.
She was launched in June, 1855, from the yard of
Messrs. Todd and M‘Gregor, the extensive iron
ship-builders of Glasgow. The same firm also con-
structed the engines. Since she 'had been in the
service she had beets employed on the line between
Calcutta, Madras, Ceylon, Aden, and Sue; with
the exception of one trip to Hong-Kong, under
charter to the Indian government, upon the occa-
sion of Lord Elgin returning to his post as her
Majesty's plenipotentiary. His lordship, it will!be
recollected, on hearing of the outbreak in India,
immediately hastened to Calcutta in the Shannon
steam frigate, which vessel was detained at Calcutta
for the defence of the city and itsL,inhabitant, and
has since, as our readers know, rendered good ser-
vice under the command of Capt. Sir W. Peel, R.N. ,
As it was absolutelynecessary that LordElgin should
immediately return and carry out his important
mission in China, the Peninsular and Oriental
Company's agent at Calcutta yielded to the solicita-
tions of the authorities, and the Ava was accordingly
chartered for that purpose, and she had just re-
turned and resumed her ordinary mail duties. As
soon as the loss was known the company's agent
diverted the Gianada from her usual line, and
despatched her direct to Suez, there to await the
arrival of the outward-bound passengers and mails
who would, in due course, have gone on in the Ava.
This admirable forethought, therefore, will prevent
any delay in the usual mail service ; but the home-
ward bound passengers by the last vessel will have
to remain at Ceylon until the next fortnightly I
steamer.

It is not quite clear who was in command of the
Ava this voyage. Her original commander was
Capt. J. B. Caldbeck ; but the company bad re-
ceived information that that gentleman bad been
invalided, and it was probable be would return
home as a passenger in the vessel, the command
having previously been transferred to other hands.
The company are their own underwriters, and
at the date of the last report their insurance fund
amounted to 281,7401.
It may be remarked as somewhat strange that
the labt vessel the company lost was also wrecked
on the coast of the island of Ceylon. This took
place on the 6th June last, and on that occasion,
as on the present, the lives of the passengers and
crew were all saved.

It is not known with any certainty whether the
large amount of treasure which is described as
" pounds" in the telegram was not "rupees," or
whether the passengers saved any property belong.
ing to them.

SOUTHAMPTON, WEDNESDAY.

Intelligence reached here to-day of the loss of
the Peninsular and Oriental Company's screw steam
ship Ava, with the Calcutta mail and upwards of
200.0001. in treasure.
The Ava was an iron ship of 1,600 tons and
320 horse power. She was built on the Clyde,
by Todd and M`Gregor, in June, 1855, at a cost
of about 60,0001. She was esteemed a good sea
boat, was elegantly fitted, and had accommodation
tor 120 first-class passengers. She made sever al
voyages from Southampton to Alexandria, under
the command of Capt. Field ; and previous to her
departure for the East (18 months since) her speed
was tested by the measured mile at Stoke's Bay,
averaging 12 knots per hour. She was on the
station between Calcutta, Madras, Ceylon, Aden,
and Suez.

By-reference to the chart, it is probable that the
' Ava was wrecked on a reef of sunken rocks known
k as Basses Rocks, off Trincomalee, in the island of
Ceylon, and not far from the great coaling depot
of the company.
The specie lost was the property of the East
India Company, and is uninsured, and the ship is
not insured in the ordinary way ; the company
being their own insurers by laying aside a sum
equal in value to each new ship they build. It is
-Anticipated that she had a valuable cargo of silks,
drc., on board.
It is uncertain who commanded the Ava, as
there have been several changes of late.