The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-14 00:00:00

utterly without foundation." Every white and
coloured person there believed at the time, and still
believes, that the so-called riot was no more nor
less than a formidable rebellion, which would have
involved the whole island had it been allowed to
gather head. As it was it extended over 60 miles
of ground, involving the destruction of a largo
number of lives and of all the houses in the district.
Our informant tells us further that the whole white
community, while not averse to the Government
inquiry, is unanimous in approving the conduct of
Governor Eyre. The negroes, on their part, have
assumed of late a triumphant and insolent attitude
which augurs ill for the future. Large numbers of
them have struck work, and are crowding up to
Kingston with the intention, as they say, of giving
evidence before the commission. The office of the
" Jamaica Committee" is besieged day and night by
would-be witnesses. We trust Messrs. Gorrie and
Payne will exercise their discretion in taking down
their information separately, as probably every fresh
witness will contradict the last one on some material
point, and it will be advisable to avoid a scandal o f this
sort before the Royal commission. Meanwhile that
commission has been opened, the Jamaica Parlia-
ment having readily granted it the right to compel
witnesses and examine them on oath ; and Sir Henry
Storks promising that the inquiry shall be " full,
searching, and impartial," Mr. Eyre has retired to
his country-house to await the event and take his
turn to give evidence. Addresses of sympathy and
support are being voted to him from all quarters.
One, which is signed by a number of Dissenting
ministers, including two Baptists, seems to have
peculiar significance at the present juncture. " With-
out expressing any opinion," they say, " on isolated
acts, and regretting the great loss of life that has
occurred, involving, we fear, to some extent, the
innocent with the guilty, we would nevertheless
cordially express our conviction that the general
policy pursued by your excellency was absolutely
necessary to meet the exigencies of the case, and
was dictated simply by a sense of duty and of the
responsibility which rested on you at a period of
such alarm and extreme danger."

The Gale of Sunday.

HAYLING ISLAND (HANTS), Monday Night.

Yesterday we had the fiercest tempest ever re-
membered. At half-past four the Olive Leaf, life-
boat of the National Lifeboat Institution, was
launched, but on arriving at the other side of the
ferry the coast-guard officers informed the crew
that their services were unavailing, as the unfor-
tunate vessel had literally gone to pieces. She was
the brig Joanna Elizabeth, of Hamburg. As soon
as she struck, the crew (from seven to nine in
number), as well as could be made out through the
thick gloom of the tempest, took to the rigging.
In a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes the
masts went by the board. The ship broke up
into fragments, and every soul perished. It is
supposed that the captain's wife and family were
on board, women and children's clothing having
come ashore.

KINGSDOWN (KENT), Monday Night.

A brig was observed yesterday afterni;on with A
signal of distress. The wind fearfully violent, and
the sea so rough that no ordinary boat could be
launched from shore. The Sabrina, new lifeboat of
the National Lifeboat Institution, was launched;
and made at once for the brig, but before the boat
could reach her a cruising boat from Deal got to
her and took her in hand, and apparently worked
her towards Ramsgate Harbour. Great credit is
due to the crew for their daring in launching the
boat during such wind and weather. They are de-
lighted with their new life-boat, in which they are
ready to venture out in any weather,

POOLE (DORSET), Monday Night.

It blew a terrific gale from the S.E. yesterday,
and several vessels got ashore. The lifeboat
belonging to the National Lifeboat Institution was
launched, and taken out in tow of the steam-tug
Royal Albert into the bay, but was not able to ren7
der any service in saving life, which was done by
the steamer. After being afloat 10 hours informa-
tion was received that the Elizabeth, of Exeter, was
ashore on Christchurch bar, and the assistance of
the lifeboat was asked for, as the rocket apparatus
could not reach the vessel. The boat was accord-
ingly taken on her carriage overland, but on reach-
ing the scene of the wreck the crew had been taken
off, although three out of seven had perished.