The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-17 00:00:00

TIIE ROYAL MAIL PACKET TYNE.

SOUTHAMPTON, SATURDAY, 10.15 A.M.
Wind W.N.W., fine.
The Aid steam tug arrived here at one o'clock this
morning, with the quartermaster of the Tyne, injured
last night by the boat getting under the sponscn of the
ship. The rest of the crew escaped, some by jumping
overboard, and others by lying down in the bottom of
the boat, but the quartermaster got jammed, and
broke his back. Captain Vincent reports more favour.
ably, and that there is every prolability of ulti
mately getting the ship off. The Aid lefi, her at eight
o'clock last night, and now remains in the dock awaiting
orders.by telegraph from Captain Vincent. It is believed
that she will take back a large quantity of casks to
assist in floating the steamer. The Aid also takes 100
to 200 men, with pumps. The Tyne's decks are scuttled,
so as to get the pumps easily to work for the purpose of
clearing the ship of water. The Devastation and Pigmy
had left the ship,and returned to Portsmouth, not being
able to render any further assistant,;. The weather
continued fine, but a heavy swell had set in last evening.

LOSS 017 THE SCREW STEAM SHIP BRITON,

SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY.
This morning intelligence was received here of the
total loss of the Union Screw Company's screw steam
ship Briton, Capt. Serle, at the entrance of the Bay of
Biscay in lat. 48.16 N., lon. 6.30 W., on Sunday last.
The Briton was intended for the trade which this com-
pany has taken up between Southampton and the Bra
zits ; but on the occasion of the disaster we are now
recording she was conveying a cargo of wheat from
London to Seville (Spain). She was of between 500 and
600 tons burden, and of 60 horse power.
On the sth inst. the Briton left London for Seville, the
weather being moderate and the wind blowing east-south-
east, which continued up to midnight of the Eth, when
the Start Light was made ,ut at a distance of about 13
miles, bearing north-north-west. The wind then shifted
to the westward, and blew fresh, continuing to increase
until noon of the 9th, when it blew a gale from west to
west-north-west, with a heavy sea running.
At this time the ship laboured heavily, and several
seas swept over her. At five o'clock on the evening of
the 9th the ship was hove to under close reefed sails.
At 9.50 it blew a furious gale, with terrific cross seas
runnine', the ship still labouring heavily. At this time
the mainsail blew out of the bolt ropes. At 11 20 the
foretopsail was unbent, and bent in the room of the
mainsail, and the pumps were looked to.
In this state they remained until the morning of Sun-
day, the wind blowing fiercely the whole time. At one
o'clock on Sunday, the wind being in the north-west
quarter, the Briton shipped a sea which carried away
part of her larboard bulwarks, and stove in the port
lifeboats. At 230 the foresail split into ribbons. At
4.40 she shipped another sea, which carried away two
more boats, stowed by the main hatchway, also unshipped
the cabin skylight, and filled the cabin with water. Ten
minutes after this the engine room was found to be fast
filling with water, and the fires were washed out. The
pumps were then worked by the crew, and other means used
to keep the ship afloat, but without avail, for the water
continued gaining, and at 5.20 it was up 8 feet in the
engine-room, and 10 feet in the after cabin.
Darkness was now setting in, and the position of the
vessel and her crew was truly deplorable. The wind was
still blowing a gale, and the water was gaining on the
ship, in spite of the efforts which wore made at the
pumps. Their only chance now was to lighten the ship
by casting overboard her freight. Ten tons of fuel and
an immense quantity of fire bars, with chains, &c., were
committed to the deep. This having been accomplished
somewhat in their favour, a tremendous stilt struck her,
carrying away all her deck houses. The jib was then
set to wesr hs ship round, but ft was hamediately blown
to rags. New htorai sails were then bent in the place of
the foresail, which had been previously carried away.
The water was still gaining on the ship, the boats
were all stove in or swept away (save one), and It was
expected that she would gu down each moment. At
this juncture a sohOOlier hove in sight and bore down on
her port bow. Never were the well-known words,

" A sail, a sail in sight appears 1
uttered with greater joy by any than the crew of the
Inriton, who had given up all hopes of succour.
The ship proved to be the Wave Queen, Captain Man-
field, of Jersey. She was immediately hailed by Capt.
Serle, and requested to lay to, as the Briton was fast
sinking. The only boat fit for use was quickly over the
ship's side, but was with difficulty kept from being
dashed to pieces. A boat from the Wave Queen also
came alongside, and Captain Serle gave orders for the
ship to be abandoned. This was at 9.30. The stern of
the Briton was then under water, and the sea was
waking a clean breach over her.
The captain and crew of the Briton were then taken
on board the schooner in an exhausted state, and treated
with much kindness. The Wave Queen brought them
on to Jersey. Captain Serle bad two of his ribs broken,
and sustained other injuries, and several of the crew
were severely injured. The Briton was insured.

The Queen will hold an Investiture of the Bath, at
Windsor Castle, on Saturday, the 24th inst., at half-
past two o'clock.

The Duke of Roxburgh, accompanied by tho Marquis
of Bowmont and Lord Charles Innes-Ker, has arrived
at the Clarendon, from Broxmouth Park, Haddingtou.
shire.

Viscount and Viscounteis Palmerston have a small
circle of friends staying with them at Broadlands.
Mr. and Lady Charlotte Watson Taylor are staying
at Claridge's Hotel.
Mr. Francis Watt has arrived at the Clarendon from
Bishop Burton, near Beverley.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyne Stephens have arrived at Claridge's
Hotel, from Lynford Hall, Suffolk.
ETON COLLEGE.—The Christmas vacation terminated
yesterday, there being no extra week this half. The
lower boys arrived on Wednesday, the fifth form on
Thursday, and yesterday evening and to-day the sixth
form arrive--when the whole school will have assem bled.
Vice-Chancellor Kindersley is to proceed, o❑ the
28th inst., to settle the list of contributories of the
Justice Assurance Society, now winding up.