The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-31 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SIIN.

Sir,—The accompanying letters have this day
been received at this office from Commander Bar-
nard, of her Majesty's ship Racehorse, reporting
the loss of the Transit in the Straits of Banca.
Admiralty, Aug. 29.

"Her Majesty's ship Racehorse,
Singapore, July 18.
"Sir,—l have the honour to transmit you herewith
for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty a copy of a letter I have received, as senior
officer in the Straits of Malacca, from Commander Ennis
Chambers, of her Majesty's steamship Transit, reporting
that ship having struck upon a sunken rock off Cape
Oclar, in the Banca Straits, and requiring immediate
assistance, which I instantly rendered by despatching
her Majesty's ship Actmon and her tender, the Dove,
and also the chartered American ship Brand, of 800
tons, with provisions for 1,000 men for 15 days. Since
their departure I regret it is not in my power to afford
their lordships any further information respecting the
Traneit.—l have, &c.,
" E K. BARNARD, Commander.
" The Secretary of the Admiralty."

" Her Majesty's ship Trangit,
" Off Cape OAT., Island of Baum, July 11.

" Sir,—lt is with great regret I hove to report that
her Majesty's ship under my c.tmmand struck on a
sunken rock off Cape Clear, on the Liar d of Banns, yes-
terday morning, about half-pa 4 rine, and received so
much danagge that it was neceqsary to immediately dis-
embark the whole of the troops on the island.
" This will be conveyed to you by Lieut. Downes, of
this ship, woo will give you all the particulars ; and it
is needless for me to point ont the necessity of seudiPg
some vessels immediately to embark the troops, which
number upwards of 7001.—1 have the honour, &c.,_
" ENNIS CHAMBERS, CcßaUlander,
" The Senior Officer of her Majesty's ships
and versos at Singapore."

The following is extracted from a letter dated
Island of Banca, July 11, 1857 :
" The Transit has come to grief at last. Yesterday
morning, at 10 o'clock, we were steaming along at about
nine knots an hour, when the vessel suddenly struck on
a reef. In a quarter of an hour the water was over the
engine passage, and it became very evident that we
should be oblfged to abandon her. The boats were got
out, and conveyed the soldiers to a reef about a mile
and a-half away. The size of the rock where we were
stowed, was not more than 25 yards, and the tide was
rising. The boats kept going backwards and forwards
landing troops, and when I left the rock (one of the last
three) the water was within two feet and a half of me.
Thanks to God, all were got safely to land, fires were
lit, branches pulled down, and thing 4 made as snug as
circumstances would allow. Of course, everything I
possessed is lost. In fact, a shirt, a pair of flannel
trousers, and shell-jacket are the sum total of my effect?.
I saved my watch and chain and pistol. There are two
Dutch vessels near the Transit; one of them is going to
Singapore to detail our disaster. The soldiers behaved
splendidly. No joke, I can tell you, to be on a bit of a
rock for six or seven hours under a tropical sun. I must
wind up, as this is going on to Singapore by the Dutch-
man."