The Sun.
London, England, 1859-07-07 00:00:00

ENDOWED SCHOOLS BILL.
Order for second reading read. Motion made, and question
proposed, " That the bill be now read a second time."
Amendment proposed, to leave out the word "now," and
at the end of the, question to add the words "upon this
day three months." Question put, " That the word
' now' stand part of the question.' The house divided—
Ayes, 210 ; Noes, 192.
HOUSE OF COMMONS.—JULY 6.
NV
nAvEs—n2: Hnlor.
Adam, W. P. Ewart, J. C.
.y
W. North,Ogilvy,Paget,
Agar-Ellis, Hon. L. Ewing, H.•E. C. O'Connell, D.
Agnew, Sir A. Feick,
o H
Alcock, T. Ferguson, R. Onslow, Guildford
Angerstein, W. Fitzroy. Rt. Hon H. Packe, C. W.
Ashley, Lord Foley, Hon.
Ayrton, A. S. Foley, J. H. Paxton, Sir J.
Bagwell, J. Foljambe, F. J. S. Pease, IL
Bailey, C. Forster, Charles Peto, Sir M.
Baines, E. Foster, W. 0. Pigott, Francis
Ball, E. Fortescue, C. S. Pilkington, James
Barin Thos. Geo. Fox, W. J. Pinney, Wm.
Baxter, W. E. Gaskell, J. M. hollard UrciuhartW
Bazley, Thomas Gavin, Major Portman W. H. B.
Beale, Samuel Gilpin, C. Pryse, Capt. E. L.
Beamish, F. B. Gower, F. L. Ramsden, Sir J. W,
Beaumont, W. B. Graham, Sir J. R. G. Ricardo, 0.
Berkeley, H. Grenfell, C. W. Ridley, G.
Berkeley, F. Grey, Rt. Hn. Sir G. Robartes, T. J. A.
Bethell, Sir R. Grey, Ralph W. Robertson, D.:
Biggs, John Gordon, B. Roupell, W.
Black, Adam Hadfield, Geo. Russell, Lord J.
Bonham-Carter, J. Handley, John Russell, Hastings
Bouverie, E. P. Hankey, Thomson Russell, A. J. E.
Bouverie, P. P. Hanmer, Sir J. Russell, F. W.
Bowyer, W. Hartington,Marquis St. Aubyn, J.;
• ......---
Brady, John Headlam, Thos. E. Schooley, ill. —
Brand, H. B. Heneage, G. Scholefleld, W.
Bright, J. Henley, Lord Scott, Sir W.
Briscoe, J. I. Hodgson, K. D. Seymour, H. D.
Bristow, A. Horsman, E. Seymour, Digby
Brocklehurst, John Hutt, W. Shafto, R. D.
Browne, Lord J. T. Ingham, R. Sheridan, R. B.
Bruce, H. A. Ingram, H. 3 Sheridan, H. B.
Buchanan, W. James, Edwin Smith, A.
Buller, J. W. Jervoise, Sir J. Somerville, Sir W.
Butler, C. S. Johnstone, Sir J. Stanley, Lord
Butt, Isaac Keating, Sir H. Stansfeld. J.
Buxton, C. Kershaw, J. Steel, John
Caird, James King, Hon. L.
R.G.A.Talbot,
ache,
Steuart, A.
Calthorpe, F. H. Kinglake, A. W. Stuart, Lord P. J.
Cavendish, Hon. W. Laing, S. Sturt, Capt. C. N.
Cayley, E. S. Langston, J. H. Sullivan, M.
Clay James Langton, H. G. Sykes, Col. W. H.
Clifford, C. C. Lawson, W.
Hon.
HWo n. C.
F. .
Clifford, H. M. Leatham, E. Taylor, Hugh
Thornhill, W. P.
:SWir Tite, Wm.
Mackie, j.. w A W______wliicohlexa,d,33.B3l.
M.
Clinton,ive GeLcrogrde R. LLLeeeavetihnivagn:
Cobden R.
Colebrooke, Sir T.E. Lewis, Sir G.C., Bt. Trelawny, Sir J. S.
Coningham, Wm. Lindsay, W. S. Vivian, H. H.
Cranford, E. H. J Locke, J. Watkins, ;J. L. V.
Crawford, R. W. Lowe, Rt. Hon. R. Wemyss, J.
Crossley, Frank M'Cann, J. Western, T. S.
Dpaalgvelyis,hß,.Robert
Mackinnon, . . Wha ey, G. H.
Davie, Sir H. R. F. McMahon, P. Whitbread, S.
Davie, Col. F. Martin, P. W. White, Luke
Wickham, H. W.
Denison, W. H. F. Martin, J.
DD fovdestct
n,
,E,Jcicwhaur Edward
G.
Williams,iv W.
Willoughby, Sir H.
Wilson, J.
Dunbar,Douglas,
SirSi r w
,C C.
in . Massey,3l3l,llaec :11 iroyer,s, °J- WI
lo'h.AnisT*
James N.
Winnington' Sir T.
Duncan, Viscount Mitchell, T. A. Wise, J. A.
Dundas, Frederick Miller, William Wood, Rt Hn. Sir C.
Dunlop, A. M. Mills, A. Wynne, C. G.
Egerton, E. C. Monk, C. J.
Dillwyn, Lewis L.
EElalmicecn,
dßet...THchonn. E. Misiocurriseal,LDß.t. Hu. W. WyviTlEl,lns.
Evans, T. W. Noble, J.
Ewart, William Norris, J. T.
NOES-191. Perry, Sir Thos. E.
Adderley, C. B. Hamilton, Lord C. Nicol, William
Arbuthnott, Gen.H. Hanbury, Captain Noel, G. J.
AstellJ. H. Hardy, Gathorne North, d I___
Baring, H. B.
Barrow, W. H. .
Pakenham,Col.
C
Bective, Earl of Henley, J.
Hilaarataoaprdp:
M.
133,.. Opvacekreen,
C.
Ww...,
Beecroft, G. S. Hennessy, J. P. Palk, L.
_. _.
Bentinck, G. W. P. Henniker, Lord Papillon, K0ki,...„..
Beresford, W. Herbert, Col. P. E. Parker, MaL,. w
Blackburn, P. Hervey, Lord A Patten, J. w
Booth, Sir R. G. Renate, Sir F. Paull, 11.
Bottleld, Beriah Hill:Lord E. Peel, Gen.
Bovill, Wm., Hill, Hon: R. Pennant, Col.
BBrriadgmsetar
Sir 8.,
.BW., . Potts, Georg
Bruce, C. L. C. Hood, Sir A. Powys, L. P.
Bruen, Henry Bt.
Hllocli.aroe,rdJ,oitse. Joseph Pevensey, Viscount
Hope, G. W. Pritchard, Jobs
Buckley, Maj.-Gen. Hopwood, a. T. Quinn, Peter ___
Burrell, Sir C., Bt. Hornby, W. H. Ridley, Sir M.
John J.
.11' •
Cairns, Sir H., Horsfall, T. B. Rogers,
Cartwright, Col. H. Hotham, Gen. Lord Rolt,
T.
J.
Churchill, Lord A. Howes, Edward Salt,
Cochrane, A. D. Hubbard, J. G. Selwyn, C. 3.
Codrington, Sir W. Humberstone, P. S. Sumer, H. K.
Cole, Hon. H. A. Hunt, G. W. Sibthorpe, G. T. W.
Cooper, E. J. Ingestre, Viscount Smith, Sir F.
Curzon, Viscount 1 I Jermyn, Earl theftbel
Dawson, R. P. Jervis, Captain Smoll A.
Deedes, Wm. Jolliffe, Sir W. Somerset, Col. E.
Dickson, Col. Kekewich, S. Spooner, R.
Du Cane, Chas. Kendall, N. Stanhope, J. B.
buncombe, W. E. Kennard, C. Stuart, Major
Du Pre, C. G. Kennard, It. - Stuart H. G.
Dutton, Hon. R. H. King, J. K. Stracey, Sir H.
Earle, R, Knatchbull, W. Talbot, C. R. M.
Edwards, Major H. Knightley, R. Taylor, Colonel
Egerton, Sir P. Knox, Lt.-C01.8.W. Thynne, Lord E.
Egerton, A. F. Knox, Major W. S Thynne, JH.
Egerton, W. Leeke, Sir H. Tollemache, .H.
Elmley, Viscount Lefroy, A. Torrens, It.
Elphinstone, Sir J. Legh, Upton, General
W.
Emlyn, Viscount Liddell, Hon. H. G. Valetort, Lord
Estcourt, S. Lindsay, Colonel Vance, John
Euston, Earl of Long, R. P. Vaneur, CoL
Farquhar, Sir M. Long, W. ' Vansittartdel , Win.
fleld, Robert Verner, Sir Wm.
Farrer, James LongFellowes, Edward Lowther, Col. H. C. Vernon,Vernon, L. V.
Ferguson, Sir It. A. Lyall, G. Walcott, Adm. J. E.
Forester, Col. G. C. Lygon, Hon. F. Walpole, S. H.
Freeland, H. W. Macaulay, K. Walter, John
Galway, Viscount MaiLlWaring, T. Watlington, J. W.
Gard, R. S. Manners, Ld J. J.R. Wav, Arthur E.
Garnett, W. J. Miles, W. Welby, W. E.
George, John Miller, T. Whiteside, Rt Hn J.
Gilpin, Colonel Mitford, W. T. Whitmore, H.
Gladstone, Capt. Montague, Lord Williams, T. P.
G Gladstone,cddarc A.
1V
L. .E. Moody, C. A. Wyndham, Gen. H.
Mordaunt, Sir G. Wyndham, Capt. H.
W. W.
Gordon, Capt. Morgan, C. 0. S. Wynn, Sir
W. E.
Gore, J. R. O. Morgan, Major WYnne, W.
Greenall, G. Mowbray, Rt. Hu. J. Yorke, Hon. E. T.
Greenwood, 3. Mundy, William. .
TELLERS.
Gray, William Newark, Lord
Griffith, C. D. Newdegate, C. N. Northcote W.
; Sir S. H
Newport, Visct. Puller, C.
Grosvenor, Earl

(From the Correspondent of the Tip
JUN
ADEN, s.)
E 17.
On the morning of the 15th intelligence reached
Aden of the stranding of the Alma on the Moosed-
jerah, one of the reefs, or rather islets, which form
the Kharnesh group, about 70 miles to the north of
Perim. The news was brought by Mr. Baker, the
second officer, who in company wita Mr. Newall,
the contractor for the Red Sea Telegraph cable,
had volunteered to go to Mokha in one of the
ship's boats to procure a supply of water. To the
prudence and foresight of these two gentlemen is
due the merit of having secured for the unfortu-
nate crew and passengers the readiest relief
available, and thereby of having shortened the
sufferings of all, and, in all probability, of
having saved the lives of. many. The following ac-
count of the catastrophe, for which I am mainly in-
debted to one whose services on the sad occasion
will long be remembered with gratitude by the pas-
sengers generally, but who does not wish his name
mentioned, will be read with deep interest by the
public at home :
At 6 a.m. of Saturday, the 11th of June, the
Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Alma,
commanded by Captain Henry, left Aden with
about 400 persons on board, of whom" upwards of
150 were passengers many of them invalids from
India returning to England on furlough. Of these
there were 30 ladies, and about as many children
and infants. Captain Henry had been ailing at Adeh
and had been obliged to make over his charge to
Mr. Davis, the chief officer. On Saturday night he
had a severe attack of fever, and only left his cabin
early the following morning to see his fine vessel
hard and fast upon a reef.
The circumstances of such a disaster cannot be
fairly discussed without a formatiinvestiation, so
that, although the facts, as statenr'this nairative,
may be fully relied upon as such, the responsibility
attached to them must be apportioned by a proper
and competent tribunal. It is but honest, however,
to state that all concerned seem at a loss to account
satisfactorily for the catastrophe. The reef is in part
an island rising about 40 feet out of the sea, aid the
night was sufficiently clear to show the outline of
the rock at a distance more than ample to have
enabled those in charge, had each man been on the
alert, to steer clear of danger.
Between 1 and 2 o'clock on Sunday morning, the
12th, the Alma was stopped and a sounding taken
to check her position, it being supposed that she was
off Mokha, where it is usual to change the course,
so as to pass to the eastward of the reefs forming part
of the Kharnesh group. The chief officer reported
to Capt. Henry a depth of 23 fathoms, which agrees
with the soundings marked on the chart in the posi-
tion in which the vessel was supposed to be off
Mokha. Capt. Henry thereupon desired the course
to be altered, with the concurrence, I believe, of the
chief officer, and also of old Busheer, known
to be the best pilot on the station, and who had ac-
companied the Cyclops during her late survey of
the in-shore reefs and soundings for the Ree Sea
Telegraph Company. The weather was fine, and
the moon (nearly full), had set about an hour, when
a sudden but gentle shock was felt, succeeded by
two others, and then the vessel suddenly stopped,
and in three minutes lay over on the starboard side,
so as to cover the deck with water half-way up
from the stern to the funnel. It is reported that on
perceiving that something had gone wrong, the en-
gineer was about to back astern, but that Captain
Henry, most providentially divining the true state
of the -case, shouted out, ‘` Full speed ; go on !"
Had the former suggestion been carried out, there
is every reason to fear that the vessel would have
gone down bodily, as, although her bows were high
and dry, there were 24 feet of water under her
stern. On the occurrence'of the first shock most of
those on board thought that a buggalow had been
run down ; the truth, however, was soon apparent,
for there was the reef, as plain as the funnel itself,
extending close along from the bowsprit along the
port quarter. Of the 150 passengers, about one-
third were sleeping on deck; all of those on the
starboard side, both in the cabins and on the deck,
were literally. washed about the water amidst
chairs, tables, benches, mattresses, and deck-gear,
before they could get sufficiently on their legs to
reach the saloon, or the port side of the vessel. The
confusion which ensued for a few minutes can only
be described as a Babel, not of tongues, but of
screams. To move about on deck or in the saloon
was impossible, the ship being at an angle of 45
degrees, and_everyone believed that in a few mi-
nutes she would founder. The nb,ti,if crefv, consist-
ing of some 200 Lascars and Seedees, ran forward,
climbed over the bowsprit, and leaped upon the
reef, and had it not been for the admirable and sys-
tematic manner in which the passengers, stewards,
and four English quartermasters assisted the offi-
cers in getting the people towards the port bul-
warks, and in lowering the boats, there can be no
doubt that most of the Europeans would have found
a watery grave, or been left to die a lingering
death.:Major Pane, and Captains Cooke and Russell,
half-drowned women and
of her Majesty's 73d, and Dr. Williams, of the
Alma, were swimming and diving for the first half
out of their berths, and from among
hour, dragging
the debris of
the cabin, where they were jammed by the flow of
children
water rushing in through the open ports. The stairs
to the cabins were very soon impassable, and a great
proportion of the ladies and children were hoisted
on deck from the arms of these four brave men
through the skylights, and through the ports on the
upper side of the vessel. How every one was ulti-
mately saved cannot be explained by the passen-
gers themselves ; for there were 20 children under
5 years old., and at least 20 ladies so weak and ill
that they could scarcely move alone, even in fine
weather ; and, most wonderful of all, Mr. and Mrs.
Barnes, severally 85 and 79 years of age, who were
returning to England to spend their remaining days
among their great grandchildren, after a residence
of more than half a century in India.
Within half an hour every one was on deck, held
or lashed to the rigging, three boats were afloat and
manned by officers from the ship, stewards, and
passengers, and then the Anglo-Saxon race again
proved that pre-eminence in courage and determi-
nation which have won for them a moral superio-
rity over the whole world. Silence being almost
restored, a row of gentlemen lined the port bul-
warks, and every lady and child was carried from
arm to arm to the gangway, and there lowered into
the boats with tender care and perfect safety. Nine
out of ten of them were in their night dresses,
thoroughly drenched, and many of them sadly
bruised in their scramble to reach the deck. Never-
theless, the behaviour of these poor sufferers was
most noble ; they neither screamed nor fainted, but
showed implicit trust and perfect obedience to the
gentlemen, who held them on the bulwarks until
their turn came to be passed down the gang-
way. There was not a single instance of a
white man attempting to get into a boat until
every women and child was safe on the reef, and
so far was this chivalrous spirit carried out, that
Mr. Davis, the chief officer, had to order a dozen
of the passengers down to help to manage the
boats. His conduct, indeed, and that of the officers,
without exception, after the ship struck, was all
that the most fastidious or most desponding could
have wished or hoped for. Within one hour after
the catastrope not a woman or child was left on
board, and by six a.m. tents were rigged, and mat-
tresses landed to protect them from the scorching
sun and the sharp coral rocks. Poor Mr. Hatchet,
the purser, appeared overwhelmed with his position
and responsibility almost immediately on landing ;
and Mr. Lionel Gisborne, who was returning to
England after having laid the telegraph from Suez
to Aden, and who was an acquaintance both of Cap-
tain Henry and Mr. D •
avis, was requested to take
charge of everything on shore ; all the officers of
the ship being fully occupied in the boats saving
provisions and clothing. Not a native lent a hand
until they began to feel that th •
eir own lives de-
pended on landing water and biscuits, and, even
then, their first efforts on board the ship were con-
fined to plunder. The Indian officers, however,
who were returning ,home oni furlough, were too
determined and energetic to permit such insubordi-
nation, and therefore, while giving the officers of
the ship every credit for goodwill and the most
active exertions, not one of them, we are assured,
will deny that if the passengers had not taken upon
themselves nearly the entire management both of
landing the provisions and also of distributing them
on shore, it is more than probable that numbers
would have perished on the reef. Before nine
o'clock, that is within six hours after the vessel
struck, a hot breakfast was served out to the ladies
and children, and beef and biscuit to the men.
But another serious danger now threatened. It
was found that all the tanks, except a very small
one in the forecastle, and the ice-house, were filled
with salt water. Relief could not be expected for
four whicha he very earliest, and even that was a
chance the most sanguine scarcely dared to.
As it was, there hope for. were but 15 gallons of
water to distribute among 400 persons. In addi-,
tion to this, however, about 10 bags of biscuits and
as many of rice were saved, besides most of the
live stock, some 50 dozen of beer, and eight or
10 dozen of wine. Water, under these ciroun,

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render every assistance in his power, and during
the same day three buggalows left, two laden with
water, and the third with half-a-dozen soldiers
—a kindly precaution on the part of the Governor,
but one hardly necessary when there were above 20
English officers present on the reef. These boats
did not arrive before relief was providentially
brought by the Cyclops. •
Mokha, once the chief emporium of the coffee trade
8
in ea, is ..now almost deserted hy:trade and
traders, and the land communication with Aden,
which used to be effected on an emergency in 48
hours, is now nearly abandoned, and the risk of
:transit is so great that it is not to be depended upon.
Under these circumstances Messrs. Baker and
Newell determined to go on to Aden in the ship's
boat, and to try and catch the Cyclops at the nar-
row straits by _Perlin, through which they knew
the ship must pass. In this, however, they were
unsuccessful ; so, after staying a short time at
Perim, the brave fellows started again towards
Aden, and intercepted the Cyclops about 10 miles
south of the straits. Their sad tale was soon told,
and it is needless to say that Capt. Pullen and the
officers of the Cyclops did not spare her gracious
Majesty's coal in steaming towards the wreck, then
distant about 80 miles. Mr. Newall returned in the
Cyclops, but Mr. Baker went on to Aden, and on
his arrival here on Wednesday morning, the 15th,
found no steamer in the harbour, the Furious hav-
ing left for the African coast on the Sunday night
preceding. The people on the reef were relying en-
tirely upon the Furious, not knowing that any other
assistance awaited them, and the provisions were
eked out to last till Thursday afternoon, that beam
the earliest day on which aid could be expected tob
arrive from Aden.
On the afternoon of Monday a boat was sent to
Zooghr to look for water. She returned on Tuesday
evening with a small supply, which had been ob-
tained by digging to a depth of five feet. It was
very brackish, and probably nothing but seawater
which had been partially filtered through the sand
On the arrival of this boat an attempt was made by
the natives to seize it for themselves, but a dozen
English officers, armed with cutlasses and bayonets,
and backed by the officers of the ship, soon showed
them how fruitless any such attempt would be. One
of the more daring and insolent of the gang was
cut down, whereon the remainder took to their
heels. The wounded culprit, I am happy to hear, is
likely to recover. On Monday. evening Mr. Hatchet,
the purser of the ship, died of sunstroke. Had the
ice and mustard been at hand which were procured
from the ship the following day the poor fellow's
life might have been saved, inasmuch as durinc, the
four days' exposure on the reef there were eight or
ten other cases of coup de soleil, probably in a
milder form, which were effectually treated by the
application of ice behind the ears, mustard p3ultices
on the calves of the legs, and douches of salt water
poured over the body.
To resume the narrative. As soon as the water
was safely deposited in the store tent, where Mr. L.
Gisborne acted as caterer the whole time, and with
such success, that the small stock on hand seemed,
like the widow's cruise, to be unfailing, and to be
-blessed not only to tre'preservation of life hut of
health also, it was found that the imported
supply sufficed to give one pint to each person and
no more. The day previous the natives had 'been
allowed one bottle of beer between three, and some
cocoanuts which they had looted from the ship.
To the Europeans was given a bottle of beer each,
to the ladies half a bottle of claret, and to the chil-
dren about a pint of arrowroot. None of them had
received any water. Until midnight the chief
steward of the Alma (reported on all hands to be a
most valuable man, thoroughly up to his business,
and who executed Mr. Gisborne's orders with the
greatest energy and the most prompt goodwill), in
conjunction with Mr. Gisborne himself, and guarded
by a line of sentries composed of the English officers
and passengers, then served out a pint of water to
every man, woman, and child, and, brackish as it
was, they drank it with eagerness and heartfelt
gratitude. The same night two other boats were
despatched to Zooghr with 30 natives, the chief
engineer, and an English quartermaster, and on
Wednesday afternoon, when the party sailed away
in the Cyclops, those boats had net returned. The
reason of this is not known as yet, but it is sus-
pected that the natives, who were well supplied
with biscuit, and 10 of whom were to remain on
the island to dig fresh wells, finding themselves
with plenty of food and water and under the shade
of palm trees, refused to work, and are still com-
fortably boated there. It is to be hoped that the
Furious will soon give a good account of them.
During the same night, also, one of the ship's five
boats was missed, and at daylight she was not to
be seen. Had she drifted she must have been visi-
ble, as the wind was light, but in calling over the
muster-roll in the morning two of the Seedees, em-
ployed as trimmers, were found missing, and it is
conjectured that, knowing as they did that Mr.
Newall and Mr. Baker had gone to Mokha, they
stole the boat and tried to get there also—a vain
attempt, in which they will probably perish.
These two circumstances occurring together,
shevved our people the possibility of all the boats being
stolen, and as their last resource was to move in a
body to Jebel Zooghr and dig their own wells for
water, the sentries were doubled, so that there were
always 20 armed men, and of the right sort, avail-
able at a moment's notice. Some few of the foreign
passengers, and especially M. Gautier, a French-
man, and an Austrian gentleman, whose name I do
not remember, heartily co-operated with the Eng-
lishmen in this and other arduous duties.
Tuesday morning found the inhabitants of the
reef with six gallons of water about 15 dozen of
beer ; but, some tins of vegetables and preserved
soups having been saved, a cupfulof each was served
out to all the Europeans, and also a little arrowroot
to the children. The effect of this meal was instan-
taneous ; the most desponding cheered up, the sick
gained strength, and the ladies, who, to their hon-
our be it said, are reported to have borne up with
quiet resignation, crowded round the store tent to
thank Mr. Gisborne and the chief steward for the
best basin of soup they had ever tasted. The natives
got one bottle of beer among three, .the Europeans
half a bottle each, and the ladies one bottle of chr. _
among three. Thus passed Tuesday :leaving on hand
about a glass of liquor each, comprising all sorts, to
sustain the unfortunates on Wednesday and Thurs-
day, the latter being the earliest day whereon they
could anticipate relief. Had relief, however, not
arrived on Wednesday, the party would have been
obliged to repair to Zooghr; but there were only
four boats available for the purpose, and the pas-
sage in a broiling sun would have been attended
with the greatest danger, especially to the delicate
ladies and children.
Matters therefore began to look very gloomy.
Thus far there had been meat and drink sufficient
to sustain life, though the heat was so excessive
that many, doubtless, suffered not a little from
thirst. Now it became a question how the next
24 hours were to be passed without any drink at
all. On Tuesday night, however, a report got
abroad that two lights were visible, and as they
were observed to move about irregularly, none
could make out what they portended. Capt. Henry,
however, ordered a blue light to be burnt and a
rocket to be fired. A lantern was also hoisted on
the highest tent pole ; but no friendly signal
answered these demonstrations, and the hopeosf
which had begun to arise in the breasts
many were doomed to disappointment. Several
more such lights appearing during the night, they
were ultimately discovered to be the momentary
reflection of the moon upon the crests of distant
waves which bounded the horizon. At daylig
however, a cry rose
rose from half-a-dozen of the tents
that a steamer was in sight. It turned out to be
the Cyclops, about eight miles off, steaming direct
for the reef. The reaction from despair to hope

which the right afforded overpowered several of the
ladies, and Dr. Williams and Mr. Gisborne served
out to each of them half a tumbler pf Claret (nearly
all the remaining stock), to prevent hysterics and
fainting fits. A boat was immediately despatched
to meet the Cyclops, and the officers and men of
that vessel, and Messrs. Newall and Brunton, who
were also on board, will never again hear such a
cheer of welcome as they received from the 400
voices in the reef, all husky as they 'were with
parched throats, and otherwise subdued by hard-
ship and suffering. The Cyclops had hardly an-_
chored when a water-boat was on shore, and the
brave sailors helped, as British sailors wily •can
help, -every one who crowded • round them for a
draught. The second boat was appropriated to the
natives, and the water brought in four succeeding
ones was stored on shore for the use of the crew.
Eleven gallons of soup, three of tea, and as many
of coffee were ready in half an hour, and ten mi-
nutes later all felt restored and happy. By eight
o'clock every lady and. child. was comfortably
berthed in•the Cyclops' cabins,,every officer readily
giving up his accommodation and placing whatever
he had at their absolute disposal. The remaining
passengers gradually collected-the few boxes and
parcels which had been saved, and the quarter-deck
of the Cyclops presented the appearance of a large
camp where the sexes were not readily diStingUish-
able by the form of their apparel: Motley, indeed,
was the sight, when they anchored in the harbour
-of Aden.; but gratitude; deep fervent gratitude, was
in the hearts and on the lips of the rescued towards
their deliverers, and the face of every Briton be-
longing to the Cyclops bore a smile of satisfaction
that they had, under Goa, been instrumental in
affording such providential assistance to their
countrymen and countrywomen. The passengers
will doubtless bear their own testimony to the
attention, kindness, and sympathy, which they ex-
perienced at the hands of Captain Pullen and his
officers. I understand that some document of this
nature had been drawn up, and, if possible, I will
send you a copy of it. I feel assured, moreover,
that the admirable behaviour of the men as well as
of the officers of the Cyclops will not be overlooked
by her Majesty's Government. Several anecdotes
illustrative of the hearty and generous good will of
the sailors during • this trying time, will, I hope,
reach you for publication ; and I have heard from
many that none came near them on board who were
not pressed to share what little the brave Sacks
possessed: If they were at meals it was,—" Take
a bit with us, Sir, it will do you good;" or, " take a
hearty drink, Sir, and cheer up." With the same
generous feelings they brought out their kit, offer-
ing to share it with those who had lost nearly all
their clothes. On being reminded by some that they
might not be able to return what was thus given,
the reply was, " Bless you, Sir, there's plenty more
among the slops." God bless the sailors, say, for
their noble disinterestedness.
The arrangements made at Aden to receive the
unfortunate •nalsengers were not in that, state of
preparation which they ought to have been. The
passengers themselves will, in all probability, make
known to the Peninsular and Oriental Company as
well as to the public at home where they conceive
the fault to have been. It was certainly not with
the local authorities, for Brigadier Coghlan wrote
to Captain Coldbeck, the acting Peninsular and
Oriental agent here, the day previous, intimating
to him that he anticipated the return of the Cyclops
from the reef, and offering . whatever accommoda-
tion the Government premises, or even treasury,
afforded .to aid him in receiving the expected
guests, and in providing for their wants. The
agent, however, felt convinced that the Cyclops
would merely touch at the reef, there take in a few
passengers and the mails (which latter, by the way,
were all saved), and proceed on to Suez. Under
this conviction the agent proceeded himself, in
the Furious, on the morning of the 16th,
taking with him a number of divers, with
a view of aiding in floating the Alma.
Such provision on his part was undoubt-
edly commendable ; still, the general impres-
sion seems to be that, pending the possi-
bility of the return of the passengers, he was hardly
justified in quitting his- post, more especially as
Captain Osborne, of the Furious, with his officers
and crew, and Captain Henry, with the officers and
crew of the Alma, were on the spot to superintend
any operations in connexion with the stranded ship.
On the arrival of the Cyclops, however, it was found
that Captain Coldbeck had returned in her, she
having communicated with the 'Furious about ten
miles distant from Aden. Of course, under the
circumstances, there was more hesitation and delay
than there needed to have been had a different
course been pursued ; but before night most of the
passengers were housed, some in what was once the
Aden Hotel, others in the Government Bun „Talow,
the Sanitarium, with the residents at Steamer Point,
at the telegraph office, and at the Peninsular and
Oriental Agency. The most sickly were kept on
board during the night, but the following morning
they had also to be provided for on shore. A few,
who were very ill, were landed at once, and these
being placed under the medical care of Dr. Welsh,
the worthy and able surgeon in charge of the
European General Hospital, could not be better
cared for. All are now waiting the arrival of the
steamers from Bombay and Australia, hourly ex-
pected, and it is to be hoped that accommodation
will be available in the two ships to take the
sufferers on to Suez.
I ought not to omit to mention that during the
first excitement consequent upon the wreck every
box, trunk, and portmanteau come-at-able was
forced open and rifled by the -natives belonging to
the ship. This being a well known fact, Captain
Henry requested Captain Pullen's assistance to in-
stitute a general search on shore. All hands were
accordingly mustered, as if to go afloat, and a guard
of twenty sailors and marines kept them together,
while ten others, accompanied by Captain Pullen,
Captain Henry, and Mr. Gisborne ransacked every
bundle in the place. As very little was found under
this ordeal, the natives were next stripped one by
one, and bags of silver and gold, watches, were
then brought to light. The boatswain had not
commenced to distribute the awards for such in-
famous conduct when the passengers quitted the
reef ; but as Mr. Mayes, the master of the Cyclops,
with twenty men was left there, we doubt not that
by this time the natives have been justly dealt
with.
Capt. Henry and his officers remain on the reef
with all the crew, in the hope of saving the hull of
the vessel. The Furious, as above stated, has gone
to their assistance, and Capt. Pullen, on his return
up the Red Sea, will in all probability co-operate
in the attempt. The Alma, built by Mr. Laird, of
Birkenhead, is a noble ship, and of immense
strength, and it is confidently believed that, with
proper appliances and ordinary skill, she may be
got off the reef. Brigadier Coghlan has authorised
Capt. Osborne to avail himself of the services of the
Auckland and Lady Canning steamers, should he
fall in with them in the Red Sea, and, with the
united energy and perseverance of such officers and
men, no effort will be left untried to rescue the ill-
fated Alma. The Furious, in all probability, reached
the reef during the afternoon of the 17th.
JUICE 18.
P.S.—The Bombay has just arrived from Bom-
bay, and arrangements have been made to taken
most of the passengers from the Alma on to Suez
this evening. Capt. Potts, the commander, has
offered to do all in his power to accommodate them
on board. Should any remain behind they will
proceed on in the Columbia, hourly expected from
Australia.
et

NEWSPAPER
th they were 10 yeamago. ,There 4 s.ll#loEt.
VW to be taken before any approact netv't
to the ain defences, and in the me jiy
may ave brought together again a tKa
of risking another- general action. l4
painful as it must be for Austria to bin " I .s*. '4Y
cannot risk a general engagenient, aiid :
as much to the loss a confidence amongitlMow
ranks of the arms- itsitp.the diminution in nUmbera
caused-by-the battle of Solferino. -I should, not be
doing my duty as a truthful exponent of the situa-
tion here if I were to pass over, this fact in silence.
The soldiers had one moment of . enthusiasm ; that
was when the Emperor led themin person on the
23d to the advanced- positions .; from Which- he
intended to attaCk--the enemy ; but the events
of the 24th seriously affected. the -';ittottile 'of the
army. Instead of attacking,_ as they were led
to expect, they had to repel the , assaults of
the allies, who, knowing what was before them,
had halted fora mcalat two o'clock in the mornin.g. -
The Austrians, whose baggage and cooking utensils
accompany the columns even in the advance, bivou-
acked on the night of the 23d, and were attacked
before they could get their breakfast. The baggage
and cooking-carts were obliged to return to the rear
out of-the fire of the allies, and the result was that
the army of the Kaiser had to fight on empty sto-
machs. Hunger and hard knocks have a tendency
to disconrage even the bravest soldier. I was as-
tonished to see men from the field of Solferino re-
tiring unwounded, and lying" down exhausted
when out of the reach of the enemy's fire. I
am told that many so exhausted laid themselves
clown only to die. The mystery is explained when
one considers, that these cases arose from want of
ordinary sustenace. Your own. correspondent, who
had nothing to eat for 24 hours was very much
exhausted when he reached Villairanca ; but he had t
not to fight on an empty stomach. The prisoners
taken by the Austrians mostly carried something
eatable or drinkable, and the latter could not, but
feel discouragement when they considered that they
were less prepared for holding out against privation
than their opponents.
Other remarkable circumstances have come to my
knowledge which cannot but be regarded as serious
mishaps. I have spoken of the non-appearance of
Lichtenstein's corps (the 2d) on the field. It ap-
pears that this corps, which should have taken part
in the action of the day, was halted in consequence
of the .approach of some French cavalry in its
vicinity, h. nd that Prince Lichtenstein, for .reasons -
which he-will doubtless have to explain, I'M:al-Fled.
to Mantua. Again, General Zedwitz, commanding
the cavalry brigade of the Ist Army, instead of
advancing as he should have done, fell back on
Goito, thus depriving the Emperor of six regiments-
of horse and a considerable amount of artillery.
Thus, while on the part of the allies all the available
guns that could be brought into action were used, on
the side of the Austrians the artillery was weak
and utterly unable to oppose an effectual fire to
that of the enemy. It is true, on the other hand,
that the French artillery did not commit the havoc
which it might have done had its fire throughout
the day been true to the mark, instead of being- over
it. Still, the effect of the inferiority under which the
Austrians suffered in this respect was disastrous, as
it prevented them' from repelling the advance of
the infantry opposed to them. Among the wounded,
to the number of 4,000 or 5,000, who are now in
Verona and the surrounding villages, it is remark-
able how few are suffering from wounds inflicted by
artillery. The soldiers admit that they preferred
being in the front, under musketry fire, to being in
reserve, as the shells and shrapnel of the French did
more harm at some distance, in rear of the line of
battle than in the front of the action. Thus it was
that the Generals-in-Chief and their Staff, who are
generally less exposed than the rest of the army,
were all day under a heavy artillery fire. Thus it
was that the Emperor was placed in considerable
danger in the very rear of his army.
The Austrians do not cease to deplore the absence
of necessary reserves at Cavriano, feeling sure that
hal dispositions been made to that end, the day
would have been not only less disastrous than it
turned out to be, but might have had a result alto-
gether different from that which they now lament.
Benedek, it seems, did wonders, He successfully
repulsed at Pozzolengo the whole Piedmontese
army and drove it to Rivoltella, but when the
centre was cut through, although lie had made 700
prisoners and taken some' guns, he was obliged to
retire on Salionse.
The official lists of the losses suffered by the Aus-
trians are gradually coming in. Those of the 7th,
sth, and Ist Corps are 210 officers killed and
wounded. Privates and non-commissioned officers,
8,000 killed and wounded. Separated from their
corps, or missing, about 4,000. Of the latter the
greater part have been brought together again. Of
the Bth Corps, under Benedek, the losses were less
serious ; but I am not sure of the source whence
the numbers are -obtained. lam informed that
Benedek lost 20 officers and about 1,000 men killed
and wounded.
The line of the Mincio having been abandoned,
all the bridges have been destroyed ; those of Goito,
Vulleggio,and Tilonzambauo having been set on fire.
His Majesty the Emperor is still here, but there
is no saying how long he may remain. If Verona
be besieged he cannot stay here, and it is expected
that he will soon retire to a position where he can
with more safety and effect conduct the movements
of his army. Whatever may be the ultimate fate
of Verona, it will not perish of hunger. Quantities
of grain have been stored in every available place,
and 25,000 Hungarian oxen are either here or in
the immediate vicinity. General Urban has as-
sumed the supreme command of the fortress, the
internal economy of which is now settled' under
the most rigid war regulations. 'No one is
allowed to stand within 300 yards of the walls ;
no one allowed to go in or out without a
special pass, and the black and yellow colours on
his arm. A proclamation has been made public by
General Urban, in which he declares that he has
assumed the command entrusted to him by his
Majesty Franz Joseph. It has come to his know-
ledge that the proclamations hitherto issued have
not been respected as they should have been. For
this reason he thinks it necessary to state to the
public that he will act with rigour against evil
deeds or ill intentions, and, in order that thepublic
may know what they have to expect, he declares
that he is a loyal Austrian, in whom all may put
,eir trust ; while for his own part his trust is in

himself.
The Emperor is still here, but in case of siege
will no doubt retire to a more convenient place.
The loss of artillery in the action of Solferino is
stated to-day to amount to five guns, which could
not be removed owing to the damage they had sus-
tained.

The Pope has addressed the following encyclical
letter, dated June 18, to the patriarchs, primates,
archbishops, and bishops in communion with the
Holy See :—" Venerable Brethren—Salutation and
apostolical benediction. The seditious movements
which have recently broken out in Italy against
the authority of legitimate princes, in countries
nearest to the States of the Church, have invaded
some of our provinces like flames of a conflagration.
Excited by this fatal example and by intrigues
abroad, they have thrown off our paternal rule ; and,
in spite of their small numbers, the adherents
of the revolt demand that they shall be sub-
jected to that one of the Italian Governments
which, of late years, has been the adversary of
the Church, of its legitimate rights, and of its
sacred ministers. Reproving and deploring the
acts of rebellion by which a portion only of the
people in those disturbed provinces disregard with
so much injustice our zeal and our paternal care,
and declaring publicly that the temporal sove-
reignty which the most perfidious enemies of the
Church of Christ are endeavo •
us, it is necessary to the
it may exercise without
Holyuring to wrest from
power for the welfare of See, in order that
you, venerable brethren,any obstacle its sacred
religion, we address to
orderour s o tor sorrow,
seek, this present letter, in
ek, in the
on account of your midst of such serious dis-
turbancepeace some consolation for
On this occasion we exhort you,
your declared piety towards the
Holy See, and your singular zeal for its liberty, to
see to the accomplishment of the prescriptions
which we read was formerly given by Moses to
Aaron, the Sovereign Pontiff of the Hebrews :
(Numbers, chap. xvi.) 'Take a censer and put fire
therein from off the altar and put on incense,
and go quickly unto the congregation and make an
atonement for them ; for there is wrath gone out
from the Lord; the plague is begun.' So, also, we
exhort you to offer .up prayers, in imitation of
those of the holy brothers Moses and Aaron, who
prostrate on the ground cried out:—(Numb., chap.
xvi.) Most powerful God of the spirits of all flesh,
shall some mea sin andwilt thou be wrothwith the con-
gregation ? That is why venerable brethren we send
you the present letter, from which we expect gre
relief, because we feel confident that you will super-
abundantly respond to our wishes. Moreover, we
solemnly declare that, possessed of the virtue from
above which God, moved by the prayers of the
faithful, will confer on our weakness
so , wee will brave
all perils, and undergo all trials, orothur fail
in any respect in our apostolic duty, or do anything
whatever against the sanctity of the oath by which
we bound ourselves when, in spite of .our unworthi-
ness, we were raised,-by God's will, to tt Lis supreme
seat of the Prince of the Apostles, the citadel and
rampart of the Catholic Faith. For the accom-
plishment of pastoral charge, calling dem .n on you,
venerable brethren, all joy and all felicity, we
lovingly accord to you and your flock: i the apos-
tolical benediction, which is a pledge 'of celestial
happiness."