The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-21 00:00:00

COLLISIOA WITH AN ICRBERG.

Up to Thursday, the 7th of March, the voyage of
the Marco Polo had been favourable. A few days
before icebergs had been seen at a distance of seve-
ral miles, but no apprehension existed that any im-
mediate danger was to be apprehended from their
vicinity. About half-past 3 o'clock on the morning
of Thursday, the ship, under full sail, was going
from eight to nine knots an hour ; there was very
little sea, and a slight haziness rendered objects at
any distance rather indistinct. So quietly and
without signs of life did she glide through the water
that it seemed difficult to believe that 250 human
beings were between her decks. All, with the ex-
ception of the watch on duty, were in bed. The
muttered words of some unquiet sleeper told he was
dreaming of the home he was soon to see, in his
native land, or perhaps of the friends and home he
was leaving in the land of his adoption. Suddenly,
the stillness was broken by the wild shout of a sea-
man, " Icebergs ahead !" Before an order could be
carried into efect the ship struck with such force as
to rouse every one on board. A second succeeded
about a minute later, followed by the grinding sound
of the ship's bows on the ice, and the crash of falling
masts and spare. The scene that followed baffles
description.
No
bottom doubtih a
and courageous threw on a few articles of clothing,
few existed
minutes.but thatThe all
morewouldbold
to the h
and rushed on deck, prepared to second the efforts
of the crew, and do battle with their last enemy
while their strength lasted. Others seemed in a
state of complete stupefaction, their minds incap-
able of comprehending their true position.
Many wept and groaned aloud, mingling their
expressions of despair with the cries of the
women and children. The scene on deck might
well make all tremble. The iceberg, which was the
shape of an irregular triangle, about 300 by 500
feet, with an elevation like a cathedral, at the nar-
row:side towering to the height of at least 150 feet,
lay close to the ship, a large projection at the sum-
mit appearing about to fall on deck, while yards
and fragments of wreck falling in all directions
added horror to the scene, already sufficient to appal
the stoutest heart. The momentary panic over, the
necessary orders were promptly carried out, and
the ship slowly withdrew from her dangerous
neighbourhood. The pumps were manned, and
while they were vigorously plied, an awful period
of suspense ensued—" e'en the boldest held their
breath." At length a hearty cheer told that the
pumps were dry, and brought immediate relief to
all, proving, as it did, that the hull of the ship was
comparatively uninjured. It was now seen that the
first shock had carried away the jibboom and shat
tered the bowsprit, the second had completely car-
ried the bowsprit from its place and thrown it
across the forecastle, at the same time causing the
fall of the foretopmast, with all its yards and rigging
together with the mainroyalyard ; and all that was
left standing in the forepart of the ship was the
lower part of the foremast, and that was badly
sprung. The course of the ship was changed to the
northward, and the repairing of the damage rapidly
proceeded with.—Mareo Polo Observer.

PUBLIC REVENUE AND EXPENDI-
TURE.

At the present juncture, when questions of finance
occupy so large a share of public attention, it may
be worth while to show at a glance the variations
of the public revenue and expenditure since the fall
of the Peel Ministry in 1846. This is done in the
following table ;
Revenue. Expenditure. Surplus. Deficit.
Year. £ £ .0 X
1846 .. 53,790,138 .. 50,043,830 .. 2,840,308 ..

1847 .. 51,546,264 .. 54,502,918 ..
1848 .. 53,388,717 .. 54,185,136 .. -
1849 .. 52,951,749 .. 50,853,623 .. 2,098,126 ..
1850 .. 52,810,680 .. 50,231,874 2,578,806 ..
1851 .. 52,233,006 49,506,610 .. 2,726,396 ..
1852 .. 53,210,071 .. 50,792,512 .. 2,417,559 ..
1853 .. 54,430,344 .. 51,174,839 .. 3,255,505
1854 .. 56,822,509 .. 60,031,508 - •• 3,209,059
1855 .. 63,364,605 .. 84,505,788 - .. 21,141,183
1856 .. 68,008,623 .. 78,113,035 - .. 10,104,412
1857 .. 66,056,055 .. 66,019,958 .. 36,097
1858 .. 61,812,555 .. 60,684,898 .. 1,127,657
1859 .. 61,660,090 .. 61.679,674 .. • - .. 2,019,584
1860 .. 67,458,093.. 68,069,231 .. - 611,138
It will be noticed from this recapitulation that our
finances were in excellent condition up to the close
of 1853, and that in the eight years then ending our
collective surpluses were no less than £12,169,597.
In 1854, however, we " drifted into war," and a
very bad financial lee shore it proved, for somehow
or other we have never since been able to got back
to a peace footing, and our aggregate deficits have
swelled up to a total of £35,921,622 in seven years,
completely swampingthe results of previous thrift,
and showing a balance on the wrong side of
£23,752,025. The upshot of it all is that while in
1846 the national debt amounted to £782,918,984,
and in 1853 to .£771,335,80T, in 1860 it had swollen
to £801,477,741. Such is the skill with which the

.. 2,056,684
796,419

" fleabite"—as Mr. Disraeli once termed it in aßuck-
in ghamshire after- dinner speech—has been managed
that, while in 1846 the charges for its interest and
management was £28,077,987, in 1860 it had been
reduced to £26,833,470. Another consoling reflec-
tion in which Mr. Bull may indulge is that his
credit has always stood so high that in the worst of
times he has had a good round comfortable balance
in the Exchequer. At the end of 1846 this balance
amounted to .0,131,282 ; in 1849 it had risen to
£9,748,539 ; in 1855 (when the Russian war was at
its height) it had fallen to £3,688,600 ; in 1858 it
had rallied to £7,755,455, and at the close of last
year it stood at 45)250,392.

MONDAYFLINT,
The contest for the seat in Parliament rendered
vacant by the death of the late member, the Hon.
Mr. Mostyn, is likely to be very warm and close.
The respective candidates, Lord Richard Grosvenor,
second son of the Marquis of Westminster, in the
liberal interest, and Mr. Hughes, of Kimmell-park,
on the Conservative side—are both pursuing an
active canvass, and to-day and Saturday their friends
have been busily engaged amongst the farmers and
other freeholders attending the market. The writ,
which was moved for in the House of Commons on
Friday night, arrived on Saturday morning, and we
understand the High Sheriff has fixed the nomina-
tion and election for Saturday and Tuesday next.
Mr. Hughes numbers amongst his supporters many
of the Conservative gentry of the county ; but there
is one amongst them who, we understand, declines to
use his influence in favour of Mr. Hughes—we
allude to Sir Stephen Glynne, brother-in-law of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer. It was confidently
stated in Flint to-day that Sir Stephen has pointedly
refused to form one of Mr. Hughes's committee, and
inasmuch as he has considerable influence in the
district, the chances of success of the Conservative
candidate may be lessened. It is believed that the
hostile spirit in which Mr. Hughes in his address
speaks of the Chancellor's budget, has, in a great
measure, led to Sir Stephen Glynne's decision. It
will be remembered that at the general election in
1857 Sir Stephen Glynne was a candidate for the
representation of the county, in opposition to the
late member, Mr. Mostyn, on which occasion the
present Chancellor of the Exchequer took an active
part ia Sir Stephen's favour. Mr. Hughes, the
Conservative candidate, is son-in-law to Lord Ra-
vensworth, who formerly represented Liverpool. I

RUFFIANLY ASSAFLI' ON M. JAMES

FAZY.

It may be remembered that an account was
given of an assault in March last on M. Fazy,
Vice-President of the Council of State of Geneva,
by one Marchand. A few days back this
man was brought to trial before the Court of
Assizes of Geneva, not only for the assault, but on
the charge of outraging M. Fazy in the office of his
department, and casting on him imputations calcu-
lated to affect his honour. The facts of the case were
these :—On the 25th March, Marchand called on
M. Fazy at the Treasury, that gentleman being also
president of the department of finance, and asked
to be allowed to contract for the demolition of part
of the fortifications. M. Fazy answered that the
matter did not concern him, but the department of
public works, and recommended Mirchand to apply
there. But the man broke out into violent language,
and accused the department of showing partiality
to certain persons to the prejudice of others. M.
Fazy said that he would beg M. Fontanel, chief of
the department of public works, to examine any
claim Marchand might have to the contract which
he solicited, but that declaration did not satisfy the
man, and he insisted on having a positive promise
that the contract would be given him. M. Fazy re-
peated that he would send a recommendation to M.
Fontanel, but as Marchand continued to talk, M.
Fazy at last, getting impatient, cried out," Go away
—you weary me." On that Marchand said, " You
are an insolent fellow," and shook his fist at M.
Fazy. That gentleman, fearing to be attacked, took
up a chair to defend himself, At that moment some
clerks hearing the noise entered, and the man was
turned out; he went away muttering threats. The
day after, as M. Fazy was walking across the Pont
des Bergues on his way home from the Council of
State, Marchand went up to him, and without say-
ing a word, struck him a violent blow in the face
with his closed hand, and followed it up by two or
three others in the breast. He would probably have
continued the assault if M. Fazy, and a gentleman
who was with him, had not rushed forward and
held him until he was taken into custody by the
police. The advocate of the prisoner appealed to
the jury for indulgence, on the:ground that the
man received provocation, and had been since kept
in prison more than six weeks awaiting his trial.
The jury declared him guilty, and the court con-
demned him to nine months' imprisonment and the
costs.

.RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

EASTERN COUNTIES.

The terms on which the long-pending differences be-
tween this company and the Eastern Union and Norfolk
have at length been adjusted are as follows :-1. The dis-
puted questions in the Chancery suit and on the revenue
accounts are to be settled by an allowance of £2,000 per
annum each to the Norfolk and Eastern Union from Jan. 1,
1854, each party to pay their own costs. 2. The joint com-
mittee are forthwith to enter upon their duties, as contem-
plated under the agreement of 1854, without prejudice,
pending the settlement of the final amalgamation. 3. The'
expenditure on new works on which interest has been
charged to the joint revenue account is to be immediately
settled by Mr. Bruff and Mr. Sinclair. 4. The Epping,
Ongar, and Dunmow line is to be made by the associated
companies, and the Eastern Counties is immediately to de-
posit 5-7ths of the money required. The Bishop Stortford
and Braintree and the Ware and Buntingford lines, are to
be adopted by the united companies to the extent of the ob-
ligations in respect of which the Eastern Counties is already
responsible. 5. The rolling stock is to become the property
of the associated companies, exclusive of the stock now be•
longing to the Eastern Counties for working foreign lines,
on which interest at 4 per cent, is to be allowed to the
Eastern Counties before division of gross receipts, and the
foreign lines aro to be worked on account of the associated
companies. 6. The Board of Trade, or a parliamentary
committee, are to determine the compensation, if any, to
be paid to the Norfolk and Eastern Union, in addition
to their one-seventh of ithe net receipts, provided for by
the agreement of 1854, for giving up the right of a
fixed charge of 46 per cent, in lieu of future actual
working expenses. 7. The proportion of directors to be
nominated:by the Norfolk and Eastern Union is to be de-
termined by the Board of Trade. 8. Disputes as to the
construction of these terms are to be left to the arbitration
of a barrister, to be nominated by the Solicitor-General.
The agreement, it may be interesting to add, was negotiated
by Mr. J. C. Cobbold, M.P., and Mr. G. Josselyn on be-
half of the Eastern Union, and Mr. G. P. Bidder, on the
part of the Norfolk.

FEARFUL ACClDENT.—Yesterday about noon a
melancholy accident occurred at Mr. Alderman Ilumphery's
wharf, London-bridge. Some men were engaged hoisting
bags of sugar, and whilst lifting them by means of a crane
and chain, the latter snapped asunder, and about ten of the
heavy bags fell to the ground, burying one of the labourers,
and fearfully crushing a boy about fourteen years of age, who
was standing at his side. The two were extricated as soon
as possible, placed in a cab, and removed to St. Thomas's
Hospital. The poor boy was found to have both his legs
broken, his tongue bitten in two, and he was otherwise in-
ternally injured to such an extent that but faint hopes can
be entertained of his recovery. The man, fortunately, was
not so seriously injured, and nothing fatal in his case is ap-
prehended.

FIRE IN THE OPEN ROAD.—Yesterday after-
noon some alarm was occcasioned in the Southwark-
bridge-road, owing to the following somewhat singular oc-
currence :—A van, containing about three tons weight of
saltpetre, was being drawn along the road, and owing to
the friction of the axle of the wheel the box took fire, and
some of the saltpetre falling upon it, that became ignited,
and the fire spread to the bulk in the vehicle. The whole
burnt for some time, and when the bottom of the van was
consumed, the remainder of the inflammable article fell
through into the road, where it continued to burn with a
hissing noise until the engines from the contiguous brigade
station came up. The firemen then went to work, and
with the aid of a good supply of water and the hand en-
gines they managed to get the fire extinguished, but very
little of the stock was saved. The property was going to
the vitriol works atßennington-park.

Our readers will perceive by last Friday's Lon-
don Gazette, that our fellow townsman, Captain Roberts,
R.M.A., is promoted to Major in the army for his distin-
guished services during the Russian war. Major Roberts
served at Odessa and on the Coasts of Circassia and Georgia
during the early part of the war, and directed the formation
of fortifications at Redut Kaleh, having 3,000 Turks of the
garrison at his disposal for this purpose. He received the
thanks of the Turkish commander-in-chief, and a recom-
mendation from him to his Government for a decoration.
id
He landed to serve with the army in the Crimea in October,
1854, and organised and directed the batteries on the lines
n,
of Balaklava. At the battle of Balaklava he was the senior
artillery officer in the batteries, which did great execution
amongst the Russian
giinane e rcsafvoarhith .reelie monthswas n employedaruo
staff of Royal s
for which he received the thanks of Lord Raglan, and duties,d v
twice complimented in the orders of his brigade.
served with the Siege Train
Royal He also
Artillery in the breach-
ing batteries before aFi. _e_S h 4.
opoi, and
at the attack on the
Redsu, Julie 17 and 18, 1855, and
in the advanced batteries. From was frequently engaged
Engineers, and from Lord om the commanding
Clyde (then Sir •
he has received valuable testimony to his services. Major
Crimean medal
Turitish medal, the deco and two clasps, the
ration of the Medjidie, and the
Crow OW Liegiu of He
Zl9ll,rrnPolohfro Wrier.

( From the ,oinbay Gazette.)
The schooner Good Hope, owned by MtLsr.
Lawrence and Co. of this port, and bound to the
Kooria Meoria islands, which sailed from this port
last Month, was`Seized by ~pilates off cape Fata4,
who after dismantling and breaking up the vessel,
landed the captain and crew and 'left them in a
desolate state. The natives treated them with
kindness, but they suffered much from weakness
and privations.
The following narrative of the events thus
briefly described has been furnished us :
" Narrative of Mr. Charles H. Cooke, late Master
of the Schooner Good Hope, of Bombay.
eaoss
tet
taviroorf
teofhensetlacylihl:eisandige
eolasnkwontfaheytwehseoswmit
sheleasEMnh
douasurrlc h, from Bombay,
jtlbuoe bound
guntenhdd
ea frecoexrroidptsstoetcshedo,
expedient
vonntKooriaefetdnhmitaeoyhnostmeuAl
over
llatdohi
hae
ve
islands,maintain
machinery,
aas mst
aa
ywt&hpi
cte
passengers
as ses. theengl
belong-
inge, ob-
ject
L
adpsehiaatnvwse aaasn dfnaoinrlaotni
windgveesr
carsewweccoonusl
men,get rid of them
of ,
as
stow
otn
woa another
n2e rt
ah:er
nu European, oopne returnan,
the and
l6t
voyage.ha
who seemed
Anerda.b boat, full
nfuaglleodfto
We made the Arabian coast
March, and at daylight made sail to the southward,
but shortly afterwards we were overhauled and
with a few presents of clothes, potatoes, &c., and
they left, but only to return with fresh demands.
We drove them off, however, and proceeded on our
course. Shortly after this, the schooner was chased
and surrounded by a fleet of ten Arab boats, each
with a crew of ten to fifteen men, who boarded us,
tbhoiaervdiesah lbyyi inclined. i
and soon completely gutted the schooner, even to
cutting down the masts. We were then turned
ashore through the surf, and passed the night
on the beach in charge of some Arabs, who
having now nothing that they could take but our
lives, did not further maltreat us, after having
taken away our shirts and trousers, and substituted
some of their own rags to. cover our nakedness.
Next morning they *gave •us about five pounds of
our own ship's bread, and intimated to us that the
road to•Muicat was before us, and that we were to
start off, which we did- The bread and three
handsful of dates were our -sole- proviiion for l
journey of. about 400 miles across the arid stony
desert of Arabia Petrea. We journeyed for 11
days, scorched by the blazing sun which fell upon
our almost naked bodies and shoeless feet by day,
and chilled by dews at night, which cramped us
and brought on bowel complaints. To avoid losing '
ourselves in the desert we usually travelled along
the coast, catching crabs and sea snails, which we
ate raw, for sustenance. For lsater—precious
water—we had every day to recover the camel
track, sometimes finding a water hole or well,
sometimes not, near the road.. At times we were
two days without water; and when it was ob-
tained, it was very brackish and dirty. Occa-
sionally, two or three times during that terrible '
journey, we met with a travelling family of Arabs
or Seedies—the former invariably searching us
closely, while the latter, the women especially,
gave us water, the only thing we asked for, as our
mouths and tongues were so sore and swollen that
we could hardly swallow anything solid, and
their poverty was almost as great as ours in the
matter of food. At last, OR the eleventh day,
with blistered feet, with tongues swollen, lips
bleeding, and totally exhausted, having forty-eight
hours previously divided the last drop of water,
which was carried in a boot, we lay down under a
scrub bush, to die, as we thought. Blank, hope-
less despair was at our hearts, and we felt unequal
to make another exertion for life. At this moment
we heard a donkey bray, and scrambling over a
low range of sand hills near, we saw the welcome
sight of a drove of camels and donkeys, with seven
or eight natives, picked for rest. We hailed, and.
made signs for water, which was freely given, and
they treated us kindly. These people proved to be
a party of Bedouin Arabs, and with significant
gestures, they asked if the coast people had not
robbed us. By signs, they inquired if we wished to
go to Muscat, and understanding that we did, they
gave us fish, rice, and milk for supper, and mats to
sleep on. Never was refreshment and rest so sweet,
or so acceptable. With gratitude and thankful-
ness at our hearts to God, for his watchfulness and
protection to us poor castaways, and to these Be-
douin Samaritans for their kindness, we slept that
night. We were all suffering from gripes and bowel
complaints, and to alleviate this the Arabs applied
the cautery freely to our stomachs, the scars of
which we still can show. Next day they packed
us upon camels, and after 11 days' journey (and
more searings of stomach cramps and spasms), pass-
ing through some long and precipitous mountain
passes, and one populous village nestled in a palm.
grove, we arrived at Muscat, where Mr. Rassam,
the acting consul, kindly supplied all our wants,
and engaged a passage for us in a bungalow for
Bombay. I had an interview with the Imaum of
Muscat, who spoke kindly, and said that, had he
possessed a steamer, lie would have sent to look
after the pirates and the stolen schooner. The
pirates were undoubtedly the fishing boats' crew of
the coast, and nothing would please me more than
to go again in a small craft, and being well pre-
pared, to 153 a trap for these rascals which would
make them more careful in boarding strange craft
for the future. At present owing to their kind
attentions, I stand possessed of what I have on my
back, having lost nautical instruments, clothes,
and all I was possessed of. Messrs. Lawrence
and Co., too, have lost their schooner and
all in her. It is to be hoped that the resi-
dents at the island, whom I went to bring back,
may speedily be relieved in some other way, or
their position, cut off from all communication with
the world, will soon be a critical one.
" CHARLES H. COOKE,
"Late master of schooner Good Hope.
"Bombay, April 22, 1861."