The Sun.
London, England, 1850-07-11 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The announcement by telegraph_ this morn-
ing of the vote of the House of Commons, affirming by
a considerable majority Mr. Roebuck's resolution in
support of the principles on which the foreign policy of
the country has been conducted by Lord Palmerston,
has produced a wide spread and cordial feeling of'
satisfaction and joy throughout this great community.
During the week, as the debate proceeded, an intense
anxiety has prevailed as to the result, as no one at all
acquainted with public affairs could fail to perceive
the important consequences which depended on the
issue. To the Commons of England was put the
question one of momentous significance —shall
Great Britain, the birth-place of freedom, the friend
and protector of the down-trodden everywhere, con-
sent to become the ally of Austria and Russia, in
riveting their chains upon the necks of their unhappy
subjects? and nobly have they answered the question.
Well done the Commons of England ! Emphatically
and truly have you interpreted and expressed the
feelings of the great English nation. You have been
true to the ancient traditions of our country, and re-
asserted, with the spirit of former times, your title
to the confidence and rewards of your counirymk.
From what has this vote happily saved us ? Imme-
diately and directly from an alliance with the de-
spotic Governments of Europe, from the deep de-
gradation, the eternal disgrace of uniting with the
leagued oppressors of mankind to repress the rising
hopes of the continental nations, and to extinguish,
especially in France and Germany, the few advan-
tages of the revolutions of 1848 that still remained.
Thanks again, say we, to the Commons of England.
Their triumphant, and all the more so, because un-
expected, majority has saved the country from an
ineradicable stain, and sent consternation and alarm
into the Camarillo of unprincipled politicians—
" Kings with thrones, and kings without thrones—
Ministers in place, and Ministers out of place," as
Mr. Osborne happily expressed it, who had conspired
to ruin an honourable statesman—hateful to them in
proportion to his love of freedom, and of well-
regulated progress, the best and surest safeguard
against revolution and ana'rchy. But the domestic
consequences of a vote adverse to Lord Palmerston
and the Ministry would have been more serious still.
The openly -avowed determination of the fiery states-
man, whose impetuous and unscrupulous ardour
brought on the present crisis, by the division on his
motion in the House of Lords, is to restore what is
called protection to native industry, but which is in
reality nothing more nor less than the policy of the
highwayman, taking what is not his own by adding
to the price of bread. Who could contemplate with-
out horror the storm of indignation which an attempt
to restore the corn-laws would be sure to produce in
this country ? Restore the corn-laws ! restore the
Star Chamber, and collect ship money from the in-
dustrious classes of England ! ! And yet Lord Stan-
ley, by his promises to his followers, would be bound
to make, as he would infallibly fail in, the attempt.
But the vote of the Commons' House has saved the
nation from the folly and fanaticism of the Lords;
and may it ever be so while their Lordships conspire
with " Kings with thrones, and Kings without
thrones—with Ministers in place, and Ministers out
of place," against an upright, honourable, high-
minded British statesman. Lord John Russell's words
are emphatically true, that for a Government to re-
sign upon a vote of the Lords would be productive
of injurious consequences, and to none more so than
to the Lords themselves.

It is right, I think, to make known the state of
feeling throughout the country on the present im-
portant crisis, and you may accept the above as a
correct representation of the sentiments of this great
manufacturing and commercial community.
I am, Sir, yours, &c.,
J. IL

Glasgow, June 29.

WESTMINSTER FREEHOLD LAND SOCIETY.--.The
irst annual meeting of the shareholders of this society was
held last evening, at the lilusic Hall, Long-acre; John Wills,
Esq., in the chair. After the nomination of the officers and
committee, and the appointment of auditors, the meeting
was ajourned until the 7th August, for the purpose of re-
ceiving the report of the committee. The society was estab-
lished on the Ist August last, and now consists of 800 mem-
bers, holding 1,100 shares; and upwards of 2,0001. was in
the hands of the society's bankers. A vote of thanks was
passed to the chairman, and the meeting adjourned.
MR. F. WEBSTER'S BENEFIT.—The benefit of
this excellent man and most worthy freemason, to whose
exertions, as stage-manager of the Haymarket, the public
are more indebted than the unitiated imagine, takes place
this evening at the Haymarket Theatre. The whole strength
of the company is engaged, as is a host of extra talent.
The " craft" will, as usual, rally round " Brother Webster,"
and there can be no doubt but that his benefit will be a
bumper.

Sir William Clay, Bart., paired in favour of the
Marriages Bill with Mr. Eliott Lockhart against.

L•INDON THIEVES.—It IS supposed-that the num-
ber of persons who maka a trade of thieving in Lund n is not.
more than six thousand; of these, nearly two hundred are
first-class thieves or swell mobsmen ; six hundred " mace-
men," and trade swindlers, bill-swindlers, dog-stealers, &c.;
about forty burglars, " dancers," " garreteers," and other
adepts with the skeleton-keys. The rest are pickpockets,
" gonophs"—mostly young thieves who sneak into areas,
and rob tills—and other pilferers.—Dickens's "Household
7 I Words"

STEAMER BLOWN UP.—PLYMOUTH, WEDNESDAY,
JULY 10.— This morning, at a little before seven o'clock, the
Queen steamer, of about 70 tons burden, Captain Williams.
blew up, when lying of North-corner steps, Hamoaze. The
engineer, William Mitchell, who keeps a tavern at Calstock,
and is the principal owner, was in charge at the time stand-
ing on the larboard paddle-box, whence he was blown with
part of the ship into the sea. The steamer was preparing for
an excursion up the river Tamar, and the steam was got up
about five o'clock. At the time of the accident the only
person below was a man named Lane, recently employed in
place of his brother, one of the stokers ; he was in the engine-
room, and was carried away with the wreck. The after-end
of the boiler is blown completely out, taking with it the after-
deck and cabin, companion, seats, and all ; indeed, the stern
part is shelled, there being nothing but the ceiling of the hull
to be seen. Six persons were on board; Lane is missing,
Mitchell, the engineer, seriously scalded; James Smith,
stoker, leg broken ; a fourth man injured, and two escaped
without hurt. The steamer was taking a turn a head at the
time ; the valve was two inches from the extreme. The
Queen was engaged for the day by the trustees of the Princes-
street Independent Chapel, Los;vonport, and no doubt a very
large number of persons would have been on board; had the
accident occurred a few hours later, the loss of life would
have been frightful to contemplate. The over-crowding of
the steamers on the river Tamar is deserving the attention of
Government.

HARROW SCHOOL.—THE SPEECH DAT.—Yester-
day having been appointed for the delivery of the speeches at
this celebrated academy, a numerous and fashionable assem-
blage met in the dining hall at one o'clock to witness the
proceedings. The following is a list of the prizes awarded:—
Ile Peel Medal (for Latin prose), Mr. G. C. D'Arcy; the
Gregory Medal (for Latin translation), Mr. H. M. Buller;
Latin Alcaics and Latin Alexanders, Mr. C. S. Blaydes;
Greek lambics 11. M. Butler; Greek Translation and
English Essay, 11. M. Butler; English Poem, Mr. Cunning-
ham.

DARING BURGLARY IN THE CITY.—It was yes-
terdry morning discovered that the premises of Messrs.
Muggeridge, Sprague, and Co., the extensive paper mer-
chants, of Queen-street, Cheapside. had .daring the night
been burglariously entered, and the several desks forced open,
but fortunately, although there was a vast amount of pre-
perty in the phice, very little was carried off.
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPU.—A conventzon has been
entered into between Belgium and Prussia, for the establish-
ment of an electric telegraph between the two countries. It
wilt connect Berlin with Aix-la-Chapelle, Antwerp, Brus-
sels, Ostend, and the French frontier.
SINGULAR MARRIAGB.—A marriage of a some-
what singular character, from the peculiar circumstances of
the parties to it, was solemnised at the Cathedral on Wed-
nesday last. The loving swain is well known by many of
the inhabitants of Manchester, from his being in the habit of
occupying a position in some of our public thoroughfares
order to receive the contributions of the charitable. He ill
ap-
pears to be about
.thirty-three years of age, has been broughtlip to the sea-service, and had the misfortune, while engaged
in a whale-fishing voyage, to lose both his legs by amputa-
tion, t.ion, in consequence of disease caused by severe frost uta-
is very good
.looking and healthy, but wears a wooostidenal2. not:
crutch, and a stick. His wife is, we are told
caluderable personal attracticousA.Nanchota'ea .°

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF COMAIONS, July 10.
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BILL.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of yesterday.)

On the motion for going into Committee on this Bill,
Sir G. PECHELL did not dispute the propriety of
giving additional powers to the inspectors of weights
and measures, but he complained that while that was
the object of the present Bill, several most useful
Acts of Parliament woald be abolished by which most of
the large towns in the kingdom were governed. He
hoped the Government would arrest the progress of
the Bill, because he believed it was a pieoe of legislation
which was wholly uncalled for. So many important
considerations were involved in the measure that even if
the principle were approved of by the House, it
would not be advisable to press it until the subject had
been referred to a Committee of Inquiry. He'concluded
by moving that the House should go into Committee
on the Bill this day three months. _ _ _

Sir JOHN DC-CKWORTH said his object had been
to make the Bill as perfect as possible, and for that
purpose he had taken the advice and received the
assistance of those who were most conversajat with
the working of the present law. The working classes
were the parties who would be benefited most by the
measure, because they were more liable to the frauds
practised upon the public by the use of deficient weights
and measures. He trusted that the House would not
accede to the amendment of the Hon. and Gallant
Member. He would not wish to take upon himself the
responsibility of altering the law on this subject unless
he was supported by the opinion of the House. In de-
ference to the opinion of the Hon. Baronet (Sir George
Pechell), he had struck out certain clauses in the Bill
which were objectionable to him.
Sir GEORGE GREY hoped the House would go
into Committee on the Bill. He approved of the princi-
ple of the Bill, which was to assimilate the practice of
examining weights and measures throughout the country,
and to make that practice as uniform as possible, which
was not the case under the existing law.

Mr. PACKE approved of the principle of the Bill, and
would ♦ote for the House going into Committee up)n it
forthwith.

Mr. BitOTHERTON hoped the House would post-
pone the Committee on the Bill.
Mr. E. ELLICE, jun., said this Bill was little known
in England, and still less in Scotland, and he thought
the country should have an opportunity of being better
acquainted wi4t its provisions. He recently presented
a petition from the St. Andrew's district of Burghs,
which he represented, praying that they might be ex-
empted from the operation of the Bill ; and should the
House go into Committee on the Bill, it was his inten-
tion to propose a clause with the view of exempting the
whole of Scotland from its operation.
Mr. DUNCAN expressed his intention to support
any motion for exempting Scotland from the Bill, and
of voting at all events for the postponing of the Com-
mittee.

Mr. COWAN hoped the House would postpone the
Committee until the next session of Parliament, and
that the Government in the recess would take into their
consideration a Bill for providing a standard measure.
After a few words from Sir DE LACY EvAzis and the
ATTORNEY. GENERAL,
Mr. HENLEY said he was by no means satisfied
with this Bill as it stood, because it proposed to place
very extended powers in hands far less responsible than
at present.
Mr. FREWEN hoped that the Hon. Baronet (Sir
George Pechell) would not divide the House on his
amendment.

Sir GEORGE PECHELL consented to withdraw his
amendment, and the House went into Committee on
the Bill.

Oa clause 1 being proposed,
Sir'G. PECRELL renewed his opposition to the Bill.
He objected to the details of the Bill, and he thought
it wain direct opposition to all former enactments.
After a few words from Sir G. GREY,

Some conversation took place, in which Mr. Henley,
Sir John Duckworth, the Attorney-General, Sir George
Ptohell, and Mr. Brotherton took part.
Colonel DUNNE asked if the Bill would extend to
Ireland?

Sir GEORGE GREY said it would.
Colonel DUNNE had several amendments to propose
then, but he should postpone them till the bringing up
of the'report.
Mr. E. ELLICE, jun., moved that Scotland should
be exempt from the operation of the Bill.
Sir GEORGE GREY thought the Bill ought to be
confined to ET,gland only.
Sir G. DUCK WORTH had no desire to force the Bill
upon Scotland.
Mr. HENLEY thought a Bill that was required for
England was equally applicable to the other parts of the
kingdom, and the statement that neither Ireland nor
Scotland ought to be subjected to the operation of the
Bill was a strong inducement for him to oppose the Bill
altogether.
Mr. SADLEIR called upon the Right Hon. Baronet
who had charge of the Bill to give a distinct pledge that
the Bill should not extend to Ireland.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said in the existing
state of the law, and as the Bill now stood, it could not
possibly apply to either Scotland or Ireland.
Mr. E. ELLICE, jun., under those circumstances,
would not press his amendment.
Sir G. GREY now suggested that they should agree
to the fir,t two clause', and then report progress, so as to
give Government an opportunity of considering whether
or no the Bill ought to extend to every part of the
United Kingdom.
Sir G. PECHELL understood that the original Act,
5 and 6 Will. IV., applied to every part of the kingdom,
but now there appeared to be some doubt as to that.
He should, theretore, move that the Chairman do at once
report progress.
Sir JOHN I)UCKWORTH was prepared to accept
the proposal tf the Right Hon. Baronet the Home St-
crettry, but he must resist the motion of the Hon. and
Gallant M.-mber for Brighton. He only proposed to
take the fir-t two clauses, and to strike out all the others.
Sir GEORGE PECHELL reluctantly consented to
withdraw his amendment.
Clause 1 was then agrees to with amendments.
On (thus,' 2 being proposed,
Sir GEORGE PECHELL proposed the omission of
certain words which compelled local authorities to
transfer their standard weights and mea-
sures to the clerk of the peace, with the view
of inserting certain other words, which would have the
effect df continuing she weights and measures of the town
of Brighton and other places in the same custody that
they are at present.
The Cominiftee then divided, when there appeared—
For the amendment -
Against it. 126
Majority —l22
The clause, with some slight amendments, was then
agreed to.
The House then resumed, and the report was or-
dered ro be brought up on Friday next.
MARRIAGE BILL.

Mr. STUART WORTLEY presented a large number
of petitions from various parts of Scotland in favour of
this Bill.
:ilr.-COBDEN presented similar petitions from dif-
ferent parts of the metropolis.
M ajor BE R ESFORD presented several petitions
from 51 rural porishes in Essex against the Bill.
Aldarrnan SIDNEY presented a petition from the
City in. favour of the Bill.
Colonel THOMPSON presented several petitions from
various parts of the metropolis in favour of the Bill.
Mr. FOX MAULE presented a petition from Glasgow
against the Bill.
Sir G. CLERK presented a petition from the Free
Kirk against the Bill.
On the motion that the Bill be read a third time,
Mr. WALPOLE said he thought the Bill was revolt-
ing in principle, and could not fail to be fatal in its
consequences. It had been viewed hitherto in two
points of view; the first was a religious, and the second a
social point of view; and he could not help expressing his
regret that this Bill had not been first introduced in the
House where the religious bearing of the question could
be fairly disposed of. In the absence, however,
of any decision from that branch of the Legisla-
ture, the House was bound to grapple with
both points. Well, then, in his opinion there were greet
religi-us objections which ought to preclude them from
passing this Bill. I; was doubtful whether it would
produce much good, while it was no less certain
that it must encourage immorality, and the safest
course for the House to adopt was to throw
out this Bill altogether. The prohibitions which the
Bill referred to were founded upon principles of morality
and sanctioned by the Scriptures. True, holy writ
only contemplated the male in commanding that a mac
should not marry his brother's widow, but according to
all ecclesiastical authorities the prohibition ap-
plied just as much to the female as the
male. And it was natural that it should
do so. He would not put it positively that these mar-
riages were prohibited by the Deity, but deal with it as
a matter of duubt. Now, how were they to solve that
doubt? Why, only by referring to the past. For 13
centuries, thee, these marriages had been prohibited by
every Christian community. Look W the east,
west, north, or south, and they found that this prohibi-
tion had never been departed from till the time
of the infamous Pope and debaucheie Alexander the Sixth,
who granted a dispensation to the King of Portugal to
enable him to marry his deceased wife's sister. It
was a cardinal rule to take that course which admitted
of no doubt, and as it was more than doubtful toat
these marriages were forbidden by the Creatur, the
House ought to reject this Bill upon religious grounds.
He came now to the social part of the question. It was
said that this prohibition interfered with the exercise of
civil liberty, but before they could enter upon that
branch of the ctmtroversy, they must first decide what
was—to what extent it should go, because
it they were to pass this Bill upon the plea of
liberty, why should it not for the same reason extend to
other cases of prohibition?. Thelibeity, however, which
could sanotion "'such a measure as this was
vicious in the extreme, and he hoped no such argu-
ment 84,.. that would weigh with the House in
disposing Otilhia measure. Another ground urged in
favour of this Bill was, that it would give orphan fa-
milies better protection than they now enjoyed. Let
the House pause before it was led away by such an ar-
gument as that; Jet it remember the mischief and vices
that would be encouraged if the husband were
taught to look with longing eyes and evil
passions at his wises sister, or, on the other hand, if' the
wile's sister were infi laud with the hope that she might
one day become the wife of her sister's husband. As
for conferring benefit upon the children, every body
knew that the feeling of a step-mother for her husband's
offspring was not always of the warmest or most af-
fectionate character, while the situation of an aunt
gave birth to a choriteble and motherly solicitude f,r the
welfare of a sister's orphan children. The Bill, in fact,
west naught with danger, it could only benefit a selfish

few. Pass it, and there would be no end to the in-
roads that would be attempted upon the
established laws. At present the law was re-
spected ; it protected society f. Om frightful
abominations, but deny the Divine rule that man and
wife were one in blood, and who should say where the
injury would stop? As they valued the social and reli-
gious institution of marriage—as they wished to see
society uncontaminated with a frightful vice, he
begged and implored the House, even at this
stage to stop the further progress of this Bill, and in or-
der to give the House an opportunity of doing so, he
should move that the Bill be read a third time this day
six months. _

—.—
Colonel THOMPSON deprecated dealing with this
question upon theological grounds ; it only led to con-
tusion, and never gave satisfaction. He took issue
with those who contended that these marriages were
prohibited by the Levitical law, though he did not dis-
pute that until political laws were established they were
not tolerated. The moment, however, that political
laws obtained force, so far from such marriages as
these being forbidden, a rich man was bound to
wed his deceased brother's widow, while, in the
time of the Great Author of Christianity, our
Saviour did not dispute the legality of such marriages
when he was asked if there was any hope of salvation
for a woman who had married seven husbands. The
fact was, in disposing of this question upon theological
grounds, they were dealing with phantoms, for
he could call to mind no passage in the Scriptures or in
Montesquieu which declared that there was affinity of
blood between a man and his wife's sister. It was there-
fore ridiculous to tell him that these marriages were
incestuous. According to his judgment they would
benefit rather than injure society, and be should cer-
tainly vote for the third reading of this Bill.
Mr. M'NEILL would not enter into the religious con•
troversy which had been raised by the previous speakers,
he would simply confine himself to expounding the feel-
ings of Scotland upon this measure. They be
lieved it to be opposed not only to civil
but religious law, and if the House passed this Bill it
would be tantamount to telling them that their construc-
tion of the Scriptures was false. But why should these
marriages be forced upon the people of Scotland because
some 1,500 violators of the present law in England re-
quired it to be passed? It was one of the arti-
cles of religious profession that these marriages
were prohibited by Divine law, and in the
face of that fact it would be an act of cruelty to force a
Bill of this nature upon Scotland. He therefore pro •
tested against the passing of the Bill, which ought to be
resisted upon every ground of principle, morality, and
expediency.
Mr. STUART WORTLEY said the Bill bad already
undergone such bug and deep discussions that
it was hardly necessary for him to trespass at
any length upon the attention of the House, but after
what had fallen from Hon. Members to-day it would be
culpable negligence on his part, if he altogether re-
mained silent. Now, if they refused to pass this Bill,
how were they to deal wish the disastrous state of
things which the existing law had produced?
Up to 1835 the legality of these marriages
had given rise to none of those abuses about
which they had heard so much, and he really thought
before the House suffered this Bill to be negatived in its
last stage, they should require its opponents to suggest
some other alternative for removing the evils of the
existing law. His Hon. and Learned Friend the
Member for Midburst admitted that the Divine law
upon the subject of these marriages was doubtful. Well,
if it were so, would it not be impious in Parliament to
pronounce, through the medium of an Act, what were
the intentions of the Deity? In this admitted state of
doubt would it not rather be much better to leave the
matter to the consciences of men, or bodies of men,
or of churches? So much, then, for the religious
portion of the subject. With regard to the social part
of the question, he really could not understand how this
change should lead to so much vice and evil, when he
remembered that in America, where these marriages
were general, they produced no such results. Now he
did not believe that the English women were less moral
than those of America, and, therefore, so far from think-
ing that this Bill would be the precursor of profligacy
and vice, he was convinced it would promote the happi-
ness and moral welfare of large masses of the community.
He was then called upon to pay respect to the people of
Scotland—he had ever done so, and if he thought the
measure wad repugnant to their feelings, he would not
persevere with it. But what was the fact? Wby the whole
of the measure having been made known to that dis-
criminating people, petitions had loaded the table of the
House from Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other parts of
Scotland in favour of the measure. He was disposed to
pay every attention to the wishes of the people of Scot-
land, and if the old law with reference to marriage in
that country was still carried out, he should be content
to exclude it from the provisions of this Bill.
Mr. F. MAULE could not allow this Bill to pass its
last stage without objecting to its provisions being ex-
tended to Scotland. He also objected to it
as far as it related to England, because he
believed its provisions would lead to the worst results,
and would be a great encouragement to bigamy. The
Right Hon. Gentleman, in his opinion, might as
well have brought in a Bill to repeal the laws
with respect to bigamy, because old soldiers were in
,he habit of marrying wives abroad, forgetting that they
had been previously married at home. His
countrymen, to a man, were against the measure,
he coincided entirely with their feelings, and he there-
fore felt bound to vote against the third reading of the
Bill.
Mr. C. ANSTEY supported the third reading of the
Bill.
Mr. WESTHEAD supported the Bill.
After some observations from Mr. MOORE,
. .

Strangers were then ordered to withdraw., and the
House divided, when there appeared—

For the amendment ... 134
Against it ... ... 144
M.ijority against the amendment —lO
The amendment was consEvently lost, and the Bill
wai then read a third time.

On the question. that the Bill do pass,
Mr. OSWALD moved the addition of a clause, to
he effect that the Bill should not extend to Scotland.

The House divided upon the introduction of the
clause, when there appeared—
___

F.,r the clause ... 130
Against it ... ... 137
Majority against the clause ... —7
It being-past Six o'clock, the House adjourned without
the question of the passing of the Bill being put.

MASSACaES AT THE SANDAL
WOOD ISLANDS.

(From the Hobart Town Herald.)
In the Herald of the 12th instant an account was
given of the voyage of the Elizabeth schooner to
New Caledonia, and the account brought by that
vessel, led to the supposition that not only had
the party at Mr. Fitzgerald's beche-la-mer fish-
ing establishment, at the north end of the island,
been driven away or massacred, but that the French
Mission establishment, at Yengin, or Beladeh, had
shared the same fate. The Mary Anne schooner,
which arrived yesterday, brought further accounts,
which we regret to state are of a most melancholy
character. The superintendent of Mr. Fitzgerald's
establishment, Mr. David W. Miller, arrived by the
Mary Anne, and by him we have learned the follow-
ing particulars :
Feejee Island 4, 1849.—0 n the 10th July we sailed
from C4ntate Harbour in the Mary cutter, for Blade
Harbour, New Caledonia, in company with the
schooner Minerva and the Sir John Franklin. We
arrived there after a passage of 21 days. On the
12th September, the Mary returned to Balade to look
for the Sir John Franklin, which vessel she ex-
pected to find had returned there from Sydney. On
arriving there Capt. Roby, of the Mary, sent a boat
with Robert Hall, an American, and a native of
Rotumah to procure water. On getting up the river
they were attacked by natives and killed. After this,
two natives came on board the Mary, under pretence
of selling fish ; the cook went down into the hold to
bring up some yams to exchange for the fish, and the
captain's attention having been drawn to 'the fi.h in
the canoe belonging to the natives, they split his head
with a tomahawk ; then they killed the cook as he
was coming out of the hold. The only man now left
alive on board the Mary, was a Rotumah man, whom
the natives would not eat, because of a disease in his
eyes which rendered him almost blind.
They cooked the bodies of the captain and crew
ashore, and ate them, after which they burnt the
vessettothe water's edge. This is the statement of
the
Rotumah
man, who managed to make his escape
wwrhinte ofwromtakisei
from the cannibals to Yengin,n and who related the
s
fiauctpsertsoonM,ra.u.Naliwllhero,
esta-
blishment :—On the Bth Sept.,sr narrative}u'litztgheeraici
,s
we ;lot having- heard of
the loss of the Mary, Mr. Fitzgeraldbeehe sailed for Sydney,
of John Blakea-mer expedition
American),
nineteen I being left in charge of the
—the party consisting
nineteen Feejee men, one Rotumah
Abra-
ham Silver (an East Indian). On the of
September 20, the natives brought me some grass for "
thatching, and appeared on very friendly terms.
About noon, from 300 to 400 of them assembled, and
rushed upon us with spears and clubs. We took to our
arms, with which we were enabled to keep them
off till about 4 P.m., and two being killed and a num-
ber wounded, they retired, John Blake, the Ameri-
can, refusing to fight, and holding a correspondence
with the natives. I took his gun from him and gave it
to one of the Fejee men. The natives continued quiet
until the 11th of October, when a large body of 800
or 900 natives assembled and commenced an attack
on our settlement, which they maintained with
great determination from eleven in the morning
till sunset. One of the Feejee men was wounded
with a spear, and I had several very narrow escapes.
The natives had surrounded our hut, and were
calling out to John Blake to set fire to it. Several
of the natives being killed and a number wounded,
we made a rush at them, and shot their principal
chief, on which they all ran away. On the follow-
ing day, finding that our Feejee natives had
lost heart, and were constantly crying, we
thought it was best to prepare to leave, as
we could not have stood another encounter
with the natives, our ammunition being nearly ex-
pended, and on the 14th of October we took the boats
and started for Yengin. Having yams and water we
pulled up the coast, followed by about 200 natives,
until we arrived at Balade. We then landed on a
sand bank to recruit, where the natives attacked and
obliged us to retake to the boats, one of which being
very leaky we left behind,

We then pulled to the south-east, the wind being
contrary and blowing strong; during the night I
missed one of the boats, and ran to the lee side of a
small island where there were no natives. We were
obliged to remain here for four days, it blowing and
raining very hard. The weather having moderated,
we pursued our course to Yengin, and during the pas-
sage picked up two natives from the missing boat the
others having most likely been cast ashore and taken
to the bush. _ _ _

On the 25th of October we arrived at Yengin, after
being eleven days in the boats, and were kindly re-
ceived by the French missionaries, and remained with
them until the arrival of the schooner Mary Anne,
when the Bishop granted us a passage to Anatam, from
which place Captain Padden was kind enough to give
me a passage to Sydney.
I do not think the natives would have attacked us
had they not been encouraged to do so by the man
Blake, who stole a boat and deserted from the schooner
Vanguard a short time previously, and had been
living with the natives since.
COOK'S BAT, ERROMANGA.—Extract from the log
of the Rover's Bride, dated 11th December, 1849 :
Light breeze ; schooner Rosetta in company. At
7 A.M. lowered the boat, and sent the first and second
mate to trade fir sandal wood at Mallaby and Bun-
kett, the vessel cruising between those places. At two
P.M. Mr. Banner, first mate of the Rosetta, came on
board, and stated that he had some suspicions that
one of my boats was taken by the natives, be having
been trading at Effoo, a place about two miles distant
from Bunkett, and that about noon the natives of
that place gave over trading, and informed him that
the Bunkett tribe had taken a boat and killed the
crew of five men. The Effoo natives then went in
the direction of Bunkett, taking with them their
tomahawks and other weapons. On which Mr. Banner
returned to the Rosetta, and informed Captain Ed-
wards. In the meantime Mr. Dill, who had been
trading at Bunkett, and had seen the Rover's Bride
there trading with the natives on very friendly terms,
went back to the Rosetta for more trade, and on his
return to Bunkett found no natives but two, who
brandished their spears, and said, "No wood
to-day.' The Rover's Bride's boat was gone, and
Mr. Dill having returned to the Rosetta, and in-
formed Captain Edwards of his trip, that gentleman
immediately sent Mr. Banner to inform Captain
8411 of the Rover's Bride. Captain Bell immedi-
ately made a signal to his other boat at Mallaby to
return to the ship, and on her arrival he dispatched her
with two extra hands, in company with the Rosetta's
boat, to ascertain the facts. On their return at 7 P.M.
they made the following statement:—When the boats
arrived at Bunkett the crews landed, leaving one
man in charge of each. On examinig the beach they
found it strewed with portions of hair and patches of
blood ; they then proceeded up the river as far
as possible in the boat, and, on landing,
discovered one ton of sandal wood besmeared
with blood, near which was the stump of a tree
literally covered with blood, portions of flesh,
hair, &c., and which from its appearance seemed to
have served the purpose of a block for this human
butchery. Near the stump was found a pistol belt and
canvas pistol-bag; no natives were seen, and not a
vestige of the boat save the anchor-buoy. Finding
that nothing further could be ascertained they took
the sandal-wood and returned to the vessel. Captain
Bell then consulted with Captain Edwards, and it
was deemed best for the Rover's Bride to proceed to
Anatam, and the Rosetta to continue cruising about
Cook's Bay for five days, in case anything further
should transpire. On the Sunday prior to the mas-
sacre the ehief of the Bunkett tribe was on board the
Rover's Bride, received some presents, and appeared
on the most friendly terms. Bunkett is a small boat
harbour and creek, on the south entrance of Cook's
Bay, Erromanga. The following is a list of the
names of the men killed :—Mr. Wm. Jordan, first
mate, of Berwick-on-Tweed; John Allen, of Liver-
pool ; Frederick Gardener, of London ; John Bur-
rows, of Glasgow; and Edward Ward, of Bristol,
seamen.