The Sun.
London, England, 1850-04-01 00:00:00

SUPPOSED GREAT LOSS OF LIFE.

There is every reason to believe that a large steamer
has been wrecked about three or four cables' length
south-west from the Lower Isngoe Buoy, at the entrance
of the Prince's and Queen's Channel. The vessel is sup-
posed to have gone on shore on Saturday, at midnight.
The weather was ♦ery stormy during that night, but
moderated towards morning.
A great quantity of wreckage, consisting principally
of seats painted green, such as are fitted on board
steamers, has been passed by vessels arriving in the
river this afternoon.

One of the Irish steamers due yesterday bas not yet
arrived, and fears are entertained that she may prove to
be the vessel referred to; if this is the case, a probable
loss of life has occurred to the extent of 200 or 300
souls.

This is the acqount of one of our captains, who passed
the wreck described at daylight yesterday (Sunday)
morning.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

A deep and painful excitement has prevailed at Lloyd's
this morning ( Monday) by the announcement of a
lamentable loss of a large steamer, supposed to be the
Royal Adelaide steam-ship, belonging to the City of
Dublin Steam Navigation Company, with, there is too
much reaso❑ to fear, every soul o❑ beard.
The Royal Adelaide was one of the most powerful
steamers trading between London and Cork; she left the
latter port on Wednesday last, and was due at the Com-
pany's wharf adjacent to Irongate-stairs, St. Katherine's,
on Saturday, but has not been heard of until this morning,
when the sad intelligence of her loss was communicated
to the under-writers by the: master of the Macon:the
Brown screw steamer, which arrived last night from
Guernsey.

Captain Mannings, the master of the Malcombe Brown,
reports as follows
" About nine o'clock yesterday (Sunday) morning,
when off the North Foreland, we discovered the wreck
of a large steamer on the Tongue Sands, ten miles off
the shore, and between two and three wiles of the
Tongue light ship. As far as the weather would
permit us, which was very stormy, the wind blowing
almost a gale from the S.S.E., we got within three-
quarters of a mile of the spot where she laid, and
perceived her stern was apparently goae, also her mast,
funnel, and every thing swept clean off, and not a soul
was to be seen on board. We endeavoured to find out
her name, but could not ; it was evident she was fast
breaking up. The framework of her two paddle-boxes
were standing, and the stanchions of the bulwarks, but
the boards were gone. There was no vessel
near, excepting a small craft under sail some miles
to the eastward of the Girdler. The appearance of the
broken-off stumps of the mast is quite new, showing
clearly that the occurrence must have taken place re-
cently. It had blown a heavy gale the night previous,
and there was a tremendous sea running. It was
probable she struck on die sands about midnight,
and everything being swept away even to her masts,
leave very little doubt of all on board having
met with a watery grave. A dreadful sea always
exists during gales in this portion of the Prince's Chan-
nel, and yesteday morning it was sweeping over the
wreck terrifically. Although it lies within ten miles of
the North Foreland, it does not seem likely to
be discovered from the land 011 account
of its being very low and partly under water,
The sands are several miles long, running
E. by S., and W.N.W. On the Saturday evening
Captain Mannings, when his vessel was off Beechv
Head, saw the smoke of a steamer to the eastward. Ile
suspected it was that of the unfjrtunate vessel."
The exact number of persons on board of the :Royal
Adelaide is not known, bat it is feared they ex-
ceeded 100.
A steamer has been this forenoon dispatched to the
Tongue Sands to obtain further information.

GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY.—A deputation from
the board of directors lately inspected the works of the line
between London and Peterborough. The deputation were
accompanied by Mr. Cubitt, the engineer, and Mr. Brassey,
the contractor. We understand the result of the inspection
was highly satisfactory. They found the works of a sub-
stantial character, and in a state of great forwardness. Mr.
Brassey has no doubt that the entire line will be ready
for opening by the lst of July next, but most certainly by
the 15th of July. When this portion of the line is opened,
the Great Northern will be enabled to carry passengers from
London to York (round the loop) 13 miles shorter than the
existing route; but we warn shareholders that this will not
be the Great -Northern line, as respects the amount of traffic
it will
Herupath' tas
Rail nay Joun the
?na whole and direct line is opened.—
t.
THE LAST OF CAPTAIN COOK'S COMPANIONS.—
There is at prffent residing
.in Southampton an old man,
named Wade, the last survivor of
i Cap Cook's com-
tain
panions in his voyages round the world. He is ninet-
nine years of age, and sin possession of all his facultieys.
He was present at Captain Cook's death, and himself re
ceived a spear-wound from one of the islanders.—Brighton
Gazette.

DISTRESSING CIRCUMSTANCR.-- On Tuesday last,
Mr. Williams, son of Mr. John Williams, one of the justices
of the peace for Devonport, went into the Sound, in com-
pany with a Mr. Ellis, an old quarter-master of the navy, in
a four-oared gig, having a large lug sail. They were ob-
served to pass between the Mew Stone and the land, but
have not since been heard of.