The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-08 00:00:00

SHIPWRECKS AND DISASTERS
AT SEA.

On Saturday intelligence of the following disasters
at sea was received at Lloyd's :
The Sir James Colburn, Captain Davis, of London,
was totally lost, together with a valuable cargo of
1,100 barrels of oil, near Muscatt, about the 28th of
October last ; fortunately, the crew were saved.
The Providentia, Captain Patreira, for Batavia,
whilst off the island of Baburga, on the 17th of last
June, was lost, and crew only saved.
The Wales, a fine vessel from Manilla for New
York, was lost about the Ist of August off West
Bucra ; master and crew saved.
The Margaret. Hughes, from Tralee, on her voyage
to London, encountered such boisterous weather that
she was obliged on the 2d of this month to put into
the port of Cambletown, having lost her boats and
being seriously damaged.
The schooner Amity, of Bridport, fifteen miles
south of Plymouth, lost a man named Simon Crabbe,
seaman, who overbalanced himself and fell overboard.
The Fame, Captain Buckingham, from Villa Nova,
for the port of London, owing to the state of the
weather, was compelled to put into Brixham, Jan. 5,
having lost foretopmast.
The Maria, for Rotterdam, encountered a dreadful
storm, which completely swept her decks and carried
away her life-boats. She was compelled to put back
to Milford on the 4th instant.
The Owen, a fine Welsh vessel, and the Percy,
were both obliged to put back to the same port, from
a similar cause, the former having lost her sails, and
the latter her topmast arid back- stays.
LOSS OF THE AMERICAN SHIPHERCULES.
During the night of Thursday last this fine vessel,
reported to be nearly 500 tons burden, belonging to
New York, was wrecked off, Deal, near.the Goodwin
Sands, and the crew had a narrow. escape from
drowning. The letter received stated, that the Her-
cules left Shields on Monday last,.early in the morn-
ing, bound for New York, with a general cargo. At
about ten o'clock at night on Thursday, the ship, in
bearing through the Downs, with a fresh breeze from
the westward, struck with considerable force on the
Brake sands, where she became a fixture, notwith-
standing the exertions of the crew. Immediately on the
captain finding it impossible to get his vessel off he fired
signals of distress, which being seen by several Margate
and Ramsgate luggers, that are continually on the look
out for vessels in -distreis, he' quickly obtained assist-
ance, when it was resOlved to tow her off. Several
warps were made fait to the different loggers, and
after many attempts she was again got afloat. Pre-
parations were then made to make for Ramsgate, to
ascertain the nature of the injuries she had sustained
by striking on the sands, but all of a sudden it was
discovered that the ship's hold was rapidly filling with
water. All hands instantly turned towards the pumps
which were worked vigorously, in the hopes of
checking the leak, but upon examination the water
was found to increase instead of diminishing, pro-
ducing, as may be conceived, great alarm, to the
master and crew. They still laid to the pumps,
the crews of, the Ramsgate and Deal luggers now
and then taking turns. But it' was now
observed that if they did not quickly leave
her, she would carry all on board to the bottom ; for
by that time the water was within three feet of the
deck, and she was going down head foremost. The
master, seeing the imminent danger, had the boats
lowered, and some of the crew having saved part of
their clothes, the ship was left to her fate. The boats
had scarcely reached more than 50 yards before the
Hercules disappeared in several fathoms water. The crew
were shortly picked up by one c)f the luggers, and pro-
ceeded to Ramsgate; wheye they' landed in safety, at
about four o'clock the following morning, though
much fatigued by their excessive exertions.
The remaining luggers kept cruising about the
sunken ship, saving the different articles that floated
from her, which they landed. From the position in
which the vessel lies, and the strong currents con-
tinually running over the spot, it is considered im-
possible to raise her, consequently she is a total loss.
She is stated to be fully insured at South and North
Shields, but the amount we are unable to state.
Since the above was written, a report has reached
Lloyd's, which states that the vessel is sunk in about
four-and-a-half fathomg' at low water, the North
Foreland bearing north by west. In consequence of
her lying in the track of shipping to and from the
Downs, and her three masts standing, though all her
rigging and yards have disappeared, the Trinity
House brethren have placed a green buoy, marked
" Wreck," off the spot, in order to prevent disasters.

LOSS OF TIIE OCEAN.
Within a few miles of where the above unfortunate
wreck happened, another vessel, calle.l the Ocean,
master William Watkins, laden with ground nuts,
from Sierre Leone to London, drove ashore on Wed-
nesday, between the-Ness:Sands and Margate, where
she has since gone to pieces. Part of the cargo has-
been got out of the wreck and brought ashore.
A WHALING SIIIP TOTALLY LOST.
Letters were also received on Monday, announcing
the wreck of another British whaling ship, the Sir
John Cockburn, commanded by Captain Davies, of
London, the loss by which is currently reported to be
at least 40,0001. She was the property of Ward, the
South Sea merchant, at Cock-hill, Ratcliff, who is
not insured. This is the second whaler that Mr Ward
has lost within the last six months, the other being
the Sarah and Elizabeth; of London, which, it will,be_.
recollected, was captured and 'burst , by pirates, while
lying near Copang, who murdered three of the unfor-
tunate crew. Mr. Ward has received a statement '
from Captain Davis, of the Sir John Cockburn, in
which the whole of the circumstances of the loss of
that ship is detailed. It states the ship run ashore on
some islands near Muscat, on the coast of Arabia,
and that she became a
,total wreck. The ship was a
very fine vessel, nearly four hundred tons burden.
The crew were all saved, but they are severe sufferers

LOSS OF THE HERMAN OF SUNDERLAND
AYLESFORD, OF DUNDEE.
• Boretki.dope, 4-an: 3, 1844. ~.•
Sir,--I am directed' by. the .Earl..Earl.Aberiken to
transmit to you, for thelnformation'of the Chairman
AND , ,
and Committee at Lloyd's, the copy of a dispatch
from her Majesty's Consul at Stockholm, reporting
the wrecks of the brig Herman, of Sunderland, on
the 17th November, and of the brig Aylesford, of
Dundee, on the 21st November, both at Faro, north.
end of Gothland.—l am, Sir, your most obedient
humble servant, (Signed) CANNING.
To William Dobson, Esq &e. - Sce.) Lloyd's.
-

British Consulate, Stockholm, Dec. 19, 1843.
Lord,--By a communication from Vice-Consul
Eneguust, at Wisby, dated 30th ult., I am informed
that the brig Herman, of Sunderland, C. D. Purdy,
master, from Riga to Sheerness, with timber and
deals, has been stranded at Faro, north end of Goth-
lund, on the 17th November, and also the brig Ayles..
ford, of Dundee, David Webster, master, on her pas-
sage from Cronstadt to Arbroatb;with a cargo of hemp,
was stranded at Faro on the 21st November. The
crews of both vessels were sent home, and part. of the
cargo and stores of each have been saved, but in a da-
maged state.—l am, Sir, &c. &c.
(Signed) JOHN ROSS.
To the Right Hon. the Earl of Aberdeen, &c. &c.

STATE OF TRADE.
FOREINGN -WOOL TRADE, LEEDS, JAN. s.—Al-
though sales in foreign wools have not this week been
effected to any great extent, there have been more
inquiries made for some descriptions, whilst others
have been somewhat neglected. Prices generally are
very firmly maintained.
ENGLISU WOOL MARKET, LEEDS, JAN. s.—Sales
of combing wool during the present week have been
brisk, and prices are still advancing. Clothing wools
are firm ; but we do not quote better prices except
for the middle and lower qualities, which are a shade
higher.
prices of low goods
LEEDS.—There have been full average markets at
our cloth halls this week, but Principally in low priced
goods for shipping; fine and middle qualities of cloths
arestil l
rathercontinue
loothoi
ng be heavyup, huet of sale;
qualities
q es are without
any alteration. The stocks on hand of all qualities
are lower than they have been for several years at the
same period of the year. The principal business in
the warehouses at present is by the houses connected
with the American trade; but this being the season
when few of the London or country buyers visit the
market, there is, in consequence, little doing for the
home demand.
BRADFORD MARKET, THURSDAY, JAN. 4.—The
attendance at our piece market to-day is fully an
average one, and doubtless a larger amount of busi-
ness would have been done had not our manufac-
turers been firm in having an advance. This being
elaitveries ;
advancedand what business
rates. Since our
the first market in the month, the spinners generally
chmoaansltiber none
eaeccnto disposedndftoorrnaecttso-wd distant iatyh to power-loomidss en a
houses, but there
are
December prices, nor
market.
still the market
is very abundantly supplied, but chiefly
last more business has been done in most kinds of
Notwithstanding
combing wools, and anything offered at late prices is
thefreely quantityrem thatoved from
has
held by those
who will not sell except at higher rates, which in some
cthhaengeadr
cases have been realised. The country dealers appear
to be impressed with the idea that the opening of the
new year will tend to still further increase the de-
mand, and are fully expecting still higher prices.
The hosiery trade of. Nottingham, after a depression
which has continued for nearly two years, is now much
improved.

MANCLIEStER.—There was a good inquiry on
Wednesday for nearly all descriptions of cloth, with
a slight advance upon those descriptions which are in
the most general request, and especially on shirtings.
For yarn, too, there was an improved demand for the
home trade, and an advance of a id. to id. per lb.
was obtained on some descriptions suitable for that
purpose.—Leeds Mercury.

•-- - - - - LITERATURE.
CHRONICLES OF THE BASTILE.
We believe
.that this work is derived from
French sources, but it is not the less one that.
will be read with considerable-interest in Eno.-
land, where the Bastile was, while it existed,'
considered the accursed engine of tyranny and
despotism, and where, on its destruction, a
general feeling of joy was excited (even the
gentle Cowper was moved) at the thought that
"its towers had .fallen at last." It is here in-
tended to shadow forth something of the secret
history of" this terrible dungeon, the grave of so
many captives, who in its , cells were dead to
the world, though keenly alive to all the worst
miseries of life. • In such a "'Chronicle" there
must necessarily be a large mixture of fiction
with fact; -but the wildest imagination can
hardly surpass in strangeness some of the events
with which the Bastile is connected. The tales
are represented as being given from a manu-
script kept by a mysterious old man, known as
" The Old man of the Bastile ;" and the seties
commences with a story called " The Ber-
tßandiere." Robert, Cruikshank .has illustrated
the part with two good engravings on steel.

THE LONDON JOURNAL OF ARTS,
SCIENCES, AND MANUFACTURES.
A valuable portion of this work is the reper-
tory of inventions that have been patented
within the year. The work has long been an
established one, and deserves its success.

PAYNE'S UNIVERSUM; OR, PICTORIAL

WORLD.
This is the commencement of an illustrated
Ivork of a, superior kind ; it will contain fine
eugravingS of "views in all countries, portraits of
great men, and specimens of works of art of all
ages and of every character." The plates given
in the first Part are three in number—" 'Whalers
attacked by Bears, on the Ice," by A. H. Payne,
after Biard; a View of Terni, by the same en-
graver ; and, the "Ave Maria," which, in its
large form, is so popular at present, if we may
judge from the frequency with which it appears
in, the stock of the best printsellers. This, and
the first-named plate, are, we think, the best.

THE CHEMIST.
In this\ cheap and well-arranged scientific
work, there are two papers, by Professor Liallt,;,
one--" Investigations concerning the Bile ;" the.
of Lan
ocher,
d."" On the Distribution or Approprtation'

THE ART UNION.
This periodical commences the new year with
a Number of great merit, both in its literary and
pictorial departments. The proprietors announce
several improvements in their plan, which Will
be developed immediately, and of which some
are visible in this Number. The first article,
" On the Mercantile Value,of the Fine Arts," is
of the kind exactly calculated to produce a good
effect among a mercantile community like this,
and we are glad to perceive that the subject is to
be followed up. The Number derives a general
and permanent value from a very spirited litho-
Lraph of one of Wilkie's sketches in the Holy
and, " Hebrew women reading the Scriptures
at Jerusalem," a beautiful subject admirably;
treated. It also contains. a portrait of Overbeck,
the historical painter of Germany, and two fine
specimens of the finished outline illustrations to
the new edition of the song of the Nibelungen.
The Number is a credit to our 'periodical litera-
ture.

THE PEOPLE'S PHRENOLOGICAL
JOURNAL.
Mesmerism, as connected with Phrenology,
is attracting much attention at present, and those
who have engaged in the controversy on either
side will find some interesting information in the
present number of this Journal.

THE CURRENCY.
TO THE EDITOR. OF.THE SUN.
Sut,—The appearance of an article in The Sun, signed
" Beirniard," has led to the following questions. Can your
Correspondent answer them satisfactorily, the question of de-
preciation or no depreciation" may, perhaps, be considered as
decided.—Your obedient servant, GERMANICTJS.
A, a banker, issues notes of the value of twenty shillings
each, promising to repay them, on demand, in gold, at the
rate of 123 grains, standard fine, per note. Presently war or
political circumstances, or a demand for gold, causes gold to
advance to 6/. per ounce. A, the banker, during the advance
of the precious metal finds his stock of gold continually dimi-
nishing, until at length necessity compels him to petition the
State to restrain him from raying his notes in gold according
to the original contract. The State grants the prayer of the
petition. Now if B, the holder of a note of twenty shillings,
cannot exchange it at any of the London bullion offices, for
more than 80 grains, standard fine, or 12.111, does not the
difference, namely, 43 grains, cause a loss to the holder of the
note, and is not the banker's note thereby depreciated?
anchester, Jan. 5, 1844.

The whole country is groaning with gold. It
requires a perfect spendthrift power of squandering to get rid
of a sovereign. Peel, ever changing in his principles, has, by
way of counterpoise, taken all power of change out of the sove-
reign. On all sides we hear the most bitter complaints of
tradesmen, whose interests materially suffer by this lingering
embarrassment. One would have thought that a strong Go-
vernment could at least have settled this question at once. But
twelve months have passed over since the annoyance first began.
—Western Times.
ROYAL ARTILLERY.—Major-General J. Webber
Smith, C. B , has been appointed Director-General of Artil-
lery, vice Major-General Sir Thomas Dowman, C. 8., who
has succeeded to Colonel Commandant of the 3d battalion.
Major-General I. W. Smith is expected to assume his duties
at Woolwich on Tuesday next.
AFFAIR or IloNouß.-11he following mysterious
communication has been received :—" An affair of honour
took place at an early hour on Thursday morning, within 100
miles of town, between a Mr. D-- and a Mr. P.—, in con-
sequence of Mr. P-- having made some remarks in a billiarn-
room reflecting upon the character of a young lady to whom
"Mr. D— is much attached, when Mr: as— s. ball passed through Mr. P—'s hat, within thiee-quarters of an inch of
his head. lam authorised to state, the same parties had bad
a previous quarrel about the same matter last spring."
LOVE AND MURDER.—On 'Wednesday night a
young man named Sumner, who was paying his addresses to a
girl named Shelton, both of Arnold,was talkin with his love in in the town street, when her father came to them,a anyd
told his daughter to go home. She refused, when he went and
fetched a bill-hook or hand-bill, and indicted such a severe
wound upon Sumner as to fracture his skull. The brutal tel-
low has absconded, and his vietira now lies in a most dangerous
state.—Nottingham Journal.
CURIOUS WAG uts.=-On the 15th inst., a bet came
off at Downham, the Isle of Ely, between a farmer of that
village and a fenman, living in the Third Drove in Fodder Fen.
The bet, which wss for a sovereign, was, that the fenman
should find his way home from a certain, house in the Second
Drove blindfold, a distance of about three furlongs, across
several fen drains, one of which was ten feet wide, ditches,
&c. ; the widest drain he accomplished with a jumping pole—
this wager wa.• cell won. The second bet, for another sove-
reign, was, that he was to start from the same place, blind-
folded again, without a pole, to his home again. About half-
way on his journey he was at fault, being out of the line of
the ditches some ten or twelve yards ; but he again faced the
wind, and retrieved jiis place, and won his second wager.
The second time he performed his journey on his hands and
knees all the way, using the sides of the ditches as his guide,
some of which were eight feet deep and full of water. lie was
accompanied by above a hundred spectators, anxious to see the
performance of so novel a feat.
CAUTION TO HOTEL AND TAVIMN-KEEPERS.—
On Tuesday evening, the 2d instant, a person of most gentle-
manly address and appearance, entered the York Hotel, corner
of the York-road, Lambeth inquiring if he could be accom-
modated with a bed. After partaking of refreshment in the
coffee-room he retired to bed, arid in the morning when about
to leave, the waiter requested payment, when he stated he had
agree
was d with the proprietor to occupy his bed for several nights,
and only going out to breakfast with a friend. When the
chambermaid entered the room it was discovered he had, with
instruments, attempted to force open a chest of drawers, but
the locks being very superior, had resisted his efforts, but he had
much injured the wood.

---
THE LATE LORD LYNEDOCH.—The mortal re-
mains of the late venerable and gallant Lord Lynedoch were
disembarked on Friday morning last at Dundee. Mr. Robert
Graham, who inherits the deceased Nobleman's property, and
Mr. A. Murray, also related to the late Lord, having, in the
performance of a duty of respect, accompanied the body to
Scotland from London. In going through Perth in the after-
noon, as the mournful cortege approached, the city minute guns
were fired, and the bells of St. John's tolled. Many of the
inhabitants closed their houses, in testimony of their regard for
the memory of the gallant deceased. The body remained in
state until Monday evening. On Tuesday, shortly before
twelve, the customary religious ceremonies were performed by
the Rev. Messrs. Buchanan and Liston ; and all the necessary
preparations for the interment being completed, the funeral
procession formed. On the funeral cortege leaving the grounds
of the cottage, a large body of the principal tenantry, who had
assembled at the home farm, joined in the procession, and at-
tended it to Methven, where it was the will of the late Lord to
be buried. A vast concourse of persons from all parts of the
county had gathered at the romantic village, and as the funeral
passed to the cemetery, a general feeling of regret for the de-
parted pervaded the entire congregation. Although so many
persons had met, not the slightest confusion arose, and the be-
haviour of all classes was characterised by becoming decorum.
This exemplary county of Devon hath been much
scandalised by a young clergyman, who, having paid his ad-
dresses to a young lady, broke off the match, in order, it is
said, to take to another of a larger fortune. The ease is said
to be one of scandalous cruelty, as he obtained the young lady's
affections before he began to inquire about her fortune, and
coupled with his religious professions, it has raised a great
cutcry against one who, in the garb of sanctity, goeth to and
fro as a pedlar trading for gain on his own personal attractions.
Western Times.

The Duke of Manchester and Sir W. Robinson
have adopted the allotment system, the one at his estates in
Huntingdonshire, and the other at Stretton Hall, to the Society
of which district he has given 1001. for the benefit of the agri-
cultural poor.
On Tuesday an association was formed at Duntnow,
in Essex, for the protection of agriculture from fire, when a
letter was read from Sir James Graham offer,ng lOU reward
for the detection of persons supposed to have been concerned
in the late incendiary fires.
The Council of the Royal Agricultural Society
of England have just appointed Dr. Playfair consulting chemist'
to the Society. Dr. Mayfair is about to establish a laboratory
at the Royal Institution, Manchester, for the study and practice
of agricultural chemistry.
To prove that the monopolists do not monopolise
all the agricultural talent, the Aylesbury News mentions the
fact that on Wednesday last, at the annual meeting of the
Tring Agricultural Association, the prize of a silver cup to the
occupier of the best cultivated farm, was awarded to a Mr.
Daw, a staunch free trader.