The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-21 00:00:00

taken, or as the case may be. I am obliged to close, as
the steamer is off. It is now five o'clock, and the
French ships have hauled out of harm's way; I may say
given it up—not game to land. The town is very much
knocked about. Such a display of lubberly conduct as
the French have shown to-day is beyond beat' ; their
steamers running foul of different ships—from bad
management the line-of-battle ships presenting their
bows and sterns to be raked, and their bad gunnery has
made us laugh. Little do they know the feeling against
them among our men; could they be let loose the Ci a-
pauds would rue this day! We despise them for their
conduct to day, in firing at a defenceless town, as much
u we laugh at their lubberly way of going to work.

CAPTAIN WARNER AND HIS DE
STRUCTIVE POWER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR,-.-.I now proceed to comment upon Sir C. Napier's
repot ts, in the House of Commons, of interviews be-
tween him and myself; and conversations thereat, so
widely away from what actually occurred, that I can only
impute the variations to forgetfulness or confusion of mind
on the Gallant Commodore's part.

All the world knows that Commodore Napier is apt to
take credit to himself for having by his single arm won
every victory in which he has taken part ; but up to the
period of his speech in the House of Commons, I thought
him a frank and fair maa:
__

Sir Charles stated, in the House, that " Capt. Warner
had told him that he could blow to pieces all the ships in
Portsmouth Harbour, from the back of the Isle of Wight."
I can only account for this extraordinary misrepresen-
tation, so calculated to excite the laughter of a popular
assembly, and uttered, no doubt, for that purpose, to Sir
Charles having mixed up in his mind some reports made
by my constant calumniator Captain Pechell, who is re-
ported to have said that I had boasted of being able to
fire through the Isle of Wight, and sink all the ships in
Portsmouth Harbour ! An assertion quite as true as
Captain Pechell's other statement in the House of Com
mons—that I had said I could blow up the rock of
Gibraltar !

What really passed between Sir Charles Napier and
myself, upon the occasion to which he refers, is as fol-
lows ; and I beg to prefix to my report that I am in a
condition to confirm it substantially by two witnesses.
Sir Charles Napier observed that the constant com-
plaint against me was that I would never come to the
point, but always receded from any tangible proposi-
tion. I asked Sir Charles to make some proposal, and
he made the following one:—The Government to furnish
a line-of-battle ship, and anchor her at the back of the
Godwin Sand, out of the ship track, which I was to de-
stroy by a projectile, from a distance of five miles. I
expressed my readiness to accept this offer, if Govern-
ment would guarantee me 300,0001. if I accomplished
the deed. Sir Charles exclaimed that if he could do as
much he would have three millions, and that I should
be a great fool if I acted without a guarantee ; for I
should certainly be robbed if I did, as all inventors had
been before me. I said 300,0001. would satisfy myself.
The above proposition was put into writing, signed by
myself, and was emphatically pronounced by Sir
Charles, to be " something like business." This pro-
position was carried by Sir Charles to Sir Robert Peel,
who referred him to Sir George Cockburn, who, as
usual, threw cold water upon it, and expressed, accord-
ing to Sir Charles Napier's report to myself, something
very like an intention of keeping me in the back ground
—an intention which I hope, by the powerful aid of the
press, to frustrate. Sir Charles stated in the House of
Commons, in his usual fashion of playing first fiddle,
that he had offered me a ship to be anchored off South
Sea Castle, and that he had offered to insure me a hand-
some remuneration in the event of success, but that I had
not accepted his offer.
Not a word about the written offer carried to Sir Ro-
bert Peel and Sir George Cockburn. In the House Sir
Charles joined the ranks of Lord Ingestre's opponents,
and ridiculed, in unseemly language, that Noble Lord,
for whose disinterested conduct in advocating and sus-
taining my cause I can find no words sufficiently expret.-
sive of my gratitude—but he did not repeat the terms in
which he spoke of Sir Robert Peel and Sir George
Cockburn, neither will I encumber your columns with
them.

But I will, in the face of the world, for what is pub-
lished by the press of England is read by the whole
world, and that there may be no further mistake, inisun-
derstanding, or misrepresentation about the matter, re-
peat the offer I instructed Sir Charles Napier, in terms
of his own dictation, to submit to her Majesty's Govern-
ment. IF THE GOVERNMENT WILL ANCHOR A LINE-OF-
BATTLE SHIP AT THE BACK OF THE GODWIN SAND, OUT
OF THE SHIP TRACK, SO THAT NO HARM MAY HAPPEN TO
PASSING VESSELS, I WILL FROM ON BOARD ANOTHER
SHIP DESTROY HER AT A DISTANCE OF FIVE MILES. I
AM WILLING TO TAKE ON BOARD THE VESSEL IN WHICH
I OPERATE GENERAL SIR GEORGE MURRAY, CAPTAIN
VISCOUNT LORD INGESTRE, R.N., CAPTAIN DrcKENsoN,
R.N., AND CAPTAIN lIENDERSON, R.N., WHO SHALL
HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY OF INSPECTING MY MODE OF
OPERATION, AND SATISFYING THEMSELVES THAT ON THIS
OCCASION I USE A PROJECTILE.
THE KIND LIBERALITY OF MY FRIENDS ENABLES ME
TO EXHIBIT THIS EXPERIMENT WITHOUT ASKING THE
GOVERNMENT FOR A SHILLING TOWARDS IT.

IF I FAIL I AM TO RECEIVE NOTHING BUT RIDICULE-
OF WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED QUITE ENOUGH TO SATISFY
ANY REASONABLE MAN ALREADY.

BUT PREVIOUSLY I REQUIRE A GUARANTEE FROM HER
MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT FOR ITS PURCHASE OF MY
SECRET FOR 300,0001. IN THE EVENT OF MY DESTROYING
TILE SHIP, AND SATISFYING TILE FOURS ABOVE-NAMED
OFFICERS OF THE FEASIBILITY AND PRACTICABILITY OF
MY PLANS.

g. I I,IS tit 1 e 147 i..!iietiiiTrTn7Cillio aid-al melt;
Commander Coffin, R.N., to attend in another vessel and
watch proceedings.
I am, Sir, your very obedient servant,
London, 20:h Aug., 1844. S. A. WARNER.

IpswicH, AUG. 12.—The late severe gales have
caused very considerable loss of life and property on
the southern and western coasts. Intelligence has just
reached this place of the total wreck of a schooner called
The Whim, 'Tonne, master, with all hands. The ill-
fated vessel belonged to this port. The fact was com-
municated to the owners by means of a letter addressed
to the postmaster by Mr. Lambert, keeper of the Lizard
light, who says:—" On Friday night the wind blew a
strong gale from the S.E., and between twelve and one
o'clock on the following day it shifted to W., blowing
very severely. A vessel was wrecked outside a high
breaker, called the Smaller Gull rock, in Kynan's cove—
s very dreadful place for any vessel to get into, being
full of rocks. She was so entangled by her chains, that
the hull has not come ashore. She was laden with malt
and beans. Some of the cargo has come ashore; also
her stern and the stern of a small boat corresponding.
One body has been washed ashore, a fine youth, about
17 or 18 years of ago, with light round features, no
beard, and about 5 ft. 6 in. high. Every respect has
been paid to the remains. On Saturday I went to Ky-
nan's cove to ascertain the position of the wreck. I saw
the sternboard of this vessel—she is called The Whim,
and gilt on her boat's stern is the name John Thonnes.'
The whole is a total wreck." It has been ascertained
that the crew consisted of the captain, the mate, Robert
LTpsam, two seamen, named Jolly and Dean, and the
ha whose body has been cast ashore. The captain and
mate have left wives and families to deplore their loss;
the sailors were single men. I understand that the ship
and cargo were insured. ICynan'a cove, the scene of
this, as of many former disasters, lies within a short dis-
tance of the Lizard light. It is considered by nautical
men as the most dangerous point of the coast for vessels
to approach when driven landward by stress of weather.
—Norwich Mercury.

At Wivenhoe, the storm of Saturday last raged
with great fury. The "Prince of Wales," a fine vessel
of 243 tons, taken as a prize during the war, was
wrecked on Saturday afternoen on the Mouse sands.
The vessel was under the command of Capt. Brown, and
was on her way for the port of London, when she struck.
The " Hope," under the command of Capt. Powell, came
up, and succeeded in saving the captain and crew. A
vast number of vessels have been obliged to take shelter
in the different harbours along the coast, having many
of them received damage which will for some time pre-
vent them from sailing again.—Norwich Mercury.
THE TWELFTH OF AUGUST.--Monday last was an
admirable day for those who wished to enjoy the recrea-
tion of the moors ; the birds, we understand, are nume-
rous, and afford much sport. On Saturday last Mr.
Justice Coltman arrived, from Warwickshire, at the
Oaks, Turton, to enjoy the hospitalities at the residence
of H. Ashworth, Esq., and two or three days upon the
moors.—Bolton Free Press.

GAMEKEEPERS AND THE GAME-LAWS.—A bulky
return of all inquests held by the coroners of England
and 'Wales, since the year 1833, upon the bodies of
gamekeepers, and the number of persons convicted
of offences against the game-laws during the year 1843,
&e., has been printed by order of the House of Commons
—having been moved.for by Mr. Mainwaring and Mr.
Bright. A summary being given of the latter branch
of the return, we are enabled to state, for the informa-
tion of our readers, that the gross total number of
culprits c6nvieted of such offences in the various coun-
ties of England during the year 1843 amounted to
4,402, of whom 144 were convicted at the assizes, and
4,258 at petty and quarter sessions. In Wales 127 were
convicted—namely, 8 at the assizes, and 119 at quarter
andtotalpetty sessions. It follows, therefore, that the grand
number of convictions both in England and Wales,
duringmany ast u4l) 3rt year, amounted to 4,529, of whom as
7 were convicted at courts of quarter and
petty sessions.
LATE COACH ACCIDENT.—A gentleman, on whose
accuracy we can rely, has favoured us with the particu-
lars of the accident to the Prince of Wales coach; they
are briefly as follow:—Friday on the Colchester
aide of Cobdoek-hill, near to Jo selyn's, the fore
axle of this coach snapped close to. j
the nut, causing the
wheel immediately to Come „Ef. The coach, however,
proceeded on three wheels for upwards of 300 yards, the
coachman and front passengers being ignorant of the
circumstance. Suddenly a loud scream was uttered by
a lady who was endeavouring to jump off the coach, and
which she at last effected, although a young gentleman
who accompanied her did all he could to prevent it. The
coachman pulled up as quickly as possible, and while
doing so the coach dropped down upon the arm of the
axle, causing several passengers to fall off. We are
glad to state that no injury whatever was sustained by
those who thus fell. Of the lady who threw herself
off we are sorry to report that she sustained a severe
contusion of the right hip and elbow, with fracture
of the leg. Her medical attendant (G. G. Sampson,
Esq.) informs us that her case is going on favourably.
The painful nature of the accident is added to, from the
fact that the lady (Mrs. Roper) with her husband and
son, were then on their way to Bungay, to visit the
father of the sufferer, who is seriously 111. Ipswich
Express.

Viscount Melville left town yesterday for Lincoln-
shire.