The Sun.
London, England, 1845-07-07 00:00:00

BRITISH • HEROISM' & • RN.ED,. -''
-4. , ----,,,
AND NEGLEC li D. -::.4:
TO THE EDITOR 0F'..,-.iiiv: : Ad*
Sia,—The ready assent of the M 4,11: ''. t 4 ~ 4 '..'..
proposition of a national pecuniar e a 11%,,1, -,, . .. ;pb
the services of Sir Henry PottingeE4 ,i'i, 'a • tti,.' 4, ...,..:.'l7.
which it was received by the Hou • , ..1,- ...
ii ... :•• . 0.,.
out this favourable disposition of Hon. 411. V. v4
most befitting possible occasion for making reteke..
the extraordinary, almost incredible neglect of a man,
whose heroic conduct challenges comparison with the
most meritorious acts to be found in the military annals
of any country—presenting an almost unexampled in-
stance of self-devotion to his country, and her fair fame
(which, but for him, had been most foully stained), un-
der the most trying conceivable circumstances, and what
a gallant soldier ought to be ; therefore, by consequence,
affording a glorious model for emulation on future simi-
lar trials—provided alvhys, that it be justly, generously,
and nationally appreciated.
1 remember some years since to have read an account
of this affair in the " United Service Journal," subse-
quently I met the hero at the house of a mutual friend, _
and now, after the lapse of some twelve or fourteen
years, I learn that he still exists (and barely so), but
that no substantial mark of approbation has been vouch-
safed for his surpassing merit.
I have been at some pains to ascertain the truth of
the following condensed statement, which may be relied
on as substantially correct, and therefore I hope worthy
of insertion in your columns, as a case in which the true
interes:s of our country, and the morals of its army, are
alike intimately involved :
On the Continent never have I detailed the case, and
its most saddening issue, that it has not evoked a burst of
admiration, of surprise, of sympathy, and, lam com-
pelled to add, of contemptuous execration of our boasted
feudal institutions, mixed with wonder at the success of
our arms " Mon dies, est it possible ? Quel infante .!
C'est dans cette facon done qu'on recompense vos
braves! Est-ce pour cela que Messrs. les Anglais se bat-
tent si hien ? Je rends grace i Dieu que je ne suis pas
votre compatriote !" Such were the ordinary ejacula-
tions. Our Gallic neighbours tell of "la decoration de
la Legion d'Honneur; that would have been conferred
" sur l'instant," as well as promotion, pension, favour.
" sous l'Ernpire," and also now under Louis Philippe.
At Berlin, this story has confirmed many in their pre-
ference of the regime of a single despot to aristocratic
domination. " This is the man," say they, " whom our
good King would delight to honour.' At Vienna, " our
Metternich is just, and never unmindful of merit!" was
the Austrian exclamation—" he would have felt proud to
direct the Emperor's notice to this man !" Thus, all men
think and feel abroad, and how he seems to be the
victim of neglect in free and affluent Britain, excites
surprise in generous and lofty minds.
The following is the case so strangely overlooked for
nearly thirty years:--
The transport, Arch-Duke Charles,laden with troops
(in all 200 souls, including women, and children, and the
crew), sailed from Quebec for Nova Scotia, and at mid-
night of the let of June, 1816, struck on a sunken rock
when eff that coast, in weather most impetuous, and fog
intense. All hope of getting oft soon vanished ; a
wreck the ship was sure to be. The swimmers—they
who oft had boasted their amphibious powers, were sum-
moned now, in vain, to lend their aid—the beating of a
distant surge giving some hope that land was not far off.
One volunteer alone, from all those paralyzed and af-
frighted fighting men, offered to explore what could
not be discerned, and that one was Captain, then Lieut..
Stewart. With a line around his body, and breakers
for his goal—so oft the seaman's terror, now
his hope, he plunged into the mountain flood, with,
which, long buffetting, he, at length, was dashed
upon a rock, to which he clung with that firm
grasp the dying only know ; again another wave recalled.
him to its briny bosom, whom the succeeding one hurled'
back again. For four successive times he thus was made
the sport of the engulphing element ; at length a wave
more friendly and gigantic than the rest (and far more
pitying than his country since), washed him beyond the
fetch of its antagonist tallow waves, stunned, shattered,
bruised, exhaused—in part insensible, yet with a vague
consciousness of the fearful horrors of that dreadful night,
he lay as dead, and like a thing inanimate, under the
re-action of his lusty efforts to escape from death. How
long entranced in this mute dream of death he could not
tell ! but rising as from a sleep refreshed, though .sorely
bruised, he fixed the rope to a projecting broken rock.
and aiming in the dark to coil it round, down was he pre-
cipitated once more to the foaming flood beneath. Again
the same great struggle was to be renewed, for at such
juncture no brave man has time to parley with despair,
so desperate is the conflict for existence. llow lie came
once more to be on shore found no place in his memory
then, nor since ; yet who can doubt that it is chronicled
on high, his errand being hallowed by its aim to be the
saviour of his country's sons ? To sum up all, by help
of that same rape (at break of dawn this gallant soldier
signalling that it was fast), the living cargo of that hap-
less ship again trod ter, a firma; and she soon after sank
before their eyes. Yet, thus to be upon a barren rock,
exposed away from land—a rock submerged with every
wind, save that which just then blew, gave but a respite
from a dreaded death—and at the return of tide nothing
else was looked for. A council then was called ; the
valiant Colonel's proposition was (there being one small
boat), that he and all the officers should first seek land,
and then send succour to the men abandoned. To this
but one dissenting junior voice was heard, which was
youegStewarl:s; and when despair and shame, contempt
and anger, fired the men at a suggestion so unworthy, lie
quelled the tumult, and enforced obedience.
The first boat's freight comprised the chief, his wife,
and some few more participant in his fears.
The third and last time came the minim bark for the
Adjutant and Lieutenant Stewart ; the former went, not
so the latter. "It never shall be said," exclaimed this
hero, " that two hundred British soldiers perished de-
serted, without one officer to share their fate. Go, tell

your Colonel that though death be all but certain, yet
here will I perish with my fellow soldiers." The friendly
wind, by Heaven's decree, continued still to blow for two
days longer, when a merchant vessel sailing by Wu%
hailed ; the simultaneous shout was heard, and all hAP.-,14
saved.

Now, for this exploit of saving British lives-, he was
entitled to a stated salvage, which surely in a cause so
holy, and withal so bravely earned, no length of time
can cancel or diminish ; but, in the dauntless message to
his chief, and constancy to the forsaken men when death
seemed certain, there was a thousand times more merit,
for which no medal, thanks, reward, promotion, pension,
could be given without court-martial on the recreant
chief. A reward, indeed an ample one, has been be-
stowed, but it was by proxy ; for, strange to say, by au
inversion scarcely credible, the Colonel was promoted--
was named a Governor and substitute of our most vir-
tuous Queen.
Such are the prominent features of this case. There
is not a man amongst us who is not herein affected and
afflicted ; but most of all concerned is that most gallant
band, the British Bayards—" ces preux chevaliers, sana.
peur et sans reproche"—on whose profession a foul
stigma rests, and must remain until their brother soldier,
not grudgingly, but as becomes a nation, is requited.
I have full confidence there are noble-minded men in.
Parliament will see to this, and will demand a strict in-
quiry of this case ; and if the issue prove what is here
advanced (as surely it will be, if evidence be not • sup-
pressed), then let the hero's name along with Pottitiger's
be honoured, and meet like favour for his worthy deeds.
U. D.

THE IRISH SOCIETY.—This Society, which wai,
established in the month of July last year, for the purpose of rro.
viding a neutral ground whereon Irish noblemen and gentlemen of
opposite political and religious sentiments could meet and hold
harmonious intercourse, held its first annual general meeting on
Saturday last at the Society's rooms, No. 26, Suffolk -street, Pall..
mall, Lord Viscount Ranelagh in the chair. From the report,
which was read by M. A. Conan, Esq., it appeared that there were
nearly 400 members already enrolled. The Hinds were ample.
All the current expenses had been duly met, and a large balance
remained in the hands of the treasurer. The nucleus of a library
had been formed by gifts from several of the members. The re..
port was received and adopted with acclamation; thanks were
unanimously voted to the committee of management and the
secretary, and they were requested to continue in office without
addition or alteration. Thanks were also voted to J. Hartley and
W. Bevan, Esqrs., for their generosity in having become security
in the infancy of the society for its liabilities, and they were 're-
lieved from further responsibility by' the appointment of Lord
Rossmore, J. Rudall Todd, Esq., and Henry Bruce, Esq., as
trustees, in accordance with a fundamental rule, which provided.
the appointment of trustees as soon as the number of members
should have exceeded 300. Lord Ranelagh having left the chair,
Sir John Campbell was called thereto, and the usual thankr having
been voted to his Lordship, the meeting separated.
ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.—A fete was given here on
Saturday afternoon—that is, a military band was in attendance,
which was sufficient to bring together a large assemblage of prome-
naders. Nothing was exhibited beyond the ordinary attractions e 1
the gardens ; indeed, the fineness of the weather and the beauty tit
the pleasure-grounds would have rendered any extraneous. trete .
tainments superfluous.

MORE STEAM-VESSELS UPON THE RlVBB.•—Thit-
teen steam-vessels are now in course of building by Mer.,srs. Ditch.
burn and Mare) who built the Fairy for her Ms:raty, and the
engines and machinery are being prepared for t►,em by Messrs.
Penn and Son, of Greenwich. They are intendfed to run between
London-bridge and Kew, and are to be called Citizens. The first
three, Citizens A, B, and C, have been reorntly launched, and one
of them is to run upon an experimental 'trip this afternoon. The
cost of the new boats is 30,000/.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT IN THE WATEILO____O-.
ROAD. —Friday forenoon an inquest was held belfz,Mon.
Carter, at the Royal George, Carlisle- the
lane, roeme t;
body of Walter Knight,
Upper Marsh, Lambeth. I'LollRoyal-street,
returningoyal
of Waterloo-brill
when they had reached the sideSurerey
corner of the Lower Marsh.
with two friends on Tuesday morning last from party, and
alstehde 31 years, deceasediainwaetae's
"Thth.leceaseii started and kept
theynea r allt the
e agreed
Victoria t o r run
hi
ea
as t farre .
up with them until they were
the
wheelposite
of a gardener's cart, Waterloo Church, when,
he suddenly caught hold of h
which was going at a very rapid speed down the hillwher:r.nbeil
arm
became entangled in the spokes of the wheel, which turned
him -completely overonto
him, his head
tueadrnwed back,andfound him
lying vi o e ncrs. Hi •
roadhavingmissed
bleeding from a severe wound on his forehead.
IT7mg
hineyPaicnnaite companions having
the deceased to the surgery of Mr. Handy, and
subsequently to hit residence, where he expired at two o'clock
the same day. The surgeon stated that the deceased bad di,a
from the rupture of a blood-vessel in the brain. The jur;, re-
turned a verdict of " Accidental death."
BRIG M TON, SATURDAY .—The Duke of Moncliester
and Lord Loftus left yesterday in the Menai steArtnr.r for Dieppe;
and Prince Kenneta, Lord Butler, Lady Kr..vanah, and Captain
Kelly, R.N., arrived in the Fame steamer; this day from Dieppe.
The town is filling fast with fashionables„
PROPOSED TUNNELS UNDER. LONDON.—A project
has been formed for uniting the Great Western Railway with the
Eas:ern Counties line, by a tunnel from Paddington to Shoreditcts,,
under the New-road to Finsbury-square, and then turning eft By
means of branch tunnels Tottenham-court.road, Somer's.towo,
King's-cross, Islington, and other districts are to be benefited. Mr.
Robert Stephenson Is the engineer. A prospectus of this remark-
able project will come before the public in a day or two.
The Admiralty have placed the Black Eagle yacht
at Portsmouth, at the disposal of Baron Brunnow, the Russia/a
Ambassador, who is at Ryde.— United Service Gazette.
Mr. and Mrs. Sheridan Knowles arrived at South-,
ampton on Saturday, from Oporto, in the Oriental Company.*
steamer Montrose,