Star.
London, England, 1823-11-27 00:00:00

THE BRIG MADEIRA PACKET.

" Brig Madeira Packet, at Sea.
" This will give you the Information of the upset of the brig
Madeira Packet, Janes Aet.sat, Master, I being a passenger on
board. We sailed from St. Thomas on Saturday, the 15th of Sep-
tember, with pleasant weather, and fresh breetes from the N.E.
until the 18th, when we had nothing but calms and light breezes all
round the compass till the 2.5 th; it then came on squally, and fresh
breezes, with rain from the eastward. The 26th, In lat. 50. N. long.
63. W. at four p.m a sudden squall commenced, with rain and light-
! sting. The Captain took in the main and fore-topsails, lowered his
mainsall, and kept the vessel before the wind, but a most heavy cross
sea broke over the vessel. At six Foe. more moderate weather, set
the sails accordingly, the weather being squally and cloudy. On
the 27th, More squally, and the weather quite unsettled. The
Captain observed that he did not like the look of the weather.—
At four P.M. close reefed the fore-topsail, banded in the main top-
soil, and took two reefs in the mainsail ; the wind still increasing,
took in the square foresail, and sent down top-gallant yards, a
strong gale and a most heavy sea running. At three a.m. took in the
fort-topsail, and close reefed the fore-storm trisall, and set it, the
vessel being under canvas of the two-stolen trhaih, close reefed.—
At eight a.m. the Captain finding it a complete hurricane, ordered
the fore.trisail to be taken in, and the vessel hove-to under close
reefed main triad!, then struck the fore-top-gallant mast. sent the
main topsail yard on deck, struck the main topmast and main
yard, got in the jib booms, and lowered down the fore-gall; the sea
running mountains high, and breaking all over the vessel, every
hatchway was closed down, expecting every moment the deck to be
swept clean of everything on it.
" On the 28th, the- weather continuing, the vessel strained and
laboured very much. At half-past three p.n. sudden gusts of wind,
which took the seas up in bodies, broke all over the vessel, and
hove the fore-yardarm under water. The Captain finding the
vessel inclined to upset, ordered the seamen to cut away the fore-
mast, but not a man could he get to move, it blowing so very hard
that no one could let go his hold, for fear of being blown over-
board. In this distressed situation we still had some hopes of saving
our lives, by the exertions of the Captain, Chief Mate, and the ap-
prentice lad, endeavouring to cut away the rigging.
" At 4 r. st. sudden gusts of wind, and a heavy sea struck the
vessel, which hove her completely on her broadside. The cries of
the seamen were then most awful—the Captain earnestly imitated
them to try to cut away the mast, but not a man could be got to
move, except the Chief Mate and the apprentice lad. At this time
the lower masts were in the water, when the Mate got on the broad-
side of the vessel, and began to cut away the main rigging, while
the apprentice cut the fore rigging, and the Captain cut away the
long boat ;at the same tune the vessel was sinking. At length the
masts were cut away, when the vessel righted a Htde,and the Cap-
tain called out, She rights! she rights! my brave boys, do assist
to save your livro—try the pumps ; but alas ! the leeward pump
was broke, by the mainmast going overboard. They then sounded
the pump wall, and finding eve feet water in the hold, got the star-
board pump to work,and placed two men at it, and the Chief Miss
and apprentice cut away the wreck forward. The rest of the pets.
pie weft employed heaving overboard the cargo, and there I was a
some use in assisting in pulling up bags of coffee, MO of which
were thrown overboard. This lasted from five until eight r. ace.
when the pumps were choaked with coffee.
" The sailors being very much fatigued laid down on the deeli.;
and gave themselves up to Goti's mercy, the Captain and Chief Mae'
still trying to clear the pump, but in vain, and on sounding *el
pump-well, fond four feet water in the hold, and expected ever:,
moment the vessel would bilge. Thus we continued till half-pale}l
Ave in the morning, when the gale abated, and the sailors having a I
littk rest, the Captain cheered them op and got the starboard pump
to work epic, and then kept pumping about dtwe boors, when it
chocked again, leaving in the vessel about three feet water. They
then began to rig a jury mainmast, but the vessel rolled and tum-
bled in the trough of the sea till one of the greys of the jurymast
gave way, and took olfthe head oldie starboard, our only pump.—
The Captain finding the vessel very laboursome and water-logged,
gave orders to open the fore hatchway and heave overboard more
of the cargo, which was dome, mud he thought the vessel safe, and
then got juryntasts and yards and set sail, having worked down a
passage to the bottom of the pump, hoisted the rampcleared
the well, and made a canvas top, which answered the purpose,
.and tbussueceeded hi drawing the water out to eighteen inches.—
The Captain neat mustered ali the proviebms, ansoutting to 220
valons of water, 3001 its. of bread, 20 pieces of beef, 10 pieirs of
pork, and 10 dx toogue!, the test Went overboard in Ike Wog boat*
so that every man was pot upon short allowance.
" October 17, in lat. ID N. hog. %8 W.—This day we ate in
company With a Blemen beige the Captain of Which cans* on beard,
and•asked our Captain if he ssl to leave the vessel altogether, it
so he would take us aU out. Oor Ceptain replied, that not a single
titan should leave her, for be Vas 'OM afraid of geniis her home if
be Would sell him sham prlllA4o.l otfirh be OuP#B4 us with wa-
ter, bread and beef, a boetsiellit suisfirisciokroo arld ft . irs
I ems Sire Poll 114, ,-W,4l4lPat U/3 •
" •

LAW INTELLIGEXCE.
COURT OF CHANCERY, NOVEIVIER !6. •
_,P • POINT 07 PRACTICt.
MhtrikALD *idled to know if, after a decree was
pronounced, the minutes could be stopped from being
passed by a notice of motion in the cause being giveu
by the parties legainstrhorn the decree has been pro-
nounced? This arose an the case of W.tkefield.v. Tem-
plar—now before the Court.
Mr. Holum came into Court while Mr. Itrald was
speaking, who considered it very unfair that this should
have been mentioned in his absence. He declared that

it was his opinion the Registrar could not possibly have
drawn up the minutes until the motion was made, which
he has been ready to make as soon as he could get an
oppoi tunity.
His Loanstur did not wish to apply:this observa-
tion to the present case ; but really it was a growing
evil in the Court, that, after a decree is pronounced,
some Solicitor or other takes the liberty of going to the
Registrar's Office, and desiring him not to draw up the
.minute:, which in former times they certainly never!
dared do, and which his Lordsbipconsideied extremely
reprehensible. Another thing he wished to mention was,
that Counsel should not fur the future mention cases in
the absence of Gentlemen on the other side; for he was
sure that nearly an hour and a half was wasted every
day in unnecessary contention, in consequence of one
Counsel stating one thing, a•hd then another coming
and stating another. His Lordship desired the motion
to come on to-morrow.

COURT OF KING'S BENCH, NOVEMBER P.G.

SIR DIM JERNINOIIAM V. STAFFORD COOK AND OTHERS.

Mr. CAMPBELL moved the Court this morning on be-
half of the defendants, on affidavits, for a Rule to thew
cause why this indictment of a conspiracy for disturbing
the said Sir George in the baronial lands of Stafford
should not be ti ied in the county of Middlesex, and not
at Stafford; as the aGidavits stated that the majority of
the Grand Jury before whom this bill was found, as well
as Mr. Keene, who is acting as the Deputy Under. Sheriff,
and Mr. Seckerson, who is the Coroner of the County,
are in possession of considerable part of the estates
claimed by Stafford Cooke, as the Baron of Stafford;
and on the ground that the provincial paper called the
Pottery and Staffordshire Advertiser, published in the
said county of &afford, had inserted many libellous pa-
ragraphs against Stafford Cooke's claims.
Mr. Justice BEST said he believed many improper pa-
ragraphs had appeared on both sides.
Mr. Justice BAYLEY observed, that many papers had
been sent him about this matter, which he had not read.
Mr. CAMPBELL was about to read extracts from the
newspapers annexed to one of the affidavits, when
The LORD CHIEF JUSTICE asked if Stafford Cooke
had sworn in his affidavit that he was Lord Stafford ?

Mr. CASIPSELL replied, that he had sworn that he is
the Lord Stafford in blood under and by virtue of the Act
of Parliament ofthe Ist of Edward Sixth.
LORD CHIEF JUSTIOE—Take a Rule to spew cause.