Star.
London, England, 1802-10-15 00:00:00

MARGATE, OCT. to.

The topic of converfation here, for the laft tiree
days, has been on the fubjed of the Lord Nelfon
packet having been nearly loft on the rocks off
Birchington, during the form which raged on
Friday night. The following narrative will ex-
plain the caufes, &c.
4i The Rofe in June, and the Lord Nelfon,failed
from the Pier on Ft iday morning, about eight,
wind S. W. by S. a brine gale. On board the for-
mer veffel were about eight paffengers, and in the
latter fifty. In going out, the Rofe in June (ruck
againft the Pier-head, but was got off without ma-
terial injury ; her fails were quickly unfurled, and
(he fcudded rapidly before the wind. The Nelfon
followed. When the latter got off Birchington,
*the wind changed, and after repeated tacks, lofing
ground every moment, we cant anchor at twelve
o'clock at noon, waiting the return of the tide.—
Towards the'evening we again got under weigh,
bat fudden fqualls of wind came on, which en-
creafed every moment. About fix. o'clock the
fky prefaged a form, attended by a very heavy
fwell from the offing. A few minutes after, in
making one of the larboard tacks, a tempeftunus
gale fprung up, which, in a moment, rent the
inainfail to pieces, from top to bottom. Horror
reigned in every countenance ; the feamen were
too bufy to anfwer quellions, and the heaving of
the lead denoted we were again coming to anchor.
No other alternative remained, the wind being in
our teeth. The form encreafed. In this fate we
remained feveral hours, the waves continually de-
luging the deck, and, in running off, poured in
torrents down into the cabin, where the greater
part of the paffengers were affembled, more dead
than alive, from ftcknefs and fright. A thick fog
encircled the 'hip, which, added to the darknefs
of the night, had a dreadful etre& on the minds
of thofe who remained on deck. Things remained
in this fate till midnight : the tempt ft increafing,
the howling of the wind, and the clothing of the
waves, were fufficient to appal the ftouteft heart.
The horror of the fcene was augmented about one
o'clock by the breaking of the cable ; we then
gave ourfelves up for loft, expeaing nothing but
defiruelion by being driven into the North Sea.—
Happily the Captain difpelled all apprehenfions of
that kind by declaring he had a good bower an-
chor on board. By this means we got moored in
fate harbourage, previous to which twice the keel
of the chip grated over the rocks. The form con-
tinued through the remainder of the night, during
which time the bow and the fern of the veffel
were alternately buried in the deep. About fix
o'clock the dawn appeared, and loon after a heavy
form of rain fell, which defcended with fuch vio-
lence and rapidity, as to beggar all defcription.
The deluge lofted till eight o'clock, when our ter-
rors were once mere abated by a total ceffation of
the warring of the elements. A calm fucceeded ;
but our fears were not completely over till we got
fare back into Margate Pier, which was about ten
o'clock on Saturday morning, after being abfent
z 6 hours at lea (during which time we had only
got four miles on our way), zo of which were pal.
fed at anchor. When we got into the harbour,
boats put off to take the paffengers on fhore; and,
although the wind had abated, the turf continued
as violent as ever : the boatmen could not land at
Mitchener's Stairs; but were obliged to rouflzeir

.

delbended in torrents on our landing, the Pier and
the Parade were thronged by peonie to welcome
us on our fafe arrival. .The alarm of our dang!e
was given the preceding night, and h ,ats were in
readtnefs to to out ; but the fweilimg Ind, and
the dangerous inuation we wet in, not being above
three cables length from .he pl ice lcblrp,thz corn
boy was lott in November lalt, rendeted every at-
tempt too ham dons, an.l the plan wal abartdoned.
Many of the inhabitants who retitled vlar the Pier
did not retire to ref t the whole night ; and two of
the inns were kept open, it. expatat ion that ho.lts
were out to attempt the bringing ..:hore the pac.
fengers : the whole night, however, pafre.l o%er
without any endeavours being made to launch
the boats."

FROM I.l.OYD's LIST.

DIAL, OCT. 1;.....-Arrived the St. Fiorenzo f-igate from the
Texel, and failed to the Weftward —Wind N. E.
GRAVESEND, OCT. 14.—Paired by the William, from
Malaga; Litttle Ben, Williams, tiont Paletmo;
—,front Sicily; and Canadian, Lee; from Leghorn —S:4l..d
the Mal M'lnnes, for the Ellt Indies; London. King, for
Martinique; Granville Bay, Smith, for Grenada; Cyoel,e,
Bartcts, for Trinidad; and Prince of Wales, Young, tor Pe.
teriburgh.