Star.
London, England, 1811-08-17 00:00:00


EAST lALDIES.
LOSPOF THE MANDARIN!.
Pmeass, DILCBMBER 2.5.—We sailed for Ternate
immediately with 100 troops on board,•and attacked
it ourselves ; our endeavours were crowned.with suc-
cess, after meeting with an obstinate resistance, and
the loss of three killed, and 18 or 20 wounded. We
returned to Amboyna in October, when the Gover-
nor requested Captvin Tucker would remain there in

the Dover to assist in defending the island against an
invasion from Java, whicliavas expected ; he com-
plied, and sent me in the INWidarin (prize-ship) with
dispatches for the Admiral, and orders to procure
stores and provisions at this place for the Dover,
which she was in great want of. I sailed on the '2d
of November, and after a very fair passage for that
time of the year, arrived in the Straits of Sincapour
on tke Bth of December ; on the 9th in the Morning,
beathtg through a narrow part of the channel, and
having no chart but a very old one on a small scale,
I stood too far over, and unfortunately got on shore.
It then blew a moderate breeze, I did every thing in
my power to get her off, but having no boat large
enough to carry an anchor out, could not succeed.—
In a short time it came on to blow extremely hard, I
and the tide had left her so much, that to prevent her
capsizing, I ordered all the masts to be cut away. A
Chinese junk passed us this situation, and although
we had a signal of distress flying, and continued firing
guns, she passed without attempting to render us any
assistance. The wind and sea continued increasing,
which occasioned her to thump so bard that she began
W make a great deal of water : when I found her in
danger I sent the boat on shore to a small island near
us, with the dispatches, and when I found it impos-
sible to save her, I considered it my duty to endea-
vour to save the crew ; we then collected all the
spars we could, and made a raft, which by five P. M.
was complete ; having nine women and three poor
little children on board, you may suppose my first
tare was to secure them. Thank GOD ! I succeeded;
and by seven I landed with all the crew, except four
Lascars, who got intoxicated, and persisted in remain-
-ing by the wreck. The island was only about half a
mile in circumference, and had only a few bushes to
shelter us from the rain, which poured down in tor-
rents all the night. At day-light, contrary to my ex-
pectations, the ship having kept together, I launched
the boat, and with much difficulty got on board. I
found she had bilged during the night, and WAS full
of salt water, consequently all the fresh water was
spoiled. I sent a few pieces of salt beef, and a few
other things, by the boat, for the people on shore, and
remained by the wreck with one European and four
Lascars, intending, when she returned, to quit the
wreck with every thing I could save, as I saw she
could not hold together much longer. The boat
had hardly got on shore when the wind increased
so much that she could not possibly return, and I
, had the mortification of seeing her put back, after
making three attempts. At this time the sea was
making a complete breach over her, and every mo-
moment I expected she would go to pieces. At this
critical moment.it pleased the ALMIGHTY to send the
Chiffonne to our assistance ; she was coming through
the Strai ts,and seeing our distressed situation, anchored,
and sent a boat immediately to our relief, but the
weather being so very bad, the ship had gone to
pieces abaut half an hour before she reached us.—
''he European, one Lascar, and myself, were taken
from the jib-boom, which we had with much difficulty
reached ; the others bad all gone adrift, but by the
great exertions of Lieutenant Creighton they were all
picked up, except one, who was unfortunately drowned.