The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-06-11 00:00:00

ARRIVAL OP THE " BRITANNIA" MAIL-SHIP.

The Britannia, one of the four royal mail steam-ships
running between this port and Boston and Halifax, arrived
here on Wednesday evening, after a fine passage from Hali-
fax of eleven days and five hours. The almost mail-coach
regularity with which the line of packets to which she be-
longs have hitherto made their ports, both en this and the
other aide of the Atlantic, had led the public mind to expect
her on the 2Sth or 29th of the last month ; and her delay so
long beyond that date—coupled, as it unjustifiably was, with
the still pending fate of the unfortunate President—had be-
gun to excite considerable anxiety. In common with thou-
sands of our townsmen, who could not from "hope deferred"
entirely divest themselves of some apprehensions of fatality,
we feel heartily gratifieA that she is again at home, and that
too all safe and sound, having made another splendid passage
from her last port (Halifax), after meeting with an accident
which in all probability would have involved the destruction
of any less seaworthy vessel.
The Britannia started from Boston at her usual time, on
Thursday afternoon the 16th ult., at three o'clock, and, pro-
ceeded on her voyage to Halifax, having en board Captain
Houle, whom she had taken on board at the latter port on
her outward voyage, and who is one of the ablest pilots on
that coast, and commander of one of the mail packets thence
to the Bermudas. She arrived off Halifax on the 18th ; but
on entering the outward harbour, in a thick haze, though all
possible precautions were used, she struck a rock over which
the sea was breaking, at Morris's Point, within three or four
miles of Sombro Island. The accident occcurred about half-
past tour in the afternoon. The first and third officers were on
the look out, with most of the crew forward at the time, and
the cry being " breakers a-head," the engines which were
going at half speed, were instantly stopped and reversed.
She had, however, too much way upon her to be altogether
checked, and touched the rock with her forefoot, causing in-
jury that produced a considerable leak. The alarm, as might
naturally be expected, was great amongst the passengers.
The bell was rung continuously, and guns were fired from
the steamer, which were returned :from the lighthouse on
Sambre, Island, as well as from a local pilot pilot boat which
was looking for the vessel. She was soon backed off, and
when the harbour pilot, after a long delay in the fog, got on
board of her, she was taken up direct to Halifax. On arriv-
ing at the wharf the passengers were landed, and the vessel
was hauled into the dock yard, and lightened of her coals ;
but the tide did not so far leave her as to enable Captain
Clelland to come at the leak, though he endeavoured, by
himself diving, to ascertain the extent and nature of the
damage. It was then determined to proceed to St.
John's, where it was known better accommodations for re-
pair would be found. The vessel, accordingly—after receiv-
ing a reinforcement of men from the military, and extra
pumps being provided in case of accidents—proceeded to
that port, a distance of about 350 miles, on Thursday, the
20th. The tide at St. John's rises from 20 to 30 feet, and
at the head of the Bay of Fundy from 40 to 50. Here she
was placed on the gridiron, which no vessel of her length
having ever been at the port, had to be lengthened 15 feet to

receive her

The damage vras ascertained to be very incon-
siderable, the fore-foot, or the fore-part of the keel only
being a little shattered. In two tides the whole was made
good, and the Britannia was again " tit for sea," and has
ever since been " as tight as a bottle," not requiring any
further repair here.

At the time the accident happened in the fog, Captain
Clelland and Captain Boule (the pilot) were anxiously look-
ing out, one on one paddle-box and the other on the other ;
and not the slightest blame can be attached to either. The
harbour pilot, who boarded them after groping his way for
an hour and a half, had the advantage of having recently
seen the land, and knowing how it lay. It should also be
noticed, that in addition to the haze, those on board were
perplexed by the sudden and almost inexplicable variation of
the compass, caused by local attraction, and amounting to
upwards of two points in the distance of a mile, as shown in
clear weather by the land.

We may here state all the vessels of Cunard's line are built
of the very best materials, and put together under admiralty
surveyance. They are remarkably strong ; and being autho-
rised in the event of a breakage in their machinery, to get
rid of their coals, if required, so as to put them in train,
they are provided with extra spars and sails, which will ena-
ble them to compete in sailing, in anything like fair weather,
with the best sailing packet ships afloat. _ .

After a necessary delay of about three days at St. John's,
the Britannia returned to Halifax, where she arrived on the
27th ult., to take up her passengers and receive her comple-
ment of coals. A few of the passengers, as might be sup-
posed, did not come up, owing to the delay, and the change
in their own views ; but an accession of others amply made
up for this deficiency. The whole number who came across
by her was, we learn, 104. They formed an exceedingly
pleasant assemblage, and (including several individuals of
rank, in this country, and many foreigners), were highly
gratified by the conduct and attention of Captain Clelland
and his officers, all of whom both during the trying occasion
related, and the after voyage, did what England expects every

man to do.
On the homeward passage the Britannia had generally fa-
vourable weather and a smooth sea—considering the general
anger of the western ocean. The only circumstance that for
a time interrupted the general enjoyment was the death of a
lady on board, who was previously in apparent delicate health.
The funeral was marked by the customary solemnities. The
Britannia, in fine, notwithstanding the accident that delayed
her, has fully borne out the high character of the line to
which she belongs.
" We, the undersigned passengers on board the Britannia,
who have been detained here in consequence of the unfortu-
nate accident which happened to that ship on entering the
harbour of Halifax on the 18th instant, feel much:pleasure
in thus publicly expressing our thanks to Mr. Cunard and
Captain Cleland, not only for their uniform kindness and
courtesy during our detention, but likewise for the efficient
and energetic measures adopted by them to ensure the most
speedy and safe continuation of our voyage, it being our
unanimous opinion, grounded on the most correct data, that
the Caledonia could not have been placed at our disposal
here before this day, even if Mr. Cunard had felt authorised.
to order her from Boston, a measure not practicable without
vitiating policies of insurance on bullion, &c., effected on the
Britannia in England."
LIST OF PASSENGERS PER STEAM-SHIP BRITANNIA,
CAPT. B. B. CLELAND, FROM BOSTON TO LIVERPOOL.—
General Sir John Harvey, Hon.'Lady Harvey, Hon. General
Mercer, Judge Carter and lady, the Right Rev. Bishop of
Charleston, Major Arthur Bowen, Lieut. W. Harvey, Capts.
Nugent, Harvey, Cox, Dixon, Fitzherbert, Agnew, Crutch-
ley, Heale, Fairholme, Child, and Parkinson, Count Voizier,
Messrs. A. Durand, Hartley, G. Murray, G. Colby and
lady, E. Large, A. Ponti, Voloutue, P. Poirier, J. Barber,
M. Vandermuhl, White right, W. S. Steil, lady, and female
servant, F. Babcock, W. Bottomly, D. Pope, R. Williams,
Molson, and A. Molson, Rev. W. S. Potts, Messrs. S. G.
Potts, C. Congreve, J. Cushing and son, J. G. Davies, G.
W. Muir, C. Church, Patterson, 3. Phillips, 3. Van Weede,
J. Bodmer, L. Vodor, A. Busch, J. Gourley, Schmidt,
Levy, Creech Hamilton, J, Shaw, C. Shaw, P. A. H.
Dickson and lady, L. Wyeth, Robertson and servant, W.
M'Farlane, C. Kuhl, Valdoz, Kiera, J. Melender, J. P.
Castagna, L. H. Samuel, J. Sabine, R. Wailes, W. A.
Potter, and W. W. Clapp, jun., Mrs. Ogden, Mrs. Ogden,
daughter, governess, child, and female servant, Mrs. Nelms,
Miss M'Carthy, Mrs. James Cushing, Mrs. Gourley and
two children, Miss Partilow, Miss Molson, Miss Davidson,
Sir J. Harvey's servant, and Lady Harvey's servant.
LETTER FROM THE PASSENGERS ON BOARD THE STEAM-
SHIP BRITANNIA, TO CAPTAIN B. B. CLELAND.
On Board Steam Ship Britannia,
Off Liverpool, May 9, 1811.
CAPTAIN B. B. CLELAND.—Dear Sir,—We, the under-
signed passengers on board the Britannia, on her present
voyage from Boston to this port, protracted by touching the
rocks on entering Halifax harbour in efog while in charge o
a pilot, have much pleasure in testifying to your coolness,
decision, and intrepidity in tho hour of danger, to your ge-
neral assiduity and attention to the duties of your station,
and unifo.on courtesy and urbanity.
As a token of the high estimation in which we hold you as
a seaman and a gentleman, we beg your acceptance of the
accompanying gold chronometer, with our cordial wishes for
your health and prosperity.
JOHN, Bishop of Charleston -N
The Hon. General MERCER,
W. S. STEEL, Committee on behalf
T. H. BODIMER, of the passengers.
L. H. SAMUEL,
Count VOIZIER,