The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-03-07 00:00:00

THE WRECK OF THE TAYLEUR.

CAPT. WALKER, RN., who was appointed by
the Admiralty to examine into the particulars of
the wreck of the emigrant ship Tayleur, has pre-
sented his report. He details the evidence given.
by the various witnesses examined, and gives the
following opinion as to the probable causes of the
melancholy catastrophe. He says :
"My inquiry having elicited the particulars of the
wreck, I beg to observe, that it appears strange to me that
the owners of an iron ship with iron masts, who spared no
care nor expense in fitting her for sea, should have omitted
taking the necessary precaution of ascertaining the local
disturbance of the compasses, by swinging the vessel after
the stores and equipments were on board; this operation
having been performed two months prior to sailing, and
before the cargo was taken in.
"The number of instances in which vessels have been.
lost by the compasses being in error renders it desirable
that more care should be bestowed on this subject ; and
it is extraordinary that the commander of the Tayleur—
who holds a first-class certificate, and who, in consequence
of having passed such an excellent examination, was
recommended by the Liverpool examiners as an excellent
officer—should have proceeded to sea unprovided with an.
azimuth compass, and should have started in an iron ship
on a voyage to the southern hemisphere, where the com-
passes might have been differently affected, without the.
means of ascertaining with accuracy the error of his com-
passes ; more especially when he admits in evidence that
he had carte blanche from the owners to procure every-
thing he wanted. And I beg to suggest to your lordships
whether it might not be desirable for the Emigration
Commissioners, in addition to the excellent instructions
now issued to their officers, that they should require every
vessel coming within the provisions of the Passengers'
Act to be provided with that necessary and valuable in-
strument—an azimuth compass; and that all iron ships
and steamers should have their compasses adjusted, the
deviation ascertained, and a card with a table of errors
produced before the vessel proceeds to sea.
" Before dosing my report, I consider it necessary to
advert to the crew of the vessel, and to state that I do not
consider the Tayleur was sufficiently manned. By the
articles it appears there were three mates, one surgeon,
two carpenters, one boatswain, and one sailmaker, besides
twenty-one stewards and cooks; but of the crew to work
the ship, only twenty-two able seamen, thirteen ordinary
seamen, and six boys, making forty-one in number. With
the large number of passengers, the cooks and stewards
(most of the latter had not been to sea before) would be
fully occupied in attending to them.
" It is stated by the master and his officers that after
the first night the crew of the Tayleur (British and foreign)
did their work very well, and I do not consider they sre
in any way implicated in the loss of the vessel. The in-
structions given to the emigration officers are, 'that in.
ships not under contract with the Commissioners, they
are, as regards manning, to comply with the usages of the
port, and at Liverpool, as stated by Lieutenant Prior,
three to the 100 tons are consideied sufficient ; now it
should be understood that this is upon what is usually
denominated the old measurement, which is a fallacy en-
tirely, as will appear by the following statement as regards
the Tayleur. She was by the old measurement (see
owners' letter) 1640 tons, but by the existing law, under
which she was registered, 1979 tons, and is supposed to
have been of the actual burthen of 3500 tons and upwards-
She had on board, at the time of sailing, 2516 tons, be-
sides accommodation for 472 passengers; and it will be
seen by the evidence of the carpenter that she had heavy
masts and yards, to manage which she would have (sup-
posing all to be on duty) only 21 men and boys in a watch.
tv‘elol hry voyage, to ttmo, i sea pass
trheenir througheimnnbeared hight hteh alattithistropics,
e , s alwinihpd e hadrt then einnt ot
to oe
nacolounn-
proba-
bility some of the men would be on the sick list, I think
that three men to the 100 tons, as now calculated, are in-
sufficient. Where vessels merely carry cargo it is for the
owners and underwriters to manage their own business,
but where emigrant passengers are carried, I presume
they have a right to expect some protection from the
government. The Emigration Commissioners require
four men to the 100 tons for vessels under contract, and. I
respectfully suggest that this rule should be applied to all
emigrant ships in accordance with the 25th section of la
and 16 Viet., cap. 54."

COPYRIGHT TREATY WITH AMERICA.—The proposed
copyright treaty between Great Britain and the United.
States will shortly come on for discussion in the American.
senate. It is stated that Mr. Everett, the American,
Secretary of State, proposes a clause limiting the benefit
of the treaty to such British works as shall be reprinted
in Ameriea by their authors.

SHIPBUILDING.—THE WATER LINE MODEL.—SOnIe
controversy has arisen relative to the origin of ship
models in use. The invention has been claimed by some
of the oldest shipbuilders, but after proper investigation,
it has been awarded to Orlando B. Merrill, Esq., of this
city, who is now living, at the age of 90 years, alldiirt7.
the first water line model on the plan now in use, in
only
year 1794 ; previous to that time, there *ere used
_,n Ite.
skeleton models, composed of pieces showing the 1-"'"
of the ship.—Newburyport Herald.
the night of
FRIGHTFUL GAME-LAW TRA.GEDY.--Onpieldsend and
the 24th ultimo, two poachers,
we attacked by the
hood of Blankney, Lincolnshire, and
___,, after being William Wilkinson, were out poackGrngrEi
ter-
keepers. Fieldsend was captured,,s7;oo" , was handcuffest
the neighbour-
ribly beaten, and torn by the keeper
whilst they pursued his'
and left prostrate on the grou at the time " that
recovered sufficiently to
devil's done foonre!"alitehelletr°:Ab'br'rser'dsac'ienbgridge, where he con-
rise, and managed to re"?c --
and went to his lodgings.
his manacles off,.
trived to get e
), been in a most deplorable condi-
' tion. A warrant
Hardcastle, superintendent, and hie
issued for his apprehension, two
plieliceismde:riGeobedr tg;ob-ehialgv lodging, and found him kying- in a
brother, repaired
reonmothvede wtoountdhede
comunant,.;hcrator wifergreit
+.4. On application to the surgeon whola&
helpless sta.-
used but not to Sleaford. It is said that the
leavrliecew:ee—comPelled the man to get up, carried him down
stairs, forced him into an uncovered car, and drove off at is
rapid rate. The horrible sequel is, that the poor wretch
that
tn ihneamttigenhdant
bc: wws
died on his way to the gaol. An inquest has been held oa
the body, and the verdict being manslaughter, the police?.
men have been committed to Lincoln Gaol for 'trial.

Will hare despatch,
For HOBART TOWN,
The beautiful British-huilt Clipper Ship
vo,AN
TEMPLEMAN,
WILLIAM ELLIS, Commander;
327 tons ; A 1 at Lloyd's 12 years; copper fastened and copy
-
pored; is a well known, very fast sailing, and superio
conveyance : loading in the Salthouse Dock.—Apply to
essrs. JOSHUA PROWSE and Co. Or to
COTESWORTIi, WYNNE, and LYNE.

Warranted first vessel.—Haring a large portion of her cargo
engaged, will have immediate despatch.
For SYDNEY, N.S.W.,
0:4 4*,, The remarkably tiritisb-built clipper Barque
PORTIA,
slot 1► - • Captain JAMES CAMPBELL ;
336 tons register ; A 1 at Lloyd's, being only one year old ;
and in every point a most eligible conveyance : loading in
*he Prince's Dock.—AMly to
COTESWORTH, WYNNE, and LYNE.

The above vessel has excellent accommodation for two or
-three cabin passengers.

THE " LIVERPOOL" LINE OF AUSTRALIAN PACKETS.
ESTABLISHED IN 1848.
Now lying in the Saithouse Dock.
To sail about the 15th of March.
For MELBOURNE, direct,
The very fine A 1 Ship JAMES CARSON,
JAMES KILGOUR, Commander ;
1164 tons register; 1800 tons burthen. This ship
—ltas very superior accommodations for Cabin, Second Cabin,
and Intermediate Passengers ; and is a most favourable con-
veyance for goods. Fares 16s. and upwards.—For further
particulars apply to
JAMES M. WALTHEW, 46, Chapel-street, Liverpool.

AUSTRALIA.
THE " FOX" LINE OF PACKETS.
o,i`cf. ESTABLISHED IN LIVERPOOL IN 1828.
A%
The following first-class Clipper Ships, regular
traders, will meet with punctual despatch, being fitted up
*with all the improvements so lengthened an experience in the
trade suggests.
Ships. Captains. Reg. Bur. Destination.
ELBOURNE
AFRICA .. O'NEIL 1435.. 2500.. {-& SYDNEY.
JANE LEECH .. RICHARDSON. 910.. 1501.... SYDNEY.
COUNTESS OF
ELGIN IPATTEasorr.. 1204.. 2000.... SYDNEY.

For Rates of Passage, which are moderate, apply to
HENRY FOX, 2, King-street, Liverpool.

4` EAGLE" LINE OF PACKETS FOR AUSTRALIA.

To the consignment of BRIGHT BROTHERS, and CO., Mel-
bourne, who provide Steamers and Lighters for Landing
-their Passengers, Luggage, and Cargo, immediately on the
Vessel's arrival in Hobson's Bay.
For MELBOURNE, PORT PHILIP,
Taking one class of Passengers only,
0.141., The splendid teak-builtShio W I LLIAM MONEY,
fr; 1700 tons,—W. SKEENE, Commander,
End of March.
A limited number of passengers will be taken in the poop, at
,25 and .430, for which the accommodation is most superior.

For MELBOURNE,
Forwarding Passengers to SYDNEY and ADELAIDE,
End of March,
The well-known splendid Clipper-,hip ALBATROSS,
1700 tons barthen,
WILLIAM GEVES, Commander.
.Apply to the Owners,
GIBBS, BRIGHT, and Co., Liverpool.