The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-10-18 00:00:00

LOSS OF THE CITY OF WATERFORD STEAMER

A. private letter, dated Lisbon, October 5, contains the fol-
lowing account of the loss of the City of Waterford steam-
packet off Peniche
"On Sunday morning, the 22d ult., about half-past eight
o'clock, while in the midst of a thick fog, heard the cry f Hard
aiport,' when in an instant we were fast on a steep'sanay shore,
with a tremendous swell, which at each stroke Aook the vessel
in a frightful manner, that few could even keep on their feet.
In about half a minute the great funnel fell overboard, the wa-
ter began to come in at the ports into the cabin, among the
ladies, setting everything afloat, and throwing all the inmates
into the greatest alarm. On deck everything was in confusion,
for the captain was much agitated. We then lowered the ladies
and passengers as well as we could, gut them through the surf,
and lauded them safe on shore before the waves broke over the
decks. We succeeded in saving some considerable property;
but the main stock, in value about £30,000, we could not move,
as the vessel began to break up fast and we were surrounded
by a vile thieving population from the neighbouring huts. We
were about six or eight miles from San Martinho. Just before
dark we succeeded in getting bullock-carts from that place for
the ladies; and after a ride of three or four hours over rugged
hills and woods, we got there, a wretched poor village, where
we had the greatest difficulty to procure the commonest neces-
saries of life, as the Miguelites had only left it three or four
days previously, and had taken everything with them: they
were only two leagues on; so we spent an uneasy night. Next
morning, (Monday,) before day-light, I sent a messenger to
the Governor of Peniche, with an account of our situation, and
requested succour either by land or water. My messenger and
letter, as it appeared afterwards, were taken by the Miguelites,
and in the evening, just as night was setting in, we saw a body
of troops and guerillas (about 60, horse and foot) coming on the
town. They advanced in order, hemming us all in, and the
officer, advancing, told us he knew all about us, and we and our
chattels must go to Obidos, six miles off. This I positively re-
fused to comply with, ou the ground of my being an English-
man, and that all of us were wrecked under the British flag.
They threatened, and thrice presented their pieces to tire on us;
but knowing their bravado, 1 stuck fast to my text, on the score
that I had a lady with me, and as she could not go, -I would not
leave her. At last they consented to let me stay ; but they
took our captain, most of the crew, and the two young English-
men, and marched off. In a very short time two boats came
from Peniche, and to avoid further attacks we emharked in
them, and lay all night in the middle of the bay, which is a
narrow entrance of the sea. In the morning 300 men from Pe-
niche came to succour us, and all was joy. To go by land was
impossible for the ladies; and for three days afterwards the
weather continued too boisterous to go in the boats, so for that
time we were hudgled, eight or ten ladies and gentlemen, all in
one room, where we both ate and slept on the floor—such a
scene you cannot conceive. On Friday, to our great joy, the
Soho and Salamander, with 180 men, Admiral Napier arid Ba-
ron de Sa, Governor of Peniche, came to take us away, as they
feared we might have all been captured. On Saturday we all
arrived safe in Lisbon. Two days after our arrival in the capi-
tal our captain and crew were sent in here by Don Miguel's
general, after being very well used. After their arrival at Obi-
dos, the governor there sent off 100 men to bring away the Por-
tuguese gentlemen and myself. I suppose I must consider that
I had a narrow escape, for although the troops would probably
have spared me, the guerillas might not",.

ARCTIC LAND EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF
CAPTAIN ROSS.

. .
The following letter has been received from Captain Back,
(being the first since he left Montreal, where he may be said, to
.have commenced his undertaking,) and is iiow published for the
information -of the .numerous friends and subscribers to his
expedition :

" 215wzray-house, Jack River. June 19th, 1833.
"My dear M.—l wrote to you last (I think) from Montreal;
since which, I am happy to inform you, my progress has been
unimpeded by accident, though attended with more expense
than it was possible to foresee. On arriving at the Sault St.
Marie, (1 love the name !) which we effected ten days earlier
than the light canoe of the last season, we were informed that
there was such a deficiency of provisions in the Indian country,
that it would be necessary to take a supply at once as far as
Lake Winnipeg. This obliged me to purchase another canoe,
to get across Lake Superior, and from that establishment I re-
ceived the two north canoes prepared 'fur the expedition by the
Company. .
"We arrived at Fort Alexander on the 6th of June, which,
for heavy canoes, is considered as being remarkably quick, the
despatch canoe from Montreal having only got there one day
earlier. The letters that you and I saw at the Hudson's Bay
House in December last, together with others of mine to Go-
vernor Simpson, were iu that canoe, and, consequently, but a
short time before me. I had thus to apprichend that the arrange-
ments relating to the expedition could not-have been completed
from the want of the necessary information; and, therefore.
the importance of; seeing the Governor myself seas evident, anit
on the 10th of June I had that pleasure at Fort Alexander. I
then heard that the supplies were nearly all at Cumberland-
house; but as we, could not by any exertion procure the men
required for the expedition at Montreal, it was necessary for me
to conic to this post to complete their number. And now, lam
sorry to say, we are obliged to pay very high wages; besides
which, I hive lost full 300 miles by thi;delay, unavoiable in
itself.
" It is the opinion of the senior gentlemen here, then, that
the only method we can adopt to get my two large heavy boats
to a wintering ground is for me to go on in a light canoe tile-
self, and find out the exact situation and the best route to the
Thloo-ee-cho, which I hope to do by the time the boats arrive
at the Athabasca, where there shall be a guide to conduct them
to me. Now, my dear friend, though I must do this to insure
my operations next year, yet it will swell our expenses to more
than I contemplated, and you cannot conceive how feverish I
I am at the thought of getting beyond' the £7OOO, for it is cer-
tain this sum wilt searcely carry us to the three years, whereas
an additional £lOOO would be amply. sufficient. Pray see, then,
what can be done, and make me quiet about this.
" I am now in the midst of bustle and annoyance—hiring
and persuading men to go. I shall write again by the ship.—
On this occasion you are the only person in England to whom
1 purpose writing, therefore make my kind regards to all my
friends, and especially to -those who have beeu active and ore
interested in our good cause,
• " Yours ever, " GEORGE BACK.
" King is very amiable, and will make s good voyageur."