The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-10-24 00:00:00

brig A

I H. Wills, on

21st of July, off the island

near Monte

Video. Anont noon on

I . .
but none appearing, and there being a
she continued her course, and at n

light easterly wind,
idday on the 21st

increased

1 great

ice, and a heavy shower of hai

and rain began io fall, and there being no pilot to be seen
on the station, all her sails were shortened, and she hove
to about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, with her head to
the southward, the weather at that time being very thick,
and several high breakers near her. She, however, still
made way, although very little, going at the early part of
the evening not more than two knots an hour. At 8
o'clock the weather had become exceedingly misty, so
much so that the ship's length could scarcely be discerned,
and every precaution was adopted in order to prevent ac-
cident, a man being constantly at her mast head, and the
lead kept going. The captain, fearing from the violence
of the gale that if he anchored on the spot she would be
blown away from her moorings and every soul perish, de-
termined on keeping her under canvas, as from her posi-
tion he supposed she would make the Mount by the fol-
lowing morning. She kept going on very steadily till
about midnight, when the captain went down below for a
short time, the mate being at the mast-head, when he no
sooner did so than he heard a distant shock from her
striking forward, though in six fathoms, aft and hind.
The captain instantly rushed on deck and put the helm
a-port, which she answered, and the sails were set. The
heavy serf, however, that was running kept constantly
beating her on the shoal, and the crew expected every
moment that she would be beaten to atoms, and they all
meet with a watery grave. She soon got clear, and the
captain decided on running for Monte Video, although
the weather was exceedingly dark. Accordingly the pumps
were kept going, and the carpenters set to work to repair
the ship. Unfortunately, however, she had received too
great an injury, as the sea was fast flowing into the hold.
Notwithstanding this the captain still kept her on the
tack, and it was only at 3 o'clock on the following morn-
ing when the water was level with the cabin decks, that
the captain and crew, 13 in number, left the ill-fated ves-
sel in her boats. She soon went dawn in deep crater, and
the crew then steered for the above port, in doing which
they encountered most tempestuous weather, the boat at
one time being almost full of water and am►dst breakers.
At length, after the lapse of six hours, they succeeded in
reaching Monte Video, greatly fatigued from excessive
exertion and exposure to cold. At this port it appears
the poor fellows were not treated by the Consul in that
kind manner which their destitute case deserved. They
have, however, safely arrived in England.

OBSERVATIONS IN RESPECT OF THE ISLANDS
OF RASAY AND RONA, IN SCOTLAND.

" The islands of Rasay and Rona form part of the Wes-
tern Hebrides, situated in the county of Inverness, lyinz
between the island of Skye and the mainland. Rona lies
directly north of Raspy.

RASAY

" Rasay measures 12 miles. The breadth is 34 miles.
The island measures 15.126 acres. At the north end is
the island Tigh, separated only from Rasay at flood tide.
At the west side is the island of Fladda ; it measures 1
mile and 2 furlongs. Rasay, including Tigh and Fladda,
amounts to 15,598 acres 2 roods and 31 poles. The island
is divided or let into 22 farms. Total arable in the island,
at present under cultivation, 1,266 acres. The island, or a
considerable portion, may almost be said to be now in its
naturally wild state. The inhabitants having no lease,
have had no inducement to-improve their land, but there
are great quantities of land of good soil capable of being
easily improved, and lots of respectable yeomen ready to
occupy it on lease. Many of the glens present as beau-
tiful and as fine a surface as can possibly be seen. The
mansion-house is situated at the south end of the island;
it is of modern date, and is large and commodious. A
sketch is shown upon the plan,. The front is all of dressed
ashler, from the freestone rock on the estate at Hallaig.
It is erected on the Doric order of architecture, in a chaste
and beautiful style, embellished with a magnificent stone
portico, opening to a spacious-noble hall. A fine spring
passes through the estate. In fact, the islands are cele-
brated' for the delicious springs which abound there in all
parts. The garden is a large square area of some acres in
extent. Near the house, on the beach, is one of the cele-
brated romantic caves in which-Prince Charles was con-
cealed. Behind the house, andlextending in a northerly
direction to near Usgai,T, is a very fine plantation of elm
and larch, extending to 15 acres. About the church there
is a plantation of Scotch fir, beech, larch, and ash, ex-
tending 'to 26 acres. At Glaim and Castle, the natural
plantation extends to 310 acres. Between Balchurn and
Hallaig are several very fine lochs, abounding in black
trout, and the whole island abounds largely in grouse and
blackcoek. There is plenty of fine blue limestone ; and
no doubt, if search was made, COAL WOULD ALSO DE
rouND. Duncan, the highest hill in Rasay, presents
from the summit one of the grandest panoramic views of
Highland scenery in Scotland. On the east side the rocks
are of freestone, towering above each other, rising in ma-
jestic height upwards of 3,000 feet above the sea, and in
parts quite inaccessible, except to the wild gnats which
abound on the rock, and which is-known as the " Goat
Rock," and from which issues a gushing stream of the
purest water, providing a refreshment of the most delight-
ful description to the eager sportsman. In the island of
Fladda there is abundance of slate. There can be no
doubt that this only requires an enterprising tenant to se-
cure an enormous income.

" Rona lies nearly directly north of Rasay. The island
is four macs in length, and one mac in breadth. There is
in several parts a large quantity of flow moss, that, with
♦ery little expense, could b- drained and brought under
cultivation. There is also in the Big Harbour plenty of
shell sand, nearly equal to good lime, which might be used
to great advantage upon the ground—almost none is at
present used. The island measures 2,414 acres, of which
there is at present 156 acres under cultivation. The Big
Harbour: is a very safe and deep harbour. The island
abounds in grouse and game of alLsorts."

Hon. E. M. I

TO 131

1843.

Oct. 24,

LLIGENGT,

ETING

AItDS•
ind J• JERVIS, E