The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-04-18 00:00:00

the foul weather she had experienced-from England, when
at six o'clock this morning we received the dismal intelli-
gence of her loss, at about 20 miles tram this port. We
got up immediately, and went on board a French steamer,
which fortunately we had in harbour. and there we saw ten
individuals belonging to the Solway, who had brought the sad
news to Corunna, and who were saved in the gig. From them
we learned that the Solway had struck on a rock at precisely
12 o'clock ; that she filled so rapidly that in the course of a
few minutes they were obliged to take to the boats; that in
the confusion that ensued they were fortunate in getting into
the gig; that they had seen two other boats leaving the ship's
side, but could not say what bad become of them. We lost
not one moment in requesting the French commander to go
out with the steamer to render every assistance; and he,
most readily acceding, sailed at about eight o'clock, with
Capt. Scott on board; besides, we sent further assistance
with boats full manned, and messengers round by land. An
English brig being on the point of sailing for Liverpool, we
think it right to forward these lines.
" Since writing the above, we have been apprised of two
other boats being towed toward the port, and we have pre-
vailed on the captain of the brig to await until their arrival,
that we may forward further intelligence.
"The two above-mentioned boats have safely arrived, and
we were truly happy to see 63 individuals landed; conse-
quently, we have already 73 saved, and still confide that our
endeavours will not prove unavailing in saving more.
" We have at this moment with us Mr. Lane. with the
other officers, from whom we learn the following particulars.
" They passed the light at 10 p.m., and after running at
full speed for two hours, the ship struck on a sunken rock
at precisely 12, midnight, Captain Duncan and the officers
of the watch being on deck at the time. After she struck
she was backed off, and was apparently settling fast by the
head ; full speed was, however, kept upon her until the water
put the fires out, her head being pointed towards the shore.
One of the life-boats was, with great exertion, got over, and
52 were saved in her : the first cutter was lowered doWn full
with people, whilst the ship was under way, and they fear
few escaped. The life-boat lay alongside receiving people
from the ship, when suddenly the ship gave one plunge, and
went down, nearly drawing in the vortex the life-boat and
all in her. She, however, got clear of the wreck, and fell in
with the second cutter, from which she procured one oar.
They kept company during the night, and were towed .by a
Spanish boat into this port this morning. The ship lies in
13 fathom water, as reported by one of the officers, who
sounded her previous to his leaving her, and at from four to
''-a from the shore.

five rai

" As we are writing, Mr. and Mrs. Pell, and the Hon.
Mr. Dalzell, have dismounted at our house, having rode
from the spot where they succeeded in landing; and we
were happy to hear rather cheeting news, as regards the
fate of the rest of the people.

.
" Captain Duncan's conduct after the catastrophe tool
place was most commendable and honourable in the ex
treme."

(From a correspondent of the Herald.)

This ill-fated vessel is the third that has been totally lost
belonging to the Royal Mail Packet Company since it sprang
into existence, viz, the Medina having been previously
wrecked off Turk's Island, and the Isis off Bermuda. It ap_
pears that the Solway proceeded on her voyage without any-
thing par ticular occurring, and put into Corunna to deliver
and receive the mails. after having left that port about two
hours, all the passengers and most of the crew (with the ex-
ception of those on duty) being in their berths asleep and un-
conscious of their danger, the vessel suddenly struck on a
rocky shoal, called the Baldayo, within a mile and a half
from the coast, and notwithstanding the utmost exertions
were used by Captain Duncan, the officN.s, and crew, the un-
fortunate vessel sunk within twenty minutes, in thirteen
fathoms. Captain Duncan, although so suddenly placed
in this trying and distressing situation, behaved
with the greatest coolness, judgment, and intrepidity.
He was last seen on one of the paddle-boxes, endeavour-
ing to unlock and disengage the paddle boat, to save those of
the passengers and crew who had not taken refuge in the
pinnace and first paddle-boat that had been launched.
Under his direction the pinnace was first got into the water,
and as many as it could convenienetly hold were lowered
into it, but the frail bark was eapsised, and every soul on
board perished. The first paddle-boat was then lowered,
and into that also as many crowded as possibly could, and
notwithstanding there was no oar to assist them, it managed
to reach the shore in safety by paddling, &c. It is supposed
that many went down with the vessel, there being no time to
launch the other boat that is kept on the paddle-wheel, to
save those unfortunate beings left on board.
Those who were thus mercifully saved escaped, of course,
with no clothes whatever but those they stood in. Mr. Lane,
the purser, who was the last to jump into the paddle-boat
(and then she was within two inches of the water's edge),
was almost in a state of nudity.
The Solway was a Scotch built boat, and this was her
fourth voyage. She!was a remarkably fast-sailing, fine ves-
sel, and had just undergone considerable repairs. It is la-
mentable to add that the unfortunate captain has been married
but a short time. Mrs. Duncan, who is a Scotch lady, of
great amiability, remained with her husband, at Southampton,
up to tht time of the Solway leaving.
The accident occurred about 12 o'clock on the 7th instant,
exactly a week after leaving, and the night was beautifully
serene, light, and pleasant., Scarcely a ripple was seen on
the waters : had there been a fresh wind not a soul would
have been saved to report the melancholy' tale. Capt. Lewis,
of the Ladv Mary Wood, who is an experienced sailor, gives
it as his opinion that the vesssl, was lost in consequence of a
strong eddy current driving her on the shoal, and that al-
though danger was so near and unperceived it was perfectly
unavoidable.
Immediately on the vessel striking she pitched c6nsidera-
bly head foremost, and as soon as the cold water reached
the boilers they collapsed and blew up. It is supposed that
many of our fellow creatures perished by this mishap, and
that it also furthered the more speedy destruction of the
vessel. You may judge of the size of the paddle-boats--kept
expressly in cases of accident—when I tell you that 52 hu-
man beings escaped in one of them, and so close was it to
the water's edge, that it was a.rnercy it reached the shore in
safety. Nothing but constant baling and good management
kept her afloat.

The whole of the mails are, of course, lost, and, in fact,
everything belonging to the vessel. Sunk as she is in 13
fathoms, and most likely so much injured by striking so hard
as she did on the shoal, it is not at all probable the vessel
will be ever raised.

It is a singular fact that Mr. Edward Dicker, the surgeon,
was also wrecked in the Medina, and afterwards in the Isis,
and now the poor fellow, in the prime of life, is, without
warning, and in an awful manner, called to his account by
being wrecked in this ill-fated vessel. It is a singular cir-
cumstance, but which shows a melancholy foreboding, that
Capt. Duncan, immediately he heard of Mr. Dicker's ap-
pointment to the Solway, remarked,, half jesting, that if
any harm came to him or his ship Ile should attribute .it to
Mr. Dicker's presence, that gentleman having met with
such unfortunate results.

Resolutions, condemnatory of the recent proceedings of the
French at Otaheite, and calling upon the government to pro-
tect the British missions in the Pacific, were agreed to. at a
public meeting held in Exeter Hall on Wednesday last.
The Society for Improving the Condition of the Insane,
has offered a premium of 20 guineas, to the author of the
best essay on the following subject, viz.:—" What is the dis-
tinction between crime and insanity ?"

The large wasps seen flying about in April and May are
the queen wasps, and their destruction prevents the birth of
myriads of wasps. Earl Fitzwilliam gives a shilling each for
them, dead or alive.

A machine has been invented, in France, for making che•
mical matches,,which, although worked only by two children
and an ass, turns out 600.000 per day ; these, if sold at the
rate of 300 for a sou, will yield the manufacturer a profit of
40f. per day.
EDUCATION.—From a parliamentary return just published,
we find that there has been expended for education in the
county of Lancaster the sum of £11,694 10s., in that of
Chester £2,446, and in that of York £7,534, and for the
establishment of National Schools in Cheshire £2,500.
WAVES.—As a proof of the depth of the waves, and power
of their action, at Madras, it is stated by Sir J. Robinson,
that during a violent storm, a quantity of pigs of lead had
been cast ashore near the fort, and it was proved that they
had come from a vessel which had been wrecked at more than
a mile from the shore.

THE DUKE OF Sussex.—The bulletin issued on Saturday
was as follows :—His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex is
suffering under an attack of erysipelas, which is not attended
with any unfavorable symptom." On Sunday morning the
following bulletin was issued:—" His royal highness is going
on favorably in every respect.

The average stock of bullion held by the Bank of England
during the four weeks ending the Ist of April is stated to be
£11,420,000, which shows an increase of £436,000 as com-
pared with the preceding month ; and an increase of
J 24,414,000 as compared with the corresponding period last
year. The first-mentioned sum is a larger amount than for
many years past.

ENORMOUS WEALTrt.--The property left by Baron Stieg-
litz, the hanker, who lately died at St. Petersburgb, is esti-
mated at the enormous sum of fifty millions of rubles
(between five and six millions sterling.) He was a native of
Hanover, where his elder brother, one of the most celebrated
physicians in Germany, died a few years ago.

THE FLYING MACHINE.--The Aeriel or Ariel, we do
not know which is its proper name, does not seem to make
more converts by the publication of its picture. Though on
the bird principle, it is certainly very unlike a bird ; and
Sam Rogers says, the only feature of resemblance is, that it
has got a bill—in Parliament.—Literary Gazette.

The National Bank of Ireland, the head office of which is
situated in this country, while the business is carried on in
Ireland, has appealed against the income-tax ; and the
result has been a decision that those subscribers only who
reside in England will be liable to the tax for the amount of
their shares, and that the institution, as such, will be un-
taxed.

CORPORATIONS.—A bill has been brought into the house
of Commons on the subject of municipal corporations, by
Lord John Russell, which is intituled, " a bill for dissolving
certain corporations, and regulating certain municipal cor-
porations in England." Its object is to legislate for the
future government of those minor corporations not included
in the Municipal Corporations Act of William IV.
EIGHTEEN VESSELS TOTALLY LosT.—The late north-
easterly winds have, we regret to say, been productive of the
most disastrous shipwrecks along different parts of the coast,
though happily unattended with loss of life, arising from the
alacrity and efficiency of the Coast Guard service and their
boatmen. During the last three weeks upwards of eighteen
vessels are known to have been wrecked.
ELEVATION OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.—Sir Hans
Sloane's baronetcy, given by George the First, was the first
title of hereditary honour granted to any medical gentleman
in this country. The profession has since furnished its fair
share of recruits to the baronetage. Between 1796 and
1837, that rank was, if we reckon aright, conferred on seven.
teen physicians and surgeons, one occulist, and two apothe-
caries.—Quarterly Review.
CELERITY OF THE CLOTH MANUFACTURE.-011 Mon.
day last, the manager of Mr. Joshua Farrar's factory, Mars-
den, undertook to manufacture a piece of stout milled fancy
cassimere, of fine make and good quality, within twenty-four
hours ; which undertaking he accomplished, and had a pair
of trowsers made of them into the bargain the same evening.
It went through the various operations of shinning, warping,
sizing and drying, heading, weaving, scouring, and milling
and was respectably finished, in tile wet state, and dried and
made into a pair of trowsers within the time specified (or in
twenty-three hours and a half.)
DISCHARGE OF A DEBTOR EROM YORK CASTLE.-On
the sth instant, Miss Moss, who has been in custody as a
debtor in York Castle for 24 years and 6 days, was discharged.
To show the great expense attending such lengthened un-
to
£lOO 5
prisonments, we may remark that during that time she had
is
she about sum
been allowed 11,232 pounds of the county bread, which, at
the average
w
ofe and h
efirdst.pertstaotned ielegislature amounts to
interfere to procure the liberation of those debtors whose
confinement has been of long standing. There is another
person who has been in the castle upwards of 26 years.—
Yorkshire Gazette.

SALE OF SHIPS.—The sale of vessels belonging to the
Wear Shipping Company took place at Sunderland on Thurs-
day evening ; the company being very numerous, an adjourn-
ment was made from the Market Hotel to the Assembly
Rooms, where from 500 to 600 persons assembled ; the sale
was carried on with much spirit, and every ship disposed of ;
and as many of our readers at a distance may be interested
in the result of the sale, we subjoin the prices at which each
ship was sold :—The Beta, sold for £880; Gamma, £1,185
Coadjutor, £1,100; Globe,
Myrtle, £B9O ; total,
£.131e ze; 1T,3h700m;
asGarno
dv
a£r 1, Coadjutor,
£645 ;
£8,650. After the above, the Hepsa, a ship, not belonging
hipping property at one time that ever
utolotghteexctoemnspiavneys,awleaosfsjold for £1,315, forming together, the
took place previously in gunderland.
SOCIALISM.—A desperate effort is to be made for the re-
vival of this almost exploded system. The delegates and
agents of Mr. Robert Owen are to meet at " Harmony," in
Hampshire, early in May, for the purpose of stating what
has been done during the past year, what probabilities there
are of extending their principles, and to concert measures for
a more systematic organisation of their forces. At present
the socialist scheme is in an awfully tottering condition. In
many parts of the metropolis, and in the provincial towns,
institutions have been opened, where lectures are given and
discussions invited on " disputed points ;" coffee-houses
have been enlisted in the cause. and ball-rooms provided for
those who might be more likely to receive favourable im-
pressions of the system under the influence of the waltz. But
everything appears to have failed ; and the delegates who
meet in conference next month must devise more cunning
measures than have hitherto been adopted, if they wish to
see " socialism" in existence at the close of the year.
PATRIARCHAL ALMSMEN.—The charity trustees, at their
monthly meeting on Wednesday last, elected Joseph An-
drews, glover, to the vacant almshouse in Berkeley Hospital.
Andrews is one of a venerable trio of brothers whose united
ages amount to 250,—viz., Moses, 86, an inmate of St.
Oswald's Hospital; Samuel, 84; and Joseph, 80. Samuel,
as well as Joseph, is now enjoying the otium cum dignilate
of Berkeley's Hospital. We believe them to he the only
survivors of a family of twenty-three children by the same
mother; and, singularly enough, they were all born in the
month of March,—viz., Moses on the 6th, Samuel on the
4th, and Joseph on the 10th. The blessing of a tolerably
numerous family appears also to have been the heritage of
each, having had no less than forty children between them ;
of these, however, the largest number fell to the lot of the
youngest, Joseph, who had nineteen; next Samuel, sixteen;
and Moses, the eldest, five. Considering their advanced
age, they enjoy good health, and may be said alike to be
worthy and deserving objects of the munificently-endowed
charities which have provided a comfortable asylum and
shelter for them in their latter days.—Worcester Herald.
THE SCREW PROPELLER.—On Thursday last, a steam-
frigate was launched from Sheerness, which is to be fitted
up with the screw-propeller, the invention of Mr. Smith.
I er extreme length is 195. feet; breadth, 32 feet 9 inches:
burden, 888 tons. This vessel will test the principle of the
screw-propeller effectually. The great advantages of this
principle over the paddle-wheels and boxes, hitherto made
use of in steam navigation, are that in vessels' to be used as
men-of-war the whole length of deck is uninterrupted, so
that what is going on at the bows of the vessel can be seen
from the stern, and vice versa; and the whole battery of her
guns can be worked uniformly, and under the direction of
the captain. Another advantage is that the screw being
under water is out of the way of mischief, and not liable to
be damaged by shot; and a further advantage is, that she is
capable of being turned about in a much smaller space than
a steamer propelled by paddle-wheels3which,
as everybody
knows, takes an immense space in the water to perform her
evolutions. Neither, it may be added, does the srew-pro-
pellor retard the sailing powers of the vessel, which paddle-
boxes must unavoidably do, from the awkwardness of their
position, and their largeness of dimensions.
Pui7c3E CHRISTOPHE.—On Saturday, at the Marlbarough-
street. London) police-office, Prince Christophe (brother to
the late King of Hayti), whose arrival in this country, with
his princess, was lately announced, coupled with the fact of
their luggage being detained at the Southampton Railway
for their fare, entered the court accompanied by an interpreter.
The prince's attire did not correspond with his royal rank,
being what is termed in England rather seedy. The inter-
preter informed Mr. Maltby that the prince wished his ad-
vice as to how he was to recover his luggage, &c., which was
all detained by the proprietor of Thomas's Hotel, Berkeley-
square, where the prince and princess bad been residing for
three days. Mr. Maltby inquired on what ground they were
detained, and of what the effects consisted ? The interpreter
replied of wearing apparel, jewellery, &c.. in fact, everything
the prince was possessed of. They were detained for a claim
of £l5, which the landlord had against the prince for board
and lodging for three days. In the trunks were some papers
which the prince was extremely anxious to have, as they were
essential to the establishment of a claim which he had upon
the Bank of England for a million of money, which his late
brother had invested in the bank in his name, which papers
the landlord also refused to give up.
Mr. Maltby inquired
the value of the property detained? The interpreter replied
about £2OO. The prince said it was not so much as that.
It was, however, the papers he most particularly wanted.
He had some time since been in this country to make his
claim, but being told by a solicitor they were necessary, he
had gone back to San Domingo, whence he had just returned
with them. Mr. Maltby would assist the
prince as much as
he could by sending'an officer with him to request the papers
might be given up. He then directed police-sergeant Grai,
14 C, to accompany the prince for that purpose. The prince
expressed his thanks, and withdrew with the officer and the
interpreter. Gray, on his return, stated that be had, after
some difficulty, prevailed upon the landlord to give up the
papers. He, however, held resolute possession of every
thing else until his account was paid, even some cigars, which
the prince appeared to be very anxious to obtain. There
seemed to be a delusion existing in the mind of the prince as
to the claim to the money, apd also its amount. Instead of
£1,000,000 it was only £25,000, which had been placed by
the King of Hayti, shortly before he wairnurdered, in the
English funds in the names and for the support of his wife
and children, and he understood they were now enjoying it.