The Statesman.
London, England, 1812-01-04 00:00:00

LO S
SATURDAY, JANCAItti 4, 1812.

DREADFUL SHIPWRECKS.
We are extremely sorry to state, that not only
have no satisfactory accounts been received of the
St. George, but great fears are entertained as to the
safety of the Defence, the Hero, and the Grasshop-
per sloop of war.—The two last are even said to
have been lost off the Texel, and the gallant Captain
NEWHAM, of the Hero, and all his crew, except
eight, are said to have perished. Dispatches to this
effect are stated to have been receivedat the Admiralty
from Admiral FoLET, Commander-in-Chief on the
Downs station, in which he, the Admiral, says,
that he had received information of this melancholy
calamity having taken place in a tremendous storm ;
and that such bad been the violence of the gale, that
the Grasshopper, Capt. FANSUAW, beat clean over
the wreck of the Hero, and west ashore. The
Captain and his Officers and crew were saved, but
they were made prisoners of war in Holland, and the
Grasshopper taken possession of by the enemy.—
' Both vessels, it appears, had struck on the H lak
Sand, near the place on which the Minotaur was lost
ilast winter.—The Lieutenants of the hero, whose
Joss their country has to .deplore, were, Messrs.
CHARLES lIITCHINS, JOHN MITCHELL, Joint MEAD,.
WAY, JAMES WILCOX, and JOHN NORTON.
Since writing the above, we have received Paris
IPapers to the V instant, which, we lament to state,
; not only confirm the loss of the Hcro, but also
mention the total wreck of three other vessels
; off the coast of Holland, which we have little doubt
wi?t funs out to be the St. George, the Defence, and
the Grashopper. Ten transports belonging to our
fleet, are also represented to have been driven upon
I the banks of the Texel. " The intelligence, in
fact," says an article from Amsterdam, " which is
received from that island (i. e. Texel), state', that it
is surrounded by wrecks." The enerns' vessels
appear to have been extremely attentive to our
I countrymen on his trying occasion. Two of their
brigs and a privateer are said to have saved one
Ihuudred and thirty-six men from of the wrecks ;
Ibut although the Carvain of the p iva!oe.• saw the
Hero and two other ves.,ls perish, it was impo,,s;ble,
I such was tho awful state of the nenther, to afford
'them any assistance. The following are the details
of this dreadful lietarence, as given in the 313ni-
tear, of the 30th December
AMSTERDAM, DEC. 26.
" We have received from the Texel details, which
cannot fail of being aillicting to humanity, occasion-
ed by a gale of wind experienced in the North Sea.—
The ships overtaken by this tempest, formed, as it
jappears, part of a convoy of neare than 100 sail re-
, turning from Sweden to England, laden, it is be-
lieved, with warlike stores. At break of day, the
25th of December, after a most dreadful night, a
frigate, two brigs, and a ship of the line, were per-
ceived at about half a league distance from the cosset
of the Toad. The ship of the line was entirely
dismasted. Two brigs have been driven upon
the coast, where they were wrecked. Two brigs
belonging to his MAJESTY, and the privateer
Fara, saved 136 men from a ship which was
shipwrecked, and have brought an English brig into
the Helder. The Captain of the Purct declares,
that he saw a 'hit, of the line, which he believes to
be the Hero, and two brigs, perish, without it be-
ing possible for him to render them the least assist.
ance. The men Saved from the wreck add, that ten
transports have been driven upon the banks of the
Texel. The intelligence, in fact, which Is received
from that islandatate, that it is surrounded by wrecks.
come thirty men who gained the island by swimming
were sayed."—(ileniteur, Dec. 30.)