The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-06-14 00:00:00

" Although I feel confident this matter will be thoroughly
investigated, I cannot refrain from making the following
observation with respect to the theoretic route, as laid down
in the prospectus of the company in the book sent out to
Barbadoes about two years ago, a copy of which I showed to
to Lieutenant Hamilton of the R. N., formerly stipendiary
magistrate, now residing at Barbadoes.
" This officer said he could not understand why Turk's
Island had been selected, and that it would be the destruc-
tion of some of the vessels of this steam company ; that he
had had frequent opportunities of seeing that island, and
that. from the uncertain direction and strength of the cur-
rents and the rocky coast, he did not feel comfortable whilst
in that neighbourhood, although in a handy ship of war, and
a highly disciplined crew.
" My next remark is, that the company might now have
the most beneficial advice and opinion on every matter, by
reference from Commodore Byng and Captain Paget, R.N.,
who witnessed from the beginning to the end the practical
' work of the Medina.
"When this vessel settled down and 'got firmly embedded
across the reef which runs at right angles with her keel, and
which could be perceived by the whole frame of the heavy
steam machinery being forced up about seven or eight inches,
the mercy of PROVIDENCE was clearly shown; and that
there was a prospect of the loss of life being very trifling in
comparison to what would have been the result had she
lain in an oblique position on the said reef or parallel to it,
in which case she might have been capsized by the heaving
of the sea; and as heavy articles of every description were
loose about the deck, amongst the rest 229 iron jars of quick-
silver, each weighing from 90 to 1001bs, and to have been
disembarked at the first, owing to their great value, as well
as chains, spars, &e., almost all loose, the cabin doors
broken open, and opening and shutting with the greatest
violence every time the sea struck her, had she capsized, 179
persons (150 men, 15 women, and 1.1 children) would in all
probability have been drowned or crushed to death, the wa-
ter being deep on all sides of the reef. A message was de-
livered in my presence to Captain Barney by Lieut. Davis,
admiralty agent of the Tweed, that Lieut. Keatley, R.N.,
on leave of absence from the Tweed, begged to offer his ser-
vices to do all that lay in his power on board the Medina,
which were gladly accepted, and were very efficient.
" On my reaching the Larne schooner I learned that the
passengers for Jamaica were ordered to the Tweed, those for
England to the schooner Larne.
" I am happy to say his Excellency the Earl of Elgin,
with his lady and Lady Charlotte Bruce, were ultimately re-
moved to the Tweed, they having embarked from the Me-
_

diva. and reached the schjoenerfarnewith nothing but his
lordship's despatches.
" The detachment of the 2nd West India regiment, sta-
tioned at Turk's Island, under the command of Lieutenant
Howell, were most active and useful, as will be seen by the
official letter marked E. herewith sent, addressed to me by
the admiralty agent, now on board here, in charge of her
Majesty's mails, the original of which I have handed over
to the officer commanding the left wing at Nassau.
" The passengers, who are to go to England, of the Me-
dina, when wrecked, are—Robert Dick, Esq., of the Island
of Trinidad, with his family ; Monsieur Rennay, a resident
of St. Thomas's, but a native of Bourdeaux ; a Mr. Har-
risoultz, a Polish gentleman, lately from La Guayara : these
gentlemen are ready to express their entire satisfaction at
the ample attendance and obliging conduct of all the autho-
rities on board the Medina and Larne, which must be grati-
fying to any person interested in the welfare of this establish-
ment, so desirable to be entertained uninterrupted, not only
by the colonies of Great Britain but by those of the States.—
I have the honour to be, sir, your most obedient humble
servant, "T. FALLS, Lieut.-Col.
" Deputy Adj.-Gen. in the Leeward and Windward Islands.
" May 29."