The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-09

assistance in his power as occasion offered until he
had ascertaned that the whole Of the ships compa-
ny hab been taken off
H. b Nj. line of battle ship Malabar, commanded
by Captain Sir George Sartorius who is also Vice
Admiral in the Portuguese Navy, was the only man-of-
war, except the Missouri, happening at the time to
be in the bay Of Gibraltar. Sir George Sartorius,
promptly repaired to the Missouri with portion OF
his officers and men, in person aided Captain Newton
and his officers and in struggling against the
fire and taking off the men, and Hospitality received
large part Of them board the Malabar, until
Captain Newton could make arrangements for their
permanent accommodation elsewhere Since " hch,
Sir George Sartorus has, also, freely offered Captain
Newton to furnish to him. slops supplies any thing
else Of use TO him. from the British government stores.
In all these acts Of hospitality and sympathy the
part of the officers of the British Government here
ought TO add that the prefer was made to ne of
providing for passage to Alexandria at once in
public Ship which offer Of course respectfully de-
clined
In view of much hearty and important
assistance afforded rendered to Captain Newton
and myself by the officers Of H. b. M here, it APP
peared TO me to be proper, and an act Of public
duty on my part, to make to Sir Robert Wilson and
to Sir George Sartorious an official acknowledge
ment for acts performed by them of succor, not 10
individuals merely as such, but also, as officers and
servants Of the Government of the United States
subjoin copies Of the correspondence which en-
sued between myself and these gentlemen respec-
lively
While thus making known you the friendly spirit
displayed on this occasion by the officers of ii. 3.
NJ here, ought not to omit TO speak of the jealous
and incessant exertions of Mr.. Sprague, the eminent
" respectable and excellent Consul Of the United
States at Gibrater, who not only exerted himself to
the utmost, officially and individually, on the night of
the 26h instant, but who has dedicated his whole
time TO the task of alternating the personal misfor-
tunes of his countrymen, and theoretically opera
ting with Captain Newton in the Of the public
property remaining on the wreck of the Missouri,
and in the preparation of means for the relief of the
officers and crew, and their restoration to the United
States. | cannot commend too highly the deport-
ment of MIR. Sprague this occasion and his gene
raj character and social standing such TO
bic him to subserve in the most efectua manner the
interests Of his Government
have to add that have taken passage for Alexan-
dria in the stcampacket "OrientoI," which conveys
shall reach my destination at the same time should
have done if the Missouri had continued her voyage
up the Mediterranean, The Oriental will sail from
Gibraltar on the 7th Of September.
Although have sustained heavy loss in the de-
structon Of large quantity of personal effects
board the Missouri yet esteem myself fortunate in
asmuch as have saved the papers and other objects
essentially appertaning to my mission. / was with
Captain Newton, at the house of the American Con-
sui, at the time the fire broke out but Immediately
followed him board the ship in a private boat,
and, having secured the trunk containing my official
papers, and delivered to Sir Robert Wilson mes
sage from the ship as TO the succors needed re-
turned, to aid If possible, in the only thing within
my competence that is TO say, TO take into my boat
Gas did) some Of the crew, in what plainly was
the approaching event, namely The necessary aban-
donment OF the Missouri. 1t most happy circum-
stance that succeeded in saving the papers of the
legation as otherwise, it would have been ndispen-
sable for me 10 wait here two three months or
perhaps return to the United States for new of
papers, thus delaying the prosecution of the objects
of the Mission to a degree which would have in
volved long train Of Inconvenience, and The
quences Of which would have been deeply detrimcn-
tai TO the public interests.
Captain Newton having been of the opinion, in
which opinion fully concurred that it was his duty
10 lose time in announcing to the Government the
d tstruction Ct the Missouri, has concluded to des
patch Lieutenant Winslow, one of his officers TO the
United States by the way of England. My letters
will be entrusted also to his hands, and ! would re-
spectfuly refer you 10 Lieut. Winslow FOR personal
information in regard to the destruction of the Mis-
souri,.
have the honor TO be, with great respect, your
obedient servant,
(Signed,) G. CUSHING.
Hon. A. p UPsuuR, Secretary Of State.
Here follow extracts from the GbraIter
Chronicle, Of August 2Sth, which may be found
in The foreign news brought by the Acadia the
testimony of John Sutton, coalheaver, William
J. Williams, and Alfred Clum, published in the |
official letter of Captain Newton, in the Madi- |
sonian of Thursday.