The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-17

the following articles is prohibited: Wheat, rye
barley, oats, the farinaceous portions of potatoes
peas, beans, vetches, and grots, or oatmeal of all
kinds.
ART S. The government may, moreover, pro-
hbt the exploration of -four, BRAN bread, biscuits
and all kinds Of grist. II may wholly or partly re-
move the effects of articles and 3, as well the
prohibitions established by virtue of the present
article
Arr. 6. A supplementary credit of two millions
of francs, for measures relative to provisions open
ed for the budget of the Minister of the Interior for
l645 Before Dec. 81, 1916, special report Of the
measures adopted, and the expenses incurred, will
be laid before the chambers.
ART z. The present law will come into force on
the day after publication.
From the New York Morning News.
Letter from passenger on board the Great Britain
h steamer,
On BOARD THE GREAT BRITAIN STEAMER,
Holmes's Hole, Oct. IL, lS45.
MY DEAR FRIEND O'SuLLrAN The passengers on
board the above vessel have, all of us, been in an
alarmed state of much excitement this morning, but
now find ourselves in the evening with renewed hopes
Of speedy and safe arrival at New York. have
thought il would interest you to relate the strange
things which have occurred on our passage across
the ocean in this mighty Leviathan of human art.
Weleft Liverpool on the appointed day, the 9th
ultino, amidst the cheers of many thousands who
crowded the shores and swarmed in the many
steamers, yachts, and sail-boats which graced our
departure, drawn together from many miles to see
our gigantic vessel.
AZ we sat down to our first meal, we found we
numbered about one hundred passengers. The next
day we awoke to adverse winds, which, in seaman Is
phrase, fundamentally opposed us the whole way
TO the banks of Newfoundland, blowing at one time
with the full severity Of heavy gale wind at the
commencement Of which, as it bounded on us at one
sudden jump, it swept overheard our foremost,
which, the next moment, we saw tossed about in
the heavy swell by the Tapping sails still adhering
to il, and the whole yet dashed to the ship by poT-
tions Of unsevered cordage The engines Of the YES
sci were then stopped for some time, until these sails
and the broken mast could be again secured on
board. This gale continued to blow with the great.
est severity for about twenty-four hours; and con-
Tess that when this storm burst on us in such sever
ity felt considerable alarm, as had not that con-
fdence in the ship that | should like to make in
her a winter voyage, and felt that would answer
the words of Prior afirmatively-
~ did but purpose to embark with thee,
On the smooth surface Of a summers sea;
And would forsake the skin and make the shore,
When the winds whistle and the tempests roar"
But she rode out the gale most joyously; and al
though some feecy spray occasionally clambered
over her mountain sides, and baptized her iron
frame, yet did not her ship sea; matches
wore fastened down, nor was there the slightest
need to do SO. In the mean Time however most
piteous the complaints of the seasick against
the excessive rolling of the vessel. think that
the action of the propeller, acting like sculling a
small boat, contributed to this They say also that
she wants false keel, and that all of her six
masts excepting one, being simply camped on the
upper decks, instead of descending to the keeson,
is an additional cause; yet never in gale Of wind,
even Of less severity, did see a dinner eaten so
ELL - u 4
selves with equal propriety; soups initiated in mod
GRAFTON the ups and downs Of the tides; gravy
chasseed right and left, without improperly leaping
into ladies' laps; and in the general dance of the dish
cs, at dnner-me, usually uproarious in gale of
wind, they yet on this occasion enjoyed them.
selves within decent bounds. This, however, may
perhaps be accounted for, because the dining saloon
is on the second deck below the uppermost deck of
the vessel and thus is situated at the centre of such
rolling motion.
At the conclusion of the gale, ] think it was the
very general opinion of the passengers that the Great
Britain was very buoyant and dry sea-boat and
capable Of behaving herself most handsomely in a
storm.
We had come to this pleasant belief when, on the
morning OF the 18th inst, CONSERVATION seized on
many trembling heart, from new source of alarm.
Just as the iron-gauntletted hand Of the command
ant resounds at the door, at the supper scene in the
opera Of Don Giovanni, SO laundering iron knocks
were felt and heard dashing against the bottom of
our vessel; and it soon became evident that our pro-
peller, which, with its immense fangs, fifteen feet in
circumference, OF solid iron, and said to weigh sew
eral tons, and which revoves at the rate of from 40
to so revolutions in minute, was, from some dis
turbng cause, dashing its iron arms against the bot
tom Of the vessel Well was it for us that iron met
iron, and that the propeller proved the weaker COM
blatant, and soon gave up the contest with Gas was
said after examinaton) one of its six fangs broken
nH md Mt hled In fha M fao
time, many face turned pale as the contest was re-
newed, and which again terminated with new dam
age to the propeller.
This morning, however, awaked partaking in
the general and satisfactory belief that in spite Of
adverse winds, damaged masts, and crippled prope-
Ter, should meet you and my friends safely at New
York this evenings; but after the new dangers Of this
day, am delighted that, safely anchored, am this
evening writing you from Holiness Hole, Rhode
Island.
In the morning, as soon as stepped on deck, I
saw signals set for pilot, and our gums preparing
to fire; loud calls for aid, while could tell or
knew, where we were; but the breakers, which ev-
erywhere surrounded US, too plainly testified that
we were in imminent danger Of shipwreck. Our
alarming situation had, however, excited humanity
to our aid on shore; and after few hours, some
Nantucket farmers, who had brought boat three
miles over land were launching II they were
Fastening to our assistance. They were soon on
board, and from them welearned that we had stray
ed among the dangerous and extensive reefs of rocks
called the Grips" lying between Cape Cod and the
northern point Of Nantucket; and that the little
town we on shore was called Siaconsett---a ia
vorite summer watering-place, delightfully."- situated
among the Rips, celebrated among sportsmen for
their shark fisheries. These honest men puzzled
themselves In many an argument how we safely
steered among them reefs Of rocks without destruc
ton. One Of them (Mr. Nathan Gibbs, who keeps
store at Saconset, but is besides partly farmer
and more fisherman, and most Of a very good pi-
lot and fine fellow then took charge Of vessel
and anchored US safely in Holiness Hole. In the
mean time, il was announced that we had only six
teen hours supply of coal on board; and we are
now taking in supply, which we have most fortu-
nately found on board brig now alongside.
In accounting for this most strange and dangerous
misadventure, ! am inclined to the opinion that we