The republic., 1851-02-19
UNITED STATES SHIP MARION,


Sir: feel it duty, which l owe to the officers
and crew of this ship, to report their noble conduct
on the melancholy occasion of the blowing up of
the Portuguese frigate "Donna Maria 3D." lying
within one cables length of US. twas a moment
to try mems souls. and nobly did they sustain the
trial. No confusion Of any kind took place; all or
ders were promptly obcycd; and even when our
destruction seemed inevitable, it was unnecessary
to reiterate an order.
The explosion took place at two hours twenty
minutes, p. m, on the 29th instant; our ship was
enveloped in dense cloud Of smoke, and was
thought to be on fire, but the cloud soon passed
away. God in His infinite mercy had spared U.S.
In less than ten minutes after the explosion, our
launch, second and third cutters, were alongside
of the wreck, and took from it, and out of the water
nine men, the only survivors of the ILL fated ship
They were brought on board this vessel in horri-
bly, mangled statc; two of them, one midship-
man, died upon our decks Every attention was
paid them by DR.. Shipper, who also volunteered
his services for any other duty that might think
proper to assign him. The boats were manned by
volunteers, and were commanded by Acting Lieu
tenants Aulick and Wilkes, and the boatswain.
Mr.. Burdett. My heart sweled with national
pride when beheld those officers and men, regard
less of personal danger, forcing their way through
floating and burning tmbers, to the rescue of their
fellow creatures. They had scarcely left the
wreck before it was enveloped in flames. Acting
Lieutenant Aulick volunteered to return and ex-
tnguish the fire, the safety of this ship being
sidered dependent upon it. But another explosion
occurred, and the attempt was forbidden.
Purser White and the gunner, Mr.. Stocking
stood by to drown the magazine, and when their
services were no longer required there, Mr.. White
volunteered for any other duty. Mid. Laughlin
and Mr.. Macauley Captains clerk) were on deck
the whole time, and did oil that men could do. Mr..
Marcelle (salmaker) and Mr.. Underwood (pur.
ser's steward) stood by the shell room.
DR.. Lockwood, Acting Master Jones, Lieutenant
of Marines Broome, Passed Mdshipman Whiting,
and Mr.. Rustic, (carpenter,) who were on shore
at the time, promptly repaired on board, and were
ready for any emergency.
Much care and attention were paid to the wound
ed by Lieutenant Broome, who superintended their
removal from our ship to the boats.
! am sorry to report that one of our men, Charles
Jenkins, (seaman,) who was boat keeper at the
time Of the explosion, was severely wounded by
bolt.
While our boats were rescuing the survivors,
those on board wcro actively employed in guard
ing the ship from fire, and in preparing to shift
her berth in case the floating and burning wreck
drifted down upon US.
Very respectfully, your obcdent servant,
(Signed) A. NJ PENNOCK,
Lieutenant and Executive Officer.
To Commander WIN. M. GLENpy,
Commanding United States ship Marion.
Translation of a letter from the Portuguese authori
ties at Macao.
GovERNMENr OF THE PRovINc OF MACAO,
SIMoR, AND SoLoR.
MOST ILLUSTRATORS SIR: The most excellent, the
council Of government of this province, deeply
penetrated by a sense Of the noble and intrepid
conduct of the officers and men belonging to the
corvette under your command, on the 29th Of last
month, on the occasion Of the disaster which oc
CURED to her most faithful majesty's frigato
"Donna Maria 3D." has charged me to express
to you in their name their profound acknow
ledgment of the important, as we'll as opportune
and courageous service, rendered on that day by
all belonging to the said corvette; whose generous
and intrepid endeavor to the lives of the
fortunate victims of that calamity, made at a mo-
mcnt of such imminent risk to their own vcssel
have called forth the unqualified admiration, not
only of the council of government, but of all the
inhabitants of this city
The council Of the government begs therefore
that you will accept the sincere expression of their
gratitude, and transmit the samc to all on board
duct has excited the admiration of all those who
were present as well as reflected credit upon tho
navy to which they belong.
The said council avail themselves Of this oppor-
tunty to congratulate you on the almost miracu-
lous escape of tho Marion from the imminent
danger to which she was exposed. by her proximity
to the frigatc "Donna Maria 2d;" from the effects
OF whose explosion, they learn with much satisfac-
ton, she sustained no injury. May God preserve
you
MACAO, November ., 1850
(Signed) ANTO. JE. DE MIRANDA,
Secretary of Government.
To Commander GLENDy, U. S. ship Marion.
Extracts Of letter from the missionaries of he
Board Of Agency for Foreign Missions of the Cen
eraI Synod Of the Associate Reformed CH,urh of the
United States Of North -Amsriea," addresssd 10
Commodore Charles w. Morgan, Commander. in.
Chief of the United States Naval Forces in the
Mediterranean dated
DAMASCUS, SrRIA, October 10, 1850.
ssSn: %
"We strictly and conscicntiously abstain from
meddling in political affairs, and we are in gene.