Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-18

| full stimulus 10 the humane Office which she so
| effectualy assumed Indeed, we learn from one
| of the United States officers who returned in the
| Three Bells, that all the kindest sympathy could
suggest done for his unfortunate guests by the
captain Of that vessel, to whom those whom he
saved from awful death, desire to express their
warm and heartfelt gratitude"
| CAPTAIN WATKINs.-Captain Watkins appears
| TO the greatest advantage in all accounts of the
| sorely trying circumstances in which he was
placed. The heavy responsibility under which he
labored, instead of overwhelming or over exciting
him, seems to have stimulated his exertions, kept
his judgment clear and his will infexible All
| possible means of relief and precaution seem TO
have been adopted, and with as much success as
could be hoped for under the circumstances; but
we must not forget 10 award due honor TO the for
| ttude and subordination which were exhibited by
all on board the vessel, and which must have done
much 10 tighten the heavy task of her unfortunate
but brave and clear headed commander.
CAUSE OF THE WREcK.-The New York Courier
| throws out the following suggestions as TO the
cause of the wreck:
"The loss of the San Francisco teaches by bitter
means useful lesson; and that is, that no steamer
with guards should ever sail upon tho Atlantic
The fate of two or three steamboats,, of lighter
| build, has overshadowed this great calamity; and
il is but too plain that the very additional strength
of the guards of the San Francisco which her
builders supposed would insure her safety, was
the direct cause of the sad catastrophe which we
record this morning. Indeed, il is plain that just
in proportion TO the strength with which the
guards of steamer fastened into her hull, is
their power TO rend her TO pieces in storm. They
| become huge levers for the waves, whose every
heave racks the vessel to her centre. II this les
| son be moi thrown away upon our ship-owners
and constructors, the loss Of the San Francisco
sad as il is, will not be all in vain"
Shipment Of Felons to the United States
Recently two Germans were arrested in New
York on charge of burglary. When taken be-
fore justice, one of them made the following
statement showing the systematic mode in which
the shipment Of felons to this country is made
Congress should take this subject into considera
| ton and endeavor to prevent foreign governments
| from making Botany Bay Of the United States;
" Charles d. Bey says-I was born in Bruins
wick, Germany, and am twenty-five years of age !;
| in the month of September, 1851, Heinrich Hon
dorf August Meyer, Ernest Brinker and myself
were convicted of burglary, committed in the city
| of Brunswick, and were sentenced TO the State
| prison for term of years; after remaining there
until September last we were all pardoned by the
| Duke Of Brunswick throughthe influence Of So
ciety known as the " Directors" upon condition
/ that we would Immediately leave the country for
the United States, never to return accordingly we
were all taken from prison by the police and con-
veyed 10 Bremen, and there placed on board the
| brig Hram and kept under the surveillance ofthe
police until the vessel sailed; our passage was
| paid by the Directors" and we each received
from them So; we landed in New York on the 1st
| of December last"
| The Caloric Ship.-Captain Ericsson, in a
note to the editors of the New York Express, says:
! "The new engines are completed, and have been
| at work for several days, their operation proving
cOnclusivelv that the nractica difficulties which
attended the first arrangement have all been over
come. The new engines are much reduced in
size whilst their principle of action is the same as
before, with this exception only, that condensed
atmospheric air is employed in place Of the ordi-
nary atmospheric, for producing the motive power.
This modification admits Of an increase of power,
limited only by the capability of retaining the pres
| sure in the machine. Some difficulty has been
experienced in this respect and il is this which
| has caused some delay recently. The obstacle is,
| however, nearly removed, and the public will
| shortly have an opportunity ofJudgng by practi-
cal evidence Of the merits of the Caoric ship"
encouragement for Carrying Mails to
AustraIia.-The South Australian government,
| has, on the motion of the legislative council,
awarded the sum Of f400 to Captain Champion,
OF the steamer Victoria, in consideration of his
| having made the voyage out from England TO
port Adelaide, with mail in 90 clear days. The
| like sum will be awarded TO any other vessels
winch shail make the voyage OUT Wnether uHuer
sail or by steam, in 81 days within the next two
years To provide for this, the sum Of 10000 has
/ been voted.
! A Modest Emperor.--The proclamation Of his
Serene Highness," Antonio Lopez de Santa
| Anna, on the 18th ultimo to his empire Of Next
co is perfect sample Of Spanish bombast and hy-
| pocrisy. Mexico was g all in heap'-true.
| Something must be done--true. No one but him
self could do anything. Therefore, " he FASTENED
TO offer his health, peace and even life the altar
Of his country. He did not do this for the sake Of
| power and wcalth-oh no. As for his power,
Mexicans might rely upon its absoluteness and
durability, and as for wealth, he gives the follow
ing hint which will be well understood
"The Magistrate Of the nation should be recog-
nzed and respected by all. The same reverence
is due to his dignity which belongs to the nation
he represents. The emoluments then, with which
Mexicans desire that their first officer should be
| distinguished accept-not for any personal mo-
tive but solely for the dignity Of him who will
be, at all times, President of the republic, so that
not being COMPOUNDED with those received by other
functionares il may serve mark of that re-
| spect and consideration due TO him, whom all have
| united in placing at the head Of their dearest in
| terests-the interests Of the country.