Glasgow Courier. — 1846-01-03 (Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland)

LOSS OP A FRENCH STEAM-VESSEL OP vas. GIBRALTAR, PORTUGAL, Ste. Royal Tar, Southampton, Dec. 28. At this moment (1 r.st.) we are entering the Solent at the Needles, With the Weather mere Moderate than we had for the , previous portion of the day. We experienced a very heavy gale off Portland and the Isle of Wight, with very thick rainy weather, which prevented our seeing land, and consequently we hove to and hung off and on until about noon, when we caught glimpses of the shore, and ascertaining our critical position se bore up. At Gibraltar we heard from the coast of Barbary the disastrous intelligence of the loss of the Pepin, French man-of-war steamer of 160 horse-power, when 77 persons were drowned. The Pepin was from France, bound to the river Senegal, but , having the newly-appointed consul for Mogadore on board, she was proceeding to that place to land him. On the night of the 6th instant., the wind blowing hard, with a heavy sea running, it was discovered that the captain had miscalculated his position, and the steamer was driven ashore between Azanmor and Mazagan, about 40 miles northward of Mogadore, and almost immediately brOke up. The midshipmen and the greater part of those saved owe their preservation to the exertions of the British vice-consul of Mazegan, Mr. Redman, who was aided in his humane endeavours by the extraordinary exertions and very gallant conduct of the Moors on the coast, who were induced by high rewards to risk their lives in this service. As 80011 as the news of this misfortune reached Gibraltar her Majesty's steam-sloop the Flamer, Commander Postle, was sent over to the coast to render every assistance, We have brought home five soldiers from Gibraltar, who have purchased their discharge from the 79th Highlanders. Two men, the one a convict and the other a gunner of the artillery, were to suffer death, shortly after we left, both for murder. The former 'deliberately watched his guard, and knocked his brains out. The latter stabbed a young girl with whose sister he cohabited, and with whom he also desired to form a liaison. He went into the dispensary, close at hand, and brought out a dissecting knife, with which he committed the crime. The only man-of-war in the bay of Gibraltar was the Fantome, 16, Commander Sir W. F. Nicholson, Bart. A transport, called the Gen. Palmer, with some of the 64th Regiment on board, and destined to embark some of the 38th for the• West Indies, was found, on a survey which was ordered, to be unseaworthy, and was condemned as unfit for the voyage. The Admiralty, remembering the case of the Amphitrite convict-ship, wrecked at Boulogne in 1832, would do well to look sharply into such matters. Our passage out was delightful, particularly across the bay, but since we left Lisbon, in bad weather, too, we have had head winds, and variable, rainy, and stormy weather. Our passage across the bay, homeward, was good, and before the wind. After passing Ushant a gale came on, with a heavy tumbling sea, which blew away a jib, and so heavily did the ship roll, that she immersed her lee paddle-box, and laboured much. We met with very few vessels, and must have passed the outward-bound packet between Vigo and Oporto as she had left the former port the evening before we arrived there. We missed seeing her from the hazy thick weather at the time. The young black Prince of Congo was still at the Braganza Hotel at Lisbon. The weather was chilly arid unfavourable, with much rain in skowers, notwithstanding which we had on board some new potatoes from his quinta in the neighbourhood. They are sent on speculation for the London market, and no doubt will prove desirable if the venture can be well kept up. The Spanish government are making strong efforts to check smuggling, and a small steamer employed by the revenue (built in England by Messrs. Miller' Ravenhill, and Co.) has cut up the trade a good deal on the roast from Cadiz to Gibraltar. The fortifications at Gibraltar were being repaired and strengthened a good deal, and the work promises to be..lastingly well done. A French brig of war (6 guns), called Le Leger, had just arrived at Lisbon as we left.