do, with an expression to them of my conviction that no discredit could by any possibility attach to their accepting it, I did not feel it right to take other step. any

Judging from last year's supply of venison (6,000lbs), and several thousand head of ptarmigan, besides fish, a fair supply of fresh provisions may be reasonably anticipated this winter, although the Esquimaux have obtained such a large supply of their favourite articles of barter from the whale ships during the summer, they may not exert themselves so much in order to procure them for the Plover.

During our stay at Port Clarence I received an urgent request, a copy of which I have the honor to enclose (No. 6.) from the master of the English schooner Eliza, of Hobart Town, of which Mr. John Johnson, of New Wharf, Hobart Town, is owner, to remove John Thomas, second mate, from his vessel, and having personally assured myself of the truth of his statement, I received him on board this ship, to be sent on shore at the first convenient opportunity.

From what I was able to collect from the different whaling ships we fell in with, I imagine that the past season has proved so unfavourable that not many will be tempted to try Behring Straits next year. Very few whales have been taken, and in addition to extensive injury from the ice, which, owing to its being so far south, many attempted to force their way through, but unsuccessfully, several have been totally lost.

We found Port Clarence a most excellent harbour; abundance of water, and wood, easily procured, and our seine net, used once a week, provided enough for a day for the whole ship's company.

The winds were generally moderate, the holding ground excellent, and had it been necessary for the ship to remain for the winter, although it is very doubtful if we could get her into Grantley Harbour, there is a position near Cape Riley, where she would no doubt have been perfectly secure. Grantley Harbour has proved quite secure as a winter quarter for the Plover, and the shore abounds in summer with wild onions and berries, excellent antiscorbutics. In the belief that Commander Moore has transmitted to you a report of proceedings during the past winter, as also an account of the distressing murder of Lieutenant Barnard, of the Enterprize, at Darabin, I do not allude to these subjects. I am sorry to say that an unfortunate affray between some natives, some where near Cape Chaplain, and the crews of some whalers, occurred this summer.

The dispute seems to have originated in the endeavour of the natives to obtain possession by force of some property on board a whaler which was wrecked there, and ended by the loss of some lives on both sides.

The arrangements with regard to the Plover were completed before the last week in September, but as it was probable that, in the event of the Enterprize not finding it practicable to reach Point Barrow, she would be obliged to return to Port Clarence, in which case she might be expected to arrive before the end of September, I delayed our departure till the 1st of October, when we put to sea with a fine northerly wind, which carried us past St. Lawrence Island, and on the 7th we passed through the Straits of Amouckta, thence we steered a direct course, and arrived at this port on the 22nd instant. After a few days' stay I shall proceed to sea for the purpose of carrying out the remainder of your orders, en route to Valparaiso. I have, &c., GEO. G. WELLESLEY. To Rear Admiral F. Moresby, C. B., &c., Commander-in-Chief.

DESTRUCTION OF THE ROYAL MAIL NEW STEAMER " AMAZON," AND Loss or 115 LIVES.

THE catastrophe which befel the Royal Mail Steam Packet Amazon, she being destroyed by fire on the night of Saturday, January 3rd, has created a deep feeling of sorrow and regret, not only in Southampton, her port of departure, but universally in the public mind, from the fearful loss of life, and the terrible nature of the deaths of the gallant commander, his officers and crew, and the unhappy passengers.

The distressing intelligence was brought to Plymouth on the midnight of Monday, by the brig Marsden, Captain Evans, bound from South Carolina to Cardiff, which ship also brought the only supposed survivors, twenty-one in number, of the 161 souls that left Southampton in the Amazon. On Thursday night an electric despatch was received in Southampton stating that twenty-five more lives, including those of six passengers, had been saved; having been picked up by a Dutch vessel and taken into Brest, from whence the intelligence was telegraphed to Paris, and thence to London, and so to Southampton. The account is correct, but our narrative necessarily stands as first written.

The Amazon left Southampton at half-past three o'clock on Friday afternoon, and in the Channel experienced strong head winds and rain. At a quarter before one on Sunday morning, when the ship was about 110 miles W.S.W. of Scilly, a fire broke out suddenly, forward on the starboard side, between the steam chest and the under part of the galley, and shortly after the flames rushed up the gangway which is in front of the foremost funnel. The alarm-bell was rung, and Captain Symous rushed on deck in his shirt, and trowers. Wet swabs and other loose things were placed on the gratings of the spar-deck hatch, and a hose was brought to play on the main deck, but quickly abandoned in consequence of the excessive heat. The deck pump was also kept at work until the men were forced to retire. The wind was blowing half a gale from the south-west, and the vessel was going eight and a half knots, which was her average rate from the time of departure. Captain Symons ordered some hay, between the engine-room crank gratings, to be thrown over-board; two trusses were hove over the ship's side, but the fire soon ignited the main body, the hencoops on each side, and the paddleboxes; the men were obliged to abandon the deck, and those who could leave were all finally driven from the ship.

The first boat that was lowered was the mail boat. She was immediately filled with people and went astern, when she was swamped, with twentyfour or twenty-five passengers in her, all of whom were drowned. The next boat that was lowered was the first cutter. There was not many in her; and when they unhooked her after tackle, she sheared across the sea, and the people were immediately washed out, the boat still remaining hanging by the bow. The next boat lowered was the second cutter. In attempting to lower her, the sea raised her fore-end and unhooked her, and she immediately fell perpendicularly, and all, except two, were jerked into the sea, and these clung to the thwarts. It is not known what became of them. Some of the men succeeded in lowering the life boat with fourteen of the crew in her, and two passengers. At the same time as that boat was lowered, Mr. Vincent, the midshipman, Mr. J. Williamson, the steward, two able seamen, and Mr. Silsey, a passenger, succeeded in lowering the dingy and got into the life-boat. The captain during all this time, was NO. 2.-VOL. XXI.

N

actively engaged in endeavouring to get the fire under, which was burning most furiously, and soon after the men got into the boat it came on to blow a gale of wind, the sea at the time being very heavy. Another life-boat, as observed, must have saved twenty-five more lives.

The loss of life, the swamping of the boats, and all the other horrors of this afflicting event are too easily accounted for. The position of the fire rendered it impossible to get at the engines, in order to stop them. When the ship's head was to windward the flames swept the after decks, where the passengers chiefly were. Before the wind, she was going at a tremendous speed, and it is marvellous how any of the boats were launched under such circumstances and in such a sea. The escape of the little dingy is no doubt due to the calmness and intrepidity of young Mr. Vincent, who, though a mere boy in years, proved himself a thorough man and sailor on the occasion. He not only guided his small boat in safety till he joined the life-boat, but there he took immediate command as superior officer and did everything in his power to sustain the courage of the crew throughout that dreadful night. The following written statement was laid by him before the Directors of the Company :

"The Amazon was at noon of the 3rd of January, 1852, in lat. 49° 12′ N., and long. 4° 57′ W., from which time she steered W.b.S. S., till 9h. 30m. P.M. of the same day, when she was stopped to cool the bearings. At 11h. 30m. P.M. she proceeded, still steering the same course, steaming about eight and a half knots per hour, wind and sea increasing from the windward. At 40 minutes A.M. on the 4th, smoke was observed coming through the hatchway, on the foreside of the foremost funnel. Immediately afterwards the flames burst through. The alarm was immediately given, and the captain and chief officer came on deck. The fire-hose and buckets of water were brought to play on the fire; but that, together with the attempt to stop the engine was ineffectual. The helm was put hard to starboard to put her before the wind, but it was some time before she payed off. The mailboat, when lowered, was immediately swamped, with about twenty five people in her, all of whom were lost. The pinnace, when lowered, sheered across the sea before the people in her could unhook the fore-tackle. They were thereby washed out, and the boat remained hanging by the bow. While clearing away the second cutter a sea struck her and raised her off the cranes and unhooked the bow-tackle. The fore-end immediately fell down, and the people in her, with the exception of two, who hung double over the thwarts, were precipated into the sea and drowned. Sixteen men (including two passengers) succeeded in clearing away and lowering the life-boat on the starboard side. They used every endeavour to save those in the water, but were swept past so rapidly that their exertions were without avail. At about the same time I (Mr. Vincent,) with the chief steward, one passengers, and two seamen, got into and lowered the dingy, and were picked up by the life-boat about half an hour afterwards, when we immediately took the small boat in tow, and stood down for the ship, but the wind and sea increasing, and the dingy being upset, and ourselves being nearly swamped, we were obliged to let the small boat go, and keep the life-boat with her head to the sea. Whilst lying-to a bark passed astera of us, and was accordingly hailed, and did, I believe, answer, but did nothing of any kind to assist us, but stood down to leeward of the ship, hauled on a wind, and went away. There was now on our quarter a boat with five men (supposed to be the gig), but we could not from the severity of the weather render her any assistance. About half an hour afterwards we suddenly lost sight of her. About 4 A.M. it rained heavily, wind shifted to the northward, decreasing sea, confused, but going down; put the boat about, and

kept before it. At five the magazine exploded, and about half an hour afterwards the funnels went over the side, soon after which the ship went down bodily. At noon we were picked up by the Marsden, of London, stood in for the coast of France, and afterwards (wind shifting to the southward) for Falmouth, and lastly for Plymouth, at which place we arrived on Monday, 11 P.M.

"48° 5' N. lat., 5° 30′ W. long., when picked up.

"To the Secretary R.M.S.P. Company,

Jan. 6th, 1852."

"WILLIAM VINCENT."

The list of passengers believed to be lost is as follows:-Messrs. De Pass and Delgado; Lieutenant Geylls; Mr. Fellows; and Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Winton, Jamaica; Mr. Best, and servant; Mr. Kilkelly; Messrs. Callender and Stirling; and Mr. Alleyne, Barbados; Mr. Johnston; Mr. Burnett; and Mr. and Mrs. Scotland, Trinidad; Mr. Hick; and Mr. and Mrs. M'Clinnow, Demerara; Mr. Elliott Warburton; Mr. Geraud; M. and Madame Lacombe and child; M. Kersaboe; Mr. Cinna; Mr. Barincose; and Mr. Dellemare, Chagres; Mr. M. Del Rio; Margaret Fitzgerald; M. Fevrier; and Mr. Glennie, Vera Cruz; Miss Smyth, Porto Rico; Mr. Joel, Jamaica; Mr. Cuming, and Mr. Evans, St. Thomas; Mr. Cardennas, Santa Martha; Mr. Blood; Mr. Anthony, and Mr. Hamilton, Jamaica; Mr. Ferrear; Grace Hoar; Mr. Strybro, and Mr. Granier, Vera Cruz; Mr. Crevecowst, St. Thomas; Mr. Le Faye, Guadaloupe.

The passengers saved are-Mr. Hawkes, Vera Cruz; Mr. Neilson, Demerara; Mr. Sisley, Chagres.

The names of the crew believed to be lost are-William Symons, Commander; Henry Roberts, 34, chief officer, Gosport; Charles H. Treweeke, 29, second officer, Illogan; John Lawis, 28, third officer, Kingston, Jamaica; George D. Goodridge, 21, fourth officer, Paignton; James W. Fullerton, surgeon, County Donegal; M. H. Strutt, 33, purser, Middlesex; Francis Stainforth, 16, midshipman, East Indies; William K. Stuart, 15, midshipman, Tallyhog; Thomas Walter Shapcott, 28, purser's assistant, Southampton; David Davis, 40, boatswain, Cardigan; James Murchis, 34, carpenter, Ayr; James Bryant, 26, carpenter's mate and joiner, Downton, Wilts; Joseph Kay, 41, master-at-arms, Bolton; George Deal, 26, quarter-master, Bridport; Alexander King, 33, quarter-master, Fareham; Richard Carter, 20, A.B., Poplar; Peter Kelly, 19, A.B., Aberdeen; Daniel Brown, 27, A.B., Yarmouth; George Webb, 34, A.B., Southampton; Samuel Perry, 20, A.B., Harton; Richard L. Tammadge, 34, A.B., Hilsea; Henry Wright, 28, A.B., Gosport; John M. W. Rogers, 28, A.B., London; Joseph Welsman, 20, A.B., Devonport; William Foy, 21. A.B., Althorpe; Thomas Hart, 33, A.B., Kent; Squire Glen, 34, A.B., Greenock; John Clerk, 39, A.B., Burnham; William Stephenson, 23, A.B., Ayr; James Dove, 36, A.B., Isle of Wight; George Holah, 29, ship's cook, Mile-end; John Forse, 36, officers' servant, Exeter; Richard Harris, 16, dispensary boy, Isle of Wight; William Fox, 17, boy, Falmouth; Daniel Trimming, 18, boy, Kovel; F. S. Wall, 15, boy, Southampton; Charles Leddra, 17, boy, St. Ives; George Angus, 34, chief engineer, Dunbar; William Angus, 32, second engineer, Dunbar; William Bustin, 40, third engineer, Alphington; William Stone, 37, fourth engineer, Ludgoen; Andrew Ferguson, fifth engineer, Greenock; Frederick Davey, 26, sixth engineer, Exeter; Isaac Robarts, 36, boiler maker, Holyhead; John Lamont, 22, fireman, Jersey; Charles Flemington, 29, fireman, Morton; George Reeves, 22, fireman, Brading; Charles Lang, 44, fireman, Alverstoke; Michael Fox, 36, fireman, Blarney; John Fowler, 38, fireman, Old Ford;

George Harding, 26, fireman, Crayford; Nathan Wigley, 32, fireman, Paul'sCray; Thomas Attwood, 30, fireman, at sea; Peter M'Kirdy, 33, fireman, Rothsea; John Richards, 29, fireman, Millbrook; Robert Furl, 30, fireman, Portsea; William Pane, 38, fireman, Southampton; William Scott, 29, fireman, Harwich; William Lane, 31, fireman, Lymington; Henry Day, 22, fireman, Walton; George Tucker, 21, coaltrimmer, Portsea; W. Goodman, 32, coaltrimmer, London; Charles Deudney, 25, coaltrimmer, Hastings; W. Lucas, 20, coaltrimmer, Dorsetshire; Henry Carter, 21, coaltrimmer, Southampton; Abraham Bundy, 33, coaltrimmer, Leap; W. Wall, 25, coaltrimmer, Wickham; John Potter, 23, coaltrimmer, Wyle; Samuel Lees, 35, coaltrimmer, Wolverhampton; Thomas Forder, 32, coaltrimmer, Sutton; Angus M'Innes, lamptrimmer, Fortwilliam; W. Norris, 18, engineer's servant, Southampton; Michael Gould, 41, head waiter, Kingsend; W. G. Lambert, 24, waiter, Chatham; W. Adams, 21, waiter, Shirley; John Bance, 20, waiter; Southampton; John Blake, 38, bedroom steward, Hopton; Thomas Philpott, 34, foreroom steward, Ramsgate; Robert Daniel, 23, saloon cook, Bethnelgreen; Debray Theophile, 30, French cook, France; Charles Mills, 25, second cook and scullion, Hursley; Joseph Kerley, 36, baker, Southampton; John Watson, 22, boots, Southampton; James E. Stroud, 26, butcher and stock-keeper, Thatcham; Frederick Falkner, 33, storekeeper, Middlesex E. Scott, 44, stewardess, Banff; George Gerrin, 17, boy, Helin; Thomas James Brown, 18, able seaman, Hants.

Those of the crew saved are-Mr. Vincent, jun. midshipman; Mr. James Williamson, chief steward; Mr. John Dunford, quarter-master; W. Foster; Thomas Carney; James Maylin; James Mowatt; William Stears; J. H; Passmore; H. Williams; William Stevenson; and John Nerink, able seamen ; William Nutman, water-tender; James White; John Shearing; and Charles Thorn, firemen; W. Dumner, and George King, trimmers.

The fearful account of life and death, therefore, by the Amazon stands thus

Of the causes which led to this terrible catastrophe nothing is yet known with certainty. The only conjecture that could at first be hazarded was that which connects with the outbreak of the fire the heated state of the bearings. All new ships suffer more or less in the same way until their engines get into working trim.

As is usual with new machinery, water was kept almost continually playing on the bearings of the engines. On account of the heat of these bearings the ship was stopped off the Bill of Portland on Friday night, between the hours of eight and twelve, and about the same period on Saturday night she was stopped for two hours and a half; however, the necessity for the operation of wetting these parts was decreasing, as the main centre bearings were getting more suent, and the engine altogether in better order. John Shearing, an intelligent fireman, states that in playing the water on the