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stance. About this time the chief mate expressed some misgivings as to the course they were then pursuing, and, calling to the second officer, requested him to take charge of the watch while he went below to look into his Coast Pilot Directory. Scarcely had he quitted his post before the ship struck with terrific force; so great, indeed, that her planks and false keel immediately rushed up alongside. A scene of horror instantly presented itself; the emigrants hastened on the deck in frantic dismay. The ship_continued striking the shoal, and Captain Whitmore finding, by sounding the pumps, that she had bilged, signalled the Dyle, about three miles off, for assistance. The shrieks of the emigrants rushing about, and crowding the decks, completely paralysed the ship's crew. Captain Whitmore ordered the men to force them to go below, in order that some means of escape might be prepared for them; but it was in vain, for, as the man Hill states, "What could thirteen seamen do with 160 frantic passengers?" Within a few moments of the vessel's striking the sea broke into her hull, blowing up the hatchways, and sweeping many of the poor creatures overboard, while others were drowned in their berths, being unable to rise from the effects of sea sickness. Captain Whitmore, perceiving the inevitable destruction of his ship, gave orders to his men to launch the boats. His intention was to take the passengers to the bark lying off. Two men, named Charles Barrett and John Tillman, got into the first boat lowered, to bale out the water she had shipped. The passengers, however, got hold of her, and were hauling the boat alongside to jump in; but Barrett, apprehensive of her being stove in, cut away the painter, and the boat drifted astern. The life-boat, capable of containing about twenty persons, was then launched, Captain Whitmore directing the men to stand by so as to prevent too many getting into her. He was the first to enter, with the purpose of assisting his wife into the boat; the emigrants, however, conceiving that it was his intention to abandon them and the vessel, rushed headlong over the quarter-deck into the boat. It was instantly filled, she was capsized, and all were drowned; the captain and the chief mate, who had gone to assist the passengers into the boat, disappearing with the rest. Mrs. Whitmore, who had been unable from the pressure to get in, was on the quarter deck, and witnessed the fate of her husband. As the boat went down a fearful scream rent the air. The sea was lashing the ship on all sides. The water had burst up her hatches, and her cargo of boxes, cases, &c., were washing about her decks in all directions, breaking many of the passengers' legs, who, as they fell, were by the next sea washed overboard and lost. As a last resource it was resolved to cut away the main and mizen masts. The ship had heeled over on one side, and it was hoped it would be the means of saving her; but no axes could be found. The rigging was separated, with an idea that the masts not having the necessary stay would go over, but they held on for half an hour afterwards, when the ship went in two, and the main and mizen masts, "going by the board," fell with a loud crash. Many of the emigrants were crushed to death by their fall, and others were knocked overboard. Hill, Harry, Stockbridge, with another seaman named Dawes, and four or five passengers, had taken to the fore rigging. Previously they had placed several women and children under the forecastle and in the cookhouse, so as to prevent their being crushed to death by the heavy floating masses on deck. The emigrants huddled together on the poop. Those in the forecastle, cook and round-house, were speedily drowned, by the sea sweeping them overboard. For some time Mrs. Whitmore was observed in the centre of the group of unfortunate creatures on the poop. She had her hands crossed on her bosom, and with her head raised to

heaven, appeared to be in deep prayer. Some were in a kneeling position, earnestly praying, while others were shouting for help to the bark at a distance. Their fate was speedily sealed-a terrific sea rolled on to the wreck, and at one swoop carried the entire poop overboard. At least from 80 to 120 unhappy creatures were upon it, and for a moment or so it floated like a raft. The next sea or so, however, turned it over, and the living mass was struggling in the agonies of death. Several managed to regain the wreck, but they were eventually washed away, and perished. Some thirty or forty, among whom were several women, could be observed clinging to the floating portions of the cargo as they were washed out. At length, from exhaustion, they sank, and were drowned. The then survivors, about twelve in number, continued in the rigging of the foremast, which, with the forepart of the vessel, was all that remained of the wreck, the whole of the night enduring the greatest suffering. The sea kept breaking over them, and the cold being most intense, rendered their condition most painful. When Thursday morning broke, it was discovered that_six had died in the course of the night; they had been frozen to death, and their bodies were dangling in the rigging. All that day the same fearful weather existed, and not the least aid could be rendered those who still existed in the rigging. They could see vessels passing at a distance, but they were too far off for the crews to observe their situation. Thursday night and the greater portion of Friday passed away, yet no help came. Only four now remained, three sailors and one passenger; the other two were frozen to death in the course of the preceding day and night. About seven o'clock great was their joy at perceiving the approach of a vessel, which proved to be her Majesty's revenue-cutter Petrel. The crew belonging to her, by direction of the commanding officer, lowered their boat and pushed off to the spot, the heavy surf beating round the wreck in such a manner as to render the running of the cutter alongside the wreck exceedingly dangerous.

After considerable difficulty the poor fellows were got off and taken on board the revenue-cutter, where everything was done for their comfort. They were in a deplorable state of exhaustion, and partly bereft of their senses. Their hands and feet were severely frostbitten, and how they escaped with their lives appeared most remarkable. The Petrel made for this port with all sail, and arrived about eleven o'clock at night. Mr. Billingsley, Lloyd's agent and Vice-Consul for the Belgian Government, afforded the poor fellows every attention that was possible by placing them in comfortable quarters. The names of the seamen saved are Henry Hill, William Harry, and a Swede, name unknown. The fourth is one of the emigrants, apparently a mechanic. He has been deranged ever since he has been landed.

From accounts received from Brightlingsea, a small fishing village near Wivenhoe, we hear that a Colchester vessel lost five hands in an attempt to rescue some of the sufferers. The noble fellows saw the quarter deck carried away with the emigrants on it. They immediately pushed off in their boat with a view of saving some of them, but had scarcely got a few strokes when a heavy sea caught their craft, upset it, and the whole of them met with a watery grave.

The Long Sands form a very extensive shoal some distance outside the well-known channel called the Swin. In length they are between nine and ten miles, and their breadth averages from half a mile to one mile and-a-half. They are about twenty miles from this port, and their other extremity about the same distance from the North Foreland. It is a matter of some surprise that the ill-fated vessel should have made such a course as to touch these sands. It is affirmed that she must have been a number of points out of her track in

making for the Channel, for, even boisterous as the wind was, it was not in a direction likely to hasten the striking of the ship on these shoals. The opinion here given by competent parties is that the melancholy catastrophe is entirely attributable to a want of judgment on the part of the commander. At this port he was well known, and was generally considered an experienced mariner. It is worthy of remark, however, that American commanders, in coming from foreign northern ports, generally steer a course nearer the English coast than the more proper and safe channel.

It has been ascertained that the vessel got on the outside of the Long Sands. They are of the same description as the Goodwin. The revenue cutters which have since arrived, report that not a vestige of the wreck remains. As yet, none of the bodies have been brought ashore. A great number have been seen floating: most of them being naked, leads to the presumption that they had been previously picked up and stripped of their clothing. Many were known to have large sums of money about their persons, some to the extent of £300 and £400.

A large muster of wreckers were seen in the vicinity of the wreck, after the survivors had been taken off by the Petrel cutter, and, with the exception of some of the cargo that has been landed at Ramsgate and Margate, no other portion has been reported to the Customs.

The only emigrant saved, Wilhelm Niero, having partly recovered his senses-the mind of the poor fellow being deranged, when rescued, by the horrible suffering he endured with three others in the rigging of the wreck— was enabled to make the following statement to Mr. Openheim, the interpreter to Lloyd's agent of the port, who handed it to the reporter:-" As far as I can recollect I sailed with about 160 of my countrymen, all emigrants from Antwerp, on the 25th of February, in the Floridian, for New York; and stood out to sea from Flushing Roads on the 27th. We had very rough weather, a succession of severe gales, and the greater part of the emigrants were down below, sick. Suddenly, on the evening of the 28th, about five o'clock, we experienced a tremendous shock, and a general cry was heard, 'The ship is on shore-we are all lost!' I, and almost every one of the passengers, rushed upon deck, when a scene of the greatest horror and confusion ensued. The ship continued striking on the sand very heavily for a short time, when she broke up in three pieces. A terrible and heartrending cry, which I shall never forget, was uttered by all, and the distress and screams of the women and children who were on board nearly overpowered me in my efforts to effect my own preservation. I was quite bewildered, and indeed I can scarcely remember what then took place, for my senses were almost gone. I can recollect that the greater part of the unfortunate victims were crowded on the after-deck, whence, unhappily, I had the misfortune to see them washed away. They all met with a watery grave. The sea that broke over us was terrible. I was left with eight others on the forepart of the ship with a piece of mast standing. We got up in the rigging, where I kept as well as I could. My sufferings were very severe from the intense cold, and a sail, which was continually blowing about my head, seriously bruised me. I managed to get higher in the rigging, and I saw four of my fellow-creatures fall on the following morning. I supposed that they had died from the cold. There were now only four of us left, and we continued in the rigging. All Thursday night and Friday we had given up our lives as lost, when about five o'clock on Friday evening we perceived a boat making towards us. It had put off from the Petrel revenue cutter, and by the humane and praiseworthy efforts of the crew we were miraculously saved.

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We were taken on board the Petrel, which landed us in Harwich harbour. I have since been lodged and fed by the kind interference of Mr. Billingsley, Lloyd's agent and Prussian Consul; but I am still suffering much from the exposure to cold, and from not having tasted any food nor had any rest for three days and three nights."

The poor fellow continues under the protection of the Vice-Consul, and has received every medical and other necessary attention.

Monthly Chronicle.

THE close of the year draws nigh; and we are happy to announce the arrangements now completed to celebrate the anniversary of the Society. On Thursday evening, the 26th inst., a sermon will be preached on its behalf, by the Rev. T. Boaz, of Calcutta, at the Weigh-House Chapel, Fish Street Hill, at half-past 6 o'clock.

And on Friday evening, the 27th inst., the annual public meeting of the Society will be held in the great room of the London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, the Rt. Hon. the Lord Mayor of the city of London having kindly consented to take the chair at 6 o'clock. Several ministers and other gentlemen have promised to take part in the proceedings; and it is hoped that the remembrance of the last delightful anniversary will yet be sufficiently lively to draw together again an assembly of the friends of the Institution as large and enthusiastic as that of last year.

As circumstances have compelled us to hold our meeting earlier this year than usual, we take this opportunity of directing the special attention of our subscribers and friends to this fact; and we would still more earnestly commend it to the notice of the officers of our auxilaries, in order that they may see the importance of losing no time in forwarding their usual remittances. And we have to make this particular request to them, as well as to all those who have kindly undertaken to collect for us by cards or otherwise, or who may happen to have in their possession cash for this Society, that they will be kind enough to forward it, addressed to Mr. Thomas Augustus Fieldwick, (Secretary,) at the Society's offices, 2, Jeffrey Square, St. Mary Axe, not later than the 20th inst., as the accounts for the year will on that day be closed.

We confidently hope that our friends will repeat the kindness which they have manifested on former occasions, and interest themselves in circulating tickets (which may be had at the office) amongst their acquaintance, and inviting them to the meeting.

But while our attention has been considerably engaged by our approaching anniversary, several important meetings have been held, both in London and the country, with very satisfactory results. We refer to these with the greater pleasure as in holding them we have enjoyed the valuable assistance of several ministerial brethren.

We have to repeat our acknowledgments for the kind and efficient aid of the Rev. G. Smith of Poplar, who delivered a powerful discourse on our behalf at the Tabernacle, City Road; to the Rev. H. L. Adams, of Newark, and the Rev. E. Adey, of Leighton Buzzard, for accomplishing a very successful tour in Notts and Derby; to the Rev. T. Timpson, for his assistance in Staffordshire and Shropshire; to the Rev. Dr. Hewlett, for repeating his acceptable visit to Uxbridge; to the Rev. J. Adey, for preaching for the Society at Hammersmith; and to the Rev. Messrs. R. S. Bailey, H. Harrison, and W. Woodhouse, for their valuable services at the Sailors' Church.

In addition to these, Capt. J. Lewis, of Milford, as will be seen from his report, has been accompanied by Capt. Evans, in a tour through South Wales, and sermons have been preached or meetings attended by the Society's Minister or Secretary at Braintree, Windsor, Henley on Thames, Tottenham, and Manchester. Several new auxiliaries have thus been formed, and the cause in other places revived under very promising and encouraging circumstances. The annual meeting of the East London Auxiliary has also been held, but want of space forbids us on this occasion referring to it at greater length. We cannot, however, omit the fact, as an interesting example to the ladies of other localities, that at the meeting of the Uxbridge Association a second Bethel Flag, made by the ladies themselves, was presented to the Society, to be bestowed upon one of our Bethel captains. The following address accompanied it :

The Ladies of the Uxbridge Auxiliary beg to present to the British and Foreign Sailors' Society a second Bethel Flag.

May the Eternal JAH, whose ways are in the whirlwind and the storm, who layeth the beams of his chamber in the waters, who maketh the clouds his chariot, who walketh upon the wings of the wind, deign to invest the significant Ensign with such an Instrumental power as shall attract the wandering eye, arrest the devious step, arouse the deathless spirits of those who go down to the sea in ships, and do business in great waters, that "many sons shall be brought to glory;"-and it shall be said on that eventful day (for which all other days were made) this and that man were born beneath the lovely emblem of Calvary's blood-stained banner. Uxbridge, March 15th, 1849.

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From the affecting details given in our pages this month of the loss of the emigrant ship Floridian," and 164 souls who were on board, the great importance of ship libraries will be clearly seen; and it is pleasing to be able to report that three large boxes of books and tracts have been requested and despatched to our friends at Padstow, for use on board the emigrant vessels sailing from that port.

The Reports subjoined present some striking instances of the opposition which our missionaries sometimes meet with, whilst engaged in their work, at the same time that they also show a pleasing increase in the amount of labour accomplished.

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