Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Tuesday 28 January 1834, page 2


Shipwreck of the Amphitrite.

The following melancholy account of the loss of the ship Amphitrite (which was noticed in this journal some time time since), is taken from a London paper of the 4th September last :—

BOULOGNE-SUR MER. SEPT. 1.—The shocking event which is announced by the title to this letter has, I assure you, filled the town with dismay, and must lead to it most narrow and rigid investigation, I cannot attempt to describe the affliction not only of the Eng-lish, but the French, at this most distressing event, and I only express the general opinion when I say that the British public demands that an enquiry be instituted into the conduct of all parties concerned in this deplo-

rable affair.

The Amphitrite, convict ship, sailed for New South Wales, from Woolwich, on the 25th of August (this day week). Captain Hunter was the commander ; Mr. Forrester the surgeon ; and,there were 108 female convicts, 12 children, and a crew of 16 persons. The captain was part owner of the vessel. When the ship arrived off Dungeness, the gale of the 29th began. On Friday morning the captain hove the ship to, the gale being too heavy to sail. The vessel was about three miles to the east from Boulogne-harbour, on Sa-turday at noon, when they made land. The captain set the topsail and main foresail, in hopes of keeping her off shore.

From 3 o’clock she was in sight off Boulogne, and certainly the sea was most heavy and the wind ex-tremely strong ; but no pilot boat went out to her, and no life boats or other assistance were despatched. I observed her from 3 o’clock till half-past 4 in the after-noon, when she came round into Boulogne-harbour and struck on the sands. By 4 o’clock it was known that it was a British ship ; but some said that it was a brig ; others said that it was a merchant vessel, though all said it was English.

It appears from the statements of the three men who have been saved out of the crew—all the rest having perished—that the captain ordered the anchor to be let go, in hopes of swinging round with the tide.

In a few minutes after the vessel had gone aground, multitudes rushed to the beach, and a brave French sailor, named Pierre Henin, who has already received the thanks of the Humane Society of London, ad-dressed himself to the captain of the port, and said that he was resolved to go alone, and to reach the vessel, in order to tell the captain that he had not got a moment to lose, but must, as it was low water, send all his crew and passengers on shore.

You will recollect, that up to the time of her run-ning aground no measure was adopted, and the captain was not warned from shore of her danger.

As soon as she had struck, however, a pilot-boat, commanded by Francois Heuret, who has on many occasions shown much courage and talent, was des-patched, and by a little after five came under her bows. The captain of the vessel refused to avail him-

self of the assistance of Heuret and his brave com-

panions, and when a portion of the crew proposed going on shore, the captain prevented them. Two of the men saved, state that they knew the boat was under the bows, but that the rest were below making up their bundles. The crew could then have got on shore, and all the unfortunate women and children.

When the French boat had gone, the surgeon sent for Owen, one of the crew, and ordered him to get out the long boat. This was about half-past 5. The surgeon discussed the matter with his wife and with the captain. They were afraid of allowing the prisoners to go on shore. The wife of the surgeon is said to have proposed to leave the convicts there, and go on shore without them.

In consequence of this discussion, no long boat was sent out. Three of the women told Owen, that they had heard the surgeon persuade the captain not to ac-cept the assistance of the French boat, on account of the prisoners, who were on board.

Let us now return to Pierre Henin. The French pilot-boat had been refused by the surgeon and captain—the long boat had not been put out, through a discussion as to saving the convicts—and it was now nearly 6 o’clock. At that time Henin went to the beach—stripped himself—took a line-swam—naked for about three quarters of an hour, or an hour, and

arrived at the vessel at about a little after 7. On

touching the right side of the vessel, he hailed the crew, and said " Give me a line to conduct you on land, or you are lost, as the sea is coming in." He spoke English plain enough to be heard ; he touched the vessel, and told them to speak to the captain. They threw (that is, some of the crew, but not the captain or surgeon) two lines, one from the stern and

the other from the bow. The one from the stern he could not seize—the one from the bow he did. He

then went towards the shore but the rope was stopped. This was, it is believed, the act of the surgeon and captain. He (Henin) then swam back, and told them to give him more rope to get on shore. The captain and surgeon would not. They then tried to haul him in, but his strength failed, and he got on shore.

You perceive, then, that up to this moment also the same obstacle existed in the minds of the captain and of the surgeon. They did not dare, without authority, to land the convicts, and rather than leave them on board, or land them without such authority, they pe-rished with them. But who could have given this au-thority ? The Britsih consul is of course the reply. Did he do so ? No. Why not ? We shall see hereafter.

To return to the narrative of events. The female convicts who were battened down under the hatches, on the vessel running aground, broke away the half-deck hatch, and frantic, rushed on the deck. Of course they entreated the captain and surgeon to let them go on shore in the long-boat, but they were not listened to, as the captain and surgeon did not feel au-thorized to liberate prisoners committed to their care.

About 7 o'clock the flood tide began. The crew, seeing that there were no hopes, clung to the rigging. The poor 103 women and 12 children remained on deck, uttering the most piteous cries. The vessel was about about three-quarters of a mile English from shore, and no more. Owen, one of the three men saved, thinks that the women remained on deck in this state about an hour and a half ! Owen, and four others, were on the spars, and thinks they re-mained there three-quarters of an hour, but seeing no hope of being saved, he took to swimming, and was brought in a state of insensibility to the hotel. Towsey, another of the men saved, was on a plank with the captain. Towsey asked who he was ? He said, " I am the captain," but the next moment he was gone. Rice, the third man, floated ashore on the ladder. He was in the aft when the other men took

to the raft. When the French pilot rowed away, after being rejected by the captain, he (Rice) saw a man waving his hat on the beach, and remarked to the captain that a gentleman was waving to them to come on shore. The captain turned away, and made no answer. At the moment the women all disap-peared, the ship broke in two.

These are the facts of this awful case. The French Marine Humane Society immediately placed hundreds of men on the beach ; and the office, or lodging, being close to the shore, as soon as the corpses were picked up they were brought to the rooms, where I assisted many of my countrymen in endeavouring to restore them to life. Our efforts were, fruitless, ex-cept in the case of the three men, Owen, Rice, and Towsey. I never saw so many fine and beautiful bodies in my life. Some of the women were the most perfectly made ; and French and English wept to-gether at such a horrible loss of life in the sight of— ay, and even close to the port and town. Body after body has been brought in. More than 60 have been found ; they will be buried to-morrow. But, alas ! alas ! after all our efforts only three lives are saved

out of 136 ! !

Whose fault was all this ? The captain has been blamed for his obstinacy—but he is dead. The sur-geon has been blamed for his tenacity—but he is lifeless. The French and English authorities are blamed, for not having done something to save the vessel from coming on shore, since from three till five o'clock she was in danger and distress close off the shore. The English consul is of course blamed ; but it is said that he was not informed till past seven o'clock by a private letter, and that was written by myself, that a vessel was in danger. Whose fault was this ? During such weather as that of Saturday (yesterday), ought not the consul to have had some one watching for him off the coast ? or was he not bound to do this ? and was it the place of the public authorities of Boulogne to have informed him ? if he had known or been informed, could he not have sent out by the French pilot-boat advice, or even orders, to the captain to put his men and passengers on shore, as the loss of the vessel was inevitable ? Would or would not the captain and surgeon have

have delighted to have the authority ? Could

the English consul have sent out other pilot-boats ? Could not Henin, who swam out, have taken orders from the consul to the captain to land his crew and passengers without the delay of an hour ? Remember that from three to half-past seven, the convicts and crew could have been got on shore by lines, boats, and ropes, and that they were yet all lost except three men. Did the consul offer 1,000 or 2,000 francs to each boat who would go out ? These are questions which are every where put, and that with an anxiety and irritation I cannot delineate, and will not dwell on. Audi alterum partem ; we will do so, but mere igno-rance of such an event, in such weather as we have had from Friday night to the moment at which I am writing, will surely be no apology. If the captain and surgeon only are to be blamed, let this be known ; if not let an examination be conducted on the spot. I saw all—I have examined the three men who survive ; all ought to have been saved : where was the fault that they were not ? We must wait and see. ____________________________________________

It is reported that a meeting of the members of the bar (not including those few who hold offices under government) will be held on Friday next, to prepare a remonstrance to His Excellency the GOVERNOR, on the occasion of the sus pension of W. II. MOORE Esq. Wo are truly glad to hoar this-facts have como to our knowledge lately which convinces us that Mr. MOORE has (as the australian states) been unjustly sus-pended. The members of the bar will, therefore do credit to themselves, and an act of justice to a highly esteemed gen-tleman. Every man likes Mr. MOORE

what more can be said in his favour?

' MASQUERADE -It has, it seems, been reserved for Mr. LEVEY, to do something in the way of no\elty to celebrate the anniversary of the foundation of the co-lony. On Friday next, the Theatre will be th own open tor the first Masquerade ball in Australia ; and, if w e mis ake not, the undertaking will amply remunerate the projection. Objections to a Masque-ra le ball will at once suggest themselves to many persons-but the plan upon which Mr. LEVEY intends to proceed, will obviate those objections, as far as they can be obviated. An entertainment of this description will be a novelty in rNow South Wales, and we are sure it will" take."

On Sunday last a sermon was preached inStl Phillip's Church, by the Venerable Archdeacon Broúghton7from the 39th and 40th verges of the 4th chapter of ¿Deuteronomy. The Reverend^ Gentleman took occasion to observe, that the daybeingthe_46th 'anniversary of tho ^first settlement of British inha-bitants in" the colony ; and, by reason of its occurring on the Sabbath, the usual festivals in honoui of the eventno.tbeirçg able to be kept up, hs"thought the circumstance might be advantageously made the sub-ject of a religious discourse. The Archdeacon com-menced his observations by contrasting the sentiments of the Jewish lawgiver to that chosen people of God, ras expressed in the text, upon their emerging from the wilderness into the piomised land, with those whick might have been applied to the first of our countrymen visiting these distant shores. The Lamed Divine then went on to advert to the fruitful and highly-favoured state of this colony, which gracious benefits were bu*', ill repaid by the intemperate and irreligious characte of the inhabitants in general. It was an awful fact that a far larger portion of intoxicating liquors was consumed in New South Wales, than would be found, on comparison, to exist in any other country in the known world. ' Infidelity in matters of religion also existed in a similar proportion, while false-swearing in all our Courts of Justice exhibited such a frightful picture' of the extent of our demoralization, that it was incumbent on every well-disposed person to detach himself from a people so depraved. The prevalence of this latter crime, rendered the law itself more an evil than a benefit, but it would entirely depend upon the manner in which the rising* community of this portion of the Southern hemisphere would be educated and brought up ; whether any, or all of these evils would be found in the next generation. It is a circumstance worthy of remark, that Mr. Broughton on this occa. sion, made use of the Prayer book and Bible brought over by the first settlers, from which Divine service was performed for several years in St. Philip's church, the first acknowledged place of public worship estab-lished in the colony.

The following vessels were spoke by the Seringapatam, since her last cruise from the Marquesas, from which place she sailed about 10 months ago :

Colonial Vessels-Caroline, of Hobart Town, 10th September, 650 barrels; Harmony, Swindell's, 20th September, 1,500 bairels, casks bad ; Achilles, Hun-ter, 20th September, 950 barrels ; Tamar, Northwood, 22d September, 50 barrels ; Albion, Evans,'25th Sep-tember, 350 barrels ; Guide, Buckell, 25th September, 201 bartels ; Governor Bom fee, 20th November, 120 bai reis fWolf, Lewis, 24th November, clean; Sarah and Elizabeth, London whaler, 20th December, out 6 months, 350 barrels.

VeaeU belonging to other Ports-The Harvest, of New Bedford, united States, 1,500 barrels, out l8 months;-Montanio-New Bedford, United States, 150 barrels, out 7 months.

» The Seringapatam reports the loss of the chief ofKeer of the Guide, Mr. Hamilton, who was unfortunately killed by a whale, in a cruise between Kingsmill and Curtis' Inlands^ The master of the Montaiiio American whaler, met with a similar fate off French Rock, Curtis' Island. '

THE THEATRE. - On Saturday even-ing, the drama of the Inkeeper of Abbeville, was pre-sented for the first time to a tolerably full house. The scenery of this piece is remarkably good, and reflects the highest credit on those connected with its manage-ment. Messrs. Knowles, Meridith, and Vale, sus-tained their various characters with much ability, the former as the robber, Dyrkill, displayed his wonted tact, and rendered the piece excessively interesting. Mrs. Meridith's' Louisa was also well represented ; this lady bids fair from her great industry and ability,

to become an ..actress 'of no inconsiderable merit.

Master Quinn's evolutions on the tight rope, were retarded by an accident. The rope carried away, and when it was a at length replaced, it was in such- a slackened state, that [ tiie lad was quite unable to'peiform most of his customary feats. Mr. Fitzgerald's comic dance and hornpipe wore in his usual good style, and were greeted with loud ap-plause. Owing to the delay occasioned by the acci (j dental breaking of the tight rope, the last act of All jj the world's a Stage, was omitted. From what we saw, 5j however, of this amusing farce, we are inclined to be-

lieve it will become a favourite with the Australian

public. The performance was altogether well exe-cuted. Mr. Jones and Mrs. Dawes were particularly successful ; and Mr. Buckingham's Sir Gilbert Pumpkin, was an inimitable piece of acting. Such amuse-ments as those exhibited on Saturday evening cannot fail of pleasing, and will secure for the proprietor that patronage, to which his unwearied exertions give him so just a claim.-By our i eporter !

The road to Parramatta, from the Sydney Toll-bar, as far as Cooper's Distillery, is a disgrace to the Government, and an imposition on the public. We have so often complained of many of the streets in Sydney being nearly impassable, without any considerable improvement being per-ceptible ; and we cannot but think, that contiguous as this piece of road is to Carters' Barracks, where so many hundreds of tons of stones are lying broken ready tor laying on the streets, some little pains should be taken to render the greatest thoroughfare in the colony passable at last for vehicles of every description. Why not employ the Carters' Barrack boys to do it, if no other labourers are to be found?

Richard Bourke, Esq., late Private Secretary to the Governor, does not proceed to England by the Royal Admiral, as has been stated. That gentleman, however, will leave the colony for London at an early opportunity.

In consequence of the sudden illness of Mr. Samuel Terry, Treasurer of the Sydney College, at the meeting of the Friends of that Institution, yesterday, the unfinished business of the day is unavoidably dably pöstpohed until Wednesday, the 5th projt¡m01 when it is understood that another special meeting fot,'! be convened. . I

We aro much grntified to witness t|l0J

decided improvement which is daily taking place ii, I some of the Btrcots of our metropolis. Tlio repair, I which have been recently iriauo in Sussex-slreeij Church-hill, and the gaol lane, have long been ne! cessary,'and the manner in which thèse services hu, j

¿it length been performed, reflects the highest credit041 the parties charged with carrying thom into elli;« There is still great room for further improvement/ which, vvu feel assured, will not escapo the notice of

the proper authorities. I

We aro concerned to hpar that Mr. Windeyer, our worthy and respected second Police Magistrate, has 'been seriously indisposed for the last few days. Mr. Windeyer is one of those Go. vernment Officers, whose efficient services the public can but ill dispense with ; and we therefore sincerely hopo, thot the seclusion from his police duties mai

be only temporary.

The ship Royal Admiral, in dropping down the stream, on Saturday last, ran foul of tf,e Funchul, by which the former vessel carried away lier bow-sprit. The departure for England of both of these ships, is in consequence delayed for a few days.

The new corn market near Carters' Barracks, is almost finished. Besides being a con. venience to the settlers, it will be no inconsiderable ornament to that part of the town in which ¡t ¡3

situated?' l ^

. The late, rains, though by no monos general up the country, have materially improved the appearance of, tlie maize crops, which, in several dis.

tncts, are'rather backward.

We would recommend those spirited toach proprietors, Messrs. Ireland and Richards, tu insist on their drivers not stopping at any of the " half-way houses", for a much longer time than ¡3 required to change horses. At present, respectable persons, anxious to reach their journey's end, are fre-quently delayed to gratify the propensity for " guzzliii«'' spirits or porter, so strongly manifested by a ecrtam class of the outside passengers.

A greater quantity of wool is daily

arriving at Sydney, from the interior, thai: has leen 1 known for several years past. The wool-growcts are

in high spirits in consequence of the inviting prospects which the latest accounts of the bute of the wool market in London, holds out to them.

We understand that it is in contem. plation toincieosethe number of police-stations in the interior, and particularly in the remote districts. No measure will givemore general satisfaction than this the settleis in many parte of the colony being, at present, almost wholly at the mercy of their as^i mci! servants. °

Mr. Charles Smith, of George-street,

has imported two very fine blood horses, by the Flo-

rentia.

The farm of 1280 acres at Williams' River, sold by Mr. Lyona, on Thursday lest, brought 3*. 9d. per acre, instead of 3i., as stated in our last?

When Lord Stormont lost his diamond insignia of the order of St. Andrew, at St. James's George Selwyn ran with the news to the Cocoa-tree when Foote, who was there, instantly exclaimed! " Then it is the fir^t time a Scotchman was ever known' to lose any thing at Court !"

LORD THURLOW.-In appearance he was stern of aspect, with harsh but rehilar and strongly marked features. His eyebrow» were largo and shaggy, protruding over Ins penetrating eyes which gleamed with intellect. Lavater said, on seeing one of his pictures, " whether this man be on eaith or m hell, I know not ; but wherever he is, he is a tyrant

and will rule if he can." The Duke of Norfolk kept owls, one of which was called Lord Thurlow, from its supposed resemblance to the chancellor ; and once, while m close conference with his solicitor, the duke exclamed, that, " Lord Thurlow had laid an egg,"

from his owlkcoper.

He had the most thorough contempt for hereditiry honours, and, always maintaining he was doscended liom Thurlow, a carrier, refused to acknowledge Secre-tary Thurlo« as his ancestor. On attending to have his patent registered at the Herald's College, he gruffly thundered " I don't know." to the question uf an

officer, who enquired the name of his lordship s mo-

ther.-Ibid.

1 CLAW AND CLAW.-Lord Erskine and Dr. Parr, who were both remarkably conceited, were in the habit of conversing together, and complimenting each other on their respective abilities. On ono of these occasions, Parr promised that he would write Erskinc's epitaph ; to which the other replied, that " such an intention ou the doctor's part was almost a

temptation to commit suicide.-Ibid.

By our shipping report of yesterday, it will be seen that our respectable fellow-townsmen, Mr. Samuel Lyons, has sent three of his children (Austra-lians), to be educated in England. While we ap-plaud this act of Mt. Lyons', and express as a wish that those who equally possess the meaiw would " go and do likewise," we cannot help looking upon it as à tacit reproach to the Shareholders in th» Sydney College, of which Mr Lyons is so liberal a supporter, that such a step as that which he has taken should be considered necessary.

"A MILD DESPOTISM.- Austria, the great Christian power of the east of Europe, has hi-therto preserved that high tone of liigli rule which com-mands obedience. Whatever disorders arise within her own, or amidst the neighbouring states, her armies are ever at hand and prompt to strike the decisive blow which the occasion commands, and thus is inno-vation nipt in the very bud,"and many a deep laid plot overturned at the very^ moment of.'its execution, A more extensive domain, a more numerou^aud well dis-ciplined army, and a more energetic government, we know not in the milder regions of Europe : however, symptoms may be perceived of change which time may ripen into revolution. 'The Diet of Hungaiy, after amusing themselves with minor concerns, have at length takenup the liberty and right of conscience, and after debating the subject, come already to the con-clusion that the rights of the protestant subjects of Austria are, equal to the rights of the Roman Catho-lic subjects.-Imperial Magazine,

" THE KING OF PRUSSIA AND THE MIL-LER.—There was near Potsdam, in the reign of Fred-rick the Great, a mill which interfered with the view from the windows of Sans Souci. Annoyed by this eye-sore to his favourite residence, the King sent to enquire the price for which the mill would be sold by the owner. " For no price," was the reply of the sturdy Prussian ; and in a moment the anger of Fre-drick gave orders that the mill should be pulled down " The King may do this," said the miller, quietly folding his arms, "but there are laws in Prussia ;" and forthwith he commenced proceedings against the Mo-narch, the result of which was, that the Court sen-tenced Fredrick, to rebuild the mill, and pay for the injury which he had done. The King was mortified, but had the magnanimity to say, addressing himself to his courtiers. " I am glad to find that just and up-right judges exist in my kingdom." The above anec-dote is well known to every reader of Prussian history, but it is necessary to be related here as an introduction to that which follows. About three years ago, the present head of an honest miller's family, his name is Frank, who had in due course of time succeeded to the hereditary possession of his little estate, finding him-self, after a long struggle with losses occasioned by the war, which brought ruin into many a house besides his own, involved in pecuniary difficulties that had become insurmountable, wrote to the present King of Prussia, reminding him of the refusal experienced by Frederick the Great at the hands of his ancestor, and stating that if his Majesty now entertained a similar desire, to ob-tain possession of the property, it would be very agree-able to him, in his present embarrassed circumstances, to sell the mill. The king wrote immediately to him, with his own hand, the following reply :' " My dear neighbour, I cannot allow you to sell the mill ; it must remain in your possession as long as one member of your family exiäts ; for it helongs to the history of Prussia. I lament, however, to hear that you are in circumstances of embarrassment ; and I therefore send you 6,000 dollars, (about £1,000 sterling,) to arrange your affairs, in the hope that this sum will be sufficient for that purpose. Consider me always your affectionate neighbour. FREDERICK WILLIAM."