Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW : 1803 - 1842), Sunday 1 March 1807, page 1


SYDNEY.

Sitting Magistrate for the ensuing Week—

THOMAS JAMISON. Esq.

~~~~~~~~

Assign of Bread for the ensuing week., Wheaten rye

failing ; Household nine pence the loaf of 2/s

? pence new ; or 2/ s. when one day old.

Yesterday se'nright before a Bench of Ma-

gistrates the persons concerned in taking away a boat, &c. with intent to escape from the co-

lony, were sentenced severe corporal punish-ments; and J. Hern, for seditious expressions was ordered 500 lashes, and gaol gang 3 years.

SHIP NEWS,--- Remain with His Majesty's ship Porpoise, armed tender Lady Nelson, and schooner Estramina, the ships Lucy, Star, Santa Anna, King George, and General Wellesley.

Yesterday morning sailed the ship Argo and brig

Elizabeth.

On Monday the Speedwell arrived at Hawkes-

bury from the Straits.

Last Monday the sloop Hawkesbury of 18

tons, out 5 months, arrived from Otaheite in 8 weeks, having touched at Norfolk Island, on her return from whence she sailed a fort-night since. From Mr. Edwards, the master,

we learn that the Island of Otaheite is perfectly tranquil ; and that the Missionaries settled there are in good health, Mr. Jefferson excep-

ted, that gentleman having laboured under a dangerous illness for some time past. Mr. Edwards succeeded in procuring at Matavai

about 9 tons of pork, the salting down of which he inspected himself, and is said to be

better preserved than any before received from thence. Pork was rather scarce at Matavai

owing to a festival that had shortly before ta-

ken place, as on such occasions the natives

voraciously devour the flesh of swine in quan-

tities that must very soon demolish their

whole flock, unless prevented by an interdic-tion of the King's against the use of it. At Ulitea it was supposed to be more plentiful.

Mr. Edwards entering inquisitively into the manners and the prejudices of the people, de-

scribes them as partial to the customs of the English as they are represented to be, though to their religious persuasions they still continue as obstinately attached as ever.

From a Prince of Wales Island Gazette we copy the following interesting narrative : —

On the 10th of November 1805, the Betsey schooner, burthen about 75 tons, left Macao, bound for New South Wales.— The crew

consisted of William Brooks, commander; Edward Luttrell, mate, (son of Mr. Surgeon Luttrell, at Sydney) ; one Portuguese gunner,

three Portuguese seacunnies, three Manilla and four Chinese lascars.—From the 10th of No-vember to the 20th, nothing particular hap-

pened, but on the 21st, at half past 2 A. M. the vessel struck upon a reef, going 7½ knots ; instantly lowered down the boat, and sent out a small anchor astern, but on heaving, parted

the cable ; they began to make a raft of the

water casks, but the swell was so great, it was

impossible to effect it. At day break found the vessel had forged upon the reef 4 or 5 miles, not having more than two feet water ;

the reef extending to the s. 9 and 10 miles, E. and w. 4 or 5: during three days and nights every exertion was used as to get her off , but to no effect, and the crew were so weakened

that they could hardly be persuaded to construct

a raft, the vessel at this time being bilged on the starboard side. On the 24th made a raft, and left the vessel, the jolly boat in company,

steering for Balambangang. Captain Brooks, the mate, gunner, and two seacunnies were in the jolly boat, provided only with six bottles of water and a small bag of biscuit ; on the raft whose one Portuguese, four Chinese and three Malay much better provided ;- they parted

company the same day, it coming on to blow a

brisk gale from the N.W. and the raft was seen no more as the Island of Borneo bore S.E. there is a probability of its having drifted

it - From the 24th until the 28th, it conti-nued blowing hard, from the N.W. with an enormous sea and then fell calm : the wa-ter was by this time entirely expended, and the remainder of the biscuit wet with salt water. At day break on the 29th saw land, which

they supposed to be Balabae, the people really exhausted with pulling, it being a perfect calm

and under a burning sun, adding to which they were reduced to the necessity of drinking their own urine : at night it blew so hard from the N.E. that they were were obliged to bear up for Bangary, the N.W. point of which they reached at day light next morning, and instantly went in search of water, they soon discovered, and drank to excess - Being in search of fruit,

rambling in the woods, they were met by two

malays, to whom they made signs of being in want of food : this being understood, the malays went away, and in the afternoon returned with two cocoanuts and a few sweet potatoes, which they gave in exchange for a silver spoon. At

night went on board the boat : next morning five malays made their appearance and brought

some indian corn and potatoes, for which they received spoons; these people pointing to

Balambangan, gave them to understand, that the English had quitted it some time : returned on on board with their little stock, and attended next morning to receive a promised supply ; 11 malays appeared on the beach, at their landing,

and after a little conversation, one of them threw a spear at Captain Brooks, which hit him in the belly ; another made a cut at Mr. Luttrell, who being armed with a cutlass, par-

ried it off and ran to the boat. Captain Brooks withdrew the pike and ran a short dis-

tance, but they followed him and cut off both his legs ; the gunner was likewise severely

wounded, and reached the boat covered with blood : at this time, they saw the malays stripping the dead body of Captain Brooks, the gunner expired in about fifteen minutes.

They immediately made sail, and on exami-

ning their stock of provisions, found it con-sisted of ten cobs of Indian corn, three pump-kins, and two bottles of water, with which, trusting to the mercy of Providence, they determined on shaping a course for the Straits

of Malacca. --From the 4th of December until the 14th, nothing material occurred : they had been fortunately supplied with water by frequent squalls, but were nearly exhausted by constant watching and hunger.

On the 15th they fell in with a group of islands in lat. 3N. long. about 100 w? -- in approaching the shore they were descried by three

Malay prows, which immediately attacked them and in the pursuit one of the seacunnies was speared, and died instantly, the other

was wounded : Mr. Luttrell had a very nar-row escape, a spear having passed through his hat : - thus overpowered, the malays took possession of the boat, and immediately deprived

them of their property, the sextant, log book some plate and clothes keeping them in a prow, exposed to a burning sun, without any covering,

and with only a small quantity of sago, during three days ; after which they were taken on shore to the house of a rajah on an island

named Sube, where they remained in a state of slavery, entirely naked, and subsisting on sago

until the 20th of April, on which day the ra-jah sailed in a prow for Rhio, taking with

him Mr Luttrell and the seacunny : they arrived at that place, after a tedious passage of

25 days, nearly famished.

Their distresses however, were her allevi-ated by Mr. Kock, of Malacca who treated them in the kindest manner and the ship Kaudree, Captain Williamson, arriving the following day, bound for Malacca, they ob-tained a passage for that port.

The Betsey was lost in lat. 8 49N. long. 114 54 E.

A London paper of the 11th of last May

acquaints us with the death of the French Admiral Villeneuve ; who being permitted by the British Government to return to France,

put an end to his existence at Rennes on the 9th of the same month.

A Penang paper dated the 25th of October mentions that Sir Thomas Troubridge, Bart. intended shortly to proceed to the Cape for the purpose of taking the naval command there.