there on the 30th January. The natives being friendly, they immediately commenced trading, and on the 5th February the Sarah arrived from New Caledonia, for a like purpose, having then aboard about seven tons of wood. Both vessels were successful in their trading, and on the 11th February had each obtained about 20 tons of wood, when the hurricane commenced in which they were both wrecked. The following particulars are given by Captain Seagrove : February 11th, at noon, increasing breezes, from the eastward, let go the best bower anchor. At 5 P.M., the boats came alongside, when we down all awnings, hoisted the boats up, and cleared the decks. 8 P M., strong breezes and dull rainy weather. 12th- Commences with strong gales and squally weather, sent down top-gallant yards; the gale increasing during the fore-noon, with a heavy sea rising, sent the top-sail yards down on deck, and veered on to to 110 fathoms of the starboard chain, and 75 of port cable; at noon it blew a a hurricane with a rising sea, which caused the ship to pitch heavily, sending the sprays fore and aft the deck. About 4 P.M. snapped the starboard cable, and drove within a quarter of a mile of the beach, the foremast was then immediately cut away, to let the ship ride easy, and, if possible, to save her. About 6 P.M. found her strike very heavily abaft, the tide then ebbing; she however, rode this way until 2 o'clock the following morning, when, in a violent equall, she dragged the best bower anchor, and went broadside on to the beach, where she soon bilged, and half filled with water. The rudder also unshipped, tearing the trunk away, and sinashing the after cabins, leaving a free passage for the sea, and destroying everything on board. Our only hopes now rested on the Castlereagh, but at daylight, they were blighted, for she had driven close in to the breakers, and had apparently unshipped her rudder, the sea breaking clean over her. Captain Silver then cut away both masts, to save her if possible, but to no purpose, for it was then blowing a complete hurricane, and about ten o'clock in the forenoon she went broadside on to the beach. Many of the crew now went on shore, expecting the ship would go to pieces, the natives assisting and swimming them through the surf. The natives were very anxious for myself and officers to leave the ship, kindly offering their assistance, with the good intention of saving us, for the sea was breaking right over her, and they shortly left themselves, expecting the ship to go to pieces, but we had resolved to remain on board as long as she kept together. Towards night the gale moderated, and on the 14th had altogether abated. I then consulted with Captain Silver, and came to the determination of getting both crews on board the Sarah having much more room on the deck, and a greater protection from the natives than the schooner. It was then resolved to get the schooner off, if possible, under the direction of Capt. Silver, with the assistance of both crews, but unfortunately we did not succeed in our endeavours. The natives behaved with the greatest kindness, bringing us a great quantity of cocoa-nuts and sugar-canes, although a great number of their trees had been destroyed and their sugar-canes torn up by this hurricane, such a severe one not having been felt for many years. After living on the deck of the Sarah for fourteen days, with no hopes of getting the schooner off, our damaged bread we had saved getting short, and having but a small quantity of fresh water, we turned our attention to preparing to make a passage in the two boats we had saved. At this time, however, my chiefofficer (Mr. White,) with five men out of the two crews, in the most praiseworthy manner, volunteered their services to proceed in an open whale boat, being the most expeditious, to stretch across to New Caledonia, run down along the east side of it, and if not successful in falling in with a ship, to proceed across to Moreton Bay, being a distance of one thousand miles. After seeing to the preparations and provisions of the boat myself, she was despatched with three hearty cheers on the morning of the 28th February, having every confidence in the officer and crew, with an addition of a native volunteer. Fortunately, however, on the afternoon of the following day, they fell in with the barque Eleanor, Capt. Woodin, and the Spy, Capt. White of Hobart Town, then lying in a small harbour on the east side of New Caledonia. They were received on board with the greatest kindness, and upon hearing of the disaster, Capt. Woodin immediately gave directions for the two vessels to prepare for sea to come to our assistance, leaving a place where there was every chance of getting sandal-wood, in which trade they were engaged. On the 4th March, at 6 A.M., the joyful news of Sail ho!' was announced, and shortly after the two vessels hove in sight. The anxiety shown by Captains Woodin and White for our safety I shall ever remember with a feeling of gratitude, but upon firing our swivel guns their fears were dispelled, for they then knew we were safe. The greatest expedition was used for our reception on board the Eleanor to convey us to Sydney, and on the 11th of March we set sail from the island of Lefoo, where we had been on shore one month, living in perfect amity with the natives, though completely at their mercy. This I attribute to the kindness shown them, but at the same time we let them see we were always on our guard. Capt. Silver's report being similar to that of Capt. Seagrove's, it would be unnecessary for us to give more than the following, which is an extract from the log-book, relating merely to the circumstance of her loss : "February 10th.-Fresh breezes from the south-east; 11th, at noon, wind increasing, let go the best bower anchor, and veered out to 80 fathoms of the starboard chain, and 40 on the port cable. At 4 P.M., lowered fore-topgallant yard, and housed main-top-mast. "February 12th.-Strong gale from S.E., with heavy sea-rising; lowered fore-top sail yard, and housed fore-top-mast, gave the ship all the starboard chain, and 60 fathoms of port cable. At 4 P.M., upset the windlass, and while securing it, observed the brig Sarah to be driving, and soon afterwards she went on shore. It then blew a heavy gale from E.S.E., with a heavy sea. At 6 P.M., observed our port chain slack, having carried away the anchor, the vessel then pitching bows under. Midnight, heavy gusts of wind, attended, with much rain; sounded, and found we had shoaled our water to 7 fathoms, having drove a considerable distance. "February 13th.-At 4 A.M., saw the brig Sarah drive broadside on the beach the sea breaking completely over her; and the natives having a large fire on the beach, it presented an awful appearance. The schooner still continued driving, and finding we had only four fathoms water, expected every moment to strike aft, knowing that there were several small rocks close to us. 4h. 30m. A.M., struck aft, and unshipped the rudder. At daylight, it blew a complete hurricane, and the lower masts were then cut away, in order, if possible, to save the vessel, that being the only means left. At 8 A.M., however, she had drove into 2 fathoms water, starting on the rocks; and, at 10 A.M., she went broadside on the beach. Every exertion was made, after the gale abated, to get her off, but without success. Captain Silver joins with Capt. Seagrove and his chief officer, in expression of gratitude to Captains Woodin and White, of the Eleanor and Spy, and also speaks in the highest terms of the conduct of Mr. White, chief officer of the Surah, and the men who so manfully volunteered to proceed in the whale-boat to New Caledonia, as before stated; and were the means of bringing the above named vessels to their assistance, The Sarah was the property of Capt Larkins, of Hong-kong, where she is fully insured. The Castlereagh was the property of Capt. Fotheringham, and is insured in Sydney for £800. The chronometer and other things of value were saved, and the wrecks were sold by the captains for the benefit of the underwriters. The Sarah for £120, and the Castlereagh for £50; Captain Woodin, of the Eleanor, being the purchaser.-Sydney Herald, March 30th. THE "ELEANOR." This vessel, belonging to Messrs. Nathan and Moses, of Hobart Town, has been cruizing among the islands for sandal-wood, since the middle of November last, and has now on board about eighty tons. On the 13th of February, she encountered the same hurricane on the west coast of New Caledonia, as that experienced by the Sarah and Castlereagh at Lefoo. She was lying about twenty-five miles W.N. W. of Port St. Vincent, with two anchors out, from which, however, she drove, and went on shore, losing her best bower anchor, and about 45 fathoms of chain. Fortunately, she floated off about ten hours after, with but little damage The brig Spy, rode the gale out on the east side of New Caledonia, with lower yards and top-masts down, and sustained only the loss of two whaleboats. The cutter Georgiana, tender to the Eleanor and Spy, drove on shore in Port St. Vincent, during the gale, and turned bottom up; three of the crew belonging to Hobart Town, were drowned. The barque Isabella Anna, of this port, put into one of the harbours on the west side of New Caledonia, on the 21st of February, having encountered the hurricane off the south end of the island. She was much strained, and Capt. Woodin states, that but for the fine model and build of the vessel, which give her ease and buoyancy, it would have been impossible to have kept her free during the gale. After stopping in some measure her leaks, it was Capt. Bradley's intention to proceed to Erromanga for wood; she had but little then on board. From the statements of the natives of New Caledonia and Lefoo, such a terrific hurricane had not occured for the last eighteen years. During the height of it the barometer on board the Eleanor fell 28 40. The circumstance of the Spy riding out the gale without damage, may be accounted for by her having a good barometer, which gave the captain ample warning of its coming on, and thereby enabled him to be prepared for it. Capt. Woodin has favoured us with copious notes made by him during his cruize among the islands, from which we make the following abstract, as being new : "December 21st.-Set sail from the east side of New Caledonia, resolving to find, if possible, a passage between Botany Isle, and the south end of Caledonia, thereby saving a tedious passage round the reef, which extends south of Caledonia. Fortunately I succeeded, and passed through a good channel, with deep water, and but few dangers in the way On proceeding round, I found the south part of new Caledonia to be an island, about ten miles in extent, with a deep water channel from shore to shore, and room enough to work a frigate through. I named it Woodin's Channel, as I believe I was the first person who had navigated a ship round the south end of New Caledonia, inside of the reefs. "In the channel above mentioned, there are several deep bays, with abundance of fresh water running down the sides of the mountains, close to the beach. Ships could anchor in any of the bays, with 15 fathoms or less, as circumstances may require. I examined the whole of the coast from Botany Isle to the extent of the channel, in search of sandal-wood, but found none. Being informed by the natives on the east coast that a vessel had been wrecked on a reef on the west side, and that all the crew had perished I made up my mind to search the coast thoroughly, to ascertain if any of the unfortunate men were spared, being then ignorant of the facts. "On the 1st of January, anchored in a bay where I knew some Sydney vessels had procured sandal-wood. In a short time the natives paid us a visit, and among them some from the Isle of Pines, with whom I had before been acquainted, and who seemed rather surprised that the vessel should have come round by the way of Botany Isle. 66 My first enquiry was respecting the vessel I was previously informed had been wrecked, and to my horror and surprise they told me no vessel had been wrecked; but, that two boats' crews of the Vanguard had been cut off by a tribe, about nine miles N. W. from where we then lay, and, that the schooner had gone to sea, but not until the natives alluded to tried to cut her off. I then inquired of them the manner in which those merciless savages had cut off the crew, and from their statement it appeared the whole of the men very imprudently left their boats, and all to a man unarmed; that while each man was carrying his load, the natives pushed the boats off from the shore, and then rushed upon them with their tomahawks, and ham-strung them, severed their heads and arms from their bodies, and then made one heap of the whole, and burned them. Capt. Cunningham was the first they attacked, and not one of the party escaped. "It may be said, and perhaps oftentimes with some truth, that surely the crew must have given some provocation; but, in this instance, I can vouch for it, there was none given, for I particularly inquired of the friendly natives, whether the tribe who made this bloody attack, had been previously fired upon by the crew, and they replied in the negative. From the frequent opportunities, also, I have had in seeing Capt. Cunningham trade with the natives, I am satisfied he would not have allowed any one to have committed an offence against them, but always treated them with liberality and kindness. "On the morning of the 2nd of January, the chief Agulla moved the two whale-boats belonging to the Vanguard out of my sight, to a distance of six miles, and then hauled them up in the bush, picking out a spot where the water was so shallow that we could not get our boats within musket shot; for we had been preparing to attack these merciless savages and rescue the boats, if at all practicable; but they were too much on the alert to be taken, and took to the mountains. I am of opinion that, no ship-of-war would ever be able to punish these savages. It must be done by trading vessels, in which the crews should be under good discipline, otherwise the innocent would suffer for the guilty. "The natives of New Caledonia are not generally hostile to Europeans, for in many parts of the island, I have, with my own boat's crew, been treated with great kindness, without the means of making them any return; and on some occasions, with as much as I could expect from my own countrymen, or perhaps, more so. "With respect to the Avon, had the officers obeyed the instructions of their commander, they would never have been attacked; but, I doubt not the poor fellows seeing a quantity of wood, and anxious to do the best for their employers and themselves, they were induced to run a greater risk than they would have done on ordinary occasions. No officer can succeed in the sandal-wood trade, unless he continually exposes himself to the natives. It is, therefore, his duty, for the safety of his own life, and of others under his command, to act with the greatest caution." When the Eleanor left Lefoo, the Spy had on board twenty-five tons of wood, and was then employed in saving what she could of the wrecks of the Sarah and Castlereagh.—İbid. NAUTICAL NOTICES. WEILING LIGHT VESSEL AND HEYST LIGHT.-A notice has been given by the Belgian Government, dated the 24th of October, that a light-vessel, carrying a Red Light, will be established in the Weiling Channel, near the bank, called the "Paarde Markt," at a date to be afterwards announced, and from which the following compass bearings are given : Ville d'Ecluse, Tower Lissewaghe Tower S. E. S. The light will be visible eight or nine miles distant. The light-vessel will be painted Red, and will have a Red Ball at her mast-head. At the same time, Heyst Light, in lat. 51° 20′ 22′′ N., and long. 3° 14′ 10′′ E., which is now Red, be altered to the natural colour. A notice, dated November, has been given stating, that the foregoing measures are carried into effect. Trinity House, Hull, October 31st, 1848. RIVER HUMBER BUOYAGE AND BEACONAGE.-Notice is hereby given, that in consequence of the recent encroachments of the sea at Kilnsea North Cliff, on the coast of Holderness, the beacon erected there a few years ago, has been removed about a quarter of a mile north, one-quarter west of its former site. The following are its present marks and bearings:— Easington Church bearing New Sand Light Ship Spurn High Lighthouse Outer Bank Buoy N.b.W. W. S. E. S.S.E.S. from which Easington Church is seen open about two ship-lengths to the castward of the beacon. Ships coming from the northward, and steering for the New Sand Light Vessel, must keep Easington Church well open to the eastward of the beacon to clear the Outer Bank. The beacon is distant from high-water mark one hundred and sixty yards, and is eighty-seven feet above the level of the sea at high-water. N.B. The above bearings are compass bearings. By Order, W. M. BUNNEY, Secretary. BUOY OFF PENLEE POINT, PLYMOUTH.-A chequered Red and White Buoy has been moored off Penlee Point, two cables' length from it, in 5 fathoms, with the following marks : Tor House, on with high-water mark of Redding Point; and the Breakwater Beacon on with the upper corner of the southernmost quarry at Bovisand, |