: rive at, and had no boats to conduct us thither it was very uncertain how long the wreck might hold together, and we supposed that the moment of her separation would be the last of our lives. The people proposed a raft, but their was nothing that afforded a speedier method of preservation than the poop of the ship sawed off, and converted into flat-bottomed boats; this was begun the next morning, while the rest of the people got the spars overboard, on each side, and secured them as shores, to prevent the ship's oversetting. There was ten or eleven feet water where the ship lay; at a small distance from the wreck the rocks were nearly dry at low water, and at spring tides quite; the tide rose and fell about eight or nine feet at high water; and half ebb there was not a rock in sight. The carpenters had now cut off three beams width of the poop, as a bottom for one of the intended boats; the length was 17 feet wide, and five broad; the carpenters went on with this boat but slowly. On the 3d of December the bottom of the second boat was laid; the other one, which Iwas intended for the lascars, remained unfinished for want of their assistance. The seacunnies, topazes, &c. finding this one to be intended for themselves, went to work upon it with the greatest alacrity, tearing from the wreck plank and copper for their boat. On the 8th, the lascars began to work upon their boat, and a carpenter was sent to assist them. The progress in both boats was nearly the same, the work went on very slow, and a sickness spread among the ship's crew, occasioned by the foul air which originated from the stagnant water and putrid cotton; this ef fluvia was so pernicious that bright silver would turn black in the space of a few minutes, if exposed between decks. On the 5th one of the lascars died, on the 10th another; nothing material then occurred until the 23d, except that the wreck lay gradually more and more over, and by this time there was two feet water between decks. On the 23d, at seven A. M. discovered a sail, in the N. W. hoisted the signal of distress; she hoisted American colours and stood to wards the edge of the reef, and hoisted her boat out; as she was about three miles from us on the other side of the reef, the boat rowed along the reef to find a passage to come to us; we sent the small boat to shew them one we had recently discovered. The people were all ordered aft, and were told that as an opportunity now offered, those who wished to leave the wreck might embrace it. When the boat came alongside, the officer informed them that the captain of this vessel (which was an American brig, called the Philadelphia, bound to China) would take the people out of the ship, and as she was in want of rope, she would heave to for the night, and furnish herself with what necessaries she stood in need of from the wreck. It was the intentions of captain Robertson, at all events, to proceed to Malacca in the boats now in hand, with those who might chuse to remain with him; these his intentions having been signified to the officer, he returned to his ship, and about half past four, P. M. returned with a few necessaries for the captain, who was extremely ill. The officer informed us that his commander had altered his intentions of remaining by the wreck during the night, and had given him posi sitive orders to receive no more than four people into his boat; three seacunnies and a little boy accordingly went, and at about six P. M. he departed. In the morning of the 24th saw the vessel in the S. E. lost sight of her by ten A. M. On the 29th launched one of the boats, and on the 30th the other. They were each 174 feet long, and five feet wide below, as beforementioned, 23 feet long, and eight feet wide over all, and five feet deep. We were employed until the 3d instant in loading the boats, as they required a great quantity of weight to bring them to their bearings; there were two buts of water in each, and a great many of the ship's stores. In one of the boats went the captain, the 2d mate, the topazes, servants, carpenters, &c. in all 23; in the other boat the lascars, tindals, &c. 24 in number. At four P. M. on the 4th, we left the wreck, as we were incapable to beat to windward to clear the reef; we were obliged to take the advantage of high water, and go over the reef to get into deep water. Notwithstanding all our precautions, both the boats grounded upon the rocks, when we had proceeded a little distance from the wreck; the wind blew very fresh, the boats beat very hard upon the rocks, and we were under great apprehensions they would go to pieces. We continued in this situation until six o'clock; we then got into a hole in which there was about eight feet water, and there came to anchor during the night. On the 4th the small boat was sent to look for a passage; we got through in deep water, and immediately sent the small boat with a line and grappling to the assistance of the other boat. By six 'clock A. M. we both got clear VOL. 6. of the reef, made sail and stood to the S. W. We found that during the night one of the people had died in the lascars' boat. At noon the wreck bore E. by N. distance about four miles. On the 5th light breezes and little sea; found the spray wash frequently into the boat, she being no more than nine inches out of the water. Another height of boards was put on, and by this means kept tolerably dry; the other boat kept company with us very well, having rather the advantage in sailing. At sun set she was about a mile distant; hoisted a light at the mast head during the night for our companion. At two A. M. on the 6th, from the carelessness of the helmsman, the boat broached too, and had nearly filled got her before the wind again, and in about an hour got the water out of her-at day light the other boat not in sight, and from that time never saw any more of her. The latitude by observation to day, was 9°. 18'. North, (the ship was lost in 9°. 44. N. and longitude about 114°. 46'.) we had the small boat, or China sanpan, towing a-stern, and two men in her, one to steer, and the other to bale. At half past ten P. M. on the 11th, in a squall of wind, the small boat upset, and one man was drowned. On the 15th a very high sea, and almost all of the people sick; our rice having been damaged from the time the boat shipped the heavy sea on the 6th, afforded such indifferent sustenance that we could scarcely eat it. On the 16th we saw the Anambas: on the 19th we came to anchor at one of the small islands near Pulo Aore: we procured here wood and water, and remained until the 21st, searching for vegetables, &c. to stop the progress of the scarvy, which raged with with great violence amongst us; but not succeeding in our researches we continued our passage-on the 24th we entered the straits-on the 25th, being off the Rabbit and Coney, we fell in with a small ship called the Brisk, of Penang; the captain supplied us with every nccessary he could spare, and kindly offered either to come to an anchor, or, if deemed necessary, to put back (he being bound to Rio) and tow us into Malacca-on the 28th one of the topazes died-on the 2d of the next month, we arrived at the Water Islands, our passage having been retarded by light airs, currents, and calms; on that day another of the topazes died; a fishing boat came alongside and we sent to give the account of our arrival at Malacca, and of our distressing circumstances; when captain Farquhar (who was commandant of Malacca) was acquainted with this, he immediately sent provisions to us, and boats to tow us into the road, at which place we arrived at about eight o'clock that evening, after a hazardous passage of twenty-nine days. "The lascars behaved extremely ill from the period of the Typhoon; and although the boat intended for them was began first, yet by the time she was completely timbered, they positively refused to rip plank to complete her; in short, they behaved throughout with a degree of inactivity and unwillingness that was highly culpable. It is reported that one of tindals had arrived at Rio." Governor General's Body Guard. The body guard of his excellency the most noble the governor general, was reviewed on Thursday morning, by major-geu. Cameron, affording great delight to a most numerous concourse of spectators, who eagerly assembled to witness a display of that characteristic dexterity which has ever distinguished this well appointed and highly disciplined corps. The masterly style of performing the sword exercise, the rapidity and correctness of the horse artillery (which was uncommonly well managed) excited universal- admiration, which was raised to a still higher pitch by the several charges in line, producing a most formidable effect, from their wonderful compactness and velocity. Immediately after the review, the company present, consisting of nearly 200 persons of the first distinction, retired to partake of an elegant breakfast, prepared by capt. Daniell on the review ground; where every luxury the season could afford was arranged with the utmost taste, and where every countenance in this brilliant assembly beamed with the most lively satisfaction. The band attached to the body guard, played the most delightful airs (chiefly martial) until near ten o'clock, when the company reluctantly withdrew from this festive and truly interesting scene. Fort William, April 12. His excellency the most noble the governor general has derived the greatest satisfaction from the following report, received from major-general Cameron, after having reviewed the body guard, in consequence of his excellency's orders. To captain Armstrong, Acting Military Secretary. SIR, I request you will do me the honor of reporting to his excellency the governor-general, that I reviewed his lordship's body guard this morning, and have much satisfaction in bearing testimony of the good order, correctness, and general appearance of the corps. The steadiness of the men, the neatness of their accoutrements, the good condition of the horses, and the accuracy with which the movements in general were performed, reflect much credit on capt. Daniell and the officers under his command. The principal points which claimed my favourable notice, were the strict attention paid to preserving proper distance in passing in column of troops, and the correctness with which the line was formed on wheeling up, and advancing in line at a trot. Also the skill and activity displayed in the sword exercise at speed, and in the attack and defence. The gallopers were served and brought up with great exactness and celerity. The charges were close and steady, though not quite so rapid as the present system enforces; yet, it is obvious, from the attention generally paid to the discipline of this corps, that a little more practice only is wanting to produce the desired effect. I cannot conclude without again expressing my approbation of capt. Daniell's attention, which reflects the highest credit on that officer, more particularly when it is considered, that one half of the men, as well as horses, at this morning's field exercise, have been enrolled on the strength of the corps, little more than four months. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient, humble servant, (Signed) W. N. CAMERON, Major-gen. Com. Presidency. New Regulations respecting Wine from Madeira to India. the following regulations for the shipping of such wine from Madeira on the extra ships as may be required to be carried to India, and from thence brought to England, we direct that you make them as public as possible, viz. That the freight of wine from Madeira to India be 41. per pipe, and that the same be paid within fifteen days after permission shall be granted for shipping wine. That the same rate of freight be paid for wine sent to any part of India, both in peace and war, and that no pipe do contain more than 110 gallons. That the freight of wine brought from India to England be 81. per pipe in time of war; and that this freight be paid previous to the delivery of the wine in England, and charged at the above rates respectively, whether the pipes contain the full quantity or not. That persons requiring tonnage for wine from Madeira to be carried to India, and from thence to England, be permitted to lade in articles for Madeira freight free to the amount of the tonnage they may be allowed in wine; and that two pipes be calculated equal to one ton. That such ships as may be appointed to take on board wine at Madeira, be allowed to remain at that island two working days for every 20 tons of goods they may have been permitted either to carry to, or receive on board at, Madeira, (the day of arrival and sailing not included) and that if the agents of the shippers should not complete their lading within that period, the ships do proceed on their voyage, and the freight paid in England do then become forfeited. 8th. You will observe that the rate of freight above-mentioned ap†н 2 plies plies also to such wine as may be which destroyed a great number of sent from India. Mission to the Court of Tehran. By letters from Bushire, we are informed, that Mr. Manesty left that place on the 25th February last, on the mission to the court of Tehran, in a style of elegance which cannot be equalled by any of the Persian nobility, and hardly surpassed by the king himself. On the 15th of March the mission had arrived near Shiraz; the gentlemen composing it highly delighted with the trip. One may form some idea of the splendid manner in which Mr. Manesty travels, when we add, that his retinue consists of upwards of one hundred horses, three hundred baggage mules, and sixty camels, with a multitude of servants, and camr followers, which makes the whole appear like a little army in motion. The procession moves in the following order: in the van an elephant; several men on horseback, who administer a constant supply of coffee and hookahs, during the march; some troopers, two of them carrying union jacks; nine led horses, elegantly caparisoned in the Persian fashion; twelve running footmen; two gold sticks, and two silver ditto, mounted; Mr. Manesty; the gentlemen of his suite; a led horse before each; forty Gholams or Persian guards, dressed in orangecoloured clothes, and armed with shields, swords, and carbines; the sepoy guard, &c. &c. Dreadful Fire. On Saturday, the 10th ultimo, a dreadful fire broke out near Calcutta, on the opposite side of the river, close to the premises of Messrs. John Gillmore and Co. huts to the extent, it is said, of near a mile. The very prompt and able assistance afforded, by a number of gentlemen who repaired to the spot, and from the ships in the river, fortunately prevented the conflagration from spreading, and saved from the flames a ship of 600 tons, then on the stocks at Mr. Thomson's yard. Civil War in Cabul. The civil war, in Cabul, between the Kizilbaches and the Afghans, which broke out in the beginning of the present year on some trifling dispute, has been attended with the most bloody and extraordinary circumstances. During the space of three days, Cabul displayed a continued scene of conflagration, rapine, and devastation. The number of persons slain in the city alone, amounted to 4000. Even the presence of the king, Shaw Mahmood could not check the disturbances, and the result to him was equally fatal and unexpected. The partiality he discovered during the disputes, for the Kizilbaches, greatly exasperated his Afghan subjects: a spirit of discontent pervaded their minds, already too well accustomed to rebellions and revolution. The defection augmented daily, caused, in a great measure, by the impolitic measures adopted by the government; and, when it arrived at maturity, the malcontents formed the bold design of deposing the king. The conspiracy was conducted with so much address and secresy, that no one even suspected it till the moment it was put into execution. The revolters wanted nothing but a leader, which was found in the person of Shawzade Chejah-ul-mulq, bro ther |