The Cambrian

ptnmj fawto, &t. AFFECTING SIGHTS.—Ban-els in tiers. A BAD POLICY. One that has expired. It is never proper to stone yuelr neighbour, but you may rock his hahy. A woman, who owns a coal mine, says she might have mar- ried twù lllen a-day fur the htst two years. Why do girls kiss eàch othd, aIM men not? Because girls have nothing hcttèr tel kiss. awl men have. ° A king's fool wÍlo was condemned t.) die was allowed to choose the form of death, and he chose old age. Why should a sea voyage have no terrors for medical men?— Because they are acnBtnnwd to see sickness. A lady correspondent wants to know WIlY, since tIw inven- tion of needle-guns, women can't j;;ht as wclI as men. Queen Elizabeth always displayed her worst temper in her ùest clothes. She was always dreadfully ruffled then. An American editor cautiulls his tnllreaders against kissimr short women, as the habit has rendered him e:ce¿dillgly IMUIKI shouldered. A little hoy entreated his mother to tell him some stories al,<lut I,a' 1 buys, and upon her expressing astonishment sail1 he wante,1 to find out how they gut out of scrapes." About one thousand two hundred and fifty dulbrs make the ancient talent, it takes eunsidera1.J1e talent to make one thou- sand two hundred an 1 fifty dvllars The sad-looking young men whom one occasiunaIly meets in the streets are not consumptive, are not mourning the loss of a friend, and ::re not diYinity students. They are" breaking- in" tight boots. Don't yon take rather too much spirit for a single man ? asked a kind imiiyitlualof une who had been illdnlgiug pretty freely. I heg pardon, sir; I have been married these ten year3," was the answer. A rural reporter, in narrating the incidents attending the capsizing uf a boat, remarks "1 hanks to the zeal and activity diSIJlayed hy the boatmen, nobody was lost. Indeed, one wo- man more was saved thall ha,1 been III the boat." What 3hu1lU a man do," asked a gelltlèiilan of a lady, when he has an opportunity t.) correspond with a c11arming woman. but, being a bachelor, is a little afraid of such bu- siness? I should say to him, do uTile, answered the lady. An American paper, in noticing a new steamboat, says — When loaded she will draw les3 than a foot of water. III case the river hecomes perfectly dry, she will run 011 II. heavy dew, or hy the aid of a wet sponge secured on her keel. Doctor," said a 1ady to her physician, don't you think thar the small bunuets t.'iat the ladies w-rar have a tendency to produce congestion of the brain?" ");0, mad 1m. Where you see one of those lwnnets there is no brain to con- gest." An urchin of scven ycars went into a barber's shop, and or- dered the barber to cut his hair as shurt as shears could do it. He was asked if Ids Illother ordered it in that way. No," replied he school begins next week, and Wè have got a schoolmistress timt pulis hair." A lady having the misfortune to have her husband hang himself on aa apple tree, the wife of a neighbour immelliately came to heg a hranch vf that tree, to have it grafted into one in her orchard. For who knows," she says, but it may bear thc same kind of fruit ? COOLNESS UNI»ER TRIAL. self-possessed young man called at a neighbour's house and asked tu see his wife. she is not bere," replied the mistress of the house, "there's none here but the mem],ers of my uwn family." Well," he replied, "it's one uf them I want to see. I Hurried your eldest daughter last night." An alderman who prided himself on his sense of justice was called upon t,) estimate the damage which a cow had done in a garden. He viewed the premises and gave liheral damages, whereupon he was introduced to the marauding cow, that turned out to be his own, whereat the conscientious aldermau was profanely enraged. I think that J uhn labours llnder the impression that he is not wanted here," said a kind-hearted old man to his wife, at the same time nOILling his head in th 2 direction of her nephew. rill sure he does not," was the reply. Why are you so lure?" Because John is too lazy tù labour under anything, even an impression." What are you drawing, Anna?" I's making your pictul" So the gentlenlan sat very still and she worked away very ear. nestly for a while, Then she st, ,pped, compared her work with the original, and shook her little head. "I don t hkc i t much," she said" 'Tain't a great deal like yon, III put a tail &0 it, and call it my little puppy dog, Fido. A witty old Judge, who had spent an evening with a young lawyer, whose office was in the second story, on taking his de- parture, stumbled on the stair and fell to the bottom. The young lawyer, hearing the nOIse, rushed out, and op seeing the judge lying on his back at the bottom of tile stairs hastened duwn, and with great anxiety asked, Is your honour hurt: No," sailI the Judge, scrambling to his feet, but my legs are." RHYMES FUNNY AND PHILOSOPHICAL. How lllany sick people wish they were healthy How many beggars wish they were wealthy flow many homely ones wish they were pretty How finny stupid ones wish they were witty; How nLny bachelors wish they were married How many benedicts wish they hall tarried Single 01' double life's full of trouhle Riches are stubble, pleasure's a bubble. A man who had missed his way fortunately overtook ahoy going with a pot of tar to mark his master's sheep. He asked hun the way to BàHlf, but was directed by so many turnings, right and left, that lw agreed to take the hoy hehind him on his horse. Finding the boy pert and docile, he gave him some wholesome advice, adding occasionally, Mark me well, my hoy." Yes, sir, T do." He repeated the injunction so often that the boy at last cried out, 1 canna mark ye ony mair, as the tar has gcen uut." A llJàa in Iowa was brought he fore a Justice of the Peace, charged with the offence of kissing a young lady" by force and violence, and against her will." Tile young lady who was very handsome, gave her testimony in a mudest and straight- forward manner, after which his Honour gave the following decision: "The Court, in this case, sympathises with the de- fendant, and will therefore discharge him without fine, im- prisonment ur reprimand, because the Court while this case bas heen in pr>Jgrcss, has been obliged to hold on to both arms of her chair in urder to keep from kissing the complainant herself Go I NO, Tt) TIm RACES.-A farmer gave the following as his experience of going to the races: "Why, you see, sir, I put teu pounds in my pocket and my watch, and I went down between the races to get a peep at the Prince. I sees him there sure enough, anù I knows him Ly his portrait. So I takes off my hat. and g-ives three cheers for the Prince of Wales-goOfl hearty ones; npon which a respectable-looking man, dressed very fine, patted me on the hack ami said, Well done, squire, gie 1111 three eheers more and I gied un three eheers more and what (10 you think, sir? The rascal, while he was pattiag IDC on the hack, walked off my watch nnd chain, and ten pounds ill gold." THE ENGLISH Roscirs.— Garrick frequently visited a Mr. Rigby, at Misley Thorn, in Essex. Mr. Rigby one day inqlured of his servant what company had arrived. The servant said Lord M was come, and had hrought with him a short gen- tleman with very bright eyes, meaning Mr. Garrick. Why have I not the pleasure of seeing them here ? saitl Mr. Righy. I don't know," said the servant, how long it will be hefore my lord can llJake his appearance for the case is this. The barber came to shave his lordship and, just as he had shaved balf his lordship's face, the short gentleman with the bright eyes began to read the newspaper to him but he read it in snch droll way, and made so many odd faces, that my lord laughed, and tIll. barber laughed, and when I went into the room I could not help laughing too so that, sir, if you don't send for the short gentleman, his lordship must appear at dinner with pne side of his face smooth and the other with a beard of two days' growth." AMERICAN POETICAL ADVERTISEMENTS. The Americans are far in advance of us m poetic advertisements, and some ex- amples given by Magazine show that their genius in this line leaves little to be desired. What, for instance, ean be more striking than the followIllg blast of a trumpet blown by a tailor in his own honour Oh come into the garden, 1faud, And sit beneath the rose, And see me prance around the beds, Dressed in my Sunday clothes. Oh, come and bring your uncles, Maud, Your sisters and your aunts, And tell them Johnson malle my coat, My waistcoat awl mf pants. Again, a tobacconist thusf advertises his establlilhment m the following beautiful stanza :— Gayly young Fergnson bought his cigar, Bought it Mulligan's, where the best are When he wants tine cut or snuff tor nis pose, Gayly young Ferguson purchases those. Perhaps, however, for exciting tender and holy cniot 10113, and exalting the soul above the earth, nothing in modern poetry can be found equal to an advertisement of a provision snop, wnicn nns as follows Oh, say not I love you because the molasses You purchased at Simpson's was golden and clear; The syrup, the sugar, the jelly in g1.alses, • The crackers, the mack'rel I know were not dear. A w,^en you came to me with Simpson's smoked salmon, I f it me his samples of Limburger cheese, e ..t 1113 claim to be cheap was not gammon Thi* yoU, and said ao, dear Jane, on my knees." for as h»« P°«try and provisions supplies a great want, words and s2Ld Fuller. "Poetry 5 music in but thev have Uvea J11 sound both excellent sauce T*oets nowadays nJn fcoot that made them their meat." thesmierofthe^t8^ Mce Chatterton, on srow fat upon IOng.-PaU Mall THE LONDON MARRIAGE MARKET. London tais season as yet resembles heaven in one thing—there has been no marrying or giving in marriage here but that is an attribute of the land of hope with which mothers whose daughtprs are "oat" can dispense. It is not time for them, however, to look matters boldly in the face and see what remedy there may be for this husband famine ? Now that the lately-arranged builders' strike has set us all talking about the laws of demand and supply, it seems an appropriate time for them to review the Causes that militate against their disposing advan- tageously of their stock. They should learn a lesson from a seller of fruits, who will dispose at any sacrifice of what at the end of the day threatens to remain unsold, r ither than run the risk of its turning bad and quite unsaleable and they should remember that the markets are governed by two considerations—first, by the number of people who want a thing; secondly, by the amount thereof there is to sell to those people. Young women, as wives, arc not just now a very popular article, and yet they are very numerous. Suppose there are 20 men in one season willing to give the price of a title and some £ 20,001) a year -forthwith 300 girls are marked by their owners for elil se 20 men ony, aid 28) wjuld be purchasers are thus frightened utf, while at the end of the season, even if all the 20 do buy, 280 maidens are left on hand, their value diminished by one season. If mothers would only recollect that women are as plentiful as men, and that there are on an average three younger sons to each elder one, we might be spared some of those heartrending scenes in August, when you may see in the esc end hot aud disappointed families quarrelling them- selves away to the railway stations, all equally cross and mortified at the result of another useless London season. — Vanity Fair. WHALE FISHING. In home ten or 12 minutes 500 fathoms of line has spun itself out over the boat s bow into the sea, measuring the course the wounded whale has run in his agonised fear of the too certain fate awaiting him. The boat, dragged through the water, throws up a spray from the divided wave, and the bolLtrù smekes and fizzes with the friction of the line. We overhaul the boat just as the line is all paid out. 1\" e bend on our line. Look out look out! Keep away, or I can't tire again shouts Byers, in his eager way, as he sees the indications of the whale's re- appearance. Up he comes, a frightful sight to see—the great tail lashing the water into foam, the fountain this time a jet of blood. We slue our boat round, and pull hard, in the hopes of getting a shot; but to no purpose. We are out oÎ mnge, and miss our chance. "Pinch him all you can Not an inch of line more than you can help "He is well fast, and no fear Such are the warnings and precautions of the harpooners one to the other, as they make their several dispositions before the fellow dives. Once more the two boats are dragged towards the place where the whale had just been. The water is made foul by his slimy back, and the air is full of the foul odour peculiar to the cetacean. Down plunge the boats as thf; unseen cause drags onwanls and down. wards in his eii'or s to hee himself from his tormentors, but with no avail Each man is now fully alive to the danger of the enterprise he is engaged upon. All sit wit 11 eager eye ulh1n tho line, reldy, too, in case of a capsize, to jump for dear life into the icy stream, to take what chance may offer of being picked up. Again the whale is on the 3urf:Lce; this time he is out of breath, but is getting ready for another mad effort to free himself. Oar gun is charged with a rocket, a steel-tipped holt, fatal and deadly beyond compare. If it but strike the object aimed at, then its course is certain; rending and burning ts onward coune lt soon penetrates to tne very centro of its victim, and there it bursts asunder, causing such a wound as will rob this giant of the seas of its life. Eddy stands prepared, his stern face tells of his responsibility. The whale is close to us, and as the chance offers the deadly missile is driven with horrid force into the quivering flesh, and after one short dive, one dying struggle on the surface, the huge leviathan lips floating dead. We cannot tell of thp eXlôitelllent of a chase of this kind -hy com- parison all other sport is tame —the size, the vast strength of the whale, the danger, the scene altogether, cannot be told in words, and while all are evidently full of the thoughts such a scene will raise in the brain even of the dullest amongst us, we are too preoccupied to care to exprèSS oursel ves, and almost in silence we fasten our prize by th) tail with a rope rove through two holes cut in the broad extremities. The rope we trice to the bows of one boat, and we tow it towards the schooner then, indeed, we give vent to our pent-up thoughts in three hearty cheers, whilst the bottle is passed round with many a hearty quaff to success to the future.—The Gateioay to the Polynia. AN IRISH LOVE STORY. With one other love story, also brought by my father from Ireland, I shall conclude this chapter. The names I have forgotten, but the circumstances happened in a country house, the hereditary seat of an ancient and wealthy Irish family. There, to its owner then only a few years married, was born a son and heir There was in Lis household at the time a young woman of eighteen, fairly educated, but in humble circumstances, who had been retained as dependent rather than servant, filling the post of nursery-governess and assistant housekeeper. Let us call her Miss Norah Fitzpatrick. She was faithful, industrioi s, ;m l good-looking, but with no pretension to beauty. The infant heir of some thirty or forty thousand a year, committed to her care and daily carried about in her arms, became much attached to his nurse. His affection seemed to increase with years and at the age of eight or ten, he used to call her his wife, and say he intended to marry her by and by. He returned from college some monihs before he was eighteen, and true to his first fancy, ::fter a time he proposed to Miss Fitz- patrick, then twice his age. She told him that, both for his sake and hers, such a marriage was not to be thought of the great disparity of age, she said, was alone reason sufficient, but aside from that, the marriage with one so far beneath him in social position would go nigh to break his parents' hearts and make himself unhappy; for which she could not forgive herself, and which would render her miserable, even as his wife. And in this she persisted. Thereupon the youth ceased to urge his suit; but, after moping about some weeks in a listless way, took to his bed with a low fever. When the family physician, an enlightened man, found the usual remedies unavailable, and the mother in despair, he said to her, Madam, it is my duty to tell you that your son's condition seems te me the result of deep seated mental depression. Some- thing preys on his mind try to find out what it is; you may then be able to do more for him than all the medicine in the pharmacopoeia." The next day the mother did her best to call forth her son's confidence, but for a time in vain. All she could get from him was It's no use, mother dear. It will only vex you." But when she implored him, weeping, to tell her all, he said at last, I have loved Norah all my life. I asked her, since I came home, to marry me, but she refused me, because, she said, it would make us all unhappy. And say what I will, she sticks to it." My son, my son, how could you think of such a thing?" "J told you it was no use, mother; I knew you would take it just so; but I haven't spirit to live without her." Then the father was con- sulted he was furious but the patient's fever increased from day to day, and the mother's heart began to relent. If it should kill him she said to her husband you know how you felt when I refused you the first time." That touched him, but he held out three days longer, the young man appearing to sink all the time. Then, one morning, he got up with a sudden resolution, and sought his son's bedside. "Listen to me, dear boy," he said your happiness is my first object, but it is my duty to prevent you from doing anything rashly, which you may repent all your life afterwards. You are scarcely eighteen that is too young to marry. I want you to make the tour of Europe before you settle down. I will find you an ex- cellent tutor as companion. But I must ask from you that you will not return to Ireland till you are twenty- one nor correspond, meanwhile, with Miss Fitzpatrick. I must say she has acted very honourably; and if, when you return, you still remain of the same mind, and she will accept you, your mother and I will not withhold our consent. But you must promise, on your honour as a gentleman." And so the bargain was struck, the parents doubtless believing that three years would cure a boyish fancy. Two weeks saw the son well again, and prepared for his journey. On the very day he was twenty-one he returned to claim his parents' promise over-persuaded Norah and my father, invited to their country seat ten years afterwards, found them, he told us, one of the happiest-looking couples he had ever seen.-Robc1.t Dale Owen, in the Atlantic Monthly. A CURE FOR DRUNKENNESS. He came in with an interrogation point in one eye, and a stick in one hand. One eye was covered with a hand- kerchief and one arm in a sling. His bearing was that of a man with a settled purpose in view. I want to see said he, the man that puts things into this paper." We intimated that several of us earned a frugal livelihood in that way. Well, I want to see the man which cribs things out of the other papers. The fellow who writes mostly with shears, you understand." We explained to him that there were seasons when the most gifted among us, driven to frenzy by the scarcity of ideas and events, and by the clamourous demands of an insatiable public, in moments of emotional insanity, plunged the flittering shears into our exchanges. He went off calmly, but in a voice tremulous with suppressed feeling, and indistinct through the recent loss of half a dozen or so of his front teeth—" Just so. I presume so. I don't know much about this business, but I want to see a man, the man that printed that little piece about pouring cold water down a drunken man's spine of his back and make him instantly sober. If you please, I want to see that man. I would like to talk with him." Then he leaned his stick against our desk and spit on his serviceable hand, and resumed his hold on the stick as though he was weighing it. After studying the stick a minute, he added in a somewhat louder tone—"Mister, I came here to see that ere man. I want to see him bad." We told him that particular man was not in. "Just 110. I presume. They told me before I come that the man I wanted to see would'nt be anywhere. I'll wait for him. I live up north, and I've walked seven miles to converse with that man. I guess I'll sit down and wait." He then set down by the door, and reflectively pounded the floor with his stick but his feelings would not allow him to keep stilL I suppose none of you didn't ever pour much cold water down any drunken man's back to make him instantly sober perhaps ?" None of us in the office had ever tried the experiment. "Just so. I thought as like as not you had not. Well, mister, I have. I tried it yesterday, and I have come seven miles on foot to see the man that printed that piece. It wasn't much of a piece I don't think but I want to see the man that printed it, just a few minutes. You see, John Smith, he lives next door to my house, when I'm at home, and he gets how-came-you-IO every little period. Now, when he's sober he's all right if you keep out of his way: but when he s drunk he goes home and breaks dishes, and tips over the stove and throws hardware around, and makes it inconvenient fo* his wife, and sometimes gets his gun and goes out calling on his neighbours, and it ain't pleasant. Not that I want to say anything about Smith but me and my wife don t think he ought to do 80. He came home drunk lately, and broke all the kitchen windows out of his house, and followed hill wife around with the carving knife, talking about her liver, and after1*'while he lay down by my fence and went to sleep. I had been reading that little piece—it wasn't much of a piece—and I thought if I could pour some water down his spine, on his back, and make him sober, it would be more com- fortable for his wife, and a square thing to do all round. So I poured a bucket of spring wator down John Smith's spine of his back." said we, as our sturdy visitor lJaus8(1, "did it l1Iake him sober?" Our visitor took a firmer hold of his stick and replied with increased emotion, "Just so. I suppose it did make him as soher as a judge in less time than you could say Jack Robinson; but, mister, it made him mad. It malle him the maddest than I ever saw, and Mister John Smith is a bigger man than me, and stouter. He is a good deal stouter. Bla— bless hiin, I nevcr kn w he was half so stout till yester- day, and he's handy with his fists, too. I should suppose he's the handiest man with his fists I ever saw." Then he went for you, did he ?" we asked innocently. Just so. Exactly. I suppose he went for me about the best he knew, but I don't hold no grudge against John Smith —he ain't a good man to hold a grudge against; only I want to see the man what printed that piece. I want to see him bad. I feel as though it would soothe mo to see that man. I want to show him how a drunken man acts when you pour water down the spine of his back. That's what I come for." Our visitor, who had poured water down the spine of a drunken man's back, remained until six o'clock in the evening, and then went up street to findthemanthatprintedthatlittlepiece. The man he is looking for started for Alaska last evening for a summer vacation, and will not be back before September, 1878.— Utica Herald.

THE LOSS OF THE CALDERA. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE CAMBRIAN." Sm In your Cambrian of August 1st, I see a state- ment, headed A Swansea Vessel burnt and abandoned." As that statement is in its most material points quite contrary to facts, and is likely to produce an unfavour- able impression in the minds of your readers, and inju- rious to me, I now ask you to insert in your next impres- sion the whole oi the evidence as given before the Board of Trade. I am willing to leave the verdict to the un- biassed nautical public, for I feel certain there would be but few who would not approve ot my course in pre- ferring to leave my ship, when in a disabled and sinking condition, 800 miles distant from the nearest port, than risk the lives of self and crew in remaining by her, with- out the slightest hopes of being able to save the ship. Were it ever my fate to be so unfortunate again, I would prefer to be on terra fi.rma, with my certificate in the possession of the Board of Trade, than be drifting about in an open boat, in the tempestuous and iceberg latitudes 150 miles South of Cape Horn, for even one week. In regard to the charge of proceeding without mates, I was compelled by stress of weather to do so, and any nautical man can easily see the reason. I made all the endeavours I could to reach Scilly Islands missing them, I had no alternative but to proceed, as my ship was not in a fit state to run on to the French coast. I acted as best I could under the trying circumstances in which I was placed; but, unfortunately for me, I could neither control the winds or weather. I hold it was not my fault but my misfortune, and I leave it to the public to judge if the decision of the Court is not in direct opposition to the whole of the evidence adduced on the trial. The burning was only an act of humanity to others, and as such I feel, if not cleareù DY my judges I am by my con- science. I now enclose report of Shipping and Mercan- tile Gazette, which I hope you will insert. I am, Sir, yours, &c., WILLIAM GRIFFITHS. Swansea, August -1th, 1873. OFFICIAL INQUIRY. TIIK ABANDONMENT CF THE CALDERA. An inquiry was opened on Saturday and eontinued on Monday, July 28th, at Greenwich Police Court, before Mr. Patteson, the magistrate, and Captains Nicholas and Grant, Nautical Assessors, relative to the abandonment and burning of the ship Caldera. Mr. Hargrave Hamel, barrister, attended for the Board of Trade Mr. G. Bruce for the Master and Owners of the Caldera Mr. Saxton watched the proceedings for the Mercliant Shipping Company, the Owners of the Canning and Mr Hall (Pritchard and Son) for owners of cargo of the Caldera Mr. Hamel, in opening the proceedings, slid: This was an inquiry into the circumstances attending the loss of the iron barque Caldera, of Swansea, which, after sus- taining injury through collision with the British ship Canning, of London, on the 8th of April last, in Lat 57 50 S., long. 75 W., was set on fire on the following day, and abandoned by her crew, who were taken on by the Canning to the Falkland Islands. The collision has already formed the subject of an investigation held at Port Stan- ley, Falkland Islands, on the 17th of April, and would not, therefore, come under the notice of this Court other- wise than incidentally during the progress of the present inquiry, which is directed into the destruction and aban- donment of the Caldera. The points for your considera- tion will, I apprehend, be—Was the Caldera prematurely abandoned ? Was her destruction by fire a prudent step? Could she not have safely been taken into Falkland or some other poit for repairs? Witnesses will be called from both vessels, and will tell you the condition of the Caldera after the collision; but as their statements are somewhat conflicting, I do not propose to give you any account of what was done on board the Caldera* prior to her abandonment I will, therefore, merely add, that the Caldera, of Swansea (Off. No. 29,595), was an iron barque, built at Sunderland, and registered at Swansea. in 1861. Her registered tonnage was 4G9 ton, and she was owned by Mr. Edward Bath, of Swansea (managing owner), and ten other persons, including Mr. William Griffiths, her late master, who holds a certificate of com- petency, which has been lost. She left Swansea for Val- paraiso on the 1st of [February last, with a cargo of coals, bricks, and iron, and a crew of fifteen or sixteen hands, and on the following night, when off the Irish coast, both the mates were washed overboard. The sailmaker and carpenter were appointed first and second mates, so that at the time of the casualty she had a weakened crew and no certificated mate on board. On the evening of the 8th April she came into collison with the Canning. From this point I think the narrative will be best supplied from the various witnesses. The Learned Counsel then called the following wit- nesses :— John Francis said I was ship's carpenter on board the ship Caldera, Mid subsequently acted as second mate. This was my first voyage in the Caldera. She left Swan- sea on the 1st of February for Valparaiso. She had a cargo of coals, iron, and bricks. I don't know the num- ber of her crew. She was an iron ship, and had one com- partment forward. The night after she left Swansea the second mate was washed overboard: it happened in con- sequence of shipping a sea. I was then appointed second mate, and the sailmaker first mate. I don't hold any certificate from the Board of Trade. On the night of the 7th April she came into collision with the ship Canning, as near as I can guess, at seven o'clock at night. The effect of the collision was to knock her starboard bows in, and break seven or eight of her frames. Her butt plates gave way. The waterways gave way; started clear of the deck and hull. The waterway broke into several pieces at several places they started from the covering board. The deck beams broke— they were of iron and the port bows were started out. The compartment bulk- head was stove into pieces; bowsprit and jibboom were knocked on to the port side. Her foretopmast went overboard. The plates on the starboard bow were from a quarter of an inch to half an inch apart. She had also started on the starboard quarter, and the waterways were cleared off the hull. The rivets were out, broken fore and aft on the port side as well. The houses on deck were smashed; her plates were about five-eighths of an inch in thickness. She had no cargo in her fore compartment—only stores—and that compartment ran about 15 feet aft. I went down into the well after the collision. It was near the mainmast. I found very little water in it three minutes after the collision. The weather was not very rough nor very fair. She was going seven or eight knots at this time of the collision. It was my watch on deck. The captain was on deck. I accom- panied him to the fore compartment and found the water coming in in all directions from the starboard bow. I tried to stop the leaks by stuffing oakum into the seams from the inside. We then tried to keep the water out with wood and canvass, but to no purpose it all worked out again, and the water gained and ran into the fore- hold. After the collision she was hove to, and was kept hove to till the following day on the port tack. We com- menced with the pumps, but it was of no good, as she was sinking by the head. She was making water for- ward, and was settling down by the head. The water was constantly running into the forehold. She was a complete wreck. She was leaking aft as well, from her quarter. The water rose during the night up to the lower 'tween decks in the fore compartment. During the night and early next morning, all hands except myself and the captain were engaged in throwing cargo over- board. About eleven in the forenoon the Canning was in sight. While the crew was discharging the cargo I and the captain were trying to stop the leaks. The Can- ning came to us about noon, and at that time there was about eight feet of water in the forehold. The captain of the Canning came in a boat to our vessel and came on board. He accompanied Captain Griffiths and myself to the fore compartment, and said she was in a fearful state, The fore compartment would not hold any more water it was running into the forehold. The captain of the Canning told Captain Griffiths to make up his mind at once. The captain of the Canning said she was in a fearful state, and both captains went aft to the cabin together. All hands went aft. In a few minutes Captain Griffiths returned to the deck. The men asked him what he intended to do; he replied, "Stick by her." AU hands said they would not, as she was not seaworthy. Captain Griffiths then asked me what I thought of her. I said it was impossible for her to keep up in a heavy sea. He asked the acting first mate also, and he said she was going fast down. Captain Griffiths said she was in a dangerous position for navigation after dark at night, as there were so many ships going out and home that way. The captain of the Canning (Captain Biddle) answered, Sink her at once, or set her on fire, for she won't float long." We then got the boats ready at once, and went on board the Canning. The captain's wife and child and a lady passenger were on board our ship, and they were taken on board the Canning in Captain Biddle's boat. "We then put the ship on fire and left her that was be- ^tween three and four in the afternoon. Captain Griffiths •give the order to set her on fire. She was then settling down fast by the head, and there was no chance of taking her into port. The nearest port was Port Stanley, 800 miles off, and I am certain she could not have kept afloat twelve hours longer. I saw her burning from the Can- ning, but did not see her go down. We were taken by the Canning to Port Stanley. J By Mr. Bruce I was examined before the Court of Inquiry held at the Falkland Islands. When the mate was washed overboard the men went to the master and asked him to turn her back, as he was the only navigator onboard. He refused to do so. The waterways on both sides were broken across by the force of the collision. The bluff of the starboard bow first struck the other vessel, and when they struck they ranged alongside each other; and when they came alongside each other the quarters of the two vessels struck heavily, and damaged our quarter. She 'was making water on the starboard quarter aft, and much more forward. She began to settle town immediately after the collision. The master and myself did all we could during the night to stop the leaks, out all in vain; it worked out with every move of the ,hip. The water kept gaining on us during the night. The Cunning was asked to stand by us till the morning, and we lay to on the port tack. At daylight the Canning was not in sight, but she came up afterwards. I saw that the Canning had been damaged, and before I went on board the captain of the Canning said his ship was fearfully damaged, but was better than ours, and he must make for some port; and he said Captain Griffiths must make up his mind at once, as his own ship was in such a bad state. When on board the Canning Capt. Griffiths made an entry in the official log of our own ship, and I signed it. I set her on fire to prevent her coming in collision with other vessels, which I considered a very necessary thing to do, or I should have tpoken against it We were in the track of vessels it was quite impossible to save either ship or cargo. The Canning was not in a condition to take us in tow. Francis Silva, steward on board the Caldera, gave evidence of the state of the vessel after the collision, and that she was set on fire to prevent damage to other vessels. Captain Henry Biddle said I am the master of the sailing ship Canning. I hold a mister's certificate of competency. She is 918 tons register, teak built, and ship-rigged. She was on a voyage, at the time of the collision, from Sydney far London, with a full cargo of colonial produce, and a crew of twenty-seven hands and three passengers. My vessel came into collision with the C;tl<ler¡¡" They were entan:;le!1 a few minutes. It was a -heavy blow. The Caldera's bowsprit went through our cutwater, the two bows coming together. The two ships came alongside. There was great confusion on board our own ship, and too busy in taking in sails to notice the Caldera. They parted company. The Caldera hailed to stay by till the morning, and I replied that I would do so. I took in all sail, except the lower topsails, and hove the ship to for the night. My ship was making a great deal of water forward, and the pumps had to be kept constantly going. Our port bow was stove in, seven timbers broken, the cutwater was knocked awsy, and the iron knees of the 'tween decks were bent below. During the night we lost sight of her. I showed blue lights and rockets, and next morning, at daylight, I went in search of the Caldera, and sighted her from the masthead at 20 minutes past seven. I hove down upon her till within three miles, and then lowered my boat, the wind being 'light, and I boarded her about noon. I saw the captain, and inquired 'her state. He asked me to look at her head. I could not stay long, as my own ship was in a dangerous state. I went down into the forepeak with him. The starboard bow was stove in. I did not make a minute inspection. The wa^er-tight compartment was crumpled up like a piece of paper. The captain told me he could not use the pumps as they were choked. The crew were throwing bricks overboard. I asked the cap- tain what he indended to do he said to stick by the ship if I could keep him company. I said I could not, nor could I go to Valparaiso. I did not notice whether she was by the head or steru. She appeared to be deep for her sizf. I said I was going to the Falklands for repairs, and I would keep him company, but told him I could not promise him any assistance if a heavy gale of wind came on. The captain said he could get nothing done at the Falkland, his being an iron ship. We were then about 800 miles distant from the Falkland*. He said his water- ways were broken, but he would like to stay by her and try her. I came out of the cabin with him, and found the crew aft, and they protested about being left, and refused to do any more for the ship if I left. I think they meant what they said. The captain then asked the carpenter what he thought; he saisl the same, that he thought she would part at the first breeze. The captain saw then that he had no alternative but to abandon her. I offered to take his passengers in my boat. His wife, child, and one female refused to leave unless he left. He then determined upon abandoning her, and I went on board my own ship and put her head round, and ulti- mately took them all on board and landed them at Falk- land Islands. Before I left the ship the captain said he would set fire to her in order to prevent any accident to other vessels. The wind was light at the time. The glass was very low and the weather threatening when we left the Caldera. If bad weather had set in, I could not have answered for my own ship reaching the Falkland Islands. I could not say which ship was most injured. Our vessel was much damaged. Wooden vessels can be repaired at Falkland, Islands, but no iron-plated vessels can, to my knowledge. I had never been there before. I saw the Caldera on fire soon after I left her, about four o'clock in the afternoon. As soon as I got the captain on board I made sail for the Falklands. By Captain Grant: There was nothing unusual in the trim of the Caldera. I could hear water coming in below. The plates were forced in and the rivets started. The house aft was stove. If the Caldera had been lightened, she might with a fair wind have made Falklands, but it is only a matter of opinion. When I went on board I saw no imminent danger of the ship going down. Up to the time I was on board the Caldera everything that was practicable appeared to have been done to save the ship. I saw nothing to prevent her wearing round. By Mr. Patteson I was very anxious about my own vessel, and I urged the captain to decide what he would do. The crew refused to work any more. If a gale had come on she would not, in my opinion, have made the Falklands. By Captain Nicholas I could not spare one man from my ship. I might have spared an officer. The pumps were kept constantly going, and the crew were em. ployed the whole night. I was quite unable to render assistance. By Mr. Bruce About the time of the collision she was westward of Cape Horn, lat. 67 50, long. 75 1. The master of the Caldera informed me of his intention to fire the ship. I thought it was a prudent thing. I did not suggest it. I told him to make haste and leave. William Waddilove said I was second officer on board the Canning. I went on board the barque Caldera the day after the collision, and after the captain returned I went off in a boat with four men to tell the captain of the Caldera to hasten on board the Canning as soon as he could, as the weather was threatening. We went along- side on the starboard side. Did not notice anything par- ticular about the hull. Her foretopmast was gone and she was rolling heavily. I looked forward and noticed the covering-board gone and the rails broken in. The sailors said there was a good deal of water in her, and I remarked why they did not pump her, and they replied that the pumps were choked. The afterpart of the ship on deck near the wheel was broken in. I saw the captain and told him the weather was threatening, and that he was to come off as soon as possible. He said he would, and I took away some clothes and stores. She appeared to be down by the head if anything. By Captain Grant: The ship was very deep and down by the head. Thomas Gaskar, able seaman on board the Caldera, said I was on the look-out on the night of the collision. I could hear the water coning in below forward. I was employed during the night in clearing the vessel. We commenced to lighten her about four o'clock in the morning. By seven o'clock more than 5,000 bricks were thrown overboard. When we saw the captain of the Canning come on board we spoke to the carpenter as to the state of the ship. I asked the captain what he intended doing. He asked us what we intended to do. We answered that we intended to leave the ship as the carpenter had told us that she would go down in the first breeze, The captain said he did not mean to leave her. We said we would not stay in her, and then the carpenter came forward and stated what he thought to be the con- dition of the vessel. The captain of our ship did not want to leave her, as he thought the Canning was making more water than we were. We were worn out in working. It was stated that there was a better chance in keeping a wooden ship afloat than an iron one. By Captain Nicholas The pumps were worked up to eleven o clock on the night of the collision. The crew were then engaged in clearing away the wreck up to two o clock, and from four o'clock they were engaged in throw- ing cargo overboard. A seaman on board the Canning said he was on the j ° an<^ went three times in the boat to the Caldera, and he noticed her bowsprit and foretopmast had been carried away. There was a large bulge in her bow, and the plates were stove in. She was rolling heavily. ii?r" |^amel said he had no other witnesses to examine. Mr. Bruce said the statement of the Captain of the Caldera would be put in on the following day. The inquiry was accordingly adjourned. MONDAY. The following statement of Captain William Griffiths, the master of the Caldera. was put in and read by Mr. lioustred, the clerk of the court:—Gentlemen,—Conclud- ing that the Court will extend to me the customary and courteous permission to give verbally, or in writing, my explanation of the causes and reasons of the abandonment or the Caldera barque, and observations on the facts and evidence before the Court, I adopt the latter mode as giving me a better means of detailing the circumstances, as it will enable me to be more concise and occupy less of the time of the Court. The Caldera was originally a 12 years A 1 ship, classed at Lloyd's, built by Messrs. Pile p1? •> Sunderland, with special adaptation to the "lan copper trade, having two water-tight compart- ments, one in either end. She was provided with good i~y Pimps, worked by a weger, the tubes of which had een rebored in '71. The latter end of '71 or begin- ning of 72 she underwent the triennial survey at Liver- pool, and her class was advanced in Lloyd Book to AA, oor plates and reverse angle iron cemented, and ceiling reiaid. A portion of the ceiling was taken up and relaid before leaving Swansea, on the last voyage; the rest of the ceiling was taken up and relaid, and the whole of the seams and the butts of the ceiling were caulked, and the noor plates, frames, and reverse angle irons, to two or ^ree feet above the round of the bilge, were covered with Portland cement. Cunningham's patent reefing topsail s weae replaced by double topsailyards. She was a ^ea<l weight cargo of about 686 tons, composed of 150 tons of bricks, 37 tons of iron, and remainder coals this cargo being about 24 tons less than her usual burthen. The bricks were stowed in the ends of the ship, and formed a bulkhead for the coals, and were stepped to- wards the fore and aft ends of the vessel. They were tire bricks, therefore heavy, and for that reason were Placed on copper ore platform, raised about four feet from the bottom of the hold, so as to maintain a proper equili- brium, and so prevent her labouring in a heavy sea. She was in all respects efficient, and fully provided for the 8ailed from Swansea on the morning of the IstMraaiy for Chanaral, in Chili, with permission to ca', Valparaiso for chartering purposes. The wind, which was at the time about E.S.E., fresh, had before night become a perfect hurricane, and the sea was making c°n™^ual breaches over her, keeping her almost con- 8 v- u with water, from the heavy N.W. or lee sea, vn Tas running at the time. A. little before midnight, whilst X was standing on the fore part of the wheel-house attending to the steering of the vessel, the first and second mates, with carpenter, being, engaged in replacing the battening of the hatches which had been washed off, and securing things about the decks, she was struck with a sea on the starboard quarter, washing me away to the mizzenmast, |The carpenter and myself escaped being washed overboard, but the two mates were taken. The crew wished me next day to put into port to replace my officers but the wind having shifted to N.N.E., I could not fetch Ireland, and steered for Scilly. Not having had the opportunity of taking any observations since leaving, I steered S., thll wind at the time N., but found the day following, when I made an obervation at noon, that she was much further S. than I allowed her, the wind having backed to the N.E. during the night. I found that in the disabled condition I was then in, the wind still blowing a gale, it was impossible to reach any English port, and wore ship to W.S.W. The crew refused to proceed (as detailed in official log), but after promising, if they still wished it when we got so far, I would call at Madeira, they consented to go to their duty. Having appointed the sailmaker, who had previously sailed with me as boat- swain, to act as chief mate, and the carpenter, who had previously acted in another ship as carpenter and boat- swain, to act in that capacity with me, we proceeded on our voyage, and never heard any more reference to Madeira, from any of the crew. When in lat. 83 2G N., between that and Madeira, we experienced strong breezes, sometimes amounting to a gale, between S.E. and S., veering to S. W. and back to S. E., in consequence of which I was driven to the westward of Madeira. Subsequently experiencing heavy easterly winds, I could not reach Madeira, and so determined to proceed on the voyage. On the 14th instant we lifted the port pump, being then in lat. 26 N., long. 27 W. and from that until the 21st (in lat. 15 N., long. 28 W.) continued clearing out the w ;11 and pumping out the water. On the 21st the well was at three inches and clear, and everything seemed likely to go well during the remainder of the passage, the crew being contented and happy. We made favourable progress, and had arrived at lat. 58 S., long. 75 W., on our 65th day from Swansea, on Monday, April 7, civil time 19 hours, or Tuesday, 8th, 7 p.m. sea time, the wind at the time being from the north, sea running from the w seward with a topgallant, sail breeze, and steering west, "•oinf free with the yards checked, when we were run into by the Canning, of London, as deecribed in the evidence. The causes which led to the collision I do not allude to, as that will form a subject for a court of law. The Canning struck us on the starboard bow, somewhere about the water-tight compartment, bulging in the bow, forcing the cathead through the main deck, doubling down the bulwarks, and parting the waterway from the hull from before the cathead to within a few feet of the fore rigging, or over a space of several feet, breaking the waterway, with angles inside and out, in two on both sides. The foretopmast was carried away, and was hanging over the foreyard, with sails, gear, and yards attached. The bow- sprit was forced round on the port bow, jibboom being unhurt, having carried away the deck bands, and bolts were hung by the beams of topgallant forcastle, jibboom lying on the top of bowsprit., with the sails over the lee side in the water. The plates from the stem to the fore- rigging, and for some feet below the water-line, were in some places a quarter to half an inch apart, butt plates of that range, with aU the vivet heads, also the rivet heads off the plates, ship working with every movement. I may here state that having filled the mainyard on the port tack, with her head to the eastward, and the wind having fallen very light, after the collision, the sea being from the westward, it was the quietest way she would lie but were it not so I should have been compelled to lie on that tack, as I could not work my head braces on account of the spars and sails being on the fore side. Six or seven of her frames were broken in fore compart- ment and forecastle, two of the main deck and two of the lower deck beams were bent up and broken, having forced the hull apart from the waterway on the port side. The compartment bulkhead was crumpled up and broken (with the stiffeners belonging to it) to below the lower deck. In the lower hold, in compartment and forehold, the water was running in at the seams, and the seams opening with the working of the ship, although the move- ment of the ship was only slight. The stem head was forced round to port and fastenings started. Shortly after the ship first came into collision the quarter of the Canning came into collision with our quarter. The Can- nin? being a much larger ship, and higher out of the water, she with the roll of the sea came down upon us wi h great violence, smashing up our houses, flattening the bulwarks on deck, starting the waterways from the mizzen rigging round the starboard quarter (the Caldera wis a flush deck ship), also the seams and butt plates. They then separated. I asked the name of the ship, but received no answer. I then ordered all hands to the pumps, but finding there was not much water, ordered Mr. Luen, the first mat?, to take the hands to cut away the bowsprit and topmast, while I went below with the carpenter to see the ship. About the time of the collision the barometer was down to 29 3, and falling, and the appearance of the sky threatening. I ordered Mr. Luen to hail the ship, and tell him I was in a sinking condition, and ask him to remain by me. as I was afraid she would fill or part if any sea arose. I received a, reply, but could not make it out. We steered after him, but we shortly after Io:t sight of him, the Canning appearing to us to be going on under all sail, and we being in that crippled condition, I lashed the helm a-lee, hoisting a signal Ian. tern in the fore rigging. I then went below, and was for some time busily engaged with my carpenter in trying to caulk the seams in the first compartment with oakum, but found it to be useless below the water, as it was washed out as soon as any movement took place. Hav- ing myself sounded the pumps, and finding no water going to them from fore hold or fore compartment, but that all the water, which by this time (about midnight) was considerable, and knowing the absorbing nature of my cargo (after clearing away the wreck), I ''oncluded my my cargo (after clearing away the wreck), I concluded my best step was to lighten her, and gave my orders accord- ingly. A little after midnight I, in company with the steward, examined the main hold. Found her to be severely shaken. Several of the rivet heads off along the starboard side. Between three and four a.m., all the crew, except the steward, who was otherwise engaged, commenced to lighten the ship. At daylight, no sail in sight, re examined the bow, and, with the carpenter, proceeded to stop the holes in the waterways with wooùe:1 wedges. Making all haste, continued our endea- vours to stop the leaks, fearing wild weather would set in before we could do so, thinking, of course, that the Canning had left us to the mercy of the elements. I did not think of using sails over the side, as the water was pouring in only through the several seams and butts; and the leaks being but three or four feet below the water-line, there woul-.l not have been sufficient pressure or suction to render the sail of any use and, furthermore, my actions were guided by making the best use of the then very fine weather to prepare us to meet in the best way we could the expected wild weather; for I firmly believed (although that was not expressed to anyone, and refuted if expressed by anyone to me) that the first sea she would have to encounter would be her last. I had early that morning held a consultation with the carpenter as to our probable chances in the event of a storm, in which his opinion coincided with mine—that was, we should stand but little chance of our lives. Though that opinion was not expressed by me to him, yet, after what has been adduced in evidence, I believe the Court will agree that, as a duty to my men, my ship was not in that condition to justify me in attempting to stay by force their departure from my ship, as property forms but a secondary consideration where life is concerned. So far as regards our not using other signals than the lamp, I thought it to be utterly useless, having distinctly heard an order from someone on board the Canning to lower away the lifeboat. I knew that such a thing was to them handy, and would be but the work of a few moments if needed. Combining that with the refusal to give their name, and their ultimate action of leaving me, and having seen her when last she could be seen, with royals set and no yards backed I thought it useless to waste any of our valuable time, in attempting to recall him. I do not hesitate to say that had the Caldera been wood, our fate would have been very different, and in all probability this inquiry would not have been instituted, as she would have been down in a very short time. Another reason was I wished to keep my men in as hopeful a condition as possible, to show them by example that in working we could help ourselves. About 3 or 4 A.M. we commenced throwing overboard cargo, and I heard that in the forehold the water was then nearly up to the platform. I was in hopes that if we worked till night with a will we might get the worst out of the water, and so enable her to float until some assistance could be had for from the first I knew it was a hopeless case so far as the saving of the ship and cargo was concerned. We continued throwing overboard cargo until 8.30, when all hands had breakfast. I then went down in forehold and found the water washing about the platform, which was about four feet above the ceiling of the ship, and run- ning in from compartment bulkhead underneath the fore- castle deck. I went on deck, telling my men to make a hasty breakfast, as we were net likely to have it fine long. We soon resumed the work of throwing overboard cargo, and endeavouring to stop the water. At 2.30 a.m. I espied a sail, and on taking my glasses thought it to be the ship we were in collision with. Set upper maintopsail, placed a man to the wheel, and steered for the ship. The wind by this time was nearly a calm, water smooth for the place. 11.30, Captain of ship came on board, when I shewed him the state of my ship, and asked him to give me his opinion of her. He replied, she was in a dangerous state it was not for him to give an opinion, but for me to decide he came on board to see if I needed assistance, but could not stay as his own ship needed his time to see to her. I do not recollect any allusion whatever to Valparaiso or Falk- land Islands in any of our conversations. I might have said afterwards, when on board the ship Canning, that repairs could not be done to an iron ship at Falkland Islands. We then went aft to the cabin when I was called on deck, as the men wanted me. I went on deck, and found all hands aft. On asking what they wanted, they asked me what I intended to do. I replied, my intentions are to remain by her and try her. They one and all firmly refused to go in her, and said if I stayed by her they would not work; but I must state I never heard an oath from them. As was given in evidence by Captain Beadle, it was not a usual thing to hear in the Caldera by master or men, and never allowed on the quarter deck. As I have pre- viously stated, my opinions of the case were formed from the first. I, therefore, could not see the utility of wasting the valuable time of the Canning by further objections. I knew the fact of leaving her was a question of time, and having again seen her forward, and seen that the water still increased, I at once determined to abandon hen I called a consultation of Captain Beadle, Mr. Luen, Car- penter, and myself, as to what steps were best to be taken in regard to the ship, stating it to be dangerous to naviga- tion to leave her, as she was likely to float for some hours, the time altogether depending on the state of the weather. We were unanimously of opinion that it was best to make her a mask to warn ships of their danger, and that being accomplished best and readiest by fire, we decided on that course, Capt. Beadle concurring in that opinion. Another reason for my act in firing her was, I did not know my legal responsibility, if accident arose, by leaving obstructions in the way of others, and, humanely viewing the case, I thought it to be the only course I could puraue. I once nearly ran into a wreck in the N.E. trades. I reported that to Lloyd's, and expressed an opinion that such a danger should not be left in the way of navigation in lat. 58 S. Should a vessel run into her (Caldera) there would be but little hopes of their lives, and, having decided to abandon, and, as I believe, the Court wiK agree justifiably so, I felt I would be committing, if nof ■flfcnminally wrong act, a decided morally wrong act in leaving her in the way of ethers. For navigating purposes she was a complete wreck, and I felt I would be justified in my act ef firing, her. That being, as I before said, the opinion of the few, I determined in doing so, and gave orders for it to be done. Sending away passengers, wife and child, with Captain Beadles, I made preparations accordingly, leaving my steward to put together a few of the most handy and useful articles of apparel. I again went forward. Saw the oakum had all worked out of the seams below the water, and the compartment was as full of water as it could get, the water running through the break of bulkhead into the hold. The forehold occupying a much larger space, did not seem to fill so fast, but the water there was consider- ably over the platform—about a foot over the platform, and not making its way to the pumps. The reason I can give for that being this, on the night of the first of Feb- ruary, and up to the 21st, there being so much water in her, and she being laden with small coals for smelting purposes, the coals must have been washed down, and so stopped the water-courses in the limbers. Again, the absorbing nature of coals would immediately suck up the water if the courses were not perfectly clear. I must here state I am surprised at Captain Beadle stating he did not observe anything in the ship, for he told me repeatedly, on board the Canning, his reason for so soon lowering the lifeboat was, he thought she was waterlogged, and that she was very deep. Previous to his arrival we had thrown overboard about 12,000 bricks, or about 36 tons. So if, according to his statement, she was on an even keel, she must have sunk equal to that amount. I have given my statement with truth, and I trust with clearness; and if I have erred in firing the ship, I believe the Court will agree with me it is on the side of humanity. Mr. Bruce then addressed the Court for the captain, and submitted that he was fully justified in abandoning the vessel, and setting her on fire so that she should not become a dangerous derelict. He (Mr. Bruce) therefore trusted that his client would not be held responsible for the loss of the vessel. The Court retired for some time, and on rdurning the following judgment was read :— This was a case of abandonment and setting fire to the barque Caldera, in consequence of damage received by her in collision with the ship Canning but inasmuch as the counsel for the Board of Trade informed the Court that the question of which was right or wrong as to the collision was now a subject of litigation in other Courts the case before this Court resolves itself into a question of whether the amount of damage which the Caldera had sustained from the collision justified her master, Captain Griffiths, in abandoning and setting fire to her. The Court, therefore, pass over the evidence as to the colli- sion, which, as before said, is being investigated else- where, and begin with the result upon the Caldera. The Caldera and Canning came into collision about seven o'clock in the evening of the 7th of April, and four points appear to arise for the consideration of the CourtFirst, was the master imprudent in proceeding on the voyage after the loss of the first and second mates ? We are of opinion that he was so. He made no effort to replace them, and was thus left, after the casualty, without the advantage of proper and experienced officers. Secondly, were proper means taken for the preservation of the ship ? We are of opinion that he might have used better and well-known remedies, and shown more judgment, after the collision, and after he had ascertained the damage done to his barque, < instead of relying so entirely on his carpenter, who had only been six years at sea. Thirdly we are of opinion that she was prematurely abandoned) and there appears to be no reason why the attempt to navigate the Caldera to the Falkland Islands should not have been made, especially considering the prevailing nature of the winds and the offer of Captain Beadle to accompany him to that port. Fourthly, we are of opinion in this case that there was nothing to justify setting fire to the Caldera. The Court, under all the circumstances, consider that Captain Griffiths was guilty of a default in judgment on the points above enumerated; but, consi- dering the difficulties of his position, that he had but a short time to make up his mind, and the unwillingness of the crew to remain with him by the ship, they wish to deal with him as leniently as possible, and adjudge that his certificate be suspended for three calendar months from this day."

COUNTY COURT BUSINESS. Swansea.—5778 plaints were entered they represented the sum of £18,239. Of these 3223 were determined— 2188 for the plaintiffs, 93J by consent, 49 nonsuits, and 53 for the defendants. The judgments obtained by the plaintiffs amounted to j68168 exclusive of costs £391, and fees £2474. There were 1130 judgment summonses issued, 717 heard, 379 warrants issued, 31 debtors im- prisoned, 1390 executions issued, and 16 sales made. Neath,-3960 plaints were entered; they represented the sum of JE8882. Of these 2338 were determined—1712 for the plaintiffs, 563 by consent, 32 by default, 20 non- suits, and II for the defendants. The judgments obtained by the plaintiffs amounted to JE4955 exclusive of costs JB117, and fees £1317. There were 281 judgment sum- monses issued, 140 heard, 70 warrants issued, 12 debtors imprisoned, 1008 executions against goods issued, and 13 ItIe" made. From the annual return of the business transacted in each County Court in England and Wales which has just been made public, we find that from the establishment of these Courts in March, 1847, to 31st December, 1872, the number of plaints entered for trial to be 18,200,811, re- presenting the sum of £43,794,746. Of these 10,270,092 were determined and judgment entered to the amount of £24,732,095 exclusive of costs and fees. During 1872 there were 900,775 plaints entered,iepresenting.82,590,792. Of these 511,906 were determined and judgment entered to the amount of jEl.282,693, exclusive of costs and fees. The following are the figures relating to the Courts in this county :— Aberdare. -3312 plaints were entered; they represented the sum of £8,858. Of these 2562 were determined—1201 for the plaintiffs, 3 by default, 1338 by consent, 7 non- suits, and 13 for defendants. The judgments obtained by the plaintiffs amounted to £6,460 exclusive of costs £51, and feesE1339. There were 526 judgment summonses issued, 386 heard, 140 warrants issued, 15 debtors im- prisoned, 1119 executions issued, and 24 sales made. Bridgend and Cowbrid,qe.-12:32 plaints were entered they represented the sum of JE3721. Of these 721 were determined—531 for the plaintiffs, 150 by consent, 17 by default, 13 nonsuits, and 10 for the defendants. The judgments obtained by the plaintiffs amounted to £1739, exclusive of costs JB108 and fees £;)02. There were 60 judgment summonses issued, 30 heard, 15 warrants issued, 1 debtor imprisoned, 258 executions issued, and 5 sales made. Merthyr Tydfil.-3834 plaints were entered they re- presented the sum of £7827. Of these 2722 were deter- mined—1692 for the plaintiffs, 992 by consent, 8 by de- fault, 12 nonsuits, and 18 for the defendants. The judgments obtained by the plaintiffs amounted to S5169 exclusive of costs JE855 and fees £1364. There were 939 judgment summonses, 519 heard, 3ï5 warrants issued, 84 debtors imprisoned, 1107 executions issued, and 13 sales made. Pontypridd. —2969 plaints were entered they repre- sented the sum of £7,91)0, Of these 1905 were determined —1292 for the plaintiffs, 584 by consent, 6 by default, 12 nonsuits, and 10 for the defendants. The judgments obtained by the plaintiffs amounted to £4468, exclusive of costs £68, and fees £1133. There were 387 judgment summonses issued, 233 heard, 133 warrants of commit- ment issued, 14 debtors imprisoned, 684 executions against goods issued, and 2 sales made.

A series of national demonstrations in the north of Ireland will be held during this month. These demon- strations will assume the character of Home Rule and amnesty to the Fenian prisoners. The magistrates on Friday:committed the Italian sailor, Pasquale Seringio, for trial on the charge of manslaughter of the Greek who was killed at Southampton a few days ago. A fine art exhibition has been opened at Aberdeen, in aid of the building fund of the County and Municipal Buildings, a splendid granite edifice, which is estimated to cost £80,000. Leeds Assize opened on Monday. Nine persons are charged with murder. Thomas Green, a soldier was sentenced to fifteen years' penal servitude for the attempted murder of his sweetheart. At the Manchester Assizes on Saturday, a collier named Collinson obtained a verdict against the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company for injuries sustained in a collision near Chorley, in January last. The damages were assessed at £400. Miss Hodgson has obtained B320 damages against Mr. Sydney Landon, a tailor of New Burlington-street, Lon- don, for false imprisonment. He had charged her, at Brighton, with stealing a purse from him, and she had been committed for trial. Messrs. Adam and Charles Black are about to publish the 9th edition of the Encyclopaedia Brittanica," which will, it is computed, involve an outlay of £2oo,OUO. The editor will be Mr. Spencer Baynes, Professor of Logic in the University of St. Andrews. It is stated in letters from Paris that the further the French harvest advances the more disappointing are the results. The wheat ripened prematurely, and the ears are ripe in consequence. There is abundance of straw. Prices have ruled firm. Early on Friday morning the steamer Tuskar, of Aber. deen, while passing through the Pentland Frith, ran into a fishing lugger, which immediately sank. Four of the crew were rescued, but two, William Groat and William Leith, were drowned. The Amnesty Association have notified to members of Parliament that they intend to make the release of the Fenian prisoners a test question at the general election. Two Home Rule meetings were held in Dublin on Satur- day, when resolutions in favour of the the movement were adopted. The potato disease has made its appearance in the neighbourhood of Uppingham, but at present only on the damp low-lying ground. On the dry soils no trace of the disease is to be found, and the crop is a promising one. The disease has also appeared in the neighbourhood of Newmarket. We learn from the Manchester papers that the strike of colliers at Burnley is extending, and that there seems every probability that the struggle will be protracted and severe. The men are to receive immediate assistance from the funds of the association, and the committee have resolved to resist the employers to the utmost of their power. On Saturday ten mills were stopped for want of fuel. There is a flutter among the clerks of the Civil Service consequent upon the rumours about the Parliamentary Committee's report, it is said that the report in the main is adverse to Mr. Lowe's management of the Treasury. The elerks cost, according to the last returns presented to Parliament, about £3,000,000. They number about 11,000. The committee have arrived at the conclusion that they could be reduced both in number and in cost; though they do not think the salaries are too large, or that any saving is to be effected by revising them. They are of opinion that, however, that the Civil servioe is decidedly too numerous, that a large number of perma- nent clerks have too little to do, and there is much waste of time from giving well-educated men mere mechanical work. On these grounds the committee are led to recom- mend that instead of the system of superannuating redundant clerks, there should be a cessation of fresh appointments, and a transfer of service from one depart- ment to another.