SEA MESSAGES FROM THE PASSENGERS.
Admiral Halsted, the Secretary of Lloyd’s, has received the following letter from Sir Anthony Perrier, C.B., Her Majesty’s Consul, and Lloyd’s Agent at Brest, dated 24th February 1866:—
Sir,—I annex a translation of an extract from a letter just received from the Commissary-General of Marine at Lorient, which may be of interest to those concerned in the fate of the unfortunate London, should the original papers sent to Paris not have been transmitted to Her Majesty’s Government by the Minister of Marine.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Anthony Perrier.
To the Secretary at Lloyd’s.
Extract of a letter from Commissary-General of Marine at Lorient:—
(Translation.)—On the 12th of February last three bottles were found on the coast of Guiberon and Locruariaquer, containing six papers written in English, as follows:—
The first paper—D. W. Lemon, London, Thursday, 10th January 1866. The ship is sinking; no hope of being saved. Dear parents, may God bless you, as also me, with the hope of eternal salvation.
Second paper.—Steam-ship London.—They are putting out the boats.
Third paper.—F. G. Huckstepp. On board steam-ship London, lat. 46 deg. 20 min., long., 7 deg. 30 min.; lost boats, masts, and sails; ship leaking.
Fourth paper.—We commenced our voyage on Saturday, the 30th December 1865. Sunday in the channel, Monday in open sea; Tuesday in ditto; Wednesday at Cowes; Thursday at Plymouth; Friday and Saturday at sea; Sunday bad weather; Monday water from the stern comes in cabins; the 9th, heavy damages, a boat lost. May we get home. Storm.—H. G.
Fifth paper.—F. C. McMillan, of Launceston, Tasmania, 12th January, to his dear wife and dear children: May God bless you all. Farewell for this world. Lost in the steam-ship London, bound for Melbourne.
Sixth paper.—H. J. D. Denis to Th. Denis Knight, at Great Shelford: Adieu father, brothers, and my ... Edi ... steamer, London, Bay of Biscay, Thursday, ten o’clock. Ship too heavily laden for its size, and too crank; windows stove in; water coming in everywhere. God bless my poor orphans. Request to send this, if found, to Great Shelford. Storm not too violent for a ship in good condition.
On the same day were found, on the shoals of Guiberon, a binnacle watch, stopped at half-past ten o’clock, a woman’s shift, two cotton sheets, two splinters of wood, having on them in white letters, and six centimetres (2½ inches long), the word London.
A great quantity of staves have been picked up along the coast.
In compliance with instructions from the Minister of Marine, the above-mentioned papers have been sent to the Minister of Marine and Colonies.