LOSS OF THE "MISSOURI." [From the Times.]

New Zealander, Volume 1, Issue 39, 28 February 1846, Page 4

LOSS OF THE " MISSOURI." [From the Times.]

"The fate of the American steam frigate Mil souri[a*hip belonging to iheU. S. Navy] will not 6oon be forgotten. There was tomething marvellous about it} something: that set speculation, and even superstion at work, without, however, the smallest legitimate material to work upon. A noble war-steamer, eclipsing any vessel of that dais in the British Navy, and evidently intended to astonish the world, suddenly appears one Saturday afternoon at Gibralter.— She steers straight past some British vesselt anchored ata safe distance from the shore, and drops anchor so near, that, as she sheers in -shore she has ! not more than five feet under her bottom. The British spectators are seized with wonder at the size, the beauty, Ihe armament, and, above all, the daring of the stranger. Well might they be aghast at the spectacle of these rapid evolutions, performed within a bowsprit's length by a ship of nearly 2,000 tons, 250 feet long, with 350 men j onboaid,carrying2B enormousguns, and pierced for 44. They look and look again, and count her guns and adrriire her beautiful equipment, and are near enough to hear the conversation on board. The Captain and chief officers land, and go off to dinner at the American Contul>. The , British visiters go down to tea;' and have not fiuished their second cup, when they are called to the deck by the cry that « The steamer's on fire I She it oh fire; and after the preservation of the crew, and every atten pt to preserve the vessel by the crews of the sui rounding British vessels, she is utterly consumed, and before next inprning lies at the bottom a shapeless mats of charred timbers and old iron. "People made their own comments when the account reached us at home. More was said than was ever likely to meet the Republican ear. Though too little for war, the vessel seemed too large for peace. It was at least ademonstratioii. Wherever the went, the Missouri was to advertise the world of what our respected relative across the Atlantic can do and will do on an emergency. Her destination was various. She was bound to Alexandria, and thence to China, with the American Plenipotentiary on board for the Celestial Court. She touched at Gibralter, and it was said she was to touch at England also ; and probably at a few other points of interest, in the circuitous course from Gibraltar, to Pekin. Humanity was prompted to lament a disaster which stopped so noble a messenger of civilization in the first stage of her career. Doubtless, she was designed to diffuse the elements of social improvement wherever she touched the thore. Nay, it was positively stated that such was part of her mission. Still, an unaccountable mystery hung over her destination and over her end. Why talk to big, when joti mean only peace ? Why negociate a treaty with China when the British Minister has already included you in a treaty purchased by British arms for all the world ! As for the strange catastrophe, it was whispered at the time, without the smallest ground or circumstance of credit, that it was the crew who had burnt their vessel. Anything it more ci editable than the purely marvellous. " A strange discovery has added to the materials of speculation, without removing the ge"neral perplexity. Dead men tell no tales, at least they did not before the days of Herapath ; but foundered vessels are not to safe. The wreck and cargo of the Misouri are in the hands of the divert. Day after day they are bringing up doubtless much that a British sailor will easily divine by the analogy of civilized navigation and warfare But what does he imagine the divert are bringing up in great quantities day by day and carrying off in cart loadt to their store? Slave shacklesof every strength and size, for men and women, old aud young ! A correspondent of undoubted au'hority has sent us three specimens, — a family group, for father, mother and child. They are such as are used in the slave trade, — and are own brothers, as we can swear, to those found on board vessels engaged in the traffic. Were' the wreck to be judged by't'hese alone, the divers might conclude the Misouri te be ft gigantic slaver, designed to meet with the arguments of L)nch law the intricacies of the right of search. But of course, the Misouri was not a slaver. So what mean these countlest tuits of iron ?"

Pay to Army Officers. — By a refis?d ! warrant of ber Majesty, recently issued, regulating the issues of staff and garrison pay, the following are the prescribed rates of daily pay allowed for staff officers at home and abroad, who hold other military commissions or appointments. General commanding in chief, if a field marshal, £16 Bs. 9d. ; if below that rank, £9 9s. 6d.; general, £5 13s. 9(1.5 lieutenant-general, £3 155.10 d.; major-general £l 17s. lld ; brigadier-general, £1 Bs. 6d.} colonel, £1 2s. 9d.s adjutant-general, if serving at bead quarters, besides allowance of £500 a year, £3 15s. lOd.j if serving elsewhere, £1 17s. lid j deputy adjutant general, if serving at bead quarters, £1 l 7». Ud.; if 'serving elsewhere, 19s.j assistant adjutant general, if at head quarters, half pay regimental rank, 195.; head quaiters, full pay ditto, 14s. 3d.; if serving elsewhere, 14s. 3d.; deputy assistant ditto, bead quarters, 14s. 3d.; if serving 'elsewhere, 9s. 6d.j quarter master-general, head quaiters, besides allowance of £500 a year, £3 15s. lod , if serving elsewhere, £l 17s. lid; deputy quartermaster geneial, head quatters, £1 17s. lid.; elsewhere, 19s; assistant quarter master general, in sums var>ing from £l 7s. 6d. down to Hs 3d ; deputy ditto, i4s. 3d., down to 9s. 6d.; military secretary abroad, 195.; assistant ditto, Bs. 6d.; aide-camp to Sovereign, 10s. 8d j to general officer, 9s. 6d.; major of brigade, 9s. 6d. Daily rates of pay for staff or garrison officer* holding only one military commission or appointment — Inspector general of hospitals, under 20 yeais service, full pay, ,£l 16s ; Under 25, £1 18s ; above 25, £2. .Deputy inspector general, under 20 years' service, £1 4s; under 23, £1 8s ; above 25, £1 10s Staff surgeon, first class, under 20 years service, 19i.} under 25, £1 2s.} above 25, £1 4s ; staff surgeon, second class, under 10 \ears service, 13s ; under 20, 155.; under 25, 195.; above 25, £1 2s. Assistant surgeon, under 10 years service, 7s. 6d., übove 10,10 a. Medical cleiks, under 16 j ears

service, 6s.j abroad, 75.; under 20, 75.; abroad, Bs.; under 25, 8s. } abroad, 95.; above 20 years of which 15 have been abroad, 9s.j above 25, of which, less than 15 abroad, 9s. In addition to pay of ranks, officers at head of medical department on foreign stations, to receive allowances an under, when serving under the following circumstances :—lf with army in the field of 10,000 wen or upwards, 20s. per day j if with 5000, 155.; if less number, His. per day ; and if in colony whose forces consist of 1500 men, ss. per day. Chaplain to forces, under 15 years service, full pay, 16s j under 20 years service, £1, above 20, £12s. 6d. Deputy judge advocate, 195.; provost marshal, 9s. 6d.; deputy provost marshal, 4s. 9d. Summary or English News.— lt is said that an officer of the 42nd Royal Highlanders, stationed at Malta, Is about to retire to the clois1 ter, as a barefooted Carmelite. — The celebrated tower built by the late Mr. Beckford, at Lansdowne, near Bath, is about to be sold by his executors.--The reporters for the press who followed in the Queen's route to Germany, are in ecstacies at the hospitality of the Duke of Saxe Coburg, who furnished a house specially for their accommodation, supplied them with carriages, opera boxes, servants, a splendid table, and all other requisites, — Another colliery explosion has occurred in a pit at Aberdare in Wales, Five men weie dreadfully scorched, but it is expected that they will recover. The accident is attiibuted to neglect on the part of the men.— It was formerly the province of the Coroner's inquest to inquire into the origin of fires. This ancient function was resumed in the case of the recent fire in Aldermaubury, and a verdict of "Caused by Accident," returned.— At" Cro-tdon Assizes, the Portuguese Minister, the Duke of Palmella, recovered a verdict against (he South Western Railway Company, as common carrieis, for the loss of a box containing plate to the value of between £400 and £500.— Martha Cook, a fine young woman, aged 19, died a few days ago, at Coggleshall, from the rupture of a blood vessel, occasioned by tight-lacing. — The Great Not th Road between Uailington and Durham, and also between Bawtry and Done-aster, is in many places covered with grass in the centre, for several yards in length.— The floor of a room at the Philharmonic Institute, Manchester, gave way during a performance, a few dajs since, lucily it was confined to the part behind tne scenes. Seveial of the performers were much hurt, and the audience was greatly alarmed.— A number of well executed counterfeit half sovereigns, are in circulation in London. — Native Silver Ore of a rich quality, has recently been discovered in the East Cuombe Silver and Lead Mine, in the parish of Stein bridge; and the prospects generally are very flattering. — A woman in St. Martin's parish, Lincoln, who was insane, attempted to commit suicide, ty swallowing what she thought was oxalic acid, and which she applied for, as she said, to clean furniture % but the druggist from whom she bought the liquid, wisely sold her an emetic, that would not destroy her life, or injure her furniture.— A collier committed suicide at Derby Green, near Shrewsbury, by jumping into an old pit. His wife caught hold of his coat to prevent him, but the coat tore off and was left in her hand. — A garrison order has been issued at Gibraltar, prohibiting military medical officers from practising mesmerism.—A newspaper was published for the first time in St. Helena in June last. — Watchmnn. Pleasures or Know ledge.— Walter Scott, a name conspicuous among the brightest of his day, poured out his inexhaustible mind in fictions, at once so sportive and thrilling, that they have taken their place among the delights of civilised nations. How many millions have been chained to his pages ! How many melancholy spirits has he steeped in forgetfulness of there cares and sorrows! What multitudes, wearied by their day's work, have owed some bright evening hours and balmier sleep, to his magical creations!— And not only do fictions give pleasure. In proportion as the mind iscultivated, it takes delight in history and biography, in descriptions of nature in t f avels, in poetry, and even graver works. Is the labourer then defrauded ol pleasure by iraprovementf There is another class of gratifications to which self-culture introduces th* people. I refer to lectures, discussions, meetings of associations for benevolent and literary purposes, and to other like methods of passing the evening, which every year is multiplying among us. A popular address from an enlightened man, who has the tact to reach the minds of the people, is a high gratification, as well as • source of knowledge.— American.