Late News From England. GALES IN THE CHANNEL.

Colonist, Issue 25, 15 January 1858, Page 3

Late News From England.

GALES IN THE CHANNEL.

Terrific hurricans have within the last few, days swept the English and Irish coasts. Reports of considerable damage done to shipping have arrived from various seaports. . . ■ ; It is stated that the works of the Plymouth and Great Western Dock Company must have been injured to the extent of many thousands of pounds. The gates of the docks have been reft from their position and sunk in the basin. Several breaks have been made in the eastern embankment. The greater part of the western embankment has been displaced. The sea broke so fiercely against the back of the pier that the spray and portions of the waves were carried over some storehouses some forty or fifty feet high. Sveral of the yachts; smacks, and boats moored on the outside of the docks were drifted from their moorings and sunk. At daybreak on the Bth of October, while there was a violent gale off Brighton, a coal brig was descried dead set on the shore. The vessel was obviously unmanageable. She ran aground on a sand-rbar, opposite the Albion Hotel. Fortunately it was half tide, and she stood well till two life-boats put out and saved the crew. She is now a complete wreck. : "•' ' -. Up to -the 6th of October the weather on the coast of Ireland had been unusually fine. On the evening of that day the wind shifted. During the night and on the following day it blew a fierce gale, and the storm was accompanied by torrents of rain, lhe sea broke along the coast in tremendous surges. The long coast-line from Dublin to Wicklow Head was covered with foam and spray, as was also that extending from Howth to the bar off Drogheda. All the small craft ran for shelter to the nearest and most convenient place, and a large number of trading vessels made for Kingstown harbour. The mails of this morning bring additional reports of damage done by the recent gales. In the Downs the sea was tremendous. Two French vessels, while endeavouring to get into Ramsgate harbor, struck against the east pier and became total wrecks. A fine American ship, bound to New York from Sunderland, with a general cargo, has been wrecked on the Goodwin Sands. A sloop, from Newcastle, laden with coals and machinery, went to pieces off Hastings, and all on board perished. Two vessels," one Spanish and the other Portugues, were driven ashore on the Isle of Wight and totally lost. Lower down the Channel the gale is stated to have been, if posible, even more severe, To the westward of Portland several small vessels were wrecked. Many casualties are reported. Off Penzance several stores have been picked up, which has led to a belief that some unfortunate vessel had foundered during the fearful night of the 7th. In Carmarthen Bay, during a heavy squall, a French vessel drove from her anchorage near the Hooper Lands^ and foundered, the whole of her crew going down with her. — Hmrie Neivs, Oct. 10.