THE GALATEA'S VOYAGE TO THE CAPE.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue XXII, 21 November 1867, Page 5

THE GALATEA'S VOYAGE TO THE CAPE.

[From the South Australian Register.] The Galatea was commissioned on the 22nd January, and left Plymouth on the 26th February for Lisbon. After remaining there a few days she proceeded to Gibraltar, whence after a short refit she went to Malta. At that time the home Government had sent an ultimatum to Spain about the Tornado affair, and on the 6th March H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh was entrusted with despatches, to be forwarded from Marseilles on that subject. After remaining there for some time awaiting orders from England, when the rumors of war with Spain hud blown over, his Royal Highness obtained leave of absence, and proceeded to Paris (to visit the Exhibition), England, and Germany, whence ho returned on the Ist; June, and rejoined his ship. During the stay of the Galatea in Marseilles she was moored in Napoleon Basin, which turned out to be an exceedingly unhealthy anchorage. All the sewerage of the town empties itself into that basin, and there being little or no tide in the Mediterranean, the extreme filthiness of the place may be imagined. Fever broke out amongst the ship's company, and one of the patients — a first-class boy — died there. Upwards of forty cases succeeded at intervals, many of them rather severe ones, and several, including the surgeon of the ship, are still on the sick list. Just before going into Rio, a very fine midshipman, the Plon. R. J. B. Willoughby, son of Lord Middleton, took the fever, and died the day after the ship arrived there. From Marseilles the Galatea proceeded to Gibraltar to coal, and make preparations for her start on he* journey round the world. On leaving that place on fiho 11th June, His Royal Highness (at the suggestion of Lord Clarence Paget, the Admiral commanding the Mediterranean squadron, who was there with a portion of his fleet) hoisted the Royal standard, and commenced his cruise under a salute from the batteries and different ships in harbor. She arrived at Madeira on June 14, and left again on the 18th for Rio, which, in consequence of adverse winds, she did not reach until the 15th July. During her stay there a grand ball was given by the English Minister, and another lry r the English residents, at both of which the Emperor and Empress attended to meet the Duke. The Emperor "inspected" the ship before she left, and dined on board in the evening. On Tuesday, the 23rd July, she left Rio, and was driven down as far south as 37deg. by strong southeasterly winds, touching at Tristan d'Achuna on the sth September. His Royal Highness, with princely liberality, supplied the people with the following articles of clothing and | provisions, viz : — 34, yards blue cloth, 80 yards flannel, 40 yards serge, 151b tobacco, 9gal. rum, 9gal. vinegar, 5001b sugar, 501b tea, 3301b flour, 241b chocolate— worth in all about £110— and purchased supplies of fresh beef and vegetables for the ship's company. There were fifty- three persons remaining ou the island, sixteen of whom had been bora sinco the Rev William Taylor had left them, and were baptised by the chaplain of the Galatea, who went on shore for that purpose at the request of Mr Green, the oldest remaining inhabitant. His Royal Highness and suite and a party of officers landed and visited all the families, who were in good health and quite contented. It appears thai; a heavy westerly gale on the 10th May blew down two of their houses, Some time age they had got two fine English sheep from 1 a merchant vessel for the purpose of improving their breed, but they unfortunately happened to be infected with scab, and contaminated the whole stock, half of which perished. They still, however, had 200 left, and 500 head of cattle, as well as 200 bushels of pota, toes from their last year's crop. Their wild goats had disappeared in an unaccountable manner. As recently as three years ago they used to be seen in flocks of 500 together, but they have not sinco that time seen one alive or found the remains of dead ones. People from this time will call their village Edinburgh, after the title of his Royal Higness. The last ship which visited the island was the Stirling Castle, Captain M'Gown, who looked in on the 30th June last. Tho voyage from Tristan d'Achuna to Simon's Bay occupied ten days.