[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Patriot, 17 Feb 1816 - Local News (2)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 17 Feb 1816   (p. 3, col. 1-3)     [continued] 

 

We have been favoured with the following letter from Lieut. COWPER of the 59th regiment, to his friends in, and near this city, one
of the four officers saved from the melancholy wreck of the Seahorse, mentioned in our paper last week. 

 

                                                                                        "Waterford, 6th February, 1816. 

"I hasten to tell you that I am now recovered from the effects of our late dreadful misfortune, and I cannot help again returning
thanks to God for my miraculous preservation and recovery. To sit down to give you a particular account of the wreck, would be too
dreadful for your perusal; I will therefore only give you some of the particulars. After our sailing from Ramsgate, where we
embarked, the weather favoured us until we came within a few miles of Cork, and we were congratulating each other on the pleasant
and short voyage we were going to have; but about three in the afternoon of the 29th of January, a tremendous gale of wind, with the
heaviest sea almost ever seen, came on, followed by a very dark night. We were in consequence not enabled to make Cork, and
endeavoured to get to Waterford, but in vain. We continued in a dreadful state all night, during which we carried away our
top-masts, and many of the sails. In the morning, we were driven into the bay of Tramore, and about eleven o'clock, were obliged to
anchor. The sea was rolling higher than mountains, and the wind continued very strong; the vessel dragged her anchor, and we soon
got upon the rocks; here all hopes of safety were at an end. Thousands of people were on the shore, without being able to render us
any assistance. Such a scene was, perhaps, never before witnessed: Husbands embracing their wives, and wives their children, yet all
were calm and resigned to their fate. In about an hour after the vessel struck, she entirely went to pieces. The sea that dashed
over her at different times, washed away dozens at once, never more to be seen! How I escaped, only God knows! I remained with the
wreck to the very last moment, and when the vessel entirely separated, I got upon a spar, from which I was soon afterwards washed. I
then managed to get on another alongside a brother officer; from this I was again washed, and went two or three times to the bottom,
and when I rose, I came in contact with a mast, to which I clung, but soon afterwards lost my senses. I have since learned that I
was taken out of the sea by a Mr. HUNT, between three and four o'clock, and was then conveyed to a small cottage, where I was
resored [sic] to life by great care—it was about ten before I regained my recollection. The place where the vessel went to pieces,
was about three quarters of a mile from the shore, and the tide was going out at the time; so you may guess what an escape I have
had, and more so, when you know that I cannot swim. All was providence, and I hope I shall ever be grateful to the All-powerful
Being who could alone save us. Out of 16 officers, 334 soldiers, 33 women, and 34 children, only 4 officers, and 21 men are saved.
All our baggage, mess-plate, &c. &c. &c. are lost. I have written more than I thought my feelings would have allowed me; but I know
it will make you happy. You need not now be uneasy about me; the people here are as kind to me as you could be—I want for
nothing.—That fine fellow, Serjeant MULLENDER, with his wife and children are all lost! I am now the senior officer surviving." 

 

Serjeant MULLENDER, abovementioned, was a son of the late Mr. MULLENDER, governor of the gaol in this city. 

 

The subscription in Glasgow for the road to Carlisle, now amounts to £7286, which has been contributed by a very small number of the
community who are to participate in the benefit from this important measure. The town of Hamilton has voted £2000, the town of
Greenock £1500, and the town of Port Glasgow £500, in aid of the road. 

 

The degree of A. B. was conferred upon Mr. Jonathan CAPE, of Trinity College, son of the Rev. Jos. CAPE, rector of Uldale, in this
county, on the late academical honorary preferments at Cambridge. 

 

A Society for bettering the state of the poor has lately been instituted at Douglas, in the Isle of Man. The great advantages which
have already resulted from this laudable establishment, so liberally patronised and supported by the amiable Lord Bishop and the
principal inhabitants of the island, are to be observed in almost every quarter. The streets, villages, and the public roads, which
were heretofore infested with mendicants of every description, no longer exhibit the heart-rending spectacle of vagrancy and
distress, nor do the humane and sympathising feel the chilling disappointment of ill-directed liberality. The great attention paid
to this institution by every member of the committee, deserves sincere approbation, and has produced the most salutary results; and
the economy and advantage with which the disbursements are made, have, we understand, enabled a more than ordinary measure of
relief. 

 

At the last quarter Sessions in the North Riding of Yorkshire, the number of votes being equal as to appointing a chairman, the Hon.
L. LUNDAS, & Mr. HEADLAM, are to take the chair alternately. 

 

An inhuman wretch, who lived servant with Mr. MOODY, master mariner in Monkwearmouth, lately tied a cat to a pair of tongs, and
literally roasted it to death! 

 

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.—The bill for regulating weights and measures, about to be brought into Parliament, is extremely simple in its
principles—one weight, one measure of length and extension, and one measure of capacity, is to be applied to articles of every sort,
with the exception of a very few, for which a peculiar measure, heaped, must be used, when the articles are not sold by the common
weight. This exception will include lime; and the regulation of this article will be of great benefit to agriculture, measures
differing in almost every quarter: the system in the first place, applies to Great Britain, and will no doubt afterwards be extended
to Ireland. 

 

Last week, during the running of a hare, in Ravenstonedale, Westmorland, Mr. J. POWLEY, of Kirkby-Stephen, on a fine blood horse,
cleared the wall of Ravenstonedale Park, where it is six feet high, and four feet broad at the top! 

 

 

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