to get through the doors of those places. I remember the window in front of the poop. It was a most improper thing to have, and was simply dangerous. In smooth water it was not so important, but it is necessary to secure every aperture to any vessel when she has to go outside the Heads. With such a window as it was, the _Alert_ was not a sea going vessel, even if her bunker lids had been fastened, which they were not. I heard the evidence of Mr. Ponting yesterday that the vessel encountered certain weather after passing Cape Schanck, and that she stood out to sea three or four miles. It was a right thing to do to give the land a good berth, and after getting a good offing there was nothing improper in Captain Mathieson making for the Heads. I knew Captain Mathieson by reputation. He was always considered to be a careful seaman. I heard of the efforts made to get the vessel’s head up to the wind, and that every time she was brought up she paid off. I should think that was on account of her being so light foreward. If she had had an after mast it would have had some effect, but under the circumstances I question if it would have had the desired effect. When the vessel was struck by the seas, she must have been struck on the port side and hurled over to such an extent that the whole of the lee deck became flooded. The vessel was simply waterlogged, and could not steer. In all probability there was water in the engine room and stoke-hole which interfered with the fireman keeping up sufficient steam in order to get the proper amount of power. These things, combined with her light bow and the wind striking on it, would make the ship lie like a helpless log impossible to be steered. I saw the wooden awning on the _Alert_. It was very useful for passengers down the Bay, but for a small vessel like her going outside, it should not have been a fixture. The effect would be that when she came over on her beam ends, the wind would get underneath the awning and hold the ship down. If an awning were wanted, it ought to be of canvas, and not spread at all even in half a gale.