She left Liverpool on her maiden voyage to Melbourne on the 16th April, 1856, and accomplished the passage in 59 days. She had but a short career, for on the 26th October, 1859, this noble ship was totally wrecked on the coast of Anglesea. She had almost reached her home port, inward bound from Australia under the command of Captain Taylor, and having on board about 500 persons including passengers and crew, and a valuable cargo, including gold to the amount of £400,000. She had called at Queenstown, where thirteen of her passengers disembarked. On her passage up channel she was caught in a terrific northerly gale, which, driving the current in the large bay between the Ormes Head and Point Lynas, swept the vessel from her course and drove her upon the rock-bound coast off Moelfra Head, Red Wharf Bay. She struck during the night when no assistance from the shore could be obtained. From 30 to 35 persons only were saved out of the 500 on board, and these mainly through the heroic efforts of Joseph Rodgers, who swam ashore with a line round his body. In recognition of his devoted courage, this intrepid seaman was presented with a gold medal and £5 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution at a meeting held at the Sailors’ Home, Liverpool, on the 16th November, 1859, on which occasion the Board of Trade also presented him with a silver medal and £10. [Illustration: Rowboat near shore] CHAPTER XXI. China and Steam Navigation.—Opening of the Treaty Ports, 1860.—Auxiliary Steamers first employed.—The SCOTLAND.—The ROBERT LOWE.—The Holt Line. The treaty ports of the Yang-tse were for the first time opened to the ships of the “barbarian nations of the West” in February, 1860. The first foreign merchant vessel to load a cargo at Shanghai for Hankow was the auxiliary screw steamer SCOTLAND, belonging to the late W. S. Lindsay, the well-known author of the “History of Merchant Shipping.” She was a vessel of about 1,100 tons gross register, and was commanded by Captain A. D. Dundas, R.N. She sailed from Shanghai with a full cargo in June, 1860, her draft being 17 feet. She was subsequently sold to the Prince of Satsuma, the same purchaser having previously, in 1861, purchased her sister ship, the ENGLAND, from Messrs. W. S. Lindsay & Co.