E-text prepared by Sam W. and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (http://www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by the National Library of Australia (https://www.nla.gov.au) Note: Images of the original pages are available through the National Library of Australia. See http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-395637356 THE WRECK OF THE "ROYAL CHARTER." Compiled from Authentic Sources, with Some Original Matter. by FRANK FOWLER, Late of Her Majesty's Civil Service, New South Wales. Author of "Southern Lights and Shadows," "Dottings of a Lounger," etc. London: Sampson Low, Son, and Co., 47 Ludgate Hill. 1859. London: Printed by William Clowes and Sons, Stamford Street. CONTENTS. PAGE NOTE INTRODUCTORY 3 THE WRECK OF THE "ROYAL CHARTER" 5 THE PRESS ON THE CATASTROPHE 43 ADDENDA 58 LIST OF STEERAGE PASSENGERS 58 DR. SCORESBY ON THE 'ROYAL CHARTER' 59 THE REV. CHARLES VERE HODGE 64 THE ADJOURNED INQUEST 65 THE VERDICT 78 LATEST DETAILS FROM MOLFRA 78 POSTSCRIPT 80 NOTE INTRODUCTORY. THIS little book is prepared under the conditions of saving the Mail which leaves England on the 12th, and of being a complete narrative of the Wreck. The one condition is adverse to the other; but I have endeavoured to meet them both. F. _London, November the Eighth, 1859._ "Forth from the polar caverns of the snows, Dripping with winter, leapt a northern storm, And shook himself, and she lay buried white.... Oh! and we were homeward bound!" _Balder._ THE WRECK OF THE "ROYAL CHARTER." THE prints of Tuesday, the 25th of October, contained this brief telegram:-- 'QUEENSTOWN.--The "Royal Charter," from Melbourne, fifty-eight days out, is off this port. She expects to be at Liverpool tomorrow night.' In the _Times_ of Thursday, the 27th, appeared the following:-- 'A telegraphic despatch has reached us as we are going to press, announcing the loss, on her way from Queenstown to Liverpool, of the "Royal Charter," with over four hundred passengers on board, of which number only about twenty are saved.'