If this had happened we should have
drifted on some of the rocks with which the harbour abounds. When we
had got the stern of the vessel into the sand we discovered that we
had not accomplished much, for the said sand being very loose, almost
of the character of quicksand, and the sea running high, the stern
kept sinking almost as rapidly as when it had nothing but water below
it. The cabins were already full of water, and the object was to land
the passengers. As usual, there was the greatest difficulty in
launching any of the ship's boats, and none of the vessels in the
harbour, except one Frenchman (and one English I have since heard, but
its boat was swamped, and therefore I did not see it), saw fit to send
a boat to our assistance. In order to prevent too great a rush to the
boats, I thought it expedient to announce that the women must go
first, and that, for my own part, I intended to leave the ship
last.[3] This I was enabled to do without unnecessary parade, as the
first boat lowered was offered to me,--and no doubt the announcement
had some effect in keeping things quiet and obviating the risk of
swamping the boats, which was the only danger we had then to
apprehend. Such were our adventures of yesterday afternoon. I had a
presentiment that something would happen at Galle, though I could
hardly have anticipated that I should be wrecked, and wrecked within
the harbour!... _Five P.M._--I have just been on the beach looking at
our wreck. The stern, and up to the funnel is now all under water. A.
jury of 'experts' have sat on the case, and their decision is, that
nothing can be done to recover what is in the after part of the vessel
(passenger's luggage and specie) until the next monsoon sets in--some
five or six months hence! A wardrobe which has spent that period of
time under the sea will be a curiosity!

This untoward accident detained him for a fort-night at Galle, occupied in
superintending and pressing on the operation of fishing up what could be
saved from the wreck. By the aid of divers, his 'Full Powers' and his
decorations were recovered, together with most of his wearing apparel; but
his 'letter of credence' was gone, and he had to telegraph to the Foreign
Office for a duplicate.

[Sidenote: News from China.]

In the meantime the lingering hope which he had cherished of an immediate
return to En