On receiving the saddening news of the terrible disaster to the Royal Charter and with the fatal explosion on the Great Eastern fresh in mind, our own people, as well as thousands of others were naturally anxious to learn how the latter great ship had fared during the hurricane, and were glad to find that her behaviour was such as became the monarch of the seas. She was very severely tried by one of the fiercest gales that had occurred for many years. Fortunately its duration was comparatively brief; for had it been otherwise, the Leviathon herself might have gone the way of the lesser craft. For an hour or so the strain on so large a surface was so great that but for the constant vigilance of Capt. Harrison and his crew, it was thought that nothing could have saved the vessel from being driven ashore with the rest. The monster ship could not get inside of the ill-constructed breakwater, but lay abreast of its eastward extremity, exposed during that north-easterly gale to a heavy sea, and with what was supposed to be indifferent holding ground for a vessel of such size and with such an area for the wind to act upon. The present writer remembers the immense height of her upper deck even above the top of masts and funnel of an ordinary steamer, when on one occasion he was privileged to explore the monster ship when lying in the Medway taking in the Atlantic cable. Both conditions named contributed to her disadvantage during that most fearful storm; but she weathered the gale after all most gallantly, and thus afforded at least one proof that (as stated by the Hon. George Waldegrave in a letter to Hastings) "No one who has been in that ship but has great belief in her great strength and sterling qualities."
Miscellaneous
Union Schoolmaster - the votes obtained in May by the applicants for the situation of schoolmaster to the Union were for George Morfee, 26; George Torrance, 24; and H. C. Gilmore, 22.
Infirmary Assistant-Surgeon. For this office, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Walter Duke, Esq. the votes, on May 5th were 386 for G. B. Turner, M.D., 183 for Roger Duke, and 152 for John Underwood, M.D.
A House to Let. In consequence of the "Lock-up" being but little inhabited, some waggish person put up a bill "This House to Let" and before it was removed there was at least one applicant for the hire of it. This was in Bourne street adjoining the gaol, the site of the old Court-house or Town Hall before 1700 and now the borough police-station.
