Unhappily, the fuller reports of the wreck of her Majesty's
ironclad Victoria do but confirm the account which we mentioned briefly last week. The 'Victoria' on Thursday week was struck by the Camperdown ' while engaged in an exercise manceuvre off the coast of Syria, and either from the instability which is the weak point of the great ironclads, or from being ripped by the Camperdown's ' ram, turned bottom upwards and sank. The Admiral in command in the Mediterranean, Sir George Tryon, who was on board, ordered the men to save themselves, but refused to qeit his ship, and was last seen standing on the bridge with his telescope under his arm, waving his hand to his friend, Admiral Markham, on the Camperdown.' The 'Victoria' sank within ten minutes of the collision, the water-tight engine-room still protecting the engines, and the blades of the screw revolving as she disappeared with such velocity that many of the crew, drawn towards her by suction, were struck by them, and cut to pieces. The total loss of life included about 22 officers and 337 men. The cause of the disaster, discussed elsewhere, will probably not be accurately known till sworn evidence has been received in the court-martial to be held on Captain Bourke in immediate command of the great ship. The whole world, including specially the German Emperor, has expressed warm sympathy with this country on its great loss, one American authority stating characteristically that it proved the great superiority of the British ram.
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