The convict ship . George the Third was wrecked on a
reef at the mouth of the river Derwent, on its way to Hobart Town, on Sunday, *ie.12th of April. There were prisoners, 29 soldiers, 3 officers, 22 women and children, besides the Captain, officers, attd crew of the vessel-32 in number. There were two children born during the voyage and 16 persons died ; thus leaving on board the vessel when she was wrecked, 292 souls, of whom no fewer than 132 perished ; of these 128 were prisoners. The following particulars of this shipwreck were given before a Board of Inquiry at Hobart Town : if they are correct, they add another to numerous proofs of the little reliance that should be placed on Admiralty charts.
The ship made land at about eleven, A. an., on Sunday., the 12th of April. The Captain was furnished with the charts published by authority of the Admiralty, according to the directions of which he considered the passage safe; and, adopt- ing the usual precaution of sounding with the deep sea-lead, proceeded between the two reefs laid down, the soundings giving half seven fathoms right through. After passing the breakers Captain Massey took the officers and passengers into the cabin, showed them the position of the ship, and all were satisfied they were beyond the reach of danger, and might either anchor or proceed. The ship accordingly proceeded, at the rate of one and a half to two knots an hour, under double-reefed topsails, and the foresail brailed up, all ready for coming to anchor, if it became dank ; and, after so proceeding for about a quarter of an hour, the man at the lead sang out quarter less four. The Captain instantly cried out to the man at the helm hard-a-port ; but before the man sounding could get another cast of the lead, the ship struck, but not violently at first. The cutter was lowered, and the third officer, Mr. Field, went in her and sounded round the ship. Abreast the starboard gangway he found two and a half fathoms ; a-head two fathoms; and a-stern about four boats' length, four and a half fathoms. No breakers were then seen, but a swell soon came on and commenced breaking, and the ship then began striking violently, throwing every one off their feet ; and, after a very short time, about the fifth shock, the mainmast went over on the starboard side, carrying the mizen. topmast with it, and dragging down the weather-bulwarks close to the covering-boards. At this time the boatswain and officers were trying to get the longboat out, and the mainmast being gone, the lee-bulwarks were obliged to be cut away to launch her: at the same time they were lowering the gig, when the rolling of the ship caused the man bolding the stern- tackle to leave his hold, when the gig stove her quarter and was swamped. The cutter was immediately ordered round to pick the men from out of the water, and the third mate was then ordered to bring the cutter alongside ; when he said be could not, as she was so full she could hold no MOM. The officer was then directed to look out for the first landing-place, and to return immediately with any aid he could obtain. At this time the foremast went overboard, and a heavy sea striking the ship, the longboat floated on deck, and all the main-deck was under water, which was within a quarter of an hour after the vessel struck. The people at length succeeded in floating tlie longboat, and got clear of the wreck, having the Captain and forty men on board, and proceeded to find a landing-place ; but the sea was so rough, and the surf so great, that this occupied sonic time, until at last the entrance to a bay was found, at the bottom of which a landing was effected. The Captain, leaving thirty- six men on shore, returned with the remaining four to the wreck at about two o'clock, but, owing to the weather, could not reach her until six. On arriving at the ship, the women, children, and invalids were first taken out, and then as many of the prisoners and guard as the boat would carry; and these were landed at eight,—Major Ryan, Cap- tain Minton, and the doctor of the 50th Regiment being of the party. The Captain then returned to the wreck, but before Ile reached it saw a schooner speak them; upon which the Captain took all that remained alive upon the wreck and put them on board the schooner, and proceeded to rrernhark all that had been previously landed, which was done, with the exception of the surgeon of the bOth Regiment, who had strayed, and for whom a boat's crew of eight awn was left. On reviewing all that were saved out of the 294 souls on hoard, the Captain found that only 160 had been preserved. Of the 134 lost, I2S were prisoners. The conduct of the prisoners is said to have been remark- ably good. The evidence of Dr. Wise, the surgeon-superintendent of the vessel, in a great measure corroborated that of the Captain, Ile states, however, that there was dreadful and increasing sickness on board, which he attributes to the new system of provisioning, of which this was the first attempt. He accounts for the luss as follows. On the sick list and unable to help themselves, 51; washed away and died from cold, 30; drowned below in the ship ere the doctor quitted her, M. Lieutenant Minton, in his evidence, states, that when the convicts had forced the barricades and were beginning to make their appearance on deck, three shuts were fired by the guard at them, and he had understood one convict had been killed.
Other evidence adduced implied that the firing was an act of absolute neces- sity, upon which the lives of all depended; and that the guard behaved with the utmost forbearance. The conduct of Dr. Wise is spoken of in high terms of eulogium by all parties.
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