Disaster seems to attend the Australian steam-packets like fate. On
Thursday the Australian sailed from Plymouth, just before five in the morn- ing, and returned again into the Sound before six yesterday evening. She had reached sixty miles West-south-west of the Eddystone, when it was discovered that .she had three feet of water in her engine-rooms. This rapidly increased to four feet, and nearly extinguished the port-engine fire. Pumps were set to work, but with little effect ; so the ship was put about at three o'clock yesterday morning. On reaching smooth water, the leak was reduced four or five inches per hour ; but on entering the Sound she had still three feet of water in the engine-room. A very heavy gale had prevailed during Thursday night, and had carried away her port life-boat. It was expected that she would be docked today.
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