Page:Castaway on the Auckland Isles (IA castawayonauckla01musg).pdf/11

Rh August, 1865, thought they saw smoke on the eastern coast at a point shown on the map, which, however, they were not able to explore.

Subsequently they found the body of a seaman at Port Ross, who had evidently died from starvation. A slate which was found near him, seemed to have been written on, but the utmost ingenuity had failed to decipher the characters with any accuracy. On arriving in Melbourne, Captain waited on the Hon. J. G., Commissioner of Trade and Customs, and explained his reasons for thinking that there might be still other persons on the island. As several vessels which had sailed from Melbourne were known to be 'missing,' Mr., with a promptitude which does him great honour, immediately called for tenders for a vessel to proceed to the Aucklands, and finding that delay might ensue in sending a sailing vessel, at once ordered the equipment of H.M.C.S.S. 'Victoria,' Captain. The 'Victoria' sailed on the 4th October, having Captain on board as a passenger, who thus, for the second time, put aside all personal considerations to carry out what he deemed to be his duty,—a self-denial which, considering he has not seen his family since November, 1863, is worthy of our heartiest sympathy.

The English Mail arrived after the 'Victoria' had left for Melbourne, and by it we received the intelligence that the ship 'Invercauld' had been lost on the Aucklands, on the 10th May, 1864, and that three of the survivors had been taken off by a Peruvian vessel on the 22nd May, 1865. In the Appendix will be found all that has yet reached us of the particulars of the wreck of the 'Invercauld.' J. J. S., 25th October, 1865.

Some additional particulars respecting the despatch of the 'Victoria,' taken from the Melbourne Argus, will probably interest the reader:—

"The Victorian Government determined to despatch the colonial steam-sloop 'Victoria' to the islands, to discover and rescue the survivors, if