The papers that have come by the Sydney contain a good deal more in them thin these received by the previous niall, The loss of H.M.S. Serpent is one of the principal topics of the week. It appears that she ran ashore on the const of Camaritias, about twenty miles from Cape Finisterre, the actual place called Punta del Buoy, at about mid-ight on the 10th of November, but the news did not reach London until the 13th. Up to the time of the mail's leaving the Adimitalty had received very meagre infor. motion as to the cause of the Wreck, and it is, doubtful if much will ever be known. The three survivors of the hundred and seventy-six who were on bard at the time of the disaster were two able seamen and a servant, and they had made a report to the Consul at Corunna, but their narrative is naturally incomplete. The account in the Times says It is known that the gale which disturbed the British coasts lust week raged later with hurricane force in, the Bay of Biscay. The Serpent laboured heavily in the tremendous seas. The buffeting partially disabled her. She made very poor weather, and the captain decided to run for shelter and repairs either to Vigo or Corunna, the survivors not being exactly clear as to which. Whether the ship ame unmanageable in the storm, or whether in the thick atmosphere the course was not #0. clear to the navigating officer us could be desired, is not yet known, but ut 11 o'clock on Monday night, in inky darkness and almost without " word of warning, the Serpent struck with a terrific crash on the rocks off Cape Villano. The bottom of the vessel was n ipped open. Presumably the Serpent had went down immediately in deep water before forced herself right over the rock, for she a boat could be launched and before those on Board could take measures, for_proserving their lives. A large majority of the men were below and never reached the deck. The three men saved swam ashore, but they were se wounded by the rocks and exhausted by their long exposure that they are now lying in hospital 'A Spanish naval officer is said to have suggested that the Serpent's compasses
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.