§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUasked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether he has received any further intelligence with respect to this vessel?
§ MR. GOSCHENSir, we have received a telegram, dated 11 o'clock this morning, which is to the following effect:—
"Agincourt lightening; no increase of damage. Wind east, but freshening; weather fine.I have also a telegram dated 91.0 a.m. in reply to one which we sent yesterday asking for information as to the cause of the grounding of the ship. It was as follows:—The cause of the Agincourt's grounding appears to have been that the regular set of the stream through the gut changes its course near the Pearl, and runs violently towards it; and the ship after passing to westward of Verte Lighthouse was imperceptibly drawn astern, and drawn in towards the land, there being no guide by day after shutting in that mark, except a compass-bearing of Europa Lighthouse, and the estimated distance from the land by the eye. Agincourt was leading starboard or inshore column.That is the answer which the Admiralty have received; but I am bound to say that in the opinion of my naval Colleagues the telegram does not explain why the accident happened, as the dangers of the Pearl Rock are well known to every sailor.
§ MR. GOSCHENI have no information upon that point. It is remarkable that it should have been omitted; but the belief at the Admiralty is that she was under steam at the time.