GREENWICH HOSPITAL.

Greenwich, which was formerly a distinct town, but is now ar appendage to the British metropolis, is seated on the south bank of the Thames, five miles below London bridge. It is celebrated for its hospital for wounded and decayed seamen of the nationa

marine, which is one of the finest architectural edifices in the world. The buildings consist of four distinct piles, two along the bank of the river, with a noble terrace in front, eight hundred and sixty feet in length; between these two piles is a lawn two hundred and seventy feet wide; the two other piles are built behind, projecting into the square or lawn, so as to form a quadrangle with an opening in the centre, which is terminated by an elegant building more recently erected for a naval school; behind this, on the summit of a hill, is the royal observatory, from whence the English and American mariners reckon their longitude. The hill at this point, if the atmosphere happens by rare good fortune to be clear, commands a grand view of London and the space intervening. It projects so boldly, that the tops of the trees ap-. pear at the feet of the spectator-the hospital, with its domes, appears embosomed in a wooded amphitheatre-and the river in its serpentine course, thicker and thicker covered with boats, barges, and large vessels. da ciem

Greenwich hospital is decorated by several colossal statues and beautiful pieces of sculpture. One is an emblematical represent

ation of the death of Nelson.

The pensioners to be received into the hospital must be aged and maimed seamen of the navy, or of the merchant service, if wounded in battle, and marines and foreigners who have served two years in the navy. The total expense of the establishment is sixty-nine thousand pounds per annum, which is appropriated to the support of about three thousand seamen on the premises, and fifty-four hundred out-pensioners.

LOSS OF THE SHIP BOSTON.

An unusual degree of sensation was excited in Boston, on the first of June, by the melancholy tidings of the loss of the packet ship Boston. This strong and elegant ship-one of the finest packets that belong to this country-was struck by lightning in the Gulf Stream, six days out from Charleston, and burnt to the water's edge. We present the details below, as furnished by Captain Mackay. On Tuesday, the 25th May, lat 39, 51, long. 63, 46, commenced with fresh breeze and squally weather -at 2 P. M. heavy rain which continued until sunset-at 8 P. M. forked lightning in the southwest, and dark and heavy clouds rising from the westward-at 9, the wind hauled to the westward— at 10, P. M. a heavy cloud began to rise in the southwest--at 10, sharp lightning, clued up the topgallant-sails, and hauled the mainsail up at 11, heavy thunder and sharp lightning; the seċond flash struck the ship, burst the main-royal from the gaskets and burnt it; knocked down the steward and Isaac Hopkins a sailor, and filled the ship full of electric fluid. We examined the ship immediately to ascertain if the masts were injured, or the lightning had passed through the deck; but the mast appeared uninjured, a bright complaisance resting on each royal-mast head. We single reefed the maintop-sail, and were about to haul the mainsail, when we ascertained that the ship was on fire. We immediately cleared the main and after hatchways, to get at the fire, heaving the cotton overboard and cutting holes in the deck, plying water in every direction-but all in vain; the cotton in the main hold was on fire, fore and aft, on both sides, burning like tinder. Our only alternative was to clear away the boats and get them out, part of the crew and passengers at work keeping the fire down as much as possible by drawing and heaving water, the scuppers being stopped up; we stove water casks over holes cut in the deck and in the main hatchway; starting the water

and

but all to no good purpose, for before we could get the long boat over the ship's side, the fire had burst through the deck and out the larboard side of the ship. The flames raged with such violence and consumed the vessel so quick, that nothing could be saved from the wreck. We got about forty gallons of water and provisions sufficient, on a short allowance, to keep the passengers and crew alive for three weeks-almost every thing else was burnt up in the ship, even the money, watches, and clothes-all destroyed. At 3, A. M. the main and mizen masts were burnt off below deck, and the masts fell in the water at half-past 3, the passengers and crew were all in the boats; the flames had then reached the forecastle, and the ship was one complete flame of fire, fore and aft. The passengers had exerted themselves to the utmost to assist us. The officers had with unwearied exertion, coolness, and persevering activity done all that men could do. The ship's crew worked like horses and behaved like men; but all would not do.-About three hours time had changed one of the best ships that ever swam to a complete volcano, and twentythree persons cast adrift on the open ocean. The cabin passengers were Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin and servant, Dr. William Boag, and his sister Miss Ansella Boag, Mr. Niel McNeil, Mr. Samuel S. Osgood. It was then raining and the sea was running high, and every person drenched through with water; in this situation the constitution of Miss Boag, the only lady passenger, soon gave way. This amiable young lady's firmness of conduct at the first alarm of fire, and during the whole scene, is worthy of the highest praise. To the divine will of her God she submitted without a murmur, and at 11 o'clock on Wednesday, in the boat, she died in the arms of her brother, thanking him in the most affectionate manner for his kindness, giving her blessing to us all. On the following day, she was buried with the church service, our situation not admitting of the corpse being kept longer in the boat. We remained in the boats near the fire of the wreck, two days, and at three o'clock P. M. on Thursday, were taken on board the brig Idas, of Liverpool, N. S. from Demarara, bound to Halifax, Captain Joseph Barnaby, who with his officers and crew treated us with every kindness and attention. We remained on board the brig two days, when Sunday morning, May 30th, falling in with the brig Camilla, Captain Robert B. Edes, he was good enough to offer us a passage to Boston, and received us on board his vessel."

Admiral sir Isaac Coffin, after landing from the brig Camilla, authorized his agent to present Captain Mackay with a check for five hundred dollars; and subsequently sent him an elegant gold watch, to replace one which he had lost by the destruction of the ship.

THE LOSS OF THE KENT

COMMUNICATED BY AN EYE WITNESS.

The Kent, Captain Henry Cobb, a fine new ship of one thou sand three hundred and fifty tons, bound to Bengal and China, left the Downs on the 19th of February, with twenty officers, three hundred and forty-four soldiers, forty-three women, and sixty-six children, belonging to the thirty-first regiment; with twenty private passengers, and a crew (including officers) of one hundred and forty-eight men on board.

On the night of Monday, the 28th of February 1827, when the Kent was in lat. 47 degrees 30 minutes, lon. 10 degrees, a violent gale blew from the west, and gradually increased during the follow ing morning. The rolling of the vessel became tremendous about midnight, so that the best fastened articles of furniture in the principal cabins were dashed about with violence, and the main chains were thrown at every lurch under water.

It was a little before this period, that one of the officers of the ship, with the well-meant intention of ascertaining that all was fast below, descended with two of the sailors into the hold, where they carried with them, for safety, a light in the patent lantern; and seeing that the lamp burned dimly, the officer took the precaution to hand it up to the orlop-deck to be trimmed. Having afterwards discovered one of the spirit casks to be adrift, he sent the sailors for some billets of wood to secure it; but the ship in their absence having made a heavy lurch, the officer unfortunately dropped the light; and letting go his hold of the cask in his eagerness to recover the lantern, it suddenly stove, and the spirits communicating with the lamp, the whole place was instantly in a blaze.

It so happened that the author, went into the cuddy to observe the state of the barometer, when he received from Captain Spence, the captain of the day, the alarming information that the ship was on fire in the after hold.

As long as the devouring element appeared to be confined to the spot where the fire originated, and which we were assured was surrounded on all sides by water casks, we ventured to cherish hopes that it might be subdued; but no sooner was the light blue vapor that at first arose succeeded by volumes of thick dingy smoke, which speedily ascendea through all the four hatchways, rolling over every part of the ship, than all farther concealment became impossible, and almost all hope of preserving the vessel was abandoned. "The flames have reached the cable tier," was exclaimed by some individuals, and the strong pitchy smell that pervaded the deck confirmed the truth of the exclamation.

In these awful circumstances Captain Cobb, with an ability

and decision of character that seemed to increase with the imminence of the danger, resorted to the only alternative now left him, of ordering the lower deck to be scuttled, the combing of the hatches to be cut, and the lower ports to be opened, for the free admission of the waves.

These instructions were speedily executed by the united efforts of the troops and seamen: but not before some of the sick soldiers, one woman, and several children, unable to gain the upper deck, had perished. On descending to the gun-deck with colonel Fearon, Captain Bray, and one or two other officers of the 31st regiment to assist in opening the ports, I met, staggering towards the hatchway, in an exhausted and nearly senseless state, one of the mates, who informed us that he had just stumbled over the dead bodies of some individuals who must have died from suffocation, to which it was evident that he himself had almost fallen a victim. So dense and oppressive was the smoke, that it was with the utmost difficulty we could remain long enough below to fulfil Captain Cobb's wishes; which were no sooner accomplished than the sea rushed in with extraordinary force, carrying away in its resistless progress to the hold, the largest chests, bulk-heads, &c.

On the one hand stood death by fire, on the other death by water; the dilemma was dreadful. Preferring always the more remote alternative, the unfortunate crew were at one moment attempting to check the fire by means of water; and when the water became the most threatening enemy, their efforts were turned to the exclusion of the waves, and the fire was permitted to rage with all its fury.

The scene of horror that now presented itself, baffles all description-The upper deck was covered with between six and seven hundred human beings, many of whom, from previous sea sickness, were forced on the first alarm to flee from below in a state of absolute nakedness, and were now running about in quest of husbands, children or parents.

While some were standing in silent resignation, or in stupid insensibility to their impending fate, others were yielding themselves up to the most frantic despair. Some on their knees were earnestly imploring, with significant gesticulations and in noisy supplications, the mercy of Him, whose arm they exclaimed, was at length outstretched to smite them; others were to be seen hastily crossing themselves, and performing the various external acts required by their peculiar persuasion, while a number of the older and more stout-hearted sailors suddenly took their seats directly over the magazine, hoping as they stated, that by means of the explosion, which they every instant expected, a speedier termination might thereby be put to their sufferings.*

* Captain Cobb, with great forethought, ordered the deck to be scuttled forward, with a view to draw the fire in that direction, knowing that between it and the magazine were several tiers of water casks; while he hoped that the wet sails, &c. thrown into the after bold, would prevent it from communicating with the spirit-room abaft.