The Times, Tuesday, Feb 06, 1866; pg. 6; Issue 25414; col B THE LOSS OF THE LONDON. ----------------------- OFFICIAL INQUIRY. [continued] Walter Molesworth EDWARDS, an intelligent lad, apparently about 15 years of age, was next examined. He said, - I was midshipman aboard the London on her last voyage. That was my first time for going to sea at all. I joined her on the 28th of December, the day she left the East India Docks. It was quite fine and calm when she was leaving Plymouth on the morning of Saturday, the 6th of January, but it began to blow hard at 4 o'clock on the afternoon of that day. I do not know how the wind blew. I was not sick at any time during the voyage. From 4 o'clock on Saturday evening till Wednesday at 8 o'clock in the evening I never went below except on Tuesday evening, when I went down and lay for a while on the linen chest, but did not go into my own cabin. At 8 o'clock on Wednesday evening I went to my own cabin, but came on deck again at half-past 10, when the hatchway was carried away. I recollect the jibboom going over. On the afternoon of the 9th I saw it over the ship's side on the port side. I saw it about 11 o'clock on the morning of the 10th just aft the funnel on the port side. The thickest end of it was aft. It was not fastened then. It struck against the bulwarks at the port side, and then against the engine-room hatch. I saw it again in the afternoon, and it was then still knocking about. This was between 3 and 5 o'clock I think. I had seen no attempt made to secure it in the meantime. At no time did I see it secured. After 3 and 5 o'clock on the 10th I did not see it again till the morning of Thursday, the 11th. When I saw it knocking about it was beating sideways against the framework of the hatch. Mr. TRAILL. - A witness has stated that it was lashed on the Wednesday afternoon at 4 o'clock. You did not see it loose after about 4 or 5 o'clock? Witness. - I never saw it secured. Mr. O'DOWD. - What was the latest hour at which you saw it knocking about? Master EDWARDS. - I cannot go closer to the time than between 3 and 5. It might have been lashed at 4 o'clock. In reply to other questions from Mr. O'DOWD, the witness said, - I did not come up on the poop after the hatchway was carried away until the Thursday morning at 10 o'clock. I then saw the skylight of the hatchway on the port side of the deck. It was quite whole; not broken at all, not even the panes of glass being broken. Neither the framework nor the glass was broken. Mr. TRAILL. - Of that there can be no mistake? Master EDWARDS. - No; no mistake. Mr. TRAILL. - Did any other officer see it? Master EDWARDS. - I don't know. I think the captain must have seen it. Mr. TRAILL. - Did you see any attempt made to put it back in its place? Master EDWARDS. - I did not. Mr. TRAILL. - Did you suggest that any attempt should be made to put it back? Master EDWARDS. - No. Mr. TRAILL. - Why did you not? Master EDWARDS. - The captain might have thought I was interfering. Mr. O'DOWD. - Did the passengers and crew see it? Master EDWARDS. - I don't know. They were engaged in lowering the boat. In answer to other questions from Mr. O'DOWD the witness said, - After the pinnace was capsized I heard a lady say it was no use going in a boat. I heard the captain dissuade a lady, Mrs. OWEN, from going in the port cutter boat. When I saw the skylight on deck it had been carried a little farther forward than when it was carried off. It was being washed about. By Mr. TRAILL. - They might have tried to replace the skylight during the night. Mr. TRAILL. - We have it in evidence that it was smashed to pieces during the night. Master EDWARDS. - It was not, for I saw it next morning. Mr. TRAILL. - What they wanted was to get it to its place, and why did you not speak about it when you saw it? Master EDWARDS. - Well, I had spoken to one of the officers about another matter, and he told me to mind my own business. Mr. TRAILL observed that perhaps no one expected to find the skylight where the witness saw it, and that as it had not been recovered during the night it was thought useless to try and replace it the next morning when it was seen. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The midshipman's evidence to continue..... Petra