The Times, Friday, Feb 02, 1866; pg. 5; Issue 25411; col A THE LOSS OF THE LONDON. ----------------------- OFFICIAL INQUIRY. [continued] George James THOMPSON, a Trinity-house pilot, was then examined, and stated he had been a pilot for upwards of 34 years. He piloted the London on her last voyage from London to the entrance of Plymouth Sound. He went on board early in the morning of the 28th of December. He took her to Gravesend, and made her fast to one of the mooring-buoys. After they had shipped live and dead stock and baggage there, he took her draught. It was 19ft. 9in. forward, and 20ft. 9in. abaft. He had piloted her on both her former voyages. On her first voyage, at Greenhithe, she drew 19ft. forward and 20ft. abaft, and on her second 18ft. 3in. forward and 21ft. 9in. abaft. She left Gravesend on the 30th, and anchored at the Nore the same evening, and remained there till the 1st of January. It blew a gale of wind, S.W., on the 31st. On the 1st January they got under way at daylight and proceeded for the Downs; passed the South Foreland as they were lighting the lamps, about 4 in the afternoon. Before that they had fore and aft canvas set, but on rounding the South Foreland, the wind being ahead, they took it in, and went down under steam only. About 8 p.m. they passed Dungeness; at 2 a.m. of the 2d they were abreast of Beachy Head. Having got a good offing they turned the yards round, kept the Channel course, and set fore and aft canvas, lower topsails, and foresail. During the day the wind began to freshen very much, and not being able to weather St. Catherine's Point they put the ship about. Witness then consulted Captain MARTIN, suggesting whether it would be better for them to go to the Motherbank, as the weather appeared so squally and unsettled. The captain went down and looked at his glasses, and on returning said he thought it was the most prudent thing to do. They anchored at the Motherbank about half-past 3 p.m. During the night it blew a heavy gale, the wind being from the S.W. At 10 am on the 3d they got under way and proceeded for the Needles, which they passed about 4 p.m. There was a heavy sea outside, but the ship made very good way, and about 8 p.m., he thought, they passed Portland. At 2 a.m. on the 4th they sighted the Start Light, and about 7 they were abreast of it. The weather then became thick, with rain and strong wind from the S.S.W., and a heavy confused swell on. At about half-past 9 a.m. they distinguished the land, steered for Penlee Point, and entered Plymouth Sound at noon on the same day. The voyage from the Needles occupied about 22 hours. There was a very heavy sea all the way, but the ship behaved very well. She took some seas on the 4th, when there was a tremendous and confused sea; but she made about four knots, which he thought to be very good behaviour. When they got to Plymouth the ship had only three or four bags of coal on deck. The coal on deck did not shift at all, though she made one or two heavy lurches. The fore and main hatchways had the tarpaulins on them, but they were not battened down. It did not appear to him that the London was too deep in the water. Mr. HARRIS, the chief mate, told him that he had nearly 9ft. clear side from the water's edge, and had a foot to spare. By Captain HARRIS. - The pilotage is charged by the foot, and not by the fraction of a foot; and therefore, in taking the London's draught at Gravesend he would give the extreme draught. The draught lightens in salt water by about 2in. for 4ft. Some vessels lighten more than others, and a flat-floored ship like the London would lighten more than others. They were 20ft. 11in. on leaving the East India Docks, but she had lightened to 20ft. 9in. by the time they arrived at Gravesend. He should not call the London a wet boat. She answered well to the helm, but, being a long ship, she required care. He set the mainstay sail, which he considered a good storm sail, as they went down, and they set the forestay sail at Gravesend. He thought they could have carried the mizenstay sail in a gale of wind. There was plenty of canvas in the ship and plenty of rope. In his opinion, the London carried sufficient canvas to "lie to" in any gale of wind. He thought the canvas was sufficient in point of position as well as of quality. The witness pilots the Peninsular and Oriental Company's ships out of London. The inquiry was then adjourned till this day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of day 4 of the inquiry. Unfortunately I missed day 5 with the examination of the chief engineer, so day 6 to follow..... Petra.