The Times, Thursday, Jan 18, 1866; pg. 9; Issue 25398; col C THE LOSS OF THE STEAMSHIP LONDON. ---------------------- A profound sensation was created among all classes yesterday morning upon receipt of the sad intelligence that Messrs. MONEY WIGRAM and Sons' auxiliary screw steamship the London had foundered in the Bay of Biscay with upwards of 200 souls on board. The fame this fine vessel had acquired as a passenger ship - partly owing to the fact of her last outward passage having been made in 59 days - was in itself calculated to dispel all anxiety on her behalf, even during the late tempestuous weather, and it is believed that her owners and the underwriters concerned were least of all prepared for the terrible disaster that has happened to her. It is a remarkable fact, moreover, that the London is the first ship belonging to the famous house of MONEY WIGRAM and Sons to which any serious casualty has occurred. In a century's experience, Messrs. WIGRAM have enjoyed a perfect immunity from loss, with the single exception of the True Briton, which belonged to a former generation of the firm, and foundered early in the present century in the same fatal bay. The London, which has been commanded ever since she was launched from Blackwall yard, in 1864, by Captain MARTIN, an Australian navigator of great experience, left the East India Docks on Thursday, the 28th of December, and dropping down to Gravesend, sailed thence on Saturday afternoon under charge of Mr. THOMPSON, a river pilot. As the night was wild and the wind dead ahead the ship brought up at the Nore, and lay there during the whole of the following day. There were two clergymen on board, the Rev. Dr. WOOLLEY, Bishop of Sydney, and the Rev. Mr. DRAPER, and both of them took part in the usual Sunday services. At daybreak on Monday, the 1st of January, the anchor was weighed, and the ship steamed down Channel, still against a head wind, but making fair way. While passing outside the Isle of Wight the wind increased to half a gale, and Captain MARTIN deemed it prudent to put back and lay to for the night in St. Helen's Roads. On the morning of the 2d inst. the London proceeded through the Needles into the open Channel, the wind being still ahead, but light. As the ship ran down Channel the wind rose and the sea increased, and a couple of hours after passing the Needles the wind blew a gale right ahead with a heavy sea rolling, which continued all the way to Plymouth, where the ship arrived about noon on Thursday, the 4th inst. A sad casualty occurred here. A pilot cutter put off a small boat, having on board the pilot and his assistant, to bring the London inside the breakwater. When the boat was about 100 yards from the London a sea capsized her, and both the pilot and his assistant were thrown into the water. Captain MARTIN instantly ordered one of his lifeboats to be lowered, and with great difficulty the assistant pilot was rescued, but the pilot was drowned. The London came to an anchorage inside the breakwater at 1 p.m. on the 4th inst., and during the afternoon took on board those of her first and second class passengers who had arranged to join the ship at Plymouth. At midnight on Friday she proceeded on her voyage, the weather being at this time calm, with a light wind ahead. She had full steam on during the whole of Saturday, and the voyage proceeded very satisfactorily until Sunday morning, when the wind increased, and a head sea gradually rose. During this day the London passed several ships, and nothing occurred to create the smallest uneasiness in the minds of any of the officers of the ship. During Sunday night the wind increased to a gale and the sea rose considerably. On the morning of Monday, the 8th inst., the ship was well clear of the land, and Captain MARTIN having ordered the engines to be stopped, set his topsails and so endeavoured to keep the ship moving slowly ahead. At noon on this day, the wind having somewhat lulled, the engines were again set in motion and kept steaming slowly ahead through the night. At 8 a.m. on Tuesday, the 9th inst., while the captain was still endeavouring to keep the ship in her course by means of the screw, the violence of the gale carried away at one sweep the jibboom, the foretopmast, the topgallantmast, and the royals. These large spars were not wholly detached from the ship, but, hanging fast to the stays, swung to and fro with such violence that the crew were wholly unable to secure them. About two hours later the mainroyalmast was blown completely out of its socket and added to the general wreck. Captain MARTIN, who had not been in bed since the previous Sunday night, was not at all disheartened up to this moment; but, as the gale continued to increase during the morning, with a sea already running mountains high, the position of the ship was undoubtedly felt to be one of some peril. Still, as the wind had somewhat veered round, the engines were kept steaming easy ahead, and it is believed that at this moment no person on board felt anxiety for the ultimate safety of the ship. About 3 p.m. on Tuesday, however, a tremendous sea struck the ship and carried the port lifeboat clean away from the davits. All that evening and through the succeeding night the wind blew a very heavy gale and the sea ran very high, but the screw was still kept steaming easy ahead. At 3 a.m. on Wednesday, the 10th inst., Captain MARTIN sent for Mr. GREENHILL, the chief engineer, and informed him of his intention to put the ship about and run for Plymouth, and he desired that full speed should be got up directly. This was immediately done. In half an hour after the ship's course had been altered, she was again struck by a tremendous sea, which carried away the starboard lifeboat, and the same sea stove in the starboard cutter. At noon on this day the ship's position was lat. 46 48 N., 8 7 W. A very heavy cross sea was running, with the wind now dead astern of the ship, which caused her to roll heavily. But no danger was even now anticipated, and all through the evening on Wednesday, and long after midnight, the ship continued to steam slowly ahead, the captain and his officers remaining steadily at their posts, and the passengers appearing to have full reliance upon the skill of Captain MARTIN to bring them safely to port. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~