The master of this unfortunate vessel has furnished us with the following particulars:-

On the 14th November, 1850, the schooner Emma Sherratt, of Port Adelaide, left Oahoo, and proceeded on her voyage ; experienced strong trades, and passed between the Samoa Group on the evening of December 1st, after which she experienced strong westerly currents and moderate weather. At noon, December 6, being in latitude 19� 37' S., we steered for Turtle Island to be certain of the chronometer, which island we sighted at 5 p.m., bearing west, distant about 16 miles ; at 6 p.m. altered course to S.W. by S., wind being E.S.E., and a moderate breeze ; at 8 p.m. the western end of the island bore N. by W., distant about 9 miles. Upon being relieved, I went into the cabin and laid off the course for Sydney ; about 8.30 p m., while in conversation with Mr. Wilson, the vessel struck the ground, and upon reaching the deck I found her on shore on a reef running as far as I could see north and south, but with little break upon it. As the moon was about setting, I could see what appeared to be deep water a short distance ahead. We having shortened sail upon my going on deck, upon consultation with the first and second mates I deemed it most advisable to lighten her, and she would go over, as we had no means of getting her off against the wind. I accordingly commenced to lighten her of all the heaviest things at hand, but while so employed she drove the rudder up, tearing away all the rear pintals, &c., and gained so rapidly on the pumps as to render all our endeavours hopeless. When daylight broke, we found. ourselves upon a detached reef, not laid down on our charts, or the American survey, which we have since seen and which had it not been for the remains of the Emma Sherratt's stern the American sloop of war Falmouth would have gone on shore is the same place, on her way to Ovalou, one of the islands where she arrived during our stay there. There was no alarm given by the watch until she struck ; and they say there was no appearance of breakers until after she struck : we stayed by the wreck until Monday morning, when the natives came off in their canoes, and we went on shore, but they robbed us eventually of all our clothes ; we remained on Turtle Island until the 1st of January, 1851, when one of the chiefs arrived from Lakemba, and he started with him. We received every attention and kindness from Mr. Lyth and the Mission. We left Lakemba on the 5th February in a trading boat, for Ovalou, and upon our arrival experienced much attention and kindness from Mr. David Whippy and Mr. Waterhouse ; and eventually sailed for Sydney in the schooner Opalia, which vessel arrived at Ovalou, about five months after we reached there."

SG P. 151, 1851.

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