This splendid clipper ship arrived on Thursday from London, under the command of Captain John Williams, late of the Marchioness of Londonderry. She is a new clipper of 1287 tons register, and very beautiful model, built by her owners to run as a regular trader between London and this port. Her saloon is very large, and elegantly fitted up ; the table is about 30 feet in length, and the cabins spacious and well ventilated. There is a separate cabin for ladies fitted up in the most gorgeous style.

The passage which has been accomplished in 91 days from London, a good one for an ordinary ship, is nevertheless long for a vessel of her class. Captain Williams states that with ordinary weather the passage could have been made in 60 days ; he fully expected to have reached Sydney before the Red Jacket arrived - at Melbourne. Captain Williams has favoured the with the following abstract of the voyage. The ship Light of the Age left London Docks on the afternoon of the 10th September, and anchored at Gravesend on the same evening. She left Gravesend on September 11, at 2.80 p.m. passed through the Downs on the 12th, and was detained in the Channel by calms and contrary winds to the 21st September, being then 81 miles south of Scilly. The equator was crossed on the 20th October, at 10 p.m. in 28� 45' W. ; having lost the north-east trades in 15� north latitude, was becalmed thirteen days, and had a succession of very light and contrary winds. The meridian of the Cape of Good Hope was reached on the 13th November, say latitude 46� 16 south, and. longitude 17� 34 east. The ship passed the east meridian of Van Diemen's Land on the 5th instant, being latitude 150� E. and longitude 44�11 S. The following is taken from her log :-

11 days to Scilly Islands from the Docks ; 29 days from Scilly to the Line; 24 thence to the Cape of Good Hope, ant 22 from the Cape to the eastward of Van Diemen's Land. She sailed from longitude 20� 6 west, latitude 39� 46 south, to longitude 150� east, latitude 44� 11 south - equal to 170 6 (nearly half the circumference of the globe) in 30 days. Her average run for 13 consecutive days was 256 mules per diem ; and for 63 days, 200 miles per diem. Her greatest day's sailing was 318 miles. On the 12th instant, at 10 am , when off Bateman's Bay, the Light of the Age sighted the steamer Tamar coming from Broulee ; she immediately made signals and hove to. The steamer then stood. out to her, and at 10.30 a.m., in the expectation that he had brought us late and important news (no less than the fall of Sebastopol), Captain Williams went on board the Tamar and requested Captain Chatfield to bring on his mail, to which the latter assented. Thus through the consideration of Captain Williams, the letters, &c. were delivered from the Post Office at 9 a.m. yesterday, instead of this morning.

A file of English papers, together with the report and manifest of the vessel were also kindly forwarded to us, for which Captain Williams receives our thanks. The Light of the Age passed Montague Island, a distance of 150 miles from the port last Saturday morning, but has been detained by contrary winds since. Had it not have been for that cause, Captain Williams would have brought the pleasing intelligence of the fall of Sebastopol, and thus have anticipated the City of Sydney's news ex-Red Jacket. A testimonial has been presented to Captain Williams, signed by the whole of the passengers, expressing their appreciation of his kindness as a friend, and abilities as a commander It is the intention of the owners to lay the Light of the Age on for London direct. No vessels connected with the colonies have been spoken during the passage.

SG & SGTL Vol 12 ; Pages 275 & 283 ; 17 - 31 Dec 1855

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