H.M.S. Inconstant, at sea, off Cape Finisterre, 8th September, 1870.

My dear Father, - We have been, one might say. witnesses of the most terrible tragedy in naval records. The Captain must have foundered in a gale we had the night before last in the very middle of the fleet. Every one has perished - in number more than 600, and over a third of them, in all probability, were drowned in their hammocks. 

As nothing was seen of her yesterday morning, and as the fleet all day yesterday, and again this morning, have been employed in picking up her boats, fragments of  spars, upper works, and, what is more ominous still, bits of polished mahogany that formed part of her fittings between decks, nobody permits himself to hope. 

We were the nearest ship to her and the last that saw her before the height of the gale. A terror and awe indescribable are over every one on board. Nobody could have believed that we should have come with but little damage out of weather that would produce such a catastrophe to a ship like the Captain. 

She was the famous exponent of Captain Cowper Cole’s  turret and low freeboard theory, and the poor man was on board her himself to observe her performances. Mr Childer’s son is one of the victims. 

One very ominous sign about the débris, we have been picking up is that we passed over the same spots where this morning we have been picking up spars, &c. Yesterday I saw nothing, tending to the belief that everything was drawn down in the vortex and is taking some time to detach from the wreck. 

We have been ordered to get up steam at full speed, and to make the best of our way to Plymouth to report to the Admiralty. I do not think the commander-in-chief would give orders tending to terrify people in England if he thought that there still existed any chance for the poor fellows; in fact, the admiral has made a general signal to the fleet expressive of his deep sorrow at the terrible loss. 

The general theory is that she was taken aback, her stern port either open or burst in by the waves, and that she filled and went down by the stern. If such be the case, she would not have taken more than a quarter of an hour to settle, and the weather was such that no boats could live. No bodies have yet been found. Or will be for some time probably; but we picked up today & portion of the bowsprit, with some poor fellow’s black handkerchief tied to it. He had evidently attempted to make himself fast. 

All hope is now given up (about eleven a.m. Sept. 8 1870). We have started on our way home with the dread news. 

A terrible accident occurred on board within the last ten minutes, as though the last two days had not been sufficiently pregnant in horrors. A gun, at exercise, fetched away, passed over a man, killing him instantaneously, and wounding two other men. 

It is wonderful (though, under the circumstances, natural enough) to see the whole ship’s company completely awestruck as they are. We certainly in the last three days have supped of horror to repletion. - Your affectionate son,  - - - - -