WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER. 141 



The sentence pronounced on that occasion, 

 so honourable to the feehngs of all, was as fol- 

 lows : — 



The Court is of opinion, that the cause of 

 the loss of His Majesty's late ship Chal- 

 lenger was by the ship being then by an un- 

 usual and unexpected current, set between 

 noon of the 17th of May last to the time 

 of her wreck, on the 19th of the same 

 month, thirty-four miles of latitude to the 

 southward, which latitude, by dead reckon- 

 ing, up to the time of taking the sights, 

 being used to work the sights of the chro- 

 nometer, on the morning of the 19th of May, 

 placed the ship sixty miles to the n. w. of 

 her actual position at that time. The 

 Court is further of opinion, that no blame 

 whatever is attached to Captain Michael 

 Seymour, nor to the said John MacDonald, 

 nor to any of the officers or ship's company 

 of His Majesty's late ship Challenger, on the 

 occasion of the loss of the said ship ; and the 

 Court doth therefore fully acquit the said 

 Captain Michael Seymour, the said Mr. 

 J. MacDonald, and the surviving officers 

 and ship's company of His Majesty's said 



