Raising of a British Frigate.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 21, 6 April 1870, Page 7

Raising of a British Frigate.

The Philadelphia Post reports the raising of the wreck of the British frigate the Augusta, which has lain imbedded in the mud since the year 1777, under the following circumstances :—Previous to the 20th of October, 1777, the British vessels Roebuck, of 44 guns, and Merlin, of 18 guns, and a galley of 3 guns were blockading the Delaware River, and gradually approaching Philadelphia. At that time the Americans had but two vessels—the Wasp and the Lexington—in that vicinity, and neither of them was equal in strength to their adversaries. To prevent the British ships reaching the city, a fort was erected on the Jersey shore, and a chevaux-defrisa so constructed that the vessels could not pass beyond it. On the 20th of October the British made an attack on the fortifications, but were repulsed by means of lire-ships. On the 22nd of October, the British wete reinforced by the arrival of the Augusta, carrying sixty-font guns. They made a second attack, but, after a long light, were driven off, and the August i, being of an unwieldy nature, grounded. When the Americans discovered this, they opened fire on her with hot shot, and set her on fire in severa’ places, 150 of the 3JO men who composed her crew being either drowned or burned. Two years ago a party of five men determined on an attempt to raise the wrack, supposing there was in the hold a quantity of specie. They have succeeded in moving her up as far as Gloucester ; and have already recovered a number of relics, among them a lot of sterling silver spoons, marked “ H.W., 1748,” with a coat of arms, consisting of an ancient shaped cross; an old English bull’seye watch; seven-guinea pieces bearing the vignette of George 111., and with d.at' s ranging from 176;) to 1770 ; some Spanish silver dollars ; three guns of heavy ca’ibre; about sixty tons weight of balls ; and about 100 tons of Kentlidge iron, which had evidently been used as ballast. The iron is in square pigs, and bears the old English brand—the arrow head. Three human skulls have also been found, one remarkable for its thickness. There has also been found a small piece or strip of copper, about Sin. in. length, and lin. in thickness, upon which is stamped the Lord’s prayer, with the words “ D ivid Pyetli, Delt. and Celt., Edinburgh, March, 1774,” the lettering being all in capitals. The vessel had been constructed of Irish oak, and joined together with trunnels of the same material, not a single metal bolt being used. The timber is pronounced as good to-day as when put together. On referring to the records of the time, it will be found that on .the destruction of the Augusta, mentioned in the Philadelphia Post, the greater part of the officers and crew of the ill-fated vessel were saved, but the second lieutenant, chaplain, and gunner, with po inconsiderable number of the men on board, perished.