West Briton, Friday May 10, 1850 To MINERS AND OTHERS. For Valparaiso and Coquimbo
The Splendid Barque "BALGOWNIE," Gifford WOOD, Master, will sail for the above ports on or about the 15th instant. She has excellent accommodations forcabin and steerage passengers, sails remarkably fast, and is in every respect a first-rate conveyance. Her last voyages out and home were made ineighty-six
days each way. Steerage Passage £21. For further particulars, apply to the Master on board, or to Messrs Henry BATH & SON. Swansea. Dated Swansea, May 2, 1850.

~o~o~o~o~

West Briton, Friday August 19, 1853 ILL-USAGE OF A LAD AT SEA.
On the 6th instant, a youth called William HAWKEN, son of a maltster at Padstow, preferred a charge before the magistrates at Swansea, against Joseph DONALDSON, the mate of the "La Serena," for having violently assaulted and beaten him, an apprentice on board the ship whilst she was on her homeward voyage from Coquimbo to Swansea. The complainant, in his evidence, said, I am nearly seventeen years of age, and am an apprentice on board the "La Serena." I shipped on board that vessel at Swansea for a voyage to and from Coquimbo. The defendant was the mate during that voyage. I remember Sunday, the 24th of July, he sent me for a watch tackle. I went for it, and placed it on the deck near the captain; the mate then asked me where some short straps were. I then went to fetch some. Just at this time a boom broke adrift, and the captain coming upon deck asked what was the matter. The mate then called me aft, and asked me why I did not come directly with the tackle, when I told him he also sent me for some straps. The defendant then caught up a piece of rope and struck me some violent blows over the arm and back. I went and laid hold of the wheel; I was then crying. The defendant again struck me with his clenched fist under my ear and in my ribs. I had several severe marks from the blows. I showed the marks to all the men on board the vessel. I felt the effect of the blows for some days after. I will not go in the vessel again, because I am afraid. On cross examination complainant said, when he was told to go after the tackle, he went at once, and did not stand talking to either of the men. Perhaps if he had brought the tackle sooner, the boom would not have broken adrift; he could not, however, get the tackle quicker; the rope which the mate struck him with was abut a yard in length, and about the size of his three fingers. He had complained to the captain who told the mate not to strike either of the boys in future. John LEWIS and Thomas GUY, seamen, gave corroborative evidence, and said they saw bruises and marks on the boy's arms and loins. The magistrates having consulted, Captain MORGAN gave the decision of the bench remarking that although it was absolutely necessary the master of a vessel should have a certain power to correct boys given him, yet the mate had not at any time any authority to lay hands on the boys, or to inflict punishment on any of the crew. The Bench were also of opinion that the mate in this case was to be blamed because there was no insertion in the log book in reference to the matter. He would also remark, for the information of any boys who should be similarly situated to the complainant, that they had no just cause of complaint to make, unless they first brought it under the notice of the captain which the complainant said he did. The Bench were inclined, however, to deal rather leniently with this case, as it was the first which had been brought against the defendant, and they should therefore only fine him 50s. and costs, or two months' imprisonment. HYDOCK, the second mate of the same vessel, then pleaded guilty to a similar charge of assault on the complainant on the 20th of June, and was fined in a similar amount of 50s. and costs. Transcribed by Isabel Harris