We have already announced the arrival at Devonport of the Columbia, steam surveying-vessel, Lieut. Commander Shortland, from North America, with Captain (since Rear Admiral) and Mrs. Owen, the gallant captain having been in command of the surveying expedition in the Bay of Fundy for the last five years.

The Columbia had been long expected at Portsmouth, but independently of the length of time she was on her passage, it was impossible that she could have reached this country in a shorter period since she received her orders, in consequence of the time required for calling together and collecting the different surveying parties belonging to her which had been detached to many points at considerable distance from each other. With reference to her voyage home, we may say that the condition of the ship, on reaching Devonport, afforded evidence palpable enough of the cause of delay. Indeed, we scarcely remember to have seen a vessel actually afloat so much of a wreck, and we cannot but admire that feeling of gratitude which induced the captain, officers, and crew of the Columbia, on Sunday week, at the Royal dockyard chapel, publicly to offer through the chaplain (the Rev. T. Briggs) their thanks to Almighty God for the preservation of their lives.

The following accurate details of the voyage will show that their presence at Divine worship, on the 19th instant, was indeed as occasion for devout thanksgiving. The Columbia is a steamer which has seen better days and considerable service in the navy, and most especially so when in command of Mr. Henderson, now master attendant at Devonport Dockyard. She is one of the old gun brigs which were cut in two by Sir Robert Seppings, above twenty years since, had a pair of engines put in amidships, and was converted not Penelope fashion, but according to common sense and " rule of three" calculation, into one of the most efficient men of war steamers of the day. She had run so long, however, that in May, 1842, when commissioned for surveying service there was little faith placed in the soundness of her condition, notwithstanding which, she proceeded to North America, and was there up to Sunday, the 21st November last, when she left Halifax for Portsmouth. After receiving a temporary refit, having landed her armament, and taken on board 115 tons of coals, 18 tons of them on deck, she arrived at Sidney on the 26th, left there on the 28th, and steamed for two days and a half until she got off the banks of Newfoundland, encountering heavy weather at the commencement. November 29, in lat. 47 ° 11 ', long. 51 ° 20 ', she unshipped her paddle-floats and proceeded under sail, the wind blowing a fresh gale from N.E., accompanied with snow, but shifting to the N., with drifting ice, the vessel was hove to. November 30, the ship proceeded. At noon the sky became overcast, with snow, and heavy squalls with rain succeeded, and the wind increasing to a hurricane at 2 p.m. the vessel was again hove to under main trysail.

December 1, at 6 a.m., she shipped so heavy a sea that the first gig was stove in. In the night the head of the funnel was carried away by the heavy rolling of the ship, and the funnel was found so corroded that it was not repairable. At 8-15, the force of the wind being 8, the ship bore away, and the weather moderated. December 2, at 11 p.m., the force of the wind increased to 9, the ship making a great deal of water, and each watch engaged in pumping. In the course of the night the force of the wind increased to 11 ; and at 11.45, on December 3, the ship rounded to under single-reefed main try sail, and continued until 11.30 p.m., when she bore away again. December 4, at 5 p m., the gale again increased, with squalls, up to 4 a.m. on the 5th, when its force was 10, with a heavy following sea, and they were obliged to steer the ship by the sea.

About 1 p.m., it moderated to 9, and then gradually lessened. December 8, it was again blowing very strong, and the ship was fast making water ; she had from 9 to 13 inches and at one time up to 17 inches in her hold. December 11, in lat. 49 ° 13 ', long. 17 ° 30 ', she re-shipped her paddle-floats. There were light winds until evening, when they opened the boiler cocks, and found the blown-off pipes choked. December 12, at 4 p.m., another gale commenced - the sky overcast, squalls and heavy rains ; they were obliged to shut the communication valve of the starboard boiler, engines working at reduced speed. At this time they found considerable leakage in the starboard boiler, and stopped them with wooden plugs. December 13, the force of the wind was 8, and at 4.30 they were obliged to cut away the wreck of the boat which was stove in on the 1st. At 7.30, the sea stove in the larboard bow ; the ports had been several times stove in.

At 1.40 p.m., they found the foremast badly sprung under the futtock hook ; shortened all sail, and at five o'clock in striking the topmast the foremast gave way and went over the side, carrying two men who were on the crosstrees looking out for the fid, with the wreck. The lives of these men were almost miraculously preserved ; they had just time to stop the engines, but not before one man was struck and his jaw broken ; the other man was not hurt at all.

December 13, they were obliged to shut the communication valve of the port boiler, to clear the cocks, they having become choked in the same degree as those of the other boiler. The crew were then employed in rigging a jury foremast and making paddle-floats, and they succeeded on Thursday, the 16th, at 2.10 p.m. in making the Lizard ; and on the following day anchored in Plymouth Sound. The gun-room was flooded during the entire passage, and not a man in the ship was dry for an hour. The stern ports were caulked in and battened. The decks were cleared of everything ; the paddle-wheels themselves were defective from old age, and by the washing away of the outsides of the boxes, they were exhibited in all their skeleton wretchedness. The compasses, in consequence of their great vibration, were next to useless.

SG & SGTL ; Vol 5 ; Pages 103-4.

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