Eight days after leaving Plymouth the island of Madeira was sighted. The line was passed on the morning of the 4th of November, 25 days from Plymouth. The God of the Deep then paid his accustomed visit, and found all his "Sons" happy and prosperous. On the 1st December, in Lat. 46.30 south, a large iceberg, said to be 800 feet long and 112 feet high, was passed at a distance of two miles. The thermometer was 35.5°F.
We understand the voyage was passed most agreeably by the passengers, who enjoyed excellent health, the only melancholy casualty being the health of the Surgeon (Twining), who died on entering the harbour. He suffered much all the passage from a broken rib (caused by a fall some years since) pressing on his lungs. We hear he was nearly sixty years of age. Messrs. Young and Co. acted very unwisely in committing the charge of so many valuable lives to a gentleman who, however great his professional skill, owning to his age and infirmities, would have been unable to attend to any serious illness if such had unfortunately broken out. This is more culpable when so many young and capable men can be easily obtained in England.
We are happy to welcome amongst the passengers our old colonists Messrs. Cholmondeley, Heywood. Paul, and White. Tasmania
The passengers were most agreeably surprised at the beauty of the country and the delighted climate of Canterbury. From a Correspondent.
DIED - On Thursday last, January 4th, on board the ship Royal Stuart, aged 59 years, Mr. David F. Twining, surgeon of the above vessel .Source: Lyttelton Times 6 January 1855