Heavy losses at sea previously, and especially in 1854. eager to reap so rich a harvest, to place vessels in the trade, many of which were altogether unsuited for it, with other causes, compelled the Legislature to investigate the whole subject; the result being the comprehensive Passenger Act of 1855, which was passed not one day too soon. During the seven years ending December 1853, no fewer than sixty-one ships were lost in this trade, with the Heavy further lamentable loss of 1567 lives. In 1854, alone, nine emigrant ships were wrecked. Five of these were from Liverpool, including the Tayleur, stranded on Lundy Island, when 330 persons perished, and the City of Glasgow, having on board 430 souls, who, with the ship, were never afterwards heard of. The Black Hawk and Winchester foundered at sea in the great storm of the 15th and 17th of April; the City of Philadelphia steamer was wrecked on Cape Race, Newfoundland, in August, as well as the ship Tottenham, from Cork to Quebec, on Cape Breton, but, happily, in these instances no lives were lost.
Such were the disastrous total losses of British ships in 1854; and, although few or any of these losses can be attributed to unseaworthiness, the loss of life was so appalling, that the Legislature was led to bestow more than usual attention to the subject. But besides these, several ships were so seriously injured that they were compelled to return for repairs. One loss, that of the Powhattan, was a singularly melancholy one. This vessel sailed from Liverpool with German emigrants on board, and, after sustaining much other damage, was, afterwards, wrecked at Barnagat, off the coast by New Jersey,
