Shipping Intelligence Section

Terrible state of Affairs on board an Emigrant Ship at the Port Phillip Heads - Intelligence was brought to Williamstown, on Wednesday evening last, by Capt Wylie, on the brig Champion, from Adelaide, that a large ship, named the Ticonderago (sic) ninety days out from Liverpool, with upwards of 900 Government emigrants on board, had anchored at the Heads.   A great amount of sickness had occurred among the passengers, more than a hundred deaths having taken place, and almost a similar number of cases (typhus fever) being still on board.  Nor was this all.  The doctor's health was so precarious that he was not expected to survive, and the whole of the medicines, medical comforts etc, had been consumed.  The authorities in Williamstown immediately furnished the government schooner Empire with the necessary supplies of livestock, beef, mutton, milk, vegetables, porter, wine, spirits and a medicine chest, and Dr Taylor, of the Ottillia, a gentleman of much practical experience, went down in her to the Ticonderago (sic) yesterday, to take charge, accompanied by Captain Ferguson the Harbour Master.  The Lysander Ship, has also been taken up by the Government as a Quarantine Hulk, and proceeds to her destination at the Heads this day, having on board stores sufficient for all hands for three months, when further arrangements will be made, which we trust will ameliorate the fearful state of things on board.  The foregoing are the only particulars known to our reporter at present, but, at all events, this case clearly exhibits the cruelty and ill-judging policy of crowding such a number of people on board a single ship, no matter her size, for a lengthened voyage.