The London Illustrated News, November 30, 1850
THE LATE GALES – LOSS OF LIFE
“A considerable amount of property has been destroyed on the south-east coast, by the violence of the gales which have prevailed during the last week. Several vessels have gone ashore, and it is feared that on the coast of Sussex some lives have been lost. The news from all parts of the coast is most disastrous, particularly in reference to the storm on Saturday and Sunday last.

That part of the Sussex coast between Shoreham and Worthing was the scene of a very distressing event. At daybreak on Monday a heavily laden barque, since ascertained to have been the Lalla Rookh, bound to London from the Brazils, was observed riding at anchor, and labouring severely. It being evident that she was in difficulties, having lost her mainmast, a boat with eleven men put off from Worthing to her aid, and, notwithstanding the tremendous surf that was running, the brave fellows made a desperate effort to reach the barque. They had got within a short distance of the vessel, and were about to get the weather side, when a terrific sea caught the boat and immediately capsized her. The fate of the unfortunate fellows who were in it is briefly told. For a moment or so they were seen struggling in the water: the violent lashing of the surf, however, soon overpowered them, and every one perished. Most have left large families. There names were—James Newman, and his two sons, John and James Newman, and his brother Harry Newman, William Hoskins, Stephen Edwards, William Wicks, James Edwards, Henry Slaughter, John Belville, and Harry Bacon. They all lived at Worthing, and their deplorable fate has created much painful excitement. Later in the day another boat’s crew succeeded in gaining the barque, and in the course of the afternoon she got up a sail and proceeded up the Channel towards the river. As yet not one of the bodies of the unfortunate men have been recovered. We have engraved the scene of the melancholy occurrence from a sketch by a Brighton artist.”

This issue of The London Illustrated News is filled with many images and stories and while the events at Worthing are given some prominence, they are by no means the most significant tale. This status is reserved for the Anti-Papal demonstrations sweeping England and the construction of Paxton’s Crystal Palace for The Great Exhibition that will open the following year with its vast showcase of Empire. They are critical events reflecting England’s hostility towards, and embracing of, the outside world. The former, a seemingly ancient dilemma deeply rooted in the past, the latter, a powerful projection into the future.

More about the Crystal Palace and The Great Exhibition