OUR CRUISE IN THE CONFEDERATE STATES' WAR STEAMER, 'ALABAMA.'

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 60, 22 January 1864, Page 4

OUR CRUISE IN THE CONFEDERATE STATES' WAR STEAMER, 'ALABAMA.'

TIIE I'UIVATE JOUIIXAI, OF A.\" OFFICER. The Precedential election—the slave question—the slanderous tongues of Northern senators—the tone of tho Northern Press, and the unjust laws passed by n Northern Congress,— unjust because they acted, and wore intended to act, upon the .Southern people, —all these tended to produce a feeling of discontent and to foster minds already embittered against the North to withdraw from the Union, and to make for themselves a place among the nations of the earth. To effect this object, negotiations were attempted to bo entered into, which, however, signally failed, and it was only after every exertion had been made to adjust the matter in a peaceful and proper manner (but without avail), that recourse w;ts made to arms. After the outbreak of the war, tho immense naval superiority of the North gave them considerable advantages over tho South, who, lacking convenience and material, were not able to build vessels with sufficient dispatch, and the Confederate States' Government sent over Captain J. D. Bullock to England for the purpose of purchasing a war steamer. Accordingly the " No. 2!)0 " was built and intended for a Confederate vessel of war. The "No. 290" was launched from the building yard of Messrs. Laird, of Birkenhead. She was a barque-rigged wooden propeller, of 1010 tons register. Length of keel, 210 feet; length overall, 220 lcet; beam, 32 feet; depth, 17 feet, llcr engines, built by the same iirm, were two horizontal ones, each of 300 liorso power, with stowage for 350 tons of coal. Her sails, earned at all times, were as follows: —lore, foretop-mast stay-sail and jib; two large try-sails; the usual square-sails on lore and main, with the exception of the main-sail, 'which was a flying one ; spanker and gaff-top-sails ; all standing jigging wire. Double wheal, with motto engraved thereon, "Aide tni el JJitu Y" Akkra," placed just before the mizenjnast. Bridge in the centre, just before the funnel. Carried 5 boats, viz.: cutter and launch amidships, gig and whale boat between tho main and mizenmasts, and dingy astern. Tho main deck pierced for 12 guns; elliptic stem; billet head; high bulwarks, cabin accommodations first-class; ward-room furnished with a handsome suite of state-rooms; steerage—starboard for midshipmen, port for engineers; next came engine-room, coal-bunkers, &c.; then tho berth-deck, capable of accommodating 120 men; under the ward-room were store-rooms; and under tho steerage • were shell-rooms; just forward of tho fire-arms came the hold; next tho magazines, and forward of all the boatswains' and sailnmkers' rooms; the hold, &c., being all under tho berth-dock. At 9.15 a.m. of the 29th July, 1862, we weighed anchor and proceeded slowly down tho Mersey, anchoring in Jloelfra Bay—having on hoard relatives and friends of the builders, both ladies and gentlemen. Our ostensible object in sailing was to go "on a trial trip," and the presence of tho ladies and gentlemen gave a certain colour to tho report. In the evening transferred our visitors to a steam-tug. We remained here, shipping hands, &c., until 2 a.m. of the 31st, when we got under weigh, ostensibly bound to Nassau, Bahamas. A strong breeze was .blowing from tho south-west, accompanied with heavy rain, a boisterous sea runniug at the time—forming altogether u most uninviting picture, and one not at all rali-iilntcd to iiu'gur good luck. Our unceremonious departure was owing to tho fact of news being leceived to the ell'ect that the customs' authorities had orders to board and detain us that morning.

Passing succctsiuely the Islo of Man, Ailsie Craig, &c., we hove to rfT tile (iiant.i Causeway, and landed Captain Dulloil; ".ml tho pilot, «miil n drcnchiiifs shower of rain. Soon, however, it cleared up, and nvav we slcoikl (to the westward) at the rate of IIU knots ait hum-. Soon alter clearing the laud a strolifv wind with heavy sea eontinVud until oUr airival at Port Pravn, in the Island of Ferseira (Azores) 011 the 10th August. TSW port how port had been stovo in, and a l'e»v Elinor damages done by tho heavy sea we had if.Onlintered, notwithstanding which our vessel Mt promise i.l' beiiiff a good n a heat, and also s\vift one. Tho shikv afternoon the ollieials came ofl, and in re]>-lv lo their questions, we said that we were the stvaiuer ' Uarcelona,' from London, 1(3 days out, bound to llavanuah, and intended for the Spanish Ciovernnient, for the war ill Mexico. Were quarantined three davs.

The vessel was under (lie command of Captain M. J. Butcher, late of the Cunard service. The lost of tile officers were as follows, viz. : —Chief Oilicrr, John Low, (K) Savannah, Ga.; Second Ollieor, G. S. Knlliiin, Hull, England; Surgeon, L. 11. Llewellyn, Eastou, Wills; Paymaster, C. K. Yonge, Savannah, Ga.; Chief Engineer, J. McNuir, England. The ciew numbered about TO men and boys. Our object in going (here, that is, to Terceira, was to obtain the necessary arms, ammunition, Ace.j requisite for a vessel of war. England's proclamation of neutrality prevented the guns, ki\, being placed on board in Liverpool. .Skill and secrecy of no inconsiderable degree were required to escape the vigilance of the Yankees, who, through the agency of their spies, were quite an fait with regard to Confederate affairs in England. No sooner was our dupavture known than the United States' steamer 'Tuscaroi-.i' received, through the American Consul at Liverpool, newsot it. Kvery exertion was made by her commander to seize us, but without, avail, for by the time the 'Tuscarora' arrived in iloelfra ISay we hud been gone two days. Going on shore, t found the people both courteous and hospitable, every attention being paid bv llieni. The liay is a moderate si/.eil one, with good holding ground, and protectcd from all save easterly winds. Three or four forts (without guns) were built, but were nearly useless through decay, licef lias to be brought from Angra on the other side of the island. Fruit and vegetables are plenlilul, but water is scarce. On the 13th, a sail was observed standing into the harbour; anchoring near us, she proved to be the American whaling tehooncr 'Ifisiiijf Sun,' of l'lo-viueo-town. Through the indiscretion of the purser, our real character became known, and considerable apprehension was felt for our safety on her departure a tew davs alter.

On tho 18th, u sail was observed making for the anchorage. in tho evening she anchored near us, when we found her to be the ' Aggripina,' of Loudon, Captain McQueen, on board six guns, with ammunition, coals, stores, &c.. for us. Preparations w<*re immediately made to transfer her cargo. On the afternoon of the 20th, while employed discharging the barque, the scccss. steamer ' Jiahama,' Captain Tosser, arrived, having on board < 'onunaiuler Kaphael fSemmes and (Cheers of tho Confederate States' .-learner Sumter.' Hauled steamer alongside, taking from her two thirty-two pounders, with .-'oiiio stores, Arc., which took us until the following day. 22nd.—(Jot up steam ; dodging slowly along the island, having the barque fast alongside, Inking from her a quantity of coal, \-c., which took us until tins evening of tho 23rd, when we anchored in Angra liny. About D a.m. we were startled by the report of a gun, lived from a fort, and which was believed to have hud a shot in. The * liahama ' immediately stood seaward, in order to draw tho lire from us towards her. At 11 a.m. another was iired. Tho explanation given by the authorities the following morning was that it- was only a mail signal. We had, however, eontiidenidle reason to doubt it. 1 was this day uppointed acting master's-mato to the Confederate ►States' steamer 4 Alabama.'

Sunday, 2-1 th August, 1802.—Strung X.AV. wind at 12.30. Got under weigh in company with the 1 Bahama,' and stood along the Island of Terceim. At 2 p.m. Captain Semmes read his commission, and formally took command of the Confederate Stairs' steamer ' Alabama,' 8 guns ; hoisted the Confederate ensign at the peak, the English St. George's at tilt 1 tore, and the pendant at the main, firing a gun at the same time. Commander Scmmes made a most effective, spirited address, in which (alter of the relations exiting between tlie Xortli and South) he said : "his principle objt ct was to cripple the commerce of the enemy; that he was not going to fight a fifty-gun ship, but as soon as they had become proficient in the u>e of their "weapons, he would yivo them an opportunity to uliow tliu world what tliov wen; made of." Three routing ehcei'n were -rivi u on its conclusion. I hiving conveyed t ';ij>tains Bulloch and IJuU'her to the ' Bahama, I and at 11.00 p.m. we hoi.-ted launch and parted, the ' Bahama 1 returning to Liverpool, and the * Alabama' proceeding on a cruise. [Including commander, —20 officers ami 85 men.] 2.->0 p.m. of the following day, hoisted up the propeller, and secured it, it being our intention to cruise under sail only, unless occasion demanded steam. —Dili.—Cave chase to a brig ; lost her in the darkj ness. The following day .sighted another tiiiit showed French colours. li.oO p.m. called all hands to muster, and stationed them at the groat guns. Strong X.E. wind. 31st.—Sail reported on our lee bow, g ivc cba.se. Showed Portuguese colours. 2nd September.—Chased a barque; o?i boarding she proved to be the ' La Eoi,' from Timor to Mantes. •Ith.—Exercised Ist and 2nd divisions; at great guns. Oth.—Several vessels in sight; gave chase to one, j discovering her to be a Portuguese brigantine ; went 1 about and chased a ship which showed American j colours. On boarding she proved to be the ' Ochtnulgee/ whaler, of Martha's Vineyard, "with a valuable sperm whale fast alongside. Took possession, transferred her crew to the ' Alabama/ and a I quantity of stores. All prisoners, American born, were put in irons; the rest, if English, &:c., were not ironed. oth.—Burnt prize, in chase of a barque; coming up with her, we found she was the Erench barque ' Senegambia/ of Marseilles. Made the 1.-dand of Elorcs and Corvo. Sent prisoners ashore oil' Elon-s. Chased and captured the schooner ' Starlight/ of Boston, with passengers from Eayal to Elores. This was rather an exciting clia.se, for after firing a blank cartridge, she .still kept on her course (endeavouring to get shelter under the land). A shot was then fired across her bow, but without any cffect; so a shot was Jjred between her masts, which had the desired ellect. Transferred prisoners, ••mil hove to until daylight. 7 th.—.Saw a steamer on weather how. Kead articles of war.

I Bth.—Landed passengers mid crow of 'Starlight' i sit Flores. Seven sails in sight. Stood out from the land in chase of one, prize schooner following. Came lip with her, and found her to he the barque ' Ocean Hover,' of New London, with a valuable cargo of . whale oil 011 hoard, having been out -10 months, i Transferred prisoners, stores, Are., and in the evening scuttled her; but, as it afterwards showed, ineffectually, owing to the buoyancy of the cargo. _ 3th.—Captured barque 'AUrt,'' of New liedfVird. Engaged all day transferring stores for ship's use. Set on lire barques 1 Ocean Hover' and ' Alert,' and schooner ' Starlight.' Overhauled and captured schooncr ' Weather Gage,' of Province Town. Stood in chase ol a barque, and which on boarding proved to be Danish. To this vessel we hoisted American colours, and passed as the United States' steamer ' Iroquois.' To all prizes wo had captured we hoisted English colours, and exchanged them for Confederate as soon as the boarding oiiicer gained the vessel's deck. 10th.—Burnt prize and shaped course lor Flores. 11th.—Hove to oil' i'lores, and lauded prisoners. The Governor paid us a visit. Filled away in chase of a barque, but owing to tile darkness lost'hcr. 12th. —I'resh southerly wind, very pleasant. Made sail in chase of n vessel; found her to be a. Portuguese barque. loth.—Two vessels hove in sight, one proved to be a Spaniard, the other a Yankee brigantino, and which ol' course we captured, taking her crew on board our vessel, and setting her on lire—the ' Atamaha,' of Sippican. 1-ltli, 1.80 a.m.—Gave chase to u sail on lee-bow. 2.30 a.m. iired a gun for her to heave to. Darkness prevented ns knowing who she was, so I went on board to examine her jwpers, and which, if Yankee, I was to signal it and heave to until daylight. "What I did on boarding this vessel was the course usually adopted in taking prizes. Pulling under his stein 1 saw it was the whaling ship 'P.enjaniin Tucker,' ol and from Xew Hedford. Gaining the quarter-deck, I was welcomed with outstretched hands. In answer to my questions, the captain told me her name, port of registry, &e., C<r., a!I of which 1 was previously aware; I then told hint that he was a prize to the Confederate screw steamer ' Alabama,' ordering him to put his clothes in one trunk, allowing the mates and men one hag cticli—till navigation hooks and in-

atruinonts being left beluiid. At daylight, sent tho captain iind crow w'lh the ship's papers and luggage lo tho 'Alabama.* 1 thi-n examined tho ship, and finding twine cases of More*, they were transferred to OUr siii]). Thu preparations to tin: her were soon I made, ho that alter seeing her well lived M'e pushed j oil" and regained our tho prinom-r.s (Yaulu-iv) i being placed in .single irons. | loth. —Light breeze with heavy swell. ' 10th.—laud in sight, light ahead, 1(1.80 ii.ni. Siii 1 reported right ahead ami took possession of her. | Tins schooner ' Courser,' of Province Town. We then .stood towards tho land, sent prisoners ashore. ; stood out to sea, and made a target of prize. Alter some creditable shooting ivc burnt her. 17th.- —"Whilst at (inartors, two vessels reported; bore down for tho lee one, 11.lid hove her to. She showed Yankee colours, accordingly we took possession : found her to he tho barque ' Virginia,' whaler, of, and 21 days from, Xew liedford. Obtained late newspapers containing accounts id' victories gained both by the Federals and Confederates, the former at Baton liougo; tho latter in Missouri, 'l'ho new:;, however, was received with doubt, on account of tho sources from whie'u it eminated; -1 p.m. set iiro to prize. 18th.—Two vessels insight; chased one; proved to be a l'reneh brig, liore away for tho other. She evidently not liking our appearance, altered her course, and made all sail —a fresh breeze washlowing lit the time, iler exertions, however, proved fruitless, for at 12.U0 wo came up with her; boarded and took possession of barque ' Klisha Dunbar,' from Xew lledford, 20 days out. 11l the evening burnt hey. l!>th and 20th.-—Under double-reefed topsails and trysails. .Monday, 21st.'—Ollicers and men to muster. On the first Sunday in each month the articles of war were read, and the ship and men every Sunday. 2(ith.—Up to-day cruising, with tine weather; in the evening it became .squally. 2Sth.—Sail reported ; gave chase; proved to be a foreign brigantine. Xot wishing our real character to bo known, we kept on our course without speaking her. Fine, with light winds. :10th.—Cave chase to a vessel on lee how ; proved to bo a French barque. Fresh breeze and heavy sea. October Ist.—Strong breeze, and occasionally rain. The crews of the 'Virginia' and ' F.lisha Dunbar" stfll on board. A change of weather keenly felt, it being very cold.

3rii.—Early in tlics morning tin: jnyful riy of: " sail lio !" wis heard from theniast-heaii ; presently three sails wre >rtl-i! as being in si.nht. A t "J.SO nimc up villi one, hoisted the .St. (leorgu's <_•]l.siyil, boarded, hauled down, and hoisted the stars anil bars, and tool," possession of the ship ' Kniily Kaminn,' ul l'ortsinoutll, (N. 11.) Made sail after another, prize billowing astern. ()n boarding she w;is found to he thr ship ' Urilliant,' uf ;iml from New York, 12 days out, hound to Liverpool with a valuable cargo of grain ami Hour. The cargo of the 4 Kmily Farinnu, 1 proving to ho neutral, ami the prisoners becoming irksome, it was deemed a favourable opportunity to get rid of Diem. All the prisoners weie ihcn placed on board of her, and the ship allowed to proceed mi her voyage, her captain piomising to land them in Liverpool. It s< cnied n fearful thing to hum Mich a cargo as the ' llrillianl' hail, when I thought how the operatives in the cotton districts' would have danced with j/»v had they it shared amongst them. ! novor saw a vessel burn with such brilliancy, the flames completely enveloping the ina>ls, hull, and rising in a lew minutes, making a sight as grand as it wjis appalling. This evening, quite unexpectedly, wo were called to general quarters, going through alt the (.'volutions in quite a masterly manner. Sounded lire-alarm, maimed pumps as for a leak, called away hoarders, and went through everything expected to be dune in action. After this, every Friday evening, when practicable, was set apart lor general quarters. From the papers taken from t.he 4 lsriUiant' we lead of.the succes> of our brave troops in Virginia, and also of the sucee.-Mul oM-ape of the (.'onfoderate screw steamer * Florida* into a Confederate port. oth.—Hoarded a French barque. In the evening chased a briganiine, who proved to be a Swide. Fresh breeze from the westward.

7ll»-—Light winds. a.m., sail lepmlcd on starboard how; chased, ami at .-ix tired a gun to heave to, and hoisted tin? Confederate ensign. On hoarding 1 found her to be tin* barque * Wave Crcf-l,' of and lVnin New York, to Cardiff, tight days out. Her captain asserting that his cargo was Kngli?-li, but not having any papers to prove it, of course mii' was made a prize. Cargo consisted «»l* grain and llour. p.m., called all Lands to quarter*, port battery Jiiiiiir two rounds of shell at prize. Jioarding to burn her, we found that two shells had --Lurk. the rest pasMng over in good line (».150 p.m., sail reported on weather how. !>.ot) brought liit to with blank cartridge. ]soard«'d and made a prize of the hiigantine ' Dunkirk,* of and from X< .v York, to Lisbon, (lour laden, eight days out. J'y midnight had crew on hoard of us, atwl the vessel burnt. K.\amining the piisoners, wo found ene of them to be a deserter lrom the Confederate steamer '.Sumter,' he being one of seven deserting at Cadiz. Immediately upon arrival oil hoard lie was placed in double irou>. 9th.—Light westerly breeze. 10 a.m. a court martial assembled in {lie ward-room to try Ccorge Forrest, A.lf., for desertion from the 4 Sumter.' Tincourt consisted of the following ollicers,, viz.:— President, tin: lirst lieut., ami the senior second liuut., surgeon, nutter, chief engineer and lieut. of marines; judge advocate, the captain's clerk. 4.150 captured the ship ' Tonowunda,' of and from Philadelphia to Liverpool, laden with grain, having also on hoard ahont 75 passengers. Took from her David Y\*hite, a slave io one of the passengers. 8.1") p.m. boarded the Knglish brig 'Aim "Williams,' l'vuiu Cuba tu Jiristol. lUtli.—Keud sentence oi' court martial to piisoner, and discharged Jiim; Die sentence was, "that all pay, prize money, Are., due to liim ln> ioi i't-il<■<t; that iio fulfil Ilia tan ol' .service, and forfeiting all pay excepting such as is sufficient to provide necessary clothing and liberty money. 11). SO made out a .sail on lee bow; alter an hour's chase fired a e'xo ;m<! brought, her to. She proved to be a ship from New Vork, hound to Dublin. lltli.—Light easterly wind until evening, iiA'i a.m. made a largo sail on starboard how; being far to windward and wind light, did not chase. :j.o() p.m. sail reported on weather bow. overhauled and hove her to; upon boarding she proved to be the ship 'Manchester, ol' anil from oS'ew Vork, bound to Liverpool, with wheat, cotton, &c. Transferred all prisoners to prize ship 1 Tonownnda,' and burnt the ' Manchester.' The captain of the ' Tonowauda' being kept 011 board our ship as security. Strongvariable winds up to the lßth. lath. —10..30 a.m., made a sail 011 weather how; made sail in chase, suspecting her to lie a disguised vessel of war; all bunds wero culled to quarters, and the guns loaded with shell. Kaining heavily at o..)0 p.m. Cave up the chase, and secured the battery, the chase having shown Spanish colours. 0 p.m. released tho ' Tonowanda,' her master ransoming her at HO,OOO dollars. jler passengers testifying, in a rather ludicrous manner (to me), their jo\- at their deliverance.

l-Uh.~-iStn.mg N\\\\ winds. and ovcrhituk'd tho Danish 'Judith/ dmacd nimUicr, proved to he J'Yoiich. Another vessel in sight to windward. Coining up with her, sin: proved to be Kuglish. J lor captain saluted our t!ag; which compliment wo votunn;il. 10th.—Strong westerly winds, accompanied with lioavv rain. li.-to a.m., sail discoveied on weather how. limning up with 'nor, wo tired a blank cartridge, hauling down Uio St,, George's ensign and hoisting tho Confederate tlag. is'o notice being taken of it, lioth guns wero loaded with .shot; observing it tho chase hove to. On our boat returning villi tho captain, it was found to bo tho barque ' Lamplighter,' of Jioston, from Kew York to Gib I raltar, ladan with tobacco. Drought crow on boaiJ our vessel, ami burnt prize. Jlidnight, bio wii fl flush. ■ Kith.—Commenced with a strong galo from t'JB S.S.IC. Towards daybreak it freshened consideraliß a heavy sea running; at the same time. U.IJt), blowiflj a perfect hurricane, the sea vising to a fearful lieigjH arid tin) ship labouring heavily. Shortly, altciHj squall of extraordinary violence struck us, wo under eloso reefed main-topsail, reeled ntaiji-Jiv-.'JH and foro-top-niast staysail. T!io heavy strain on fl| main braces caused the weather bumpkin to snapfl t wo—thu yard ilew forward, bending upwards uiVB it was almost double, when with a sudden crasJJ broke in two, splitting the topsail with a noise Cl|]Bß to tho loudest thunder. A sea striking immediatflfl alter smashed 111 the whale boat; it was soon H uway. Xo sooner had the main-top-sail gone, tIU the fore-top-mast stay-sail was cut away bv the ciH tain of tho forecastle, thereey preventing' tiie -iH falling off into the trough of the sea. A storm trysail was soon bent, and the main try-sail lowered, splitting tiie sail during tho operation. Various minor casualties occurred, but nothing of a verv scrioir nature. Kverybouy was thoroughly \ut bv tia; salt Tiie ve.-sei's in iiaviour oaring storm v.,is bc,.u!iiui. A liner sea boat never Ih.ated. All tho idlers, boys, i:c., wero placed under the ■weather bulwarks ou thu (juarltT deck with ;t rope

stretched Wore them to prevent tlieni foiling to leeward. Wind N.W. immediately after. Jloderatci.l towards evening, ho that we were uljle to send down tin; wreck of the main yard, and bond new sails. 'J'lie evening turned out with a heavy sea from, the southward; the wind abating, causing the ship to roll heavily. 17th. —Opcmed with a moderate breeze and a heavy stvcll l'roin the south. About noon the sea went down considerably; sail was made; and in about half an hour a sail was reported on the starboard bow; went alter her, hoisted Knglish colours, the chase hoisting English in return. Tin; heavy sea and tlie amount ot' work requisite to be done prevented us following her up, so we hauled upon our course again. Hani squalls until Sunday. 19th—Commenced witii line weather. -1 p.m. sent up main yard and bent main-top-sail. '20th.-—1 p.m., two lights, one ahead and the other astern, were si en. ]\lade all sail in chase of one. Coming within two miles ol' her she hoisted ICuglisli colours. Went nbout in chase of the other, who proved to be a brigantine under Danish colours. Hauled up on our course again. Alternate sunshine and showers nniil noon, when a heavy squall, accompanied with rain, struck us, tin; wind veering round to W'.N.AY. Double reeled topsails and trysails. Towards evening :t hove in sight; sin; being so far to windward, and darkness dawing on, we gave Hi) the chase. 21st. — Fine, with a northerly wind; at daylight made a sail. Found Iter to be the barque '.Heron,' of Sunderland, from New York, hound to Oneens- ; towii, we calling our ship steamer ' Kncchorse.' Towards midnight the wind freshened considerably. 22nd.— I Slowing a fresh gale with a heavy sea. Hove to at 1U p.m. Cut away the dingy, it having been stove by a sea striking her some time previously. Saw two vessels standing easterly.

2Jird.— 1 a.m., a light reported astern. Stood Jur her. Hoisted tho Kngh'sh Uue, to which chase answered hy hoisting -Knglish al>o. S:iw two vessels tar to leeward, hauling; up to the X.W. .'i. tO p.m. "sail lio," was heard again. Kept away for her, called tin? Ist gun's crow to quarters, and tired a blank cartridge; hove her to, hoarding ami returning with her captain and paper.-; she proved to he tho .ship 1 Lafayette,' ol' Now Haven, New York, to ISel!'a> 1, three days out, with a laige cargo of grain, Arc. Tin: captain Mated thai his cargo w;is Knglish ; hul not having papers to that ciVccl, >t course she was d'-<-lart'd a prize. Transferred prisoners, chronometers, Arc., not forgetting half a dozen porkers, Act-., t*i uur ship, and filed prize. The cold and weaLher generally being rather severe, the prisoners were put below in the forward /ire-room, h hemg vacated ibr that pm-poM.-, and the iires kindled in tho alter one instead. Hitherto they had lived oil the main deck with a tent specially rigged tor them. 'J It ii.— i''ine, with a Mrong northerly v.ind. .Sail in sight; coming up with her .-he proved to he an Knglish brigautinc, Ki-oin astray newspaper, taken in tlie ' Lafayette,' we read that news had heen received in New York of the capture or' Yankee vessels by tho 4 Alabama/ in which it stated that the treatment to which the prisoners were subjected was '• wor.Mj than dogs." Such gro.:S ial>choods annoyed u> considerably, as all our prisoners had been treated with every kindness eunsirtont -with safety. 2oth.— l.ig'.L wiiids. A sail in sight all day. 2 'p.m., all hands to general tpiarters, going through all naval evolutions. Sunday, 2(>th.— l-'inc, with a fresh breeze. Chafed a vessel i'or a >horttiiue; put about alter another; alter tiring a blank caitridge the 1 ii>t was called to (jtiarlers and two >hots iired our her at a distance of three miles, jfove to and made a prize oi' her, the schooner 'Crenshaw.' of and from New York, to Glasgow, f< ur days out, grain laden. Burnt prize ami proceed 4*ll our e<-ur.-e. Fiom this ve.»sel \\e obtained paper.*, in winch v.e j, a«l the infamous abortions made by li:e, captain of the * lirilliant' with*re>peet to our trcatim nt of prisoners. .V conviction was forced upon every mind that kindness extendid to them was completely thrown away. 27th.---"Weather assuming a Ihzeatening appearame. K< dui ed .-ail accordingly. Sounded. but no | bottom with 7*3 tatlems. Shipped thiee men, making I a t<>lal of II nun from prizes. I "J-Stii.-- Light weMeily wind. j)ayiight, a vessel | in sight : supposing her to be a foreign bngantine, I did not cha.-e lier long, another ve.-sei having been

reported on Iff bow. 11 a.m. iircd a pm ami hove ! her to. i»n:iv*l* •*! ami look possession~of the banpic ' • l-amidta,' of liestun, lioni New York, hound to (lihraltar and Messina. (Jbtaiucd i.cws ut'a brilliant vii:t«»rv by our troops in Kentucky. The excitement in the Northern flairs appeared In 1n; intense, the papers acknowledging their inability to eatih as. Mitch amused was J to read ill a list of i-lUceis my name as corporal. J suppose it originated in tin: fact, that in conjunction with Lieut, i Lowell, and another oilicer, I kept v.atch and yuard over lite : prisoners. j 2!Hh.~ Cot ii]» .-tram and lowered propeller. Willi \ S lb>. i;i' ste;iiu uoir./r D knots. i p.m., sail iu si<jht : <>n starboard Vow. came up with her; found Iter i l'> Im* a barijue nniler Dutch colours. Five vessels ' now in si; s 'ht ; flia-1 (1 one. p.m. ordered her to heave to. Hoarded and look pos>rssiun oi' the brig.inline 4 Uaron do Ca><im\' id and from Castine, bound to Cuha, wilh a of lumber. Kansumcd , heron condition that lie look all Mir prisoners and , landed them. .Sent them all «.n hoard and proceeded on our coitr.-e. I»y this vessel, Commander JSemmes ! >I.ll* his nspcits to tin* York Chamber of Commerce, stating also that by the lime this message reached theia he (Captain JSun;]m>) would be (df thaiport. oUtii.—Strong north wind, S a.m. ; three vessels in siiiht. Passed a h;mpie, evidently a forciLau r, X.W. We w«-re siai lied and annoyed to liml that only i days' reals was on board. Such a discovery, however, opportune as it was, annoyed us nut a iittle. To ar-tenish the enemy hi New York* Harbour, to destroy their vessels iu their own water, had been the daring \vi>h of all on board. It now impracticable to continue our course, v.v reluctantly squared our way and stood towards the .S.E. *i p.m., h««istutl up seicw aiul banked the iirrs. 1.5, made .-ail in chase of a vessel. Found her to be the Dutchman we had spoken twice previously. November 1.-d.—l-'ine, wi;h winds. Chased two vessels ; one proved i<» be Finnish, the oilier French. A third in tight. •Sunday, 2nd.—Fine, winds; 7 a.m., a sail descried steering (o the N.F. This hcmi;' tiie iirst Sunday in the month, (ho articles of war were read as usual. hove the Vermel to with blank cartridge. Took possession of the shi|) 4 Levi of and from New Bedford, o days out. Obtained news of our successes iu Kentucky. Employed until sunset transferrin!*: stores, &<•., from prize. Then burnt her. oth.—i a.m. two vessels hove in Hoarding; one, i found her to be a French barque bound to Havre. Slh. — 2 a.m., made sail in chase of a schooner standing to the southward. Another vessel standing; N.F,, in shortly alter. Went iu chase of her.

She showing Yanliie colours. "We answered "by showing the >an:e. In reply to tliis signal wu passed as ilie IT.tS. ' Tieandnvgu.' The signal, "what is your latitude<_? declined answering until we could verbally do it. i]to until .sho neared us, then fired a gmi and hoi.-led the Confederate ensign. Sent a boat on board and possesion. Jmhukl her to 1m; tin; 'Thomas IJ. Wales, of i!u.-ston, from Calcutta, with a general cargo, having as passenger the late United Stall's' Consul at with )iis wile and two children, the captain having his wife with him abo. They were accommodated in the ward-room, iho oUieeir. vacating their rooms i'oi* that purpose. Many articles tor ship's use was taken from her, including* a mainyard ; at sunset burnt her. eir of •always believed that by thus changing the spelling of his viunie his grandtaher, .Sir Richard Yokes, had lost a chance of obtaining a title, then, and still, extinct. . .ui ad this matters little lo the reader, who prohablv dc.-i'As tn !i am the conuit:on of the j-outh of i relaud ?o'.ne thirty or forty \ cars ago, when Limerick, Clare and Tipperary wcre'iii a state of decided in-sium-tien—when encounter daily took place between

(lie soldiery and the peasantry —and when the local magistrates, panic-struck by tlic murder of several ot ' tlieTr body, petitioned tlie Government to grant tlicm ollicial aid. _ At this time Yokes was an unpaid magistrate, resi- j dent, on liis small property, which he held under lease from his relative, the Earl of Curherrv. But his ; activity, his fearless energy, had already him tlie attention of the higher powers. A ruffian, styling himself Captain Rock, had become the terror of the county of Limerick ; and so fearful had been the deeds that he had committed, that the faces ol women and children blanched at the mention ol his name, and men cared little to risk their lives in an attack on this bold marauder, even when supported by soldiers and police. "\ okes, however, rather laughed lit their fears, and inetfeetually endeavoured, on more than one occasion, to meet this terror ol the neighbourhood face to face. In some way or another liis wish was always baulked, and he tailed to encounter liini. One evening in autumn, Mrs. V., having business in tlie city of Limerick, drove over therein her jaunting car, accompanied by tlie wife of another magistrate, the two husbands agreeing to accompany them 011 horseback. At the instant, however, of starting, the gentlemen were detained to transact some pressing business, and as the ladies were unwilling to be overtaken by the shades of night, they at once started, thcirprotectors promising soon to overtake them. So awav they went, tlie distance only being about seven miles. Yokes, after having discharged his portion of the duty, found that his friend would be probably detained an hour or two. So, mounting his horse, he galloped on to overtake his wife, whom he believed to have nearly reached the end of her journey. On arriving, however, at a short distance beyond Patrick's-well— a | village situated some live miles from Limerick —lie ! came up with his wife, who in an agony of fear related to him the fact, that she and her companion had i not been stopped by two footpads ami robbed oi their watches, ring'*, and purses : and added, that while 011 c tall, line-looking peasant, armed with a stout cudgel, and a knife conspicuously stuck in his belt, had thus rilled tlicm of their property, the other robber had presented a loaded biunderbuss at the head ol the driver, and tompelled htm to remain cjuicsccut. These facts the coachman (.an old retainer) fully bore out. ""Was he tall? Had he very black hair, and a slight cast in his eye "r" abruptly demanded the .Major. " Yes, yes ; but bad we not better 011?" " Can you recollect—had lie black stockings, and a frieze coat;-'" earnestly demanded the husband, inattentive to everything else. " lie had. liut—" " Faith, there's 110 buts. Here, Tim, take mv liorse, : ' throwing the bridle to tlie coachman. *'A\ liich way did they taker" Over that way. Sure, vcr honour ! I see one of tliclii, 1 do believe, yonder across the bog, going towards the mountains, h'aith, I think I could direct tlie police after them," said the driver. 13ut ere lie had well concluded his sentence, the magistrate had loudly exclaimed, '' /'// Jleareus, 'lis he ami leaping tlie dyke beside the road, in the next, instant he was seen rushing across the field in the direction pointed out —only turning round once to wave his hand, I as an order to his servant to continue his route into Linn-rick.

It is fur beyoiul t lie powers of my pen to paint llio agony ol' tlie lady who thus, us flic believed, saw licr husband rush recklessly into the jaws of death. It is beyond-thc graphic delineation of a mere narrator to describe how earnestly slie screamed after liim. Suffice it to say, that when she found her cliorts to call him bark ineffectual, she proceeded into the city, and waited 011 the authorities, who instantly sent out parlies of police and military to Icok after the bold lint imprudent magistrate, who bad thus pursued the object of his unceasing vigilance, the notorious Captain Hock: for such the robber, from the description given of him, wa.- now believed to be. .7!ill all in vain, 'l'hc parties, one after another, returned, and that night and the next day passed without any intelligence respecting tlu; missing magistrate, He was already mourned as a l'rcuh victim to the lawless wretches who then held the south of freiancl in ien-orem. On the second morning after the robbery liad taken place, an order was received by t lie police otlicer of Limerick, ie scud tour men to Patrick's-well station-house to receive a prisoner of importance. The order was signed T. I'. Yokes. Ail who heard of it expressed I heir wonder at his escape. Several of the most inllucniial persons in the city accompanied the party out to llie village, where they found the worthy magistrate stretched oet in a deep sleep ; his clothes torn and covered with mud, his face and hands unwashed and his head uncovered, for his hat was gone. (!ut even in his slumbers he grasped tightly ill his hand a loaded horsewhip, the oniy weapon he had carried with him in his perilous pursuit. The first echo of approaching footsteps aroused liim. He started up, and with a cheerful smile at the alarmed countenances of his friends, led them into the next room, where, guarded by two policemen, and hound by strong cords, sat a prisoner, whom Yokes announced as Captain Hock, the bold, the terrorsi l iking brigand, known by this soubriquet, his real name being Fitzmauriee. i A okes seldom alluded to his deeds of daring, and it j was with dilHculty the following facts were elicited I from him. It appeared that, after an hour's severe i running, the magistrate came to a cottage where, ! lrom certain indications, lie found tlie robbers had j partaken of some drink. Convinced of this, he again i set out on his arduous pursuit. He came within sight j ill them, and the lesser peasant:, armed with a blunderi buss, turned round and iired, but missedhis aim. He j then threw away the arm. as it encumbered his flight, | and instantly separated from his companion, the I latter taking iiiseoursc towards the mountain. Yokes j on arriving at. the spot where they had thus taken i opposite directions, took up the blunderbuss and | followed iMtzniaurice (for now he was convinced that | the robber was no less a personage) towards the hills. : It was night, however, before he reached them, and he well knew ihere was no chance of overtaking Iho fellow in the dark ; so he fearlessly entered a cottage, -where he was hospitably received, and had a eomfortl able bed of straw alforded to him. Yokes often j laughed afterwards at this incident, as lie felt fully I convinced that, he was there sheltered under the intj pression that he was one of the gang —a belief which I his thorough knowledge of Irish strengthened. At i daybreak lie was again on foot, and ascended the ! mountain, llere he frequently arrived within a few j hundred yards of the man he sought, but each time | was disappointed in taking liim. lie, however, I recoileded that he had an old and attached follower who had a hut hallway down the mountain. Telling two or three peasants—whom he affected to believe loyal—that he found the capture was impossible and that consequently he would return to Limerick—lie began to descend as might set in, and, as lie had well I surmised, iiock was soon apprised of his desislance j lrom further pursuit. Yokes, however, had no inI tent ion of thus abandoning his prey. So, after thus | publicly retracing his steps for about a mile, he j suddenly turned aside and entered itis tenant's cottage, j where lie was welcomed, and the doors and windows j closely barred, lest his presence might be betrayed. ; A' daybreak he again woke, and was about to resume j his chase, when the fanner's son came in and men- . tioned thathe had justpassed Fiizniauricedescending j towards Adare—indeed that most notorious character I could scarcely be half a mile oil' at the moment, i Yokes did not hesitate, but rushed out and being on I the higher ground, soon perceived the object of his search. He had turned round, aucl was now, for j some reason or other (known only to himself), rtii ascending the brow of the hill. Yokes, as quick as thought, hid himself behind a projecting rock in the path over which Hock must necessarily pass. In a few minutes more lie did so, when, suddenly starting out, trie bold Major jumped forth, and before the rullian could look round, had presented the muzzle of (he unloaded blunderbuss at his head, commandiu" him to surrender. The other, believing (hat (ho next moment would be Ills last if he ventured to resist, and being wholly unarmed, at once surrendered, and allowed Yokes to pinion him with his horsewhip, 1 which he still retained, and which, bound strongly and tightly with his pocket-handkerchief and another which he had found on tlio person of'tlie prisoner, completely fettered him. This done, he marched him down to Patrick s-well, taking care to avoid every collage, every spot, wliere auv of the peasantry were likely lo be found, well knowing that they would rescue their captain (as tliey styled him) if they could. AYith (he blunderbuss—which,'being without ammunition, was completely harmless—pointed at liim, Yokes marched the boldest brigand that ever infested the south of Ireland nearly three miles, and lodged him iu tlit: hands of the police.

\Vi;hin Iv.D months, FilzuuuivKc (alias Captain was irietl, convk-ted, and executed in the city of Limerick—a- oily whose inhabitants had loll" trembled at the very mention of Iris name. °

Such being tlie unexaggerated facts recorded of tliis wonderful capture, to which others of a minor description might well be added—it is a matter of little astonishment that the then Government of Ireland offered the post of chief magistrate of police to Thomas Phillips Yokes, who subsequently so fully iustified their choice, that a considerable income was nccorded to him; that all the powers conferred by Sir Robert Peel's Act were bestowed 011 him ; that the expenses voted for sccret-service money were often left to his discrctisn; and lastly, that when he retired worn out after thirty years' service—lie was allowed a pension for life of £1200 (Irish) a year. He is dead and gone, and a new style of magistracy and police, under the Constabulary Act, have taken the place of his system. That the present mode of repressing crime and detecting offenders is ineffective I think the outrages which now daily occur, even at the moment X am writing, and the mode in wliieli well-known murderers escape their just doom, most plainly show. But the few following sketches are meant merely as a picture of crimo in Xielaiul as she was —not as she is ; to portray the state of Minister rather than give a memoir of my friend. That T. I'. Yokes was estimated, not only iu his own country, but throughout the whole British empire, the following paragraph, which appeared iu the Loudon Illustrated JS'cws, most fully certifies, and at the same'time bears out the facts given in the

preceding sketch:— " In our obituary of last month we recorded the death ol" Thomas Phillips Voices, for upwards of thirty years the chief magistrate ot' police in Limerick, a post conferred on him for his daring courage and extraordinary exertions in qutting down the rebellious attempts which threatened the south of Ireland in 1522. Mr.Yokes, at that period a county magistrate residing on his paternal estate, single handed and unarmed", seized the notorious Captain Rock, the terror of the whole district. During three days and nights he pursued him through the mountain-fastnescs of Limerick, and at length having captured him, brought him in and lodged him in the county jaii. He was soon after tried, convicted, and executed. When 31 mister was paralysed by the murder of Major Going and others —when magistrates shrunk in natural terror, knowing the fatal consequences of nctivitv—when harassed authorities, worn-out troops, and ill-organised police held back irom a task of no ordinary danger and toil, Thomas Phillips Yokes boldly stepped forward to put down crime, and bring the violators of the law to punishment, lie claimed descent from the Yauxcs, Lords of Gilsland, andiu this belief lie was borne out by the fact of his grandi lather, Sir Richard Yokes, luiviug originally spelt his name Yaux. Three times were the thanks of Government tendered to this officer, accompanied (on two occasions) by substantial pecuniary marks of approval. He was the last surviving magistrate under Peel's Irish Police Act. ]>v his death a pension of Jt9so a year reverts to Government."—October, 1552.

The Caxoxgate of Edisuubgh.—The following sketch of this world-renowned locality is quoted irom one of John I'lunimer's letters to tli<s London Daily Telegraph, which joumtil he represented at (lie meetings of the Social Science Association, Edinburgh, in the month of October last, lie says:—"Many ol the members of the Social Science Congress have been visiting the various parts of the city in which the labouring classes reside, and the contrast presented by these localities and those west of l'rinccs-street is extremely painful to all interested in the condition of their humbler brethren. In the Canongate, so famous in Scottish history, and so immortalised in Scott's novels, may be found many a suggestive liint I'or he disciples of social scieuce. The ancient mansions rise proudly as of old 011 either side of the street, bui their glory lias long since departed. The stairs, which once rang with" the hauty tread of Highland chieftains or of belted earls, now ceho back the shrill cries and weird laughter of the clirty-faeed and barefooted urchins who disport themselves, to the annoyance of passers by, in the classic thoroughfares of' Aulcl Reekie.' The upper portion of the once princely dwellings display an amount ol dirt and squalor scarcely equalled ill Spitalfields or St. Giles', liroben windows, rusty iron bars, rugged-looking clothes hung out to dry, faces innocent of soap and water, slatternly-dressed women, and so forth, form the chief ornaments of these dwellings. The scene appears the most striking when seen from near John Jvuox's house, which adjoins the church bearing his name. Here, from the steps whence he launched forth his thunders against the enemies of Reformation, and from whence the viragos of the of the wynds and closes mercilessly railed at tile unfortunate Queen of Scots, as she was conveyed past them alter her surrender at (Jarberry—here, we repeat may be witnessed scenes which are the scandal and the shame of the modern Athens. Poverty, intemperance, and vice are to be Seen in their most repulsive forms ; and 011 Saturday nights especially the sights beheld are such as to greatly lessen our favourable impressions of the city. Considerably upw;trds of 20,000 individuals are to be found collected in a space not much larger than Clieapsidc and the Poultry; and, as a large proportion of this mass is composed of the dangerous classes, the services of a body of policemen are in constant requisition. The Canongate is, in fact, and enlarged Scottish edition of Hag Fair. Xo wonder that our Scottish neighbours arc rather fchy of talking about these things ; tor tiiey know that the existence of such is anything but creditable to their city. The mere toleration of such evils shows that Edinburgh has much to do besides preaching about social science, and it is to he hoped that when another congress is held in the capital of the Xortli, many of the scandals will have been removed."

Kri'FiAXiSM in Si'aix.—The Spanish journals give the following extraordinary account of nil atrocious act of cruelty coimnittccl last week at Tom'lavaga, in the province of Santander, oil the person of a poor idiot, Anprea, who ivas in the liabit of going about the country and getting a livelihood by singing and dancing for the amusement of the peasantry. One day last, week the poor fellow arrived at a roadside public-house, opposite a smith's forge, about half a league from Torrelavega, and fouud there a number of muleteers 011 their way to jVew Castle. After Andrea had gone through his dances and songs, one of the muleteers proposed that they should shoe the poor idiot, like 0110 of llieir imdes. The proposal was accepted by his companions, and Andrea, supposing it- only a joke, made 110 opposition till too late, for the ruffians threw him down, and actually nailed shoes to his feet. Having done this, they set him 011 his legs and Hogged hh:i to make, him move about, but the poor creature fell fainting with pain. The wretches then drove nails into liis hands and head, aud completed their crime by hanging liiin to a eltesnut tree by the roadside. They then resumed their journey. The only persons in t lie neighbourhood at the time were the servant-maid at the inn, and an old man in the blacksmith's shop, the innkeeper and his wife having gone to tlic neighbouring town ou business. The old man has been arrested 011 the charge of having aided in the perpetration of the crime, but none of the muleteers have as yet been apprehended.