The Express.
London, England, 1864-11-07 00:00:00

[ 4tbmped 1 d Additional 1

THE CAPTURE OF THE FLORIDA.

The following particulars of the mipture of the
Florida by the Federal steamer Wachusetts, in the
harbour of Bahia, have been furnished by au officer
of the first-named vessel :

The Confederate steamer Florida, Captain Morris, arrived
at Bahia at 9 p.m. Oct. 4. Just after anchoring a host
paned under her stern and asked her name, sod upon being
answered stated that she was from H. B. M. steamer
Curlew. The nest morning, when it was found that there
was no English loan of-ear in port, the officers of the
Florida at once concluded that the boat was from the United
States steamer Wachusette. At 9 a.m. the Florida was
visited by • Brazilian naval officer, who was informed by
the commander that Le wished for provisions and coals.
and also, if pourble, to have a piece of machinery
repaired. The officer then went to inform the President
of the wishes of the commander, but before leaving
sail there must be no calimuoicatioo with the shore or
vessels until he beard from the authorities. At meridian a
letter was received from the President, informing Captain
Morris, of the Florida, that be was ready to receive him.
Captain Morris at this interview was informed Was he would
be allowed 4d hours to remain in port, hut that should the
Brazilian chief engineer, who had already been lent on
board the Florida to examine bee machinery, judge the time
too short, an extension would be granted. The President
requested Captain Morris to give him his word of honour
riot to break either the laws of neutrality or of Brazil while
in port, stating that be had already received the same
assurances from the United States Consul on the part of the
United States ship Wadi enacts. This promise Captain Morris
immediately gave. The Brazilian admiral, who was present
during the interview, suggested to Captain Morris that he
had better move his vessel nearer in shore, and between the
Brazilian men-of-war, so as to p any chews of colic-
Ilion between the two belligerent vessels. Captain Morris
at once repaired on board his eessel, and moved her to the
desigsated anchorage. The Brazilian engineer, after his
examination, reported that it would take four days to com-
plete the necessary repairs. Having been many days at
sea, and the usual stay io port being too short to give the
crow liberty, Captain Morris determined to take advaotage
of the four days allowed him, and permit the crew to go
sabots by watches for twelve hours, wed accordingly sent
owe half ashore that afternoon (the sth) to return the next
day at meridian. At 739 p.m. a boat came alongside, and
upon being hailed answered that she was from the United
States steamer Wechueet4a, with the United States
Consul, who bad a communication for Captain
Morris, The letter and • card of the consul were
received by First Lieutenant Porter, who, after noticing that
the former was simply directed to Captain Moths, sloop
Florida, returned it to the boat, stating at the same time
that the vowel was the C.S. steamer Florida, and when the
letter for Captain Morris was so addressed it would be
received ; the boot then shoved off. About 1 p.m. on the
6th a Mr. de Virility came on board the Florida with a com-
munication for the captain. He stated that he had received
• letter from his friend the United States Consul, enclosing
one for Captain Morris. lie then asked permission to read
his letter to the notate before handing him the one intended
for him. The consul requested M. de Vidrky to cony the
challenge to the Florida, and to inform the captain that if he
would accept it he (the consul) would use his influence
to have the Florida'. repairs finished very rapidly.
Captain Morris here stopped the gentleman, arid
said he had heard sufficient ; that any letter from
him, if properly addressed, would be received, and at the
same time requested him to soy to the United States Consul
that the Florida had coins into Bahia for a special purpose,
which being accomplisher, We would leave, that he would
neither seek nor avoid the Wachusette, but should he en-
counter her at sea would do his utmost to destroy her. Mr.
de Vidiky then left, carrying heat both letter.. At 5 p.m.,
all except one or two of the port watch having returned on
board, the stated watch was sent oo liberty ; several officers
also went on shore. At 3.15 cm. oe the morning of the
the moon having set, lereviog the morning very dark,
the Wachusetta left her anchorage, and passing the Bra-
zilian men-of-war, steamed fur the Florida, striking her
starboard quarter, cutting the rail down to the deck, and
carrying away the wizen mast, at the same time pouring
upon the deck of the Florida a volley of musketry
rod a charge of eaoister f rim her forecastle pivot gun.
All that can be gathered of the occurrence on board the
Florida is from the six men who escaped after her capture,
and is as follows r —That the Wachusetta approached from
the direction of the entrance of the harbour, and as soon
as perceived by the officer of the ship was hailed; the officer
receiving no answer called all baud. to quarters, but before
they were on deck We Wrichueetts struck the Florida as
above stated; the War:boleti. then backed off, cuntiouing to
fire upon the Florida, but upon getting well dear of her de-
manded her surrender, to which Lieut. Porter (who was in
charge, the captain beteg ashore), answered no, The Wa-
ehusetta then continued the tiring, and some of the men
say need the after pivot gun, an a leven inch Dahlgren. The
*dicers and crew of the Florida made a short but gallant
defence, and only autreidered when a large proportion of
the small number on bawd Lad been killed or wounded.
Of the officers the only one known to be wounded was Mr. T.
T. Hunter, jun.. who was in charge of the deck. After the
surrender fifteen of the crew eedeavoured to escape impri-
sonment by jumping overboard and swimming whore. Only
six of them succeeded, the remainiog sine having been shot
while in the water by men on the forecastle and in the boats
of the Wachusetta. She thee took the Florida in tow, and
went to sea without any e Haden resistance having been made
by either the Brazilian forte or men-of-war. About two hours
after the departure of the Federal steamer the Brazilian ships
started 10 pursuit, bat being unable to overtake the Wad:ro-
sette returned the wine efternoon. The following is • list of
those on board at the time of capture:—First Lieutenant
T. K. Porter, Secoed Lieutenant S. G. Stone, Fourth Lieu-
tenant R. S. Floyd, Assistant Surgeon T. J. Charlton,
Acting Masters G. 1/. BMUS and I'. T. Hunter, in.., Chief
Engineer W. S. Thotoperre, Assistaut Surgeon Thomas
Emory ; midshipman, G. T. Sinclair, jun. ; first assistant
engineer, W. Ahern; second assietaut engineer, J. B.
Brown; captain's clerk, W. D. Hough. The officers who
were ashore at the trios of the capture are Captain Morris,
Third Lieutenant S. Barron, juo., Paymaster R. Taylor,
Midshipman J. It Ly ke, arid Mater's Mare J. B. King.
The following address has been forwanhal by the
mercantile cumin unity of Bahia to the Chamber of
Culoweree of New York :

&this, Oct. 10.

Gentlemeo,—Deploring the sad occarreoes which has just
taken place in this port by the Federal war steamer Wachm
setts breaking the neutrality of this empire, and eapturiag
sod towing out of the harbour the Coofederate steamer
Florida, regerdlees of all ioterootional laws and the common
laws of nations, disregardiug the instructions given them by
the authorities of the place, who bad the anemones from the
American consul that so mallet would take place is their
w►ters, sod cousidering that the said ceueul appears to be
implicated in the same sad occurrence, having &handmaid
the consulate, and leaning the relation, between this port
sod the United Staten entirely interrupted, to the detri-
ment of the commercial interest, of both countries, we,
the undersigned, respectfully request the Chamber of Com-
merce at New York to suspend any act that might lead to
reward the captors until a committee be appointed by the
same Chamber to investigate the subject closely, end inform
them of the precise means by which the seizure was accom-
plished, ►nd the detriment thereby melanin to the com-
merce of New York. (Signed).

Other accounts say that the Florida bad only 25
tons of coaldust on hoard at the time of her c.ip-
ture. The machinery to be repaired—viz., the pipe
of her donkey-engine and fresh-water condenser—
is still on shore at the Brazilian arsenal at Bahia.
When the Florida arrived at Bahia she had a com-
plement of 17 officers and 129 men, of whom 5
officers and 71 men (including the 6 who swam
ashore at the time of her capture) were on shore,
and consequently preserved their liberty. The
other 12 officers and 58 men were either captured,
killed, or wounded. It seems that the noise of the
tiring aroused the attention of the officer com-
manding the Brazilian flagship Donna Januaria,
close to which the Florida had anchored, who sent
a boat in charge of a lieutenant to the Wachusetts
to order that fighting in the neutral port should
cease. The Federal captain replied that the order
should be re►pected, and -that there should be

1 .

[TWOPENCE

no more firing. The struggle, however, still con-
tinued on board. Iu the meantime a hawser had
been passed from the bows of the Florida to the
Wachwietta, and that vessel having by this time a
full head of steam on, proceeded to tow her
"prize" to sea from under the guns both of the
Brazilian flagship and the harbour forts, from
which she was fired un as she stood out. The Donna
Januaria is a sailing ship, and pursuit in her
was useless ; but steam was at once got up in a
small steamer of the Brazilian navy, the only one at
hand, and the Brazilian admiral went on board with
his staff, and followed the Waelms•-tts and the
Florida, but the latter being by this time under
steam also, pursuit was useless, and was soon given
up,

'The indignation of the Brazilians at the conduct
pursued towards the Florida was very intense, and
the populace tore down the American Consulate
arms and broke it in pieces iu the street.
It appears that the immediate cause the act
of the Wachusetts was the temptation of the reward
of 500,000 doh. offered for the eitittire of the
Florida by the New York Chamber 01 Commerce.

31 USI C.

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA, COVENT GARDEN.

Macfarren's Have//yis was repeated on Friday
and Saturday, and we are able to speak of it more fully
than we could have done after the brat performance on
Thursday, as well as to form, from its reception, an idea
of its probable success. Now-a-days every dramatic piece
by an author of any note is successful the Unit night. The
theatre is always filled, and the audience is always
friendly ; so that it is only by its repetitions that the
amount of its real mucosa' can be tested. This test flit-
,-..aye has in some measure undergone, and the result is
f►vourable.

We must regret, in the first place, that the piece has not
been curtailed, for it is too long. We are in some sort
inured to the gragtelice tyriques of the Parisian stage,
things which, not many years ago, we should have thought
interminable. But we still find them somewhat hard of
digestion, and an English audience orujo)s a play or an opera
all the more, and is all the wore inclined to enjoy it again,
when they ere less compelled than they often ere at present
to " make a toil of a pleasure."
The music is not of the kind which catches the po-
pular ear by sweet and flowing melodies, soil we still
think it is deficient in the Italian element, which given a
certain charm in the weakest productions of Verdi.
But yet it is music which improves upon acquaint-
race, sod like all music of • high order gradually
discloses beauties not immediately apparent. The overture
is a more important feature of this than of the generality of
operas. We can remember only two other overtures on •
similar plan, arid they are both by Meyerbeer—the over-
ture. to the Crociato in Efirto and Di 'torah. The overture
to the Crocialo accompanies • tableau vivant represented
on the stage. The scene exhibit.s the palace and gardens of
the Suites of Egypt; • trumpet sounds the rercrikr, and
the European slaves employed on the public works issue
from their cells and begin their labours. A youth is seen
supporting his aged father, another reads a letter which be
kiss/mend presses to his host ; other groups are vanously
occupied, while the music describes or imitates the sounds
of l►bour—the toil of drawing and raising stones,
the noise of hammers, and other things passing
on the stage; till they all give vent to their feelings by
bursting into the film opening chorus, "Petrie amats
With the overture to Dieoraft, and the fine choral music
incorporated with it, our musical readers are familiar. Mr.
Macfarren has doubtless borrowed his design from one or
both of those overtures, and has earned it out very happily.
His overture is based upon • pleasing theme of an Euglish
character. During its performance the curtain rises, and
the tableau we have already described is exhibited, and a
chorus, impteeatieg a curse on the perpetrator of the
crime (a chorus afterwards repeated in the course of the
opera), is beard behind the scores ; and the music goes on
(as we learn from the libretto) to describe " the dispersion
of the hundreds who were dependent on the foundry, and
rendered destitute by its destruction." To do this
we fear is beyond the descriptive powers of music ; but the
overture, nevertheless, is • spirited and effective composi-
tion. Throughout the opera it will be found, we think,
that (as in Mr. Maefarren's previous works) his forte lies in
his concerted movements, choruses, and instrumentation.
His finale+ and other concerted scenes, in which the most
stirring incidents are carried on, are without exception
masterly. The music, far from impairing the deafens of
the dialogue or encumbering the march of the action, im-
parts to both additional emphasis sad energy. The harvest-
home feetivitiss which occupy the greatest part of the second
act, with the joyous choruses and quaint old English
Songs and dances, are delightfully fresh and anim►ted.
Toe unaccompanied part song, " Harvest Home, Harvest
Home," is one of the best of Mr. Mecfarren's many successful
efforts of this class. la the songs and ballads, the composer,
according to English custom, has had an eye to the music.
shop as well as the stage. The words of most of them have
little or no reference to this special opera, end might have
been just as well btroduced into any other ; but tame of
them are very pretty, and can scarcely fail to become
Popular.

In conclusioo, we must repeat our tribute of praise to the
complete and splendid manner in which this opera bee been
placed upon the stage, and to the excellent
performance of every one of the characters. Ma-
dame Pampa and Madame bitumens Sherrington
have never appeared to greater advantage than in the two
heroines, Mabel and Hannah. The former. iu person, face,
attire, and manner, is the very ickal of the handsome,
comely, genial liegliali,farmer's wife ; the lattPr is a life-
like picture of the geode, timid contour girl. The singing
of both may be described u perfect— perfect in voice, exe-
cution, and exprinsion. Mr. Haigh's line tenor voice gives
fall effect to the music of his part ; Mr. L.,wreuce. hitherto
little known to the public, bas gaimetl golden opmuus sa •
singer and actor ; and the little but important part of
Stands receives full justice from Mr. Corri.

Tea Lon or vim 01414.110.—The Board of Trade
inquiry into the loss of the above vowel was resumed at
Liverpool on Saturday before C..pteins Baker and Harris,
and Mr. Reffise, stipendiary megrim,' ate. who ..etrol as legal
masseur to the Board of Trade. The second mate of the
Orden° corroborated the evidence given on it.. previous day
by the chief.cifficer, stating that the pilot bad edb charge of
the vessel, and that the lead-lines were used revers' tames
before the vessel struck. There were several compares on
board, but the steamer was steered lay the patent standard
compass, which was placed in trout of the poop. 11r.
Gray, the well-known lowliest instrument mime.
of Liverpool, stated that he supplied the compasses used
on board the Ontario, sad fixed and adjusted them himself
on board the vessel in the Tyoemouth Dock.. At the time
be did so he was not dime that there was say iron on
board the vowel io the shape of cargo or ballast. At this
point the second of was recalled, anal stated that there
were about tttl toned iron scattered about the ship, under-
neath the coals. Mr. Quirk, the chief emperor, described
the (summariness respecting the reversal is the to/tines and
what took plate previous to the vessel striking. The moat
important evidence give, was that of Hr. Mouldier Scott,
the pilot who had charge of the Omani" at the time she
struck. He stated that he had been in the bald' for two
years of piloting ships from Pentlacd Earth us far south as
Doogenees. He was licensed to do sus under the provides*
of as old royal charter. His opinion was that the ship was
lost in consequence of a defect to the patent animism which.
allowing for the set of the tide, must have been about 14
degrees wrong. He directed the coot,. of the vowel by
thus compare to preference to an ordinary cctopsss on the
bridge of the steamer. There wu a thick haze when the
Ontario struck, and what Le believed to be Conner tamed
out to be the high lauds of Hasburooth. At this point the
inquiry was &dimmed until to-day (Sloodev).
iranuenorr or Doric us Rana.—Tbe following
has been received at the Manchester (handler of
—•a Foreign-office, Nov. 1. 1864.—Ste-1 am dim by
Earl Rumen to state, fee the information of the
Chamber of Commerce ever which you preside, that his
lordship is informed by the French Minister fur Foreign
Affairs that the export duty upon tugs from France, which
was by the treaty of commerce with England tired at M.,
will, under the convention lately coocluded besmear Fumes
and Sintserland, be reduced b► successive diminutives
spread over a period of three years, to 4f. on 100 kilo.
grammes—an alteration in the advantages of which Groat
Britain will of course participate. —I ►m, sir, your most
obedient humble servant, A. H. LATARD.—The Presidest
of the Chamber of Commerce at Manchester."

thi&VWVAL PALAOS. 11•Lr•A-CROWN DAY.
&MUM; NOV. b. Ada:envious rn paywous, 780; dabs
by weft liskobs. ;880; Mho 3.669.