The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-15 00:00:00

ROMANTIC CAPTURE OF A STEAMER.

The American secessionists have succeeded in
getting posaeasioa of • steamer belonging to Baltimore, and
plying between that port and the Maryland side of the
Potomac. The following account of the affair ia from the
' Ba!ttmore ExtAange:
" The St. Nicholas on her last trip from Baltimore,
took on board as passenger • French lady of dark
complexion, of rather masculine features, but of quiet
manners. There were also • number of passengers
I who were proceeding to different points on the Poto-
mac. At Point Look Out two more passengers were also
taken on board. Soon after this, in the middle of the night,
the French woman having retired for a few moments to her
stateroom, suddenly emerged, her wig and petticoat
doffed, in fall military costume, with revolvers and cutlass
by her aide. Twenty-five passengers drew revolvers at the
same time, and in a trice officers and crew were made
prisoners. The boat was put in charge of the Point Look
Out passengers, who proved to be retired navy officers.
The steamer was then run into CODS river, on the Vir-
ginia side, where the passengers, who were treated with
great civility, were all landed, and a company of 100 Ten-
atomise, who were in readiness, were taken aboard. The
St. Nicholas then heeded up the river in search of
the Pawnee, it being part of the programme of
this gallant young colonel—for such he is—to run
into the Pawnee, take her by surprise, leap on board,
and take possession of her. Not being able to End the
Pawnee, the Si. Nicholas turned round and steamed for
the hay between Smith's Point and Rappahannock. The
steamer fell in at different times with three vessels—one
loaded with coffee, ono with coal, and one with ice. These
were all captured and taken to Fredricksburg, where the
heroes of this achievement were received with military
honours."

THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT AND THE
AFFAIRS OP SOUTHERN ITALY.

This morning further papers respecting the affairs
of southern Italy were published in the form of • parlia-
mentary return. The domatches commence in April last.
Mr. Saurin sends to Sir .T. Hudson, and Consul Bonham to
Lord John Russell, repeated accounts of the insecurity and
disorganisation of the country—the discovery of Bourboaist
plots organised from Rome, kc. The reactioulMe are
generally described as marauders or brigands. Of the
Capitanata, the scene of the most serious disturbances,
Mr. Saurin writes on the 12th ultimo :—" The difficulty
of governing such • province as that of Capitanata
is incalculable, not from any opposition to be leered,
bat from the hopeless demoralisation of the country.
Reclean is to be depended upon ; none understand or care foe
the Italian cause. The upper classes are ignorant, corrupt,
and intriguing; they are rich, and therefore opposed to all
disturbanws; but cowardly, and therefore will not defend
themselves. Government is to do everything, and U people
are found to accept poste of responsibility it will be only
with a view to personal advantage. The judges and courts
of law are corrupt. There is no Bourbonlat party, it is
true ; and the priests have not been active in opposition to
Foggia itself,; on the eniatrary, they have shown themselves;
well disposed to the government, with the exception of the
bishop. Still it is almost impossible to give confidence in
the strength and justice of the government, more especially
to the lower classes, whose only faith is in brigands, such
ea .Nardelli, whom they look up to with a sort of hero-
worship. From all closes oome petitions for money and
places ; and of the latter there are already more than
enough—forty in the Goveroor's;oftice alone —and yet not
one employe to be found equal to the ordinary duties of
secretary."

Acting-Canal Bose gives the following account of
circumateaose attending his own capture by brigands,
and release on the promise to send them 100/.:
" Palermo, May 30.—Sir,—My last despatch was
dated the 25th inst., and informed you of what
had taken plaza at Catania, and alluded in general
terms to the present insecurity for life and property in
Sicily. Yesterday afternoon I bad proof in my own person
of the lawless state of our neighbourhood. Returning from
a ride in the country, and within half • mile of Palermo,
my carriage was assailed by four men armed with guns, who
insisted on my getting out at once with violence, made me
accompany them into fields and orchards that skirted the
road ; on reaching a clump of trees they requested me to
give up at once money and any valuables I might have on
my person, threatening the use of their weapons if their
request wu not instoutly complied with. Under such cir-
cumstances I had only to obey ; I gave up my gold watch,
being the only valuable I had ; after this operation they
informed me that I must consider myself their pri-
soner until I had mails over to them I,ooof. sterling,
which I was to have deposited at a spot they would indi-
cate. Not feeling at all inclined to come to any such under-
standing, but at the same time being anxious to get free
from them, I made a bargain that I would send or bring
them 1001., to which, after considerable demur, and with
much threatening language, they agreed to, making me
proniise that the sum should be deposited this afternoon.
Under the circumstances in which I was placed—night

closing in, and in a lonely spot, surrounded by armed men,
I was obliged to submit to the conditions at the moment,
which, however, I shall not fulfil ; but consider it my duty
to bring the facts before your excellency, trusting that
measures may be taken by this government, by orders from
Turin, which will effectually put a stop to the numerous
acts of brigandage going on in Sicily. It is time to punish
the evil doers with rigour, and thus give confidence to the
good.—l have, /cc. (Signed) Jabots Hoer."
Baron Biondi writes specially to Sir James Hudson, ex-
pressing his deep regret at the above outrage, and assuring
the British minister that every effort was being made to dis-
cover the offenders, who, if found, should be punished
with the utmost severity of the law.
The last letter of Mr. Saurin, dated June 20, refers
to the attacks on the government by the Maninian
party since the death of Count Cavour. A letter
from Consul Bonham to the foreign minister, dated
eight Flays later, is se follows:" My lord,-1
have the honour to report to your lordship that
brigandage is spreading throughout the provinces of
this country to a great and alarming extent The bands of
marauders do not appear to be powerful as to numbers, but
they are widely disseminated, and their lawless proceedings
are heard of from all quarters, geuendly plundering. of
travellers and small hamlets, cutting down the electric tele-
graph poles, and in some instances setting fire to the newly
reaped corn : one hears too of the old Bourbon flag being
carried about occasionally; but I believe it to be very
much lein a political movement than a system of agrarian
outrage taken up as a praesaion by a portion of the old dis-
banded troops, both Bourbon and Ganbaldiais, who prefer
robbery to work ; and at this season, when living in moun-
tains can occasion them no inconvenience, it will be very
difficult to put them down."
The above despatch brings the series of papers to •
close.