The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-14 00:00:00

The Sinking of the Florida.

A correspondent of the New York. World, writ-
ing from Fortress Monro on the 29,h ult., gives the
following account of the sinking of the Florida

On the 18th inst. the Florida, then lying at anchor in
Hampton Roads, was ordered by the Navy Department to
be taken up the James river and anchored under the guns
of the ram Atlanta, off Newport News. She was com-
manded by Acting Master Jonathan Baker, who had a
crew,of ten men, and there were besides Third Assistant
Engineer Lannon, an acting ensign, and four firemen.
On the 19fh the Florida was ordered to Norfolk to coal,
and just before starting was run into by the transport
steamer Alliance, and very seriously damaged. The
transport struck her on the bow, knocking off her head
chains and booms and otherwise injuring her. She was
in very bad condition when captured, and all the time
since her arrival here she has leaked so badly as to keep
the steam pump engaged continually. The collision with
the Alliance greatly increased the volume of the water
which constantly poured into her, causing her to fill at
the rate of eight inches an hour. On the arrival of the
Florida at Newport News an additional pump was secured
from the Atlanta, and the two were kept uninterruptedly
at work. The position of the vessel was about half a mile
from the shore, and three quarters of a mile below the At-
lanta. Here she had remained since the 20th. A very strict
watch had been kept day and night, as it was supposed that
measures might be taken by the rebels to attempt her de-
struction from the shore. About 9 o'clock on Sunday even-
ing one of the pumps on board suddenly gave out, throwing
ate additional burden upon the remaining one, though the
water was for a time apparently kept down as before. At
half-past 12 Mr Baker inspected the pump, and, observing
that the water was not then gaining, retire;]. An hour after-
wards the engineer in charge reported to him that he could
not kelp the vessel clear, and that the water was gaining con-
stantly. The commander immediately called all hands, the
deck pumps were rigged, and they commenced baling ac-
tively. The Atlanta was also signalled without delay, and
two boats' crews were hurried from the ram to the aid of the
sinking vessel. Before they arrived, however, the water had
risen considerably above the fireroom floor, so that it was
found necessary to put the fires out. The pump engine was
thus stopped, and the water came pouring in at a fearful
rate. It was impossible at any time, after it was found the
ill-fated ship was sinking, to move her toward the shore,
as there was 71h pressure of steam—just sufficient to work
the pump., Neither was there means at hand for towing
her ashore. From the fact that the boilers of the Florida
were constructed for burning soft coal, and there was only
hard coal on board, it took, tender any ciremnstancee, a long
time to get up sufficient steam to work her engines. In
a few minutes after s nding the two boats to the
Florida, Captain Woodward, of the Atlanta, came himself
on board to see what could be done to keep her afloat.
But it was apparent that she must soon sink, and the men
were ordered to save their effects and prepare to leave her
to her fate. 'the Florida kept rapidly filling, so that at 7
o'clock the water was a foot above the berth deck. At the
same time that Mr Baker signalled the Atlanta he sent a
telegraphic message to Admiral Porter at this place, that
the Florida was sinking. The Admiral immediately ordered
the tug page to steam up to the Florida, and tow her into
shoal water towards the shore. The tug came alongside at
7 15, but the Florida was by this time so near sinking that
it was deemed dangerous to attach it, as, in going down,
she would take the tug along with her. A few minutes
after, with eight feet of water in her, she careened over,
and disappeared, stern foremost, Mr Baker and Captain
Woodward remained alongside in the tug until she Wert
under. The Florida had all her guns and everything on
board, just as when she was captured. The cause of her
sinking is considered undoubtedly to be the collision with
the transport steamer, and it is supposed the Government
will call upon the owners of that vessel for damages. There
is a feeling of general satisfsetion among naval officers hero
at the fate of the Florida. It is considered much preferable
to have her disposed hare, and indanui'y be offered to the
Brazilian Government, than suffer the humiliation of taking
her back, and seeing her saluted as she would enter the
harbour of Rio Janeiro in triumph, with the rebel flag fly-
ing. This would have been a most bitter pill to the Ame-
rican officers who would have to ace mpany her. It is not
definitely known what caused the water suddenly to pour
into the Florida in so much greater volume after mid-
night than on the morning she sank. The engineer thought
that something had happened to the sea-cocks of the en-
gines, and others supposed tbat some portion of the bettors
planks had given way. After tho collision with the
Alliance, the Admiral caused her to be lightened several
feet, to as to have less suraee under NI titer,

.Nl4.lvsrAP_Eit
..
Naval and MilitartintgThoefick--...:
• ",• ,
VALETTA; Dec, B. e unispin, _War steamer
Begi came into this port yeiterdaYliannaltirnia. It
is said she has despatches on. 'Nerd; oitth e
eir na-
tura nothing has transpired. There hav been
several movements of men-of-war during the week.
Her Majesty's paddlewheel frigate Magicienne, 16,
Capt. Armytage, returned from Patras on the 2d
inst. in two days, having on board as passengers
Capt. Bland, R E., and Capt. Bowden, who had
proceeded in her from Malta. The screw sloop
Racer, 6, Csmmander Saulcz, arrived from Tunis in
26 hours on the same day, and left this aterneon on
retdrn to the coast of the Regency. The Pelican,
17, Commander Comber, for Zantas and Corfu, and
ihe Assur,acce, 4, Commander Woolcombe, for the
Pit ceua of Athens, also leit tcsday. Yesterday morn..
ing effieial intelligence having been receivkd of the
promution to Vice-Admiral of Rear• Admiral H. T.
Austin, C. 8., Superintendent of the Malta Dock-
yard, he shiltad his flag on board her Mjenty's
ship Hibernia, under a salute from the Gibraltar,
flagship of the Vice-Admiral Commander-in-Chief.
A court-martial was held on Saturday last on board
her Majesty's ship Hibernia, to try the carpenter,
second-class, John Paine, of her Majesty's ship Cos-
sack, on a charge of drunkenness on board. Capt.
Prevost, commanding her Majesty's ship Gibraltar,
sat as president, and Mr Royle, R.N., acting secret
tars to the Commander•in-Chief, officiated as judge
advocate. The charge was proved, and the prisca
oar was sentenced to be dismissed from her Ma,.
jesty's service. The following passengers halve
arrived since the departure of the last mail—Oapt.
Davidson, 22d Regiment, end family ; Capt. _Boyce
and family; Major Trevor, Lieut. and Mrs Carey,
Lady Houlton, Capt. Barton, Sergeant Roe, Sera
geant Cusack, and Sub-Lieutenant Sullivan, R.N.,
The missing screw steamer Danube, of Liverpool,
arrived safely into part yesterday from Alexandria,
having been driven thrice by stormy weather from,
within 50 miles of this island towards the coast of
Barbary, out of the track of all vessels from which
she might have sought assistance. On arrival here
she bad but I cwt. of coals on board, the remainder
of a stcck of 8 tons, which had been reserved for an
emergency when she was put under canvas 10 days
Ago. A screw steamer called the Dessouk, one of
several in course of construction for the Viceroy of
Egypt, arrived here on Sunday night from England,
and after replenishing fuel left for Alexandria, con-
signed to the agent of the Peninsular and Oriental.
Company. The Austrian screw frigate Raclelzki.,
Capt. A. Barry, continued her voyage on Monday
lest for the Adriatic.

The Duke of Cambridge, accompanied by the lien.
Col. Curzon (Aide-de-Camp), Gen. the Hon. Sir
James Yorke Scarlett (Aclj t.-Gen.), Gen. Sir Richard
Altey (Quartermaster-Gen.), Major-Gen. Hamilton,
C. 8., end Col. Addison (of the Council of Military
Education), end a large number of the members, of
the Staff at headquarters, left town yesterday morn.
ing, at 8 o'clock, to attend the half.yearly exami..
nation at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
The Duke and company returned home shortly after
5 o'cicck.

Mr Childers, M.P., Civil Lord of the Admiralty—
Major Clarke, RE., Threetor of Works—and Mr
Robinson, arrived at Portsmouth yesterday from
the Admiralty, and were engaged in the dockyard
dui ing the day.

Yesterday the ironclad screw frigate Valiant, 24,
4,063 tons, 800• horse power, received on board from
the Ordnmee-wherf, Chatham, upwards of 60 tons
of solid 68• pounder spherical cast-iron shot and
110• pounder and 40-pounder Armstrong shot.
According to existing orders received at Chatham,
the Valient will not be armed with any of the
12-ton 300-pounder rifled Armstrongs, but will
carry 16 of the 61 tons 100 pounder smoothbore
Armstrongs. The only vessels ordered to be sup-.
plied at Chatham with the 300-pounder Armstrong's
are the following ironclads, which will carry the
proportion of ordnance named—viz., the Beilero.
phon, 14,1,1,000 horse power, 10 300-pounders; the
Royal Savereign, 5, 800 horse power, 5, 300 pours•
ders; the Northurnb:rland, 26, 1,350 horse power ;
the Agincourt, 26, 1,350 horse power; the Mino-
taur, 26, 1,350 horse power; the Prince Albert, 4,
500 horse power; the Scorpion, 4, 1,000 horse
power; and the Wyvern, 4, 1,000 horse power,
each four 300-pounders. The first supply of the
12-ton guns are expected shortly to ba received at
Chatham from the Royal gun factory.
Admiralty instructions were yesterday received
at Wool wich ordering the immediate sale by auction
of the whole of the plant and materials of the Admi-
ralty shipbuilding yard at Blackwall, adjoining
that of Messrs. Westwood and Baillie, in which
the iron steamship Valiant was recently built.
The Torch, 5, screw gun vessel, having under.
gone a very extensive repair to hull and machinery
in the dry dock at Chatham, will be floated out into
the harbour on Saturday next. She is complete
in her rigging, and only awaits the shipment of her
shot, sheil, guns, and sea stores to be ready for the
pennant.

Her Majesty's paddlewheel steam sloop Trident,
Commander Charles Balfour, having landed her
;Ina and ammunition at Woolwich Arsenal rester•
day, went into the outer basin of the dockya'd
and commenced stripping. She is ordered to be
paid out of commission on Tuesday the 20th inst.

The East India and London Shipping Company's
steamship Calcutta, after discharging her troops,
invalided and time expired men, from Madras,
sailed from Portsmouth at noon yesterday for
London.

The Urgent, screw troopship, Cspt. Henderson,
yesterday made a trial of her machinery at Spithead,
which, however, proved quite unsatisfactory, and
will have to be renewed.

Capt. W. H. Stewart, C. 8., Superintendent of
Chatham Dockyard, having proceeded on a short
leave of absence, the duties of superintendent will
devolve on Commander R. Stokes, master-attendant
of the dockyard.

The half-yearly examinations of the shipwright
and engineer apprentices commenced on Monday
and terminated yesterday at Woolwich. Thirty-two
lads passed a highly favourable examination, the
result of which was forwarded to the Board of Ad%
miralty for consideration.
Gen. Sir Geo. Tamer, K,C.8., Col. Commandant
of the 121 h Brigade of the Royal Artillery, died on
Friday last at Menie-house, Aberdeenshire, where
he was born in 1780. He obtained his commission
of second-lieut, in the Royal Artillery in January,
179 i. The deceased general was at the capture of
the Cape of Good Hopa in 1806; he joined the army
in the Peninsula iu Dec., 1813, and served with it
until the end of the war. He was present at the
bittles of Orthes and Toulouse and at the affAirs of
Vie Bigorro and Tarbes. He received the gold
medal and one clasp for Orthes and Toulouse. In
1831 he was made a Companion of the Order of the
Bath, and in 1862 aKnight Commander of that order
of knighthood. Since Aug. 1852 ho had been C 01.4
Commandant of the 12th Brigade Royal Artillery.
The following appointments and promotions have
been made at the Admiralty :—Capt. A. C. Gordon,
to the Cadmus, commissioned—Capt. T. M. S.
Pasley, to the Highfiy, commissioned—Commander
B. S. de B. Hall, to the Active, vice Heard, whose
period of service has since expired—Lieutenant
Samuel Long, Lieut. John Fellowee, and Lieut.
Thos. Ramsbotbam, to the Cadmus—Lieut. Francis
C. Vincent, Lieut. T. P. W. Nesham, and Lieut. S.
H. Rickman, to the Highflyer—Lieut. Alexander
Topham, to the Defence—Dr A. Brown, surgeon, to
the Blenheim—Charles W. Eules, paymaster, to
the Victoria—George W. A.llthidgc, assist. pay.
master, to the St. Veneent—James B. Rawlings,
assist. paymaster, to the Egmont—W. R.Weather-
ieYuiaB:is;inePleyrn:aster, to the Excellent—J. W. S.
Ntt,L
confirmed, to the Asia, as super..
numerary. James Barre, acting second class assist.
engineer, to the Asia, as supernumerary—G.
Woolard in the Trafalgar, Ditsund Clark, supe:
numerary in the Asia, and N. D. Chambers in the
DauntlesS, promoted to first-class assist. engineers.

THE APPEAL OF DR COLENSO.—The appeal of
the Biahop of Natal against the Bishop of Capo Town has
been appointed by the Judicial Committee of the Privy
Council to be heard to,lay. Mr W. M. James, Q.C. (of
the Chancery Btu), Mr Fi!zjames Stephens, Mr WentLiKe,
and Mr G. Clarke will appear for Dr Colons(); Sir 1-11:•-14
C3airns and the Queen's Advocate for the Bishop of Cal,e
Town.

__r, ,~

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 14, 1864.

We are just now on the eve of anew Parliament,
and certainly no one, excepting possibly its own
members, will be inclined to regret the decadence
of the present one. A general election is sufficiently
rare to make it a matter of interest, and the excite-
ment of political warfare is carried into many re.
tired rural districts, and quiet country towns and
villages, to most of whose inhabitants it is a matter
of complete indifference who holds the seals of
office. Bat in the metropolis itself and in the lead.
ing cities of the empire the position of parties is a
matter of very vital interest, and the influence
which a new Parliament may exercise on the
Cabinet invests a general election with considerable
importance. Just at this juncture, therefore, it is
not uninteresting to inquire how our self-governed
colonies pass through the same crisis in their in-
stitutions, and how their constitutional laws, in some
respects different from our own, work at such a
juncture. If in our own quiet orderly routine
world a general election produced a high degree of
excitement and contention, we may naturally sup•
pose that a young community would be still more
moved and shaken by its operation. Yet according
to the news from Victoria, however, the molt
general election has produced scarcely any excites
meat. The public have taken very little interest
in the matter, and so great has been the indifference
manifested that in many places a second candi-
date could not be found. It is true that
th e triennial return of the elections,
which is the rule throughout the colonies for a
Lower House, renders its recurrence less noticeable
or importan' ; but other influences have more to
do with the unusual quietude. In the first place,
there have been no popular questions under discus-
ivisions on topics such
as
felon, no party cries or d
tithe land question, which at once appeal to indivi-
dual interests, and arouse the passions of the mul-
titude. Secondly, the great change which has been
brought about in the manner of conducting elec-
tions in 'Victoria has not only nstric'el the number

of candidates and of voters, but it be.s taken away
their occupation from the mob orators and adven,
turers who trade on popular excitement, and seek
their own private ends by influencing the passions
of the multitude. A bill was carried during the
:act session which considerably altered the face of
matterr, and its effects have been seen in the tran-
quillity and indifference visible at the late election.

It is of course desirable that the populace should
interest themselves in their own affairs, and the
whole merit of parliamentary government is gone,
if the indifference of the people prevent them from
being fully and fairly represented, But Australia,
like all new settlements, has hitherto had to guard
rather against the opposite extreme, and therefore
the change now:visible is to be accepted as an
augury of better things. The riot and die.
turbance of a contested election, undesir-
able and injurious enough in this country,
is still worse in a young, untrained community, and,
therefore, the Victorian Parliament very wisely
provided against the occurrence of any violent dis-
turbance by a few simple regulations. Instead of a
candidate having to go through no other form than
getting himself proposed at the hustings, he is now
obliged, before he is put in nomination, to deposit
the sum of £5O, which is not returned to him un-
less he can secure one-fifth of the votes polled by
the lowest candidate. All empty and factious op.
position is thus guarded against, and a system of
" dunning" candidates, which was growing common,
has been rendered impossible. There are no longer
any hustings nominations ; but a nomination paper,
signed by ten qualified electors as well as by the
candidate himself, is deposited with the returning
officers, no speeches being allowed. This does not
consort with our old English idea of an election ;
but the plan has been found to work well in pre-
venting riot and disturbance. The electors, too,
are put under restriction as well as the candidates.
Before a man is allowed to exercise his right of
voting—and manhood suffrage has long been the
rule in Australia—he must have resided six months
in the district for which he claims to vote, he must
be able to write his name, and will have to pay a
shilling for his electoral right, which is then issued
to him. The writing of the name is a good applica-
tion of that educational test which is everywhere so
desirable, and nowhere more so than in a country
like Australia, which has need to be well on its
guard against the predominating influence of reck-
less democracy. The general feeling of the respect.
able population is unquestionably in favour of
constitutional government, and they are therefore
wise to put some checks on the action of so
mixed an assembly as their masses are composed
of. The general effect of the election is expected
to be decidedly in favour of the Government, which
has promised a reform of the Upper House, a revi-
sion of the tariff, and a new land bill. Meanwhile,
in the neighbouring colony of New South Wales
the Governor has just opened the fifth session of
the existing Parliament, addressing the members
at some length on the condition and prospects of
the colony. Two questions are just now especially
engaging the attention of the Australian colonies.
There is the much-vexed question of transportation
from the mother country, the other a local dispute
between the several colonies as to the border cus-
toms duties. Sir JOHN YOUNG announced in his
speech that a satisfactory arrangement had been
come to between the Government of New South
Wales and of South Australia for the collection of
duties on goods arriving by way of the River
Murray from South Australia for consumption in
New South Wales. With the authorities of Victoria,
however, no agreement had been made, and the
question remains unsettled. The past year has been
an nnfavourable one for New South Wales, owing
to the severe floods which have inflicted serious
damage, and the failure of the harvest. Under
these circumstances the Governor warns the mem.
hers they will have to provide for a deficit. It is
interesting to notice the progress of the colony in
the various measures which he commends to their
notice, such as railway extension, the improvement
of the currency laws, the protection and reforms.
(ion of neglected children, the regulation of the
volunteer force, and the prevention of the sale of
diseased meat. All these questions bespeak a high
state of civilisation, and show the kindred sympa.
thies existing between the population of the mother
country and their energetic kinsfolks in the
Southern seas.

There are few things more outrageous than
and it seems strange that such tole-
kidnapping,
ration should have been exercised towards the
constant recurrence of this infamous practice by the
Federals. Constantly as the subject has been men-
tioned in one way or another, little heed is paid to
it by the Government, and neither in words nor
actions do they exhibit that contempt for the
practice nor that righteous indignation against the
perpetrators of it which we surely have a right
to expect from those who ars in a position to defend
our rights and avenge our wrongs. It has over
and over again been cited by Ministers and the
members of their immediate following that all
that has been done against the Confede-
derates in the matter (4)f engaging vessels and
so forth, was an unavoidable duty which must not
be shirked. The interests of nations required the
due observance of the laws between countries, and
no infringement, direct or indirect, could be sanc.
tioned. We hear a great deal of the necessities of
the case as regards the Government of Washington,
bat it appears to escape the observation of those
zealous defenders of transatlantic claims, that an.
other country is wholly left out of the question in
regard to the enforcement of the rules and regulas
dons of neutrals and belligerents ; and that country
is no other than England. From first to last our
interests have been sacrificed, our claims neglected,
our honour tarnished by the course which the:Ame-
rican war has taken. Of course, properly managed,
neither a recognition of the South nor a strict netts
trality need have occasioned such misfortunes ; but
it is the trifling manner in which the whole affair
has been arranged. Hesitation is always injurious
to the interests of individuals, but in the case of
nations it is fatal to honour and prosperity. It is
of no use to disguise the fact, that our present Go.
vernment are secretly on the aide of the Federals;
for various reasons they are led that way, and the
influence of the Manchester school of politicians has
exercised a most deleterious effect upon their
councils in this, as in other affairs, vital to the
interests and reputation :of the country. Had
Earl RUSSELL at first boldly spoken out
and contrived to let the Federals know that any
unfair acts practised upon British subjects would
call down upon them the wrath of the country, how
different would things have been ? When any one
ventures to propose that a decided step like this
should be taken, they aro always met with the
assertion that care must be taken to prevent the
rupture of our friendly relations with foreign
Powers, and that above all things wo must avoid
doing or saying anything that can be construed
into making a casus Belli of an affair, in case of a
non-compliance with our demands being resolved
upon. This is a glaring error to make in the
carrying on of administration, and will assuredly
always prove inimical to the preservation of peace
ability
reported
in its truest sense, which must signify the will and
to protect one's honour. A case has recently
been
which only serves to corroborate
former statements of a similar kind, but which is
nevertheless nacst irritating to peruse, and leads
one to reflect sadly that there has been great and
grievous mismanagement somewhere,for such things
to come to pass concerning a British subject, and
no notice to be taken of his wrongs. A sailor

has returned to Gloucester, his native place,
mutilated and disabled for life, through wounds
contracted in the Federal service, into
which he was entrapped to enter by the most
insidious and scandalous means. He was desirous
of returning to England, and a man, appearing
like a sea.captain, offered to get him an engagement
on board a ship bound for this country. The usual
course was pursued ; the unfortunate sailor was
stupified, and when he awoke to his senses he was
in a hut surrounded by soldiers. Remonstrances
proved, of course, unavailing; he was declared to
be duly enlisted, and compelled to serve in the
ranks of the Federal army. Here he received
several wounds, and was at last allowed a few
weeks furlough. Tie took advantage of this liberty
to get on board a ship bound for Cadiz, and from
thence he came to London, and has since
reached Gloucester, " upon the very day on which
his name would be called on the muster-roll of his
regiment." Were it not for his wounds, he is far
better off than hundreds of others who have shared
his fate. They will be compelled to remain in
their unwelcome service until the close of the pro-
tracted war, unless they fill foreign graves, after
having expended their strength and wasted their
health in a cause for which they have no interest to
serve, and for a country which has no claim on them.
Mr. COBDEN was very eager and eloquent abuut
the " sublime spectacle" of re-electing President
LINCOLN ; we wonder if he thinks it a sublime thing
for Englishmen to be forced to take a part in
the glorious war which is to emancipate
the negroes. It is rather inconsistent that force
should be employed to procure the services of the
troops who are to achieve so wonderful a boon for
humanity. It was bad enough to be told to rest and be
thankful while Denmark was ruined and our honour
compromised, but it is too much to be told to admire
the strict neutrality of a course of policy which
creates unparalleled misery on a part of our popula-
tion at home, and interferes with the liberties of
our subjects abroad, thus heaping affront on affront,
and adding insult to injury.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTEE?S TELEGRAMS.]

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE NOVA SCOTIAN.
(Via Greencastle.)

NEW YORK, DEC, 2 (Evening).

General Schofield reports that on the 30th ult.
he repulsed a heavy and persistent attack on Frank-
lin by two corps of Hood's army. The engage.
went lasted from the afternoon till after dark.
Hood was repulsed at all points, with a loss of
probably 5,000 to 6,000 men. The Federal loss was
one fourth of that number. 1,000 Confederate pri-
soners were captured. On the night of the 30th
Schofield retired from Franklin, and formed a line
of battle three miles south of Nashville. On the
morning of the Ist inst. Hood's cavalry crossed the
river above Franklin, closely following the Federals
towards Nashville. Heavy skirmishing and a
general engagement was expected. Reinforcements
were arriving at Nashville, and the troops and
Government employees were under arms in the for.
tifications and trenches.

Unofficial accounts represent that in the battle
of the 30th ult., in the first charge of Hooa's troops,
the Federals were driven back, but rallied and
counter..charged the Confederates who had crossed
over the Federal lines. The Federals then swung
round on the Confederate flank and drove them in
confusion. Some despatches estimate the Confede►
rate loss at 3,000 men.

Grant reports that the _Richmond Examiner of
yesterday admits that Sherman had crossed the
Oconnee river, and would succeed in reaching the