The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-15 00:00:00

THE AL ABAN4,

A very erroneous impression has been created by
a communication in the Scotsman in reference to
this celebrated vessel. She was built by Messrs.
Laird Brothers, of the Birkenhead Ironworks, by
whom also her engines of 300 horse power nominal,
were designed and constructed. She was the 290
ship built by Messrs. Laird; and, as her proper name
had not been fixed on up to the time of her leaving
the Mersey, she was only known as the 290
It is stated in the Scotsman that the 290
neglected to return to Birkenhead, but steamed
directly for the island in the Atlantic where she
was to take in her guns, ammunition, &c." The
facts are stated, on the authority of one of her late
officers, to be as follow :—On the 29th of July last
the 290, with a party of ladies and gentlemen on
board, left her anchorage, and spent the day, till 3
p.m., in cruising about the bay of Liverpool, when
the passengers were put on board the tender, and
the vessel proceeded to Moelfra Bay, otose to where
the Royal Charter was lost, where she anchored at
1 p.m. The next day she spent in securing every-
thing for sea, A tug arrive& at 6 p.m. with a lot
of men to complete the crew, and from that time
till 2.30 a.m. of Thursday (July 31) was occupied in
shipping the crew, &c. As soon as this was com-
pleted the 290 steamed off, at the rate of 14 knots
an hour, round the north coast of Ireland, arriving
at her destination, Porto Praya bay, Island of Ter-
ceira, on Sunday, August 10, making a run of ten
days, not eight, as the Scotsman has it. The com-
mander of the 290 was Capt. Matthew J.-Butcher,
R.N.R., who was the only person who,appeared in
any of the ship's buoiness to others than the builders.
Again, it is said " the 290 had a set of English
papers and other presumptive proofs of her neutra-
lity, in the face of which it might have been diffi-
cult for her captor to have acted." So far is this
from being a fact that the 290 had no papers what-
ever, having left without the formality of clearing
at the Custon3s. This celebrated vessel will " give
a good account of herself" if she is overhauled
by any of the United States ships of. war. She
has proved herself, whether under sail or steam,
as a marvel of marine architecture ; but that is
only what one would expect to find from the
fame so justly achieved by her builders. One of
the pluckiest things ever done was the remove! of
the Ariel's valve, thus rendering the ship entirely
at the mercy of her captor. We may state that the
Arid was built by Commodore Vanderbilt as a yacht,
and in her he came over to England, and subse-
quently visited Russia. She is sister ship to the
Vanderbilt, and the two vessels were considered the
fastest steamers in the United States' mercantile
marine. The ruse with which the Ariel was over-
hauled show that the Alabama is a splendid craft.
We ought to state that the officers and crew of this
famous " Secesh" warship are not, as has been re-
presented," the scum of the earth." The officers
are, many of them, accomplished gentlemen, and
from previous experience well up to their work as
naval officers, while the crew consist part of old
man-of-war's men and men who have served in the
Royal Naval Reserve. The Alabama is supplied
with coal by a regular relay of ships,
which take:
out, under inspection, the very best Welsh steam
coal.—Liverpool Daily Post.

RUNNING OF THE BLOCKADE BY THE STEAMER
GlRAFFE.—llefluite intelligence has been received
that this splendid paddle steamship, so well known at this
port, has succeeded in evading the Federal cruisers which
were specially on the look out for her, and in reaching
Charleston. She shipped in the Clyde a lull and moat valu-
able cargo, comprised entirely of anicles suitable to the exi-
gencies of the Confederates. Her run across the Atlantic
was, as had been anticipated, very rapid. No craft in the
b ockading squadron would have any chance with the
Giraff.'? 4 chase; and it is not unlikely that her return
venture will be as well managed and profitable as waa her
outward.--Belfast !VOWS Litter,