The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-10 00:00:00

Capt. Alexander, of the Euryalus, was among those who
received severe injury.
On the 7th inst., at daybreak, four vessels of the allied
squadron moved on to the forts at Hakusima ; but
the successes of the previous day and the play of the Arm-
strong guns induced the occupants of these forts to retire.
The Barossa and Leopard took charge of the captured guns,
spiking some, and taking others on board. Soon after this
(at 8 a.m. on the 7th September) a flag of truce was sent off
in a boat, under charge of one of the Japanese who had
lately been in England. In the course of the day the signal
of truce was hoisted all over the fleet, and it is reported
that Nagato is quite willing to open the straits and treat
foreigners civilly. It is even affirmed that he has offered to
open ports for trade upon his territories, and we can only
hope he is sincere.
The total loss sustained throughout the entire fleet does
not exceed 100 killed and wounded, that of the English
squadron being 15 killed and 49 wounded. "Ye are not in
possession of the names of those who suffered ; but, as
despatches from the admiral go home by this mail the
details will no doubt be fully given in the regular official
form. No English officers have bean killed, but one or two
are badly wounded.
When the forts were destroyed the Prince of Nagato's
officials sued for peace, saying that they would agree to
whatever terms might be proposed. A guarantee, it is
reported, was taken from the Prince, by which he bands
himself to pay any indemnity that may be demanded.
This is rather vague, and seems to imply that Nagato is
ready to promise anything in order to get rid of the
allied fleet. The latest advices state that " a move is
about to be made towards Yeddo." We can only hope
that the recent successful operations have not led to
expectations on the part of the British minister which are
too high to be realised. The progress of negotiations with a
country like Japan must be slow, and any wanton employ-
ment of force will be a blunder under almost any circum-
stances. So far as can be learnt by native rumours a civil
war is at present going on in the interior of the country,
and is supposed to have arisen out of the foreign question.
The fighting is slid to be between noble and noble ; but
native rumour is unreliable.

Her Majesty's ship Severn is in Hong-Kong harbour
at present, bound for Japan, and on her arrival there it is
likely that Admiral Kuper, who is well pleased at the suc-
cess of the late operations, will return home to England."

The Seizure of the Confederate States
Steamer Florida,

The Index publishes the following official repel'
of the commander :

Bahia, Oct. 13, 1864.
Sir,—lt is with great pain that I have to report
,he seizure of the Confederate States steamer

Florida, lately under my command.
I arrived at this port on the 4th inst., at nine
p.m., to procure coal and provisions, and also to get
some slight repairs, after a cruise of 61 days. Just
after anchoring a boat passing around us asked the
name of our vessel, and upon receiving our reply
_ _

stated that the boat was from her Britannic Ma•

esty's steamer Curlew. Next morning I found that

the United States steamer Wachusetts was a

anchor near us, but no English steamer ; so I at once

concluded that the boat which had hailed us the
evening before was from the Wachusetts.
We were visited on the morning of the sth by a
Brazilian officer, to whom I stated my wants, and

was informed by him that he would report the same

to the President, and that until his answer was re,

ceived we could hold no communication with the
shore. At noon I received a communication (which
was left on board the Florida) from the President,

stating that he was ready to receive me. At our
interview he informed that 48 hours would be allowed

me to refit and repair, but that should his chief en

gineer, whom he would send on board to examine the
machinery, deem the time too short, he would grant
the necessary extension. He was most urgent in his
request that I would strictly observe the laws of
neutrality, at the same time stating to me that

he had received the most solemn assurances from
the United States consul that the United States

steamer would do nothing while in port contrary to
the laws of nations and of Brazil; and that he de.

sired the same from me, which I unhesitatingly
gave. The Brazilian admiral, who was present at
the interview, suggested that I had better move my
vessel in between bis ship and the shore, as our
proximity to the Wachusetts might cause some
difficulty. My assurances to the President seemed
to set his mind at rest on the score of any collision
between the two vessels, and upon leaping him I
immediately repaired on board and moved the Flo-
rida close in shore to the position suggested by the
admiral. I found the Brazilian engineer on board,
and was informed by him that it would require four
days to repair the pipe of the condenser. Feeling
now co apprehension of any difficulty occurring
while in port, and wishing to gratify the crew with
a short liberty, not only on the score of good con-
duct, but also of health, I determined to permit
one watch at a time to go ashore for twelve hours,
and sent the port watch off that afternoon. About
7.30 p.m, a boat came alongside, stating that she
was from the United States steamer Wachusetts
with the United States' consul, who had an official
communication for the commander of the Florida.
The letter, with the card of the consul, was handed
to First Lieutenant Porter, who, after examining
I it, and finding it directed to Captain Morris,

" sloop Florida," returned it unopened to the
consul, stating that it was improperly ad-
dressed ; that the vessel was the Confederate
States steamer Florida, and that when the letter
was so directed it would be received. The next
day (6th) a Mr de Vidiky came on board, having
received a letter from the United States Consul ens
closing one for me. He requested me, before re-
ceiving my letter, to permit him to read to me the
one sent to him. It was r request to Mr de Vi-
diky to carry a challenge to the commander of the
Florida, and, in ease of its acceptance, to offer his
(the consul's) influence in having the repairs of the
Florida speedily finished. I informed Mr de Vi-
diky that I had heard quite enough, and, finding
the letter to me still improperly addressed, declined
receiving it; but at the same time said to him that
I had come to Bahia for a special purpose, which,
being accomplished, I should leave; that I would
neither seek nor avoid a contest with the Wachu-
setts ; bat, should I encounter her outside of Bra-
zilian waters, would use my utmost endeavours to
destroy her. That afternoon, the port watch hays
ing returned, I sent the starboard watch (the other
half of the crew) ashore on liberty, going also
myself in company with several of the officers.
From our nearness to the Wachusetts persons on
board of that vessel could well see these men
leaving the ship. At 3.30 am. I was awakened by
the proprietor of the hotel at which I was
staying and told that there was some trouble on
board the Florida, as he had heard firing
and cheering in the direction of the vessel,
but on account of the darkness was unable
to discern anything. I immediately hastened to
the landing, and was informed by a Brazilian officer
the United States steamer Wachusetts had run into
and seized the Florida, and was then towing her
out of the harbour. I hurried off to the admiral's
vessel, and was told by him that he was at once
going in pursuit, which he did as soon as steam was
raised on board a steamer belonging to the fleet.
The admiral's ship being sailing vessel, sloop-of-war,
was taken in tow by the steamer, and went out of
the harbour. Ha returned in the afternoon with
all his vessels, having been unable to overtake the
Wachusetts. Upon mustering the officers and crew
left on shore I found there were four officers, viz.,
Lieutenaut Barron, Paymaster Taylor, Midship-
man Dyke, and Master's Mate King, and 71
men, of whom six had escaped by swimming
from the Florida after her seizure. Of the
actual occurrences and loss of life on board
the Florida I have been able to find out very little.
The substance of what I have gathered from the
six men who escaped is as follows :—That at 3 15
e,rn. on Oct. 7, Master T. W. Hunter, jan., being
in charge of the deck, the Wachusetts left her an-
chorage, and taking advantage of the darkness
steamed for the Florida, from whom she was not
seen till close aboard ; that ehe was hailed by Mr
Hunter, who receiving no answer, called " All
bands" to quarters. Before the officers and crews
were all on deck the Wachusetts struck the Florida
on her starboard quarter, cutting her rail down to
the deck and carrying away her mizenmast, at the
same time pouring a volley of musketry and a
charge of canister from her forecastle pivot
gun upon our decks. The Wachusetts then
backed off and demanded our surrender,
to which demand Lieutenant Porter de•
clined to accede. The enemy then fired again and
again into us, which was returned by the officers