The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-20 00:00:00

THE CRUISE OF THE FLORIDA,

The brief stay of the Confederate vessel of war,
the Florida, at Bermuda, afforded an opportunity
for the collection of some particulars respecting her
recent career. Those details have just arrived in
this country, and are all the more interesting at the
present moment from the fact of the celebrated
cruiser herself being now off the southern coast of
Ireland. The Florida, Capt. I. F. Maffit,
no less than £9,700,000 worth of Federal
destroyedproperty
up to the 11th of May last, managing to elude 13
Federal vessels of war specially sent to cruise in
pursuit of her. The list of the vessels destroyed or
released on bond by the Florida during the last six
months includes the following names :—Estelle,
Corris Annie, Star of Peace, J. M. Colcord, Com-
monwealth, Kate Dyer, Clarence, Southern Cross,
J. B. Hoxie, Windward, Jacob Bell, Aldebaran,
Lapwing, Oneida, Henrietta, Crown Point, Red
Gauntlet, ship Sunrise, and the schooners V. H.
Hill, Wm. B. Nash, and Hull. Many of the above
were large and valuable clipper ships engaged in
the California, China, and East India trades. The
four vessels last named were taken within some 50
or 60 miles of New York, and while in that neigh-
bourhood Maffit sent an expedition along the New
England coasts with a view of seeing if anything in
his line was stirring in that direction. The expe-
dition was very successful, 27 vessels, great and
small, including a revenue cutter, being captured
and destroyed. Tnis brilliant feat was performed
under Lieutenant Reed. A terrible panic exists
along the Yankee shore. The Sound steamers are
afraid to run without an escort, fishing vessels are
kept in port, and some 50 men-of-war are cruising
off the different Northern ports looking after the
Florida. In fact, so great a panic has never existed
off the New England coast. A large portion of the
Yankee merchant vessels has been transferred to
the English flag. The New York Herald of the
Bth inst. also notices, as a deplorable fact, that
Federal ships, in large numbers, are being placed
under the protection of the Brazilian flag, the naval
resources of the Washington Government being
found totally inadequate to the protection of the
mercantile marine. There is much talk of an em-
bargo.
When the Florida arrived at Bermuda from Mo-
bile, she showed indications of hard service; but her
supplies were of the most ample and varied descrip-
tion, as cash, sails, provisions, &e., had been libe-
rrally contributed by the Yankeevea,*". The crew
are described as being as " crack" as the Florida
herself—fine weather-beaten fellows, much attached
to the ship. The following is an account of the pro-
ceedings of the Florida from the date of her depar-
ture from Mobile to her arrival in Bermuda—the
cruise lasting about six months. The account is in
the form of a newspaper letter from a Mr. 'Wilson,
one of the Florida's men, and is dated " St. George's,
Bermuda, July 21 :" _ _

" You and your readers are doubtless well aware
that this steamer ran out of the harbour of Mobile
on the 16th day of January, 1863, so I will say
nothing on that head, but endeavour to give you a
full account of what we have done since. Oar first
work was the berm. brig Estelle, of Boston, on her
first voyage and homeward bound from Santa Cruz,
with a full cargo of sugar and honey for the good
people of Boston. But we consigned her to Old
Father Neptune.' She was valued at 138,000 dols.
In Havana we received our coal, stores, &c. At
daylight on the morning of the 2201 of January we
tatted our anchor and ran along the coast eastward,
and at 11 a.m. captured and burned the berm. brig.
Windward, from Matanzas, bound to Portland, and
just at sunset we sent the herm. brig Corris Annie,
of Philadelphia, on the same (fiery) road. She was
within two hours' sail of her destination, which
was Cardenas. We left the Cuban coast for the
Banks, and on the 26th dropped our anchor in the
harbour of Nassau. Here we also took in coal,
and our hull looking anything but Christianlike,
we went to Green Keys to paint ship.' On the
28th January came to an anchor, and for two or
three days all hands were busy as bees, scrub-
bing the whitewash from our aides, and on the first
day of February we started on a cruise. But a
sail being reported, and proving to be the
Yankee gunboat Sonoma, and being of heavier
metal than us, we showed our heels. For
forty-eight hours she chased us, but got nothing for
her pains, for on the third morning she could hardly
be seen from the masthead. From the time of elud-
ing the Sonoma till the 12th of February we saw no
Yankee vessels, and all the boys were getting im-
patient for a prize, or even a sail, when we heard
the masthead look-out sing out, Sail, Ito Steam
was raised and our propeller lowered, and at four
p.m. we boarded her, and found that she was indeed
a prize. Her name was the Jacob Bell, from Foo-
chow, bound to New York, with a valuable cargo of
teas, silks, Bce. We burned her, and then went to
Barbadoes. Our next prize was the Star of Peace,
which we captured on the 12th 3f March; she was
from Calcutta, bound to Boston, with saltpetre. The
schooner Aldebaran was the next victim of the
pirate Florida. For fifteen days did we look for
another, and she brought us the most needful article,
and that was coal. The Lapwing was captured on
the 28th, and sent a cruising against Yanks, and
captured the ship Kate Dyer, and bonded her for
40,000 dols. On the 30th March fell in with the
bark M. J. Colcard, from New York, bound to Cape
Town, and she was burned. On the Line we met
the Oreto (Lapwing), coaled, and then took a cruise
along the Line, and on April 17th burned the ship
Commonwealth, from New York for San Francisco.
On the 23d April burned the barque Henrietta,
from Baltimore for Rio Janeiro. The next day
(24th) burned the ship Oneida, from Shanghai for
New York, with tea. May 6, took berm. brig
C.arence, put one 12-pounder howitzer, 20 men, and
two officers on board, and sent her on a cruise. What
execution Lieut. Reed did I refer you to the papers
about. TheTacony was one of her prizes. Oa the 10th
of May we were in Pernambuco; nailed on the 12th.
Nextday (May 13) burnt ship Crown Point, another
San Francisco packet from New York, We then went
to Seara, where we again coaled, and started for the
Northern coast; and on the 6th June burnt ship
Southern Cross, from San Francisco, bound to New
York. On the 14th June burnt the ship Red Gaunt-
, let, froth Poston to lfang Eng. I,4'roof her we

burnt in her over 50 tons of silver ore. On the 27th
June, captured schooner V. H. Hill, and bonded her
for 10,000 dols. on condition that she would carry
our prisoners, some 50 or more, to Bermuda. Our
next prize was the ship Sunrise, eight days from
New Ycrk to Liverpool, having a neutral cargo;
bonded her for 60,9C0 dols. This was on the 7th
July. We were now close to New York; the Bth
July, were not more than 50 or 60 miles from that
city. At about 12 a.m. this day (Bth) we exchanged
signals with an English brig. Another sail being
reported, started in pursuit, and as the fog cleared
up saw a large steamer lying by her, and had sent
her boat alongside. We ran down until we saw
the Yankee colours flying from her peak. All
hande' were then called to quarters. After ma-
sceavring about half an hour, she Really ran dower
e sihship,s coloursbulwarks (which. were
But
the
'Ying at the
weather was
to us. As soon s she was near enough we hauled
bdeii w
nndEt hngl
time), and showed to their view the 'stars and bars,
and at the same time gave her a broadside. Her
men ran from their after pivot and sought protection
in their favour, for just then the fog came down sa dense that the Ericsson could not be seen, so all the
could do was to wait till it cleared up. Bat judge our astonishment, when it did clear up, to see
Yankee about five or six miles ahead of a etude
travelling for Sandy Hook. Now it was we' felt
the need of gocd coal. Our brave Captain Aleffit
cared 1,500 dollars for fifteen pounds steam, but
we could not get but eight and ten pounds, although
we used pitch and resin. All hands were anxious
to catch her, for she bad been sent to catch rebel
cruisers,' bat she nearly caught a Tartar this time.
However, we had the pleasure of burning two ves-
sels under her nose—the brig N. B. Nash, from
New York, and the whaling schooner Rienzi, from
Provieeeie en ; out the crew had left when they
saw us barn the_ brig. sberwed thaecrew of the,
Nash the steamer Ericsson making tracks for New
York. With a sad heart we left the E., and steered
for Bermuda, at which place we arrived on the 16
instant, and as soon as we coal we leave this place
for a cruise, and you and your readers may be
assured that the Florida will sustain her reputa-
tion, and do all we can to annoy the Yankees."

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.

In anticipation of a portion of the hands now
employed on the iron frigate Achilles, 6,000 tons,
which is rapidly approaching completion at Chatham
dockyard, being shortly released from that vessel,
the massive seek framing for the new iron-cased
frigate Lord Warden has been deposited alongside
No. 7 slip, on which the new frigate is to be built.
The construction of this vessel will be commenced
as soon as the dockyard resources will anew of the
mechanics being employed on her. Like the Royal
Oak, the last vessel built on the same slip, the Lord •
Warden will be constructed almost entirely of fo-
reign oak. In the construction of the Lord Warden
several important improvements will be effected by
Mr. Reed, from whose designs she is to be built.
The plan of lessening the thickness of the armour-
plating on the bow and the stern, hitherto adopted
in this class of vessel, is:to be discarded in the ease
of the Lord Warden, and the Admiralty have de-
cided on encasing her in one uniform thickness of
armour-plates; so that she will have the same de-
scription of plates on her stem as on her broadsides,
the use to which it is intended to apply her ren-
dering it most important that her bow should be
carefully protected and of enormous strength. An-
other important feature in the Lord Warden will be
the placing of a powerful battery of guns at her
bow, in which shd will differ from all other vessels
of war now afloat, The battery will be so placed
as to enable the guns to be fired straight ahead;
while the solid, iron-plated bow will be carried up
sufficiently high as to form a sort of tower, in which
the guns will be placed. As the Lord Warden is
designed to steam at least 13 knots an hour, this
powerful bow battery will prove of the utmost value
when chasing a hostile vessel. In order to support
this additional weight thrown on the bow, the body
of the frigate will be built out into a long projecting
prow several feet below water, end this will serve a
twofold advantage,that ofgiving increased buoyancy
to the frigate, and at the same time furnishing her
with a most powerful means of destruction, theLerd
Warden being in this respect dieferenteto every other
vessel afloat. The extremity of the prow will be
furnished with a huge steel stem, shaped somewhat
like a cleaver, and this formidable weapon will, it is
confidently anticipated, cut completely through EL
hostile ship when used as a ram, as, from the enor-
mous size and momentum of the vessel of the Lord
11 arden's dimensions, one, or at most two blows
would be sufficient to sink the largest vessel afloat.
The ports in the new frigate will be more elevated
,
above the water-line, and the armour-plating carried
lower down than in any other vessel of the class,
notwithstanding which provision is made for a high
rate of speed.
The Lords of the Admiralty have issued instruc-
tions for a second vessel, in all respects similar to
the Lord -Warden, to be immediately commenced,
and have decided on naming her the Lord Clyde.
She will be built at Pembroke, at which establish-
ment there is no similar vessel now in hand.
The Lords of the Admiralty have directed the
dockyard officials to survey and report upon the pre-
sent condition and value of the Cyclops, 6, 1,195
tons, 320-horso power; the Phoenix, 6, 809 tons,
220-horse power; the Hermes, 6, 830 tons,
tewholetons,
o
220-horse power; and the Dsorald. In making the
gon, 6,1,270 h
560-horse power, paddlewheel steamers ; and the
Victor, 6, 859 tons, 350-horse power, screw gene
vessel, all attached to the Chatham steam reserve
squadrontheveistis
etlhsenMameed
survey of the above ships the dockyard officials are
to make separate reports to the Admiralty of the
condition of the hull and machinery of the several
steamers, and are to forward a confidential report of
the value of each for the guidance of their Lordships.
Yestesday a detachment of the Ist battalion of the
4th King's Own Regiment, numbering 35 men of
all ranks, left Chatham garrison, and embarked at
Gravesend, for Bombay.
dwabyeinpgreparatory to

FATAL ACCIDENT TO COLONEL M'GREOOR.—WB
regret to hear of the death of .Lieat.-Col. James
M`Gregor, aho was in command of the 15th Regiment
Bombay N.I. at Aden. It appears that when bathing on
the 28th June, in the sea at Aden, he was carried out by
the strong under-current and drowned ; his body was re-
covered shortly afterwards, and was buried the same even-
ing. Colonel Al‘Gregor entered the Bombay army in
1835, and belonged to the 21st N. 1., which, after the partial
mutiny at Kurrachee, in Sept., 18.57, was changed to the
30th N.I. He saw service under Sir Charles Napier in the
campaigns that ended in the conquest of Scinde, and after-
wards in the campaign of 1814-5 to suppress the rebellion
which broke out in the Southetn. Mahratta country.—.
Bombay Gazette.

COLONIAL ARISTOCRACY.—There are of course
many persons in Melbourne who occupy their na-
tural positions, such as they would occupy in any part of
the world—the members of the professions, for instance,
and others, who have the voice which they have a right to
exercise in the administration of public affairs. But, on
the other hand, there are crowds of diggers and successful
adventurers of all kinds, who form a little aristocracy of their
own, aad who have bullied or bought their way into pro-
minent positions. Until a few months ago, every man hod
a vote, and any man who could get votes enough might
enter Parliament.. The consequence was, the legislature
became swamped with ruffianian, and Government was
rendered impossible. In order to put a check upon the
popular exuberance, the present Parliament has just passed
a law, compelling nothing less than a property qualification
on the part of the candidate, and an education test on the
part of the voter. The property qualification merely means
the deposit of a small sum of money, sufficient to act as a
check on the imagination of the casual costermong-er, or the
promiscuous loafer ; the educational test simply provides
that the voter shall be able to write his name. There are
some other provisions, such as the enforcement of certain.
residence in a place before voting ; and the change alto-
gether is expected to ba of a very salutary character. The
educational test" alone, it is said, will disfranchise thou-
sands of persons who will not bake the trouble to qualify
for the register. At present many of the conditions of
society are sufficiently startling to a stranger. The owners
of many of the handsomest houses and equipages in Mel-
bourne are men belonging to the lowest clays, who have
made their fortunes at the diggings; while scions of great
families in England, and men who have taken honours at
universities, are found driving cabs, serving in the police,
or fellowie o: the profe.ision of Wan, waitn,---,7) ic4 013's
"4.16 the 1-03 r I:otf,a,"