The Sun.
London, England, 1862-06-24 00:00:00

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WE CAPTURE OF THE CIRCASSIAN,

A correspondent of a contemporary writes as

The facts are these :—I, with the rest of the
officers and part of the crew of the steamship Cir-
cassian, joined her in London to go thence to Car-
diff and afterwards to Bordeaux, and there await
orders as to our final destination. _

On onr arrival at Bordeaux we were informed
that our vessel was to proceed to Havannab, after
taking in a general cargo for that place.
The goods (consisting chiefly of wine and spirits)
were accordingly shipped, and we proceeded on our
voyage, and, after touching at St. Thomas's for
coal, we had arrived to within about 30 miles of
Havannah, and were at the same time not more than
seven miles from the coast of Cuba at 9 a.m. of the
4th of May last, when we discovered an American
war steamer approaching us from the offing. On
nearing us, after asking us our name, " Where from
and where bound ?" and receiving in reply our
name, ports of departure, and destination, we were
ordered to " heave-to" and stop until they should
search us, this of der being, as we considered, in
direct violation of the right of search. We still con-
tinued our course, with the English ensign flying.
On our persisting on our course, which still was and
always had been direct for the harbour of Havan-
nah, the American steamer (the Somerset, Captain
English) immediately commenced firing, first a
blank shot and then live shells from her rifled guns
in quick succession, which burst in all directions,
luckily wounding but one man slightly, but doing
a good deal of injury to our rigging, &c., the whole
of the port side of the fore shrouds being completely
shot away.
We then, in order to save life and further damage
to the ship (being completely unarmed), hove-to, on
which they ceased firing, and sent a boat on board,
well manned and armed. They then examined our
papers, but finding them correct, commenced broach-
ing and examining our cargo, and although they
found nothing contraband of war, they took posses-
sion of the ship and cargo in the name of the Pre-
sident of the United States, assigning no reason
whatever for so doirig.
After taking possession of the ship they sent more
men, heavily armed, and a number of Marines on
board, who were drawn up on the quarter-deck, and
ordered to " load with ball cartridge," and " fix
bayonets," which being done they hauled the English
ensign down and hoisted the American flag in its
place, at which the crew of the Somerset commenced
cheering vociferously, in honour of their daring
achievement. Half of our crew were then ordered
on board the Somerset, and we were taken in tow
by her to Key West, where we remain still. t
from
A few days after our arrival here a boa
and
the Somerset came alongside with more men
wbo
Marines (at about 8 o'clock in the
.evening),
immediately were placed as sentrichai to
eianll ourr
cabins, those officers of our ownp g
b
quired to remain on deck, where theys
happened to
be when they placed the sentries, and we were one
by one ordered to accompany an officer and two
Marines to each of our cains, which were then
minutely searched, and all our private letters and
papers seized, and have not yet been' returned.
The Commodore, having arrived in the mean-
time, ordered our crew, who were prisoners on
board the Somerset, to be sent back to the Cir-
cassian, and the English ensign to be once again
hoisted.
I have further to add that on our arrival here the
captain repeatedly
asked permission to go on shore
to the English Consul, but was each time refused,
and we had not the benefit of his advice and coun•
sel until we had been in the pert three days.

We are requested to state that the band of the
Corps of Commissionaires will play this and every other
evening in St. James's Park, from 7 till 8.45 p.m., until
further notice.

DETERMINED SUICIDE OF MR. JUSTICE KEAT-
ING's CLERK.—Yesterday morning, shortly before seven
o'clock, the greatest excitement was created in the neigh-
bourhood of Lorrimore-road, Kennington Park, by the
rumour that a gentleman had destroyed his life at his resi-
dence. No. 1, Lansdowne-terrace, and unfortunately this
was but too true. From inquiries made it would appear
that the deceased, Mr. Philip Colgrove, aged forty years,
was clerk to Sir H. Keating, one of the Justices of the
Court of Common Pleas, in which capacity he had been
some time employed, and was highly respected. He was
heard to rise at his usual time, about six o'clock, but on the
servant gi,l, nearly an hour afterwards, going into the
washhouse, she was horrified to behold her unfortunate
master hanging to the raf ers. She at once gave an ala
pr,
rm,
when several persons rushed in and cut him down.
Nott, of the Lucas-road, was quickly la attendance, but
gave his opinion that life had been extinct upwards of an
hour. So determined had the deceased been that he fan
fastened the cord, which was quite new, three times around
his neck, with a running noose, the end being strongly tte
to one of the rafters. He must :have then got upon a stool,
kicking it from under him, as it was found thrown over.
The unfortunate gentleman has resided in the same house
for ten years, and leaves behind him a wife and four young
children, one of whom is but a few months old. Infor-
mation was at once forwarded to Mr. Cooke, the coroner's
officer, and no cause at present qui be ascertained for the
dreadful act,