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

SHIPPING---THIS DAY.

LONDON, June 24.—Wind this day at noon—North-
Westerly ; light breeze, and fine weather, but rather
cloudy.
OFF PORTSMOUTH June 23.—Wind N.W.—Arrived—
Queen Bee, from London for Sydney.
PLIETWOOD, Juno 23.—Wind N.W.—Sailed—Panore
Orphelin, for Hayti.
PLYMOUTH, June 23.—Wind
from Quebec.
BRISTOL, June 23.—Wind N.W.—Arrived—Princess
Royal, from Cuba.
DUNDEE, June 23.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—Retriever, for
Quebec.

CLYDE, June 23.—Wind. W.—Arrived—Nadyd a, from
Pernambuco; Mary Hampton, from Huelva; America,
from Montreal. Sailed—Cheviot, for Otago, N.Z. ;
Glengarnock, for Cuba.

THE CAPTU‘

TRCASSIAN,

A correspondent of a contemporary writes as
follows

The facts are these :--I, with the rest of the
officers and part of the crew of the steamship Cie-
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 our arrival at Bordeaux we were informed
that our vessel was to proceed to Havanna.h, 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
Ho.vannab, and were at the same time not more than
seven miles from the coast of Cubs at 0 e.m. of the
4th of May last, when we discovered an American
war steamer approaching no from the offing. On
nearing us, after asking us our name, " Where from
and where bound ?' and rtceiving in reply our
name, ports of departure, and destination, we were
ordered to "heave-to" and stop until they should
search us, this co 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 Haven-
nab, 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
utdirections,doing
luckily wounding but ono man slightly, but
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 Prc-
sident of the United States, assigning no reason
whatever for so doing.
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 quarterdeck, and
ordered to " load with ball cartridge," and " fix
bayonets," which beingdone 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.
A few days after our arrival here a boat from
the Somerset came alongside with more men and
Marines (at about 8 o'clock in the evening), who
immediately were placed as sentries to all our
cabins, those officers of our own ship being re-
quired to remain on deck, where they 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 cabins, 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 port three days.