The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-14 00:00:00

ESCAPE OF AN AMERICAN VESSEL
FROM DETENTION AT MARSEILLES.

A letter from Marseilles, dated Jan. 10, says :
"Since yesterday the whole town has been talk-
ing of a strange affair, which it is thought may give
rise to serious diplomatic complications. Yon re•
rember the feariul collision between the Lyonnais,
a French steamer belonging to the Messrs. Gau-
thier Brothers, and the Adriatic, an American ship
when the former vessel foundered. Upon that oc-
casion the American captain left the scene of the
disaster without troubling himself about the result,
and on reaching his destination omitted to make
any mention in his report of the unfortunate occur-
rence. Several months having elapsed, the Messrs.
Gauthier learned that the Adriatic was lying at
anchor in the harbour of Ciotat. An order was
instantly obtained to sequestrate her and bring her
here, where a strict surveillance is maintained in
the port. Captain Durham lost no time in pro.
testing against the measure, and appealed to our
Tribunal of Commerce, in which the pleading of a
young avocat, M. Aycard, himself an American
by descent, gained the day for his client.
From this judgment the French owners of
the Lyonnais appealed to the Court of Appeal
at Aix, and the cause was brought before
that tribunal, when the previous decision was
quashed, and the American ship declared a lawful
prize. During the proceedings in this latter court,
the Adriatic was unrigged. Captain Durham was
not the man to submit quietly to an advense gen-,
tence, and ac'ordingly, in concert with one of hii
fellow-countrymen, he devised the following scheme.
The ship Meatier, commanded by Capt. Smith, was
also under sequestration on account of a heavy debt
contracted by her, and which had not been. paid.:
Capt. Smith, a daring and resolute fellow, contrived
to bring her alongside of the Adriatic. This man-
oeuvre being effected the Meaher's cargo was shifted
in a very short time to the hold of the Adriatic, on
board of which at the same time the other's rigging
was transferred. The captain then, followed, and at
3 o'clock in the morning of Saturday last, the Ad-
riatic passed the Joliette port. At this point there
is always on duty a boat of the Custom-house, and
the officer who was in her, hailed the ship., when
Captain Durham leaned over the side. A.re your
papa's all right ?" asked the officer. Oh, yes,' an•
swers the captain. What's the name of your
ship r ' The Moon,' replies he, and out to sea the
Adriatic goes, though condemned to be sold for the
benefit of the Messrs. Gauthier, with her double
cargo. Her departure was not perceived till broad
daylight, and then a complaint was lodged, but a
whole day had been lost. They say that the pre-
fect ordered out the Chacal, a war paddle steamer,
stationed in tae old port, and away she has gone
to catch the Adriatic, if she can. She has not yet
returned from her chase, and our seafaring men
think Use American has run into some creek along
the Spanish coast. Captain Smith, just before his
departure, bought three guns, other arms, and.
some powder, all which were conveyed from till
Mealier to the Adriatic. This curious affair will,
perhaps, not so easily be settled.