Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1844-03-09

"Ihcn beat lqqunrterS' -hnd INC i've
ly tones Of the 10 and drum were quick
ly heard sounding that inspiring call
a thousand active, hardy looking fellows
= in moment STOOD TO their tackle and sta
tlons, The sht was ready for action.
!, In the meantime, signals had beef
. passing from the the British Admlral''
ship to the squadron Soon alter, barge
, |, dashed alongside of the America n ship
and officer Of gallant bearing noun
ted the companiou-ladder, to whom was
paid the highest military honors, and con
Quoted to the presence of tbe old tar who
received his distingu ished visitor with
that gen,lemanly courtesy for which he
is remarkable.
The following conversation took place
81 have the honor 10 address Commo-
dore Stewart, believer
"My name is Charles Stewart, sir" re-
piled he, smiling, sand have the honor to
command the Home Squadron Of the Uni
ted States Navy"
After pause Of few moments, the
Admiral, for such was the rank Of the Of
ticer with the star upon his breast, said,
81 am informed, sir, that it is your inten-
ton to interrupt the passage Of her Brit
annie Majesty's fleet into that harbor,"
pointing towards the Havana; sam
rightly informed, sir2"
'Iffor the purpose Of taking possession
o. the Island, you are rightly inform
ed.n
"You, certainly, sir" responded tho
Admiral, with much warmth, "can have
no such instructions from your govern
ment. 1t was thought, that there was a
perfect understanding between her Ma.
Jesty's Ministers, and the late Secretary
OF State at Washington, upon this sub
ject. 1t is far from the wish Of Her Ma !
Jesty's Government to enter INTO any
hostile collision with the United States,
with whom it is the we'll known and ex-
pressed wish of Her Majesty TO remain
upon the most friendly and pacific terms.
Any interference upon your part in a.
matter of such deep and lively interest
to Great Britain, would certainly involve
the two nations in a war; may add,
nothing could be more unlocked for and
nothing more unwarrantable."
SNOW, look ye, Sir George" said the
Commodore, mildly and respectfully, but
with peculiar air of determination not
to be misunderstood, "whether | have
positive orders or rot, is immaterial to |
you'll shall act in this instance without
regard TO consequences, and for the good
of my country. shall be plain, explicit,
and frank with you-our diplomacy will
be brief So long as the confederacy of
the States exist, Cuba must not pass in
to the hands of Great Britain, or any 9TH
er scheming, enterprising, mercantile
power.
"Havana is the key to the Gulf, into
which pours through the channel of the
Mississippi, the wealth of all the Wes-
tern and Southern States, nor can my
country be insensible to the danger to
her peace and. union, which must instant
ly follow from that limid policy which
would permit this Island and her vast
military fortifcalion TO become a point
d'appui for British crusade against her
Southern domestic institutions. At all
events, am prepared to assume the res
possibility OF my present position, and to
sacrifice, in maintaining it, my own life,
and the lives of all those whom now
have the honor TO command. While that
flag waves over the head Of Charles
Stewart, your avowed movement will be
resisted to the last" and mildly turning
TO his. chief executive officer, he observed
in low tones, 81 think my country will ap-
plaud the act, and should fall, do JUS
lice TO. my memory"
For a moment, the Admiral gazed at the
features Of the veteran
tar, and said
'Arc you resolved, Commodore Ste
wart?"
"Admiral Sir George Brooke" said the
Commodore advancing close to him, but
with soIcmnity and respect, and IN the
most impressive manner-"Do you see
yon distant Moro Castie2 its foundations
are not more firm than my determination. /"
avery we'll sir" was the prompt re-
ply. 81 shall return to my vessel, and
shall be under the unpleasant necessity oil
blowing you out Of the water, for you see
am ten to one"
"Blow away, sir, but before you make t
he experiment, be pleased TO cast your e
ayes to windward"-!or by this time the
Home Squadron we're within cannon shot, d
,earing down under crowd of canvass e
"What ships are those, sir?'' said the h
ADMIRAL, addressing one of the officers OF e
he Pennsylvania, and whose face was b
glowing with delight at the prospect of P
low, which he had not tasted since 1914. q
"Those ships, sir?"
Eyes, sir, those TO vino ward" II
"Oh!L beg pardon, sir, only the Consti- e