Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-06-18

tional salute, and the American residents, with |
the officers and crews of the men of war then |
in port, giving the stars and stripes hearty |
cheer. The Commodore, on the same day, |
called meeting of the authorities, inviting
the merchants to attend, and informed them
that he had taken possession OF the island, |
and would hold it and its dependencies until
the close of the war, and declared the port O.
pen to the commerce of all nations: By thus
holding Laguna and its dependencies, all COM
municatiun between Yucatan and Texas, by
water, can be prevented. The bomb brig
Vesuvius was left at Laguna, and Lieut.. Case
detached from this vessel and appointed, tenn
porarily, collector or superintendent OF the
customs.
Com. Perry returned to Vera Cruz on the
oath ult, and his intention was, as soon as
he had arranged some business matters there,
to return to Laguna, and thence visit Cam
peachy, where the sloop of war Albany, and
brig Washington, had already preceded HIM,
for the purpose of making inquiry concerning
certain contraband trade with the interior
States of Mexico, which the Commodore had
advice of from sources upon which he had
placed much reliance He also ascertained
that in the position Tor rather positions) which
the Yucatacoes have assumed during the war,
our Government has been treated with the
most contemplate duplicity, and his intention
was, as declared to the authorities at Laguna,
in case they did not absolve themselves from
all connection and intercourse with the Next
can States, and adhere to their dissolution, to
sc sack and Destroy the city of Campeachy,
and such other places on the sea-board as pur-
sued the same course
The Porpoise left Iaguna on the 10th ult.
for IN hot
place, the family of Mr. M'Faul, our late con-
sui at Laguna, who disappeared some time
since near the Tabasco river, supposed to be
drowned y also, Mr. E. T. Harrison, passen-
ger, and Captain White, master of the En-
glish barque Mathew Pierre, which was lost
at the eastern end of Carmen, in April last
We left Vera Cruz on the 25th ult., bringing
with us Captain White and Mr.. Harrison to
this place. There was no news at Vera Cruz
but such as you have, no doubt, previously
learned.
Lieut.. James Lawrence Parker is on board
the flag ship, and is, am happy to say, rapid
ly recovering from the effects of his wound
received at Tuspan, and will again shortly be
ready and eager for the fray.
We are accompanied by prize schooner,
captured by the gunboat Bonita in charge of
Passed Midshipman Thompson, which comes
here for adjudication.
The Porpoise is sent here for repairs, after
cruise of nearly two years and half in the
Gulf, during which time she has not been per-
mtted to lie in any port for single week
The only rest she has had was at Laguna, Yu-
catan, to which place she was sent about the
middle of April, and remained there until
Com. Perry arrived and hosted the American
flag, on the 18th of May During the past
winter, while blockading Vera Cruz and Tam
pico, she has been in seventeen horthers, some
of them of the &c tallest kind y the last of
+ which came near sending her down among
, the fnny prototypes At the time it common
, ced we were b1ockading to the northward OF
r the castle of San Juan de Ulloa, while the at
tack was being made on the city of Vera Cruz
: by our army, and were blown off on the even
ing of 25th March. Next day about noon the
brig was struck by two heavy seas in quick
succession, the first causing her to stand still
and the second sweeping her decks and throw
ing her on her beam ends; at the same time
Shaving in her weather hammock netting and
e all the boats, &c, slowed amidships, forcing
a them into the waist, then under water. She
remained in that situation about fifteen o.
= twenty minutes, when, through great exer
tons On the part of her officers and men, the
boats, sails, &C., with nearly all the lee bate
~, were thrown overheard, when she fully
righted with two feet water on her decks; nc
one, however, felt secure until evening, wher
the wind grew lighter and the sea commenced
!. going down. To me, never having been pla
e ced in precisely the same situation, it was sur
u prising to see the GOODNESS and energy with {
sudden and horrible death staring them in thu
If face,) exhibited by both officers and men
: from the commanding officer to the smales
d boy on board. Not a word was spoken O
d danger until it was past, when all acknowl
$, edged it.
IS The Porpoise has been one of the most eff
lr fective and useful vessels in the squadron, ant
e, has sailed a greater number of miles than any
n other vessels attached to it. She has, how
n ever, been much injured by such continued
hard work and hard weather, and now come
l. 10 this city to be repaired and coppered 1t i
Re understood that her officers, in consideration
1t of their laborlous and faithful service durin,
e the cruise, are to have leave of absence t
= visit-thelr homes, and that the crew will b
J. discharged and paid off.
H. Yours, &C., PORPOISE.
From the N. o. Picayune Extra, June 9.