The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-09

| INTERESTING FROM HAvANA.--The following
| items of news are taken from the New Orleans
Picayune, dated July 20th:-The ships of war
have been hauled into the Navy Yard, and are
now prepared to take a cargo Of timbers to Spain
The Pizarro it was intended to send home alao
but information from your city Of the preparation
! of more expeditions will keep her here.
| Outline Of plan for the defence of Cuba--Forti-
fcatOn of naval stations at Bahia Honda, Nue.
vitas and Nipe, on the north coast; Cumberland
Harbor, ST. Jago, and CienfIegos, on the south
coast; making, with Havana, seven. Cost nine
millions of dollars. PIP 5H 'el't.a.i
A line Of eight forts around the harbor of Ha-
vana, commencing at Castillo del Principe, and
continuing to Fort No. A. and the entire city Of
Havana to be walled. Cost five millions Of
dollars. ~
At the six naval stations other than Havana,
navy yards with docks to be erected, costing four
millions. The naval force to be increased to
twenty five steamships and thirtyfve sailing ves-
sells. Cost twenty millions A central railroad to
be constructed from Cape Masi to Villa Clara,
and from Guanaja TO Cape San Antonio, with
twelve lateral branches to the principal ports Cost
| forty millions. A telegraph of towers and poles
with working arms to be erected along each coast
| from port to port. Cost 100000. Electric tele-
graph along the lines Of railroad. Cost 500, 900
| The army to be increased to 10000 men, and the
militia to $4,000; this will incur an outlay Of four
millions.
Total cost OF preserving the Island, 49,, 000,-
| 600, toabe raised by loan in England, to be pro-
vided for by an increase of fifty per cent in the
revenue Of Cuba by new taxes, product Of the
railroads and telegraph, product Of the mail SER
vice to be rendered by the war steamers. ,t
With the exception Of the steamers there are
now but two American vessels in port--the brig
Coral and schooner Yankee Blade. This is an
event that has not before occurred since 1920.
II is fortunate there are so few, for from the
existing excitement AN American ship-master is
not safe. A few days since as Captain Hill, of
the Coral, was going to his boat Just after night
fall, he was assaulted from behind, repeatedly
struck, and himself pushed and his hat kicked
into the street.
The cholera is still prevailing in the city, and
with great violence in some parts of the country.
Ii seems more malignant than formerly. There
is also considerable fever. I
The porter of the British Consulate was killed
two nights since and the Consulate robbed Boxes
of papers were broken open and their contents
scattered, but the thieves obtained no money:
trunk left by Lady Mary Wortey, and said to
have contained portion Of her ladyship's jewelry
was rifed. Suspicion rests upon party OF ne
groes, which il seems, the porter had been IN the
habit of allowing to assemble there in the evening
for the purpose Of gambling, and four OF them
have been arrested. The porter, who was an old
negro, was found tied, gagged, and stabbed
through and through in two places. The British
frigate Indefatigae, arrived yesterday from Lis
bon It said large fet is TO collect here.