Washington telegraph., 1851-09-03

oQUADRoN.- Semmes, in his
"Service Afloat and Ashore" gives the
following interesting account of the pas
sage of Santa Anna through the Ameri-
can blockading squadron at Vera Cruz.
1t will be recollected that the command
er of the squadron was specially instruc-
ted by the President to allow the willy
chieftain to pass freely;
Early in August, while the squadron
was lying at anchor under Green Island,
keeping watch and ward over the ene-
my's city and castle of Vera Cruz; the
seamen OH the lookout. at the masthead
of the S.; Mary's then cruising on the
blockade, deserted the smoke of steam
er. AS this was not the regular day for
the appearance of any of the English mail
steamers which had been permitted to
pass in and out of the beleaguered port
without question, the English Govern
ment pledging itself for their faithful con-
duct as neutrals-the smoke of a steam
er was novelty in this now lonely and
deserted part of the Mexican Gulf
The St. Mary's, in due time, placed her
self in position to intercept tne stran-
ger in her approach to the city; and. as
the latter came within hailing distance,
she ordered her TO "heave-to," while a
boat was being sent on board Of her
The boat being in readiness in few min
utes, lieutenant jumped into her, and,
with few strokes of the oars from the
sinewy arms of his seamen, placed him
self alongside the steamer.
chant vessel, the lieutenant was surpris-
ed to find himself received with much
ceremony and courtesy at the gangway
Making his way OH the deck and explain
ing the object of his visit to the captain,
he was conducted into the cabin, where
he was ushered into the society of a cir
Gle of gentlemen, evidently Spaniards OF
black hair and eyes. and pointed and
curled mustaches. It was obvious, also,
at the first glance, that most if not all
these gentlemen, although dressed in
plain or citizens clothes, were military
men and persons of bearing and distinc-
tion After a moments pause, the cap
tain, as though he had purposely prepar-
ed a surprise for the boarding officer,
turned towards him, and making glace-
full motion with his right hand at the
same time, in the direction of one of the
gentlemen, who, though of the ordinary
height and figure, seemed by his COM
manding air and manner, to be the chief
of the party, said: "Allow me to present
you, sir. to Gen. Antonio Lopez de San
ia Anna" The officer started back at
first in little surprise, but soon recover
ing himself, advanced cordially toward
the General, and extending his hand. a
mutual interchange of civilities took
place.
In few moments Sonora Santa An
ma, "a second wife, a handsome blonde,
with deep blue eyes and auburn hair,
and still in the bloom of early woman
hood, joined the party aud was presen-
ted 10 the officer, who saluted her in turn
with becoming gallantry and respect
Gen. Almonte, late Minister of the Uni
ted States, was also present as one of the
Generals suite, and speaking our Ian
guage well, acted as interpreter on the
occasion. Gen. Santa Anna having ex-
planned briefly who he was-although
such explanation was entirely unn ecessa-
ry-and that lie purposed going into We
ra Cruz, with the permission of the Com
modore, the boarding officer, (af:er sit
ting as long as courtesy required, and per-
haps little longer than strict regard to du-
ty permitted, in homage to the lady's
charms-a petticoat being quite an un-
usual sight to US rough bockaders. about
this time,) withdrew to report progress
to his commanding officer, and to ask for
orders in the novel case which had oc-
cured.
The commander, who had been pre-
pared by the commodore for the contin-
gency, forthwith dispatched the boat
back again, and directed the officer at the
same time that he should present his
compliments to General Santa Anna,
and say to him, OH the part of the COM
modore, that she could proceed to Vera
Cruz with his suite as he desired; where
upon the steamer Arab shot boldly out
vessel, and in an hour or two more land
ed her distinguished passenger, "big
with the fate' of Mexico, safely in the
desired haven. That night the roar of
cannon and the bursting Of rockets in
the air, testified the Joy of the tickle
Vera CruZanOs at the return of their lost
Coriolanus; and it soon lranspired that
the willy peace maker, who had so hand
somely duped our Cabinet at Washing
ton,, had put himself at the head of the
ultra war party and proclaimed-in COM
mon with Acting President Salas, whom
he fastened to join-''no quarter to the
Yankees"
Letters from Florence mention that
the group of figures from the chisel OF
the sculptor Greenough, for the Capitol