The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-03
ESTING LETTERs,
r Foreign and Home Correspondence.

Itresting Naval Inteligerce-Ths Cruise Of tn
jamestown Island of ST. Catharinss-7h
IBrasaiam Penal Settlement Pic Nc
american Cotton Factory-Engtish and Amal
can Machtses- Cotton Culfws-Loy Wages O.
the Factory Notwithstanding Match ,vith q
British Man-of- Var Trouble pih Brasil
&C., &c.
1t may be interesting to some of your many read
rs to have a running sketch of the operations O.
be squadron upon this coast, since the opening O
be present year to date; and although mine is no,
be pen of a ready writer, and my descriptive pow.
rs very far inferior to H. A. b. evinced in those
elightful letters from Spain, so graphically descrp
i've OF Castilian manners and customs, yet will
enture to sketch little by the way, that the
world at large may have inkling of what is trans
bring in this Ethiopc region, and many friends
earn somewhat of our movements and whereabouts.
The ship on which ! have the honor Of serving my
country is commanded by Post Captain Samuel w.
Downing, and is remarkably fine sloop Of war,
constructed by that prince of naval architects, the
amented Rhodes; but, as she is a vessel of as much
Ceebrity in the naval and commercial world as her
commander is an officer of notoriey the necessity Of
any further description upon this head is altogether
precluded. 1t was our good fortune to have been
in the waters of Buenos Ayres during the progress
of that mighty revolution so successful in hurting
from power the monster Rosas, that ruler so utterly
damned to everlasting fame. Whilst the frigate
congress remained off Montevideo. her draft Of
water not permitting of her passing sufficiently
high up the river, for several weeks previous to the
eattle ofthe Sd of February, Commodore McINeever
had shifted his broad pennant to this ship off
Buenos Ayres, and had taken up his headquarters
in the oity where ultimately his presence with the
marines of the squadron, together with similar
force, under Admiral Henderson. of the English
navy, saved the place from sack and pilIage 1t is
historical m nj ha m
navy have behaved well invariably when called in
action; and to their great promptness and spirit in
firing upon and killing the first party that attempt
ed plumber may be attributed the ultimate saliva
tion of the city
On the I'd Of March we sailed to join the Congress
Mt the Mount, and prepare for long cruise. our
presence not being deemed of further Importance at
Buenos Ayres after the establishment of provision
al government, with army of twenty-five thou
sand men in and about the place. Sunday, the 7th,
departed from the Mount, leaving the Congress
behind, with our imaginations filed with visions of
long, black fast sailing vessels made prizes of but
alas for the gullability of poor human nature, we
seemed to avoid, instead Of counting company, and
keeping the coast close aboard up to the Island Of
st. Catharines, we anchored there ten days. Here
we found an old "spouter," r. S. Cathcart Acting
Consul and two American whalers recruiting, after
nine months cruise. An American consul being
man of functions, whenever found, few words dc.
scriptive Of the individual, may sufice:-Some
twenty years ago he went into the island with a
fine brig, of which he was part owner; sold her,
married Brazilian lady, and has become possessed
of considerable land.
This anchorage was much resorted to by the out
ward bound Californians two years ago, because of
the yellow fever at Rio and the ports the north
ward and here it was that the United States store
ship Supply stopped in disresss with fever taken at
the above named port, leaving behind her the NOR
tai remains of the two Misses Gaines, daughters of
Major Gaines, Governor of Oregon his way to tho
Pacific in the stOreship. Thank God it was not my
lot to have been witness to the agony of that
koLs l.
the cold earth forever, his two loved daughters
both interesting young women, just budding into
maturity. Sailing from this beautiful island in
continuation Of the cruise, after the lapse Of fort
night, we entered this port Of Bahia stopping nine
days here, departed. soured, musty, and mouldy,
having been drenched to destruction by tho heavy
rains fallen in with in the southern edge of this
tropic and which we experieneedn such overic wing
abundance throughout Communicating with Per-
nambuco, and quitting the same day in consequence
of the prevalence of the fever, we continued on to
the Island Of Fernan de Norrohna, in lat A. S.
This isolated spot seems if nature intended it for
the sole purpose that it is used for by Brazil, viz
rs penal settlement. American whaers touch
here frequently for provisions few hours before
got up to the anchorage, which is close in to the
beach on the north side, large ship communicated
with the shore; but, ascertanng the scarcity of
provisions, as We were afterwards informed, she
stood out to the southwark, most probably for st.
GATHERINGS where every thing refreshing is to be hal
in great abundance This ship was reported to be
l,S00 bbls of oil.
The readers of naval history will recoect that it
was at this island that Commodore cambridge
fixed q point of rendezvous for his SQUADRON
that squadron which afterwards distinguished it.
self so pre- eminently, Individually. Here ut Per-
nambuco, received intelligence of the brig
Dolphin, Lieut.. Comd'g Samuel P. Lee, on a
cruise for deep sea soundngs, rather for the pur
pose of obtairing by sounding the sea, that data
REQUISITE to delineaton of its bottom.
On the morning of the 18th Of April with the
land in sight, we parted company with shipmate.
He was in the mizen chains, rihsng out his
clothes, when he fell into the sea, I" with bubbng
groan, without grave, unkneled, uncofned, and
unknown" Every effort was made to rescue the
poor fellow, but he could not swim stroke. In
viewing the island of Fernan de Norrohna, in after
years, j shall read the fate Of Irwin Crawford
dds }, of the United States ship Jamestown He
is supposed to have sister and mother in Phila-
delpha. Our stay upon this occasion was brief,
sailing on the I'd ultimo, we arrived here again in
Just So hours from the instant Of starting. am
told by the old cruisers that il is unusual thing
for men. of-war upon this station to cruise during
the rainy season, but especially since the appearance
of the yellow fever on the coast. " The exigencies
of the service" however, like charity, cover null
titude Of sins, and the wear and tear OF the per-
sonnet and matercl of the Navy to any extent. In
consequence of the rain for the last twenty. four
days. we returned to find much fever, principally,
however the polka fever, modified form of the cpl
demic that prevailed SO fatally two years ago. and
which is at this time very terrible at Rio Janeiro
and Perbnmbuco. just we left the fever COM
menccd, and am told that its ravages fearful
in the fourteen days Of our absence. As yet it has
passed over this ship, and we are encouraged to
hope, from the advanced stage Of the season, that
we may escape altogether am. however, rather
fearful upon this score, as there is some talk Of
"trip to the southwark, TO place called Valencia,
where the boats crews must undergo UNDUE
posure. As expect much interesting matter to
grow ont of this "trip will lay by, in order to con-
,elude it in this running sketch
MAY 10th
sure enough, we are off on picnic to Valencia,
with the American Consul and family, Field
Marshal Coeho Obe hero of Pernambuco) and
family and suite, aboard; in all, party of four
ladies and some ten or dozon others, in the shape
Of orderlics, servants children and nurses. After
having received this hero with the "pomp and
circumstance of glorious war, aud laid in stores for
y few hours extra, stood out in the harbor. The
weather proving fine, with fair wind and smooth
sea. the distance 80 miles, was accomplished,
without the parties more than half heavng up their