Thibodaux minerva., 1853-11-26
Naval A4aires in the China Seas.

Naval Affaires in the China Seas.
Bayard Taylor, in letter from Macao, Chi
ma, August 10Th, gives the following intelligence
the American naval force in the CHI
ma seas:
The susouehanna and Mississippi sailed from
Napa, Loo-Choo, on the lst inst. toward eve
ming. ON the ID, q sail was described atead OF
u.s., and at sunset, while we were engaged IN
sneculation as to what she might be, she recog-
n;zpd the broad pennant at our main, and the
red flashes from her hull (for she was too dis
tant from us to hear the report) showed that she
was saluting it. Quite an excitement prevailed
on hoard. Every body tumbled up from below
even the sick-and the decks fore and att
swarmed with officers and men. She laid to,
under canvass, while we ran up to her. She
nroyed to be the sloop-of-war Vandalia, Capt.
Pone. which sailed from Philadelphia on the 9Th
of March last She made a splendid passage,
having touched at Rio on her way out. She
brought us news that the Powhatan was at Hong
Kong and would leave the next day for Loo
Choo.
The Vandala was ordered to put about and
return to Hong Kong. We kept look out 1or
the Powhatan, but saw nothing OF her, ana Oh
reaching Hong Kong on the evening Of the 1th,
the previous morning. She carried with her all
the mails which had been accumulating for the
squadron during the past two months, and we
have not vet received them. She would, OF
course, return Immediately from Loo Choo, ana
is now over due, and hourly expected. She VS.
tied Madagascar on her way out, and on ac-
count of some breakage in her machinery re-
mained twelve days at Singapore, after which
she went to Labaun for coal. The razee Mace
donian is expected in week or ten days at
furthest.
The Susuuehanna remained three days at
Hong Kong, but the seamen took advantage Oh
this short rest after an arduous cruise, to give
an amateur theatrical performance on board.
They deserved the greatest credit for the taste
and talent they displayed in the getting up and
performance Of the pieces. The ofhcers ana
crew Of the Mississippi and number OF ladies
and gentlemen from on shore attended, and eve
rything passed over remarkably well. There
was a well written original prologue, patriotic
tableau representing the Goddess of Liberty,
supported by Mars and Neptune, the drama Of
the ss Golden Farmer" and songs and recltatlons,
both comic and sentimental. The acting was
capital. and two or three of the characters would
have shone at Burton's. The scenery, decora'
tions and dresses were made entirely by the
men. .
One of the maintopmen named John Good
win, died the day after our arrival Another
Jno Williams, fell from the wheel-house the same
morning, during the mid-watch, and was drown
ed.
The Mississippi left Hong Kong on the NOR
ming of the 10th, and proceeded to Whampoa
where she now lies. On the following morning
the Susquehanna came to this place, and atte1
landing Commodore Perry, went to the ancho
rage of Cumsingmoon, about Is miles to th'
northward. She will probably remain here un
| til the typhoon season is over. 1t IS a safe an
chorage, and cool place during the summer
! but the shores are dreary and uninviting. Til
| sick will be sent to this place, where hospita
| building has been rented for the winter. Man.
of them will be condemned and sent home a
soon as passage can be procured for them
| The health of the squadron has been tolerabf
| good during the summer, but there are q mum
ber of chronic cases, which require speed
change of climate. ra
We hear from Shanghai, that the Saratog:
arrived there on the 1st inst. She will go int
dock for repairs, her keel having been inJure
last summer by getting on the rocks at Annoy
The Plymouth will remain at Loo Choo for tn
present, but will probably be relieved by til
Vandalia in the course Of two or three months
The store ship Supply is expected here in tw
or three weeks. as she will touch at Annoy by tn
The Russian fleet consisting Of the brig Pa
las and the steamer Vostock sailed a month ag
from Hong Kong for Loo Choo and Japan. Wha
the object of the Russian Governments is, in ser
ding an expedition to Japan at this particua
time nobody seems to know. The Admiral,
understand, left directions that his letters an
dispatches should be sent to the same addres
as Commodore Perry's, whence one would infe
that he intended attaching himself to our squae
ron, OF following and watching its movements
! He also limited that there had been an undel
standing in relation to the matter, between tt
, Governments Of the United States and Russi;
and that the former was cognizant of his plan
All this seems very strange, If true, and II nj
true, perhaps stranger still. Nothing has bee
heard of the two vessels since they left Hon
Kong, although ample time had elapsed for the
to have reached Napa, previous to our depa
ture. 5@-@@ o@ aEF 's5a' f@s.5 t.N5."
NAVAL Misunderstanding of the Bdi'
bridge-The United States brig Bainbridg
Lieutenant Commander Charles G. Hunter, lie
: her anchoragein the North river, off the Batter
on the I'd, for the Brazil station Her 9TH
officers are, Charles E. Fleming, and Henry
Newcomb, Lieutenants; VIM. Mitchell, actir
r master; Thomas H. LOCKER, purser; Jol
Rudensten, passed assistant surgeon; W.
Lowell, passed midshipman; VIM. Gwin, al
c. A. Babcock, midshipmen; and NJ. Whittake
boatswain. Joseph Stockbridge, chaplain, sailt
3 as passenger, to join the flag ship Savanna
Court Martial on the Columbia. During Il
past few weeks, q court-martial has been held {
board the United States frigate Columbia,
: the North river, opposite Castle Garden, for Il
trial of a number of sailors for disorderly co
duct The investigation has now conclude
and the result of the judges forwarded to Il
l Secretary Of the Navy at Washington for
sanction. *s.nns @aa53 A hi l.s &
The Nigate Congress.-The repairs to Il
5 frigate Congress, in the United States Nav
/ Dry Dock, at Brooklyn, are carried on vigorousl
HEA. The history of the Yellow Fever
Philadelphia is thus written by the correspo
dent Of the Charleston Courier: s& @
The Yellow Fever attack which Philadelphi
sustained during the past season, is summed u
From it, L learn that the first case Of Yellt
Fever appeared in this city on the 10th Of Ia
July, and the last case on the 18th of Octobt
During this period Of eighty days, there We
: 10 cases, and 1913 deaths, equal to IS per Gel
!, or one hundred and forty-two hundredths.
the cases occurred in limited district Of Phil
delphia., It is noted, that not q single case