Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-08-13

The Natioaal Intelligencer been favored with
private letter from officer of the sloop of war St.
Louis, from. which It makes the annexed extracts
relating the circumstances at Smyrna connected with
the arrest of the Hungarian Costa and the conside
rations which decided the commander of the St Louis
to demand his release 1t appears that Capt Ingra-
ham felt very sensibly the decacy of the position
which he was placed, and was much embarrassed
how act but the opinions and advice of our Charge
dAfaires at Constantinople, confirmed by the claim
of the prisoner to American protection decided the
captain not unnaturally that the of peril,
of battle, if need be, was the course of duty:
UNITED STATES SHIP ST. LOUIS,
SMYRNA, july Z, 1853.
I wrote you that Martin Costa, Hungarian
refugee, had been forcibly taken board of Aus
TRAN brig OF war, and confined in double irons. Al
though he was not citizen of the United States,
still he had made his declaration of intention to ap-
ply tc become such. Capt. Ingraham, knowing that
certain death would await the man if he should be
carried to Austria, determined if possible to
him, if he could do it without compromising flag
Orders had been issued by the Austrian consul to
carry the man away on the 29th of June. Capt. In
graham hearing this the night of the 28th, sent
his protest that the man must not be carried away
until it fully settled whether or not Martin Costa
an American.
On the morning of the 10Th our ship made sail
and bore down towards the Austrian brig, and an
chored near so we could watch and see that the
was not carried off. The Austrians, thinking that
going to take the man, made every prepa-
ration to receive us. During the morning the Aus
trian Captain sent word that the would not be
sent away. Letters came the same day from Mr..
Brown, the Charge dAffars Gd interim at Constan-
tnople, stating that Costa citizen of the United
States, and such entitled to protection from
our country. Well, things stood, the captain was
in doubt how to act, but asked that further time
might be allowed to hear from Mr.. Marsh, who
daily expected at Constantinople The Aus
TRANS gave until last Saturday, the I'd of July. 9th
hrfc
Ingraham in doubt, and after little converse
ton with the Consul, the Captain and Consul went
on board the Austrian brig of to see Martin
Costa.
After some conversation, Martin Costa demanded
protection from the American flag. Capt. lngraham
then told him he should have it. The Captain and
Consul returned on board of ship, and the Cap
tain sent word to the Austrian that he demanded Mar
tin Costa by four o'clock in the evening After this
was known tremendous excitement spread throug-
out the ship; all hands called to quarters to
make preparations for action the big guns were load
ed, cutasses, smallarms, boarding-pikes and every
thing ready for engagement. The Surgeons
brought out their Instruments ready to cut OF legs,
patch up wounds &c.
The shore was crowded with people, to witness the
engagement, as they thought the bloody work was
going to take place. The spread like wild-tire
throughout Smyrna, and the people were much ex-
cited as we were. Delegations came off to the ship
to if something could not be done to prevent an
action After four five hours, (happy for all par
ties) the American and Austrian consuls came 10
compromise; that is, the Austrian Consul, who had
full control of the man, consented that Martin Costa
should be delivered up into the hands of the French
consul who consented to take charge of him, until ev
erything was fully settled by the two Governments
as to who had claim to the man. Well, after this
settled of all breathed much freer than
we did before No doubt but many lives would have
been lost on both sides Although our guns much
larger than the Austrians, still at the quarter
we intended fighting, their guns would have been
just destructive The Austrian force con-
sisted of one brig of sixteen guns, schooner of
ten guns, and three mail steamers which would no
doubt have assisted in the engagement. So you sec
their force was much larger than ours. There was
general rejoicing after the matter settled and
the American citizens in Smyrna gave dinner to
Capt Ingraham and his officers on the 4th of July.
There was general jollifcation and there pop
ping of botte-corks instead of the big guns. Last
night we gave ball on board to of the resi-
dents of Smyrna, who have been very kind to us
since our arrival in port.