The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-05-27
Erom the Boston .Iou,,nnl of lEn,ldn,,

REPORTED SEARCH OF AMERICAN VESSELS AT SAGUA,
and schooner Marcia Tribou, Captain Bray, arrived
here this morning from Sagua. They were among
the American vessels lying in the port of Sagua,
which were recently visited by the British officers,
as before mentioned. Captain Lampher reports
that he was boarded on Sunday in the harbor
while lying at anchor, by the second lieutenant of
British gun boat who requested to see the ships
papers, and asked several questions in relation to
the vessel, where she was bound, &c. The Captain
replied to his questions, but did not show his pa
pers because they deposited ashore, as is the
custom of all American vessels while in port
| The lieutenant remained on board about five min
utes, and behaved in very gentlemanly manner,
treating the captain with all proper courtesy and
| respect. He was armed with cutlass by his side,
as were the men in the boat, but insoence was
manifested by any of the party. Captain Lampher
states that he did not object to any question asked
nor was he offended by anything connected with the
affair." and he believes that to have been the general
feeling among the American shipmasters who were
visited. The whole matter was treated with uncon-
Germ, and only afforded some amusement to the
Americans. The Indignation chiefly confined
to the shore, among the Spanish officials, who
highly excited and the captain of the port obtained
several afidavits from American captains who
had been boarded. Captain Lampher is of opinion
that some versions of the above affair which have
been published have been somewhat too highly
coored.
Captain Bray, of the schooner Marcia Tribou was
twice boarded, just before entering the port of
Sagua and afterwards while in port on the same day
with the other vessels On the. first occasion he was
ordered to heave to by the firing of gun. He
| Immediately hove to, and hoisted his ensign. The
boat, which belonged to an English steamer, came
alongside, and the commanding officer stepped on
board, and asked several questions to destination
OF the vessel her tonnage contents of her cargo &C.
All the desired information given him, and he
| expressed himself satisfied, and left. He was on
board fifteen minutes, and the detention of the yes
| sci altogether little short of an hour. Cap
tain Bray says the officer was rather nouisitive,
but used no insulting language, and his conduct
was respectful throughout. The second visit while
in the harbor, spoken of in similar related
by Captain Lampher, and corresponds with his re-
port. Captain Bray makes no complaint of the
treatment received on either oco ,son.
| RELATIVE STRENGTH OF THE AMERICAN AND BRIT
ISL NAvIEs.-The Navy Register for 1858 states the
number of vessels in the American navy to be rs,
with a burden of 12i ,Sl2 tons; but anayzation of
the list shows that of the 10 ships on
ly could be put into service and of the 10 frgates
only g. and of the first class propeller frigates,
the stock; of the second class steam frgates
| 8 are on the stocks and the permanent receiving
ships are all unseaworthy. The remainder of the
fleet consists of q sloops-of-war 2 briggs schoon-
ers, propellers of the thi. class paddle wheel
steamers, and store ships. So that of the rs war
vessels, only 80 at the present time in condition
for active service, and of these So only 80 now
| in commission.
| BY reference to the British Naval Register 1887,
p. l79, we find the entire British naval effective
| force to be, viz:
| Vessels
Steam vessels of other classes ........ .,... us
Sailing vessels of all classes. 275
Vessels engaged in "harbor service .1O7
sS2
Total steam vessels. AGO
Total effective force of British navy in 1858 s42