, 1862-05-26
IMPORTANT FROM KEY WEST,
Arrival Of the Gunboat Mercedita
and Armed Ferryboat Somerset
Capture Of two Ang1o-Rebe1 Steamers
-Bermuda and Ci1cassian,
Falue Of their Cargoes Exceeding Mfllton and
a Half Of Dollars, It,, &e.
[Key West Correspondence n. 7. Herald.1
6EY West, May 8, 1852.

hEH West, May 8, 1852.
CAPTURE OF THE BERMUDA
The arrival Of the Mcrcedita at this port, .
few days since, brings us the gratifying intelli-
gence Of her capture Of the English C5nfeder-
ate steamer Bermuda, to the southwark of
the Bahama Banks. The Bermuda had fau
cargo Of arms and munitions Of war. Her
manifest, which occupied some four pages Of
toolfcap paper, l saw copy Of, and the guam
tity on board a vessel Of her tonnage is really
surprising. Besides pistols and catlasses in
any quantity, there we're number Of six and
together with several complete he|d batteries.
Then again there were nearly fifty thousand
pounds OF powder in barrels, besides cases
upon cases Of cartridges, fixed ammunition
and shells. Among the papers found on board
TIC sss Bsnda nna aa;;a Was eoR!ete code Of night
harbor Of Charleston, both By way Of Malfit's
and the min ship channel; also orders from
parties in the South for goods to be purchased
for them by the Captain Of the Bermuda, which
It is q mcst fortunate occurrence that the
cargo Of the Bermuda has been prevented
from reaching Dixie. 1t would have been In
valuable to Rebcldom in their present diIapi-
dated condition, and is worth to US a: least
one million Of dollars Too much credit can
not be awarded to Commander Ste11wagen and
the officers and crew Of the Merccdita for hay
ing effected this capture,
The Bermuda, by her register, is owned by
Frasier, Tronholme g. Co., OF Liverpool,
branch Of tue house Of Ftasiar s Co., Of
Charleston, S. C., and her commander is
Chariestonian. The majority Of the officers
and crew Of the Bermuda are here On board OF
the Mercedita. What disposition is to be
made Of them do not Jet learn. Ono Of her
crew has giyeu information that shortly before
her capture secession flag, together with
iarge number OF paPers, was thrown overheard
the evidence before the Prize Commissioner
All the other particulars regarding lcr capture
will no doubt be given to the Herald By its
Philadelphia correspondent, rs it is to that
port that the Bermuda has been sent, in charge
Of Lieut.. Abbott, Of the Mercedita. The Mer-
cedita is now coaliDg, and will leave in few
days for her cruising grounds.
CAPTURE OF THE STEAMER CIRcASsIAS
While yonr correspondent was on board the
Mercedita steamer Was reported in sight to
The eastward. With the aid Of powerful tel
eecopc she was made out to be ! large bark
riggcd screw steamer, in tow Of one of our
armed ferry boats. Various were the conjec-
tures as to what she might be; but all felt
confident she was i prize and that the vessel
towing her Was the Somerset. As soon as she
had.a chored Lieutenant Commanding English
OF the Somerset, which vessel the one tow
ing proved to be- came on board the Mercedi-
ia to make his report TO Commodore Stellwa-
gen, the senior naval officer Ia port. The
English steamer proved to be the Eircassian,
from Bordeaux, TIA St. Thomas, and purport-
ing to be bound to Havana. She was captured
on Sunday afternoon, the eth inst, about
twenty miles to the eastward of Hayaua, u1-
der the following circumstances. The So1ner-
set, as soon as the Circassian hove in sight,
ran down towards her, and, round
ing too under her stern, hailed aud re-
quested her to heaye to until boat
could be sent alongside. To this request no
andible reply ~as received, the Circassian put
ting on az speed and standing on her course
Captain English then ordered blank cart
ridge to be fred towards her, but no notice
was taken of it. 4 shot Was then fred broad
on her quarter; still no notice. 4 nlne-inch
shell was then thrown over her, which burst
ahead Of the ship; still she would not heaye
to. Captain English then ordered the captain
OF the gun to fire at her masts, which was
done, and the shot cut awny tic Sings OF her
forey ard. Then, and not until then, did
Mr- John Bull zee fit to ronnd to and state
who and what lie was. As soon as she was
found to be the Circassian, which vessel was
known to have loaded in Europe with q car
60 fer Dixie, Capt English Informed her Cap
tain that he must be taken into United
States port to have his case adj1dicated, To
this the Englishman objected, and made form
al Protest iu writing, but all to no avail. It
was the intention Of Captain English to send
hcf to Boston, as ordered by the Flag Officer,
but as be could Lot do SO without disabling
his Own vessel he determined to bring hcf
here, and did go, towing her all the distance,
as the Eng lish1nan, as soon as taken, disabled
the machinery so that it could not be used.
Ihe Circassian Is IN iron steamer. Of about
fifteen hundred tons, bark rugged, and . ycrY
handsome vesscL By her manifest she Is
loaded with tea, coffee, saltpetre, clothing,
blankets, &c; but We are led to suppose that
there are other articles On board of different
character, for the vessel is very deep, drawing
now twenty-one feet Of water, Tie vessel
since her arrival here has been leaking badly.
and it is the general impression that her CROW
have in some way injured the vessel for the
purpose Of damaging the cargo as much as
possible. Her crew are still on board. One
Of them, however. more communicative than
the rest, stated that when the true character
Of the Somerset WIS discovered, a large nun
Der Of papers were thrown overheard.
which gives her case very suspicious
character The capture Of the Circassian is a
very Important affair, and Capt. English Is
entitled to all praise for effecting it. The case
VIII undergo here most thorough examina-
tioa, and, If there is ground for it. the Circas-
slan be condemned. giving her owners the
opportunity, Of course, Of 'appea]ipg to the
Supreme Cou1t if they see ft 10 do So.
The capture Of the Bermuda and Circassian
will enable the United States courts to ascsr-
tain how far England can violate her Majesty's
proelamatlon Of strict neutrality. We have
suffered cLough through the conuivance of
English officials with the rebels, aud the faeil-
lifes with with which rebel vessels are placed
under the protection of the British flag. It is
time it was efectual1y stopped, and the cases
OF the Bermuda and Circassian will afford our
Government the opportunity Of laying before
her Majesty's Ministers all the particulars,
particu1ar ~'