The New York herald., 1862-12-30
me subject Is now under consideration.
Letter from Captain N. ID. Palmer.
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
Encoasd Is copy OF n note written 10 Mr.. welles
the 10Th or October in relation to depredaons
mtted by the Alabama. You will perceive the
pursued by in perfect accordance with my sugges
tions and those suggestions been carried out he
capture would have been almost certain.
But IL seems the head OF the department at Washing
on in It's inefciency and stupidity instead Of taking
cvmmon sense view OF the matter, has pers,stently
despatched the ships detailed for the particular service Of
ferretng out the intruder to cruise precisely the
same ground where she was For instance, tho
Vanderbilt left this port the latter part Of October,
cruised over the ground where the Alabama last
seen went TO the Banks OF Newfoundland, and from
thence took more southcrly course, touched at Ber
muda made zigzag from thence northerly, and
dually arrived at New York, where she was ordered
10 report every twenty days she here coaled
p and sailed about the first week in December very
y the time OF the Ariel sailing or Aspnwa Instead
OF directing the Vanderbilt TO accompany the ARIEL 10 her
port OF destination, find she spoken on the 10Th
of December in latitude forty-one degrees and twenty
cast hound 10 laval western nands) having ON board
new captain the United states soopof Rearsage
30 IL would this fine shipthe most formidable and
fastest In the navyhas been sent IN opposite drec.
ton with no ostensible object, save conveying single
passenger 70 the islands and bringing back anotherhe
oeposed captain OF the Kesrsage Had she accompanied
the Ariel rs common sense should directed her
do capture Of the Alabama would almost have been
sure. -, - ,
III
yeyng 10 and from California; via Aspinwall, Of valuable
soes consisting OF treasure, merchandise, passengers
and mails counted by millions upon millions-has been
neglected by the government, and left 10 take Of
itself Not a gun IN the harbor OF Aspnwall, or on the
ronte 10 aud fro, TO protect this nterest-the most i'm
portant OF the sountry in commercial point view az
least. -
In conclusion think the capture o the Ariel the most
ing event Of the Mr. Wclles with his b0ased
fleet OF Eve hundred shpsof-war, permits single ship
TO make captures OF valuable ships right under bis nose
with immunity and all from his blundcring and incapa-
and sensible and efficient man put in his place
NB.P.
CAPTAIN PALMER TO SECRETARY wELLEs.
sToNfSsIoN, Oct. 10, 1862.
Ny DxAR SRI have read with eat regret the depre-
dations already committed by that pratcal corsar
Alabama Captain Semmes and fear before her career
arrested the property destroyed by her VIII reach
fabulous amount Now, what will be the course pur-
sued by her after they have become sstia,ccwith this
Wholesale destruction Naturally they will turn their
attention get hold Of something tangible, Nv order TO
nav their crew and reimburse the 0uhter OF the pirat
cal craft The California gold ships will bo the objects
sought AFTER and they will succeed, too, N the govern
ment neglects render sufficient convoy for their pro-
lection Now my theory fer the capture and destruc
tiou Of the pirate would despatch OF the fastest
and most efceD second class sloops, such the
Canandaigua and Oesippec as sonvoys TO the fortnight
ships from Asptnwa with passengers, mail and trea
sure BY this they would be almost sure 70 fall
IN with her and her capture be almost CERTAIN a. be-
evc either OF the above mentioned vessels would be
quite match for her in speed and greatly her superior
IN power. Please these suggestions. NY only
motive is that this pirate my be deroyed quickly, and
,htt the most energetic measures by the government
should at once be put In rcqust bring about so de-
srabic result Very respectfully, your obedient ser
want. .N ihn"'