Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-10-15

Tor though al them at nrst disappointed 10 nhd
that the celebrated Ia dress aud manner
qhetE1eish gentleman instead Of the wild blocking and
cu agenusy dressed aud armed pirate their imagination
or reading had pictured they were won by his gsantry
and goud breeding. The were no less delghted.
They that there something great daring and de-
terned under that quiet unassumng exterior de spoke
OF the great American struggle and OF bis own share 10 H.
with the calm faith Of who knew that he hal chosen
the right path of duty and TINT no would be able to do
something for his country in following it out There was
assumption bragg nothing Of the Yankee manner or
speech about him in fact all who retired from the cabin
said, Why, he doesn't look speak like an American
all " Bat have had turn and have to take leave
al the captain his officers and ship, more suddenly
aud less ceremonousy than had Intended The crowds
become greater Those coming crush those going out oil
the cabin of the decks the bulwnrks into the boats
and return shore determined the ship another
visit and see and hear little more of her and her gallant
captain oficsr aud We have been cordially press
ed 10 do 50 by all on board.
OUR SECOND VISIT TO CAPT sEsrMEs.
So, next evening after dark, when knew that most
of the viaites had left, we pulled on board again The
ship qulet-seems, i'll fact altogether deserted but
the splash of heard sings out from
tn. quarterback, Boat-ah'y what boat is that Z"
From shore We pull alongside, hand up card and
imued atey after requesed tn walk down lHto Capt
Semnes cabin. We find him alone. He throws down
the Cape Town newspaper in which he had been reading
account of bis arrival and reception aud welcomes us
with great kindness and cordially, Inviting Ia join
him ut his frugal evening meal the homey tea-table he
freely ard pleasantly chatted about the leading events of
his life and the Referring to the Cape papers
which h. had Just been reading he spoke feengy and
gratefully of the sympathy shown toward him and his
cause in every British port he had entered He more
puzzled than atered by the reception no had met with at
the Cape, which enthusiastic than any no had
had before. Do you know now, said he pointing To
the bouquets of and other little tokens left or sent
on board, that my countrymen and women would
not havr done much tor else? They are
not fond of hero worship You English are queer pe0
pe" continued he abiding to the work he had to do all
day" don't believe there's man woman III the
States Who would that (snappug hia fngers) for my
autograph that Of any of those men, pointing to the
portraits Of the Confederate leaders Davis and Lee
whom he knew intimately he said pillars of strength
no TIN men in tn. North were match for them He
sp ke with emotion of the loss Of Stonewall Jackson
He had only heard OF his death at Saldanha Bay. He
fine, brilliant General said he, but he
still finer and brilliant Chr stan. We have
many Other Generals good he, hut have few such
good and noble men" He said he et convinced and
gratifed know that The feeling of the great ory Of
the people in England strongly in favor of the
Acknowledgement of the iadependence OF the Southern
Sstes and though he did not blame, he could not
ceve why the Government did not, by simply acknow-
lodging that independence, aud without any active
Interference hasten the termination OF the lie be-
eved that Earl Russell too sympathetic concessve
to the North; while Lord Pamerston was such cold
and srewd politician that if he had any sympathes
feelings, he would show thu In. If his life de-
pended upon t. But he convinced that the Confede
would very speedily force that acknowledgment from
the British Government, IN spite Of the rant Of white
chokered bsts, who believed that we Southern
set of heather slavedrivers pirates and cut
throats."
The officers of the Alabama are dashing, eenemanly
free-andeasy set Of fellows with all the discipline
sary board man-o war but with good deal of the
n"nchaance and Independence OF their nation tempered
and piced by their rowing dangerous mode OF life They
and all most attentive and communicative tn
their vsters They yenerate their commander
They describe him quick yet cool and collected in
ton giving orders and doing his share of the work in
manner which inspires every one under HIS command
with the utmost confidence. They ars confident that
he will strike his flag allow himself to be taken
and they ready to be blown to go to the bottom
with him at any time.
The most Of the crew are regular British tars Many
Of them have served III the English They are not
ouly trained the guns but drilled marines They
all most ormd bly armed with rifles, revnlvers and
cutasses, and ara very expert IN the use ~ all these
weapons hey say that the Vanderbilt other ship u
equal weight and armament may run the Alabama down
sink her with their guns, but II they attempt 10 y
alongside and board her of their will reach her
decks. An Irish fiddler board is the life If the fore
castle When the Oft duty be SETS them dancing
to his lighter strains vdng them into N"rtherners
and southerners like true Irthman he gets up sham
fight 10 the spirit stirring strains al march, IN which
eight the Northeners ere of urse invariably beaten,
THE EXCITEMENT IN CAPE TOWN
writer in the Cape Argus describes follows the
excitement in the city upon his return to just after wit
messing the capture Of the bsrque Sea Bride:
AS came back found the heights overlooking
Table Bay crowded with people the road to Green Point
lined with cabs the windows of the villas at the bottom
of h- hill all thrown up aud ladies' waved their
hadkerchiefs ard and all joined in the general enthu
Over the qusrries, along the Malay burial ground,
/
pr-nothing but of heads far The eye could
reach Along Strand street and Add-ray the roofs
of all the houses fro which Table Bay il oyrr oked
made available standing places or persons who could
mop boats GO off tn the vessel The central the
north the south and the coaue iet all crowded
Mt The central jetty it almost impossible to force
way through to get a boat We went IT in boat in
the midst If vast fleet of dners, boats gigs
wkerTics all a. full they could hold Nearly all the city
wa at The rowing clubs in uniform pulled If with
favored members of their respective clubs board We
passed the Federal baTque UraDa at her anch and
that ship regardless OF the enemy, sported her bunting
with becoming pluck The stare and stripes pated def
anIly from her m peak and her from her main
On getting alongside the "A bamH found about dozen
bost before aud had not been board five minutes
before she surrounded by nearly every boat in Table
Bay and boat nter boat arrived three hearty cheers
| were given for Capt Semmes aud the Alabama"
The Advertiser remarks that, IA far the feeling
the population generally have been concerned fear
| cannot claim much credit on the of neutrality"
| The Civil Service Club, most Of whose members arr
clerks in the employ Of the Government, invited Capt
to resign hs membership could induce them Il
withdraw the invitation
THE ALABAMA LEAVES TABLE BAY.
| Having Saturday completed the necessary repairs
required here, at early hour Sunday morning tn,
Alabama weighed anchor aud at Fix o'clock took her de-
parture from Table Bay for Smons Bay Ga leaving the
bay sbe stored 10 southwest course and scarcely had
sh. got out Of sight when the sgnalmen the Lions
| Runp made down rail to the northwest, and subss
qurntly another coming from the direction. One
| proved to be the American barque Kedron from Balt
more bound IL this port with cargo Of ur, and the
other the American whaling schooner Charles Colgate