Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-02-17
An Editorial opinioa OF the FlerIria-

An Editorial Opinion OF she FIsrIriss,
The New York World says:
The exploits Of the Confederate steamer
Florida, of the coast Of Cuba, created profound
excitement in shipping circles in this city, yes
terday Aud well they might. As swift as the
Alabama, stronger, and with heavier guns. the
Florida 10, moreover, commanded By an Officer
that believes in fighting. His dash a tia Hat
Eeras, right under the guns Of a whole ices Of
Union vessels; shows Capt. Mafdtt Is a very DIFF
fsrent person from Semm5. The career Of the
latter he's been very destructive to cur com
merciel marine, but he has never yet Fentursd
upon a fight.
The captain Of the Ovieto, or Florida. is a DIFF
fereRt sort Of person, and evidently emulatss
the fame of a Paul Jones rather than q Capt.
Kidd. The fact that his crew were Southenera,
tbe men On board the Alabama are Engishmsn,
may account for the boldness Of the 0ae offssr
and the caution Of the ether.
But there IS no getting nd Of the fact that
there are now i've formidable war ships s1sat,
pTeying upon cur commerce. The trouble Is
that We have not mora than half a dozen steam
~ships-ofwsr swift enough to Overtake them.
The Florida IS probably a match in a fight for
any save our largest ship5-of-War, and We must
expect 20 hear Of a disaster every time Maht
comes across any Of the small converted"
/ gunboats thai swarm in our navy. There are
hopes, however, that his very boldnsss viii
bring him to grIet before many weeks are over.
THE HERALD's ACCOUNT.
Bauaetts Havana correspondent, under date
of January SD, sends the following:
The rebel man-ofwar. p-vateer or pirate Flor
ida, has safely arrived in this pert, although she
Was chased up to the very walls Of the Moro
castle by the Mobile b~locksding sgua5ron5 nine
10 number. The chase was an exciting ore. but
unfortunately without the result SO much to be
desired
It sppesrs that the pirate Msfitt came out OF
Mobile with as much impudenee as be entered
iE. The steamer seems to have been well pun
ished VITA shot and shell from the Federal ships,
and it is reported that she lost her first lieuten-
ant and sixteen men killed by one shell from
one Of Ouf men-ofaar.
One of her pUrsuaTs lost her foremost by a
shot from the Flonds, and consequently had to
I give mp the chase. The Florida IS fine propel-
Ter Of eleven hundred tons bUrfbsn, is bsrque-
rugged, having Taking mastsi a low sharp bull,
and two smoke pipes issuiag out Of her deck
Her hull. formerly black, has been painted
white. She is armed with two sixty-four-p0und-
efs, two pivot guns, two alsven-inch gUEs, and
two thirty-twO Founders riied- lt is also said
that she has q gun that can throw g hfteen-ineh
shell She is very fast and can easily make six
tesn knots an hour.
From reliable information I am enabled to
state, or rather, I sm convinced, that this vessel
viii sail for the E~astIndies IN a few days. Our
government had better look out for her advent
in those waters. Captain Mafas is 10 ordinary
I character. He IS vigorous, energetic, bold, quick
and dashiny. and the sooner he is caught sid
hung the better VIII it be for the interests Of our
commercial community. lie is decidedly popu-
lar here, and you can scarcely imzgiue tie
anxiety evinced to get a glance Of him lie was
at the Dominica this morning IL citizens dress,
and was the observed Of every one. Nobody,
unless informed, would have imagined the small
blaek-eyed, poetie-lo0kiDg gentleman, with his
romantic appearance, to be a second Semmes,
probably 10 time to be 9 more celebrated and
more dangerous pirate
BE was alone, taking g cup Of coffee, seem
ingly unconscious Of having any mors serious
occupation on hand. AS soon as be perceived
that his presence attracted attention, he blushed
like a girl, paid his bill, and deeamped.