The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-03-15
The Confederate Navy. Exploits OF
the Alabama.

Iiwas stated, not long since, that tie Alabama
was blockaded In the port Of annoy, China. This
correct and 1t appears by our latest foreign
news that the Alabama never was further eastward
than Singapore, In the Straits Of Malacca. From
there she sailed the Gath Of December, having
taken on board 800 tons Of COAL and the same day
felt In with the bark Texan Star, otherwise called
Martaban, from Mouimein, Burmah, for singa-
pore, with cargo OF rice. The particulars Of the
destruction # this vessel known The ship
kept on her course up the Straits, and two da- !.
later burned the Yankee chips Sonora and High
lander, both at anchor off North Sands (Sumatra)
light fhip. The next heard of her was that she
vas In the Gulf of Martab.n, about fifty miles
south OF Rangoon, Burmah She thsn seems to
have crossed over the Bay of Bengal swept around
Cape Comorin, tae southern extremity OF India,
and sailed up the western coast Of that country;
for uext hear Of the capture af the bark Elnnla
Jane on the 14sh Of January, Off Alenga, on the
southwestern coast of India. This the last posi-
tive information Of her whsreab uis, though II
generally supposed she would pursue her course
up the coast and touch ut BOMBAY, rs the Times Of
Eadta, (Bombay,) of January %, speaks Of 1t as
no, at az nlikely. That journal urged the people
10 ''show no favor to the pira,es.''
THE PRlvATEER TUSCALOOSA RELEASED.
In the House Of Commons, On the 25th of Feb
ruarv, afr. Peacocke asked her Majesty's Govern
ment on what grounds the Tuscaloosa had been
seized at the Cape of Good Hope.
Lord amerston-f'he Tuscaloosa was seized In
the first instance, in consequence OF instructions
posed condition Of things. The Tuscal0osa was
not i'm port when those Instructions arrived; but
when she returned the Governor, acting upon those
instructions, seized he< Upon further represen-
case, It has been determined that there are no
proper grounds internationally for eeizng her, and
orders have been seneout to set her at liberty.
Lord L. Cecii-May ask whether compensa-
ton will be given for the injury! Hear, hear
Lord Paimerston-The noble lord has not given
notice Of his question. tLaughter.1
In the House Of Commons, on the o6th ultimo,
Lord Palmerston assented TO the production of the
papers relative TO the seizure of the Tuscaloosa.
THE 1rscALoosa-A BRITISH SHIP BOARDED
The following account OF the boarding of the
British ship East, of Liverpool. on her passage
from London to Bombay by the Confederate crus sf
caoosa is extracted from letter received from
one OF the officers Of the ship
Ahov, noon on Friday, the 9th October, 1863,
I'm lat. g north, lon s. west, having at the time a
fresh breeze with heavy rain, observed bark on
our port quarter, apparently merchant vessel,
which showed American cOiOfs and signalized
that she wished 10 speak with US. Capt. Cailen
der Immediately hauled up the crOssjack and
maIpsail hauled down the staysails and backed
the miEentepsaii About P. M she crossed our
stem and ranged up on our lee quarter, when we
were ordered rather tmperously by some one on
the quarter deck to heavs to. The order not being
attended to, she shssred OF little further ufced
I'D her ports, and fired blank gun, at the same
time hosting the Confederate flag. number Of
her crew were stationed on her quarter-c deck with
rifles, which they kept firing off whenever any of
our crew showed themselves In an exposed situa-
ton, but the man at the helm seemed to be their
principal aim, az several balls were found on the
deck close 10 him. The first round shot they fred
(Which, judging from the report, seemed 10 be
about IL FOUNDER, passed Overhead close by the
main,nast, the second In the. same line, and the
third evidently intended to disable our rudder fell
few feet short Of the quarter. -
The wind having fallen lighter prevented US from
heading the bark, and as both vessels lay palaiieI
10 each other any shot might have picked of some
of our crew and injured some OF our spars. Inc
Captain therefore, deemed It prudent TO heave to:
The firing ceasedi boat was lowered and manned
nv four armed men aud officer, who, ON arriving
on board and having examined our papers, apollo
gsed for detaining US, and said that, as our snip
was so much like an American built ship, they
suspected we WIv deceiving them oy hoisiing the
Ena,ish ensign Ind more especially a. we made all
sail to get away from her rs soon as shs nreo tne
fret shot. In answer TO our inquiries as 10 the
name Of the vessel, the boats crew dld not seem
inclined 10 be communicative, but we uhdefstoou
she was called the Tuscaloosa, and had been cap
tured by the Alabama, which vessel they mad Istt
q sbort time previous off the Cape of coed Hope
Che Is sharp looking PARK OF about z0' VI So toos
with a narrow white streak along the gunwa'e -
lhry had been doing what they could to make her
something man Ofwar like, but her satis and rig
atnv alOG presented q scedy appearance
Durine ths quarter OF an hour which elapsed
from the tims we made sail until We hove 10, ten
round shots were hred ct US, and the rias bals We
could not compute, (say about 20) Immediately
ON the return Of her boat aiongsids she dipped bel
ensign 10 us In token Of good bye, and STOOD awaJ
soutbwasd, we also making all ssiI and slandine
on our course.
PSI forgot 70 mention amer she hred the mrs
.hot We fillsd on our course and endeavored TO 0e
o,t Of her roach, and had the breeze kept up W
would soon have done 20, - We could sail musi
faster than she.
THE FLORIDA.
A letter from Brest to the London Hsfdid says;
! ,e.re,tsd very much arriving in Brest day lot
LAT. Ia yigit the q. 8. ship Of war Florida. Iht
Florida = sway again. and II may be useful 10 state
.,s, ,hs crew consists Of few trtshmen, Rrea
many Austrlans, some Beigians, and qui'e nun,
ssr af Iialians This 10 reliable The omcess,
ws. ,id. are Aee fellows, and the crew are picked
men wio viii give Q good account oi any equal
number Of the FedeTais.
TIE Eusopsan 1ymsssys:
he Coafsleysss cruiser Dlosida has most edeet.
ualiy eiudeA her pasuusss. The nieee sne Ir! ~
lesf anl stormy, the wind eelao =. 8.s ane ~
soot 10 Pass ds Rey rhaeael, seteg eeswcss ~
Delnss anIsly % ssa. TAs lass hss1 q - Unasea
nuosp stesasSs Ksassass wes eeuy " evs 1ayc re.
n II. whoo shs ws0 eDokeo ~ Dsuss paess y