Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-07-21

From the Southern Correspondence of the London
Times.
WILMINGTON, N. G., Monday, June 6.
1t is difficult for an Englishman who de-
sires to pierce the American blockade to
decide which of the available routes offers
the greatest facilities and attractions. My
own experience during the present year
would seem to prove that, as regards time,
there is little choice between land and wa
ter. Upon the 18th of last January I
started from Richmond, and, making my
way across the Potomac and passing rap
idly through Washington and New York,
stood upon British soil upon the 9th of
February-that ia to say, upon the twen-
tieth day after my departure from Secessia.
Upon the 18th of May left Queenstown,
and, passing through Halifax and Bermu-
da, found the vessel which carried me from
Bermuda safely moored in Cape Fear Riv-
er upon which Wilmington stands) on the
night of the 4th of June-thHt is again to
say, upon the Goth day after my departure
from England. But, unquestionably, as
regards endurance of fatigue and facility
for conveying luggage, the sea route is in.
fiuitely preferable to the land, and is at
tended with less personal jeopardy, altho'
there is a HlduUdiS quart dnetire, experien-
ced at the moment of passing through the
inside blockading squadron, which in in
teusity of excitement can hardly be sur
passed.
Upon the evening of Wednesday, the lst
of June, the Lillian and the FIorie, two of
the fleetest and most beautiful of the block.
ade. .defying vessels, started simultaneously
from Bermuda upon the first trip inward
which either had ever made. Both belong
to the same company, but there is an emu
lation between the two rival vessels which
is not satisfactorily allayed by their expert
ences hitherto, but which waits the solution
of further trial. The weather was lovely,
the sea like Q mildsm, and favorable beyond
expression to light draught aid gOssamer
craft, such as are these blockade-runuers,
which lightly scratch the surface instead OF
clutching the ribs of old ocean, and which
in summer seas have no more to fear from
heavy seagoing craft, like the Rhode Island
or the Vanderbilt, than has the Irish night
EXPRESS from the lumbering freight train
which leaves Euston square five minutes in
| its rear. Rarely have two more attractive
prizes slipped through the meshes of the
blockade than the two vessels of which
/ am writing. 1t is not alone that they
would be invaluable with view to theiI
| conversation into Federal cruisers, or thai
two of the most valuable cargoes which
have yet reached Wilmington await at thii
| instant the disposal of the Confederate
Government, but that on board both vessel!
we're Confederate "mslignants" whose cap
ture would have been a sweet morsal Z
many craving palate in Washington ant
Boston. To many an English reader th'
name of Capt. Mafit, late in command o
the Confederate cruiser Florida, is vel
known as having assisted Captain Semme
and the Alabama to demonstrats that twt
I;,ht and as ra0ards enuinment Compar-
/ atiyely insignificant, vessels of war wouIt
have little difficulty in driving from thu
ocean flag which three years ago nigh
have been seen upon every wave of ever
sea. 1t may be remarked that this IS
lesson to which, of all nations, England cal
least afford to be blind.
Nv experience on board the Lillian lead
me to anticipate for Capt Maftit aud hi
yessel-a credit to her builders, Mersrs
Thomson of Glasgow-a long and prosper
GUS career. An incident which occurred
200 miles from Wilmington, in portion
the ocean which is constantly swept b!
Federal cruisers, seems worthy OF record
Upon our port bow was described sal
enveloped in dense canopy OF smoke
Time was iuefably precious-there wa
every reason to suspect Yankee guile
which is said to be nowhere more fertilel!
exhibited than in their conduct of tn
blockade;;but it was deemed possible, atte
careful scrutiny, that the vessel might b
ON Ere. Briefly remarking, "The shil
which leaves companion at sea in distres
must be accursed," Capt. Aafht ordere'
onr onurse to be altered, and bore dow
1pon the stranger. II soon became eviden
that she was a Federal cruiser, making
. dense white smoke with her Cumberlan'
Z coal. and beating rapidly eastward, In ap