The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-22

Care the seoue Of the memorable naval Dght
"a Gibraltar sssss passed In the night Nothing OF the
lastsr but dim shadowing forth Of tns
towering vsk IKE huge giant with the faint glimmer
Of the ~ lights OF the town betting its base The
Afc spshore indstinctly defined on the sarpoaro
the vessel steamed rapidly with the fast rushing
curtent that sweeps through the straits washing snt
uent on either hand One days sail along ao coast Of
SPAIN in fun sight OF the mountaiss o. Granada was the
most delightful Of the passage tho air was clear and
transparent and the seavess aaaeeked by single cloud
The as snooth and placid lake. and Of that
rich pecullsi blue which unrvalled by any body Of
water that have yet seen. Al the earliest dawn
all sands were deck 10 gain view Of the lofty peaks
6f the Sierra Nevadas and felt lily repaid for their
somewhat unusual exertons by the magnificent specta
clio daylight and tho Of the rising rapidly
folded to the view The night miss began disspate
and roll awAy long before the had raised his jolly
face the waters and the high, rocky front OF the
Spanish coast which during the night had dmy doomed
forth now assumed distinct proportions and re.
solved itself into it's picturesque FORMS Clear above
them in the blue vault OF heaven, like golden cloud
bordcred with purple, swan the snowy peaks Of the
Sierra Nevadas seemingly detached from all earthly
matter The towering middle heights wcre completely
undiscernible and the flashing robes Of snow and ice
which were wrapped about the SUBMITS that pierced the
Sky OF elgnty mlles IOm secmSu W
ward and terminate IN mid-ar As the crep up to-
wards the horizon these cleaning peaks assumed new
colors and tInts. The golden hues and brilliant
purple lights that played about their heads became
diiscd and swept down the mountain sides then the
peaks, changing their colors, became opalesque and
shone clearly and coldy white, like a diamond When
the sun rose and flooded with purple and gold the foot
hills Of the Sierra the missing middle heights OF the
mountains began TO assume shape and form, and finally
their grandeur and beauty. Nature never worked her
wondr0us kaleidoscope with greater skill o. effect than
on that morning; and the infinite changes OF coors and
delicate tns flashed the rugged sides Of those
proud mountains Of Granada were marvellous and I'M
posing From the basc Of the foot hills where tho brown
and s0mbe hu Of the rocks are sharply set of by the
blue Of the Mediterranean to the flashing peaks OF the
glorious Sierra Nevada towering alot 30 high, there
was a changing and shifting Of lights and shades
and q play of varied colors through that dreamy
yet luminous atmosphere such as one rarely witnesses
Az the towards the zenith the mountains as
sumcd their sober hucs but were yet splendid in
the rich green OF the valleys the brown and gray hues
Of tho rocks and the purple tns OF tho upper heighs
while above them all clearly defined against the blue OF
the coudess heavens, the grand perks Of snow and ice
Of the Sierra dazzling white and brilliant as earthly
jewel attracted and held hegaze OF all When the sun
set night those majestic mountain peaks still brightly
cleaned apparently no further from the ship than In
the mornings and it was not until late at night that they
faded from sight They seemed to be at our sido
throughout the entire day. and scarcely altered their
bearing although steamed nearly one hundred miles
during that time; They are giants among the lofty
mountains that face the every part OF Span and
splendid landmarks to the mariner vgating
that portion OF the Mediterranean.
Ivica and Marorca nothing about them attrac-
tive They to be barren rocks, with scanty vege
taton ekng out an existence on their nhosptabe sides
On the southern side the quality or the Islands seems 10
he somewhat better nut the only thing that has re-
Gently ourished among them il the cholera, which al
most completely devastated them, and is even now
quietly doing its work though il is gradually subsidng
Port MAlon on the Island Of Mnorca near by was our
Old naval station the Mediterranean and II Is not i'm
possible that the squadron may be assembled there
again, though Il is 70 be hoped not.
The Froi put into the Roads OF Hyeres, near Toulon,
f<.r
use as winter quarters Of the squadron IT Is broad
roadstcad, protected from. the winds by Islands OF
the Lcyant islands The basin Is deep and affords good
holding ground; but there ~ no one place in the an
chorage where vessel is protected against all winds
To find comfortable place u must shift ahon the roads
Ia heavy weather and geek lees under the different
islands, but frequently would be utterly impossbic to
communicate with the main land by boats in conse-
aucncc o, tho heavy scas tina, roll in from the Meder
ranean Il affords fine bay for squadron evolu,ions
for which IL Is uscd now by the French navy but Is bet
tor adapted FOR than winter quarters The IRON
clad squadron Of Vice Admiral Bouet Filaumes, which
came from Chcrbourg last summer spent tho season
here until the subsistence OF the cholera In Tolon,
which Is only eight ten miles distant II IL now win.
te1ng in the harbor Of Agvaco, Corsica
shore Of the mainland called Veux sains, near which
the salt pits That eeem TO produce oil the
articles of export OF the locality s the famed Thermal
station, the French call It. OF Hyeres. Is small
town OF perhaps twenty FIVE hundred Inhabitants, stu
ated the southern slope OF range OF hills and look
ing out a plateau " land covered with olive
orchards fields Of grain vegetables and verdure and
beyond upon the roads and islands Of Hyercs and the
blue Mediterranean Behind it, md either side, are
Of hills and molntains Of light gray, rocky
formation with hero and there small patches Of green
vegetation olive groves and ooIses OF wood
The old town. quaint and curious in lie architectural
aspect Is wonderfully compact, and built in terraces
upon the sharp slope OF pocky ch with narrow, crooked
streets dars lanes and winding paths leading to soinbre
courts by fights of well worn, irregular steps, between
the walls OF antique bouses which grows ana the
rays OF the 10 visit Here and there you
come across as you twist about these blind avenues
ktr0ct. with traces OF
pondefous gates and casenstcs for afchers and mus
ksteers showing the line o. tho walls that once pro.
tsced the town those old fenu~l days when Hyeres
bado defiance TO al Corners The town has out
grown these granite belts and overrun the valley to the
nerihward The portion Of the town presents many
beautiful features architectural and In landscape garden
ing. Nearly ell the buildings have been erected FOR
visitors Who spend the winter season IN There
many pleasant villas and some now hotels OF con
siderable and handsome proportions. One or two
tonleysrds have been opened, with fine lines Of
palms, cypress and other frees on their Sides and
lowering shrnbs, and hardy doxers tass said 10
bloom the winter through. They arc well paved and
well lighted. and The broad walks on either aide are
the svoite for exercise Of the vsctudnsrisns
who bask in the warm sunlight OF the short winter
days aud talk or disease and falling faculties as If they
the nos cheerful topics earth TO dizcuss. The
climate 4 said TO ba ths most elrabe In Europe. and
almost tropical IN liz warmth. Oranges, lemons, ctrons
s s1. es ss .r s 20 s soa aud o in
hundred families spent their winter thee lset year. and
preparations have been made for still larger number
this sAson The climate ia said 10 be good for patients
suffering from rheuu, catarrhal aud pulmonary com.
plants govt snd nslaiss of Ike nature The terrible
misrsi northwest Wind that sweeps sToss the morb.
tsins bitterly cold and penetrating and IL very severe
inyslids suffering from pulmonary complaints For
this reason that ca Of sleudinsnsns are nndns more
congeniaI retreats Cannes and Eicehe latter cspe
clay-which IL said 20 be rb0rs healthy locality. ~
that know nothing Hyercs seems 70 possess deco IL
climsta and is griet and retired a. invalid could
desire There places OF amusement in the town,
aud the winter nights must drag rather hesyy at times
The English frequent the place TO considerable extent
do the Russsns but the bulk or the visitors from
the north OF France The mountain scenery and the
views the Mediterranean really very beautiful
and will repay visit
After spending n night al anchor in The roadseal,
during the prevalence OF fresh wind, the Frolr steamed
ort carly In the morning. and entered this hsrbor
~ Sunday and speedily moved 70 . covps
mart, the French call q buoy. Of the bottom
Of She pretty little recess IN the coast that
makes the harbof OF ycfranche. On both sides
and from the spring up lofty hills that completely
close 10 the hstbcF and protect II from every wind,
cept from The southeast which blows directly in, aud
makes uncomfortable anchorage from the heavy
that follows The Rcssians some years ago constructed
fine wet dock, large enough to hold two fr.acs, which
generally wntercd there Behind this Is the only