The Louisiana Democrat., 1866-06-20

| Europe is arming for the struggle, and
England must take sides one way or the
other She has her hands full in the trans
Atlantic, and cannot waste her means in
defending her American possessions which
have always been barren dependency.
MI. Seward knows this He also knows
that if the Feniaus acquire a foothold up
OH British soil, even lift be colonial, they
can establish quasi government and
1issus letters of marque Privateers will
swarm upon every sea, forcing Engiand's 8
merchantmen to seek another nationality
under simulated transfer, and thus driving
her to the very course to which she drove
the United States during the late war,
when the Alabama and the Florida swept
the American merchantmen from the face
of the ocean. Revenge is sweet. I was a
prisoner On parole here during Buffers
reign, and had a conversation with an
Englishman of information and sense, who
had just returned from q yisitto his, native
country, He told me that q committee
from the great English and Scotch ship
builders and merchants had waited onlthe
Ministry and laid before them the griev-
ances under which British commerce LAM
guished; that British bottoms lay rotting
in the harbors of Berkenhead and Glasgow
and iGreenock whilst American clippers
monopoliyed the high seas; that lumber
and labor being cheaper in America, the
4 Americans conld afford to build better yes
sells, and that it was necessary for some de-
cided step to be takeni to- regain for Great
Britain the supremacy of the sea. The
committee deprecated the calamities which
a.war superindpced by armed intervention
would bring on; but they offered q means
of achieving all they desired without en-
dangering the peace Of the two countries.
It was simply to fit ont two or three fast
and effective vessels, at the committees in
dividual expense, transfer them to Confed-
crate hands, and if under skillful COM
manders they did not answer the purpose
of recovering the carrying trade from
Yankee grasp, they would fit Others.
and others again, till the numbers attained
the object aimed at. The British Ministry
gave their tacit assent--the Alabama and
the Florida sailed from English ports, and
under the command Of Semmes and Mafit
astcnished not only England but the
world by their daring exploits, until not a
ship nor fishing smack dared show her
figure head out of port with a gridiron
Haunting at her peak. So will it be with
British commerce if the green ensign Of
Hiberria can only float undisturbed for six
months any where on British soil. 5i "a
The city is at present as dull as usual
during the summer months. The decrease
in the numbers Of people is palpable in all
portions of it, except Canal and St. Charles
Streets. Then the theatres are all closed
except small affair called the Olympic on
St. Charles Street, which has more Of the
concert room than the stage in its repre-
sentations. The yonng ladies' of the city
and enyirons, many Of whom are musical
artists that might excite the envy and ad-
miration of European celebrities have been
giving charitable concerts, and have drawn
fuii, remunerative and delighted audiences
One Of them, Miss Annie Mclean, native
/ of this city, and scion of one of our best
families, gave concert at Odd Fellows
Hall, a fortnight ago, which was the finest
vocal concert since the visit Of Madame
Sontag. She is a young lady of real genius,
and intends to study in Europe. When
1she appears before the public after finish
ing her musical education, depend on it
she will electrify the cognoscenti Of
Europe. y 8, ~ -t5,ss. .s.'
The, new lines Of city rail roads are rap
idly extending over the whole city. Before
August, if you visit us during the summer,
you viii be able to ride in any direction
through the city at an expense Of five
cents, the smoothest, cheapest, most agree
able riding to be had anywhere in the Uni
ted States Fishing at the Lake (Pon.
chartrain) lis now the fashion with the
cant-get-aways who have put money in
their purse during the winter. Croakers
Of fine size and delicious favor, sheephead,
trout, and crabs, in any quantity are to be
caught for the trouble Of angling. Fishing
lat the lake is full Of excitement and inter
est: in the fresh water streams and lakes
you know when You get a nibble that it is
Ia perch or cat; but in the salt reservoir
which communicates with the gulf yon
cannot tell what yon have at the end Of
your liue-whether croaker, cat, trout,
stingaree, sheephead, reddish, crab. rock CT
bar fish, a miniature shark or dogfsh, or q.
gar Those who 90 down now in the Pont-
chartrain rail road cars, on fishing excur-
sions come back with full baskets Of ex-
cellent and varied panfsh. Fish in our
city are plentiful and cheap. I went to a
first class restaurant to dine with a friend