The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-11
The Mysterious Voyage of Assistant
Secretary Seward.
THE OBJECTS OF THE ExPEDITIo

The Annapolis correspondent of the Baltimore
American says:-The United States gunboat
Gettysburg, about whose so called mysterious
trip southwark there have been so many rumors
and conjectures, returned to this harbor yester-
day, and is now lying at one of the wharves of
the Naval School. Assistant Secretary Seward
and wife and servant landed about noon yes
terday, and took the evening train for Wash
ington.
Admiral Porter, who accompanied Mr.. Seward
on his Southern trip, did not go to Washing
ton, but is once more at his post OF duty at
the Naval School, experimenting with his
ever.vigilant eye the administration of the
various departments of this important institu-
tion. We had the pleasure of greeting tue
Acmiral this morning, and congratulating him
upon his safe arrival.
All who know Admiral Porter are well aware
that he is not the man to dlvulge State secrets
or any other confidential matters, and If there
be any State secrets connected with this trip of
the Assistant secretary of State TO Southern
waters, the public will not be enlightened by
any premature disclosures from the Admiral.
Without undertaking to speak positively as to
the precise aim and purpose of the cruise of the
Gettysburg, we think 1t will be found that the
prime object of the cruise was simply for the
purpose of giving Mr.. Seward, whom, 1t
must be remembered, is still an invalid, the
benefit of sea trip to Southern waters. Mr..
Stewards terrible wound, which he received
from the murderous hand OF the assassin
Payne, on the night of the assassination
OF tAe lamented President Lincoln and of the
attack on Secretary Seward, has never com
Dletelv healed and at times causes great suffer.
ing The general health of Mr. Seward has been
found TO be much better when at sea, and his
wound so favorably affected by the sea air that
his physicians have advised him TO take frequent
sea trips, and especially during the winter sea-
son. The chief purpose and occasion OF
this Southern trip was, therefore, to enable Mr..
Seward to gain temporary relief from his Off
cal duties, ami the beneficial effects of sea air
IN more genial latitude.
Admiral Porter, as matter OF courtesy and
friendship, accompanied Mr.. Seward, feeling
also desire TO take a sniff OF salt air himself.
OF course it is not to be supposed either Mr..
Seward or Admiral Porter went with their eyes
closed, and very probably took look round
with an eye to future contingencies.
The Gettysburg called at Jamaica, and also al
Nassau, and made a brief pause OIL st. Thomas
hut learning that port was suffering the com
bIned ravages of cholera and smallpox, anC
that an alarming mortality was resulting there
daily from these diseases, bore away for Mas
sau, at which point, as l learn, the arrival o
the GETTYSBURG with the distinguished passeE
gers on board, created no small sensation.
THE PEOPLE OF NASSAU AGITATED.
The people shook their heads, and looked upol
the advent Of the party as an event OF omlnou
import What could an officer OF Admiral POI
ters rank, and no less person than the Assls
tant Secretary of State want IN visiting Nassau
Some evidently saw, or thought they saw, som
s'annexaiion schemen in the distance. And ines
apprehensiOns were not little heightened o
the Tumor that gained circulation, that the At
miral had come on a visit of observation as I
the capacity of the harbor and it's detensiv
strength; that he was going TO inspect thel
miserable little ports, etc.
These apprehensions gave rise 10 quite 8
many and more 'mysteriousn rumors in regar
"a the mysterious Gettysburg expedition a
have prevailed at home. When the Admire
left he no doubt added not little to the anxiet
of her Hajesty's subjects IN Nassau by the re