Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-03-20
Letter from Florida.
u. S. S. Covcarss,

scarcely know what TO communicate this
morning which will prove Of interest 10 your
readers. DO you know it is very solemn
thing 10 wlite for newspaper 1t is very
much like getting married. It's great fun
arritinz the letter, gust as Irritation is, and il
makes you jump after it goes of in the mail
and you can't get II back, just as you feel when
after having addressed a pretty girl and being
kept ia state Of suspense as TO the result
1t is rather pleasant state Of things when
readers have 50 much confidence in writers that
whenever there is a desire 10 know more about
matters Than is visible on The surface, they do
not hesitate to ask your correspondents to tell
them call about it." The drawback is that
the writer, however good na,ured or generally
well informed, may not be able to give ready
answer, circumstances, occupation, or even
non-access to necessary sources of Information
often being obstacles.
The exercises OF the Naval Drill so far have
passed off satisfactorily, the intelligence OF the
officers being such as TO make it rarely necessa-
ry to repeat an evolution. Torpedo exploding
was practiced By the feet last week This was
| done by anchoring raft a mile ahead of the
fleet, 10 which they sailed and exploded torpe-
does under it as they passed. Fourteen out OF
seventeen were successfully exploded-the best
shot being made by the Congress-next by
The Wabash, and the third by the Canandai-
qua. The spectacle was grand, in many in
stances the water being thrown in solid
column twice the height of the mainmast.-
The shocks on board the ships were heavy. 1t
is very fortunate that the assembling of this
feet in the Gulf has given this opportunity
for practical test of the theory of feet eyo-
lutions This week there will be n grand
landing Of $500 men through the surf on the
beach, when there will be an opportunity Offer
ed for dispayment Of courage, heroism and
gallantry, through breakers, SAND and cactus.
After these exercises, if not considered injud-
cous, the feet will visit Havana in detach-
ments, and unless there is prospect of trouble
in consequence of the CONSUMPTION and insur-
rectionary disturbances there, they will dis
band and go to their respective stations about
the middle of the present month.
The subject Of universal discussion in naval
circles here is the appropriation for This branch
of the service asked for by Secretary Robson.
Its view is substantially, that in asking Con-
gress fol special appropriation 10 put our
naval defences on footing that shall be
somewhere near adequacy to our national
position and national safety, be makes an ex-
travagant demand and invites mn unnecessary
expenditure. The prospect Of peace with
Spain is good; but if war were to come we
should, as every naval officer knows, expose
ourselves to the possibility of national hui
initiation which would make every newspaper
in the land howl with indignation.
As regards Key West, there is not much of
interest 10 communicate. Many Of your read
ers are aware that it is about 81 miles long
and about one in width. 1t offers no induce
meuts whatever, either as residence or resort.
The soil is sandy, unproductive and covered
with low growth of cactus, &c. Several
very good stores are located here, which are
now doing flourishing trade owing to the
fleet being here assembled. The favorite re-
sort appears to be the hotel, which upon en-
terng, your correspondent was kindly vel
coined by the landlord, and how quickly
! flashed across my mind the familiar lines O
Shenstone:
''Who e'er has Travelled ires dull round,
Where e'er his pathway may have been,
May sigh to think he still has found
The warmest welcome at an inn"
and If did not admit their truth to the ex-
tent claimed by the poet, ! could at least
understand how the genial heartiness of III,
landlord, though resting on snbstratum o
selfshness might readily pass with sailor
for genuine friendship.
In my next letter shall be able 10 tell yor
definitely as regards our movements. 1t hal
been whispered that during the present montl
we shall receive orders to join the European
squadron, but as 10 this, of course there is ne
certainty should we be so fortunate however
l shall furnish yonsome interesting dots. A
present our life is rather monotonous-bu
what an infinite source of enjoyment that mar
hath wheresoe'er he liveih, whose mind i
stored with pleasant memories of the past. II,
lives within the boundaries of another world
+ a world of careless, happy and unalioycC
pleasure II is world where flowers bloom
perennial making the air redolent with fra
GRANGE, enticing the eye with their beauty ant
wooing the senses with their perfume. Day
dreaming this is called by those whose mind
havenot that fine cast necessary to indulge il
it, aad even the great Master OF the human
heart has reproachingly said;
, dreams are but the children Of an idle brain
Begot Of nothing but vain fantasy,
Which is as thin of substance as the air,
f And more inconstant than the wind y
GLAUCUS.
CONFERENCE APPoISTMESTS.-The following
appointments were made by the Batimor
Conference NJ. L. Church South, at the reeen