Year: 1872

enjoy All the DeautleS OF the n8rDOrs onO ~ was
nearly two O'Clock in the afternoon when our per-
init to land arrived. In tho meantime Spanish
mail steamer entered, having on board . number
OF, soldiers and civilians. The expedition with
which these were attended TO and landed con-
trasted strongly with the cavalier manner In which
some Americans were treated. Those OF our pas
sengcrs who had innuence on shore were allowed to
land BY special permit; hut those who were not 30
fortunate were obliged to remain 1ol2l29t iA p 4
UNTIL THE OFFICIAL STOMACH HAD BEEN SATISFIED. |


Even Spanish Official cannot well remain at
breakfast an day, 50 the looked-for permit arrived
in its own good time Then the group Of little boats
that had been moving round us suddenly swarmed
toward the ships gangway, and their occupants,
who were strong and rather 'hardn looking Span
iards set up . babel Of appeals for employment.
As We showed on rom the vessels side we were
enjoying by anticipation the novel sights upon
which our eyes were soon to owen, while the black
prophet Of the party shook his head with evil fore
bodings Of what was 10 happen to us In the Custom
House. While we were in this happy frame Of mind
an incident occurred which might have had
fatal termination. Our boat was heavily laden
with baggage and carried six passengers In
addition 70 the two Spaniards In charge Of her.
We were scudding before the wind at Q fair rate
when Q man-ofwar's boat propelled by dozen
lusty arms, appeared rowing directly across our
course. H was impossible for us to stop or to
change our direction with sunicient rapidlty to
avoid . collision, 20 we held on, the sailors
shouting 70 the man-of-war's crew to
change their course. The latter, however.
paid not the slightest heed, but rowed
down with Q sweeping stroke. The position be-
came critical, as 1t was evident that collision
vas imminent Our sailors shouted and gesticu-
lated with increased energy, and at the last mo-
mo Ono piorslo hoc rod nfnr Ot inst
too soon, for in spite Of the frantic efforts Of
boatmen,


yHR PROV OF rHa NAN-oH-YAR's BOAT
struck ours on the quarter heavily and made hef
reel. The lady Of the party only escaped injury by
jumping up from her seat just in time to escape
being struck by the colliding prov. In the stern
OF the Spanish boat nabob OF an ofiicer
was seated, whose white hair ought to have
been guarantee against such an outrage, but the
hidago sat quietly and unconcernedly by, as II IL
were o matter Of sublime Indifference to his
decorated soul whether or not some half dozen
mere civilians were sent to the bottom. Before we
landed we were treated to another sample OF
official nsolence by having our boat thrust back to
allowed some uniformed swell pass before us-an
incident that cost half hour OF struggle before
We could regain our lost place. The quaintness
and peculiarly Of the city OF Havana, architec-
turally and socially, have been thoroughly
described. The narrow streets, the open stores,
the pedestrians, the carriage folk, the police and
the uniforms are almost familiar. In order to un-
derstand why II Is that the vomito and other pesti
lences make their home here 1t Is only necessary
to pass through the streets. When 1t has not
rained for some time the stencil is absolutely
powering, and there are some quarters where even
the tropical tempests which they call rain here are


UNABLE TO PURIFY THE ATMOSPHERE.


Very little effort seems to be made by the Town
Council to promote intelligent measures of sanitary
reform. As result OF this indifference con-
siderable proportion OF the population is swept or
every year, especially OF the immigrants. But the
Rip Van Wrinkles nod away their lves simply say
ing, like the lazy Turks that the will Of Allah must
be done. When the Common Council meets two
ropes are drawn across the street to prevent the
trafrc from disturbing the wiseacres in their coun.
ell. five except the sole duty OF imposing taxa
ton Idont for the life OF me, what these people
have to do, except perhaps, to agree among them
selves as to the distribution OF the pickings
for, II my information be at all reliable,
these gentry can fleece the public in q way that
would astonish New York Alderman Of the good
old time. AS there is no public opinion here, no


liberty OF the press or or speech, OF motives,
cept by the will OF the authorities, we never hear
anything about these abuses The people here
seem to be content II they let alone, and in this
respect they are free enough so long as they are
not too inquisitivc and conflne themselves to
strictly minding their business. The inhabitants
Of Havana are chiefly Spaniards, for the negroes
and Cinnamon do not count for anything In the
social or political world, and are only considered
in the matter Of flasor, in which they are, as rnle
singularly industrious and devoted to their busi-
ness.


After my arrival set about my business proper
and was fortunate enough to obtain an


INTERVIEW WITH CAPTAIN GENERAL CEBALLos.


It was not, however, fortunate In Its results, as
His Excelency politely but firmly refused to grant
me the saIe conduct extended to the HERALD,s
late commissioner on the island. This determine
tion on the part OF the Captain General subse-
quently endeavored to induce him to alter. The
result is best told in the correspondence which
enclose without comment.


LETTER TO THE CAPTAIN GENERAL.


HOTEL SAN CARLOS, Dec. 90, 1872
To His ExcELLENCY, THE CAPTAIN GENERAL


YOUR ExcELLENcY-The gracious reception ac-
corded to me on the occasion Of my FIRST interview
with your Excellency, and the kindly senti-
ments you were pleased to express, en-
courage me to request that you will re-
consider your refusal to grant me safe con-
duct, or military pass. In the following letter
propose to submit to Your Excellency the reasons
that to my mind appear sufficient to justify you in
adopting this course. am deeply sensible OF the
irritation that the failure Of my predecessor on
this mission to avaIl himself OF the opportunities
and facilities procured for him by Your Excel.
lency's kindness, has naturally produced, but, as
explained to Your Excellency, r


WHATEVER FAULT HAS BEEN COMMITTED
In this connection is the fault Of an individual for
which neither myself nor the journal which repre-.
u Mr.
fully performed the task which he accepted volun.
tarily my presence here would be unnecessary. II,
therefore, your Excellcncv has reason to be discon
tented Mr. Bennett also has reason for dissatisfac-
tlon The object Of my visit, as explained to me by
Mr.. Bennett, is to examine,


WITHOUT PREJUDICB or PARTrALIrY,


into the state Of the insurrection and through the
columns OF the HERALD to make known to the
world whether the statements put forward by the