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• THEJOiWITHTIONILIST.
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J A M ESGARDN E R.
JAMES T. SESBlT—Editor.
OFrIOB ONMcOTOMSTOKET. tD
HIBT> DOOB mOM THM.MOMXH-WBST
teSms. **
Qailv Id advance *4£*'** 7 00
It not In advance * * 1 4 00
rri-Weekly in advance.... 1 6 M
if not in advance " £OO
hSgtewiatiiw I»0k8 unlcssthe money
'companies the order.
So discount made
AUGUSTA, CrA
WEDNESDAY, JVNE ‘l3, 1858.
Rain, Wind and Hail.
In the neighborhood of this city there was a
serere hail storm on Sunday afternoon, between
six and seven o’clock. In the city no hail fell that
we heard of, but the wind was high, and we bad
a copious supply of rain. The thunder was quite
loud and the lightning very vivid, although we are
not aware that any bmldings were injured.
News by the Persia.
We publish under our telegraph head the news
brought by this steamship, which left Liverpool
on Saturday afternoon, the 12th June, and was
boarded off Cape Race by the steamer belonging
to the Associated Press, on Saturday afternoon,
on the 19th June. This is certainly the quickest
run ever made across the Atlantic by a steamer.
The time occupied was perhaps a few hours more
than seven days.
We refer to the dispatch for such news as we
have received.
The delay in the transmission of the news over
the Newfoundland line was doubtless caused by a
storm, or some break of the wires.
The Search Question in England.
The statement which was made in the House of
Co mmons, on the 4th inst., by Mr. Fitzgerald,
under Secretary of Foreign Adairs, in response to
an inquiry in reference to the complaints preferred
. by this government against British cruisers, on
account of their.recent operations in the Cuban
seas, and the tone of the English press upon the
same subject, have dissipated all apprehension of
any immediate interruption to the friendly rela
tions now subsisting between England and the
United States. Public opinion in England, if it
is reflected by its press, will uotyustify the right
of search, or sustain a ministry who would au
thorise its exercise against the commercial marine
of this country, and it is only necessary that the
Administration should act upon this idea, to sc
cure a final, unequivocal and satisfactory settle
ment of this question, which has been mooted
between the two governments since the recogni
tion of our independence, and must sooner or
later lead inevitably to a collision between them,
unless it is disposed of, by the recognition of the
principle of maritime law, for which wo have al
ways contended.
We published in our last issue, articles upon the
recent phase which this question of search has as
sumed, from the Telegraph, and from the Poet, the
organ of Lord Palmerbtox. The article of the
London Times is even stronger in its deprecation
of war between the two countries, and says very
plainly that England had better yield the right
which she claims, whilst she can do it without
humiliation, than be compelled to surrender it at
some future time, and under circumstances which
will be mortifying to her pride. We subjoin a few
extracts from this remarkable article of the Times:.
Are we really to “go on” forever with these
anti-slave-trade squadrons I The question must
be asked, and auswered too, because in a great
State like ours everything "goes on” till it is j
stopped, or tiR there is a smash, or till the machine ,
wean out. ‘Everything that is paid to go on j
“ goes on” as long as it is paid. Offices in Church ,
and State, sinecures of all kinds, institutions us- .
numerable, "go on” as infallibly and regularly as J
quarter-day comes round. ,
* * * * * * a * a
Is it necessary to add to what we hare said
before on the obvious certainty that this anti
slavery crusade must come to an end? It might
“ go on" for this year, or the next year, or for ten
or twenty years ; but any one who thinks for a
moment on the character of the power with
which we have principally to deal, must see not
only that the end will come at some time or
other, but that the longer the end is staved off
the worse it will be. It is the fast-growing son
or younger brother, rather lubberly, we may
please to think at present, very saucy, self-willed,
and more free for physical developments than
bound by moral ties. Let us not quarrel over
much with this disagreeable stage of existence,
for it belongs to the youth of men and of natiuns.
But this same power must one day have fifty
times onr territory and ten times our people.
Besides receiving year by year from the old world
the population of an English country, it is more
thrifty of its born citizens than we are. It has no
armies in India, no fifty colonies to be garrisoned,
no immense navy in commission—scarcely aven
the pretence of an anti-slave-trade squadron.
The time must come when, invincible as we may
be on our own soil, our own shores, our own seas,
and anywhere on equal terms, we should have to
contend with the United States on very unequal
terms on their soil, their shores, their seas, and
generally in the New World. To this must be
added the great peculiarity of their political Con
stitution. It is by no means settled out there what
the Union may undertake and promise, and as in
this particular affair the anti-slave-trade treaty is
against the conscience of many of the States, and
the interest of nearly all, it is vain to expect that
a thing of paper and ink will either compel the
Union to sacrifices or the several States to com
pliance. We see not whence the virtue of fidelity
and constancy is to come; or where we are to look
for the patriots wbo shall stem any tide of popular
exasperation at alleged “British outrages. That
these outrages are very got-up affairs, that our crui
sers have plenty of work to do, if the treatv is to
be more than waste paper, and that every Yankee
skipper has an interest in making a mountain out
of a mole hill, we grant to those who argue from
these considerations against being bullied out of a
noble cause. * * * * * _
Os course fTe shall be told these are the coun
sels of a coward, and that we are setting th£ ter
rible example of yielding to the argument of
might. We might almost concede this. We
might even confess that, if the truth must be
spoken, we are yielding to a still worse argument
than that of might. We are yielding to-the ar
gument of the United States government, being
incapable of standing us ground against the pas
sions of a populace tirthe interest of a in
other words, to the argument of superior weak
ness and liniii-»rality. But there are cases in
whiebLcmr *g*« is mere fo«ti hardiness; and there
are Smi cases in which we* in ur not only all the
risks of uu side, but also the risks of the ayt&go
nist. Ptiere ay. nations enough and occasions
enough iu wduh we may show the courage of ;r
oui race. If any body doubts, we may point to
India at this mom. n l ,, where we are fighting
against a* great u.ihcußts and odds as those en
countered by Cortez or Pizzai ro. . * .llpF
Bui whai is now to be doue, and what is the
danger that presses.? It is simper the danger of
thai official vis numamti which “ goes on’ with
whatever it has begun. Great as is the power of
office “ not to do" a thing, its power to “go on" j
doing it is Biill greater. At# this very moment, it \
would seem, from the answer given she other ,
night in the Commons, a mischief is operating,
ripening, coming to a head, and produciug, right
ly or not, a serious grievance across ghe Atlantic,
without a word of communication with the British
government, and without any knowledge ot the
matter, except through the American papers. Will
our government wait till the grievance has fes
tered to the regulation soreness ? WiU it do noth
ing till, in the coarse of a month or two* there ar
rive simultaneously a dry report of operations
from the squadron and an angry demand for dam
ages from the American government ? Something ]
might be done now withjgrace and dignity,
Cctcutnavi, June 18.—The fiver is fading ra
pidly. 1
The African Apprentice System ol
France.
We find in the Liverpool Timet,of the fifth inst.,
a report of the remarks made'by Lord Brougham
at a recent meeting of the British and Foreign
Anti-Slavery Society, over which he presided.
Among other subjects to which his Lordship allud
ed, was the African apprentice system of France,
in relation to which he gave some interesting in
formation communicated to him by French officers
who had been engaged in superintending the ship
ment of “ apprentices” from the coast of Africa to
Gaudaloupe and Martinique. It appears from the
testimony of these officers of the French’ govern
ment that its apprentice system is Simply the re
vival of the slave trade under another name—al
though the negroes kidnapped under it, are treat
ed with as freemen and bound to service for a lim
ited number of years—tint the mortality among
these free apprentices, on a thirty days passage
from Africa to the West Indies, is ten per cent' —
that the majority of those who are landed ulti
mately find their way as slaves, to the island of
Cuba. _
British Aggressions.
By reference to the proceedings of the last day
of the special session of the Senate, in another
column, it will be seen that the resolutions in re
ference to British aggressions finally adopted by
that body, were those which were introduced by
Mr. Masox, of Virginia, on Tuesday, and publish
ed by us on yesterday.
The vote, on Wednesday, upon the motion of
Mr. Mason, to proceed to the censideration of
these resolutions, was as follows:
“Yeas—Messrs. Allen, Bell, Benjamin, Bigler,
Brown, Clay, Clingman, Crittenden, Davis, Doug
las, Fitch, Fitzpatrick, Gwin, Hammond, Hayne.
Houston, Hunter, Iverson, Johnson ol Arkansas,
Jones, Kennedy, King, Mason, Polk, Reid, Sebas
tian, Slidell, Stuart, Trumbull, Wade, Wright,
and Yulee—32.
“Nays—Messrs. Broderick, Harlan and Pugh—3.
“Absent.or not voting—Messrs. Bates, Bayard,
Bright, Cameron, Chandler, Clark, Coliamer, Dix
on, Doolittle, Durkee, Fessenden, Foot, Foster,
Green, Hale, Hamlin, Johnson of Tennessee, Mal
lory, Pearce, Rice, Seward, Shields, Simmons,
Sumner, Thompson of Kentucky, Thomson of
New Jersey, Toombs, and Wilson—23.”
The resolutions were then adopted without de
bate, and without a division.
An Excellent Prayer.
The following is a passage from the prayer of
the clergyman who officiated in the House of Rep
resentatives on the last day of the session :
“ Be with them in their weakness, strengthen
them with thy strength, scan with thy searching
eye all their legislative acts, and we pray thee,
O Lord, that Thou wilt overrule all their doings?'
Sain Houston and the English Holders
of Mexican Bonds.
The London Times of the Ist inst., contains
the proceedings of a public meeting of Mexican-
English bond holders, which was held in London
on the 28th of May. At this meeting a series of
resolutions were unanimously adopted, among
which were the following in relation to Gen.
Houston’s proposition for an American protector
ate of Mexico;
Resolved, The committee having, the 26th inst.,
received a letter from Gen. Houston, of Texas,
Senator of the United States, enclosing the speech
with which, on the 20th wit., he introduced in the
Senate the following resolution, viz.: * ‘ That a se
lect committee of seven be raised to enquire and
report to the Senate whether or not it is expedient
for the government of the United States of Amer
ica to declare and maintain a protectorate over the
so-called Republic of Mexito, in'such form and to
such extent as shall be necessary to secure to this
Union good neighborhood, and to Hie people of
said country the benefitofanorderlv and well regu
lated republican governmentajid the same hav
ing been read and considered, at this general meet
ing of the Mexican bond holders, it was—
Resolved, That this meeting, without presuming
to give an opinion on the future destinies of Mexi
co, or on the policy, so far as Mexico herself is con
cerned, of her either remaining an independent
State under her own government, or placing her
self under a protectorate of the United States of
America, desires to express its unanimous approval
of the principles of Gen. Houston’s proposal, as
set forth in the above resolution, and as explained in
his pn n ted Bpeecb,so far as the Mexican bond holders
are concerned; but with this just and very neces
sary addition to the honorable Senator’s state
ment, that, as by the express terms of the bond,
as well as by the law of October 14, 1850, article
two, paragraph three, not only the hypothecated
duties, but the entire revenue of the Republic are
absolutely pledged and mortgaged for the English
public debt of Mexico, any deficiency of the pro
duce ot the duties specially hypothecated to pro
vide for the current dividend, and for all arrears
of interest must be made good out of the general
revenue of the Republic, whether Mexico contin
ues an independent State or seeks repose under
the protectorate of the United States of America;
and that this meeting request their chairman,
David Robqrtson, Esq., to convey the present re
solution to Gen. Houston, and to communicate with
him generally on the subject in reply to his letter.
83?“ Ex-Secretary Stanton is now canvassing
Kansas, and urging the people to reject the Le
compton Constitution, with the conditions propos
ed by Congress, in the bill for the admission of
the State adopted by it. The election will take
place on the Ist of August. We see it stated that
some of the Missouri members, before leaving
Washington, expressed the opinion that the people
would accept the proposition of Congress, and
come into the Union under the Lecompton Consti
tution. We doubt it very much. Gen. Calhoun,
it seems, has not, as he is pledged to do, issued cer
tificates to the free State members of the legisla
ture elected under that Constitution, and if he
fails to do this, before the election occurs, the rati
fication of the Constitution will certainly be de
feated.
We are indebted to the author, Andrew H.
H. Dawson, Esq., for a copy of his oration o» the
origin, purposes and claims of the Ladies’
Vernon Association, which is published by E. J.
Purse, of Savannah, Ga.
jgf The amount of the appropriations made at
the late session of Congress, is sixty-eight million
debars—or twelve millions fcss than it was report
ed immediately after the adjournment.
J3?“Young Powbes, who was to have been execu
tes in Washington Citvon Friday last, for the mur
der of Lutz, was respited by the President on Friday
morning, at 10 o’clock. His execution will take
place on Saturday, the 26th inst.
iSidxey Webster, Esq.„of Boston, who was pri
vate Secretary to President Pierce, has been ap
pointed t® be a Commissioner of the United States,
in place of Judge Lomuhs, recently selected to' fill
the vacancy Jn the Court of Claims, occasioned by
the death of Judge (IncnErsi.
“ Total Failure.” —77« United Utatee Frigate
Niagara. —lt is well known that the United States
frigate Niagara, believed to be one of the finest
ships belonging to our navy, is now.engaged in
helping Epgiand to lay down a telegraph cable
across theTAtlantic, which is a complete monopoly
of that government, our . government having no
interest in the cofepany ei.cept to assist England
in the monopoly scheme by tendering the services
of out Vessels of wax. For this disinterested pa
triotism on oar paTt the London Timet pays the
Niagara the following backhanded compliment:
“ i?o much has been said about this Niagara and
snch exagg°rated runiors-have been afloat respect
ing her general capacity as a war steamer, that
many ofour readers may b.e surprised to learn that
as a war steamed she is almost a total failure. Her
share of the cable is admirably well distributed
throughout her eStire length, and thus, of course,
any chance of updue strain m a heavy »ea is in a
great measure obviated. Still, strange to say,
| though those on board assert that she is a much
1 stronger vessel than-.the Agamemnon, her decks
1 appear to have giyef delvn under the pressure of
. I the enormous coils to a much greater extent than
lie perceptible on board the latter.”
I Monsieur Belly and the Nicaraguan
Transit Route.
* We publish in another column, from the Paris
1 correspondence of the London Times, a copy of
1 what purports to be a convention for the construc
* tion of a ship canal across the isthmus, by the San
‘ Juan river and Lake Nicaragua, recently conclud
» ed between the “ Supreme Chiefs of the- Repub
lics of Costa Rica and Nicaragua,” and M. Felix
3 Belly, “ publicist Knight of the orders of J3t.
Maurice and Lazarus and of the Medjiole,” who
* represents himself and the banking house of P.
J M. Paris. Appended to this extraor
dinary document is another still more extraordi
nary, stiled a “declaration,” by which the Supreme
Chiefs of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, after reciting
that those States are menaced by another invasion
Os American filibusters, which is in preparation
under the patronage of the government of the
United States, place them under the protection of
England, France and Sardinia, that their indepen
dence and nationality may be guarantied by those
powers, as that of the Ottoman Empire has been.
The London Times pronounces this scheme of
Monsieur Belly utterly impracticable, inasmuch
as it will be impossible for that enterprising gen
tleman or his employers, to raise by subscription
or otherwise, the eighty millions of dollars which,
it is estimated, the proposed interoceanic canal
across the Territory of Nicaragua will cost. But
if the scheme were practicable, it never could be
carried out, as there are other parties who have
as much interest as Monsieur Belly or the house
•fMiLLAun, or the French government, in the Ni
caragua transit route, who have not been consult
ed in this arrangement, and will interfere to pre
vent its consummation, if indeed, it is seriously
proposed. England for instance, has some interest
in this transit route, as one of the gateways to the
East, to Australia, to Vancouver’s Island, and her
other American possessions, which, whose value
and importance, she is just beginning to realise,
and it is not probable that she will quietly suffer
it to pasq into the exclusive control of France.
The United States, too, has. some interest in all
the transit routes across the Isthmus, and a policy
in reference to the American continents, with
which Modft. Belly’s proposed arrangements will
interfere, and it is not probable that she will quiet
ly yield the Monroe doctrine, permit France to
acquire a controling influence in two of the States
of Central America, and to station vessels of war
in their waters to exact tribute from her commerce,
passing the Isthmus by the Nicaragua transit.
These two governments, England and the United
States, have been engaged for years in a fruitless
negotiation to reconcile their conflicting interests
in Central America, and to secure the neutrality
of its inter-oceanic communications, and they can
not suffer any scheme to be consummated which
ignores their interests and places one of the Isth
mus routes uuder the guns of another power. If
they could, there are other parties who have inter
ests in Nicaragua who could not, and would not,
permit Mons. Belly’s project to be carried out.
The whole is utterly ridiculous, and only worthy
of attention as an illustration of the way in which
this government is habitually treated by the gov
ernments of Central America—for the forbearance
which it exercises towards them, and as an ex
planation of the unexpected rejection of the Cass-
Yrissari treaty.
The Atlantic Telegraph Fleet.
We publish in another place this morning an in
teresting letter about the telegraph fleet. The Sa
vannah Republican, in introducing the letter to its
readers, says: “ The letter of our intelligent cor
respondent on board the Niagara will be read with
interest, it being the most complete and authentic
account of the operatiops of the telegraphic fleet
yet given to the public. We expect, so far as op
portunity may offer, to keep accurately posted on
the movements of the steamers while laying down
the cable. Our correspondent is an officer op
board the Niagara, and is the samq.who occupied
a post last year on the Cyane, in ttye Gulf of Mex
ico, and furnished us with a number of excellent
letters on Central American affairs.”
Stumers Hasby, the man who killed Mr. j
Stone recently in New Orleans, has been acquitted. '
Members of Congress will be elected dur- 1
ing the present year in New York, Pennsylvania, x
Ohio, Indiana, Missouri and Arkansas. i
The Memphis papers report the death of
the Hoi. Wm. R. Harris, of the Supreme Court of
Tennessee. He died at his residence in Memphis,
on Saturday morning, the 19th mst., from injuries
received by the explosion of the steamer Pennsyl
vania.
Charles Mackat is going to enlighten his friends
as to the merits of Catawba wine. Four boxes
passed through Cleveland from Cincinnati on Fri
day, consigned to him at the office of the Illustra
ted, London News .
It is said that the steamer Fulton, of the Gulf
Squadron, is to be ordered home immediately, to
re4%uip for Paraguay, under the command of
Lieut. Almy.
Mayor Waterman and the New Orleans
Common Council*
The New Orleans Delta , of Wednesday, contains
a message of Mayor Waterman to the Board of As
sistant Aldermen, vindicating his course in con
nection with the late troubles in that city, and
calling upon them to do him what justice he may
be rightly entitled to at their hands.
We find in the proceedings of the Assistant Al
dermen on Friday evening the following in rela
tion to the subject:
Mr. Lombard moved to lay it (the communica
tion of Waterman) on the table.
Mr. Phelps moved that it be subject to call. 4
Mr. Ranney objected, unless the subject should
be called up again during the evening.
Mr. Lombard then rose and delivered himself of
the following remarks, substantially: That he
thought this .was a bad time to take uny action on
this matter; that the retent outrages were too
fresh in the minds of the people, and especially of
this Board, to bring them up for considefiition:
That the Muvof, chicken-hearted as he was, had
failed to do his duty, as wished by the Couucil,
and had placed himself under the protection of a
lawless mob, and now wap ted to excuse himself
before this Board.
Mr. Ranney replied, that he believed that the
Mayor had done as he thought Best; that H was
trying times—the least word or look from him
would have caused bloodshed, and the evils result
ing from a civil war; that he called upon the mi
litia, and they would not answer; that he called
upon the Louisiana Legion, und that they refused
to come out; and the Washimrton Artillery re
fused to rally around their standard for the simple
reason that "many of their members were behind
the barricades;* the citizens would not support
him. What was he to do ? What oould he have
done? It is very easy to talk' of courage. Cour
age is a mere animal propensity, which the ball
dog possesses, and also the bull, when, his eyes
shut, he goes ahead, regardless of consequences.
Mr.' Phelps did not know what they had to do
with, the communication. •
Mr. Lombard said that Mr. Waterman was not
1 Mayor, and consequently, not entitled to an}
more civility than any pther private dozen.
Mr. Magioni replied that he was still the Mayor,
but had not to act at present.
Mr..Ranney finally offered a resolution to the
effect that the letters of .impeachment preferred
by l this Board be withdrawn, Ac.
A recess of ten minutes was taken, after which
a motion was made to lay everything on the table,
and that when this Board adjourns 4 meet on Fri
day evening next. Adopted.
Illinois Politics-. —Mr. Havne, late United
States District Attorney for Illmom, and hitherto
a strong supported of Judge Douglas, has written
a letter, urging the necessity of a union of the
Democratic party, and fcking the ground that as
the Ksmsas question has been aettEedj there can be
no longer any* reason for maintaining a position of
hostility to the Administration.— Lxchange.
\jST The Hon. C. M. Waterman was re-instated
as Mayor of New Orleans on the 18th ins’t:, and on
the next day formally resigned the office.
From Gorreepoyidenct. qf the Savannah Republican.
From the Atlantic Telegraph Fleet.
U. S. Steam Frigate Niagara, •\
At Sea, Wednesday, June 2, 1858. )
Editor Savannah Republican;
On the 28d of March last, we arrived at Ply
mouth sound, and on the 25th, proceeded up the
river Tamar, and anchored of Keyham Docks.
A few day s afterwards found ns safely at our
berth in one of the docks, with H. M. 8. Agamem
non near us, taking on board the Atlantic tele
graph cable, which was landed here last year,
shortly after the failure of the enterprise, the ob
ject of which was to connect the Old and the New
Worlds.
We immediately began our doty ot taking on
board the portion'of the cable allotted to us, and
by the 20th May, that portion of our task was
finished. By this time the Agamemnon had also
performed that portion of her duty, and each ship
had a little over fifteen hundred miles of cable on
board. We might sooner have finished this part
of our work, but were detained for some time by
the non-arrival of that portion of the cable which
had recently been made at London. Machinery
for paying out had also to be made and put up
after our arrival; so, taking everything into con
sideration, I think it will be conceded that little
time has been lo6t. In the meantime, experiments
were made by the electricians of the company in
sending messages tnrough the entire wire, three
thousand miles in length, and their efforts were
crowned with complete success.
It may not be inapposite here to mention that
an American arrived on the field about this time
with an instrument by which he could print two
words and-a-half a minute, whilst it was with dif
ficulty or’at least with uncertainty, that the Eng
lish electricians could get one word through the
wire, iu signs, in the same length of time. A good
deal of jealousy arose on the subject, as the Amer
ican was endeavoring to induce the company to
adopt his instrument, which certainly was infinite
ly superior to that of his rivals, and I understood
the matter was warmly discussed before the Board
of Directors, but with what result I have yet to
learn.
If the enterprise succeeds, of which those who
are engaged in it are very sanguine, too much
cndit cannat be awarded to our countrymen for
the share they will have in its accomplishment.
Mr. Field, especially, has shown an amount of bu
siness tact, and indomitable perseverance that is
wonderful. For the last two months he has seemed
to be übiquitous; one day he would be seen in
Pans, the next in London, and on the third he
would be found in Plymouth, superintending, in
quiring, receiving and making suggestions, Ac.,
Ac., and wherever he has been, ne has made a
host of friends. However, it is almost useless to
say this of a man who is so well known at home,
and whose social as well as business quifications
commend him to the first commercial meu in Eu
rope. Another of our countrymen has been in
England some length of time, employed in super
intending the machinery for paying out the cable;
a post of the highest importance, which he has
filled most creditably. lie being a brother officer,
I will not mention his name, for fear you may ac
cuse m* of being partial in my judgment; indiei,
I may have already laid myself open to the charge.
During the time’the cable was being received
on board, several of us who could be temporarily
spared were granted a short leave of absence which
we spent in visiting Paris, London, and a portion
of the interior of England. We saw much to ad
mire, and especially have we to acknowledge the
kindness and warm-hearted hospitality extended
to us during our stay in the mother country. The
citizens of Plymouth, and the officers of the army
and navy have oeen unrerniting in their attention*;
so, with balls,parties, picnics, Ac., our time has
been pleasantly, it not profitably spent.
The directors of the Telegraph Company, after
hearing of the sad condition of the Sfasquehannah,
and the inability of our government to furnish
another, applied to the “ Admiralty ” for a ship to
accompany'us on the voyage. Their request was
immediately granted, and her Majesty’s ship Gor-
S>n placed at the disposal of the company. On
st Friday it was announced that the telegraph
ic squadron would proceed to sea immediate
ly, for the purpose of making an experimental
cruise. On Saturday, the 29th of May, the vessels
composing the squadron, viz: her Majesty’s ships
Agamemnon, Valorous aud Gorgon, with the
United States frigate Niagara, weighed anchor and
arrived on the cruising ground in the bay of Bis
cay, on Monday morning. Being about three hun
dred miles from Plymouth, ana about one hun
dred from land, the chart indicating a sufficient
depth of water, the ships hove to and the Valor
ous sent out boats to sound. At about three P. M.,
she reported having obtained two thousand five
hundred fathoms; this being sufficient, a hawser
fefif from our ship to the Agamemnon, which
Semg made fast and the ships about three hun
dred yards apart, one end of the cable was sent
from the Niagara to the Agamemoon, and after :
splicing the experiments began.
Each ship commenced lowering away, allowing
about two hundred and fifty yards of cable to rnu
at a time, when the brakes were applied and the
cable either Checked or stopped at will. When- i
ever this amount had been paid out, it was made
known to each ship by signals, and if we happened i
to be ahead of the Agamemnon, the cable was stop
d until it was signalised from‘the latter that she
paid out the same amount; the brakes were
again eased and the cable permitted to run. We
had at length paid out one mile each when an at
tempt was made to recover it; this only partially
succeeded, for after getting the greater part of it,
the cable came iu contact with the hawser which
was cut in two by friction ; the vessels separated,
brought too severe a strain upon the cable, and it
parted. Prior to this, the electricians on both ships
ascertained that the electric current was transmit
ted perfectly.
The whole of yesterday, and the forenoon to-day
were devoted to differ ent experi men ts, sach as buoy
ing the cable, paying it out at different rates of speed,
applying brakes to test its strength, Ac. Occa
sionally it parted as was expected, some of the
experiments being made with a defective cable,
but the gentlemen who are personally interested
pronounce the result a success. Each mile of the
cable weighs about one ton, and it is not probable
that after two or two and a half miles are paid out
it can be recovered, although it is calculated it
should bear a weight of over three tons. The
machinery for paying out the cable is infinitely
superior to that used last year, and works admira
bly; in fact, no expense or pains have been
spared in any of the arrangements to render the
success of the enterprise complete.
From the recent experiments, I believe it is con
cluded there will be less waste of cable, and
fewer chances of its parting when it is laid at the
crate of five or six knots an hour, than if we pro
ceed at a lower rate of speed; and also that the
breaks should not be applied heavily, as between
.thirty aud filly par cent of cable has been allowed
for waste.
The weather has been propitious for our experi
ment. although we would not have objected to a
small blow, as that is one of the risks we may have
to encounter on our final trip. Yesterday, at noon,
wishing to send the results of our trips to Lon
don,message were writtenon small stripsor parch
ment aud secured under the wings of three carrier
pigeons we had brought for the purpose ; but. the
birds, after being tossed into the air, made a flight
of a mile or so, then circled over our piast heads,
and at length settled on the spars. They amused
themselves during the afternoon visiting, the
different ships, and this morning we found two
still with us, which have remained throughout the
day.
At about noon to-day the Agamemnon having
finished experimenting, set sail for Plymouth,
leaving her consprt, the Valorous. The Gorgon
was on our starboard quarter when we tiaishfed .ur
experiments; the Valorous about five.miles ahead,
and only the topsail*, top-gallafits and royal* of
the Agamemnon could be seen about fifteen miles
distant. It was now suggested to our Captain that
perhaps the Agamemnon intended bearing us into
Plymouth, thereby recovering her laurels-lost last
year! Whereupon the Captain mentioned to the
offiper of the ..deck he might •‘loose our sail to
dry.” . At half-past two, p. rfl., the jib being al
ready on her, we dropped the topsails and set the
foresail; immediatelv we rapidly commenced
closing in tvith »he Valorous, which we passed at.
four, p. m. The hull of the Agamemnon could
now be seen, and the *fi|oke boiling out of her
smoke-tfipe after the fashion* of a Mississippi
steamboat.; she had a cloud of canvass spread and
evidently . intended showing us her heels. We
pursued the even tenor of our wav under short
sail, and at six, p. m., the ports of bur antagonist
were plainly visible with the naked eye. We had
expected to have overhauled her at about eight, p.
m., but unfortunately our sport was spoiled by
thick channel weather setting in; we took in nil
sail, and soon it was so foggy that nothing could
be seen.
Thursday, June 3rd.
We arrived at our anchorage at about six, p.m.,
and quite an exciting day we have had of it. After
taking in sail last night, and “ slowing down ” the
engines, we cam* along at an easy rate, as we aid
not wish to leave the Gofgon. This morning, be
tween eight and nine, a.*m., the fog had partially
lifted, when the Agamemnon was descried about
twelve or fifteen miles ahead of us, the Gorgon in
her wake about five miles ahead, whilst the Valo
rous eould not be seen. Knowing a stem chase
to be a long one,” the revolutions of onr propeller
were increased, and we began to move more rap*
idly through the water. Towards mid-day the
weather had cleared up, atfd .the sea was almost as
smooth as a mirror, there was not sufficient breeze
for the sails to draw, and we had now to depend
on our steam power alone. At one p. m., we had
left the Gorgon some miles astern, but the Aga
memnon still kept five or six miles between us.
The state of the sea and weather was all that
could have been desired by the Agamemnon, aside
from the position she occupied at the commence
ment of the race, and also from the fact that we
were unable to use two of our furnaces on accouot
of their proximity to a coil of cable. Chances ap
peared to be in her favor, although at three, p. m.,
we saw that we had gained on her considerably.
We were at this time about six or eight miles from
the Eddystone light house, and knowing it was
fourteen and a half miles from that point to our
anchorage, we saw it would be necessary for the
Niagara to show her qualities.
The Agamemnon was evidently letting herself
out, we were now near enough to see the water
boiling from under her stem, and the smoke and
steam issuing in huge volumes from her smoke
pipe. We were not idle; a few additional hands
tul of ccal were thrown into the furnaces, when the
slight tremor of our ship and a foaming wake gave
evidence of an increase of speed, which brought us
within about one ahd-a-half miles of our antagonist,
as we came abreast of the Eddystone Light. We
had now fourteen and-a-half miles ahead of us,
and as we drew nearer our companion we found
she had more steam than she could make use of;
steadily did we move up; at five P. M. we were
abreast of her, and in ten minutes after she was
fairly astern about a ship’s length.
We were now within a mile and-a-half of our
anchorage, the was set for a Pilot, and
orders given to “slow down.” A few minutes af
terwards the Agamemnon glided past us and took
up her position in the sound.
But a short while elapsed before the Pilot board
ed us and conducted us to our present position,
which we will occupy for a week or ten days ; at
at the expiration of which time we anticipate tak
ing our final departure from the shores of Old
England. Yours truly, H.
From the Paris Correspondent of the London Times.
The Nicaragua Ship Canal.
Result of Mr. Betty's Operations in Central
America—His Convention with Nicaragua and
Costa Rica—A European Protectorate, etc., etc.
I have just received from Nicaragua, under date
of the Ist of May, the copy of a convention con
cluded and signed between the governments of
Costa Rica and Nicaragua on the one part, and 11.
Felix Belly, acting on behalf of Mr. Millaud A Co.,
of Paris, on the other, relative to the concession
of au iuteroceanie canal by the river Sun Juan
and Lake Nicaragna. The document is as fol
lows :
CONVENTION.
“On the proposition oi M. Feliix Belljr, and
with a view to put an end to the dissensions which
heretofore divided them, and the uncertain posi
tion in which Central America has been placed by
existing treaties, the two governments of Nicara
gua and Costa Rica have agreed to bind them
selves in common (solidairement)' for the conces
sion of an interoceanic canal across the Isthmus
of Nicaragua to an international company, which
M. Felix Belly and M. P. M. Millaud of Paris, pro
pose to form on the broadest basis, and without
distintion of nations.
And, as this new concession is to contain in its
provisions the settlement of several political and
economical matters of great importance for the
governments of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, as also
in order to give to M. Felix Belly a special proof
of the esteem whuch his exertions have acquired
for him throughout Central America, the Supreme
Chiefs of the two governments have resolved to
atlix, by exception, their own signatures to the in
strument, which sets forth their reciprocal engage
ments.
Wherefore, between the undersigned, his Excel
lency, Gen. Don Tomas Martinez, President of the
Republic of Nicaragua, and his Excellency, Don
Juan Rafael Mora, President of the Republic of
Costa Rica, on the one part, and M. Felix Belly,
publicist, Knight of the Orders of St. Maurice aud
Lazarus and or the Medjiole, acting as well in his
own name as in that of M. P. M. Millaud A Co.,
of Pans, (his powers having been verified,) on the
other, the following Convention has been agreed
to, which shall be henceforth the law for atj the
parties, save ratification by the Congress of Costa
Kica and Nicaragua respectively :
Art. 1. The two governments of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica grant to MM. Felix Belly ana P. M.
Millaud an exclusive privilege for the execution
and working of a maritime canal between the At
lantic and Pacific oceans, interdicting themselves
from any ulterior concession of canals in the Ter
ritory of the two Republics pending the duration
of the privilege as undermentioned.
Art. ii The duration of concession accorded
to MM. F. Belly and P. M. ilaud will be for nine
ty-nine years from the daw of the opening of the
canal.
Art. 3. The grantees will have the right to
choose the line which their engineers may judge
the most advantageous and most practicable, pro
vided the said line ascends the river San Juan in
all its length, crosses the Lake of Nicaragua, and
issues on the Pacific between the two extreme
points of Salinas and Realejo.
Art. 4. In case the line beginning with the
mouth of the Sopoa, on lake Nicaragua, and issu
ing in the bay of Salinas, on the Pacific, be recog
nised as practicable by engineers, this line will be
chosen in preference by the Company to issue on
the lake ot Nicaragua to the Pacific,* and by that
fact the canal will become in its entire length the
definite limit of the two States of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica. Should the contrary be the case, the
limit will remain as it now is, saving ulterior
arrangements.
Art. 5. There is accorded to the grantees as
their property, of which they may take possession
as soon as the works are begun, a French league
of land on each aide of the line of the cuuai, to
whichever of the two States the territory belongs,
with the obligation to the grantees to make the
survey, measurement, and iftoitation at their own
expense of this double trip of four kilometres in
length.
Art. 6. For the passage of the Lake of Nicara
gua the shortest course shall be considered as one
of the sides of the canal, and from that will be
come the property of the grantees to the extent of
a French league, and a surface equal to that curve
will be granted to them on the other side, either
in the isles or on the border of the lake, at their
own choice, provided those lands belong to the
State.
Art. 7. All the mines of coal, gold, silver, and
every other mineral, situate and discovered od the
lands of the company, will be granted to it bv
right, and on the condition specified in the law's
relating to mines in tha=countrv.
Art. 8. In return for the advantages, the
grantees undertake, without subsidy, all the cost
of the construction, maintenance and working of
the inter-oceanie canal.
Art. 9. Moreover, eight per cent, of the gross
revenue of the working wtil be applied in equal
portions (four* per cent, for each,) pending the
continuance of the concession, to the treasuries of
the two Republics of Nicaragua and Costa Rica.
Art. 10. The two contracting States guarautee
lot-common the grantees, their agents, and their
property, against every attack, external or in
lerual; under the penalty of damages, to be tix*-d
by arbitration, and to' be paid out of the eight
per cent.'applicable to the Treasuries.
■ Art.-11. The two ports which will form-the
two heads of the canal on the pacific and A t lantic
are from this day forward declared free ports, uu<i
they will eujoy forever ail the immunities in. . .
by that title.,
Art. 13# A lighthouse of the first order shall
1 be erected at the expense of the two Republics at
each head of the canal six months before the date
of its opening, in order that the declaration to
that effect ua.., pe made to the commerce of the
world in due lime. But, if the two Republics de
mand it, the company will undertake the erection
of those lighthouses, save compensation after-.
ward from the eight per cent, applicable to the
Treasuries.
Art. 13. The contracting parties declare for
mally that the canal shall be opened on the same
title to all flags, and that an uniform tax, the most
moderate possible, shall be imposed equally on all
merchandise, from whatever part it proceeds.
This tax is now fixed at ten per cent per maritime
tun, (one thousand kilogrammes,) and at sixty
francs for each person. The company can never
increase it, but it reserves to itself to reduce it at
a later period, if the interests of the trade of tbe
world be not opposed to its own interests.
Art. 14. As a special measure, all ships belong
ing, to the company having obtained the grant,
whatever be their nag, will,during ten years enjoy
a free passage, provided they do not carry any
merchandise for expoi Vstion.
.Art; 15. No tax can be imposed, under any
pretext whatever, for twenty years, on the lands,
■. ■ -■ ■
buildings, private agricultural produce, or on any
of the material of the company. *
Art. 10. The grantees are authorised to bar.thp-
Rio Colorado, and to execute in general on tfil
river San Juan, on its branches, its confluents,
and its tributaries, as well as on the Lake of Nica
ragna v such works of ari, barrage, embankment,
dredging, Ac., as their engineers may consider
necessary to maintain the level of the canal.
Art. 17* The company will further have a right
to impose on merchants such regulations of order
and public administration as it may think proper
I to publish for the good of the service, provided
I that the sovereign rights of the States of Nicara
gua and Costa Rica do not suffer any injury.
Art. 18. In order to meet all the requirements
of its intended purposes, the canall shall be con
structed of such dimensions that it will be acces
sible to the largest ships, and its width permit
those ships to pass each other without collision. .
Art. 19. From the date of the signature of the
present insti umen t a period of two years is accord
ed to the company to commence its work, and six
their complete execution, unless uscon
trolable events occur. These periods, moreover,
may be at any time extended.
Art. 20. As it is just that the two governments
°5 • lC ST as i! m an< * Costa Rica should be represent
ed in the Board of Directors of the company, the
Ministers of these two States accredited in Paris,
shall be by right members of this Cqnncil, and en
advantages attached to that position,
mth the exception that they can have but one vote.
Art. 21. W the date of the payment of the
first half yearly instalment of the portion of the
profits reserved for the two States of Nicaragua
and Costa Rica, all monopolies serving to consti
tute financial resources shall cease in these two
States, and none can hereafter be established,
either on the produce of the country or any branch
of commerce or manufactures! war stores excepted.
Art. 22. For the entire dural ion of the conces
sion of the canal, the customs’ duties at the entry
and outlet cannot exceed three per cent, on the
value of the merchandise.
Art. 23. The contractors engage reciprocally to
immediately take the necessary steps with the
governments of France, Great Britain and the
United States, that the neutrality of thecanal shall
be guarantied by those three powers, on the basis
established in the Clayton-Bulwer treaty.
Art. 24. As long as this guarantee shall not have
been officially declared by the publication of the
treaty to be concluded for that purpose, the en
trance to the canal shall be rigorously closed to all
ships of war, and the States on its banks may
adopt, in concert with the company, such measures
as they may consider necessary to cause such in
terdiction to be respected.
Art. 25. As soon as the neutrality of the canal
shall be solemnly guaranteed by anact emanating
from one of* the governments' of France, Great
Britain, or the United States, the entrance may be
permitted to ships-of-war by a unanimous declare*
tion of these three powers, provided the govern
ments of Nicaragua and Costa Rica put no opposi
tion to it, and saving a previous regulation with
the company enjoying the concession..
Art. 20. As an exceptional measure, and in er
der to protect the interests and responsibility of a
company whose direction is entirely French, the
French government will have aright to keep two
ships-of-war stationed in the watert of the canal or
in the Lake of Nicaragua for the entire duration of
the works.
Art. 27. Every civil difference relative to the
execution of this convention shall be sovereignly
judged by a permanent commission of
two arbitrators chosen by the company, (if a
magistrate appointed by each of the two States on
the banks of tne canal, and of the oldest French
Consular Agent accredited in these two States,
Art. 28. IS very political difference relative to
the execution of this convention shall be laid
before a tribunal of arbitration, compossed of two
representatives of the Company, of a representa
tive of each of the live States interested as guaran
tees—France, Great Britain, the United States,
Nicaragua and Costa Rica—who shall pronounce
judgment according to a relative majority.
Made at Rivas, in triplicate, the Ist of May, 1838
—the anniversary of Walker’s capitulation.
Signed, and sealed with the seal of the two gov
ernments, in the house which was the headquarters
of the national army.
The President of the Republic of Nicaragua.
Tomas Makti.nbk.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Grkgorio Juarez.
The President of the Republic of Costa Rica,
• Juan Rafael Mora.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Nazario Toledo.
(For MM. Felix Belly and P. M. Milhiud,)
Felix Bellt.
DECLARATION' AGAINST THE UNITED STATES AND IN
FAVOR OF A EUROPEAN PROTECTORATE.
The following is appended:
The Supreme Chiets of the two Republics of
Nicaragua and Rica, assembled at Rivas,
after having settled the questions which divided
the two Republics, and having re-established peace
and the most complete harmony between them,
with a common accord, and in. order to secure the
independence and safety of the two countries, as
well as of all the States of Central America:
Considering that a fresh invasion of American
fillibusters still menaces the independence of
Costa Rica and Nicaragua in contempt of all the
laws that protect cations and that guarantee the
lives and properties of citizens in civilised
countries;
That this invasion, officially reprobated by the
Government of the United States, is preparing in
reality under its patronage, as the means of defi
nitively taking possession of Central America, if
Central America refuse to surrender itself volunta
rily to the United States:
That hitherto ail the official agents of the United
States at Nicaragua have been the accomplices
and auxiliaries of the invaders, acting as masters,
and audaciously hoisting the Sag of* the United
States in all carts where, as at Sac Juan del Sud.
the flag of Nicaragua only ought to float, and
openly menaced Central America with an inevita
ble annexation:
That the Minister actually accredited to Nicara
gua boasts in public of peremptorily proposing
this her the legal possession* of Ni
caragua by the ratification ol the treaty Cass Yria
sari, or a fresh invasion of the fillibusters already
organized at Mobile under the American flag:
That, moreover, the government of the United
States has, according to official reports made to
that of Costa Kica by its Minister Plenipotentiary
at Washington, declared that it was utterly power
less to prevent fresh attempts by the fillibusters,
or to protect the neutrality of Central America,
owing to the insufficiency of the laws of the Uni
ted States on this head:
Considering that the years of war and. devasta.
tion have deprived the two Republics of uie means
of resisting a fresh attack on the part of many
thousands of brigands : that the towns'of Nicara
gua are destroyed in whole or in part; that their
commerce is annihilated, their population deci
mated; and that after a desperate* resistance,
their patriotism, they mustsuccomb
before a superiority of numbers, unleas Europe
deign at last to defend them against attempts un
precedented in the nineteenth peutory ;
They declare solemnly:
1. That they place the convention above men
tioned, relative to the canal of Nicaragua, under
the patronage of civilised Europe by appealing to
the justice and humanity of ail Christian nations
against the attacks of pirates and ,buccaneers, 'of
whom they have bven for three yeafs the victims.
2. That they place ihe independence and nation
ality of the Republics of Nicaragua and Cbsta Rica
under the gu .rantee qf the threir powers who have
eausbii the indepmi aud nationality of, the
Ottoman Empire to be respected, pam«v, |Tranee*
England ami Surtliuiu. f
3. Thiii they tile governments of these
three powers not, to leave the coasts of
• tHio .il Atrial tea wn I defense, its rich countries
: ‘ “•*' ‘.V barbarians, and the future route
of 'tie iuuv»4 ne World without a serious iftsar
autee of liberty and asmrality.
4 Tbat .oey oindTheinselves in the uame of
tlii ir people •«» iccept trom those three-pow
ers ail he e •uuiuous they may attach to their as
sistance, , r-»viucd ihe pub.ic law of xiviUsed Eu
rope be ex ended to all the States of America, and
■irapo»-d by force, if needs be, on lU&se whoso au
daciously vi late it
In faith whereof they sign the present declara
tlon - Rivas, 0
T6Has Martinez,
„ Juan Rafael Mora.
May 1, 1858.
Baltimore, June 19.—The American Bank,
which lately opened here under doubtful circum
stances, closed iff doors this morning. It is ‘sup
posed to- have a considerable western circulation.
Its funds have all been withdrawn from the Bank
of Commerce. s
New York, June 20.—The Black Warrior with
dates from Havana to the 15th inst., has arrived.
The Fulton and Water Witch both touched at
Cardenas and resumed their cruise.
The American shipmasters, at Havana, had
called a meeting to act on the basis of Sickles*
resolutions, and put their ships in fighting order.