

Correspondence Of the Herald


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Correspondence Of the Herald.1


PENSACOLA, June 8, 1874


CrIi<e of the Potomac in the Gub.-Social Life in


Ieras.-Annsration and Tender Beet.


DEAR BENNET.


Thinking your readers will be interested in
anything that relates to Texas, and believing it
be the duty of every good citizen to rescue from
oblivion the brilliant achievements of his country
men, especially those of naval prowess, lam induc-
ed to attempt brief and unpreending narrative Of
the late cruise of The u s Frgate Potomac, to that
El Dorado of rogues, and broken-down politicians


On the morning of the 9th of May, 1874, the ship
was approaching, with cautious heed, the Bay of
Galveston, with most begerent look. intent on
Furnishing, "according to orders," anybody that
might disposed TO interfere with our negotiations.
A fair wind was fast bringing us to land. At P.
NJ, a cast ofthe lead was got, and Immediately an
order 10 tack ship and stand off This was mo-
ment OF great excitement, as all eyes had been
straining to get sight Of the land. What could be
the matter? The after guard was in great commo-


ton, and gathered IN groups" TO discuss the ques-
ton. One affirmed that the Commodore, on look
ing at the mud on the bottom of the lead, said some
thing like


smell the blood of an Englishman"i


Though, when cornered by old Hatch, the captain Of
the aiter-guard, he was not willing to take his oath
OF the TACT. Idul Try, VINO, Dy the way, Is q very
knowing parsonage, being on intimate terms with


the cook, and looking into the coppers two or three


times every day, had just before 1t struck two bells
asserted that we were going into Galveston and


this order came nigh being the death of him. Fear
ing he might have TIT, little heavy wet" was
administered, and he revived without expert
encing any serious inconvenience. Just as the
first shock of disappointment was wearing of
and we began to console ourselves with the refec-
tion that we should return TO our friends, with
more eyes and hair than we probably should, II we
had actually landed in Texas, an order was given
for " all hands to bring ship to anchor" Now the
mystery was solved. Before we were not at pru-
dent distance, and now we anchored twenty live
miles from Galveston Bar, and about thirty -four
from the city. After the sails were furled and
every thing secured, a council Of war was held 10
select some person of suitable diplomatic and mill
tary qualifications, to perform the delicate and dan
gerous duty Of effectng landing on the approach
day, the day on which we had sailed from port
four successive times Fortunately for our be-
loved country" we had on board an officer who
had distinguished himself in a diplomatic way at
porant place, as well at the taking of Muckle;
He was Immediately selected for that duty, and
early the next morning, the 10th day OF May,
l84-a day long to be remembered In the history
Of our gallant little navy-he left the ship in the
third cutter, armed with six muskets besides the
weapons he had on his person. Cat the suggestion
of the captain, believe he took SIX fishing-llnes
As the officer had been in the habit OF storming





vorabe terms" it had become to be almost favo-
rite pastime, and it was thought prudent in con-
nexion with the fact of his absent mindedness, to
send the Lieutenant Of the Marines with him, lest
| we should have another Monterey affair 0 settle.
For two days we waited in anxious suspense to
hear from the boat expedition. Saturday night, al
intervals, rockets were thrown up and blue lights
burnt. Sunday morning at daylight the United
States Schooner FlIrt seen beating out towards
US, and at 8 o'clock, p. M, anchored under
larboard quarter, having brought the third cut
ter and her parity, and our distinguished Charge,
Gen. Murphy The party from our ship were re-
ceved with the greatest kindness and hospitality
by the Galvestonians, and " the Count" assured us
| all that he found the people far more civilized
than the Inhabitants of many OF the islands in the
Pacific, though he was shocked at the absence OF
silver forks Che forgot that the reason many have
gone to Texas was, they couldn't " fork up,') and
| judged that they were not highly educated, az
none could speak the modern Greek. Of our
| Charge, who was the guest of the Commodore TIL
he returned on Monday, we might VIZ. small
volume, but we desist, lest we might interfere
with the vested rights of his biographer 1t is
enough to say that he has the interest OF " his be
loved county" near his heart, and Judging from his
suite Of rooms, at Shaw's Hotel, he maintains q
very elevated posionsamongjthc inhabitants of our
| sister Republic. Out of regard to the feelings OF
our distinguished visitor all religious a exercises
noon on the 18th, Charge left the ship in COM
| pany with the captain and several officers, and
when fairly clear of the ship, was saluted with the
usual number of guns. During the salute, he stood
up in the boat with his venerable head barred &c
the sun and breeze, his heart eapng at every dis
charge of our large 32's; and when he looked up al


the flag of his beloved country" floating so proud
| ly in the breeze, and occasionally buried in smoke
a blg tear stole down over his care-worn cheek,
and fell on bosom swelling with the deepest emo
| tions OF national pride and glory.


As our first expedition to the shore had little time
to domuch by way OF "cementng the union OF the
two Republics, "itwas deemed advisable to send the
| right sort Of deputation in company with the
Charge. The courtly manners and frank and hon.
| est address OF our captain were not overlooked
and there seeming to be congenallty of spirit be-
tween him and Gen. Murphy, and remarkable
| tendency to ASSIMILATION in character, he was Sc
| lected TO take command Of the cementing deputa
ton. "Par mobile tr.truni, as we say in French,
remarked Paul Pry from the forbidden horse block
as he surveyed the two worthless pacing the quarter
deck. sod profanu,n vulgus, as we say IN modern
Greek" returned "the Count" AT this juncture Of
affairs, it was suggested that the cement might not
stick unless laid on with democratic trowel, and
hereupon the former editor of the North Carolina
Standard was appointed attache to the cementlne
| deputaton. As powerful auxiliary in softenine
and rendering plastic any antagonlstlc Influences
i as we'll as for the purpose OF bringing the German
population into the annexation project, our fiae
| German Band accompanied the deputatIon. AS
the Band were going off to the Flirt, our Chaplain
looking at them from the executive gratlngs, with
from Shakespeare, beginning :" He that hath not
music in his SOUL" &c. Whereupon, a person
standing near remarked that Byron understood hu-
man nature or he never could have penned those
| immortal lines, to which the parson replied, 81
want to know" Here Paul Pry, who had been po.
fishing his cap, while listening TO the poetry, and
who, by the way, is inclined to be facetous, re-
marked, that though Byron had spoken very truth
fully in the lines just quoted, yet they were not So
applicable TO the case in hand as the lines which
| Homer puts in the mouth Of Napoleon in his adj
dress TO his son Louis Philippe, after his victory al
Waterloo-


emusic hath charms to soothe the savage,
Blow a rock, OF split cabbage"


"Do tell,' says the parson. This interesting lit
erary discussion was broken off by the appearance