RATE OF DISCOUNT CHARGED BY THE BANK OF ENGLAND FROM 1ST JANUARY, 1844, TO THE

249 1857.

406

Rate.
61

force.

77

8th Oct...

* Six per cent for short, and seven per cent for long dated bills.

WE have prepared from the official tables the following statement showing, in detail, the total coinage of the United Kingdom the past two years :

There have been coined in the last ten years 47,929,914 sovereigns, 12,058,970 half-sovereigns, also 13,069,370 florins, 20,198,393 shillings, 16,737,520 sixpences, 1,837,694 groats, 41,580 fourpenny pieces, 18,495,796 threepences, 47,520 twopences, 79,200 pence, 479,670 three-halfpenny pieces, together in value £3,002.287, or $15,011,435; and the cost of the silver metal was £2,257,900 or $11,289,000; also, 136,725,120 copper pence, 164,502,685 halfpence, 43,011,152 farthings, 1,591,296 half-farthings, the value of the copper coin being £958,065 or $4,790,325, and the purchase value of the metal £496,543 or $2,482,715.

THE FLORIDA.-ITS CAPTURE IN BRAZILIAN WATERS.

THE announcement of the capture of the Florida at Bahia, has given rise to serious discussion, and if the facts prove to be as stated in the Journal da Bahia, we are certainly in the wrong.

Bahia is a maritime city of Brazil, on All Saints' Bay, about eight hundred miles north-northeast of Rio Janeiro. The harbor is one of the best in America, accessible to vessels of the greatest draught, and is protected by seven forts. It has been a favorite resort of the privateers, for coal and supplies.

The Florida came in on the 5th from Santa Cruz de Teneriffe, in order to repair her engine and take in water, &c. The United States Consul asked the President of the province not to let the vessel into port, and to impose some penalty for her not respecting Brazilian waters in burning an American vessel near the Island of Fernando de Noronha. The President replied that he had

granted her two days to make the repairs that her engine needed.

There was also in port the United States steamer Wachusett. Fearing some fight, since a challenge had been given, the President of the province obtained from the Consul his word of honor (so says the Journal da Bahia) that peace would be kept, and that no action would take place in the port, or within the line of neutrality.

The Florida, for better security, was placed under the batteries of the flagship. On the 6th, its crew being in need of some recreation, half of it was put on liberty, went on shore, and thirty of the crew and some of the officers slept on shore on the nights of the 6th and 7th.

Captain Collins, of the Wachusett, having held a consultation with his officers, determined to sink the Florida in port. Accordingly, at about three o'clock, the cables were slipped, and the Wachusett steered for the Florida, hitting her on the quarter, without doing her great injury.

The following statement of the subsequent facts we take from the Journal da Bahia:

Hardly had the Wachusett struck the Florda, when she fired a shot from a bow gun. At once a mast of the Florida fell over, and she lost some men; but the crew returned a feeble fire.

It is asserted that there was great loss of life at all points in the struggle that took place with revolvers and cold steel, and that it did not last long, for the complement of the Florida was reduced by nearly fifty men. Among the dead is said to be the officer of the deck, who received a ball in the breast; and it is said that an officer named Stone was also killed from a shot in the mouth. Another officer, leaping on board of the Wachusett, struck about him, and fell dead under the many blows dealt at him.

Four sailors of the fifteen who leaped into the sea escaped, and these were picked up by vessels lying near. The other eleven were shot in the water by

the enemy.

After this brief contest there came an interval of silence which was broken by prolonged cheers from the Wachusett.

The chief of division, Gervasio Mancabo, sent a barge under the command of Lieutenant Varella, on board of the Wachusett, to tell its captain to anchor at

once, or he would sink him if he tried to continue his provocation. To this the latter replied, that, on his word of honor, he would do no more, and that he would go back to his ancorage.

This answer was given to the officer, the commander of the steamer not allowing him to come on board.

But the steamer Wachusett had smartly made fast a cable to the Florida, and then feigned to return to its anchorage, steering to the south.

She passed about a cable's length from the bow of the corvette D. Januaria, which then opened fire, sending eight shots at the steamer, which did not return the fire, and, on the contrary, forced its speed to put itself out of range of the fire. The shot nearly all took effect, being delivered by the best gunners.

At this moment, the crews of all the vessels of war being at quarters, the chief determined that the steamer Paraeuse, which had put up steam from the outset of the incidents, should take the corvette in tow as soon as it had enough steam up, sail at the same time being set on the corvette, so that the vessels might rapidly follow the prize. In this order the division set out: steamer Paraeuse, corvette D. Januaria, and tender Rio de Coutas. Owing to the tow of the Florida, it was thought that the corvette could gain upon the United States steamer.

On passing the light-house, the chief of the divisions called together his officers in his cabin, and told them of the insult that had been received, declaring that he was going to sink the steamer, take the prize and carry it into this port, if it was possible. He added that it was their duty to show that the honor of a nation could not with impunity be wounded. These words were received with enthusiasm by all the officers, who called out for an action with great ardor.

Chase was given to the steamers, which were about five miles ahead, making all sail and steam to effect their escape.

At 9 A.M., the Paraeuse, casting off her tow-rope from the corvette, gained greatly upon the American vessels. An action appeared certain to every one; but the wind began to fail.

The steamer Florida, which up to that time was being towed, began to steam, and, with the Wachusett, to gain very fast on our vessels.

The latter continued the chase, and the steamers to run, until they finally went out of sight. Being in shoal water, and losing sight of the fugitive, they gave up the chase at 11 15.

As a matter of interest in this connection, we give the following official mani. festo of the Brazilian Government, issued in June, 1863. By it we may learn the nature of the neutrality determined on and practised by Brazil during our present war:

OFFICIAL CIRCULAR TO THE GOVERNORS OF THE PROVINCES.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rio Janeiro,

June 23, 1863.

Most Illustrious and Excellent Sir.-With the view of giving wider circulation to the directions issued from this bureau on the 1st of August, 1861, in which are set forth the principles regulating the neutrality which the imperial government has resolved to assume in view of the struggle in the United States of North America, as well to explain some of those principles as to indicate in general the cases in which neutrality shall be considered violated and the manner of making it effective, his Majesty the Emperor desires to give your Excellency the following instructions for your information and due execution :

By the words, "except in case of compulsory arrival," mentioned in the circu lar alluded to, it must also be understood,

That the vessel shall not be obliged to leave port within the period of twentyfour hours if she has not been able to effect such preparations as are absolutely necessary to put to sea without risk or danger of being lost.

The same rule will apply in case of bad weather.

And, finally, in case the vessel is pursued by the enemy.

In emergencies of this kind it will be the duty of the Governors at court and the Presidents of the provinces to determine, in view of the circumstances, the time at which the vessel should sail.

The privateers, it always being understood that they conduct no prizes, shall not be admitted into the ports of the empire for more than twenty-four hours, except in case of compulsory arrival. (Salvo o caso de arribıla forcada)

Prizes to which the circular of the 1st of August refers are vessels captured by the belligerents or by the privateers, so that the penalty imposed on those who may conduct prizes shall not be applicable to those who may only be found carrying objects from prizes; but in no case will such objects be allowed to be disposed of.

In conformity with the above mentioned circular, belligerent vessels cannot receive in the ports of the empire anything except such food and naval stores as they may absolutely need, or to take any other measures for the continuation of their voyage. This disposition presupposes that the vessel is destined for some given point, and that only on her course and of necessity she has to enter a port of the empire.

This provision of the circular will not be carried out, however, if the same vessel shall frequently enter a port, or if, after being provisioned in one port, she shall immediately enter another on similar pretences, except in undoubted cases of superior force.

Such frequency of visits, without sufficient reason to justify it, must authorize a suspicion that the vessel is not on a lawful voyage, but that she is cruising in the adjacent waters of the empire to capture hostile vessels.

The aid and assistance which in such a case is given to one of the belligerents must be qualified as aid or favor given against the other, and, therefore, is a violation of our declared neutrality.

Consequently it is declared that a vessel which has once entered one of our ports shall not be received in the same port, or in another shortly after having entered the first, to receive food, naval stores, or for any other purpose, except in cases duly proved of superior force, unless after a reasonable space of time, by which it might be made to appear that the vessel had left the costs of the empire, and that she only returned after completing the voyage she had undertaken.

For the same motives as are herein expressed it will not be permitted in any of the ports of this empire that belligerent vessels shall receive goods imported directly for them in ships of any nation; for this would show that the belligerents do not seek to use our ports on their voyages and in cases of necessity anforeseen, but with the view of remaining in proximity to the costs of the empire, taking in advance the precautions necessary for the prosecution of their enterprises. The toleration of such abuse would be equivalent to permitting the ports of the empire to be used by the belligerents as a base of operations.

The principles of the circular of the 1st of August being thus explained, it follows that the ports, bays and harbors of the empire will be open to the belligerents on the following conditions:

1. Ships-of-war admitted into a port or harbor must observe the most perfect tranquility and complete peace with all vessels that may be in port, whether they be war vessels or ships owned as such by their enemies.

2. They shall not be permitted to increase their crew or employ sailors of any nationality whatever, their own countrymen included.

3. They shall not be permitted to increase the number or the calibre of their artillery; nor, under any circumstances, to purchase or embark portable arms or munitions of war.

4. They shall not make use of the ports or harbors, or of the capes on terri torial seas of the empire, to watch for inimical vessels that may enter or sail from our ports; nor procure information respecting those that may be expected