Lieutenant Glassell.-"It is now nine o'clock; shall we strike her?"

Pilot Cannon.-"That is what we came for; I am ready." Engineer Toombs.-"Let us go at her, then, and do our best."

Sullivan, Fireman.-"I am with you all, and waiting; go ahead."

The boat was now put bow on, and aimed directly for the Ironsides. As the little steamer darted forward, the lookout on the Ironsides hailed them with-"Take care there, you will run into us; what steamer is that?" Lieutenant Glassell replied by discharging one barrel at the Yankee sentinel, and tendering the gun to Pilot Cannon, told him there was another Yankee, pointing to one with his body half over the bulwarks, and asked Cannon to take care of him with the other barrel.

The next moment they had struck the Ironsides, and ex ploded the torpedo about fifteen feet from the keel, on the starboard side. An immense volume of water was thrown up, covering the little boat, and going through the smokestack, entered the furnace, completely extinguishing the fires.

In addition to this, pieces of the ballast had fallen into the works of the engine, rendering it unmanageable at that time. Volley after volley of musketry from the crew of the Ironsides and from the launches began to pour in upon them. Lieutenant Glassell gave the order to back, but it was found impossible. In this condition, with no shelter, and no hope of escape, they thought it best to surrender, and hailed the enemy to that effect. The Yankees, however, paid no attention to the call. It was then proposed to put on their life-preservers, jump overboard, and endeavor to swim to the

shore. All but Pilot Cannon consented. The latter, being unable to swim, said he would stay and take his chances in the boat. Lieutenant Glassell, Engineer Toombs, and Sullivan the fireman, left the boat, the first two having on lifepreservers, and the latter supporting himself on one of the natches thrown to him by the pilot. Engineer Toombs, becoming embarrassed with his clothing in the water, got back to the boat, and was assisted in by Cannon.

The boat was then rapidly drifting from the Ironsides. He now fortunately found a match, and lighting a torch, crept back to the engine, discovered and removed the cause of its not working, and soon got it in order. Engineer Toombs and Cannon reached their wharf in the city about midnight, fatigued, and presenting a worn-out appearance, but rejoicing at their fortunate and narrow escape.

THE CRUISE OF THE FLORIDA.

ARRIVING in Brest, by way of Quimper and Chateaulin the first thing I heard on getting on board the steamer which navigates the picturesque little river Elorn from the latter place to Brest, was the arrival of the Confederate States cruiser Florida; and on crossing the glorious Rade de Brest for the mouth of the harbor, I had no difficulty in making out this now celebrated vessel, as she lay at anchor among some of the giants of the French navy—a long, low, black, rakish-looking craft, not over smart in appearance, yet useful, every inch of her-a pigmy among these monsters, and yet a formidable pigmy, even to the unpracticed eye, the Palmetto flag flying proudly from her mizzen. We bappened

to have a French vice-admiral, a Russian vice-admiral, and a senator of the empire on board; and you may imagine there was an infinity of gossip, but no reliable information.

When we landed at the Cale in the harbor, the crowd which usually assembles to welcome or pester new comers was full of "La Floride" and her doings. "Elle a," cried an enthusiastic commissionaire to me, "elle a, Monsieur, je vous assure sur ma parole d'honneur, près deux millions de livres sterling à bord, tout en or, je vous assure." "Eh! mon Dieu! c'est beaucoup !" cried a smart little mousse from the Turenne. I could not help agreeing with the mousse that the sum was certainly a great deal.

That evening (aided by my fellow-traveller, Mr. Пenry Tupper, vice-consul of France in Guernsey and one of the jurats of that island) I found some of the officers of the Florida at the Hotel de Nantes (Rue d'Aiguillon). Lieutenant Lingard Hoole (a young man, who apparently did not number more than twenty-three years) received us courteously, and gave us his card to assure us admission on board. He stated, however, that his superior officer, Captain Maffit, was generally to be found on board his vessel, and would be glad to see us. The frankness, courtesy, and total absence of boasting manifested by this young officer, impressed us most favorably.

All next day it blew a gale of wind in the Rade, and we could not find a boat to venture out. To-day, however, the weather was most propitious, and early morning found us alongside of the Florida. We sent our cards to Captain Maffit, and were immediately admitted on board, the captain himself coming to the top of the companion to receive us, Directly Captain Maffit understood that we were British

subjects, he invited us below into his little cabin, and when I told him that there were many people in England who regarded his career with great interest, he entered very freely into a recital of his adventures.

I will here subjoin a copy of some notes which Captain Maffit subsequently handed to me, relative to the career of the Florida, promising, at the same time, a continuation, which has not yet arrived. They are as follows:

"The C. S. steamer Florida, Commander J. N. Maffit. This steamer was built in Liverpool, and sent to Nassau in April, 1862; was put in the Admiralty Court; cleared on the 6th of August, when her present commander took charge with eighteen men; went to sca; met her tender, and received guns, etc. guns, etc. On the 16th of August the yellow fever appeared on board, and Captain Maffit had to perform surgeon's duty, until necessity forced the vessel into Cardenas. There she lost nearly all her crew, her paymaster, and third engineer. She ran the blockade off Havana, in and out, and on the 4th of September appeared off Mobile. The entire blockading fleet put after her. Captain Maffit was brought up from a bed of sickness (yellow fever) to take her in. For two hours and forty-eight minutes she was under a close fire. All the crew were sent below, and the officers only remained on deck, for she had but eleven men on duty, and her guns were not furnished with rammers, quoins, beds, or sights; in fact, she was almost helpless. Three heavy shots struck her hull. One shell struck her amidships, and passed through, killing one man and wounding seven. Her standing rigging was shot away, and some fifteen hundred shrapnel shot struck her hull and masts."

So far the notes which Captain Maffit has as yet found time to send me. Of the captain himself, I may say that ho

is a slight, middle-sized, well-knit man, of about forty-twoa merry-looking man, with a ready, determined air, full of life and business; apparently the sort of man who is equally ready for a fight or a jollification, and whose preference for he latter would by no means interfere with his creditable conduct of the former. His plainly-furnished little stateroom looked as business-like as a merchant's office. The round table in the centre was strewn with books and innumerable manuscripts, and on the shelves were formidablelooking rows of account books, charts, etc. I may observe of the cabin, as of every part of the Florida, that none of it appeared to have been built for ornament-all for use. "You see," said the captain, pointing to the heaps of papers, letters on files, account books, etc., which literally littered the table, "you see I've no sinecure of it. Since my paymaster died I've had to be my own paymaster. There's a young man named Davis-no relation to our President-who does paymaster's duty; but he's not yet quite up to the work."

Captain Maffit forthwith began an animated recital of his career and adventures. He is forty-two years old, and is the oldest officer on board. All the officers were born in the Confederate States, and most of them were officers in the United States navy before the outbreak of the war. The oldest of the officers is not more than twenty-three. The men are more mixed. There are about one hundred able seamen on board the Florida, and about thirteen officers. Four fine fellows are from the neighborhood of Brest. Captain Maffit says that he has hardly ever taken a prize but what some of the crew of the prize have come forward to say "Should like to serve with you, sir." Generally speaking, he has to refuse; but sometimes when he sees a very likely fellow, he takes him on.