"3rd.-One whaler-boat washed away. "4th.-Ropes and ship a mass of ice; weather very thick, and heavy sea; wind contrary.

"5th.-Hot water sent through hoses to try and thaw the ice from fore-tacks; watch employed breaking away ice from ropes; weather still thick and stormy; barometer falling; two officers and eight men frost-bitten; the ropes in coils frozen into thick blocks of ice, therefore impossible to work the ship under sail; bore up for Bermuda."

Whence they went to St. Thomas's; and on the 14th January, Messrs. Mason and Slidell, with their secretaries, Messrs. M'Farland and Eustace, were placed on board the R. M. S. "La Plata," for England. The New York papers stated that the ship was lost, the report was copied into "The Times," and Capt. Hewett read the awful words as to himself, and his distinguished guests, and all his crew, having gone to the bottom.

My admiration and love for this noble ship and her gallant crew, will, I hope, excuse this digression; and having brought the Southern Commissioners on the tapis, I can't help indulging my admiration and friendship for Lord Lyons in recounting the able manner in which his Lordship acted in that diplomatic difficulty, and I hope he will excuse my excess

of zeal in his behalf, for I know his modesty will rebel. I got the little history over a cigar-I can't say where and I believe it is quite true. Lord Lyons heard of the "Trent" and "San Jacinto" affair: he saw how wrongly Captain Wilkes had acted. Many ministers would have insisted at once on the deliverance of Mason and Slidell, and if refused, would have left the Legation. But he saw the excitement, and resolved to let it blow over while he wrote home for instructions. Meantime his Lordship did not trouble any of the state officials with his presence, but omitted no occasion of giving his opinion that the seizure having taken place on a neutral vessel, and in neutral waters, was contrary to the law of nations. The answer came insisting on deliverance of the prisoners. He broke this to Mr. Seward privately, and Mr. Seward to the President. The Secretary said they would be given up, but they must first sound the public through the papers; which gave Mr. Seward time to make out his plea against "right of search," which Lord Lyons gently dissented from. All through, Lord Lyons acted like a straightforward English gentleman.

On the morning after the battle of Bull Run, in 1861, Lord Lyons, while riding out, met Mr. Seward, and said: "Good-morning, Mr. Seward. I sup

pose you will now allow that the Southerners are belligerents"—for the Northerners were flying in great numbers back to Washington. The battle sight-seers were sorely disappointed. I heard this story in the South.

CHAPTER II.

Down South.

THE "Rinaldo" had just come from Norfolk, about fifteen miles from Fort Monroe. Strange to say, the face of her gallant commander appeared quite familiar to me! Could I have seen it before? and where? Oh yes, in the Victoria Cross Gallery, in Piccadilly.

The visit of H. M. S. "Rinaldo" must have been an agreeable respite to Norfolk society from the desagrémens of provost-marshals and oaths of allegiance, as the following account will testify:

Ri

"On Thursday, 28th May, H. B. M. ship naldo,' 17 guns, Captain Hewett, was the scene of a very lively play and farce, given by the officers and crew (the former called The Golden Farmer,'

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the latter The Toodles'). It was honoured by the presence of the élite of Norfolk. A great number of ladies graced the assembly, who seemed determined to make everything go off as agreeably as they could. The stage was rigged on the quarterdeck, which was decorated to a great extent with flags and Norfolk flowers. The whole went off better than the most sanguine could have imagined. After the acting was finished, some comic and nautical songs followed, which were greatly applauded. The party then were regaled with supper, after which they enjoyed a little dancing, and then dispersed. The weather was very propitious for the occasion; the only regret being that the Rinaldo' was off to sea next morning at 10 A.M. Next day, 10.30, left Norfolk for Hampton Roads."

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Two pretty yachts were here, the "Gipsy" and "Haze," from New York, when we left Fortress Monroe on the 5th of June. The screw, Griffith's patent, weighing five tons, was hoisted up on deck, and we set sail with a fair wind, and we were "off for Charleston." On the 6th, in lat. 34° 57" N., long. 75° 18" W., opposite Cape Hatteras, the ship was suddenly caught in a cyclone, which she rode out in beautiful style. We were in the Gulf Stream. On immersion of the thermometer it showed 80°