up to the driver, amidst laughter, would throw him aside with her brawny arms, and seizing the reins, incite the horse in Jehu-like fashion. I propose to take my leave of the Island in the barge of the Work-house Superintendent. While waiting in the boat-house for the hour of going let me descant upon the crews about me, for they deserve more than a passing glance. These men differ from other prisoners in being mostly self-committed. I presume, however, there are those employed elsewhere who have done the same. They commit themselves from a knowledge of their own weakness in combat ing their passion for drink, and the consequent difficulties and diseases in which it involves them; though some from inaptitude for work, and fondness for a comparatively easy time-a life free from care. Many of them have lost a leg. The number of maimed in the institution is plentiful. "We get better feed, we boatmen, than the others," said to me a man who bore about him unmistakable marks of being "constitutionally tired." "We get roast meat quite often." And the fellow licked his chops and grinned, as though the savory viand was before him. "You rather like it here, I guess," I returned. "Yes; I'm found, and have easy work. Next summer, when my time's up, I shall go to Pensylvany and get on a canal-boat. I've cooked on 'em often." He lolled back in his chair and gazed up in my face with a cunning gleam in his stupid eye which seemed to say, "You think I'm a fool; but I'm a knowing un, I am." Some three or four possessed the average share of intelligence. Among them was a thickly-bearded, heavily-bodied man, whose forte was politics; the state of the country continually occupied his attention. Quite a philosopher, his remarks were often humorously sarcastic; but he was decidedly an Epicurean, and, though true to his school, his thoughts were not very profound. A few surly visages were present, but the majority exhibited an easy tone of mind that was indifferent to trouble. Genuine shame at their degraded position was visible in one or "That's nice!" "Lovely, and no mis two, but the remainder were evidently in their | ing!" normal state. Time passed agreeably with take!" Although one stalwart member of the those by the help of cards, pipes, and a few party expressed disgust, exclaiming, “That's books and newspapers. Sleep had its adorers. bosh-wishy-wash!" and strode to the When a dime novel made its appearance it was open air to ease his indignation. Every thing amusing to see and listen to the group that that is is good, and sentimentalism is not an gathered about the individual reading it aloud. exception. Be happy, O Novelist! thou hast not lived in vain. Tears stood in the eyes of those little used to weep when the sufferings of thy Amelia and her Adolphus were related. The brilliant The sturdy and active muscles of the crew description of the enraged bull and the heroic urge me swiftly across the river, strong as is devotion of the distracted lover awakened en- the current; and hoping my readers have dethusiasm; and where Amelia piteously and el-rived as much interest as myself from my visits oquently bewails the absence of Adolphus there to the Work-house, I am landed at Seventyarose a chorus: "That's what I call fine writ- ninth Street. But I hear a trampling of feet, and the voice of the Captain sings out: "All aboard!" GRAND were the old barbaric days She reveled then, while on her breast The wealth of all the Orient glowed And blinded the adoring West. Oh! saddest spectacle of earth- A desolation as of death Has stricken to that royal heartWhat but a memory is her fame? Where in the present is her part? VENICE. And for the future? years will die, That yields her back her ancient reign, Has but her memories and her woes; No gleams of freedom stir her heart, No visions of recovered powerOnly her beauty can not die, And it and sorrow are her dower. XV.-FLORIDA. HER CRIME AND HER PUNISHMENT. try, as it opened before him, presented the aspect of a vast undulating prairie, with fragrant, Geography of Florida.-Secession.-Treasonable Seizure evergreen trees, scattered at such distances from of Forts.-Scenes at Pensacola.-The Great Bombard- each other as to allow a luxuriant growth of ment. The Eastern Shore.-Naval Adventures.-Cap- grass and flowers all the year round. Its cliture of Fernandina, Florida, St. Augustine.-Indications mate, sunny, serene, salubrious, seemed like of Loyalty.-Abandonment of Pensacola.-The Conflagration. St. Johns Bluffs.-The Blockading Squadron. that of Paradise. Though subsequent explora-Apalachicola.-Burning of Jacksonville.-Destroying tions revealed extensive swamps and widethe Salt-Works.-Bold Adventures.-The Disaster at spread barrens, yet there were vast regions of fertility and loveliness, presenting attractions HEN the Spanish adventurer, Ponce de such as can scarcely elsewhere be found upon Olustee.-Florida Rescued. W Leon, in the spring or 1513, came in sight this globe. of the verdant valleys and flowery savannas of After many vicissitudes of ownership Florida the southeastern extremity of the North Amer- was ceded to the United States in 1819. It ican Continent, he gave to the blooming region was a grand accession to the National Governthe beautiful name of "Florida." The coun-ment, and essential to our security and power. The State is 285 miles long, and from 50 to 250 | of Massachusetts, left the fleet, and, with hushed miles wide, containing 56,000 square miles, being just about the size of England, excluding Scotland and Wales. With great energy the National Government commenced improving its new possession, surveying the region, removing obstructions from rivers and harbors, rearing fortresses, liquidating Indian titles, and carrying on a long and bloody war with the Sem-rison. inoles. In these ways it is estimated that nearly fifty millions of dollars have been expended, besides thousands of lives. When the frenzy of Secession swept over the South, Florida had about 80,000 white inhabitants. On the 4th of January, 1861, two months before the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, the Charleston (South Carolina) Mercury made an earnest appeal to the people of Florida to seize the United States forts. In this appeal it was stated that there were no forts belonging to the National Government more important than those in Florida; that these forts commanded the whole Gulf trade; and that if the people of Florida, in imitation of the treasonable example of Georgia and Alabama, would seize these forts, then "the commerce of the North will fall an easy prey to our bold privateers; and California gold will pay all such little expenses on our part." On the 11th of January sixty-two men, in the State Convention, passed an ordinance that Florida did not belong to the Government of the United States. It was, according to their vote, entirely an independent realm, to remain independent, or to be surrendered, at their option, to any other power. The next day an armed mob seized the Navy-yard, at Pensacola, and Fort Barrancas. The commandant had no means of resistance, and was compelled to surrender and allow his flag to be hauled down. The Navy-yard contained 156,000 dollars' worth of ordnance stores. The United States schooner Dana was then in those waters, engaged in the Coast Survey. On the 15th that was seized by the rebels. Soon after, a law was enacted by the Florida Legislature that, should there be any collision between the National Government and these insurgents in Florida, any person who should consent to hold office under the United States Government should be declared guilty of treason and punished with death. Fortunately Fort Pickens, at the mouth of Pensacola Harbor, on the eastern extremity of the Island of Santa Rosa, was so situated that, though held by a feeble garrison, the rebels, who had no navy, could not capture it. But they had collected an army of 8000 men under General Bragg on the adjacent shores, and had reared such formidable batteries that our blockading squadron riding in the offing could not approach the fort with reinforcements or supplies. On Friday night, the 12th of April, the night before the fire was opened upon Fort Sumter, taking advantage of the darkness, a number of boats, loaded with men and military stores, under command of Lieutenant Albert N. Smith, voices and muffled oars, glided past those rebel batteries, which, by a few discharges, could have blown their boats to fragments, and succeeded in landing such reinforcements as to place the fort beyond all immediate danger. A few nights after, on the 15th, the experiment was repeated, adding a thousand troops to the garThe rebels were exceedingly anxious to get possession of Fort Pickens. Among the various plans suggested, the following novel one was proposed by a writer in the Mobile Register: "By mixing red pepper and veratria with the powder with which the shells are filled, or by filling large shells throwing them very rapidly into the fort, every living soul of extraordinary capacity with poisonous gases, and would have to leave in double-quick time. It would be impossible to breathe there." The National Government had constructed at Pensacola a very fine dry dock, which had cost a million and a half of dollars. The rebels had towed this out into the channel and partially sunk it to prevent the passage of vessels into the Bay. They were preparing to remove it to another spot where it would effectually bar the passage of any of our gun-boats. The night of the 2d of September, succeeding a day of storm and rain, was still, but cloudy and dark. A little after 9 o'clock Lieutenant Shipley, with a picked crew of eleven men, left the beach in front of the fort and rowed noiselessly for the dry dock. To their surprise no sentinels were found on board. They had taken with them the most effective combustible materials and three large Columbiad shells. The shells were placed in the boilers, and the combustibles being properly arranged, the torch was applied. The boat's crew had scarcely pulled twenty yards from the vessel when the flames burst forth, and the shells exploded, filling the air with fragments. The whole bay was illumined with the billows of flame which shot up into the sky. All night long the conflagration raged fiercely, consuming the vast mass of timber, and when the morning dawned nothing was left of the superb structure but smouldering, shapeless ruins floating upon the water. For some time there was now an apparent cessation of hostilities. But both parties were alike vigilant; each watching for an opportunity to strike the other a blow. The following brilliant affair, which occurred at this time, deserves special record: There was a schooner at the Pensacola Navyyard fitting out for a privateer. Flag-officer William Mervine, of the Colorado, resolved to destroy it. He prepared an expedition of four boats manned by 100 officers and men. Captain Bailey, of the Colorado, matured the plan and arranged all its details. Lieutenant Russell had charge of the expedition. There were a thousand rebels encamped in the Navy-yard, and a strong guard on board the schooner. half past 3 o'clock in the morning of the 14th of September the boats left the fleet for their At |