over it; and now, with thankful hearts, and drenched coats, and wet feet, we were beyond the surf, on a sea that broke not, though the swell rose high; and the boat, like a cork on the mimic wave, rose and fell, as we crossed the swell, and, ere long, gained the good frigate Cumberland. A cup of tea was awaiting us, which, with the agreeable chat of the mess table, rendered us again comfortable, after a ramble that made fatigue the precursor of welcome rest, and rest the contibutor of a yet more invigorated system.

This point of Takoluta is made a rendezvous for smuggling, at times, the captains of vessels giving the custom-house officer some half the amount of the duty proper, and he putting as much, and only as much, of this half pay into the treasury as he may please.

On Saturday morning, the 25th, the surf still breaking on the bar at the mouth of the river, so as to render the crossing of boats for watering the ships dangerous, the squadron again went to sea. It was sooner than was expected. Only one day had been spent in conveying water to the Cumberland. But there were indications of a norther, and we were on a lee shore. Signals were made from the Cumberland to the other ships to prepare for sailing, and ere long they were all on their return course to the old anchorage of Sacrificios. Having had a pleasure sail of several days-gaining an airing—changing the scene and proving that the Flag Ship is rather the best sailor of the squadron, we are now again along side the John Adams, which ship we left here at anchor. Our squadron is thus increased by the addition of the Raritan, while the ships, lying yet more neighborly in their places off Sacrificios, await further orders, for another movement-perhaps an attack on the Castle-or any other duty which the Government at home may deem it the squadron's duty to perform.

SALUTE ON LOUIS PHILIPPE'S BIRTHDAY, MAY 1, 1846.

The French bark-of-war, this morning, dressed herself out in her gaudiest colors of bunting. The flags streamed from every spar of the ship, and presented an abundance of stripes, and spots, and crosses, declaring some gala-day of the French people. This day was the birthday of the king of the French. At 8 o'clock, all the ships at the anchorage ran up French colors to the foremast head, and their own flags at the main and mizzenmast, in compliment to the day. It is usual, in naval etiquette, for all vessels lying in company to notice the national days of other nations, when a war-ship of any particular nation, in company, observes the day herself. Such is the scene presented to-day. The Spaniards vie with the American squadron in the compli ment to Louis Philippe, and the English ship also throws out the French colors. The whole fleet looks gayly in the display of a multitude of beautiful and gaudy bunting. As the 8 o'clock bells were struck, and the ships' flags were thrown out on the morning breeze, the French ship fired her national salute of twenty-one guns. She was followed by the Spaniard. But our ships and the English sloop delayed their compliment until 12 o'clock, meridian. The French ships fire three salutes on the birthday of the king; one in the morning, another at meridian, another at sundown. But as the first gun of the French ship boomed over the water at noon, our own ships also commenced their fire; and the Spaniards and English at the same moment added their twenty-one guns, which together presented a scene of great grandeur and sublimity. Each of our ships fired her twenty-one guns; and as gun succeeded gun, and blended their reports, and smoke, and flame, the squadron presented a fine display of a fleet engagement, without its

blood. Ere long, the more than one hundred guns fired from the different ships at the anchorage ceased, and the smoky cloud drifted to the leeward, and again left the gaylyrobed fleet distinct to the view, while silence, deep as before, brooded on the scene around. But, when the sun began to reach his evening decline, though his rays still sent back his crimson beams on the floating clouds, and the squadron made it sundown, the French ship again threw out from her broad side the flame, and the smoke, and the noise of twenty-one cannon, while the Spaniards' loud pieces added their thunder to the report that went over the sea. The evening hour added interest to the final salute, as the flames from the mouths of the cannon were rendered more distinct, and gave an exhibition of the fearful destruction that those same noisy pieces could and would do, if, in anger and strife, they were pointed at each other. Again all was still. The flags throughout the fleet, in unison, had fallen to the decks and gathered to their stoppers, to remain in their place until some other occasion of strife, or signal, or holiday-show shall throw their folds once more to the breeze. Peace, then to thee, Louis Philippe, king of the French, and an honorable destiny to thy worthy family! Thou hast presented to the world a commendable example of domestic harmony, and a well-trained offspring, that now do honor to thy gray hairs; and doubtless shall cause thy last hour to go down as the resplendent sunset this day, in an effulgence of glorious, and beautiful, and peaceful light.

SHIPS AGAIN UNDER WAY.

The captains of the different ships were on board the Cumberland last evening, and after their departure, there seemed to be a general stir in the squadron, as if something was in the wind, and some movement of the ships would soon take place.

The officers began to talk about expeditions in boats for cutting out Mexican steamers and other vessels-perhaps, we were going to Pensacola—perhaps, we designed to move the squadron from near Vera Cruz to an anchorage off the river Bravo del Norte to co-operate with General Taylor's army, upon whom there were rumors that the Mexicans, with considerable reinforcements gathering at Matamoras, designed to make an attack, if they had not already done it. Paredes had issued a proclamation, declaring that he could not, by the constitution, declare war against the North Americans, but he could repel invasion; and the time was come to do that, as the Mexican territory had been invaded; and he should take upon him, without delay, to repel the enemy. A person standing on the poop-deck of the Cumberland could see different indications, which prognosticated some movement, without much delay, by the squadron. Some one or two men had crept out upon the lower yards of the Potomac. The tacks and sheets were discoverable as rising, in a coil, to the tops, and were now shackled, having been unshackled during the frigate's rest at anchor, for the easier exercise of the sails in loosing and furling. And boats, occasionally, were passing from ship to ship. The Falmouth's launch seemed to be about to take an additional supply of water, from some of the vessels of the squadron, which indicated to the knowing ones that she would be left behind. Thus passed the latest hours of the day; and the crimson sun, deeper than ever, in his red dyes, went down, a prognostic of war and blood, leaving our ships yet sleeping at their moorings, and the gentlemen of the wardroom discussing the chances and the probabilities of reaping glory; of living through the fight; or of being borne to the rest of a soldier's grave, or left uncovered on the field. Yet all were eager for the opportunity to engage in some military expedition which should have excitement about it. Danger, however much it may

exist, is a consideration that deters not from action, if it indeed is ever dreamed of, by young gentlemen of the profession, who gather around the ward-room table of a noble manof-war. The night passed away, and some dreamed of one thing, doubtless; and others of other things, doubtless; and I, of my blessed boy, in his happiness and health. But the earliest beam of day broke on our crew as they were winding in the iron cables of the frigate; and the other vessels of the squadron, except the Falmouth, were following our example. The sea breeze ere long, as the sun went up on his tireless course, came in; and that bright orb, as early as his tenth hour of the day, saw our squadron under way, and standing directly in, on the course to the Castle of San Juan de Ullua, though our design was to get to sea by the inner passage, which would take us near and in full view of the city and the fortifications of Vera Cruz. In the present state of affairs between the Mexican government and the United States, there must have been an apprehension, on the part of the occupants of the Castle, that we were standing down to lay the ships along side the fortification, and to bombard it, with the intention of taking this strong-hold of the Mexican forces. But we veered off to seaward, and went out through the reefs, in beautiful order, each ship following our motions and coming on in our wake; and, all together, presenting a beautiful exhibition of five war-ships, sailing in unison and company. Our course was north, with a little westing, the breeze stiffening, and the ships careering finely over the blue surges, as they cleft them, and bounded on their way—whither? This still remained with most of the officers a matter of conjecture. But, with fine breezes, that enabled us to measure a long line, by the log, during each twenty-four hours, we found ourselves, after a few days' run, off the mouth of the Bravo del Norte, the assumed boundary on the south of the United States, which the government, in the an