frigate towards the sea. It is but an islet, with a golden beach quite around it, and a rich green plain covers the surface of the little isle formed of the coral sand which the waves of the ocean and of ages have gathered at this point among the reefs. And its name, SALMEDINA, is as soft to the ear as is the velvet green of its surface to the eye.

It was a beautiful sight, though a sad one to his compeers, as those many boats, with their ensigns half-masted, were seen to move slowly over the water, while the oars of each boat dipped together" their monotonous blades, passing ship after ship and vessel after vessel, as their line neared to the island beach. As soon as the boats had touched the shore, the Marine guard formed its line; and while the corpse was borne to its point in the procession near the guard, the music rolled off and the guard presented arms. The procession itself was soon formed; and the Captain of Marines, as marshal, gave the order to move, while the music, in that plaintive funeral march, the Portuguese Hymn, measured the time for the tramp of the many officers and men from the ships, which were now lying in full view of the scene, as the procession slowly approached the grave, where, for a short while, we were to leave one of the noblest of our number.

The solemn burial service of the Church was read-and words were never put together with greater effect for solemnity and impressiveness for an occasion so solemn of itself, than are the ceremonials of the Prayer Book for the burial of the dead: "Earth to earth-ashes to ashes-dust to dust!" How sound these accents on the ear, and heavily on the heart, as the hollow echo of the crumbling earth falls on the muffled coffin-lid! Poor Morris, and noble ! so fell the earth now on thy coffin-lid, and three volleys of musketry echoed over thy grave; and around thee, though thou didst reck it not, there were bleeding hearts that broke for thee, in thine early fate; and for those yet far away, that loved thee most.

Ere long, thou shalt repose nearer to those, than is thy present rest. For a while, the sea surf shall chant thy dirge, as it shall give forth its morning and evening murmur in the sea breeze, as wave succeeding wave shall dash on the island beach. Some one of our own ships will convey thee northward, and perhaps, thou shall rest in sweet " AUBURN," where those of thy kindred, and nearer than kindred, shall gather around thy tomb and give thee, with broken hearts, their memories and their tears!

EXPEDITION TO TAMPICO.-ITS SURRENDER AND OCCUPATION.

The return of the squadron from Tabasco had scarcely transpired before it was understood that another expedition was on foot. Indeed, no delay was to be allowed, and none was indulged. It was for a few hours, perhaps, a question whether its destination was to be the Alvarado or Tampico. The acquisition of several small vessels and one steamer would add considerable efficiency to the fleet of small vessels, which have long been needed here, but up to this time not possessed. And I doubt not it almost made it the wish of Commodore Conner now to make a renewed attack on Alvarado. But it appears that his orders were imperative; and they were, that TAMPICO, without delay, should be secured, if possible and practicable. Preparations accordingly were being carried on during the week-additional ammunition distributed to the smaller vessels-sails for the Nonata repaired and fitted and a thousand things done, to have all in readiness for moving, with success, towards Tampico. Even THE SABBATH, I am sorry to say, was, for the first time, so markedly disregarded by the Commander-in-chief, as to order all hands to be turned to on that day. And the ship's company was accordingly, to the surprise I believe of all, and to the regret of most, set to work at their usual occupations. The sail

makers, with a long range of sails, were on the gun-deck, and the other decks exhibited all the bustle, noise, and operations of one of the hurried days of the week. Was this right, on board of a Man-of-war of a Christian nation, whose laws direct that the Sabbath day shall be hallowed by religious worship? It was not right! It was not justifiable! And I should not discharge my duty, AS A CHAPLAIN IN THE NAVY of my country, did I not declare my dissent by protest, and proclaim it in the written story of the cruise of this ship. And the country, whose flag she bears, and the will of whose citizens the officers of the Navy are bound to support and follow, as declared in the laws of the country which they profess to serve, will not sustain, and ought not to sustain an officer, whatever be his grade, who violates, in the capacity of an officer, the Sabbath day. It is the will of the people, according to a law in the regulations of the naval service, that religious worship shall be held, where there is a Chaplain, "every Sunday," unless the weather or other sufficient cause prevent. I contend that, in this instance, "sufficient cause cannot be shown, to the satisfaction of the people of the United States. And, as an officer, charged with the religious duties of the ship, I deem it my duty to protest against this instance of the violation, as I ever shall do, in similar circumstances, whenever it may occur. And while I do it, I readily, and with pleasure, record it, to the credit of the Captains who have been attached to this ship, that the Sunday services have been respected, and attendance on them encouraged during the cruise. And if it should be affirmed, that the urgency of the Department, at home, to facilitate an attack on Tampico, justified the laboring on the Sunday alluded to, I hesitate not to deny to the Department the constitutional right to encourage or to command action, which, unless it can be shown to be necessary, will prove a violation of the Sabbath day. And in this case, I repeat my

belief, that the working on Sunday was both uncalled for and unnecessitated, in the circumstances of the contemplated action of the squadron against Tampico.

I waive here the consideration of the rights of a ship's company to the rest, and the privileges of the Sabbath, secured to them by the Laws and Regulations of the service under which they ship.

But the preparations for the expedition went on; and the 'continuance of the action of the squadron, now successfully and efficiently commenced, gave pleasure to all the officers; and it was soon known that TAMPICO was to be the destination of the force in their next demonstration before the enemy.

It was, however, known before the sailing of the fleet that a communication from a "reliable "source had been received by the Commander-in-chief, which led to the supposition that the city of Tampico would be immediately surrendered, on the appearance of the American force off that harbor. While preparations, therefore, were made to meet the enemy, if resistance should be offered, it was not expected that any opposition would be presented by the government authorities, or by any military force that might still be lingering in that

town.

On Tuesday, the 10th of November, the frigates Raritan and Potomac got under way, standing south, with some other smaller vessels; and ere long, signal fires, if such they were, rolled up their huge volumes of clouds on the neighboring shore, which, if they communicated any thing, probably said to the military station at Alvarado, that the American fleet were again on the move, to carry their final purpose into effect at that point. But the frigates stood out to sea, and ere long were making their way north and west, instead of south and east, as probably the enemy at first conjectured. On the succeeding day, the steamers Mississippi and Princeton, each with a tow of the small steamers Vixen and Spitfire, and

several schooners, were seen leaving the anchorage, in beautiful line and majesty, while the remaining men of the Cumberland lay aloft to cheer the moving fleet; and the band at the same time giving the departing heroes-ready if not destined to fight-the martial music of "Hail Columbia," the "Star-spangled Banner," and other patriotic strains, as they passed our ship. Ere long they were seen, in their onward and beautiful movement, to stand yet on their course, far beyond the sounds of martial strains; and before many hours longer, they were beyond the ken of those of the Cumberland, now left, almost in her solitude, to await the story of the expedition, whether for weal or for woe.

The steamers with the small vessels in tow reached their destination off Tampico in safety, after a favorable run of some thirty-six hours, and before the frigates had made their appearance or rather, the frigates were ordered to rendezvous off some neighboring point; and their services, for the present, were uncalled for and unneeded. The Mississippi and the Princeton took their anchorage in the offing, in company with the Saint Mary's and the John Adams-the small steamers Vixen and Spitfire, with the smaller vessels in tow, advanced over the bar. Finding the fortification at the mouth of the river both abandoned and dismantled, the force led by the Vixen, bearing the Broad Pennant of Commodore Conner, advanced up the river towards the town. But while they were yet urging up the stream, to take their position off the city of Tampico, the American flag was seen suddenly to be thrown out upon the air, and its beautiful folds of stars and stripes now floated over the city of Tampico. It was the hand of a Heroine which had thus given flight to the emblem of her country's protection, whose force was now advancing, without opposition but with certainty of success, to receive and to hold possession of the place, in behalf of the nation whose. banner she had given to the breeze, and on which it now