"A truce-a truce, by Jove!" exclaimed the Captain, who now held the Signal Book. All we want are the letters C and E, and it will be the indication of the welcome prayer from the Mexicans, that they desire a TRUCE.

"Be it so or not," said the Commodore, as he turned backwards and forwards, while promenading the poop-deck and watching the signals, "I happen to know this much, at least, that General Santa Anna has not met with as warm a reception at Vera Cruz as he had anticipated."

"There it is," another exclaimed, as the next signal was going up to the foremast-royal-head of the Saint Mary's, "but-no-it is not the number expected-'tis not the number designating the letter C but X.

"X ?" exclaimed more than a single voice, "it is the Truxton-what of her?" and the interest increased rather than diminished. The brig Truxton had been dispatched to the north to relieve the John Adams, then blockading Tampico; and the Adams was hourly expected, on her return, while the Truxton should take her place.

The signals were now continued to be made, one after another, as they were recorded on the log-slate, and soon, the name of TRUXTON was spelt out in full.

But again, what of her? The signals now spoke in sentences or words.

"Annihilated ?-where-how-by whom-and in what circumstances-at sea or ashore ?"

The next signal answered these solicitudes as it declared the truth, by giving the number that answered to the word "ASHORE.

The next signal said, "at Tuxpan,"

The next, "wants a steamer."

Here, then, another of our fleet is making experiments

on the coral reef; as if the Cumberland had not given a sufficient demonstration, that nothing but vexation of spirit, alarm for personal safety, and labor and toil by anxious day and sleepless nights, could be gained by such a bootless experiment. And on an enemy's coast too-one might be finally cast ashore, and have, in this hot weather, the disagreeable necessity of making a traverse on foot to Mexico, were he to fall into the hands of the no way very amiable people of these regions, about these times of a war upon their shores. But how is it that the Truxton wants a steamer, if she has been and is "annihilated ?”

The very wise conclusion reached by a little more reasoning upon the matter, and with a very great desire to preserve the rhetoric of the signal officer on board the Saint Mary's, brought us to the conclusion, that there had been somé mistake made in reading one number of the signal; and that the word "annihilated" had been interpolated. Therefore, the signal should be, and was so intended: “The Truxton is ashore at Tuxpan, and wants a steamer." The Saint Mary's was still coming down to us, and, ere long, she dropped her anchor, not far from the Flag Ship, and a boat brought the particulars aboard.

It appears that the Truxton was standing on shore, as near as it was deemed practicable, to cover her boats in case of necessity, which were to go on an expedition for fresh provisions and water. The brig happened to reach in too far, and struck on a bar. There was no backing out of the disagreeable circumstances though attempted, and the sea at times was breaking over the vessel. Guns and shot had been thrown overboard, when a boat with Lieutenant Berryman, to take the news to the Commodore, was dispatched. This boat had been out for some four days and nights, when she was picked up by the Saint Mary's, cruising to the north and west; and the sequel of the story as to the after fate of

the Truxton, remains to be told. What it shall be we know not, only that the Princeton was immediately dispatched to render assistance and give relief. The apprehension is, however, that the brig will have gone to pieces before the steamer will have reached the point, some leagues up the Mexican coast, and not very far beyond the place where our ships watered, as has been before described, under the head and name of Takoluta.

On Saturday morning, the 22d, a little schooner was seen over the reefs, not very far from our ship, and seemed to have more than a usual complement of men for such a craft. She was apparently in some distress, not far away from where the Cumberland, whilom, was lying on a coral bed. Mr. Perry, the master, with a kedge was sent to assist the Mexican in his distress. The presumption, however, was, that she was a craft from the Truxton, making her way here, with the distressed crew of the wrecked brig. Ere long, relieved from her temporary difficulty on the coral reef, she came down and ran under our stern. A hawser was passed to her, and she now swings in our wake.

The story that she brings is yet more distressing than any expressed apprehension in the preceding paragraphs might lead one to anticipate. This little schooner has a Mexican flag flying under a petit American ensign, which the Jack tars manufactured out of a sailor's flannel shirt, for the red material, but for the white stripes, whether they had recourse to American cotton or a foreign fabric, I have not learned. But the craft is under command of Lieut. B. W. Hunter, containing half the number of the American sailors with which he started from the Truxton, and five Mexicans besides.

After the Truxton had struck on the bar and attempts to get off were fruitless, Lieut. H. was dispatched to capture a Mexican vessel seen in the offing, which he effected with a cut

ter's crew. It was intended to use this vessel for the relief of the crew of the Truxton. But the sea running so high, Lieut. H. could not get near the brig. The captain of the Truxton, the next day, determined to surrender the brig's company to the authorities on shore, lest the inrolling surf on the bar, at times breaking over the brig, should increase, and, with a norther or other severe blow, thump the vessel to pieces and endanger the lives of all the crew. The captain of the Truxton therefore filled the boat called the Dingy, and battening down a cover of canvas, sent her adrift through the breakers, with a note inside, leaving Lieut H. to act at his own discretion, and telling him of the Captain's purpose to land the crew. Lieut. H. picking up the dingy, which the current setting out of the river had drifted seaward, and learning that he was left to act for himself, made for the Flag Ship, which, after sundry adventures, perils and risks, he reached as described. Lieut H. had made a prize of another small craft on his way down, and manned her with a part of his crew. She reached the Cumberland on Sunday morning, after having been nearly swamped in a blow at sea. And thus were two Lieutenants and seventeen men, so far, saved out of the crew of the Truxton. The fate of the Captain and the remainder of the officers and crew must be told when the Princeton brings back her report.

The Princeton came in on Sunday evening. She reached the wreck in twenty-three hours after getting under way, but too late to find the crew aboard of her, though she still held together and had thumped herself over the bar nearer into the shore. She was boarded by officers from the Princeton -found to be bilged in eight feet of water-all things gone, save an unshackled iron cable attached to an anchor overboard and lying, in her solitude and abandonment, a friendless thing, still awaiting her yet unknown and undetermined destiny. But the final soon came; and her sorrows, if she

had any, were soon to be over. Preparations were made to fire the ship, and give her the double honors of a funeral pyre and an ocean burial. A few explosive shells were lodged upon her decks, to burst in their devastation and destruction, as they should report her dismemberment, and the flames should advance, in their liquid and lurid power, from deck to deck-from port to port-from bulwark to netting and rattling, and from rattling and shrouds to masts and yards and other spars-presenting a sight to make a sailor weep, who loves his ship, and all to regret and admire, as they see a beautiful fabric of nautical skill crumble before a combination of elements, that gives her remains to the flames and the deep.

And thus was the Truxton fired and lighted up-the boats returned to ship-and the flames enveloping the brig, as the Princeton stood out again under way, to make her report to the Flag Ship, of the final "annihilation," by sandbar, wind, fire and water, of one of our squadron, and the latest one which had joined the fleet.

A flag of truce was sent on shore, before the destruction of the brig, and the officers learned from the authorities, that Captain Carpender, the officers, and the crew, were kindly received-treated with hospitality-entertained with a ball— and then marched to Tampico. A communication has been dispatched by the Commodore to Tampico, for effecting the exchange of the officers and men, or for receiving them on parole from the Mexicans. A good share of fresh provisions, health, and a safe return to the adventurers.

After having written the preceding in connection with the wreck of the Truxton, a communication was handed in to my room, to my address. On breaking the envelope I found an enclosure, bearing all the evidences of having had a long soaking in salt water. The following note from an officer of the Princeton, who boarded the Truxton, accompanied the relic.