BRAZIL—THE FLORIDA.

Evening Post, Issue 9, 17 February 1865, Page 2

BRAZIL— THE FLORIDA.

The capture of the Florida by the United States war vessel the Wachusetts has caused' much indignation at Bahia. The people, on hearing of the gross outrage, tore down the American consular arms and broke it in pieces. Nearly all the merchants at Bahia had signed a document, and forwarded it to the Chamber of Commerce at New York, requesting them to withhold any judgment oa the matter until they have full and correct accounts of the outrage. The facts of the capture are these. The Florida entered the harbor of Bahia while the Wachusetts was lying there, and required permission to take in coal, and to make some necessary repairs in her machinery. These demands the law of nations would not permit the Brazilian authorities to refuse. The visitor |was permitted to repair her engines, and remain so long as might be necessary for that purpose, and no longer. For greater security she was anchored under the guns of the forts, with two Brazilian men-of-war near her. One of these, however, appears to have been a sailing vessel, and the other a steamer of small size, so that they were net powerful enough to n fiord any real protection if the Federal vessel should be disposed to employ violence against a neutral flag in a neutral harbor. The American Consul, however, solemnly pledged himself for the good conduct of the Wocliusetts ; and the captain of the Florida was so far satisfied that he allowed the damaged portion of the machinery to go oh shore on the night of the 6th October. Before daylight the Wachusetts suddenly steamed down upon the Florida, carried away a poition of tier bulwarks, and fired into Her repeated volleys of grape and canister^killing and wounding many of her men. The officer in command, being utterly unable to' make any effectual resistance, at length obeyed the summons of the assailant, and surrendered his vessel. Fifteen of the seamen hereupon jumpedj umped overboard and swam for the shore ; but nine of them were murdered by the men on board the Wachusetts, who fired upon them while in the water. After they had taken possession of their ill-gotten prize the captors fastened a rope to her mast, and proceeded to tow hei out to sea. The Consul, Mr. Wilson, whose honor had been pledged for the conduct of the Wachusetts, made his escape on board her. The Wachusetts was summoned to return to her anchorage, but contemptuonsly pursued her course ; and the Brazilians had no force capable of her back.

*Some few days ago a sly fox entered the dwelling house of a farmer near Heather. He made his entrance through the parlor window, and went very orderly up stairs to bed. Whilst having a sweet repose the housekeeper opened the room door, and to her suprise observed Reynard — which she thought ?Ip%s a dog — in bed. She informed the master of the fact, but he not taking much notice of it she told the ploughman, who went to see if the intruder had made his exit, but he had not. He became alarmed, and ran off to inform the the waggoner, who immediately went with club in hand to defend himself. Reynard was still asleep, and the waggoner dealt him aheavj blow on the head and killed -%im whilst in his cosy position. On Sir J. Wilde taking his slat on the bench in the Court of Probate and Divorce a few days ago, some amusement was caused, by ah elderly woman cryftfgf &#the top df^her voice, " May Sir James»Wilde sit as he does now for the remainder of his life, is the earnest prayer of a friend." A case of some interest, Keogh r. Wall, came before Judge Kdftfnge, in the Probate Court, Dublin. A will and codicil were impeached, on the ground that the defendant, who is a Roman Catholic priest, took a principal part in their preparation, and derived some pecuniary advantage. The will bore date the 23rd February, 1863, and the codicil the 3rd of the ensuing month. The testatrix died on the sth of March, 1863, and the defendant being sole executor, 'had both will and codicil proved shortly after in common form. The plaintiff, who is a son of the testatrix, impugns the will as having been obtained under undue influence. The Society for the Propagation, pf Christian Knowledge has granted £400 towards a cathedral in Tasmania, on application of^fthe bishop's father, the Vicar of Hull, the oldest clerical subscriber, if not the oldest subscriber to the society. A new invention for extinguishing fires has just been trieij at St. Petersburg. About ISOpounds of a white powder were dissolved in a tub containing about 200 gallons of water. A large wooden construotidh two storeys high was then set on fire, and the liquid being pumped on the flames they were extinguished without the least generation of vapour or smoke. The wood attacked by fire was covered, after having undergone the action, of the liquid with a light coating resembling rarnUb.