fforeign an 42Volottfal.

SPAIN.—The account given in the Postscript of last Saturday's Spectator respecting the formation of a new Ministry at Madrid, has been fully sub- stantiated. There are various versions of the affair: the subjoined is taken from the Daily News- " In the coarse of the day, on the 27th, the Ministers of the Interior and of Finance had transacted business as usual with the Queen. At a late hour of the evening, M. Roca de Togores, Minister of Public Instruction and Commerce at- tended her Majesty at the Palace, on public business. The Queen expressed to this Minister her wish that the Cabinet should resign. The Minister replied, that personally he was ready to do so, but that he did not believe his colleagues would consent to retire. Her Majesty then proposed to M. Roca de Togores to counter- sign two ordonnances, the one dismissing the Duke of Sotomayor, President of the Council, and the other nominating M. Pacheco to that office. These two ordon- nances accordingly appeared next morning in the Gazette? The list of the new Government, which has been rendered complete by the appointment of Senor Bahamonde, is as follows—Senor Pacheco, Pre- sident of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs; Senor Salamanca, Minister of Finance; Senor Pastor Diaz, Minister of Public Instruction; Senor Benavides, Minister of the Interior; Senor Sotelo, Minister of Ma- rine; Senor Mazzaredo, Minister of War; and Selior Bahamonde, Minister of Justice. Of these, the three most powerful and influential, Pacheco Salamanca, and Pastor Diaz belong to the " Puritan " section of the Op- position; the other three affect different shades of Conservatism, and are connected with the Moderado party. The Puritans in the Cortes hold the middle place between the Moderados, or Conservatives, and the Pro- gresistas, or Liberals; affecting a strict and " Constitutional" course. In the question of the marriage, the Puritans were against the Montpensier alliance.

A letter from Madrid, of the 30th March, published in the Memorial Bordelais, gives an interesting account of Seiior Salamanca, the founder of the Puritan party- " This gentleman is now fmtyzs of age. He studied the law at Granada; and in 1836 was nominated by V a, his native town, member of the Central Revolutionary Junta of Andujar. On the dissolution of the Junta be was nomi- nated Judge of one of the provincial courts of law, and at a later period was ap- pointed to a similar situation in Madrid. Being thrown into the midst of lucrative affairs which were negotiated daring the civil war, he began speculatmg, under the direction of his brother-in-law, ThL Heredia, a wealthy merchant of Malaga. In a little time he displayed great financial talent, and embarked in gigantic transactions. His expenses became unusually great, and he was gene- rally believed to have acquired an immense fortune. During the regency of Espartero, he exerted himself actively, in conjunction with the Moderado party, to effect the overthrow of that statesman. About the time that Queen Isabella was declared of age, he became the intimate friend of General Narvaez; and it was he who overthrew the Cabinet of Gonzalez Bravo. At a later period he quar- relled with the General, and eventually brought about the fall of the Narvaez Ministry. Daring three years he held the lease of the salt-works in Spain, and en its expiration M. Mon refused to renew it; a circumstance which is considered to have influenced M. Salamanca's recent political proceedings. He also obtained a lease of the quicksilver mines; which, however, he subsequently ceded to M. de Rothschild. It is said that he was not a i stranger to the insurrectional move- ment in Gallicia in 1846, and that he engaged n it to be revenged on Narvaez. It was he who formed the idea of the section of the Opposition in the Chamber called the Puritans,' which at first opposed the marriage of the Queen with the Count de Trapani, and at a later period combated the French influence, and in- sisted on an amnesty being granted, and on strict legality being observed as a means of government M. Salamanca has great influence in the transactions of the Stock Exchange. He is at the head of all mercantile enterprises; a director if the Bank of Isabella IL, and of the Theatre Royal, the Circus, which, it is said, eosts him 300,000 francs per annum. He is also a shareholder in a greater part of the newspapers and periodicals, and as such has great influence over the press. Ile keeps up a princely establishment, and is now building a palace of great magnificence at Madrid, near the Prado. He is president of the Casino, the aristocratic club. His character is haughty, and he cannot bear contradiction: his manners are amiable, and he speaks fluently. He is a great friend of Mr. Bulwer."

On the 29th, Senor Pacheco explained to the Cortes the principles on which he intended to carry on the Government That his explanation was satisfactory, may he assumed from the circumstance that shortly after- wards a motion, brought forward by Gonzales Moron, an out-and-out ad- herent of the late Government, for the purpose of embarrassing the present Cabinet, was rejected by a majority of 153 to 59.

The first public act recorded of the young Queen under the new aspect of affairs, is the graceful one of signing the recall of Senor Olozaga.

The Herald° announces the appointment of the Duke de Glucksberg as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Court of Spain, in place of Count Bresson.

General Serrano emerged from his concealment on the 28th March, and presented himself to the reporter of the commission charged with the in- quiry regarding his conduct It was understood that the proceedings against him would be dropped.

Pouruas.L.—By accounts received from Lisbon to the 31st March, the affairs of the Queen's Government seem in a hopeless state of inefficiency. All attempts to raise a loan had failed, even in England; and there was not a farthing to prosecute the war, or even to pay the civil employes. Sal- danba's position of inactivity was still at Oliveira D'Azimeis. He had made a clumsy attempt to take the initiative in a " transaction "; but was considered to have failed, from being about four weeks too late. Alto- gether, there seemed increased probability that British mediation would be sought by the Government. It was evident that the Government was preparing to submit to some concession. Committees had been appointed to revise the existing laws on the press, and to reconstruct the law of election for the Chamber of Deputies, with a view to the adoption of the direct system of voting.

Some alarm was felt lest the destination of Sa da Bandeira's expedition should turn out to be Lisbon. The garrison of that city was therefore kept under arms. Bread had risen to 3d a pound in the capital.

From Oporto the advices are to the 30th March. On the 29th, Sit da Bandeim sailed with 1,250 men in three steam-vessels—the Mindella, Porto, and Vesuvius. They made very light of breaking the blockade, and steered Southward : their destination was not positively known. General report had mentioned the Algarves; but the short supply of coal taken, (not more than enough for twenty-four hours,) was considered to indicate a nearer point of attack. The sailing of this expedition, and two email skirmishes in which the insurgents were victorious, are the only military movements to be recorded.

The Spanish Colonel Buenaga had gone to Lisbon; the bearer, it was reported, of the heads of a convention between some of the insurgent leaders and Saldanha.

The British merchants were very indignant at the course pursued by the Queen's Government in sending the five ships laden with wine which were captured by the blockading squadron to be adjudicated upon by a Lisbon tribunal. They consider that the vessels ought to have been re- leased instantly. The Junta has not persisted in compelling the mer- chants to pay up the duties and clear goods under bond in the Custom- house.

Provisions in Oporto were abundant and cheap.

The Oporto Nacional of the 24th of March publishes a note from Mr. Southern to the Portuguese Government, dated the 28th January. It urges the claims of the Torres Vedras prisoners to be dealt with mildly and eonsiderately. Mr. Southern gives a pretty strong hint, that the severe measure of sending the prisoners to the coast of Africa was contrary to the *ilea of the Queen of Portugal.

ITALY.—Another popular demonstration of affection for Pins the Ninth has taken place at Rome. The 25th of March being the Festival of the Annunciation, the Pope was to hold a Capella Papal° at the Piazza di Mi- ner/a, whither he was to proceed in grand state. A rumour had been in- dustriously circulated by the retrograde party that the Pontiff, would be molested by the populace. On the mere report of one of his chamberlains, however, that the people were friendly, the Pope proceeded on his route amidst shouts of" Courage! holy father; trust to your people." The news of this affair got wind during the ceremony in the church; and deputations were hastily formed from the pupils of La Sapienza, the members of the commercial club, and the nobles; who hurried to the Piazza di Minerva, and formed two dense hedges from that to the Quirinal, between which She procession returned amidst the most enthusiastic cries from the popu- bee. On arriving at the Quirinal Palace, his Holiness presented himself 011 the balcony to thank his affectionate people: instantly, by a sponta- neous movement, the multitude dropped on their knees and received the Papal benediction; after which they separated quietly.

The edict concerning the press is described to be "a dead letter": the several journals had reappeared on the 28th March, without any Govern- ment stamp, and the new law was understood to be suspended for the pro- • year; in other words, it would be allowed at once to become a dead biter A further effort was made, on the 27th March, towards rendering assist- ance to the Irish relief funds. An amateur concert was got up in the palace of the Spanish Envoy, by Madame Sartoris (Adelaide Kemble) and a num- ber of amateurs. Lord Ward paid for the lights; and Earl Compton, Countess Calergi; Prince Wolkonsky, Count Castlebarco, and Miss Brown of Mayo, assisted with their voices. The concert realized 1,000 dollars.

Fexwcs.—The most important news contained in the Paris papers re- lates to the supply of food. Happily, the arrivals of grain and flour have been exceedingly abundant; and the diminution of price in the markets is universal. The weather, too, has become favourable to the prospects of home agriculture.

Count St. Aulaire has arrived in Paris, from London. His contemplated retirement from the British Embassy was generally viewed with regret, in consequence of the influence which he was known to have with the Eng- lish Government He was believed to be the bearer of their views in re- spect to Portugal; and is said to have besought the King and M. Guizot to- refrain from openly expressing displeasure at the line of policy determined. on in London.

Don Enrique arrived at Marseilles an Saturday, with the presumed in- tention of remaining some time in that city. He was well received by the authorities of the place: on the same evening, however, a telegraphic order- was received from Paris, for the Prince to depart at once for Italy; which he accordingly did, early on the following morning.

UNITED STATES.—There have been two arrivals from New York this week; the latest date being the 15th of March. The news is not important. Colonel Benton had declined to proceed to Mexico with the mere title of Major-General in the army. In order that his reasons might be known to the world, he had published a correspondence on the subject between the President and himself. On the 6th of March, the Colonel writes a letter

to the President, in which he stipulates for fall powers, both military and diplomatic, "the command of the army, and authority to sign preliminaries

of peace." Without this full authority, he could do no good: indeed, his presence would be mischievous, because it is well known that he disap- proves of the plans both of the late and present Commanders; and his pre- sence would be an implied censure on the Generals. With these full powers, he was "willing to make the sacrifices and incur the responsibili- ties of this high command." Mr. Polk replies, on the 9th of March, that. he had carefully examined the question whether he possessed the power to " designate " Colonel Benton—a junior Major-General—to the supreme command. "The result of this examination is, I am constrained to say, a settled conviction on my mind that such power has not been conferred upon me by the existing laws." The President, "fully sensible of the exalted patriotism" which could "alone" induce Colonel Benton "to make the. personal sacrifices" required by the assumption of the command, still ex- presses a faint hope that he will be content without the plenary authority. To this letter the Colonel replies by " declining to accept the appointment of Major-General in the army."

The news from Mexico continues very meagre. The only military in- telligence of a positive character is the continuance of the preparations at

the island of Lobos for the attack on Vera Cruz. There were rumours of an engagement at Saltillo between Santa Anna's army and General Tay- lor's division, in which the former were defeated. The news, however, is wanting in authenticity. From New Mexico, the reports of Colonel Doniphan's victory near El Paso over the Mexican force, and of his having marched to Chihuahua, are confirmed.

There are accounts from Oregon and California. The British survey- ing-vessels Herald and Pandora, which had been at work during the sum- mer on the survey of the Oregon coast, arrived at Panama in January. They left the American flag flying at San Francisco in Upper California. Commodore Stockton had made an attack on the town of Guaymos; and the fife of the squadron levelled it With the ground.

RIO DE LA Ilara.—The Seagull packet, which left Rio on the 14th February, has brought accounts from Monte Video to the 31st January. There appear to have been some active military operations: these, although at first in favour of Riveira, terminated in his receiving a severe reverse, by which the republic of Monte Video was placed in a very critical po- sition. On the 25th December, Riveira captured the town of Paisandii,

after a sanguinary conflict. He then fell back to the Rio Negro, which he recrossed on the 4th January. Meanwhile, Oribe's General, Gomez had proceeded Northward, to attack Salto; which was reduced by the Argent-

ine forces on the 8th of the same month. Riveira found himself at this time hemmed in between the far superior divisions of Oribe and Gomez; from which he escaped with great difficulty, after suffering a serious reverse. He managed, however, to take refuge on the 26th January, in Maldonado, with about two hundred followers. Considerable apprehensions were en- tertained for his safety, as well as that of Monte Video.

WEST INDIES.—A mail arrived in London on Thursday, with advices from Jamaica to the 11th March. The accounts from the colonies are generally favourable. From Hayti we hear of President Riche's death, at no very advanced age, but after a life of much exertion. A successor had been elected, and all was quiet.

But the most striking news consists in a narrative of the wreck of the Tweed mail-steamer, the loss of seventy-two passengers, the sufferings of

the survivors, and their final rescue. The story, written by a survivor, is one of the most impressive in the annals of Marine disaster. We must abridge it greatly, to get it into our space; but we endeavour to retain the most essential portions of the text. The Tweed was a vessel of 1,800 tons burden and 500-horse power. It left Ha- vannah early on the 9th of February, for Mexico; having on board sixty-two passengers, including two ladies and a female servant; a crew, including officers, engineers, and stewardess, to the number of eighty-nine; in all, 151 souls. The commander was Mr. Parsons a Master of much experience in the Royal Navy. The cargo comprised the mails from England, 1,115 bottles of quicksilver valued at 18,0001., other packages, and a large quantity of COAIS for a (Queen's steamer at Vera Cruz. The ship was deep in the water. About noon on Wednesday the 10th of February, the wind began to freshen; and the night closed in black and stormy, with thunder and much lightning. On Thursday the weather was dark and rough: no solar observation could be taken. About half-past three on the morning of Friday the 12th, while the corn mender was pacing the deck, and the ship was under full steam, with sails set, one of the look-out men exclaimed, 'Breakers ahead!" The engines were put back, and the helm was turned hard a-starboard; but the ship went on ahea.i, and grounded. The writer of the narrative jumped out of bed, snatched some clothes, and ran on deck; and through the gloom he saw the line of white

breakers ahead, stretching away right and left. Mr. Parsons was asked—" What danger, captain 2" He replied—" Never fear, she's going astern." "He must have meant the engines; for the ship herself never did, as in a few seconds more she went crash on the reef. She went over a little to leeward on first striking; then uprighted; and being raised by the swell, the way scarcely off her yet, she again crashed on the rocks with all her weight This seemed fairly to dash her whole bottom in, sending the machinery, boilers, and funnel, up with a jerk some inches." The engines stopped, the steam escaping in clouds. The passengers and crew now crowded on deck, some almost naked, and but few dressed. "On striking the second time, the ship swung broad (port) side on the reef, and then fell over to windward. The sea then struck her carrying away in a moment, as if they were feathers, the cutter, mail-boat, and dingy astern. She then reeled to lee- ward, and back to windward: each time the timbers underneath being heard to tear, crash, and give way with a fearful grating noise. The next sea dashed away the starboard paddle-box boat." "The scene at this time via truly awful! The night was very dark, and pier- chig cold. Everywhere might be seen individuals clinging with all their strength, some to the masts, others to the sides, skylights, seats, boats, and rigging; the sea making a breach over all. Below, where all was dark, there seemed awful disorder: the lower decks breaking up; the bulkheads, cabins, furniture, See., washing about; and screams of people in distress ! Oh it was fearful ! and being without power to assist made it worse. At this time I was near the captain, and said, What is to be done ? ' He said calmly, Hold on till daylight, if possible, as I hope-she will keep tdgether till then.'" The funnel fell over to windward. The masts were seen to shake like willows, and Mr. Parsons called for "a knife," to cut them away: nobody had one; until at last "something like a penknife" was found, the lanyards were cut, and the masts went over. The two remaining boats on the lee-side, already filled,with people, could not be moved, and could not have lived. No one knew where the ship was, but supposed it to be off the coast of Yucatan. The vessel was breaking away under the feet, no land in sight; and some might be heard uttering short prayers. Half an hour after the first alarm, the ship broke to pieces. The boats were lowered, and drifted astern; but they were without oars, and had been much damaged when swinging at the ship's side fall of men. "One more sea sent all the after part of the ship, boats and all, flying in a thousand pieces; and all that had remained on it were scat- tered-in the sea. The writer recollects being seated, with the captain and a few others, on a part of the ship's side to which the netting was attached, with the water up to our breasts. A fearful cry was heard, and the captain said, Oh, these poor men in the boats, they are gone! God have mercy on them!' All was still. In a moment more, it seemed as if tons of broken wood were hurled on the top of us, and we were scattered and buried beneath the waves. Then came a fear- ful choking straggle with death—the prayer to God, thoughts of home, and struggles for life, all at the same moment!" People clang to pieces of the wreck, and were thrown about at random in the boiling waves, until some, like the writer of the narrative, found themselves in rather smoother water. Somebody cried out that he could feel the bottom. "It was joyful news to hear him say he saw many people scattered about, standing on the wreck, which had grounded inside the surf. It was then about 4.30 a. in. A few of us crawled off the piece of wreck which had saved us; but the injured clang to it till a little daylight appeared, when they also crept on shore—no, not on shore, but on the reef, among wreck, water, and stones. When daylight fairly came, what a fearful picture was presented to our eyes! For at least a mile along the edge of the reef, inside the breakers, nothing was to be seen but wreck, piled up several feet in awful confusion—timbers, planks, doors, crushed boats, beds, trunks, bag- gage, barrels, seamen's chests, &c.; and all that remained in the surf of the once proud Tweed was the port side from the sponson to the figure-head, over which still stood the bowsprit and jib-boom, bending as each sea covered it like a reed. The wheel was still attached to the sponson, and the paddle-box boat still covered the paddle-box, all held together by the machinery and the shaft. To this por- tion of the ship there still clung about forty individuals, to whom we could render not the slightest assistance."

They now conjectured, and rightly, that they were on the Alacranes, a reef fif- teen miles long by twelve broad, with deep water in the midst, and distant about sixty miles from the mainland of Yucatan. The reef is entirely under water, even at the lowest tide. The intended course of the ship lay thirty miles to the South of the reef; and her deviation is imputed to currents, which carried them against a fierce North wind. Most fortunate was it that they reached the reef at ebb-tide. At daylight on the 12th, the people crept together to consult. It was bitterly cold; few had any clothing, and the first thing was to find some from the wreck. Next, they began to look after the remaining boats: there were three, but they were considered unserviceable.

At tea o'clock, the tide was observed to be rising! They again looked to the boats, and bravely resolved on exertion. They determined to repair the mail- boat, as the least damaged; though that had its entire stem torn away. They bad lost the carpenter; they had no hammer, but used a copper bolt torn out of the timbers; their nails were plucked out of pieces of the wreck; oars and sails were picked up; the officers—of whom, most fortu- nately, a large proportion had been spared—resumed the command, and gave direction to the labour. Ab ,ut this time some one picked up a compass; which had been torn by the water from the binnacle, was thrown on to the reef, and lay, uninjured, among the mass of wreck and stones, with not even the glass broken ! The boat was equipped. "A rough sort of bulkhead was made in the boat, about three feet from the bow; the space before it being stuffed full of anything which could be laid hold of, such as old blankets, pillow-cases, shirts, &e. A piece of sail was then covered over the broken bows and the fore part of the boat, extending under the bottom some five or six feet, and there nailed on, and fastened as well as possible. The other defects in the frail boat were tinkered up as much as possible, so that by four p.m. she was thought fit to swim. Her mast and sail were found, and put on board, with balf-a- dozen oars, a few bottles of wine, a ham, a bit of cheese, and a little oatmeal and flour; after which the chief officer was appointed to take charge of her, with six men and three other persons." "As she moved away from us, many felt a sinking at the heart; her chance of being kept afloat over a hundred miles was very doubtful, and on her depended all our hopes."

-Those remaining now noticed that the tide had risen eighteen inches. It be- came necessary to construct some sort of fabric whereon to take shelter. "As the pieces drifted near, we secured them, and placed them one above another, anyhow, without any sort of order, or distinct idea at first what we could or should do. At last so many were piled up that we got on the top, above the water, and began to arrange it in something like order. It was squared as much as possible, and the flat boards laid along the top. The size might be ten feet square. There were no lashings to any part of it, as we had no rope. The few bottles of wine and odd provisions, &c. which we had gathered during the day, were placed on the top; by which time it began to come on dark, but still the tide was flowing." That day the refreshment was a little wine and oatmeal. A Prayer-book was found, and a passenger read prayers. "How often we sounded round our frail raft to watch the tide! There was not room to lie down, but all huddled together in a sitting posture as close as possible to keep each other warm; still, the teeth chattering together, and limbs trembling with extreme

cold, might be heard and felt everywhere. Some tried to talk in a cheering tone, but it was a faint attempt, and of no use; the heart was too sad, and the thoughts too gloomy; so each relapsed into silence, busy with his own sad reflections, and longing for the morning light."

On this raft they remained for five days and five nights. Each day they la- boured bravely at the "task of self-preservation; adding spare and atones to the raft, picking up provisions and a few fish; and using their scanty but lucky stock" of provisions and stimulants with wise economy. One article of their diet was a kind of ball made of flour, salt-water, wine, and a little treacle: this they called " Alacranes cake." The people left on the wreck tried to join those on the raft bat the greater number perished in the attempt. Ultimately there were collectors on the raft sixty-nine persons; besides two live pigs and a sheep, a dead sheep, provisions, and a box of candles. On the gunday occurred a remarkable incident. "A writing-desk was found, and in one corner was a little box of about a dozen wax lucifer matches; but they were wet, and would not light. We stuck them in the flour to dry, but very near

lost them: one of the Spanish passengers having seen the box there, pocketed the box' throwing away the matches. When this was discovered, a him and cry WBS

raised about the matches, on which our existence almost depended. The respect- able portion of the Spaniards (some of them most worthy and kind gentlemen) assisted in the search at once; and at last we made the delinquent turn out the box, also a jar of preserves he had pocketed for his own use ! He confessed hav-

ing thrown the matches out; and on searching we found them scattered in SOIlle holes of the raft. A few of them were picked up, and dried, and at last we struck a light ! Oh, joyful news it was to all. We gave three cheers A candle was

lighted, and placed in an empty barrel, and a watch placed over it, with orders never to let it out, by night or day. A piece of board lined with iron was found; and on this we soon had a fire blazing, having plenty of sticks at hand. The doctor and purser then got the dead sheep, skinned it in a most skilful manner with an old razor, and we soon had a portion of it cooked. A piece was served out to each man; and all declared they never tasted such excellent mutton. One tottle ' of wine followed round to each. At noon we offered up our thanks to God for His goodness." The engineers began a series of attempts to construct a still, in order to con- dense the salt-water and render it fit for drinking. They first tried earthen jars; but they broke. With some copper vessel and lead pipes they succeeded; and next day they obtained a sort of distilled water.

About eleven o'clock on the 15th, some one cried "A sail!" It was a vessel. A brig was approaching the reef; it stopped outside the breakers, four miles off; and a canoe with eight men came to the raft.

The patched-up mail-boat had reached the land ! When it left the reef on the Friday, those in it continued to row and sail gently along, across the reef, in great fear of running aground every moment and damaging her frail hull. " She

touched often as she went along in the dark; but they were able always to clear her. The stem turned out not to be her frailest part, when once they got clear

away; she leaked in so many places in the bottom, that two men baling could scarcely keep her free; and had any of them stood up in her bottom, they would have gone through her. The chief officer sat with the compass between his

knees in the dark, steering, but with great difficulty making out the points of

the compass; only doing so by now and then getting a glimpse of the flourish round the North point." Out at sea, by sitting all well aft, they kept herr bows out of water. By daybreak they had passed the small island of Perez. Chi. Sunday, at dawn, they saw land a few miles off, and at the same time a brig in the offing. At first she avoided them, supposing the strange boat to be some piratical craft; and when the chief officer boarded her, he found all in confusion, the people standing to defend themselves with fire-arms. She proved to be the brig Emilio, a regular trader between Sisal and Havanna. She had been obliged

to slip cables in the storm over-night, and had left her master, Sefaor Bernardino Camp, onshore; but the mate, Seiler Villaverde, instantly returned to Sisal, testate the case to his commander. Sefior Camp did not delay a moment, but—forget- ting his cargo on the beach at Sisal, his appointed passengers, his insurance, and every selfish interest—set sail for the Alacrans.

The attempt to get the people off the reef proved to be no easy task; the boats surmounting the surf with difficulty, and having so far to go to the brig. Seven- teen were put on board; seven narrowly escaped swamping; and a new course of action became necessary. The brig put out to sea during the dark; and the peo- ple passed one more night on the raft. Next day it was resolved to carry all the people in the canoe and small boat to the island of Perez; where the brig could come close and take them on board. Mr. Parsons forbade anything to be carried but the clothes actually worn and a trifle of provisions; the living freight being in itself a heavy load for the boats. Two black pigs therefore were left, sole occu-

pants of the raft; and Mr. Parsons was the last man to step from it. There were forty-two people in the canoe, ten in the small boat, and the voyage across the reef

was one of danger: any moment might have frustrated all their pains and de- stroyed them. The second officer took his stand in the bow of the canoe, as she was obliged to take the lead; and, assisted by one of the natives of Sisal belong-

ing to the boat, with poles sounding, be kept a-look out for reefs and danger. Sometimes we used the oars, and at others the sail; the canoe often grating over the reefs, which made as shudder, till we had gone three or four miles in the dark, when we thought it best to come to an anchor, about eight pen." That was oneof the worst nights passed in the reef. Wednesday the 17th proved a lovely day, and the boats went smoothly on. At eleven they passed a small island; and at two they reached Perez. This is kind of station to which the fishers of Campeachy and Sisal occasionally resort; and on it were some huts and buts of fresh water. It proved a paradise after five days and nights of suffering on the reef. The brig came round; in two trips the canoe put all on board; and on the following day they reached Sisal. After a week's repose, the shipwrecked people embarked in the Emilio for Ha- vanna, and arrived on the 3d of March. Here struck by the noble conduct of Senor Camp and Seiler Villaverde, the inhabitants got up a collection, and pre- sented 4,000 dollars to them; the Governor-General heading the subscription. They would have declined it; generously offering it for the benefit of the widows and families of the poor men lost in the Tweed. The British Consul now interposed; assuring the two brave men that the countrymen of the sufferers "at home" would "do their duty."