A correspondence has been published between Captain John- stone, commanding
her Majesty's corvette Dryad,' off Tama- tave, and the French Admiral Pierre, after the bombardment of that port. The English officer only protests against bom- bardment without notice ; but Admiral Pierre in his replies is boiling over with fury, and on June 20th twice informs his correspondent that he has no right to intervene, and that he shall receive no further letters from him. On June 23rd he writes again to accuse Captain Johnstone of meddling, and of having asserted that the French proceedings were with- out justification. The letters are in the style which, in France, is used just before a challenge, and wholly unbecoming; but this may be explained without supposing a deliberate wish to in- sult. Admiral Pierre was at the time sickening under an attack of elbuminuria, a disease which constantly disorders the mind. of the patient, who is either morbidly irritable, or inclined to see a misfortune in every occurrence. No man's judgment, while he is so afflicted, can be securely trusted, and the Admiral's death, by proving the reality of his illness, removes all canoe of complaint.
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