12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728

The Federal Government has been within an ace of war

with France. The Southern privateer Sumter anchored about 20th November in the roads of St. Pierre, Martinique, and was there blockaded by the Iroquois, a North American frigate. Martinique is unarmed, and from the movements of the Iroquois the local authorities expected every hour to see her seize the Sumter within the roads. The captain of the Sumter, however, was not disposed to become a martyr' to his country's cause, and on the night of 25th November slipped out of the roads, closely pursued by the Iroquois. Had the Sumter been seized in the roads, even Louis Napoleon could not have averted war.

Next page