examining a shell fired from the Hatteras it was found to be filled with sand instead of powder. This battle was fought 28 miles from Galveston, and though a small affair, was yet the first yard arm action between two steamers at sea. This locality now became unpleasantly warm for the Alabama, for several powerful Federal vessels were dispatched in search of her. She accordingly made for Jamaica, and having obtained permission of the governor, anchored in Port Royal for repairs and coaling. The officers and crew were completely lionised at this port, and the discipline seems to have been rather affected in consequence; some men, and the chief petty officer, had to be put in irons for exceeding their time of leave. The paymaster was also dismissed the ship from "circumstances of a painful nature,” and sent ashore. On Monday, the 25th of January, the Alabama set sail from Port Royal, in an E.S.E. direction, again escaping her old friend the San Jacinto, and another Federal war vessel, watching for her outside the harbour. She kept on her course, making many captures of Federal vessels sailing between India, China, and Australia, and England and America, giving herself out as the Federal steamer Dacotah in search of the Confederate "pirate" Alabama. Many were, the warnings, friendly and sarcastic, Captain Semmes received from neutral vessels, on the supposition that he was a Yankee. He was advised to mind that he did not catch a tartar in overhauling the Alabama, which was well known to have fought and sunk a Federal war steamer twice her own strength; her captain and crew were fiends incarnate. On May 11th, the sea rovers arrived at Bahia, where they met with a most enthusiastic reception, much to the discomfort of the authorities, who feared to give offence to the Federals. The Yankee consul, indeed demanded the seizure of the " pirate" with the view of handing her over to his government, but of course the request was not complied with. Captain Semmes at once commenced coaling, receiving supplies, and putting on shore a large number of prisoners taken from captured vessels. The Federal war steamer Mohican was in the neighbourhood of Bahia, but so far from fearing an encounter with her, Captain Semmes, with that chivalry which has so recently had such a glorious but unfortunate illustration, sent her a challenge to battle, by the English mail boat. He proposed that the two vessels should meet beyond the neutral distance of three miles from the shore and test their respective merits in a naval engagement. The Federal captain, however, thought it advisable to decline the challenge, and another sprig of laurel was added to the wreath of the Confederates. As day broke on the morning after the forwarding of the challenge, a strange armed vessel was perceived at anchor at the mouth of the harbour; and as a matter of course her presence excited the liveliest interest on board the Alabama. As it became light they were agreeably astonished to notice that the stranger carried the stars and bars, for up to that time they believed themselves to be the only Confederate "pirates " afloat. Subsequent enquiry proved her to be the Confederate cruiser Georgia, 5 guns, under the command of Lieutenant Maury. It is needless to say the meeting was a joyous one. After further festivities on shore, and a return treat given on board the Alabama, the alarm of the authorities was complete, and they wished the two vessels to leave within 24 hours. It was not, however, until the 21st of May that the Alabama took her departure, amidst the cheers and good wishes of an immense number of spectators. She next steered for the Cape of Good Hope, committing the usual ravages on the Federal merchantmen on her way. Amongst others, the Talisman was captured, a most acceptable prize, as her cargo consisted of coals, and she

had on board two new brass rifled 12-pounders.

These guns, with a supply of small arms, coals, stores, &c., were put on board another prize, the Conrad, which was turned into a Confederate cruiser, under the name of the Tuscaloosa, Lieutenant Low of the Alabama, taking the command of her. With mutual cheers and salutes of guns the two vessels parted company, but met again in Table bay, on August 5th. The reception given to the Confederates at the Cape was equally cordial to that they had experienced at Bahia. Private individuals and officials vied with each other in welcoming the hardy sea rovers. The Georgia had been in Simon's Bay previously, but had taken her departure for, it was believed, the Indian Ocean. She had only been gone a few days when the Federal Vanderbilt steamed in, in quest of "pirates"; but, on learning how short a time had elapsed since the Georgia had been there, set off at once in the direction she was supposed to have taken. Had she been a few days earlier, or waited a few days longer, she would have been certain of encountering one of the Confederates, the Georgia or the Alabama. This helped to confirm the suspicion that the great object of the Vanderbilt's cruise was to avoid the Confederates.

To be continued.

NOTES OF OLD TIMES-1759.

March 14. The two gold medals, given annually by his Grace the Duke of Newcastle, chancellor of the university of Cambridge, were adjudged to Mr. Hawes, of Jesus, and Mr. Cowper, of Corpus Christ College, bachelors.

April 11. The steeple of Great Billing church, in Northamptonshire, was demolished by lightning, and some stones of a very large size driven to a great distance with astonishing force. The pews in the church were likewise very much shivered

June 30. There is now in the garden of George Montgomery, esq., at Chippenham-hall, Cambridgeshire, the largest American aloe plant, now coming in flower that ever was seen in England. It is 104 years old, and it is thought it will be 40 feet high.

Nov. 22. Ten bay of building, &c., were consumed by fire, at Northampton. The following odd Advertisement appeared in the Cambridge Journal in 1759.

Whereas I, William Margetts, the younger, was at the last assizes for the County of Cambridge, convicted upon an indictment for an attempt to raise the price of corn in Ely market, upon the 24th day of September, 1757, by offering the sum of six shillings a bushel for wheat, for which no more than five shillings and nine-pence was demanded: And whereas, on the earnest solicitation and request of myself and friends, the prosecutor has been prevailed upon to forbear any further prosecution against me, on my submitting to make the following satisfaction, viz. Upon my paying the sum of 50l. to the poor inhabitants of the town of Ely, to be distributed by the ministers and churchwardens of the several parishes in the said town of Ely; and the further sum of 50l. to the poor inhabitants of the town of Cambridge, to be distributed by the ministers and church-wardens of the several parishes in the said town; and the full costs of the prosecution; and upon my reading this acknowledgement of my offence publicly, and with a loud voice, in the presence of a magistrate, constable, or other peace officer, of the said town of

Ely, at the market place there, between the hours of twelve and 1 o'clock, on a public market day, and likewise subscribing and publishing the same in three of the evening papers printed at London, and in the Cambridge journal, on four different days, and I have accordingly paid the said two sums of fifty pounds, and costs. And do hereby confess myself to have been guilty of the said offence, and testify my sincere and hearty sorrow in having committed a crime, which, in its consequences, tended so much to increase the distress of the poor in the late calamitous scarcity: And I do hereby most humbly acknowledge the lenity of the prosecutor, and beg pardon of the public in general, and of the town of Ely in particular.

This paper was read by me at the public market-place at Ely, in the presence of Thomas Aungier, gentleman, chief constable, on the 2nd day of June, 1759, being a public market-day there, and is now, as a further proof of the just sense I have of the heinousness of my crime subscribed and published by me.

Witness, JAMEs Day;

Under Sheriff of Cambridgeshire.

AMERICAN RAILROADS.

WM. MARGETTS.

The railroad was pushing on over the Western Prairie toward the Mississippi. It was strange to any one who, like myself, had seen a good deal of European railroad-making, to watch the rough-and-ready way in which this line was carried forward. The low mound of earth, on which the single line of rails was placed, was heaped up hastily from a trench cut on either side. You would have fancied that the weight of the engine would crush down the embankment, and break through the flat bridges supported on the slender wooden piles. But, somehow or other, American railroads work well and serve their purpose. The cost of construction was low enough to make the mouth of an English shareholder water, being under two thousand pounds a mile. This, however, is unusually cheap even for America; and I believe the cost of the Illinois Central, over as easy a country, was about eight thousand pounds per mile. What makes this cheapness of construction the more remarkable is, that wages were high. The rate of pay for common unskilled labourers varied from four to six shillings a day; and the teams, gangs of which were brought in to the work by farmers settled in the neighbourhood, were paid for at the rate of ten shillings daily. It is probable, moreover, that the farmers worked at a low rate, as the funds for the line were chiefly provided by promissory notes given by them, and secured by the mortgage of their farms. A very large proportion of the workmen were Irish; and the meadows along the line were covered with shanties and gipsy tents, where Irish women and children huddled together, in as close a proximity to their state of native dirt as the fresh air of the prairie would permit of. The sale of whiskey or intoxicating liquors was prohibited, by a sort of extempore lynch-law; and I was struck by hearing the American overseer go round to the different shanties and tell their inmates, that if he heard of their having liquor on the premises he would pull down the huts over their heads.

EDWARD DICEY,

YORK RACES IN 1804.

(From an old paper dated Aug. 28.)

To-day, being the last day of our Races, Mrs. Thornton rode her famous match against Mr. Flint, four miles for five hundred guineas, and one thousand guineas bye-bet.

Never did we witness such an assemblage of people as were drawn together on the above occasion; one hundred thousand at least; nearly ten times the number appeared on Knavesmire than did on the day when Bay Malton ran, or when Eclipse went over the course, leaving the two best horses of the day a mile and a half behind. Indeed expectation was raised to the highest pitch, from the novelty of the match. Thousands from every part of the surrounding country thronged to the ground. In order to keep the course as clear as possible, several additional people were employed; and, much to the credit of the 6th light dragoons, a party of them were also on the ground on horseback for the like purpose, and which unquestionably was the cause of many lives not being lost.

About 4 o'clock, Mrs. Thornton appeared on the ground, full of spirits, her horse led by Colonel Thornton, and followed by Mr. Baker, and Mr. H. Boynton. Mr. Flint soon afterwards made his appearance. They started a little past 4 o'clock. The lady took the lead for upwards of three miles, in a most capital style. Her horse, however, had much the shorter stroke of the two; when within a mile of being home, Mr. Flint pushed forward, and got the lead, which he kept. Mrs. Thornton used every exertion; but finding it impossible to win the race, out of humanity to her horse, she drew up in a sportsmanlike style, when within about two distances.

At the commencement of the running, bets were 5 and 6 to 4 on the lady; in running the first three miles, 7 to 4 and 2 to 1 in her favour. Indeed the oldest sportsmen on the stand thought she must win. In running the last mile, the odds were in favour of Mr. Flint. Never, surely, did a woman ride in better style. It was difficult to say whether her horsemanship, her dress, or her beauty, were most to be admired. The tout ensemble was unique. Mrs. Thornton's dress was a leopard coloured body with blue sleeves, the rest buff, and blue cap. Mr. Flint rode in white. The race was run in nine minutes and fifty nine seconds. Thus ended the most interesting races ever run upon Knavesmire. No words can express the disappointment felt at the defeat of Mrs. Thornton. The spirit she displayed, and the good humour with which she has borne her loss, have greatly diminished the joy of many of the winners. From the very superior style in which she performed her exercising gallop on Wednesday, betting was greatly in her favour; for the accident which happened in consequence of her saddle-girths having slackened, and the saddle turning round, was not attended with the slightest injury to her person, nor did it in the least damp her courage, while her horsemanship, and close-seated riding, astonished the beholders, and inspired a general confidence in her success. Not less than £200,000 were pending upon Mrs. Thornton's match; perhaps more, if we include the bets in every part of the country; and there is no part, we believe, in which there were not some. It will be seen by the time of performance, that Haphazard was the best horse at the meeting.