[From Mason’s Normal Singer, by permission 
and landed her reinforcements. On returning to Key 
West, the steamers Mohawk and Crusader were 
coaling at Government wharf, and Mr. Tifft, a seces¬ 
sion coal dealer, refused to sell any to the Atlantic. 
She steamed to Havana, where she coaled, and sailed 
for New York on the ‘27th. 
Tho Now Orleans Picayune of April 17th says:— 
“Wo learn by a gentleman from Warrington that the 
report that Gen. Bragg was constructing works on 
Santa Rosa Island, near Fort Pickens, was erroneous. 
On the contrary, the United States troops were busily 
engaged in doing so, and, at the time our informant 
left, had extended the works to a point nearly opposite 
Warrington .” The last paragraph discloses the ar¬ 
rival of the Atlantic, with Capt. Meiggs, his sappers 
and miners, carpenters, and light battery. 
The Mobile Advertiser of the 23d ult. says “it is 
going to be the very mischief to run the Linconites 
off Santa Rosa Island if they don’t want to go. Wo 
may and will make Fort Pickens hot for them, but 
they have plenty of men and can get as many more 
as Lincoln can send them; when Pickens is rendered 
untenable, they can entrench themselves beyond 
tho reach of our batteries, If they like, and so keep 
up their camp as long as they please, or UKtil we 
leave the mainland to attack them In their strong¬ 
hold. We cannot starve them out without a naval 
force superior to that at their command. So wo shall 
have to keep a strong force on hand to watch this 
nest of impudent fellows right under our noses. Tho 
knocking to pieces of Fort Pickens will not he get¬ 
ting rid of them if they have a mind to stay on the 
island. There la plenty of saffd there for batteries, 
and our reports show that the enemy is using it to 
fortify his lines. 
A gentleman who has been on a business tour 
through Alabama and Mississippi, leaving Mobile on 
tho 22d ult., arrived at his homo (Chicago) on the 
28th, anil reports that hundreds of men who had 
gone to Pensacola to take Fort Pickens are returning 
homo dally, disgusted, and satislied that it is impos¬ 
sible for tho Confederate States ever to capture Fort 
Pickens. Large numbers of troops at Pensacola are 
sick and dying, and in the hospitals, from the effects 
of fatigue, exposure and hunger. He reports the 
people of Alabama and Mississippi almost crazy 
with excitement. The mob spirit is rampant every¬ 
where, rendered dally more desperate in some local¬ 
ities by threatened famine and starvation. 
As Fort Pickens seems destined to play an import¬ 
ant part in the present war, the inquiries naturally 
arise: What are its defences? Can it hold out? In 
answer thereto, we givo the following from an 
exchange: 
If Pickens were like Fort Sumter, isolated, sur¬ 
rounded by batteries of heavy cannon and mortars, 
within easy reach, it would probably have to yield. 
But this is not the case. Batteries there are enough; 
but in a very different relation to the fort. Fort 
Pickens stands at the north end of Santa lb ^a Island 
or tongue. The coast of Pensacola harbor makes u 
semi-circle around it. On the west is Fort Mi ltae; in 
front, Barrancas; further to the east, the Navy Vard. 
Around this semi-circle for two miles there arc bat¬ 
teries; but those batteries are moro than a mile 
distant. The harbor of Pensacola is good, admitting 
the easy access of vessels, ro that the fort can bo 
easily reached, and is already reached and reinforced, 
ft is provisioned for a year, and will be fully manned. 
From thoso facts, we may draw these conclusions:— 
First, Fort Pickens cannot in all probability be bat¬ 
tered down. Secondly, it can be aided by a powerful 
squadron of ships, which, with the aid of Pickens, 
will probably butter down the shore batteries. Land 
Engineers have doubted this. But history is against 
them. Lord Nelson did it. and Lord Cochran did it. 
Tho most powerful batteries have been silenced by 
ships. It is true there has been a great change in 
the kind of cannon used. So there has been in ships; 
and we doubt whether any more effectual gun has 
been made than the 32 pounders, and the 48 pound 
carronados. At any rate, aid can be furnished by the 
fleet, sufficient to prevent the success of nay assault 
or bombardment. Thirdly, it follows from this, that 
If the rebels carry Fort Pickens, it must be by siege; 
and that requires a long time and great expense of 
money; and in the meanwhile other things will come 
to puss; but what probability is there that Pickens 
can lie carried by siege? It can only be done by 
regular parallels on Santa Rosa; and to do that 
will require twenty thousand disciplined troops; 
but the important fact still remains that any 
parallels and approaches made on the land side, will 
be enfiladed by the lire of the ships. In a military 
point of view, if does not seem that Pickens can bo 
easily taken. Its regular siege, by an immense body 
of force, may be undertaken; and in that case the 
Government will have ampio time to tako counter 
measures, and probably with success. 
The Pottsville (Pa.) Journal publishes a private 
letter from a officer on board the United States 
steamer Wyandotte, now in Pensacola Bay, in which 
the following paragraph occurs: 
“ The force down here consists of the friguto Sa¬ 
bine, 50 guns; steam sloop Brooklyn, 22 guns; sloop 
St. Louis, 20 guns, and last and least in size, but 
boiling over with spunk and grit, the Wyandotte, 6 
guns. Fort Pickens is u very Btrong bastioned fort, 
and very advantageously situated. The garrison can 
repulse seventy times their numbers. 
Slowly. 
mp 
[Foreign Correspondence of the Rural New-Yorker.] 
FETE DAY IN TUSCANY. 
I found a flower of 
Du many a branch their 
bloom 
Florknce, March, 1861, 
As we sat this morning, enjoying the Italian dolce 
far mente, gazing dreamily at the purple Appenines 
rising above the mighty Duomo, and glittering Cam¬ 
panile, and meditating on ancient times and things, 
a picturesque raft, with two tall ladders, cone-like in 
the center, came poling up the Arno. Curiosity 
awoke in one moment, the classic waters of the Arno 
being now rarely disturbed save by the small Gondola¬ 
shaped boats, that glide softly up and down. But 
how stupid to forget for a moment! To-morrow is 
the grand fete day; these are the preparations for the 
illumination. Thursday was the King’s birthday; 
flags and firing, however, were all that announced it. 
All fetes are held on Sundays, on account of the 
peasantry, and so to-morrow will be the graud gala 
by which Tuscany greets her King. 
But about these pyrotechnic preparations. The 
raft passes under the arches of the Ponte alia Car- 
raia, that noble bridge, 300 years old, and pauses at 
the wall of the quay. The river is enclosed by high 
stone walls, and the broad streets on each side, called 
Lung’ Arno, are the Fifth Avenues of Florence. 
One man steadies the raft with his pole, and two 
others, ascending the ladders, drive in between the 
stones stout wires. These aro bent at the end, so as 
to hold a small earthen pan, filled with oil and a 
wick. Here comes a boat, also with a ladder, shoot¬ 
ing out from under the bridge. It contains three 
men; they commence with the first arch, and follow¬ 
ing the curve, fasten the little pans above it; then, a 
straight line appears above that; from the top of the 
bridge, men fasten pans to form still an upper line; 
other boats come. Now a row of these little dots is 
seen out to the sharp edge of the stone pier, which 
projects like a vast wedge into the water. They are 
at work at the other end of the bridge too; and 
slowly, slowly, following arch, and doubling piers, 
and succeeding each other, they complete tho triple 
row of lamps across the bridge, 323 feet in length. 
It is a pretty sight to watch them, so quietly and 
calmly going round these immense quays, with their 
loads of earthen pans. Now look to the right; they 
are doing the same at the Ponte Santa Trinita, that 
most beautiful of bridges, which lias been the admi¬ 
ration of the world for 000 years. These quiet watefs 
look so gay with all these rafts and boats, that move 
with slow and stately grace, as if the spirits of mighty 
dead still gazo from the palace walls on either 
side. Here is one, with a man in a green coat and 
red cap, and looking delightfully picturesque, on 
the summit of his high ladder. There goes a Gari- 
bablian across the bridge; you can tell him by his 
red shirt. " Viva Garibaldi,” cries the old nut seller 
at the corner—“Pino,” echoes the boatman, as he 
hums Garibaldi's hymn. 
How line the effect of all this will be to-morrow 
night. The ordinary street gas lights, reflected in the 
Arno, form every evening one of the most beautiful 
scenes conceivable. Wbat will be the effect of these 
hundreds of lights? 
Now they are beginning to decorate the lamp 
posts. Wires bent downward, in a curve, and alter¬ 
nating, one short and one long one, so as to form a 
double line of lights. Stages are In process of erec¬ 
tion in the three largest piazzas. Baskets of colored 
lanterns flit about, and flowers in abundance. 
Though honor is thus paid to Victor Emanuel, 
jet in the city there is not great enthusiasm. Some 
loudly maintain that the whole country, from Appen- 
ines to Tiber, palpitates with enthusiasm. But the 
conservative Florentines, who love their ease, and 
their old ways, are not so well pleased with the new 
taxations and improvements. Their hearts are not 
exactly in their purses, as.is often said of a meaner 
race, yet so many scudi and fieriui ure required, as 
to cause some murmurs. The old polonsy, too, of 
neighboring States, particularly of Piedmont, is a 
Medusa, whose snakes still crawl, though the severed 
head lies low. 
There are a few who zealously think of Leopold I 
as an exile; who refuse to call the Pitti Palace aught 
but the Grand Duke’s palace; who grumble as they 
walk on tho fascine, “He will be having some of this 
good under-wood cleared,” Ac.; who declare that 
Tuscany can never be merged into Piedmont. These 
snow - y white, 'That shod a pure and love - ly light, In 
6ongs they pour, They sing till all tho light is o’er, 
In May-day, 
That flower, that bird, that song, 
Oh! ’twas the maid I love to meet, 
Whose blooming smilo was eve* sweet 
Like May-day. 
In May-day, 
A bird once sung to me; 
The song I never shall forget, 
Its notes I oft with smiles repeat, 
In May-day. 
In May-day, 
How glad I heard that song; 
Its notes, they told of peace and love, 
Like those from golden harps above, 
Tn Mav-dny. 
the waters, varied and bright with iris colors, as if 
this were the dawn of a new era. when Italia shall 
again wave her laureled scepter of Arts and Poetry. 
Under the noble arches of the Loggia de Lanzi, are 
stands for the musicians, close to where the Roman 
grasps the Sabine, where Ajax dies aud Perseus for¬ 
ever slays Medusa. Pendants and circles of lamps 
decorate this grand Arcade, and the obi lions ramp 
in front of all. Tho piazza is fall of people, with 
holiday garb and air. Colored lanterns, colored oils 
in lamps, givo a pretty effect to the dark old houses. 
There is a picture of a bloody field with the Aus¬ 
trians in full flight. “ Parco Tedeseo ”—German 
pig,— says a dark-browed Tuscan, in Contodino garb. 
Turn up the narrow Porta Rossa, one avenue of 
flags to the Piazza Sta Trinita. Here is a platform 
by the granite column, brought from the baths of 
Caracalla. The waving tri color recalls the words of 
one of their own poets, Beroiikt, whose works were, 
till very lately, a prohibited pleasure: 
“ II verdn, la spr-nictant anni panciuta; 
II roam?, la glvia rli m-r-vla copnpinta; 
II bianco, la Ode frsvteruo d’ amor.” 
Will any one thank us for a literal translation? 
The green, the hope so tnaoy years deferred; 
Thu red, the joy of having obtained it; 
The white, the fraternal faith of love. 
Here is the Lung’ Amo,—tho Broadway of Flor¬ 
ence,—flags float and lamps glitter in the rum. What 
a crowd! hut all so quiet and orderly; no where but 
in quiet Florence could you witness such a scone. 
There goes aBersagllere, as the Sardinian riflemen 
aro called, witli a laughing, boyish face under his 
waving feathers. Here is a Coperchin, with his 
white almsbag. 
“ See, the Hotel de New York has put out candles 
instead of lamps. How mean!” says an English 
voice behind,—“Prince Corsini lias hung out his 
flag.” “Ah! the old Codini, they have to do it,” 
comments an Italian. 
“Volete?” says a flower girl, with hyacinths. 
“ Quelles sont beaux chevaux,” adds a French 
voice; and so on we go with the crowd to the Cascine, 
The troops are reviewed there to-day. A more 
brilliant scene cannot be conceived. On one side, 
the Cascine, with its long avenues of trees, some ivy- 
wreathed to their summits, others just bursting into 
foliage, with that soft, tender, green tint which is 
almost transparency; on the other side a broad 
plain, or green meadow. Here the troops are drawn 
up in glittering array,—a gallant body of men, this 
National Guard, numbering 4,000, and all Florentine 
citizens. Beyond, above, are the everlasting hills, 
looking down in grandeur, Fiesole in quiet loveli¬ 
ness, with her guardian watch-tower. 
The scene is brilliant indeed. Gay carriages, with 
footmen and out riders,—fair-faced English ladies in 
ermine,—Italian Countesses, with flashing eyes and 
jewelled robes,—flower girls,— Contudini,— officers 
on prancing steeds,— the Bersagliere,- the Mountain 
Riflemen, in their sylvan costume, with green belts, 
and caps, and drooping feathers, looking like Robin 
Hood’s bold archers,—here and there French officers 
in blue and red, waving plumes, tossing banners,— 
all this charming scene fades in the words that essay 
to describe it. 
At four o’clock, a grand corso of carriages takes 
place. The peasantry of the neighboring country 
are far the happiest looking people. This is a true 
gala day for them. Many of them have brought their 
Contributions to the National Crown. For the old 
iron crown of Lombardy, which the Austrians carried 
away, even could it be regained, (say the papers,) 
“after having encircled so many vile brows, shall 
never be used for a King of Italy.” Contributions 
limited to twenty centimes each, from the mass of the 
people, received from now till duly, will purchase 
the new crown for the King. 
Monday. — Florence last night was a city of fire. 
Looking up or down the Arno, the thousands of 
lights gleaming in the waterand doubling the arches 
of the bridges, were magnificent. Nearly every 
house in the city was illuminated. The Pitti Palace 
stood out in tracery of fire, the lights following the 
architectural lines, defined its proportions closely. 
This is the usual method of illumination in Italy. 
The mighty dome of tin; Cathedral towered above 
every tiling, a dome of fire, surmounted by across 
of flame. Giotto’s Campanile flashed with light 
through its arches. But the old bell tower of the 
Palazzo Vecchto was most magnificent. Against 
the dark sky it seemed just bursting forth in flames, 
that showed every line of its bold architecture, uud 
there it glowed all night long. 
The streets were crowded, yet there was no noise, 
no pushing, no elbowing, as in an American throng. 
Florence is the most quiet uud orderly city in the 
world. The streets and squareB in the new part of 
the town, which ure named after their heroes and 
battles, — Via Moutobello, Via Garibaldi, Ac.,—were 
brilliantly illuminated. One palace displayed the 
Sardinian Cross and arras, and beneath, the King’s 
prophet name. Gon grant him grace to fulfill the 
glorious prophecies of that name! 
The music was fine in all parts of the city. At 
eleven, u baud of men with torches rushed wildly 
through the streets, chanting Garibaldi’s hyrnn. in 
fact, everybody sung it. The bands played it, the 
people hummed it, the harpers swept it, the fiddlers 
stringed it, and the children whistled it. Tn the 
Piazza dol Duomo, the band played a lively Polka, 
suddenly changing the time, and softening the 
measure with pauses, when the people cried “ Viva 
l' Italia. The time was perfectly; preserved in this 
novel chanting. 
There were a few rockets, but no other (ire-works. 
The whole city glittered with light, but was silent, 
save the bells. They rung from six In the morning 
till twelve at night. The whole scene remains in 
memory, like the enchantment of a dream. The 
glory and welfare of Italy! theme of the poets. Is 
not Byron’s prophesy fulfilled? 
“ Europe, repentant of her parricide, 
Shall.yet redeern thee.” 
Viva l'Italia. Arno. 
ROCHESTER, N. Y., MAY 11, 1861 
FACTS, SCENES. INCIDENTS, ETC, 
Approaches ro the Federal Capital. 
The topography of Washington and the country 
round about is a subject of interest to tho people at 
this time, hence we give the following article from the 
N. V. Post: 
Ari.inoton FlKirtiiTe.- Few persons in Washington 
fear an immediate attempt to march troops into the 
city, no matter how strong the rebel army may be. 
Tin- fear is of an attempt to shell the city from the 
surrounding heights. There are several points from 
which the Capital might be destroyed, if tho rebels 
could Bucoeed in planting their batteries. It was 
generally supposed in Washington, by tho military 
authorities, that the Virginians encamped at Alex¬ 
andria would soon attempt to occupy Arlington 
Heights, opposite Georgetown. These Heights com 
mand Georgetown, the National Observatory, and tho 
President's House. Gen. Scott had made every prep¬ 
aration to occupy Arlington Heights in advance of 
the enemy, and many persons advocate their imme¬ 
diate occupation, for it was possible that the rebels 
might, at night, make a forced march towards Wash¬ 
ington and plant their batteries before morning. 
Tho provision made against a BurpriHo of this post 
by Gen. Scott was as follows: An immense amount 
of powder and ball, shell and grape was removed 
from the Navy Yard to Georgetown, together with 
pieces of ordnance. Arrangements were made for 
the instant transport of men and munitions of war 
across the Potomac whenever the scouts, who cover 
the country fur several miles into Virginia, should 
report an advance of the rebel troops. Tho excuse 
given for delaying the occupation of Arlington 
Heights until after it was certain that the Virginians 
were marching upon the capital was, that under the 
exciting circumstances, an invasion of tho soil of 
Virginia by Federal troops would be most injudi¬ 
cious. This, perhaps, is a valid excuse until Wash¬ 
ington is strongly reinforced, but not a singlo 
moment boyond that time. 
The Hekibts toward the South. — Southward 
of Washington, on the Maryland side of the Potomac 
ami a mile from the Navy Yard, is a commanding 
hill, upon which the Insane Asyluru stands. This 
hill commands the Navy Yard, and it is not im¬ 
probable that the rebels would cross tho Potomac 
below Fort Washington and march up to this point,. 
On Monday last the government had not taken mili¬ 
tary possession of this height, though it is within 
the District. 
The DkidoeS. —There are four bridges which need 
guarding, all within two miles of the Capital. The 
first is a mile and a half directly east of the city, and 
crosses over tho eastern border of the Potomac into 
Maryland; the second crosses the branch at the Navy 
Yard. The troops coming overland from Annapolis 
would cross this bridge. The third bridge is called 
the Long Bridge, and Crosses the Potomac into 
I Virgiuia. It is one mile southwest of the Capitol 
building. At Georgetown there is a stone aqueduct 
across the river, across which troops might be 
marched. It would be difficult to destroy this work 
quickly, and it should be guarded very strictly. 
Where the Rkuel Forcer can re Concentrated. 
— There are no hills north of Washington near 
enough to command the Capital; but it is singular 
that the Government did not take possession of tin: 
Railroad running to Baltimore, and west over the 
mountains to Harper’s Ferry. On Monday week the 
Virginians might have forwarded live thousand 
troops from Harper’s Ferry and Baltimore into the 
heart of the city by the railroad, which was in their 
hands. Arlington Heights are about two miles 
distant from tho President's house; the heights 
southeast of the Capital, on the Maryland side, are a 
mile distant from the Navy Yard; Fort Washington 
is fifteen miles below the Capital; and Alexandria, 
where the rebel troops arc concentrating, is nine 
miles down the river, A railroad Is in the hands of 
tho rebels, running from Alexandria to the Long 
Bridge, Washington. 
THE ISLAND OF SAN DOMINGO 
Tite reports which have been put in circulation 
relative to the aggressive designs of Spain in the 
West IndieH, and the annexation of San Domingo 
under the name of a Protectorate, invest the “ Domin¬ 
ican Republic ” with more than ordinary interest at 
the present. Tho following brief history of that 
island we take from the New York Earning Post 
The island which is, next to Cuba, the largest, 
richest and most important of the West India Islands, 
has, since its independence, been divided into two 
portions, ilnyti, the former Frem L.colony, occupy¬ 
ing about two-fifths of its area, ami the republic of 
Dominica, once a Spanish colony, holding the 
remaining three-fifths. The latter lias a population 
of about U!ii,000, of whom about one-tenth are 
whites. It supports an army of 20,0(10 men, and has 
a navy consisting of seven small vessels. In 1852 the 
total exports of this part of the island (chiefly mahog¬ 
any, ebony and other precious woods,) amounted to 
one and a half millions, and tho imports (in great 
part from the United States) to a little more. 
The Republic of Dominica was a Spanish colony 
until 1705, when the French obtained possession of 
the whole island. In 1821 the Spanish colonists 
declared themselves Independent of their mother 
country. Slavery had been abolished in ISO'.); and 
in 1822, receiving encouragement from the colored 
inhabitants, Boyer, President of Haytl, (the French 
portion of the island,) overthrew the provisional 
government at St. Domingo, and made himself 
master of the whole island. In 1841 (27th February) 
the fall of Boyer encouraged the Spaniards once 
more to assert their independence. They proclaimed 
the Dominican Republic; Santana, their President, 
defeated the successor of Boyer; and again defeated 
Houlouque in 1840. He was re-elected President in 
1853, Baez being banished for favoring the clerical 
party. 
In 1848 France recognised the Republic, and con¬ 
cluded a treaty of amity, commerce and navigation. 
Great Britain did the same in 1850, and Denmark has 
also recognised its independence. In 1851 President 
Pierce sent out General Cazneau on a secret mission 
to President Santana. Ho negotiated a treaty, the 
secret stipulations of which provided, it is believed, 
for the cession of the bay of Samana to our govern¬ 
ment. The treaty was never ratified, and the United 
States government has never recognised the inde¬ 
pendence of the Republic. 
Since 1854 Baez has once more been President, but 
was driven out in 1858 by Santana, whose congratu¬ 
lations (in 1859) of President Geffrard, of the new 
Haytien Republic, led to the hope that at last the 
French and Spanish portions of tho island would live 
peaceably together. 
The Dominican Republic ha9 not nearly the com¬ 
mercial importance of Hayti proper. In 1857-8 the 
United States exports to the latter amounted to over 
two and a quarter million dollars, and our imports 
thence to a nearly equal sum. Rince the flight of 
Soulouque the llaytians have been re-organizing 
their government, aud have held out inducements to 
free colored people from this country and Canada to 
remove thither. France, which has acknowledged 
the independence of Hayti, (in 1825,) has no authority 
over her former colony, though it is likely that the 
Spanish government would prefer to have the consent 
of the Emperor Napoleon before attempting the sub¬ 
jugation of the negro Republic. 
St. Domingo has always been a tempting morsel to 
Spain. The Island is separated from Cuba by only 
fifty-four miles. It abounds In valuable natural pro¬ 
ducts; aud if Spain could succeed in once more 
enslaving tho free blacks, (which is not at all likely,) 
she would make of St. Domingo such another \*ist 
slave plantation as Cuba has become. 
A pleasant anecdote of the King is this: During 
his babydom, he was brought on a visit to a villa in 
Florence, called the Poggio Impercale. Through 
carelessueBB, fire caught in his apartment, and his 
faithful nurse saved his life at the forfeit of her own, 
dying iu a short time, from the burns received. 
Last year, on his visit here, the King caused a tablet 
to be placed in the very room, with an inscription in 
honor of his nurse’s fidelity. 
Sunday Mokninh. —Grandly rises the snn, giv¬ 
ing to the mountains, and the city lying in 
fheir purple shadows, an unusual glow of beauty. 
One cuunot help being animated on such a day 
when the very air is exhiliration. Every one looks 
gay and happy. Peasants, in cloaks and hats, 
in broad straw flats aud silk aprons, throng into the 
city. Some walking, some on donkeys, some jogging 
in funny two-wheeled carriages. Tn all directions 
people ure busy. It looks to us little like a Sabbath. 
Huge baskets of glass lamps, looking like soap 
bubbles, are carried round. They bung them on the 
books in the houses, and about the lamp posts. 
idea of their number, perhaps, can be given. 
Dn one post are 22 lamps,— 6 posts on one bridge. 
Dn the facade of the palace next, are 265 lambs. All 
over the city, these fairy-like pendants are arranged. 
Huge pyramids of flowers are carried about, and cart 
loads of paper lanterns. Donkeys and horses have 
streamers of ribbons, 
1 he old streets are like gay avenues, with the dis¬ 
play of flags. They hang where once resounded 
republican outcries; they wave iu triumph on the 
palaces of the Codini, (the Grand Duke’s party,) float 
bom the strong holds of the Medici, The scene in 
liont ol the Palazzo Vecchio is most thrilling. How 
Military uud Naval Movements. 
One of the most important changes in the regu¬ 
lations of the Army and Navy of the United States is 
now being effected. The signal books must, it is 
thought, be destroyed, and new ones made out. 
Southern officers who have been iu the Federal 
service, may have kept some signal books, and may 
know the chief signals at a glance. Indeed, rumor 
bus it that it whb Commodore Cunningham, late 
Commander-In-Chief of our Mediterranean squadron, 
who prevented the supplies from reaching Major 
Anderson, by interpreting bis signals to the fleet. 
It has been decided to garrison the forte aud 
arsenals in Northern cities. Accordingly, all the 
neglected fortresses bordering New York, Boston, 
Philadelphia, and elsewhere, will have troops and 
artillerists stationed in them. Volunteers will bo 
drafted, when practicable, for the positions, and thus 
have an opportunity afforded them to be Boldiering 
in soldiers’ quarters. 
Gen. Scott is about to call on the country for cav¬ 
alry aud artillerists. Ten regiments of infantry aro 
sent from one district, in many cases, but no mounted 
troops, and no cannoniers. The proportion should 
be, in an ordinary war, one regiment of horse to five 
of foot; but our volunteer army seems likely to have 
twenty-live regiments of foot to one mounted. 
Important from Fort Pickens. 
By the arrival of the Atlantic at New York on 
the 1st inst., wc have the gratifying intelligence that 
Fort Pickens ha* been strongly reinforced. Officers 
report that tho Atlantic reached Fort Taylor, at Key 
West, on tho 15th ult., where she received additional 
troops, ammunition, Ac., and sailed again for Fort 
Pickens, arriving off Santa Rosa cm the loth ultimo. 
She landed reinforcements at Fort Pickens on the 
night of the 16th, without any accident. The steam 
frigate Powhattan arrived on the lflth. The Wyan¬ 
dotte, St. LouiB, Sabine and tho supply ship Brooklyn 
were there. The steamer Illinois arrived on the 19th, 
Moorish Porters in Spain,— “With respeet to 
the Moorish porters in Spain,” says Capt. C. F. Chase, 
of Providence, It. I., “ I have witnessed the exceed¬ 
ingly large loads they are in the habit of carrying, 
and have been struck with astonishment at their 
muscular powers. Other-*) of the laboring class, par¬ 
ticularly those who are in the habit of working on 
board of ships, and called in that country 'steve¬ 
dores,’ are also very powerful men. I have seen two 
of these men stow off a full cargo uf brandy and wine 
in casks, after it was hoisted on board uud lowered 
into tiic hold, apparently with as much ease as two 
American sailors would stow away a cargo of beef 
and pork. They brought their food on board with 
thorn, which consisted of coarse, brown, wheat- 
bread and grapes.” 
Sketch of Gen. n<>auregur<l. 
Gen. P. G. Tout a nt Beauheoahd, the Comtnan- 
der-in-Chief at Charleston, was born on bis father's 
plantation, near New Orleans. He is a descendant of 
the most aristocratic (southern families. His father 
xvas a wealthy and influential Louisiana planter. His 
