[Associated press Summery.]
‘ The steamship Roanoke arrived at New York on the 10th, from Havana, and brings information to the effect that the opinion prevailed at Havana that the privateer Florida has been wrecked. The Ocean Herald, from Portland, which arrived at Havana on the 3d, reported having seen the wreck of a steamer painted black on the Abaco, about 12 miles from the lighthouse. Only her stern and
smoke stacks were discernible. On the same day the Captain picked up two water casks, painted follows, with black hoops. Nothing has been heard of the Florida since the Sonoma chased her in a gale 135 miles from Abzoo. Thought the Florida was originally painted white, when the Sonoma chased her she had been painted black.
’ The Vanderbilt sailed from St. Thomas on the 23d on a cruise. The U. S. gunboat Alabama ran into Mariluinue about the same time. There were no rebel privateers at either of those ports at that time.
The Herald Halifax correspondence, giving the particulars of the capture, of the ship Jacob Bell, from Sevatow, China, bound to New York, with a full cargo of tear, casalt, camphor, casein oil, etc., all British property, valued at $1,500,000, says that when 100 miles from Sombrero, on the 12th ult., she discovered a steamer in pursuit, under full head of steam, all sall to. After six hours charo, the steamer fired a shot, striking twice the length of the ship astern, when the captain ordered his ship to heave to. The steamer carried the Federal flag. After sailing around the Jacob Bell three times she presented a broadside, ran up the rebel flag, and sent a boat's crew aboard. The steamer proved to be the privateer Florida. After examining the Bell's papers, the was declared a prize to the Confederate States. The officers, crew, and passengers of the Hall were immediately transferred to the steamer, being allowed half an hour to collect a few necessary articles, the prize crew appropriating wherever pleased their fancy of the refraining articles. The Florida immediately started in pursuit of a schooner which escaped in the darkness, ordering the prison master to steer a certain course and meet the Florida in the morning. They met on the morning of the 10th, when the prize crew were taken off and the The Florida narrowly escaped being run down by the Bell, having her fires, and the crew being so intensely engaged in transferring plunder as to neglect the management of the ship, which, with sails sat bore down on the Florida, the rigging of which had to be manned and the Bell shoved off. She was then abandoned and burned to the water's edge. The Florida carries six 8 pounders and two chasers 100-pounders. The crew number 160 all told. The officers are quite young, and the crew principally Irish, some of whom expressed a desire to leave her. Captain Maffit and officers showed them every attention, and seemed desirous of making them as comfortable as possible. Capt. Maffit mentioned having passed the Vanderbilt in pursuit of him; but being night and the Florida lying so low, with sails furied and smoke stack down, she was not discovered.
A Bermuda paper, of the 28th ult, notices the arrival at St. George of the neutral British steamer Columbia, from Wilmington, N. C., with a cargo of cotton and tobacco. The Cornelia reports having been hotly chased by four of the blockading fleet, but escaped by superior fleetness.
The Herald's correspondent from on board the Vanderbilt says, from information obtained at Havana just before that vessel left, on the 4th that the pirate Alabama had gone to Kingston, after her encounter with the Hatteras. The Vanderbilt arrived there on the 8th and expected the "210" was cornered at last, but learned that she had sailed two weeks before, Kingston is deeply tainted with secession, the feeling being so strong that the officers were insulted by rebel songs in their cars, and were frequently booted at in the streets. At 7 o'clock in the evening a boat load of men and women pulled around the ship singing "Dixie" at the top of their voices.
The Herald's Havana correspondence, of the 5th, says the French are awaiting reinforcements before attacking Puebla. Information from trust worthy sources says Gen. Forey intends no attack on Puebla, his policy being to compel the garrison to surrender by cutting official communication with the surrounding country, and to conciliate as much as possible. His communication with Vera Cruz is unmolested. They have reached bodies of men from various points across the country without opposition, being well received among the people through whom they passed. The French have all the provisions they require and a large Mexican force in their pay.
New Orleans Gates to to the 1st report no Union or rebel movements in the army or Navy or other news of any importance.
Capt. Murdock arrived at Fortress Monroe on the 9th, and reports all quiet in General Foster's department.
General Kelley is still in command at Winchester, under Gen. Schenck, with a full force.
