months, thinking and talking of nothing but bankruptcies—­bankruptcies fraudulent and bankruptcies unavoidable—­was now all astir, full of life and motion.  The stoop of the Commercial Exchange was crowded with merchants, knots of citizens were collected at the corner of every street; business was almost, if not altogether suspended.  All that could be gleaned, in addition to the information in Captain Semmes’ letter to the Governor, a copy of which was sent to the United States Consul immediately it was received, was that the schooner Atlas had just returned from Malagas Island, where she had been with water and vegetables for men collecting guanos there.  Captain Boyce, the master of the Atlas, reported that he had himself actually seen the steamer Alabama; a boat from the steamer had boarded his vessel, and he had been on board her.  His report of Captain Semmes corroborated that given by every one else.  He said the captain was most courteous and gentlemanly.  He asked Captain Boyce to land thirty prisoners for him in Table Bay, with which request Captain Boyce was unable to comply.  Captain Semmes said that the Florida was also a short distance off the Cape, and that the Alabama, when she had completed her repairs, and was cleaned and painted, would pay Table Bay a visit.  He expected to be there, he said, very nearly as soon as the Atlas.

Shortly after the Atlas arrived, a boat brought up some of the prisoners from Saldanha Bay, and amongst them one of the crew of the Alabama, who said he had left the ship.  All these waited on the United States Consul, but were unable to give much information beyond what we had already received.  The news that the Alabama was coming into Table Bay, and would probably arrive about four o’clock this afternoon, added to the excitement.  About noon a steamer from the north-west was made known by the signal-man on the hill.  Could this be the Alabama? or was it the Hydaspes, from India, or the Lady Jocelyn, from England?  All three were now hourly expected, and the city was in doubt.  Just after one it was made down, “CONFEDERATE STEAMER ALABAMA, FROM THE N.W., AND FEDERAL BARQUE FROM THE S.E.”  Here was to be a capture by the celebrated Confederate craft, close to the entrance of Table Bay.  The inhabitants rushed off to get a sight.  Crowds of people ran up the Lion’s-hill, and to the Kloof-road.  All the cabs were chartered—­every one of them; there was no cavilling about fares; the cabs were taken and no questions asked, but orders were given to drive as hard as possible.  The barque coming in from the south-east, and, as the signal-man made down, five miles off; the steamer, coming in from the north-west, eight miles off, led us to think that the Kloof-road was the best place for a full view.  To that place we directed our Jehu to drive furiously.  We did the first mile in a short time; but the Kloof-hill for the next two and-a-half miles is up-hill work.  The horse jibbed, so we pushed on, on foot, as fast as possible, and left the cab