The Sun. — London, England, 1863-08-22 00:00:00

NEW YORK AND THE BATTAIwAS. There was published yesterday a very interesting and important Parliamentary paper upon the in terferenate of the Federal Government with the trade between these ports. The correspondence opms with a letter from Lord Lyons to Earl Russell, dated Washington, May 20, 1862, stating that he enclosed copies of President Lincoln's Proclamation and Treasury regulations, ,lin virtue of which the ports of Beaufort, Port Royal, and Now Orleans were to be opened to trade on the Ist of the following June, and that the blcckade, as regarded those ports, was from that date so far to cease that commercial in tercourse with them, except as to persons and things and information contraband of war, might be car tied on subject to the laws of the United States and to the regtrations prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. S. P. Chase, in his order ep pended to the Proclamation. Those regulations set forth that to vessels clearing for foreign ports end destined to the ports opened by the Proclamation, licenses would Do granted by the Consuls of the United States upon satisfactory evidence that the vessels so licensed should convey no persons, pro perty, or information contraband of war either to or from the said ports. It is, moreover, stipulated that the licenses thus granted should be exhibited to the collector of the port to which the vessels might be respectis ely bound immediately ou arrival, and, if required, to any officer in charge of the blockade; that on leaving either of the said ports , every vessel should be required to have a clearance from the collector of Customs, according to law, showing that there had been no violation of the conditions of the license, and that any violation of those conditions should involve the forfeiture and condemnation of the vessel and the cargo, and the exclusion of all parties concerned from any further privilege of entering the United States during the war for any purpose whatsoever. The regulations further prescribe the form of the license to be granted, and intimate that the existing blockade must be regarded as remaining in full force and effect, as previously established, save as relaxed by the Proclamation in favour of the ports particularly mentioned. Then follows in the correspondence a second letter from Lord Lyons to Earl Russell, dated Washington, May 26, in which he encloses an ex tract from a despatch which he had received a day or two previously from Mr. Bayley,Governor of the Bahama Islands, on the subject of a report which prevailed there, that the Customs authorities at New York had determined to prevent or impede the exportation of ordinary supplies from that city to the port of Nassau. Lord Lyons adds that he had directed her Msjesty's acting Consul at New York to ascertai❑ and let him know as soon as possible whether there was any foundationfor such a report, and in his next despatch he transmits a copy of a letter written to Mr. Bayley by Messrs. Adderley and Co., complaining that a bond had been ex acted from their agent by the Customs autho rities at New York, restricting the disposal of a cargo of coals shipped for Nassau. The Messrs. ikdderley, while fully admitting the right of the American Government to make such cus- toms' laws and regulations as they think fit, contend that such laws and regulations s'iould be of general application, and that Great Britain, being placed by international treaty on the footing of th e most favoured nations, the American Government had no right to single out any particular British colony and make regulations applicable to that colony alone. The circumstances which led them to make these remaiks are stated in a letter to Mr. Bayley, dated Nassau, New Providence, May 12, 1862. Lord Lyons, in forwarding the letter to Earl Russell, encloses copies of an Act of Congress ap proved on the 20th of May, 1862, conferring on the Secretary of the Treasury extensive powers to im pose restrictions on trade, with a view to prevent supplies being carried to the Southern States, and accompanies a subsequent despatch, dated June 2, with copies of the instructions given by the Secre tary of the Treasury to refuse clearances to vessels laden with contraband of war or other specified ar ticles, as well as to vessels believed to be in fact bound to Confederate ports, whatever might be their ostensible destination, or which happened to be laden with merchandise of whatever description, in cases which there appeared to be imminent danger of the cargoes coming into the possession of the insurgents. Having transmitted this information, Lord Lyons informs Earl Russell, in a despatch dated the sth of June, that he had received the report of acting Consul Edwards, whom he had instructed to in quire into the truth of the statement brought under his notice by the Governor of the Bahamas, that the Customs' authorities at New York had deter mined to prevent the exportation of supplies to those islands. Mr. Edwards, in the report mentioned by Lord Lyons, states that the Customs' authorities at New York had upon several occasions thrown serious 'an pediments in the way of shipments of coal and or dinary merchandise to Nassau, and had even in some cases where the goods were already embarked, and even cleared, refused to permit the vessel to go to sea until the goods had been re-landed. Then follows a despatch from Lord Lyons to Earl Russell, containing a copy of a circular ad dressed to consuls of the United States by Mr. Seward, with a list of the articles which, as contra band, were to be refused clearances from the ports already named. Next in order is a despatch of June 21, from Mr. Stuart to Earl Russell, forwarding a letter from Mr. S. P. Chase, stating that the re strictions on coal had been enforced by collectors, under orders from the Treasury Department, alike upon domestic and foreign shipping clearing to ports north of Cape St. Roque, on the eastern coast of South America, and west of the 15th degree of longitude east ; and that all restrictions to trade would be removed when the necessity which had rendered them imperative should cease. A despatch of Mr. Edwards, given at length, enu merates several cases of recent occurrence, the date being the 26th of June, 1862, in which British inte rests had suffered injuryat the hands of the Customs' a uthorities at New York. Among other cases he 11 notea that of the Chin a , w hi c h arrived at New Y ork from. Liverpool on the 18th inat., carrying a the 'aunt: „ts' of merchandise, in tr ans uu for Nassau by the Roy al Mail steamer British Queen. Matter s . Stuart having arrived at this point, we find Mr. lows lug informally to Mr. Seward as fol- " MY dear gin "Washington, July 1, 1862. on the 20th ult.'"73. - You did me the honour to forward to me of the Treas ury kLanscript of a letter which the Secretary certain restrictions IvE.td.dressed to you upon the subject of the export of y erio ___ 4lol l . le had thought fit to impose upon posseauslonaarticles of commerce to Nassau and other British of Mr. Chase's lette r t o i I have duly transmitted a copy ma je s t ? , also furnished to her Russell, and Lord Lyons had Government a copy of the Act of Congress under whi:lta exereisehe Secretary of the Treasury becomes aalhorised to merehanztraordinary powers is re whieh se, it lahaillaroati.s ppect to the export of United States. Such bein g th e 8095 from the ports of the anticipate any instructions wish to ment may decide upon sending t o men ajest3es Govern question ; but as further interferen ce wiorn the subject in of a most annoying and injurious nature at New York, I trust you will permit m e te s e s T c ! to you as contained in the accompanying submit the facts snatch, and. its enclosures, which I have received' of a de question in an int°orrinual Br*.t.ish. Acting Consul at that port,and to add a few informal the observations, having reference to the tional point of view. It appears, then, that British yes:l; lawfully trading between the port of New York and t i, Bz.itish West Indies are in some instances refused clearances at the lormer port, and that in others iileir car goes, they are detain e d and , searched, and required to r - :1 In d portions et after haviro , b ee n regularly cleare d with fell Knowledge o f the articles on Picard, e , r to give bonds that no part of the cargo shall at any indefinite time be used by the enemies of the United States. According the th e Treasury instructions these proceedings are left entirely to the discretion of. caprice of the collector of customs, or to the sitsr.iicons waien he may cheese to enter , ain as to the ultimate or indirect desti 2,;tion or employment of the cargo; and that subordinate: cfficer is thus enabled arbitrarily to interrur t Cu' trad e b " t7veen Great Britain and the United States, and even be tween Great Britain and her West lodian ras,3oeB lo rlP' " in the case mentioned of the tnercllandie brought to new York by the Royal Mail steamer Ch;n,s for tralsshipment on board the Royal Mail :steamer Briti6ll Queen. I was not before aware that the interruption of the legitimate told° of a neutral could be effected otherwise than in the manner and to the extent proscribed by the int, , ,rnational law of blockade, end as Great Britain has declared herself to be a neutral in th 3 present elate ol war, and has granted hen • gerent rights, which have been accepted and utilized by the United States, she seems clearly entitled to claim for her commerce exemption from any interruption not in accord ance with the principles which usually apply to neutrals. It is difficult to suppose that a belligerent may without any blockade at all, upon mere suspicion or belief, possibly ill founded, that certain merchandise will ultimately find its way into the enemy's country,cue off the trade of neutrals, either in whole cr in part, from ports of which it is in un disturbed possession. This would be a cheap and easy sub stitute for an effectual blockade. When, however, such a novel substitute is applied in its application to a particular nation, whether on account of the geographical position of its territories, or for other reasons, the, case becomes one in which the neutral this invidiously injured has just grounds of complaint, as of an unfriendly, if not of an a'most hostile act. In the particular case now reported by Mr. Edwards, peculiar grievances are recited, which it cannot be the de sire of the United States Government to apply to the legiti mate trade carried on from the United States by British sulojects in British bottoms to British ports. The hardship connected with the bends required by the collector of cus toms is forcibly explained by Mr. Edwards that I need not specially refer further to it. The facts stated in the protest of the master of the William H. Clear, relative to the de tention and search of that vessel, show, if true, an indiscreet zeal and want of courtesy on the part of certain subordinate officers which you will doubtless look upon as deserving of censure. But I venture to recommend the whole question to ki your vourable attention, feeling convinced that you will Great v be anxious to redress any manifest injury towards Britain, trusting you will remember that my present „ien friendly consideration obser vationsare merely informal ones, intended for t h e y - consideration of yourself auddslNiferu..Csihoanse, uponand hpaovinintsg which h r i n ch o means in view to provoke a have been already referred to my Governme l. n v t.— s l Tu a A va ß i T l,. , Bc , c. ~ Next in order comes the first despatch of Earl Russell to Mr. Stuart:— " Foreign.office, July 18, 1812. e co c n r s o i w de n r , e L d, or i d n 2d and sth i o h a f a y T th e and (Sir ,despatchesi i communication era w ai i with Majesty's t e h l taw nd o2fficher Government3s Lyons'June respectively, relative to the restrictions placed upon the export trade of the United States, and more especially that from New York to the Bahamas,in consequence of thein structious given bythe Secretary ot the Treasuryof the United States to refuse clearances to vessels laden with contraband of war or other specified articles, as well as to vessels which are believed to be in fact bound to Confederate ports, or which aro laden with merchandise of whatever description, when there appears to be imminent danger of tho cargoes coming into the possession of the so-styled Confederates. I have now to state to you that her Majesty's Government are of opinion that is competent to the United States as a belligerent Power to protect itself within its own ports and territory, by refusing clearances to vessels laden with contraband of war or other specified articles, as well as to vessels which are believed to be bound to Con federate ports, and that so long as such precautions are adopted equally and indifferently in all cases, with out reference to the nationality or origin of any par ticular vessels or goods, they do not afforJ any just ground or complaint. But her Majesty's Government are unable to understand how the refusal of clearances to vessels laden with ordinary merchandise can be justified upon the mere assumption or surmise of some 'imminent danger of the cargoes coming into the possession of the insurgents;' unless, indeed, there be reasonable ground for alleging and believ ing that some Confederate port is the true destination of said vessels or of their cargoes. Under so vague and indefinite a pretext as that of 'imminent danger of the cargoes coming into the possession of the insurgents,' any kind and amount of arbitrary restrictions on British trade might be introduced and practised. With reference to the measures that appear to have been taken by the United States Government as to the trade with the Bahama Islands, her Majesty's Govern ment consider that a distinction ought to be made between shipments of coal and other articles anCl:piiiB USUB, the export of which may have been prohibited as contraband by gene ral orders of the United States Government to any places within geographical limits, and shipments to the Bahamas or any other part of the British dominions of provisions and other articles of innocent use not prohibited or made contra • band by any such general order. Tha prohibition of the for. mer class of shipments is public and general, and it falls equally upon the shipping and commerce of all nations, and may be justified upon the ground of the ex . gencies of a bel• ligerent. But her Majesty's Government cannot so regard tha interference of the New York Custom-house with the ordinary exports to the Bahamas of dry gcods, plain and printed fabrics, &c., shoes, medical drugs, flour, and pro visions. Trade between the United States'and the Bahamas is regulated by the Treaty of 1815 between the United States and Great Britain, the stipulations of the Treaty having been extended to the Bahamas in 1830 by the mutual acts of both Governments. By the proclamation of Presi dent Jackson, dated the sth of October, 1830, pursuant to the Act of Congress of the 20th of May, 1830, it was ex preesly declared to be lawful for British vessels from the Bahamas to import into the United States, and to export therefrom, any articles which might be imported or exported in vessels of the United States. This engagement is still in force, and any prohibition of or interference with exports of ordinary commodities, contraband of war, from New York to the Bahamas in British vesms is plainly inconsis tent with that engagement. Her Majesty's Government cannot, therefore, in the absence of any evidence, that the articles in question were destined for the so-called Confede rate States, pass unnoticed the general restriction which has been imposed on their export from New York to the Baha mas, and I have accordingly to instruct you to address a representation on the subject to Mr. Seward.—l am, &c., " RUSSELL." We are at this point furnished with letters from Messrs. Chalmers, Guthrie, and Co., and Messrs. Shorter and Co., of London, addressed to Earl Rus sell, in which it is stated that, trading as British merchants, they had shipped from Liverpool toNew York by the Canard steamship China, which sailed on the 7th of June, 1862, sundry goods in transit to Nassau, that these goods did not come under the designation of contraband, but that they had never theless been se:r:d by the Federal Government on the ground that the merchants of Nassau might re sell them to parties who might ship them to the Confederate States; that they had waited patiently for a return mail from Nassau in the hope that the Federal Government would reconsider what ap peared a very arbitrary and illegal proceeding, but that it seemed they had no intention of allowing the goods to go forward in the usual course of commerce; and they therefore entreated that the English Government would take such steps as they might deem necessary to obtain the release of the goods, as well as compensation for the loss their detention had naturally caused. In reply to these representations Mr. Layard states that " the matter is under the consideration of her Majesty's Government." On the Ist of July Mr. Bayley, writing t o M r . S tuart, encloses a memorial addressed rhei t pc o rhe s h we i na m st bn b ae y i n i t gn h e d ao forc eo e s bßl e o r i f tli s t g h hh r tt e r the dh fi ee r b m gy s r teh i a n et to proceedings of the collector of Customs at New York, while there is a letter of Mr. Cunard to Mr. Chase, dated June 19, in which h e b egs t h at the su bj e ct of the transhipment of part of the cargo per the China to the British Queen might receive its earliest consideration. Mr. Stuart subsequently, on the 21st of August encloses the following de spatch of Mr. Seward to Earl Russell"Sir,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the Ist inst., in which, under the instructions of her Britannic Majesty's Government, a representation is made to me on the subject of clearances of vessels and car goes from New York to the Bahamas. No time was lost in submitting your note to the Secretary of the Treasury, who referred it to the Collector of Customs at New York for ex- I now have the ho n our to enclose to you a c o py planation. of that officer's report on the subject, and to state that, as his proceedings therein set forth appear to have been in strict conformity with the instructions of the Treasury De partment, accordingly collector's replydingl y approved by thatde hispartmeconductnt. I, however, hasbeen giv give you the for the better information of your Government as to the of necessary in a crisis of great public dang er. exigencies which have rendered the proceedings ciozepelaxictilued sive order is applied to the Island of Nassau only, because there is no complaint of abuse of neutrality laws elsewhere, ause and not at a:1 invidiously or because it is a British posses sion. The restriction is a measure adopted for the p ublic safety, endangered by insurrection, and not at all as in any sense a measure of trade, and I think it justifiable on the same grounds with the inhibition of certain exports referred to by the British Government. So soon as the abuses which have rendered the order necessary shall have ceased it will be at once rescinded. I shall, however, cheerfully bestow a further consideration upon the subject if your Government shall require.—l haTe, " WILLISTT H. SEWARD." rep T i l Y le tt c l o h l i l ti e e c d tor of Customs, Air. Barney, in the to ju„ic to in 11Ir. Seward's despatch, endea maynecontsbeeswri yours says y the course which he took, and, in doing 80, " It the leadin in appropriate here to enumerate some of g plaint is tretcwll have led to this state of affairs of which corn Government, and I would att:by her Britannic rf.z a j e g t v ' s the significant fact that the t ' -r:d ef°re can of this port with the Bri 7:az, ~x, e your cdst3 a , attention to o t o f ash West Indies duatincogrethear4la'ati the first cmartsetrateement of tae exports any former perioa, years 1860 and 1.8 G., showing o p % ° v i i n n t g d a u n ri'' e g xcess in favour of flatileelatter periud of not suitedentt from 40000 dola. Extraordinary large 01 _N ass au, the principal port in said iq ltn i trh n a tB e t g° ' dB ~ t o awllevreepusals arriving during the last year, of a character entirely ma " a t he ere i tt. t .i l la:n t e s t h o o f a f f t t o h: the r i e t n r h , :? ,, a . e e b r a i e r t a s :n r e a t i s n i .: ll t ' N ' e u ti e ' a ll w rl a i y: h t h e pr. ti. 0 a rebel State,and no attu mpt at CC11.C20.:1-"ICLt has hei . ..n na.,;;13 1, 7 any of the ta.lers with re gar . .. to t h,, /lace of their origin, or the manner of their reaching Nassau. Traders becoming more bold, their vessels were freighted here with cargoes suited to the wants of the States in rebellion aga'nst the Government, were cleared from Nassau, and in some instances went directly to Brazos, on the Rio Grande in Texas, or in another case the British schooner Time, owned by 11. Adderiey and Co., of Nassau, as shown by the letter of our Consul at that port, dated on the 6th of May last, discharged her entire cargo into the rebel steamer Cecile, then lying in the harbour of that port, awaiting a favourable opportunity to run the blockade to Charleston. It is a very generally acknowledged fact, and fully established by letters from our Consul, as well as by the marine reports of the Nassau papers, that the port of Nassau has been for the last year, and still ic, a rendezvous for both armed and unarmed ves sels sailing under the British flag from ports of England laden with arms, ammunition, and assorted cargoes; their destination, in many instances, as shown by the letters and papers referred to above, being Charleston, or scene other port in the so-called Confederate States.—l have, &c. . " BARNEY, Collector." Then comes the following communication from Mr. Stuart to Mr. Seward:— " September, 1862. "The undersigned has received instructions from her Britannic Majesty's Principal Secretary of State to address to the Secretary of State of the United States a further re presentation respecting the restrictions imposed by the er e na e nn an.de ntht undersignedac Newto consider o dw r ei York omteiatnhh vfneseeeid .n.instructed United rttpu,dedifficulties oecri. rtsft questionteeiisrrds oeiStatesuntni impossible ett hot nowGoheybfseioserytt that hhhbor e melain r t et Government fscye r o n hohBrfi e beltl n eeritvog t hmonei efts o at greatnj snt Majesty's d ess e . G b oT e vt importance,hew mi o m f a t t 1 i toe e making at U er gandui trade eevsdoecrfesyt Great allowance re l et o s ah,wteGaßsn:3rcv, Britain ar Govern ment, iomnr. which . is now practised by the United States authorities, such..interference being not only in contravention of the existing treaties between Great Brftain and the United States, but being also contrary to the established princf ples of international law. It appears that British vessels lawfully trading between New York and the Bahamas are in some instances refused clearances at New York, and in others, after having been regularly cleared with full know ledge by the United States' authorities of the articles on board, are detained and searched, and are required either to re-land portions of their cargoes or to give bonds that no part of the cargo shall at any indefinite time to be used by the enemies of the United States, and these proceedings are not claimed to be prescribed by any general law or regula tion of commerce, but are avowed to be wholly discretionary with the Collector of Customs, to be enforced by him when soever he shall entertain the suspicion and belief that the real destination of the cargo is mediately or immediately to soma port in the possession of the enemies of the United States, or if he shall be satisfied that " there is imminent danger that the goods, wares, and merchandise of whatso ever description laden on such vessels will fall into the pos session or under the control of the insurgents,' &c. The Collector of Customs in his report of the 12th June states that ' in the exercise of the discretion devolved upon him as an officer of the Government of a Sovereign people, he had prohibited the shipment of coals and dry goods and shoes, and quinine and other drugs, and tin-wars and munitions of war, and sundry other articles to Nassau and the West Indies, and to other foreign ports, when he had reason to suspect that they were intended by individual enterprise or the special contracts of British subjects to contribute directly to the welfare of the enemies of the United States: The undersigned is instructed to state that her Majesty's Government cannot call to mind any principle of interne, tional jurisprudence, nor any precedent approved by inter-'national law, to justify such interference with the trade of neutrals. The undersigned would submit to the considera tion of the Cabinet of Washington that trade between Great Britain and the United States—at least as to ports and places in the undisturbed pcssession of the United States— is not in any degree affected by the state of war in which the United States are engaged; and moreover that trade between Great Britain and an enemy of the United States —the former preserving a strict neutrality or indifference between the belligerent parties—can be affected only in the manner and to the extent prescribed by the international law of blockade. The United States Government will ad mit that shipments similar to these now subjected to inter ference, from New York to Nassau arid other British ports, if made in time of peace, could not be prohibited without giving manifest cause of just complaint to Great Britain, especially while such shipments remain open to other na tions not having with the United States treaties of a more favourable nature. It follows that to prohibit such shipments to British subjects while permitting them to the subjects of other nations is to assume a state of quasi hostility to Great Britain on account of geographical or other circumstances supposed to mix her up with the interests of the enemy of the United States, &c. . . • The President cannot expect that Great Britain should al low British trade with her own colonies by way of the United States, or the trade between her own colonies and the United States, to be fettered by restrictions and condi tions inconsistent with. the treaties between the United States and Great Britain, and repugnant to international law. Her Majesty's Government expect, therefore, that the President, in the exercise of his discretion, will prohibit the imposing of a;1 such restrictions and conditions as have been complained of in the present note." To this note Mr. Seward returns the following reply : "After considering the arguments of Mr. Stuart in the most careful manner, it is not apparent to the undersigned that they invalidate the Act of Congress, the substance of which has been recited. By the law of nations every State , s sovereign over its own citizens and strangers residing within its limits, its own productions and fabrics, and its own ports and waters and its highways, and generay within all its proper territories. It has a right to maintain that sovereignty against sedition and insurrection by civil preventives and penalties and by armed force, and it has a right to interdict and prohibit within its own borders ex portation of its productions and fabrics, and the supplying of traitors in arms against itself with materials and muni tions, and any other form of aid and comfort. It has a right within its own jurisdiction to employ all the means neces sary to make these prohibitions effective. It does not ap pear to the undersigned that the United States have sur rendered this right by the convention between themselves and Great Britain which has been recited. It is true that by the first article of the convention of 1815 British merchants have liberty fully and freely to come with their ships and cargoes into ports, rivers, and places within the territories of t'e Thited States, and to be protected j in their commerce there; but this right is expressly restricted to the ports, rivers, and places only into which other foreigners are permitted to enter, and in which they are permitted to reside and trade; and they are more over expressly declared, while entering, residing, and trading in such ports, rivers, and places, to be subject to the laws and statutes of the two countries. So, by the third article of the convention of 1815, it is stipulated that prohibitions shall not be imposed on the exportation or importation of any articles the growth, produce, or manufacture of either country; this stipulation, however, is not absolute, but only a stipulation that any such prohibition shall extend equally to all other nations as well as Great Britain. The law of Congress seems to be free from the special objections which are raised by Mr. Stuart. It does not confine its prohibi tions or its requirements to British vessels trading between New York and the Bahamas, but applies them to all vessels of all nations, including the United States, wherever trading, whether with the Bahamas or any other part of the world. The prohibitions and requirements are not un certain as to the authority which prescribes them or the form of the prescription, but they are declared and promul gated in solemn enactment by the Congress of the United States. The conditions on which the prohibitions and re quirements are suspended are not left to caprices, suspicions, or beliefs, but they are dependent on satisfactory evidence of ascertainable facts. They involve no question of neutral rights, because no neutral has or can have a right more than any citizen of the United States to do an act within their exclusive jurisdiction which is forbidden by the statutes and laws of the country. The Act has nothing to do with the blockade of the insurrectionary ports, b ecause it con fines its prohibiti ons an d requirement s t o t ransac ti ons oc curring and to persons residing or being within th e por t s actually mustt tdiscriminate undersigned finds Yosseesed by the United States and under their unquestioned protection and control Fully admitti ng t h e principle for which Mr. Stuart so earnestly c ontends, that all p rocee di ngs an d even regu l a ti ons and laws o the United n o ad o e S t t a t theegs adequate a w t he prejudiceigc r h o affect d of for f f o Greatr s e it supposing os Britain,i nt t commerce ha e t the prin c i p l e i s violated in the regulations. The inb h struc • Cons issued on the 14th of April and the 18th of May prohibiting the exportation of coals to ports within geographical limit s , w hi ch leaves freedom of export to more than one-half of the world, may seem to furnish exception. But th e p ro h ibit and all foreign merchant s , vesselsion applies ground for cargoes, as well as to those of Great Britain, and to all the States which are situated within the assigned limits, as well as to British de- P encienciee situated therein. I t is understood to be an ac copied maxim that no law reaches in effect beyond the point where the reason 0f the law fails, especially if the law so extended should be productive of injuries without object and without compensation or benefit. There is not the slightest reason to suppose that the insurgents of the United States could in any way derive a benefit from the exportation of anthracite coal to Archangel, or to Shanghai, or to Japan, Nor is it mai - sift st that the British nation, its merchants and vessels, do not, in common with other na tions, g t e h s e f i r r om me t r h e e e a exports ntean and tied by the Secretary of ever nation, beyond the limit cesig permitted to all ports, of what the Treasury. Nevertheless the President, desirous to re move all possible grounds for misconstruction, has directed that these two instructions shall be rescinded, so that the case will stand altogether upon the Act of Congress and the general instruction of the Treasury which have been recited. In regard to the special proceedings of the Collector of the Customs at New York v. hien are complained of, the iufor mation presented to the undersigned is vague and uncertain, there is no satisfactory evidence in the papers under consi deration that he has is anyeaso denied a clearance or exacted a bond which involved any infringement of the law of Con gress and th e regulations of the Treasury. This Govern raelse will cheerfully examine upon its merits any case of infringement which maybe presented to it, and will promptly render the redress which shall be due, if the complaint should be sustained ; it will further cheerfully instruct all its collectors that, in performing their duties, they will be governed by not merely the letter, hut the spirit of the re gulations of the Treasury and of the Act of Congress, so as to make no injurious or invidious discrimination to the prejudice of Great Britain." Earl Russell, in his despatch to Lord Lyons of the 17th of December, replies seriatim to the argu ments advanced by Mr. 6eward, and winds up by say in g,— " The conclusion come to by her Majesty's Government upon the whole matter is, that there has been a serious vio lation of Article 1 of the Treaty of 1815, which it is ad mitted, is now to be read as extending to the British West Indies. It has been attempted to disguise that violation of treaty under pretence of the right of domestic legislation. Her Majesty's Government, however, contend that the case is not really one of domestic legislation at all ; but is one in which the forms of domestic legislation have been made sub servient to an endeavour to control a particular branch of neutral trade as cerried on, not within the territory of the United States, but in the proper territory of the neutral Power; that it is, in fact, as to such British goods as have been stopped in transitu from Great Britain to the Baha mas, an embargo, for causes not justified by international law; and,as to innocent and lawful exports from the United States, a denial of the commercial intercourse guaranteed by treaty, except on terms to which no independent foreign nation could consent without compromising the rights of neutrality and her own sovereignty within her own do minions. In the concluding paragraph of his letter, Mr. Seward seems to draw a distinction between the actual pro ceedings of which her Majesty's Government have com plained, and the abstract terms of the Act of Congress and Orders of the United States' Treasury, with which her Majesty's Government have no concern, except so far as they may be made the pretext for any violation of the treaty rights of this country; confining himself to the defence of the latter,and pro f ess ing to be, as to th e f ormer , as ye t b u t imperfectly informed. Her Majesty's Government do not conceive that any real doubt or obscurity can rest upon the facts; especially after the broad and general avowals con tained in Mr. Barney's letters. The distinction , how ever, now drawn by Mr. Seward may justify the hope that although the proceedings of the New York Custoia-house towards the Bahamas trade have not been hitherto disavowed or condemned by the United States' Government, the remonstrances of her Ma jesty's Government may, nevertheless, have the practical effect of preventing the continuance or repetition of similar proceedings in any future case in which British trade may be concerned." Mr. Seward comments on this despatch at con siderz.ble length, and says he must again declare that he is unable to find in the papers wh:ch the discussion has produced any evidence whatever that the Act of Congress had been administered so as to apply invidiously or even discriminatingly against Great Britain. Lord Lyo ns , Subsequent to thi s d espa t c h , th ere is one from enclosing a copy of a letter addressed to Consul A rc hib a l d, by the firm of T oota l, Broad hurst, and Lee, British merchants, Manchester, carrying on business at New York, complaining of the difficulties thrown in the way of the shipment of goods hence to Nassau, and the correspondence concludes with the following despatch from Earl Russell : "Foreign-office, July 18, 1863. "My Lord,—You will have learnt from my despatch of the 10th ult., that as her Majes•y's Government saw reason to hope that their representations respecting the interference exercised by the United States Government with the trade , carried on betw een N ew York an d t h e Bahamas would not remain with ou t e ff ect, they had not cons idered it necessary to continue th e controversy w i t h t h a t Government. In this expectati on , however her Majesty's Government are disappointed ; f or i t would ae ar from the representation of Messrs. T oo t a l , B roa dhurst pp and Co., which accompanies youy despatch o f the 22d u l t. , tha t the interference of the . United State s aut h orities with t hi s t r ade is still persisted in, and I have accordingly to instruct you to address a fresh remonstrance on this subject to the United States Govern. ment.—l am, Br.e., ii RUSSELL," THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 22, 1863. ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE. NORTHERN CIRCUIT.—LivEur on, AUG. 21. CROWN COURT. (Before Mr. Justice Blackburn.) James O'Brien, aged 26, was indicted for having, on the 20th of June, at Liverpool, feloniously killed and mur. dered Elizabeth Callaghan. As the name of the deceased was not positively known, the prisoner was also indicted for killing a person unknown. Mr. Deighton and Mr. Samuells appeared for the prosecu- tion, and Mr. Pope defended the prisoner. The prisoner, it appeared, shortly before the 20th of L Jt i l m ne ers a tr r e r e iv t. ed T in hey this port , to t,and about four o'cl ock o n that morning he m e t w ith a woman na med Mary Ann Mothers, in a ale, after which th e y p roc eeded e o h u o s n e and had some sekepthythe deceased, in No. 5 Court, Spitalfields. The woman remained with the prisoner until ho fell asleep, when she took ls. out of his trow sers pocket. At that time there were five half ewne d out her, of andth e got up and d s o o v w e n r s e t i a g r s s a a n n d d s p o r m o o e n s r i e l d v e s r o eh ale,i s pocket. which she, The t w h oe deceased, as went ed severala nd some ti t e h s e , r t personsakio g in the i ah o h n o t u O s s e . d ran Afterk. t S h h i e s r the e p edaet deceased pf w or e ni n sno t dn u etrh p , s as t t a pf i oo r a s uk , re a l: n : l fs. s s s ho o ev n ea rwe aie ne r at hhMaeadthh prisoner,ee e r n fo ta ll k o w h o accused the deceased of robbing him of his money, tut she denied it. The prisoner then left the house with Mather,and, after visiting a publichouse, they went to the police-office,and could do nothing for hi m, and he then went awa y , evidently informed a constable of i ne t y h a e g r a o i b a be v ry isi , t b a u d t s h ev e a s r a a i l d p t u h b a i t i t a h h e o p a o s li ecse much dissatisfied. and returned to the poli ce-office, when the p riso ner requested the officers to have all the parties in the house apprehended; but the police told him that they could do no such thing, The prisoner then left, saying that he would have satisfac tion of his own, when the constable told him that he must not carry out this intention or he would get himself into trouble. The prisoner, accompanied by the woman Ma ther, then went to a cutler's shop directly opposite the police-station, and purchased a sheath-knife, and borrowed a stone, on which he sharpened it. The woman, fearing he was about to commit some act of violence, made a motion to the shopkeeper for him not to let the prisoner have the of knife, but he would n ot g ive it up , as he said he h a d p a id for it. They then le ft the sho p and took a cab, th e woman telling the cabman to d r i v e to Hotham-street ; b u t th e pri soner said 6, No, drive to No. 5 Court, Spit a lfi e ld s. " T he I cabman drove them ther e and the prisoner went up th e s w a h i They went into th e threw ~ Don ,t her y armsou think round his court, neck whenand hecalled e i i t i h m e her deceased, ale sweetheart. h e d house, and the prisone r sent for half a gallon of ale, and as he was drinking a glass t am a generous chap to come back and treat you after being robbed of £5 ?" to which one of the women replied, " Yes, I did not think you were so generous." The prisoner then shut the door, and drawing the knife he had just before purchased from his breast he rushed upon the deceased, and stabbed her in the lower part of the stomach. She fell off the chair, and was conveyed to the Northern Hospital, where she soon after died, The prisoner after he had stabbed the deceased left the house, and got into the cab, telling the driver to take him away; but as the cabman had heard cries of " Murder I" he thought there was something wrong, and he called the first policeman he saw and gave the prisoner into custody, when the knife was taken from him. The prisoner was sober, and appeared perfectly calm and col lected. The jury, after a few minutes' consultation, without leav ing the box, returned a verdict of guilty of wilful murder. His Lordship then assumed the black cap, and proceeded to pass sentence of death in the usual terms, at the same time telling the prisoner that he had been found guilty on the clearest possible evidence, and that ho need not enter tain any hope of mercy on this earth. The prisoner, who conducted himself with great propriety and evidently felt the position in which he had placed him self, was then removed from the bar. George Gibson, aged 39, was charged with having felo niously murdered his wife on the 21st of June, at 55, Circus street, Liverpool. _ _ . Mr. Proston and Mr. Potter appeared for the prosecution, and AIL Littler defended the prisoner. It appeared that the prisoner lived most unhappily with his wife. About 7 o'clock on the night in question he re turned home under the influence of drink and asked for his supper, to which deceased replied that he had not provided her with the means to get any. Some words ensued, and the deceased struck him a blow on the face. Later in the evening the deceased was going into the house, when the prisoner rushed out of his room. The deceased called out, " Oh, see what he has got in his hand I" and immediately afterwards she gave a scream and ran into thekitchen,when it was found that she bad been wounded in the side, and was bleeding most profusely. The prisoner, after inflicting the wound, returned to his own room, where he was apprehended with a long chisel in his hands, on which were marks of blood. An attempt was made to convey the deceased to the Infirmary, but she was 100 weak to move, and, after suffer ing most acutely, she died on the 27th, six days after the injury had been inflicted. For the defence it:was urged, from the evidence given by the medical men, that the deceased might have died from natural causes; but should the jury be of opinion that it was occasioned by the violence of the prisoner, the evidence brought forward would justify them in returning a verdict of manslaught er , as it was evident at the time he Inflicted the wound he was through drink bereft of his reason, and did not know what he was about ; or, to use the words of his wife, "he appeared as if he was going mad, through the effects of drink and dissipation." The jury returned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter, and His Lordehip sentenced the prisoner to be kept in penal servitude for the remainder of his life. _ _ EFzaheth Benyon, aged 17, was indicted for the wilful murder of her child, Joseph Benyon, aged 12 months. Mr. 11i2gin prosecuted, and Mr. Pope defended the pri- goner. This rase in its eireunistancfA was a nao:.;`, painfal and horrible one. It appeared that the young woman, the pri soner at the bar, lived at a poor lodging at Eccles with her infant child. On Monday night, the 15th June last, she left her lodgings, taking her child with her, and she was seen with it near the river at half-past 11 o'clock that night. She did not return home till 8 o'clock next morning, when she had not the child with her. On being asked what had become of the child she said she had given it to a woman whom she did not know to bring up for her. This account not being deemed satisfactory she was taken into custody by the police, and she then made a statement to them that she had tied a stone round her child's neck and thrown it into the river, at a spot which she afterwards pointed out to the police, and that she had done so at the instigation of a man whose name she mentioned. The river was dragged, and at the spot pointed out by the prisoner the body of her child, with a stone tied to its neck, was found, as described. It was elicited from one of the wit nesses that the prisoner had complained that her father .had repeatedly forced her to have incestuous connexion with him, and had at last turned her and her baby out of doors to starve. The defence urged was that the treatment the prisoner had received from her own father and her wretched condi tion and prospects had had such an effect on her mind that in a fit of wretched despondency she had done what she had done scarcely conscious what she was about, The learned judge having summed up, The jury found the prisoner guilty of wilful murder, but with a strong recommendation to mercy. His Lordship said ho would send this recommendation to the proper quarter, and then, deeply affected, passed upon the prisoner the awful sentence of death in the usual form. This makes the fifth prisoner sentenced to bo hung at these assizes, another prisoner having anticipated his fate by hanging himself in his cell before his trial. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.---Aug. 21. GREENWICH. Thomas Allan], William Smith, and 'William Lamb, constables of the M division of the metropolitan police were charged before Mr. Traill with assaulting two young men named William Thomas and Benjamin Woodnutt. Mr. Wontner appeared for the complainants and Mr. Lewis for the defendants. The complainant Thomas, on being sworn said that he resided with his mother, a shopkeeper, at 13, Millpond-street, Bermondsey. On the night of Saturday, the 25th July, about half-past 12, he was L returning home accompanied by the complainant Woodnutt,at the house of whose sister they had been staying at supper. When near Millpond bridge the defendants Allum and Smith, whom he knew as plain-clothes constables, came up to them, when Smith said, "'W'e have been looking for you," at the same timo applying an offensive epithet to them. He asked Smith why they had been looking for them, and also why such an expression was ' applied to them, when Smith struck him a violent blow and knocked him down. On getting up and saying he knew them to be policemen, Smith took something from his pocket and struck him, again knocking him down, and cansir , his eye to bleed. Smith a n d . Allum then left and walked across the road. He was bleeding from the wound to his eye at the time, and called out " Police!" After walk : ing about 50 yards, Police constable Lamb, who was in uniform, came up, and on'telling him they had been ill-used by two constables in plain clothes he ordered them to move on They asked if that was all the satisfaction they were to receive, and he pushed them along. He then went to the house of his mother, and on knocking at the ' door Lamb came up and threatened to lock him up if he did not get in doors. The street door was opened by hi s mother, and he walked in, Lamb orcing his way in after him, and pushing his mother out of the way. On going behind the counter Lamb endeavoured to pull him out, and, finding he could not do so, he sprang hie rattle, and some constables came. He was kicked in the side by Lamb, who also took hold of him by the throat, and on being got outside he found himself covered with blood. At the time he was first assaulted by Smith he was perfectly sober. In reply to questions put, the complainant said that when the charge of assault was preferred against him at the station he attempted to make a complaint of being assaulted by Smith, but there were several constables there, who prevented his doing so. They put their hands over his mouth several times, and told him to hold his tongue. He and Woodnutt were afterwards locked np, and Mr. Maude dismissed the case against them. Benjamin Woodnutt gave confirmatory evidence, And said that on asking Smith why he had struck Thomas, whose eye w as bl ee di ng, h e was knocked down by Allum, and that on getting up both be and Smith ran away. As he was about to enter the house of Thomas he received a violent blow on the ' back of the head, which caused him to fall on the pavement, and rendered him insensible. He had no recollection of anything for an hour or two after being taken to the station. Thomas Scott, a lighterman, said he was re turning from work on the night in question, and saw the complainants assaulted and knocked down by Allum and Smith, who then walked away. Corn pleinants called out "Police," and the constatle Lamb came up and pushed the complainants. Wit ness saw a woman open the door of the house at which Thomas knocked ; feeling unwell, he did not atoo any longer, but went home. Fanny Woodnut, of 9, Paradise-row, Rother hithe, and Ann Thomas,motber of the complainant Thomas, gave confirmatory evidence. Mr. Lewis suggested that as two distinct assaults were alleged the defendants should be permitted to be examined on oath for each other. This course was agreed to, and they were examined apart from each other. The statement of Lamb was that he found the complainants creating a disturbance, and that on requesting them to leave Thomas used a vulgar expression and refused to do so, and that Woodnutt having struck him in the chest and knocked him down they both ran away; that he then pursued them and overtook them at Thomas's Mother's house, when Thomas struck him and dragged him into the shop, and that on springing his rattle Allem and Smith came to his assistance, as also police-constable 309 M, and a civilian. The defendants Allem and Smith said they were on duty together, and hearing cries of " Help," and seeing a crowd, they ran to the spot, and found Lamb inside the shop, as also both complainants. They both denied the assault upon complainants, and also that that they had spoken to the constabte Lamb previous to hearing cries for help. Inspector Moore, who took the charge against the complainants, gave it as his opinion that they were both drunk. No charge against the constables was male at the station. Mr. Trail said he had given very great considera tion to the case, on account of its importance to the public, and his opinion was that a very flagrant case of assault had been proved against Attune and Smith, and if it had been satisfactorily shown that they had had (as was suggested) a conversation with Lamb, and put him on to the complainants, finding that they (the constables) had committed an assault and were known, he should not deal so lightly with the case as he was then about to do. Lamb had, however, been guilty of a gross violation of duty, becsuse, on his own statement, he had taken into custody Thomas, wtio had not committed an assault upon him. It had been a rule laid down by him now for nearly a period of 30 years that for assaults com mitted upon constables, except when grievous, where the offender's name and address were known, that the constable should not act in his own case, but proceed in the ordinary way by information. This rule, he believed, the Commissioners of Police had acted upon. With regard to Lamb, he should impose a fine of 405,, leaving it to the Commissioners afterwards to deal with him as they might think fit, and with regard to the other defendants ho was prepared either to send the case to the sessions or to deal with it summarily as they might prefer. The defendants consulted with their solicitor, and elected to have the case sent to the sessions, upon which i'dr. Trail then ordered the defendants to be com mitted for trial at the next Old Bailey sessions. Full benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur chasing Horniman's pure Tea; very choice at 3s. 4d. and 4s. High Standard "at 4s. 4d. (formerly 4s. Bd.), is the strongest and most delicious imported. Agents in every town supply it in wickets. , The Cologne Gazette announces that the railway train which left that city in the evening of the 17th went off the rails between Bingen and Mentz, when several per sons were killed. The stoppage caused by the overturning of the carriages has probably delayed the arrival of letters and journals from Frankfort. ADVERTISEMENT.]—Avoid medicines: they always a ge,Ta vate chronic complaints, but Du Barry's Delicious Health Restoring Revalenta Arabica Food, which saves fifty times its cost in other remedies, Invariably cures them, restorlng perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, healthy liver, pure blood, refreshing sleep, functional regularity, and energy the most disordered or enfeebled. We extract a few out of 60,000 Cures :—Cure No. 58,216 of the Marchioness de Brehan, Paris, of a iiver complaint, wasting away for seven years, debility, with a nervous palpitation all over, bad digestion, constant sleeplessness, the mott intolerable nervous agitation, and dreadfully low spirited.—Cure No. 1,771. Lore Stuart de Decies, Lord Lieut. of Waterford, of manir years' dyspepsia. —Ns. 49,8.32. "Fifty years' indescribable acony from dyspepsia, nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, fia.tuleir y, spasms, sickness, and vomiting.—Maria Jolly." —Cure blo. 46,270. Mr. James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, of thirty years' diseased lungs, spitting of blood, liver derange. went, and partial deafness.—Cure No. 47,121. Miss Elizabeth Jacobs, cf extreme nervousness, indigestion, gatherings, low spirits, and nervous fancies.— Cure No. 54,b16. The Rev. Jas. T. Campbell, Fakenham, Norfolk, "of indigestion and torpi dity ox the liver, which had resistei all medical treatment," In tins, 1 lb., 11s. Od. ; 21b., 4s. 6d ; Sib., 11s. ; t2lb., 228.; '4lb 405.—Barry Lu Barry and Co., No. 77 , Regent-street, Lond on; also Fort-alum and Mason ; and all Grocers and Chemists In every town of thc United Kingdom. SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. TIMES.—We need not say much in behalf of the merits and claims of the National Rifle Association. Everybody knows how much it has done, what spirit it has imparted to this martial exercise, what generous emulation it has inspired. It took us up a nation of bad shots, and it has made us a nation of good shots—we mean as rifle shooters. Rifle shooting was,indeed,in its most elementary stage in this country when the Association took it under its patronage, encouraged the practice of the rifle, in stituted public exhibition days, and brought it be fore the country as an important exercise, gave it a national character, and converted it into a powerful and substantial aid to our Volunteer corps and our military position in Europe. Our gala days at Wimbledon were indeed the successors of the old crossbow contests, when our ancestors used to meet in the open spots of their forests and aim their rival bolts at the target. It is acknowledged that these holiday rivalries were the foundation of a great deal of our success in war in those days. Our crossbows shot with deadly effect into the French ranks. It was plain even then that the sturdy independent spirit which was bred:by popular games and trials of skill and strength was more than a match for mere drill and regularity of array in armies composed of feudal serfs who ban never been accustomed to feel them selves anything more than belonging to their lords. The crossbowman was at home with his weapon, and had the spirit of a man who had con tended with his equals- and knew what he could do. We all remember the opening scene of the Festival of the Popinjay in "Old Mortality," where the " competitors discharged their fusees and carbines in rotation at the distance of sixty or seventy paces." He whose ball brought down the mark " held the proud title of Captain of the Popinjay for the remainder of the day, and was usually escorted in triumph to the most respectable change-house in the neighbourhood, where the evening was closed with conviviality!' These were the " Wimbledon days" of two centuries ago, when the firearm was an improvement on the old cross bow, just as the rifle now is an improvement on fusee and carbine. The appearance of the holyday field, in the 17th century, was a great contrast to one of our 19th century fete days, and we should see, if we could rec all the past, a great difference between the elegant display of a Wimbledon meet ing and a scene in which "the Lord-Lieutenant of the county alone pretended to the magnificence of a wheel-carriage—a thing covered with tarnished gilding and sculpture, in shape like the vul gar pictures of Noah's Ark, dragged by eight long-tailed Flanders mares, bearing eight insides and six outsides." But the two exhibition days answer much the same purpose, and each is in its own century a scene which feeds the properly martial spirit of the country, and keeps the nation up to the mark in the use of its weapons. And each of the two exhibitions, moreover, does this in a way congenial to the temper of the nation, for there is nothing that breathes more freely than a pub lic trial of skill, every can doing his best, and the world looking on to reward with its cheers and approval. It is this kind of spirit which despotic countries want for their armies and cannot give them. Why is the Emperor of Russia at this mo ment freeing his serfs? Because, among other things, he finds that serfs are not the stuff of which the best soldiers are made. It is a military need which Russia wants to supply. She finds she is weak in war for want of the spirit of independent free men in her armies. Her troops are perfect in drill, and her massed columns advance upon the field with the precision of machines, and look as they approach like moving blocks ; but the English soldier can fight in line without support at his back ; the Russians cannot. That is all the difference be t ween an army that extends its arm and grasp and an army that contracts it, an army that can use its whole strength and an army that can only use part of it. The National Rifle Association, we say, encou rages and fosters this free strong spirit in the coun try—a spirit which, without being itself military. is the foundation of a military spirit, and forms the basis of our armies, the reservoir which feeds and supplies them. There must be something moving popularly, a stir in the mass who live at home, in order to produce the regular soldier in sufficient quantity, and the professional spirit must flow out of a movement and current which pervades society at large. The Association does more than this, be cause it teaches the use of a weapon which is abso lutely essential to modern war. You may be a brave man, a high-spirited man, but you cannot fight unless you know your weapon. The Association has produced that power which is the first need in war—that of men hitting what they aim at. We are confident, then, that this Association deserves pub lic support, and we are sorry to say that it now needs it. An official statement of the finances of the Asso ciation, which we insert in another column, shows that the annual income is something above £2,000, while the annual expenditure is above £B,OOO. " The difference, happily, has hitherto been made up by prize entries, pool and sighting targets, and by admissions to the enclosure at Wimbledon." But, as these gentlemen go on to say in their appeal, " these are at best most uncertain sources of income." They add, "we venture to think that an association such as this ought not to be left thus dependent on chance for its continued existence; and that, having been established to give per manence to the Volunteer force and for the promo tion of rifle shooting, it ought not to be compelled, as now is the case, to extract by all manner of de vices from those who come toWimbledon the money necessary for its support." We entirely agree in this statement, and think it only due to the great services of this Association that its support should rest upon a more regular and stable footing than it does now. We are apt to forget when consider able effects are produced, and effects upon which we congratulate ourselves, that there is an organi zation underneath which is expensive. But we are confident Lhat the appeal of the National Rifle As sociation, now that it is openly made, will be liberally responded to, and that the public will see the claims of the Association in their true light. HERALD.—If the people of New York are sanguine as to the prospects of the war, it appears that the generals of their armies do not share in their antici pations. Who can have confidence in men who have no confidence in themselves ? And how can the sol dier fight with a good heart under the leaders who are ready to turn back in the day of battle P When Lee advanced to the Potomac General Hooker sent in his resignation. Now that Lee is concentrating his forces on the Rappahannock General Meade, the more fortunate successor of Hooker, thinks it is high time that he also should retire from the scene. When Perseus held up the head of Medusa his enemies were turn-d into stone. There must be something very awe.inspiring in the proximity of this stern Confederate soldier. The Northerners catch a glimpse of him across the river—their hearts turn into water, their knees knock together, and their courage oozes out at their fingers' ends. We are told that Gen. Meade has twice tendered his resignation, and now insists on its acceptance, What is, in sober earnest, the meaning of this? Is an officer, who has hitherto shown much determi nation as well as capacity, and who has been well spoken of both by friend and foe, to be supposed so distrustful of his powers that he dares not try again the issue of battle, so despairing of his country's cause that he will not again bare the sword in her de fence? Or is he to be accused of the unsoldierly mean ness of fear ? Perhaps an explanation of this sin gular circumstance may be discovered, which will, to some extent, transfer the blame from his shoulders to those of his superiors. When the armies met at Gettysburg the Federals had all the advantage of a friendly country, of sure communica tions, of a position chosen by themselves. After all, the result of the three days' fight was a drawn battle, in which the losses on both aides were pretty equal. If this was the case on Northern soil, the balance is likely to be against the Federals when the scene is once more transferred to the old battle-ground of Virginia. The Federal army of the Potomac is reported to be disorganised and de moralised. How do the Northern administrators, Mr. Stanton and General Halleck, propose to re cruit it ? They are making a thorough rearrange ment of the commands, which will probably set all the regiments at sixes and sevens. They are filling up the plates in the ranks by drafted men and substitutes, who are so new to the business that they hare yet to learn the manual exercise. The absurd proceedings of these naera, who think they can conduct the war from Washington much better than their general in the field, their interference with his plans, and their method of re cruiting his army, may be the causes which have led to Gen. Meade's threat of retirement. It is supposed that his place will be supplied by Gen. Grant, the hero of the Mississippi, very popular just now at New York, with the same kind of reputation as that which led but a few months since to the promotion of " fighting Joe Hooker" to the et id command. II the lsrge reinforcements which have been s e nt to Charleston have been wi:brirawn from the army of the Potomac, it, will serve still further to weaken it. The Confederate army, which lines the Rsppohans neck and the Bespidsn from Fredericksburg t o Gordonsville, is being reinforced by return tr oops from Riche:wad and from the army of Brag g , While Federal iron-cads and big guns are ex hausting themselves in the attempt to reduce the Atlantic stronhold, Gen. Lee may be Watc hi ng his opportunity of crushing the army or the Po o _ mac, when Washington will be at his mercy. Meade has been startled by th e omens which have preceded every victory of the Confed erate army. The tsuerillas of the enemy a re scouring the country in his rear, and Mosby rides about unch a ll eae d between Alexandria and F•Arfax. The di s g rasitiana of Lee's army seem to us to indicate that be is about to assume the offensive ere long, and we may hear by any mail the tidings of a battle that has revived once more the drooping spirits of the Southerners, and sent down to zero the overweening confidence of the enemy. The army of the Northern republic which, in February, 1862, was reckoned at nearly a million of men of all ranks, in August, 1863, amounts to scarcely 350,000. Its loss amounts, by the confession of Northern writers, to the amazing sum of 600,000 men in 18 months. If we search ter causes of this terrible diminution of strength, we find , them in th e w id e - sprea d operat i ons o f t hi s war of subjugatio n , no t on l y i n t h e great b att l es i n which 20,000 or 30,000 men have fallen at a blow, but in the multitudinous skirmishes and petty en counters, the losses in fatiguing marchings, the malaria of a hostile climate, dye are the less sur prised at the total sum when we hear that it cost the North just 70,000 men to take Vicksburg, a little Alississippi town, where a garrison of 15,000 were taken prisoners. Daring the last 18 months the North, at an enormous sacrifice, has not even kept up the balance of success on its side—it has certainly failed in its attempt t o su bj uga t e t h e South. Supposing that no great disaster occurs to arrest the progress of its arms —supposing that its exchequer is not exhausted by the war expenditure of 250 millions sterling annually, it will yet take several years to break the spirit of its antagonist, and put an end to all resistance on the part of the South. Bat can the men be found to do it P—that is the question. The fighting population of a State is reckoned at one in six of the whole population. As there are 18 millions of people in the North we may suppose three millions of pessible soldiers who would recruit the army for six years, supposing the loss to be half a million annually, the pre. sent rate. But of these three millions, at least two-thirds are occupied in trade and agricul ture. If we take away more than a third of the able-bodied men of a nation the result will be a col lapse of some branch of industry, the ruin of thou sands of families, and a sensible loss to the revenues of the state. It appears to us, then, that the Nor:,h is already near the end of its recruiting power. This result is seen in the universal opposition to the draft, the serious effect of which is felt now that the idle and supernumerary population has gone to the war, and substitutes are only to be procured at a price so enormous, that most of them who are drawn must leave their homes or be ruined. There has been an exciting correspondence as to the le gality of the conscription between Governor Sey - mour, of the Strite of New York, and President Lin coln. The people of this State have forced their governor to this protest, and the resolution of the President, if persevered in, may lead to a contest between the Central and State executives, which will shake to its foundations the insecure edifice cf the republic. Volunteering, it seems, does not serve to make up a tithe of the losses of their armies. Mr. Lincoln wants men to conquer the South, these men are not to be had, and the Southern recruits, whom the Federal soldiers have driven from their homes to take part in a desperate war, threaten now to make up a host which will press upon the Northern remnants with irresistible force. COUNTRY MARKETS. 10-- LIVERPOOL-FRIDAY. At this day's market there were few buyers, and all classes of foreign wheat have been exceedingly unsaleable even at a decline of from 2d to 3d per centat on the prices of last Friday. Flour a slow trade, and must be quoted 6d psr barrel and sack lower. Barley and peas steady at former rates. Oats id to Id per bushel cheaper for Irish. Oatmeal is down 6d per load. Beans have advanced 6d per quarter. Indian corn unaltered in value from Tuesday. The market closed depressed. WAKEFIELD-FRIDAY. New wheat was 2s to 3s per qr lower than the quotations of last Friday, with a steady consumptive demand. Old wheat may be quoted at a slight decline. Other articles were unaltered. STAMFORD-FRIDAY. Wheat came freely to hand to-day, consisting principally of new samples, but the demand was heavy, and prices receded 2s to 3s per qr, The crops look very favourable. —White wheat, 46s to 48s; red, 43s to 46s per 36 stone. Barley, malting, 36s to 39s ; grinding,; 30s to 32s per qr. Oats, 22s to 26s per 24 stone. Beans, old, 41s to -13 per qr. ; new, 39s to —s. DUBLIN-FRIDAY. The weather continues most favourable for the harvest, and to-day the business was dull for old grain. Prices are still nominal. We had a large supply of new oats and a few samples of new here, but sales slow. s. d. a. d. s. d. s. d. Wheat, white 11 0 to 12 0 Beans.. . — oto 0 Do., red lO oto 11 0 Bere Do., new .... oto 0 Rapeseed Barley Oats Do., black —oto 0 ,Indian corn .. 68 to 7 0 BRISTOL SUGAR-FRIDAY. The market this week has been more active for raw and refined sugars, and about 1,000 hhds ot Barbadoes and De • meraras have been sold at full prices. In rum a tair de• mand at steady prices. COAL I Prfoes 'of Coal per Ton al .ARKET. the close of the market. s. d. Bower's West Hartley.l6 9 Carway and Duffryn Malting l2 0 Tanfield Moor Butes l2 6 Eden Main l6 3 West Hartley 17 0 Wylam 16 6 Buddle'sWest Hartley 16 9 Hastings Hartley l6 6 Cowpen Hartley 16 9 North Pelton Gas 13 3 Holywell ..17 6 Walls End. B. d. Walls End. Russel's Hetton 17 0 ZeiperGrange 10 6 Ships at market Haswell Tunstall Hartlepool.. l7 6 South Hartlepool 16 6 East Hartlepool 17 9 Trimdon Hartlepool 17 6 Trimdon Thornley l6 0 Kelloe South Kelloe.. l6 9 Braddyll's Hetton 17 0 Heugh Hall l6 9 Hotton lB 0 South Hetton ...18 0 Stewart's 17 0 144 ; sold, 107. Foreign Mail Packet List MAILS DUE. Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton ..Aug. —.— via Marseilles Sept. 12. Brazil and Cape Verds, by British packet. Sept. 3. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and St. Helena Aug. 29. China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southainpton Aug. —.— via Marseilles Aug. 27. Falkland Islands Gibraltar, via Southampton Aug. —. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Aug. —. via Marseilles Aug. 27. India (Bombay), via Southampton Aug. 25. via Marseilles Sept. 4. P0rtuga1.......... Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampt on Aug. —.— via Marseilles Aug. 27. Newfoundland ..Aug. 19. Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America,y C B a r n it a . d n ian ack p e a t e . k . e . t .. A A u ug g .. 2 2 1. 7. .— y by U. S. S. packet.... W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe .......... Sept. 10. Bahamas, via New York Aug. 27. Mexico All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru,ug. :4.8. California. and British Columbia.. `Aug.j 2B. [ADVERTISEMENT.]--Holloway's Ointment and Pills. — Domestic Remedies.—There are two periods, especially in woman's life, which require for safe passage, judgment, and attention. Irregularity is apt a t th ose critical ' times to take place and to lay the foundation of future disease. Holloway's Ointment well rubbed over the defective organs will soon restore them to the full performance of their natural functions, and completely relieve the system of these first seeds of disease. The Pills, safe in action and effective in r result, should likewise be taken, as they c o ntribute mate rially to the Ointment's efficiency. The piope use of these domestic remedies prevents nervousness, , hysteria, erysipelas, dropsy, and a host of similar andt often serious disorders. By e x pelling all impurities they maintain a clear silky complexion. Births. BAXENDALE.—On the 20th inst., at W heathampstead, the wife of R. B. Baxendale, Esq., of a daughter. lIDEBAED.—On the 21st inst., at Dalston, Mrs. John S. Hubbard, of a son. RICKARDS.—On the 21st inst,, at Epsom, the wife of E. J. Rickards, of a daughter. RICHAEDSON.—On the 20th inst., at Blackheath, the w fe of Guildford Barker Richardson, Esq., of a daughter. Blom-loges. DAVIES—OWEN.—On the 20th inst.. at Holy Trinity Church, Islington, Griffith Davies, Esq., of Lonsdale square, Islington, to Martha, only daughter of the late Owen Thomas Owen, Esq., of ht. Paul's-place, Canon bury. EARLE—ROLLESTON.—On the 10th inst., at Maltby, the Rev. John Earle, rector of Swanswick, late Fellow of Oriel, to Jane, youngest daughter of the Rev. George RoHeston, vicar of Maltby. Deaths. B °ILEAu.—On the 19th inet., at 40, Grove. place, Bromp' ton, Mors. P. E. Boileau, artist, aged 83. ERIDELL.—O n the 20th inst., at 8, Victoria-road, fien■ bington, Frederick Lee Bridal, Esq. FooT.—On the 18th inst., at Dublin, Lundy Edwd. Foot Esq., barrister-at-law, aged 72. GILEs.—On the 18th inst., at Willoughby Rectory, Sarah Elizabeth, wife of the Ven. Archdeacon Giles, aged 40. KING.—On the 18th inst., at Brocklands, Blanche Edith, youngest daughter of the Hon. Locke King, M.P. RAPHAEL.—On the 18th inst., at Tunbridge-wells, Jan Nathan Raphael, of 42, Princes-square, Bayswater, age d 28. STANLEY.--On the 19th inst., at Ponsonby Hall, Edward Stanley, Esq., aged 73. WELCH —On the 20th inst., at Reading, Richard Welellt aged 58. London : Printed and Published by WILLIAM.A.ND I3 " . , 2 ' of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at T UE S UN ()MCC 1 " . Strand. in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the County 0 ' PtitilcSa.7 t9.at;a• lay, August 22, Jul