The Press.
London, England, 1853-12-24 00:00:00

AMERICAN ECCENTRWITIES.

Parsin Plimer, in his message to Congreas, fully
approves of the conduct of Captain INGRAHAM, the
commander of the American ship, who, at Smyrna,
virtually resorted to force to rescue MAttnx lioszrA.
the Hungarian, from the Austrian authorities. The
Austrians possess by treaty judicial power over all
their subjects within the dominions of the Sultan.
Therefore the question to be considered is, whether
koszTA had done anything to divest himself of the
status of an Austrian subject_ The American Presi-
dent says that in Isso KOSZTA first came to the
United States, and then "declared his intention, in
" due form of law," to become an American citizen.
In less than two years after this he was seized at
Smyrna by the Austrian:4, and the President justifies
the conduct of Captain INtilt MASI, because kooszTA
" was clothed with the nationality of the United
" States." There is no internat. 1 law of citizenship ;
each State has its own. In England a subject can
never by any act divest himself of his allegiance.
Yet there are at this moment several subjects of
England in the United States who, according to the
doctrine of President PlEncE, are clothed with Ame-
ricen nationality, and therefore entitled to the pmtee
lion of America, whom England would perhaps seize
if ever they came within her jurisdiction. We allude
to Messrs. Alf:mama and Co., who, being lett at
liberty on their word of honour, were enabled to es
cape from Van Diemen 's Land by the simple proeess
of breaking it. Suppose one of these worthies was
seen eating oysters in a tavern in Liverpol, whilst
Ireland was preparing for a second heroic but Metal
less battle of Itallingarry, and suppose the patriot
was imprisoned until he could Mal bail for his good
beltio• according to President PlEfice the Alfieri.
cans, of whom) them are many in Liverpool, would be
justified in attempting to rescue him by force. The
truth is, the Americans have re0.,014c.1 to strike out
it mots loath list 1110111,4Chl"i in CA 4'l) iis osttlacill. in
international las, in the case of Ito-A ; rot Ile iris
now, of (Honor mid rredifoor: in rriouoliatioet Stode
debts; in gi MAI ;41H-14 nronuas
affair that happened lately sit Madrid. .1. gold cak•
broidery does not attract attention at European Comas,
the American diplomatists, their families, and at-
ta(olti.s dress with a quaker-like simplicity, on account of
which they are stared at. Accordingly, at the capital of
Spain the wife of Mr. Sonix, the new America,'
Minister, appeared at a court ball in a dress up to
her throat. The Duke of AT.III (observed that she
looked like MARY of Burgundy. From this simple
and most likely accurate remark two duels late
sprung. M. de Tt•a(((rt, the French Minister, fuel
the Duke of ALBA fought the Sorms, father and sou.
Young Sout.c, more familiar with a bowie-knife Blau
a sword, was compelled to apologise with the Duke's
toledo at his breast. (1141 Som., skilled in the use of
a revolver, shot the French Ambassador in the knee.
The duels and the dispute with Austria spring from
the same spirit developed in different spheres. In-
dividually in society, violating conventional laws, it
results in personal rencontres ; di*.played on a larger
scale, it breaks through the law of nations and leads
to international embroilmeuts.