The Express.
London, England, 1862-01-11 00:00:00

THE OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

LIVERPOOL, Plurnr.
By the Jura we have received further details of
the official correspondence relative to the arrest of
Mesers..Mason and Slidell.
The first is a letter from Secretary. Seward to
Mr. Adams, the American minister in London,
dated November 30, 1861. Mr. Seward, in this
letter, compliments Mr. Adams for r.ing and
acting so wisely at the Lord Mayor's dinner, and
also states that he told Lord Palmerston the simple
beet when informing him that the life of the insur-
reetion is sustained by the hopes of a recognition of
tits Southern Confederacy by England and
France, and if those hopes ceased the in-
inerection would perish in ninety days.
Se refers in the same note to the fact of the arrest
'es Slidell and Mason by Captain Wilkes as a new
iand unforeseen circumstance, which is to be met by '
the two governments, if possible, in a kindly spirit.
Lord Lyons bad said nothing on the subject, and
no explanations were furnished to Minister Adams,
it being deemed prudent that the ground taken by
the British Government should be firstmade known
at Washington and discussion to be hal thee, but
lir. Seward deemed it proper to shate.that Captain
T.Wiikas acted without instructions, and the subject
tharaker is free from the embermermenta that might
hays ensued if the act bad been specially directed.
trusts that the British government will con-
sider the subject in a friendly temper, and it may
*pert the be 4 disposition on the part of the
Washington atkinet.
Time next latter is from Earl Russell to Lord
bMgdated Nov. 30, which details the Treat
1 He sip
It thus apple* that certain intlividaals have been forcibly
• tam freer a &Mir vessel, the ship rd a neutral power
ea a lawful andisserostvoyage—aaact of violsooe,whlcherse
j as affront to thellrlthh flag, and a violation of inernatioon
law. Her Majesty's Government are willing to believe
the act was willies* authoritj, and resulted from *wader.
standing, o the grummet of the United States must be
fully swan that the Braid grimatmeat will not allow each
as afloat to * wakes! boner to peen without due re-
gaintiom sad the British government are unwilling to
believe that the United States deliberately intended
unaecesear'dy to force a dieenerlon of so pare
a queetion keine= the two governments. Her Majesty's
govension nuns that the sentremeat of the Wiled
Metes will el W won scoot car mask :siren as alone
could Maly then, namely, the liberation of the fear pal
same% and their delivery to Lord Lynn, that they mar
spin be placed under British protection, and a suitable
apology for the eggreasion committed. Should theme term
not be offered by Mr. Seward, you will propose then to
his.

Mr. Seward replies toLord Lyons (by whom be
was faimiebed with a omy of Earl Ruesell's letter),
stating Etat the siermateh has been submitted to the
PreMmt. Mr. Oswald my* :
Tho British soveeswis► rightly aoajoatoard what It is
cow m) ditty to Mat., that Captain. Willem soled epee his
owls anueltions of duty without say dim:dome er lastrar
time, or eves tae isowledge el it oa the part of this
semen's& No dimetions htd his. gime him army other
semi caner to erred the four warm er rsy cd them,
on the Treat, essay Mbar Hiss► vereel, sr way mated
vessel there or elsewhere. . . .

Alter dimming the *hole question at great
*Olt in all its bearings, lir. Seward says :
I trial have Moira to the satifaries of the British
retroaust by • very simple and lateral statement of
.Bealm sad is rely& of the law applitoble to Mem Mr.
this iptaaremer hoe mak" matitated nor preatiesd,
nor approved, say deliberate wroog in the *mai-
satitta to which they have riled its attention,
and, on the contrary, that what les hammed hes bre
simply aa leadvertemos, scaristing is a &porters by the
navel eilicer—tree lion soy wrongful motive—hos a rule
oneertainly essablished, sad probably by the mayoral patios
ceatentedi either imperfectly nadenteed or sedlrely en-
Mows. For this error the Barak pornmeat has a right
to expect the same reparative that we, is ea is
Sire, should expect from Great Britala
or from any t,Mmdly nails la . • shailer ers. I
Ire not been unaware that, in mamba* Ma gam-,
tics, I have fake into an argument for what rams to be
the British side of it against my own coma, ; bet I sal re-
lieved from all embarremeents ea that sables.. I bed
hardly fallen into that lies et seguret era I disorred
that I war really defending sad maintaining not an err-
airily British interest, but an old, honoured, and cherished
Americas cause; sot upon British authorities, bet arm
priaelpir shat °Destitute a large portion of the theresibre
poliay by whir the United States have developed the re-
moter of ts retreat ; and them Blooming a esesidemble
maritime power, have won the rarest and orefidere of
raw abeam. These principles were Ltd down for es by
Jima Nadirs is 1804, when Beerstary of Nate ender
Affirms, h imasetior to Jams Moores or then
mic tar to Eagles&
Mr. Seward eays, after quoting three instructions :
If I decide this ere in favour of my owe gover-
ment, I must disallow its meet cherished principles,
and reverse and for ever abandoe its essential
policy. The country amid afford the samillos.
If I maintain those principles, and adhere to that policy,
I must surrender the car itself. It will be sera there-
fore that this government could sot decay the lustre of
the claim promoted. We are asked to do to the British
astir just what we have always Misted ell milieu might
to do to us.

_ ..... ___
Ia miming to my conclusion I have not forgotten that if
the misty of this Union required the detection of the
captured prisoners it would be the right and duty of this
govethrosat to detain them, bat the effectual check and
warniag proportions of the existing insurrection, as well is
the comparative unimportance of the captured persons
themselves when dispaasionately weighed, happily forbid
me from resorting to that defence. Nor am 1 unaware
0141111 OUR OWN 00111serv,..._
that American citizens are not in any case to be szeices•
eerily surreadered for say Purpose into the keeping of • SOUTHAMPTON, FRIDAY Evxfftmc.
foreign State. The Federal war steamer Tuscarora is now lying just
ogy the „weed mum, however, or others who are off Hythe, it Southampton Water, in a position to corn-
interested is them, could justly raise • question on that nand the Itches river, which the Confederate steamer
ground. Nashville must descend in order to escape. It was fully
It would tell little for our own claim to the character of =Peeled that the hater would get out of the Southampton
a just and magnanimous people if we should to far consent Dallis tarnnannw sad moan to the steam rsadyfor • 4WD,
As bedded by the law of retaliation as to lift up buried but MI to dark this meaty she had not does so. By the law
WOW adder mdemileassistair and eationeleaseemes. of DRUM. the Nashville must have St hours' dart of the
ressig belied ens all suggestions of thin kind, I prefer to I Tuscarora, and as the former it • much faster vessel than
arum Ist aaliefaictien that by the adjustment of the the latter it is probable that with such an advantage she
,gamma ass upon principles actifestedly American, and yet would get away safely. It is mid that an under-
asl twat mutually satisfactory to both nations Ceederlled, it&Ddiall mists brews the coommader of the
a valise tees Smelly and rightly settled between them which Nashville and the Sumter warship as to their Place
leselliteinalleleted not only ell fosses of peaceful discus. of rendezvous, mimeo the Sumter would convoy the
dos, had aim the arbitrament of war itself for more Nashville. It is "at a improbable that there may be a
gam half a esswwy alienated the two countries See fight between the Sumter and Tasesrere is the British
hem each other, and perplexed with fear, and apprehen. Channel.
am ell caw „dime. The four pomps in vendee are The Nashville and Tuscarora must ran about twenty-five
miw bald is military custody at Fort Warne, in the State I thi!th.freth. their Kee." 'Paden before tileZ "old get
same British wattles, It has been rumoured that there
A Meaogioalft• They 'll b° ca'srfullY lama" Your I .lista Federal roanct-war *arid* the Isle of Wight to iota-
bileMp will please indicate a time said place for reedrind I met the Nashville (deg eat, at the Sumter earning in, to
"beel.—.l miaow, Ire, (Signed) W. H. Serum. Southampton Watvie. The Nashville has, however, the
. Thor despatch from M. Thouvenel to hi. Mercier choice of two outlets, via., through Smthead or through the
.the
.ibeach misimer
at weehington,
ad,
aimed;
to Needles,
educe,
a
None of dail entre oicapinthe l`mmrorabar.
onlyall,ntht.dowed
dadillibed, is also contained in the correspondenoe. the share to get supplies. The onuses of the
M welk•bout th to
as following is from Lori Lyons to Mr. Seward : fstr,tuareihmeoo,fr. ?Lam *ll •pr ,°, lII'
Wrideglos, Des. Ti. sad that he speaks Frock yerfuely. Messrs. J. H. Cook-
Ism this swain resoled the note which you dld , riduateddro, the ehl.l Yezentee in S'nithun the. lithe
rillsolhotierlbs address to see yesterday la *user to Fed I ~..... ...___,..,_tde NeedigM. aids • brother of that drm, Mr.
aerie of November 30,ridadvste the relMOVelel , 6,="......... ..... ' la the .11"Ty.i°Maa'. .bis fulfilled
Alm 11161101 z. Xmas. Mr. IVlParland, sad Mr. Evedis. ' are --= il'ir"on.. -- airs ai-- ---e. th 'y reach
Opts the kid* mil pea* Treat. I will without less at ; IhNelheopeell, and telegrams see etwasateark
Mr forward to bar Mobity's mmemmest • eery ef thi, Ira- I "'Senn the Mae' Wet .the why giber "um"
wit
iroos.abi,
eassonsileatiss schlep yes have made to ma 1 =mg la =is the et aeries, Noway,
sad Herbals.
wiliest delay es mese the amber is soda ! greelairegile&.ues videireaff= i 1511156 of X
idlit pas puesseally as the oomporst to be bob ter ioTo—bir. sdh—eierge. rd Maher ham laze
oaf le mw.
ddresisg the four gaidesma to me is ',driblet they may ' lying is the new Thebes.
'be tale pissed wader the yeeiestra of the Baia ay,— I The Tandarels boo been soot over base by the TAMA
I have the homers be., . imogo mem 1 Cesiltset Se provosk actor almond* asposedimm by
Worms riveters epos Assakas viesele,ard gibe IS to
A Waskibeset belairabis of the 1111* ago that I as followed fiy am or Mee ease sidrzasoLf tim Fab& more
lito atolls* 4 vita Pbollasot in this Taltb, as ma- I se purest *sir dig Is the lledibli