The Press.
London, England, 1856-06-07 00:00:00

aro far removed from the shores of Honduras,
and by situation must be taken to belong to
that country of Central America which Great
Britain and the United States mutually agreed
not to annex, occupy, settle, or colonise.
A third serious difficulty has since arisen,
through the invasion f Nicaragua by General
WALKER and his armed force. For a body of
American citizens to possess themselves of
that State of Central America which it was
the express object of the Convention of April,
1850, to render independent of both the
United States and England, appears the most
flagrant violation of the spirit of that treaty
which can be conceived. By the recognition
of WALKER'S Government, President PIERCE
has shown that he has no longer any idea
that a good understanding on this question
between the two countries is possible. His
act is a plain declaration that henceforth his
Government will pursue the policy it has
marked out for itself, and will endeavour to
extend the influence of the United States in
Central America.

We do not know what course our Govern-
ment intends to pursue on this question. But
we do know that the United States Govern-
ment has firmly taken up a position to
oppose the Mosquito claim to Greytown and
the British protectorate ; and to insist that
the occupation of the Bay of Islands is a
direct infraction of the Convention of April,
1850. While these difficult and delicate
questions concerning Central America are
pending, diplomatic intercourse, which alone
could have solved them, is suddenly put an
to, by the dismissal of Mr CRAMPTON from
Washington, through the dispute on the re-
cruitment question.

RECRUITING IN THE UNITED STATES.
Immediately after the passing of the Fo-
reign Enlistment Act, Mr. CRAMPTON, at
Washington, and our Consuls in various parts
of the States, received offers of service, many
of them sincere, but some evidently intended
to fix on British agents a charge of violating
the neutrality laws of the United States. Mr.
Caemyrox very carefully ascertained, as he
conceived, the exact limits of those laws, and
WAS, beyond doubt, most anxious to avoid
offending against them. But, on the most can-
did construction, it is extremely doubtful whe-
ther he did not, notwithstanding his repeated
injunctions that they should be observed, act
in a manner directly contrary to their spirit.
For example, at the very commencement,
he directed secret inquiries to be made by
British Consuls and agents, as to the numbers
of persons iu the United States desirous to
enlist in the British Foreign Legion. That
those inquiries were made with the greatest
secrecy is some presumption in itself that no
confidence was felt that the proceeding was
legal. But Mr. CRAMPTON went much further.
In reply to many applications made to him as
for information, Sc., he returned answers,
which it is, we fear, impossible to construe
otherwise than as a publication of induce-
ments to recruit. To some written applica-
tions he returned answer (March 23, 1855) :

Should you desire information as to the terms,
dm., upon which foreigners may be enrolled under
the provisions of' a late act of Parliament, I shall
have pleasure in furnishing you with such informa-
tion as is in my possession at any time you should
call at her Majesty's Legation in this city (Wash-
ington).

To other applicants he wrote that he had no
doubt their services would be accepted if they
presented themselves to tile proper authorities
in the British dominions. And again :
I shall be ready to give you such information as I
possess in regard to this subject., sliould you think it
worth while to call upon me personally.
To a Mr. C. MARTIN, who wrote to him from
New Orleans, complaining bitterly of the in-
tolerance, bigotry, and persecution which
foreigners (the Irish residents are particularly
hinted at) suffer in that city, and saying that
5,000 men and upwards could be easily col-
lected from that port, Mr. CRAMPTON replied
(through Mr. Lusit.Ev) by a caution not to
violate the neutrality laws; and saying :
Mr. Crampton has no doubt that the services of
all those persons whom you describe as being anxious
to join the forces of her Majesty will be gladly re-
ceived, and that the feelings which actuate you will