The Express.
London, England, 1862-01-30 00:00:00

_LL
THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY BVENtri tut, 'JANTJART

" injurious character, not only to a east
" *timber and variety of individual and pri-
" rate interests but to the public interests of
" neutral and friendly Governments" These, as
Sari Rusnmi. declares, are principles of the highest
importance. It would be difficult, perhaps, to
'discover in the decisions of forty years ago any
precise authorities in support of them ; but the
truth is that it is only of late years that commerce
has assumed an importance so commanding and
universal, and that the intercourse between
various parts of the world has become so
continuous and so necessary. It certainly is
by no moans clear whether Earl ItutiesLL admits
the right of search in case of passenger or
mail-packet ships. Upon authority it is difficult
to deny the proposition of Dr. Puna-mot; that
" this right of search a belligerent may exercise
" over every Teasel not being a ship of war that he
" meets with on the ocean." But it is equally true
that if any such right were strictly and system►tically
enforced the neutral nations would have recourse
to some mode of resisting it—perhaps to the ex-
tent of an armed neutrality. Earl ROBBILL, in-
deed, has distinctly declared that " the British
" Government would not acquiesce in the capture
" of any British merchant ship in circumstances
" similar to those of the Trent, and that the fact
"of its being brought before a Prise Court,
" though it would alter its character, would not
" diminish the gravity of the offence against
" the law of nations which would be

" thereby committed." And by this declaration
.11. United States Government is probably to
voissisteed that even if Captain WIIKIIA had carried
Om Tema into New York or Boston the British
Getermesnt would have at owe demanded the
sesimation of the vessel and everything on board.
There is certainly some difficulty in supporting
this view, because Prize Court& have provided a
remedy for those who have suffered loss by a
neutral vessel being seized by a belligerent with.
out probeble cause ; and it would be strange that
the government of the neutral should interfere
before the ordinary remedy provided by the Prize
Court had failed. No doubt, if the American
Government had issued instructions to their naval
°Moen to do as Captain Witt's did, and there
men a systematic violation of the rules of interna-
tional law, there might be good ground for the
imiatiorence of the British Government. But it
b sea different when the act complained of is
itsistad, and when the Prize Tribunal has the
mime of remedying the wrong alleged to have
boa perpetrated. The doctrine thus broadly
amorted by Earl Rrnsuz., though of great conve-
nience to neutral nations, seems of doubtful autho-
rity ; and if, moreover, the FOll4Oll SZCZETAZT
is papered to maintain that, according to inter-
nasal law as at present understood, packets en-
sued in postal service occupy a peculiar position,
and ere specially exempt from the right of search,
it is not difficult to foresee the probability of some
lively diplomatic discussion.
To those who advocate the extension of neutral
rights, and maintain the common-sense principle
that because two nations go to war the comfort
and the commerce of all the other nations
of tho world ought not to suffer, the
doctrines affirmed by Earl Romania. readily
commend themselves. The sooner they era
inoorporated as part and parcel of the law
of nations the better for the progress of the world.
But it may be a question whether they will be
generally admitted, and therefore in case of dis-
pute the more reasonable course would be to con-
sult the rest of Europe upon the point, and to
some to some agreement upon the general principles
which ought to prevail.

The Convocation of the Province of Canterbury
will meet only pro forma on Thursday, Feb. 7,
but will assemble for despatch of business on the
Tuesday follow*, Feb. 11.
Toss PRINCE CONSORT MEMORIAL FOND. —The
Lced Mayer ei Leaden having invited the Mayor of
le casaFacalla with the metropolitan committee for the
wpm al fertherlag the erection of a national memorial
M the late Priam Camert, a meeting was held at the Guild-
hall la that lowa yesterday, for the purpose of adopting
the sesermay messimm. • series of resolotions for carry.
ing art the abject in view were adopted, and a sum of
between titres mid ins bandied pounds was immediately
enberibsd.
MONUMENT IN LIVERPOOL TO THE LATE PRINCE
ALBERT.—This subject mum ep at the meeting of the
Liverpool Town Conseil yesterday, a communication being
read from the Lord Xs= of r tea tl, osiitud upon Lilt
Mayor of Liverpool to osopsrate in the proposed astiesal
monument to the late Prism Consort. The feeling of the
council, though in favour of a local mosumeot, was opposed
to the subecriptioes being sent to Loodos. After some dis-
mal= a committee wag appointed to take charge of the
sad the probability is that a resolution pawed by
the esiamil in 18.51, to erect Salmi of her Majesty and the
Prime at St. George's-hall, will be carried into effect.
MAIM= COLLIERY RELIEF FOND. During
meteeday the selaniptions for the sufferers by the late mei
ilea at Hartley Colliery continued to paerbsias
Massie-Horse, if anything to • greater exhort lira es OW
review day. The total amount received &deg Ida dip
was 1.1001.. Seberription lists have been opemsdlia Lemma
for the pigpen of affording the public of that Mem es of
potter* of contributing to the fund. A very amillemble
enamel Ins already bees subscribed, and as the sympathy
with the poor people h anivereal, there is every probability
of a very large elm beieg collected.
The dreadful catastrophe at Hartley Colliery bee
molted scarcely ISM emptily in Paris than in Fogiesd.
We (Gefigsasi) hem received applications inquiring haw
costributions eta to traamaitted for the relief of the find,
Iles left UDFOViilli he by the victims. Any lams that
may be sent tow we shell take ewe to forward to the
proper quirts., and we have she to state that rase:lom
for the same bewevelest purpose have been opened at flee
hankies. homes of Messrs. E. Blount and MM. MAD
Witt*.
THE QrFIEN'S COLLEGE, BIRMINGMAIL—The hip
lowing liberal donations have been recently forwarded le
Mr. itands Cox towards the liquidation of the bad*
labia and other lade liabilities of Usti:allege : Ike Mr
face of the Usiversity of 'Cambridge, the Date el
Demewh 901. ; the Earl of Dortmouth,lol.; the Xrd
ef Ayieeford, 101. ,• the Earl of Claresdas, 10L the
Tart of Powis, let ; the Earl of Harrowby, lif. a
the Bed Hew. 151. ; the Earl Duce, 10/. ; the Bid of
Dairy, ; the Lewd Liestenant, Lon/ Leigh. Ski Mr
T. Mooed h, Dart., 51. ; Xs R.
"sq. Hamilton: la.Weibm
11. aressbedm ,U. Ill4or-Oesseral Whyte,
X 11. Donlon. deq., 101. ; O. N. Ne 11,4,
101.
livattwo CLEW AT KING'S COLLSOL —This
semiegelmem at KM& Dollar) re-oilseed after the MAM-
MY Milatiss se the Inth MM., sad the esteem in which
*.y are het
IS thews by the fact that elms the commesoe•
Ms& ei the semi= is October 695 reser ate eft
weriverrills beim availed themselves of the Jesuitry@ Mos
adiespied Owes. mid the number is bees &kik* imerreeid.
The evenis *Meets have admission to all the privilege'
arid silmaleges eels
by marimbas& Medea& They
may =admits I they se, sad, miter prom, course
d sturVt_ beams desee They haws Xs use of sacs
eeting Mirry—a mgt
leer to nosy yang sies—esey
ova mirk asildosji:
~sshaiedige with lite rireilified Modiste el the
• smilueltise ef the rasp ham made the meet Morel
errempmmle far the iredhce of theme Amok sad it Is yeti-
hiss to ited lira the aliseart the made to clad to
the -yoneg use of loam the admires@
_at a unbends,
adoration to the orealed has hem eampletely seeneetul.—
Tines
Royaa Inemernon.--On Saturday bat the Rev.
Alm. J. D. Mew, el OandAdm, delivered the bare-
dummy blew to a seem es the leglish lampiegt,
_to be
costliest rely sateirdey. The laden was livid,* limo
two yew* the land trastikld the Imre et mesperative
diempeeppd by ad develops& W Dris=
Cralisseldess. Mies X awl Wain ; tie
thew* the pies* eimevied W &gbh is the lair
body el berres. likeaveteee err Mei=
=red ekes. Ike The Oaths historical nape, sad • pees
el Bibles is seedy ell the European ierramwea
There wee a swairces theilkass.

CU Court. .
OSBORNE, 7

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