The Express.
London, England, 1863-06-25 00:00:00

%She erprefsfi.

petrated them would be violating neutrality. le the
case of the Alabama it seems sbat the law 4E0.3111
of the Crown were entirely mistaken. Both in
the correspondence with the American Minister
and in the House of Commons no attempt was
made to deny that there had been a viola-
tion of the Act of Parliament. All that was
attempted was to show that the Government had
been deceived, and that the ship had unfortunately
escaped. Indeed, so strong was the opinion of the
law officers that an order was despatched to
stop the Alabama if she should happen to toueh
at any British port. Nor is this all. If the
Loan CHIRP' BARON correct, the whole diplo-
matic action of the British Government has been a
series of mistakes during the last 80 years and more.
The demands made by the British Government
upon the American Government even within the
last ten years have been extravagant and unjus-
fiable. And the readiness with which the Ame-
rican. Government has complied with our demands
to stop the equipment of such vessels as the
Alabama in American harbours has been utterly
mistaken. These are startling results. It is true
thatnodecision upon the constructionof the Foreign
Enlistment Act is to be found in the records of any of
our courta. It may be that when the question
comes to be solemnly argued before the full Bench
the judgment of the CHIEF BARON may be over-
ruled. If it be supported, the consequence to this
country in any future war may be more serious
than many people in the heat of the present con-
troversy seem to anticipate.

TO CORIOSPONDIMTS.
avertfeeeleata Intemied for . The liapeese" food= Inside
mast De at the aloe, 10. Houverwetreet. hY Two
:=lf oa the day of pabbeattes.

HAYMARKET.
T Erman). AN UNLUCKY MORTAL Miss Harris.
—rnrusii. biros. A. Wigan. Howe. fineksione. Gordon,
sod lksrren; Mrn A. When. Mu. Wilkins. Miss L AnseL—
EASY SHAVING.—And TER STAR OF ANDALUSIA.

nriworms.
Tao Swum, COUSIN TOM —COURP AND CAMP.
Messrs. 0. Vinton, Verner, H. Marston, Belmore. Murray,
and Ward.; Weems Murray, 1. Waal,. end Lydia ThOillPo.ll.
p—Amd A CHARMING PAIL Mr. Itoaby and Mrs. H. Marston.

LYCEUM.
TKO trumps, A SUDDEN ATTACK. Mews. Shore and
tWiddloomb ; Mina ilearade and Mn. Lee.—Ant TUN DUKKS
MOTTO. Mean. reenter, Snore. Brougban‘ and Raymond
r Seam C. Lecleccq, K. Terry. and Zanwarthy.

BATTANHIA.
Tfrill Symms), lin WISHING OLIN or, Sphita of the
Departed! letrodwing THE GHOST, with PT010•101. TePPar a
adaptatloa ot Mr. Dlrekae 404:sir& Illusion.—The Brothers
Coorsde.—And THE DAUGHTIZ OF NICIBT.

men WALTZR AT LONDON WWI.
TIM DAT —ATarninot. 711. Ationawa. Bi. 13s.
to-Noasow—Ncestair. to. .11/israsso. 9.. ME.

LONDON, THURSDAY, JUNE 25.

Arrna a trial of three days' duration a jury has
decided that there has been no violation of the
Foreign Enlistment Act in the case of the Alex-
andra. It must not be assumed that this decision
•is final ; for both the ATTORNEY-GENERAL on the
part of the Crown, and Sir III:on CAIRNS on the
part of the defendants, have tendered what is
technically called a Bill of Exceptions, so that the
Courts will, notwithstanding the verdict, be called
upon to determine whether the Chief Baron Porn
LOCK'S view of the law is correct. It may possibly
come to pass that Sir F. POLLOCK'S ruling will
be overruled, and thus the whole case will have
to be re-argued. It is also possible that the ruling
may be upheld. In the meantime it is important
that the public should know in what 'position this
country stands as between rival belligerents, and
what ire the obligations imposed upon the mer-
chants in this country towards the North and the
South.

Wan= Orrio4AikalNum..-

PORTUGAL.

The simple question which the jury had to
decide was whether the Crown had produced evi-
dence sufficient to show that the Alexandra, now
lying in one of the docks at Liverpool, had been
equipped, furuished, fitted out, or armed, with the
intention to cruise against the Federals. Of
course, in a question of this sort, the first thing
to ascertain is what is prohibited by the stitute.
The officers of the Crown thought that if they
could show that the Confederate Government had
agents in the port of Liverpool, and that these agents
were engaged in superintending the building of a
man-of-war for that Government, a case would be
made out. It probably seemed clear to the law
officers of the Crown that if one of two belligerents
were allowed to use the porta of this country for
the purpose of preparing hostile measures against
the other belligerent, the British Government
would be held responsible for violating their
neutral duties. Whether the evidence adduced
in the case of the Alexandra was or was
not sufficient to establish her guilt may be
doubtful, but at all events, under present cir-
cumstances, such a question is immaterial. This
is the necessary result of the opinion delivered by
the LORD CHIEF BARON. For even if the ATTOR-
NEY-GENERAL had proved all that he professed to
prove, the Alexandra, according to that Learned
Judge, must have been acquitted. What, then,
is the law laid down by Sir F. POLLOCK I. He
says that the object of the Foreign Enlistment
Act was to prevent the ports of this country being
made the seat of hostile armaments. He says that
in time of war there is no objection to either belli-
gerent sending any number of agents to this coun-
try—making any number of contracts for the
building of men-of-war, and for the supply of any
number of guns. Nay, there is no objection to
the merchants of this country selling a man-
of-war fully armed to either belligerent.
The only prohibition is, that a fully armed ship of
war shall not proceed from the porta of this country
with the distinct intention of committing depreda-
tions on another belligerent. In short, according to
the Loan CHIEF BARON, there can be no violation of
the Foreign Enlistment Act—there can be no breach
of neutrality—unless the man-of-war which is
charged with the intention of cruising against one
of the belligerents, has been armed in a port of this
country. This may seem a startling doctrine, and
diametrically opposed to the laws and doctrines
of neutrality admitted in other countries ; but the
CHIEF BARON does not shrink from the conse-
quences to which his opinion of necessity leads.
According to him there was nothing whatever
illegal in the case of the Alabama. That vessel
" left Liverpool unequipped, unarmed, and u a
" simple ship she committed no unlawful act." It
is true that she was converted into a ship of
war, and armed at Terceira ; but, as the
Clime Resort told the jnry, Terceira is not within
the QUEEN% dominions, and therefore the jury
had nothing to do with any such circumetance.
If this be a correct statement of the law, the
course of the Confederates during the present
crisis is very obvious. Let them order a fleet of
forty or a hundred men-of-war to be built in the
porta of the United Kingdom—let them order any
number of guns and any quantity of ammunition
from different, or even from the same, manufac-
turers—let these men-of-war be sent four or five
miles beyond the coast, and there let them await
the arrival of their guns and their ammunition.
Thus fully armed and equipped, let them proceed
to commit depredations upon Federal commerce.
Hitherto, indeed, it has been considered that such
acts would be unlawful, and that those who per-

THURSDAY, JONI DS, 8 A.M.

N.W. to N.E., mode-
rate, fine.
Al next above.

I.IIA3ILIBLI

W.FILANCL

&W./WOUND.

N. to L. moderate to &L ZAOLLIM.
light, tine.
N.W. to N.L, mode- L COMM.
rid', Inc

44'

!AP'

TUE tXPRESS, THURSDAY RitifiqlNG, JUNE 25, c..1.86.•-f:'

RUSSIAN SPECULATIONS ON /WAR WITH
ENGLAND.

We read in the Moscow Goocac :
All the commerce of England is on the sea. Thirty
thousand merchant Tames convey on the ocean English
property which Mr. Cobden estimates at 100 to 120 millions
sterling. The course which these ships follow in the
Atlantic, as well as on the 'lndian Ocean and the
Pacific, is so well defined, thanks to the indica-
tions of Captain Maury, that it 12 like a high
road. That power which, traversing these parts,
should seise English vessels appearing there would deal
terrible blow at British commerce, and this is whet our
sailors and vessels of war would be perfectly able to do in
case of a war with England. A vast field for their
activity would then be open to our vessels with-
out presenting any very great darters. The space is
such that the pursuit of an enterprising cruiser would
be very difficult, and a good captain could destroy
scores of cargoes without having to engage in combat.
During the war in the East, after the affair of Petropaulow-
ski, an American merchant ship, on its arrival at Shanghai,
announced that it had been stopped at see, by • Russian
frigate, and that it was only released in consequence of it.
American nationality being proved by the papers
on board. The rumour of this affair spread
the commercial world, and the merchants in the
L Chinese ports would only entrust their merchandise
to American vessels. Hong Koog at once expected an
attack from the Russian fleet. Admiral Sir J. Stirling,
commanding the English naval force in those regions, was
unable to comply with all the demands for escort which
were addressed to him. The rumour was, however, false ;
there was not then • single Russian ship at sea. If a false
report led to such a panic, what would be the effect pro-
duced by twenty or thirty of our cruisers

(mani's Tzurawts.)
RUSSIA.
SPPLIN, Julys 26.

Private letters received here from St. Peters-
burg abate that an imperial ukase authorises the
issue of notes to the amount of ten millions of
roubles in order to cover the deficit and the addi-
tional expenditure which has been caused by the
insurrection in Poland.

PARIS. Jusz.2s.

A private telegram from Constantinople, dated
the 24th inst., received here to-day, announces that,
by order of the Emperor of Russia, K de Novi-
koff, councillor of state, has communicated his
Majesty's thanks to the Sultan for having sent the
governors of Trebizond to congratulate the Grand
Duke Michael on his journey to the Caucasus.

LISBON, Jon 18.

In the Chamber of Peers, the Minister of Finance
has replied to a question respecting the determina-
tion of the government as regards the tobaooo
contract. The minister said that at present he did
not consider the contract would be again put on the
market, but that in January next a decided step
would be taken.
The government has ratified the contract with
M. Debrousse for the construction of a railway to
Cintra, and docks for the port of Lisbon.
The railway from Lisbon to Badajoz is finished,
and the entire line will soon be opened for traffic.
The Portuguese press continue to animadvert
largely on the Anglo-Brazilian question, and without
a single exception the tone is entirely against the
attitude England has taken throughout the affair.
The news from the Azores notices that sugar is
being largely planted in the island of Terceira.
The American corvette St. Louis is in port.
Seuhor Thomas Maria Bessone, who has for many
years held rank as one of the chief Lisbon merchants,
has failed. The liabilities are said to be very
heavy, the Bank of Portugal being the largest
creditor, its debt being some 90,0001. un-
secured. Most of the other creditors are said
to bold securities. It appears that Senhor
Beaune some time ago became surety for the
agent of the Bank of Portugal, in Rio de Janeiro,
who was besides his own agent, and the bank-
ruptcy of this party making Senbor Bessone liable
for a very large amount has caused him to sur-
render to his creditors.
Business dull, and the transactions in exchanges
are limited. London, 90 days, 531 ; Hamburg,
48 ; Genoa, 535 ; Paris, 530 ; Bantu, 481 ;
Coupons, 481 ; Bank of Portugal shares, 555 ;
Oporto, 256.

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE HAMMONIA.

SOUTHAMPTON, dozrz 25.

The Hamburg and. American Company's steamer
Hammonia, from New York on the 13th instant,
has arrived off Cowes.

She brings 141 passengers for Hamburg, Havre,
and this port, and 150,000 dole. in specie for
England.
On the 16th she spoke the English barque
Rubens, bound west, and ou the 24th the Dutch
barque Peking.
Her news has been anticipated.

THE AMERICAN MAILS.
SOUTHAMPTON, Jun 25.

The North German Lloyd's steamship New
York, Captain Wank°, sailed hence yesterday for
New York direct, taking the United States mails,
68 paasengers, and a general cargo, in:luding jew-
ellery from Havre, value 62,460 fr.
On her passage from Bremen the New York spoke,
off North Foreland, the Hamburg brig No. 310,
bound west.

The North German Lloyd's new steamer America
arrived at New York, all well, at 6 a.m. on the
7th, after a run of little over ten days from South-
ampton. She sailed from New York on the 20th,
and may be expected off Cowea ou the Ist July.

WEATHER REPORT.-(THIS DAY.)

18. ILID.I W. IL x. Q. LILIB. I.
1 1.---'
----1— —, . ---1— -
Nairn 29.93,54 6 1 N.W. 14 14 16 c, - 2
Aberdeen 2&95110, 61 B.W. , 4 4 16 b 1 1 006, 2
Leith 3602 61! 6 W. '3l 3 34 c; 1 0.00, 2
A262.3~ 30.06.67 2 1 B.W. g 4 220 c' 5 0.16. 3
Oreeacastle 30.07,66. 3 W. I 2 322 c 3 0.101 2
Galway '30.2061' 3 1 W. . 1 524 6'- i 1
Q
Valueenstownenti& 10.22d1, 4 1 N. W. 11 322 c - 3
5 ,22 b - 2
Ihlekb 30.09 60.30.2066 ;5 ' W.B. 3
W. 2 2 122 b -' 2
rkarboro.ogb 10.05 62 4 1 N.W. !1 12 116 b - 1
Liverpool •40.14 60 6 1 W.N.W. 1 3 3 123 c. - 1
ikaybead lBo.l3ao' 3 W.S.W. , 2 4 18 b -I 2
Pembroke —0.19 57. 4 i N. W. ; 1 224 b,- 1 1
P• 33.65134 .24 65 1 . N.N.W. ' 3 532 c -' 2
Breit
I:Orient. _10.16 59 3 N.N.W. 3 532 01 - 2
Bayonn e - - - - i
Plymouth 30.21 62 7 WW.N.W.I 4622 - • g 3
Weymouth 30.1661 6 N. W. ;S I 3 112 b 1 .0.0811
Portsmouth 30.10 6) 4 N. g3;3 30 0 2 0.171 2
London 30.10 61 4 N.N.W. S 1 1 4 0 8 0.271 -
Dover 30.06 -- N. 111 1 6 c 4 0.221 1
Yarmouth 80.08 60 1, N. !3' 4 32 0 4 10.54 2
Bolder 1 I- -
N.W.I-1 - - - -1 - -
Heligoland -10.10 63 1 . 2, 1 12 c -1— , 1
fritt!!!! 1 =l= = = =l:.=:-• = I = I:

FRIDAY. SATURDAY.
8. W. to N. W. and N.E., Boori.m. N.N.W. to L. mode.
variable, light, Rile. rate to fresh, fine.
W. to N. and E., mo- IRILAND. N. to Land B.L, treah,
dente, fine. Rue.
Aa next above. W.Carriat. N. N. W. to N.L.E
moderate, line.
As next above.

N. to L and &L, mo-
derate to fresh.
As nest above.

N.W. to N.Y. add SA,
butt to light, Atm