The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-22 00:00:00

OF THE FLORIDA.

The following letter on British violations of neu-
trality appears in the North American and L ,ited
Status Gautk :
Sir,—l have just read an article extracted from the
Begun Ad vcrtistr, and ascribed to a statesmau of the
highest eminence, citing a long list of violation' of nee-
trelity committed by Great Britain, as a retort to the corn-
manta of the British prom in the case of the Florida.
The writer appears to have been diligent in exploring
historical antiquity, and to have been led by hie rematches
even into times when you were English citizens, proud of
the name, and when the shame of English dishoeour fell oa
you. I will not venture to discuss the cases individually,
not having the proper means of reference as band. day
candid reader will, I think, see that a pretty strenuous
effort has been made to press rather reluctant auxiliaries
into the service. The seizure of the Danish fleet, for ex-
ample, betides being a somewhat stale indictment, cannot
be cited in answer to a charge of violating a neutral port.
It was, if anything, t are of commencing war without
good cause and proper deolasstion. If the author of the
article will turn to the papers on the subject in Coleridge
"Friend," he will see the act defended on grounds of the
highest morality by a publicist who was opposed to it as •
matter of policy, and who was certainly not a vulgar flat-
terer of the protons of his countrymen, nor regardless ot
the moral law.

The general remark which I wish to make is, that of all
the oases not one morally pertinent falls within the last
hall °eatery. The only two pretended instances within
this period are the burning of the Caroline and the seizure
of the Banta Cruz. The burning of the Woline was not
in any moral sense a violation of a neutral port. It Wag
an incident in an irregular border war, broeght on by tie
interference of American sympathisers in the Canadian re
hellion. The Sent Cruz was alleged, as the writer states.
to be engaged in the slave trade, and was seized, Dot from
say motive of national interest, or in any spirit of aggres.
sion, but in exercise of the high polio, of natiora. Tte
exercise of this high police is a delicate matter, and is pretty
run to lead to some disputable acts, which, however, if done
in good faith, will not taint the general morality of tie
nation.

It is during the last half century, and since the conclusion
of the Napoleonic wan, that moral sentiment has made its
greatest progress oo the subject of national rights and obli-
gation-, and especially in regard to the rights of the weaker
nations. No one acquainted with the tone of European
morality would believe a government capable now of doing
what governments were capable of doing in the time of the
Frooch Convention. Yon are citing deeds done in compa-
rative darkneu, to warrant you Maiming against meridian
light. The last great precedent in the isternatioaal history
of England is the voluntary cession of the lonian Island;
which had been put into her pomades half • century
before. Such an act proves, in the eyes of all candid judges,
that the old age of aggreesion and violence, with all Its pie.
oadenta, is rapidly being numbered with the past.
As charges against English honour, cases half a century
old are irrelevant. You nowt push the figurative per
venality of a nation so far. Scarcely an Englishman is alive
who could by any passibility have been implicated in the
capture of the Essex, and no man believes that, if that act
' was what it is represented on your side to have
been, there is • single Englishman at the present
time capable of resenting to its perpetration. In the coun-
sels of Providence the sins of the fathers are Tinted on the
children—but, before a human tribunal, the sins of the
fathers must be ratified by the children before they can be
laid to their door. When praising the liberty of councilmen
enjoyed in this country, I have encountered the objection
that the New Englanders persecuted the Quakers ; but I
have not paid much respect to the objection.
It is not to be forgotten, either, that risco the time referred
to, the English parliament has bees reformed, and something
II like the sentiment of the nation has begun to prevail is the
counsels of our government. Before that time we were
ruled by an oligarchy, whose proceedings were sometimes
as violent abroad as their government was oppressive at
home. Legally, of course, this change does not affect our
identity or our continuous responsibility as • nation, bat
morally it don. And you have need yourselves of the same
equitable consideration. You would be sorry to be taxed as
a free nation with all the international acts of your lets
slave-owning government. I might, perhaps, from the
history of those seta, cull the materials of • retort to the
writer is the Bestow ddrcriiser. But Ido not wish to he
familiar with the criminal records of nations. Let the dead
put bury its dad—and let us, as wisdom and generosity
alike prescribe, rejoice in the improved morality of the
living.
Suppose England to be bad as you will—to be as bees as
your fathers thought her glorious—it is not in the presence
of England aloes that you stand in deciding between honour
sad dishooonr. It is in presence of the whole nom.
musity of nations, sad those who, instead of recalling to
your minds at this most critical moment of your moral life
the high principles of civilised morality sad the brighter
examples of your own history, divert your eyes to the had
precedents of evil times, conspire, however unintentionally.
with that one of the two contending voices in the national
breast which tempts you to take the downward path. There
is • certain clam of questions which, when an honoursbls
man is called upon to decide In his own case, he puts all
equivocal precedes:is and everything else behind him but
the thought of hie own honour.—l am, to.,

GOLDWIN Sxrru.

THE ALLEGED CRIMINAL ANSACLT ON THE Lox.
DOH AND SOUTH WESIRRNRAILWAY.—Yestarday morning,
James Swain., 45, appeared on his own recognieances of
1001. and those of two sureties of 501. each, before the Hos.
E. B. Wrottesley and Mr. George Friend Whitely, at the
Sessions House, Richmood, to anelier • charge of criminally
assaulting • young lady on Tuesday evening, the 13th,
while travelling from Waterloo to RichmobiL Mr. Paine,
of Reading, appeared for the deferdaut, and Mr. Bent, the
superintendent of police, was present on behalf of the
South Western Railway Company. The depositions takes
as Wednesday last, before the same magistrates, were reed,
and were to the effect that the accused was arrested at the
Rich mood stenos on the Tuesday evening ; that when the
train came into the station a gentleman was observed cling.
ins to one of the carrt .ag. es, as he stood on the step, and
cryieg out "Murder ! • Polioe !" The door of the car-
nage was open. A constants in the employ of the com-
pany rushed to the carnage, which was • seeood•clame
one, and saw a man struggling with a young lady, who
was in a fainting condition. The offender was drunk.
Mr. Paine eddnsied the beech for the defendant, who
be said had been married 22 years, and was • most re.
specteble man. He had been at Rotberhithe on the 13th,
and met with • gentleman to wham be sold several bargee.
After this transaction be took wine with him, sod tnat
being a drink to which be was not maustowed it bad
an effect upon him. When he left Waterloo in the even-
ing be bad in his pocket-book two 101. notes. Oa his way
he fell asleep, and wakiog up suddenly, at the Richmond
Station, be discovered that the hook was not in his pocket.
Acting on the impulse of the moment be seized the young
lady sitting near him, not exactly in the meatier described.
but placing one hand on Um side where her pocket would
be and the other on her shoulder. These wore the real
circuinsteemee which led to the prisoner being takes into
custody. On the arrival of the train at Fullam the pocket-
book was found with the contents in the carriage all
right, and it had been returned. The Bench mid they
were disposed to deal with the case ea one of drunkenoese
and disorderly conduct, and would indict • fine of 40,. and
costs. The penalty was paid, and the defendant left the
mut.

DEATH FROM THE FIJ ES or CH ARCOA L —Last
evening Dr. Lankeeter held an inquest at the Slamelon
Tower, Cerlton.road, Kentish.town, on the body of Mr.
Ebenezer Walker, egad 11 years, a master builder, of 91,
Carlton•street, who was suffocated in Isis bedroom through
the fumes proceeding from • charcoal stove. Mrs. Anne
Walker, widow of the deceased. said, that on Sunday night
but at ll o'clock her husband, in order to warm the bed-
room, caused • charcoal stove to he placed therein, and the
register of the stove to be closed, through fear of draught.
About 12 o'clock they west to bed, and soon west to steep.
She usually rose at seven, but on the Monday morning she
did sot awake till twelve ; then Iselin very drowsy and ill.
She turned and looked at bee husband, who appeared to be
asleep, but she afterwards totted be was deed. Mr. Denial
Slimy, surgeon depend to being called to the deceased,
who bad beep dead for many hours. On a subsequent
examination be foetid that the comae of death was sutfoca-
tioa arising from the fumes of the charcoal tire, there being
In the room no means by which the foul air could escape.
The jury returned a weeded accordingly.
ORTHEAL PALMS. ON. timunte Dee.
WEDNESDAY. Dec. 2L—Aaisialioas on mufti, 1,226;
Mao by moos tickets. 1,239; Wel. 2,475.