The Express.
London, England, 1863-04-17 00:00:00

1863.

EXPENSES OP rats DOCKYARDS.

This morning was issued the usual annual
account of the expenses incurred upon the building and re-
pairing of ships in her ajeety's dockyards, and by cataract,
in t►e financial year 1861.2. This account is prefaced by
report from the Accountant-General of the Navy, setting
forth the mode in which he has carried out the inetruc.-
Cons of the Admiralty relative to the preparatioe
of the dockyard accounts. He gates th►t in
this account (the first which has come under his
charge) every item is based upon vouchers for
materials drawn from store, and for labour applied, signed
for by the respective shipwright and factory officers in
charge of each particular work. The accountant•general
while showing the great advantages of this account allows
that it is susceptible of greet improvement, He hopes
shortly to be able to submit also an account showing the
cost of manufacturing and repairing articles of store in the
mayoral workshops and factories of the dockyards, and
another account showing the value of the stock in hand in
each dockyard on the Slat *arch last.

THE FEDERAL 00VERNHENr AND THE
SHIPPING TRADE.

DEPUTATION TO EARL RUSSELL.
A deputation of shippers and merchants inte-
rested in the Mexican trade, together with the owner, ship-
broker, and underwriter interested in the steamships Peter-
heft' and Sea Queen, waited yesterday on Earl RusselL
They were introduce; by Mr. CaawroMD, member foe Loa.
don, who first called attention to the position of the captain,
OffialTS, sod supercargoes of the Peterhoff, now in New
York. Those persons were stated to be detained on board,
and sot allowed to communicate with either the agents of
the onsets end merchants or with the British canal.
Allusion was made to the interference of the American
cruisers with our Mexican trade, sod it was mentioned
that • brisk and cootinoous trade is carried on be-
tween the United Mates end Mexico, and that ships are
daily advertised to mil from New York to Matamonui ; so
that the effect of tolerating the proceedings of the cruises
would be to suable the Americans to establish a monopoly.
The next circuities's", pointed out was that the Fadesl
government appear to assume the right to dictate whet
trade shall or shall not bo carried on by British subjects ;
and on this head the statement was then made that a policy
of insurance was attempted to be effected in Lloyd's room
yesterday, accompanied by the following certificate from Mr.
Adams, the United States' minister in London, addressed to
Admiral Dupont, commando* the Federal fleet :
" Legation of the United States, London,
April 9, 1863.
" Amid the multitude of fraudulent and dishonest enter-
pies from this kingdom to furnish supplies to the rebels in
the United States, through the pretence of a destination to
some port in Mexico, it gives me pleasure to distinguish
one which has a different and a creditable purpose. Messrs.
Howell end Zirman have furnished me with evidence,
which is perfectly eatisfactory to me, that they are really
boned to Matamoros with a cargo intended for the Mex-
icans. I therefore very cheerfully give them this 'ere-
fiesta at their request. It is not the disposition of the go-
vernment of the United States to interfere in any way with
an honest neutral trade, and it is deeply to he regretted that
the frauds which have been so extensively practised is this
country have contributed so much to throw it trader sus-
picion. " QUALM FRANCIS ADAM..
Admiral Dupont, he."
After • strong expression of opinion with regard to this
letter, Mr. Crawford continued by stating that the imme-
diate object the deputation had in view was to elicit from
her Majesty's government some assurance at protection for
the Sea Queen, now detained by the owners at Falmouth
awaiting a decision. He explained that this vomel has re-
ceived oe board her Majesty's mails, the owner being bound
by the Mercantile Marine Act to carry them, under a
penalty.
M. G. P. Hannrsc suggested that the government
send a mail agent in the ship, who would represent as
official parasites that she was bound to the port for which
she was cleared. As the only pretence given for seizure
WY • suspicion that she would run the blockade, it wee
considered that this might be a satisfactory solution of the
difficulty, and the owners and the merchants would be con-
tent to send the vessel on such conditions, bearing all the
aspens consequent on the arrangement.
Hie LO.OB/fir said he would consider the propriety of
beteg on this suggestion, and expressed his surprise at Mr.
Crawford's information respectiog the detention of the per-
sons on board the Peterhoff, they not being criminals or
subject to criminal law.
Mr. WAKI, on behalf of the brokers, offered for his
lordship's inspection the manifest of the vessel, and declared
the readiness of the merchants to guarantee that there wan
no contraband of war on board.