The Express.
London, England, 1864-05-16 00:00:00

THE SHIPOWNERS OP LIVERPOOL AND 7HZ

FOREIGN ENLISTMENT ACT.
The following petition has been signed by all but
one of those who signed the memorial last year, end by
other shipowners, together representing an enormona pro-
portion of the teenage of the port of Liverpool ; sad in-
cluding the present and two former chairmen of the Liver-
pool Shipowners' Amociatioe, and the firms of the present
and preceding chairmen of the Mersey Docks end Har-
bour Board. It bee been forwarded to Mr. Hondall for
preeentation.
"To TUB HON. ma COMMONS OF TBZ UNITED KINGDOM
OF GREAT BRITAIN AND INMAN% IN PARLIAMENT As.
RIMBLID.
"TM petition of the undenigned shipowners of Liverpool
alteweth _ _

"Thai your petitioners who are deeply interested in
British shipping (and many of whom memorialised Earl
Rarell, her Majesty's Principal Secretary for Foreign
Affairs, to this same effect on the 9th al June, 1863), view
with dome y the probable future consequences of a state of
affairs which permits, a foreign belligerent to construct in
and send to ma from British ports vessels of war, it costes-
relation of the provisions of the misting law.
" That the immediate effect of prong at the disposal of
that foreign belligerent a very small camber of steam
cruiser has been to paralyse the mercantile towns of a
powerful maritime and meal nation, inflicting within a few
months losses direct and indirect on its shipowning and
mercantile intends which year of paws may prove made-
quite to retrieve.
" That your petitioner cannot shut their eyes to the pro-
tobility that in any future war between England and a
foreign power, however imigeitrant in naval strength, the
maniple sow set by subjects of bar Majesty while England
is neutral may be followed by citizens of other countries,
sent& wino England is belligerest.
" That the experience of late events has moved to the
eileVietioll of your petitioners that the parsnip° by a
belligerent of swift steam cruisers, under no amnesty,
actual or comentional, to visit the possibly blockaded borne
pone of that belligereet, but able to obtain all requisite
sunken from neutrals, will become a weapon of offerer
against which no preponderance of naval strength ma
effectually guard, and the severity of which will be felt
is the ratio of the shipping and mercantile wealth of the
adios spinet whose mercantile marine the efforts al those
steam cruisers may be directed.
" That the effect of futon war with any power thus
enabled to purchase, prepare, and refit vessels of war in
neutral ports, will inevitably be to treader to neutral flap
that portion of the sea-carrying trade of the world which r
now enjoyed by your petitioners and by other British skip
owners.

•
That over and above the chance' of pecuniary lose to
thenseelvee, your petitioners share in the regret with which
a law-ravrthog community must naturally look on "oozes.-
ful attempts to evade the provisions of as act of parlimmt
CVfor a mingle and simple porno's, but wbith bee been
ed to not give the executive all the power needed for
its effective execution.

"That if the existing law be found ineufficiont far the
orZryour petitiooers would respectfully urge upon your
' nee the expediency of raeti'sio the introluction
of such amendmeota in the Foreign Falistmont Act as
may have the effect of giving greater power to the execu-
tive to ent the construction in British ports of ships
de+tieed for the use of belligereate ; and your petitknees
would further suggest to your bon. homes the importance of
mideavouring through her Majesty's governmeut to secure
the areal of the governments of the United States of
America and of other foreign countries to the adoption of
similar mutations in those coaatries also."

A naval general court-martial at New York beta
untamed Admiral Wilkes to public reprimand and sus-
pension from service for three year/. The charges preferred
•gainet the admiral were disobedience of orders, neglect of
duty, conduct unbecoming an officer, and disrespectful
language towards hi superior officer. Us was found
guilty under each specification.

- Tits WAR tit Nnw ZEALAND. —A supplement
to the Low** Gazette was published on Saturday, «retain-
legs series of despatches detailing the operations of the war
In New Zealand. The following is the nominal return of
killed and wounded of the troops at Potence. New
Zealand, February 8 andB:-40th Corp—Privates William
Carman, contusion of the left side, slight ; Wiltiem Bar. ridge, gunshot wound of right arm, ball passed
severe; Henry Fleming,gunshot wound of right tthereZt,
some, ball ; William evertor, gunshot wound
through the neck with injury to the spine ;
died February 11 ; Corporal Thomas Rydou, Fides=
third tee right foot ; slight ; wounded on the 9th instant
The following is the nominal return of killed and wounded
of the troops at Rangiawhis, February 21 :-65th
.Corpe—
Privates Charles Askew, bullet wound. entering mitt eye,
pulsing out behind left ear, died February 25 ; William
Smith, wounded by slugs in face, severe. Colonial Defence
Corps—Lieut.-Colonel Nixon, gunshot wound of cheer,
lunge injured, dangerous ; Corporal Alexander, gunshot
wound of head, died February 21 ; Privates Alex. /Paoli,
gunshot wound of bead, died February 21 ; Brady,
gunshot wound of band, slight ; Corporal Done, gunshot
wound of body ; severe. Forest Done, gunshot
John
&Mende, gunabot wound of abdornes ; dangerous