The Express.
London, England, 1863-04-06 00:00:00

THE SEIZURE OP BRITISH VESSEL 9 BY THE

PEDERILB.

A few days since the owners of the Peterhoff,
Springbok, and Magician steamers, which it will be remem-
bered were wiplaired by the Federal =Wears while proceed-
ing to the Mexiews port of Matamoros, addressed Earl Rav-
ioli, bar Majesty's Secretary of State for the Foreign
Department, upon the illegal character of their seizure.
Yesterday the following reply was received by the owner of
tie Springbok

" Foreigo-office, Apnl3, 1863.

"Sir,—l am now directed by Earl Ransil to make you
acquainted with the conclusion at which, having comidered
the communicable. with the law officers of the crown, your
letter of the 26th of March, requesting to be informed
'a regard to the right of British vessels to trade with
Matanicres, her Majesty's government have arrived. The
government of the United States has clearly no right to
else British vessels torso fide bound from this country, or
from any other British possession, to the ports of Van Cm
and Melamine, or either of them, or vice versa, unless such
venele attempt to touch at, or having an intermediate or
oontingeat destination to, some blockaded port or place, or
an carriers of contraband of war destined for the Conte.
dente Skates ; end in any admitted an of such unlawful
capture, her Majesty's government would feel it their duty
promptly to interfere, with a view to obtain the immediate
renitution of the ship and cargo, with full cocipessatioa,
and without the delay of proceedings in a prise court. Her
Majesty's government, however, cannot, without vio-
lating the rules of international law, claim for British
vessels navigating between Great Britain end these places
any general exemption from the belligerent right of
tattoo by the cruisers of the United States, nor me they
proceed upon any general assumption that such vaeseis
may not so act as to render their capture lawful and justifi-
able. Nothing is more common than for those who centem-
plate a breach of blockade, or the carriage of centralised, to
disguise their purpose by a simulated destination and by
deceptive papers ; and the situation of the ports on the
coed of Mexico with reference to the Corded/rate States
le such se to make it not only pomade, but in many eons
probable, that an ostensible Mexican destination would be
retorted to as a cover for objects which would really justify
capture. It hes already happened is many oases that British
meeels have been seined while engaged in voyage' apps.
rest* lawful, which vessels have afterwards been proved in
the prize courts to have bees really guilty of endeavouring to
Meek the blockade, or of carrying contraband to the Cos-
federates. It is the right of the belligerent to capture all
mem& reeseesably auspeeted of either of these tresegressioas
of laternatioeal law, and whenever any ems of rapture
is alleged the awe cannot he withdrawn' from the one-
indication of the prim court of the captor. After the case
her undergone tuvestigation, it is the ditty of the prize
court to restore any such prime ainlawfullymads, with costa
and maces. and the proper time far the isterferneas of
her Majesty'. government is, in general, when the ppeetwty•
courts have refused redress for a capture which the erfdenoe
shows to have beam unjustifiable. Her Ma 's govern-
ment cannot upon a parte etateolests deny the M
in this war the exercise of those rights which, is all wars la
which Great Britain has been concerned, she bad claimed
herself to exerciee. —I am, sir, your most obedieet servant,
"E. HANKOND."
Respecting the seizure of the Peterhoft, his lordship has
intimated that Lord Lyme has bees directed to watch the
proceedinp now piddling, and I. Ivor* to her Majady's
govarameat.