The Express.
London, England, 1865-12-23 00:00:00

ENGLAND AND THE UNITED STATES.

A series of twelve official documents, which
have been exchanged between Mr. C. F. Adarns,the America
Minister in London, andlber Britannic Majesty's Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs, on the subject of the late
cruiser Shenandoah, were published last night in a
supplement to the London Gazette, in continuation of the
correapondeace on this subject which was published on
the 11th ult.
The first of these oommanications is from Mr. Adams to
Earl Russell, and is dated= the 21st of October Let. In
it the American Minister takes occasion to specifically state
that, " in view of the origin, equipment. and manning of
that vessel (Shenandoah), my government claims to look
to that of Great Britain for indemoificatiort for this and
other losses that have been occasioned by her depre-
dations." Mr. Adams then recapitulates at length
the presumed facts of the cue, and argue in sup-
port of the position his government had assumed. Oa
the 25th of October Earl Russell acknowledged receipt ot
this commutation in the briefest terms ; and on the 7th
of November, when Mr. Adams's next letter was dated,
it was addressed to Loed Clarendon, who had just unmet
dam This letter officially communicated to the Foreign
Secretary the news that the Shenandoah bad oome into the
Mersey, and her Majesty's government was requested to
lake periodos of the ship with the view of delivering
her over to the United States, that her career of lawless.
seem might be surely brought to • close ; end that the
property on board might be taken ease of. Concerning
the disposition of the crew, Mr. Adams expressed the
hope that under the circumstances her Majesty's govern
maul "will be induced voluntarily to adopt that which
may most satisfy my countrymen." To this last letter,
Lord Clarendon replied on the 11th of November, having
simply acknowledged receiving it on the 7th. After
informing Mr. Adams that on the previous day (the
10th), the Shenandoah, which had been given up by her
captain to the British naval authorities bad by
them been formally delivered to the representative
of the United Statile, Lord Clareadon goes ca
to state that there were &event severe
cases of DI.
sees among the crew of the Shenandoah ; and that instant
action for disposing of those on board appeared to hint
heoesiary. That soy proceedings against these men could
only be taken upon some definite charge of an offence
cognisable by British law, and supported by evidence, and
that in the absence of such charge her Majesty's govern-
meat could not assume the power of keeping any of them
under soy kind of restraint. But the government did not
possess evidence to Invalidate the assertions
of Captain Waddell, idioms report upon arrival (elrestly
published) Lord Clarendon enclosed. It remained, however,
to ascertain whether any of the crew were British 'abject:.
who would, is thatches, be liable under the moveless of
the Foreign Ealidment Act, "In pursuance of these in-
structions the senior naval officer at Liverpool at once pro-
ceeded on board the Shenandoah, and having mustered the
crew, he reports himself to have been " fully satisfied that
they were all foreigner' sod that there were none known to
be British-born subject; on board ; whereupon they were all
landed with their effects."
Mr. Adams wrote on the 14th of the same month, stating
that the prompt delivering up of the Shenandoah to the
United States would " give great satisfaction to my govern-
ment," but affirming that as regarded the rouses of the
crew, he should "carefully abstain from any unauthorised
word of mine which might tend to make a situation
already much too grave still more serious." On the
18th of November the Earl of Clarendon replied to Mr.
Adams's communication of the 21st October, in which
the American minister enunciated the claim of his
government for indemnification from loose" resulting from
the cruise of the Shenandoah. His lordship argued that
the circumstances of the vessel's equipment were not
ia suc
ea h
in the eye of the Eogiish law, or, ueetly, the
view of the English govvroment, conseqld be regarded cou
lea illegal. Alluding pointedly to Mr. Adams's assertion
I that her Majesty's government hatter b re.
I °riving the Shenandoah into port after knowing
of her origin and manner of outfitting, assumed
1 • responsibility for all the damage done, Lord Clarendon
says 'lf I needed (which in this case Ido not) to find
as answer to • claim founded upon such principles. I should
have to seek no further than the records of recent American
law,and the practice of modern American statesmen."
0e the same day (November Pt), Mr. Adams addrested
Lord Clarendon, Iregioning his letter with • statement of
" the most profound regret that I am thus com-
pelled to open my relation; with your lordship in •
spirit of controversy." The letter was in reply to that
one of Earl Rmasell's dated the 2od November (pub-
lished with the first portion of this correspondence on the
11th ult.), in which his lordship argued against the liability
of Great Britain on this question, from the precedent nego-
tiations of the government of the United States with the
government of Portugal, en a like occasios. Mr. Adams
now maintained that the respective action of the United
States towards Portugal, and of Great Britain towards the
United States, differed so essentially and radically as to
make it impossible
two lettere to bring them within a namable
parallel. The which conclude the series see
appended.

HL ADAMS TO THE EARL OF CLARENDON.
Eltsosived November 21, 1865.1
Legation of the United States, London,
November 21.1865.
My Lord,—l have the honour to inform "our lordship
that the notes elicited by the proposal for a commission to
consider certain classes of claims growing out of the late
difficulties in the United States, made by your pre'
depositor, the Right Honourable Earl Russell, in his
letter addressed to me on the 311th of August
last, have received the careful consideration of my
government. Adhering, as my government does, to the
opinion that the claims it has presented, which his lordship
has thought fit, at the ontset,to exclude from consideration,
are kart and reasonable, I am instructed to say that it was
now no occasion for further delay in aiviog a full answer to
his lordship's proposition. I sus directed, therefore, to
Inform your lordship thattbe proposition of her Majesty's
meat for the creating of a joint commission is respect'
rnvll7;sclined. I pray your lordship to accept the men.
mess of the highest oonaidastiori with which I have, Ise.,
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

THE EARL OF CLARENDON TO n ADAMS.
Foreign-office, December 2,1863.
Sir,— I have the honour to acknowledp the receipt of
your letter of the 18th ultimo, having reference to the
letter which my predeseesor addressed to you on the 3rd
ultimo. There are many statements In your letter which I
should be prepared to controvert if it were not that hoe
Majesty's government consider that no advantage can M.
stilt from prolonging the controversy, of which the topic*
are generally exhausted, but which might possibly, if con.
Cooed, introduce acrimony into the relations between
this country and the United States ; two =Aims who
from kindred, origin, and mutual interest, should
desire to be knit together by bonds of the closest
friendship. Such a desire is strongly felt by the
government and people of this country, and her Majesty's
government do not doubt that it is shared by the govern'
merit and people of the Malted States. While abstaininj
therefore from any discussion of the passages in your letter
to the correctness of which I am unable to subscribe, it is
noverthelaws my duty in closing this correspondence to ob.
sena that no armed vessel departed during tlt• war from •
British port to cruise spinet the 0011:111111100 of the United
States, and to maintain that throughout all the difficulties
of the well war by which the United States have lately bees
distracted, brain the termination of which no nation rejoices
more cordially then Great Britain, the British government
have steadily and honestly discharged all the duties locum.
bent on them as • neutral power, and have weer deviated
from the obligatiose imposed on them by iateroatiosal
I—l ke. Ciruxixo.