The Express.
London, England, 1862-02-28 00:00:00

THE BLOCKADE OF THE SOUTH AMERICAN 1
ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL. SOCIETY.
PORTS.

A parliamentary paper published to-day contains
a ors of correspondence from the British minister at Wash-
ington, the consuls in the American ports, the admiral
on the station, and the officers under his command, to the
general effect that the blockade maintained by the Federal
Feet is not effective. Lord Russell, however, declares his
opinion on the subject in the following letter :
" (No. 116.)
"EARL Resent. TO LORD LYONS.

" Foreign-office, Feb. 15.

" My Lord.—Her Majesty's government have had under
their consideration the state of the blockade of the ports
of Charleston and Wilmington.
"It appears from the reports received from her Majesty's

naval officers that, although • sufficient blockading form is
stationed off those port., v►rious ships have successfully
eluded the blockade ; • question might therefore be raised
as to whether such • blockade should be considered as
effective.

" Her Majesty's government, however, are of opinion
that, assuming that the blockade is duly notified, and also
that a number of ships is stationed and remains at the
entrance of a port, sufficient really to prevent moans to it
er to create an evident danger of entering or leaving it,
and that these ships do not voluntarily permit ingress or
egress, the fact that various ships may h►ve successfully
escaped through it (as in the particular instances here re-
ferred to) will not of itself prevent the blockade from being
as effective one by international law.

"The adequacy of the force to maintain a blockade being
always, and necessarily, a matter of fact and evidence, and
one as to which different opinions may be entertained, •
neutral state ought to exercise the greatest caution with re-
ference to the disregad of a de facto and notified blockade;
and ought not to disregard it except when it entertains • con-
viction, which is shared by neutrals generally having an
interest in the matter, that the power of blockade is abused
by • state either unable to institute or mainhin it, or un-
willing, from some motive or other, to do so.—l am, kc.,
(Signed) "Itusam."

The last of the papers in the return is the following letter
from the celebrated Mr. Mason to Earl Elwell, written in
London on the 17th inst. :

" 109, Piccadilly, Feb. 17.

"My Lord,—l have the honour to transmit to your
lordship herewith (by permissooo) returns of vassals entered
and cleared at the blockaded ports cf the Confederate States
of America at the respective dates to which they refer.
Your lordship will observe that the returns from the ports
of Charleston and Savannah are only up to the 31st
of October last ; from, New• Orleans, Mobile, Pensacola,
and Lamas, to the dates gives, in August ; and from
Wilmington till 10th September. Your lordship will far-
ther observe, that in the list from New Orleans •
large number were inland by the river Mississippi, sad
therefore involved no question of • breach of
blockade. Wishing to be perfectly frank, it may
be proper to remark also, that others from some
of the porta may have been quasi inland ; that is to
say, through the estuaries and sounds along the tout. I
state as au example, from New Orleans to Mobile, where
the route for small vessels may or may not have been
through the inland sounds. But in regard to the latter, I
do not see why the obligations of • blockade do not extend
as fully to them as by &Deese to the port from the open see.
Those enciarissas sounds are auessible by joists from the
sea, sod. if Dot guarded, the porta to which they lead may
be reached as successfully by sea-going vessels of light
draft through those channels u by • direct sea
route. That the government of the United States
so considered, is proved by the fact that the
fals•t sea communication between New Orleans and

Mobile, Charleston and Savannah, and perhaps other
Same, is claimed to be blockaded by naval forces of that
government. The transcripts herewith were those furnished
to me by my government, to be communicated to your lord-
ship. Although purporting to be copies of the original
returns, they were copies made at the proper department
at Richmond from those returns, and are therefore au.
thentic. I ask permission also to include herewith • printed
list of vessels entered and cleared at ports in Cu'o• from
and to the blockaded ports of the Confederate States.
These, for the most part, are enumerated in September;
and all for the months of November and December are,
of worse, not included in the transcripts from my govern-
ment. This paper, seat to me from Havana, wee taken from
official documents there by • gentleman of intelligence
and integrity, well known to me, and worthy of entire
reliance.' The marginal notes are of cone unofficial.
The fact (assumed) of the arrival of the vessels cleared
(at their ports of destination) wan matter of notoriety,
from the almost daily intercourse between Havana and
those ports. I have no official returns from my govern-
ment for the months of November, December, and
January, to be accounted for in the fact that until very
recently it could not be known when I might reach
London. But, as your lordship is doubtless aware,
breathe, of the blockade at most if not all of these
porta by vessels of large as well at of small toeing.,
both inward and outward-bound, have been during the
last three months, and yet are, constantly reported.—l
have, Ac., (Signed) "J. N. Mason."

A crowded meeting of this society was held on
Monday evening, Lord ASJHBUILTON. president, in the chair.
Among the accessions to the library and map-rooms since
the former meeting were " Advice to Officers in
India ;" Kennedy's " Ethnological and Linguistic
f Essays"
General Atlas by Viischer; American Atlas, Jefferys; Ad.
miralty Charts, ice. Several photographs of enclose. after
the late earthquake, were exhibited by Mr. Hinclildf ; and
diagrams illustrating Captain Bedford Pim's proposed
transit route across Central America were also exhibited.
Mr. Galton then read " Extracts from a General Report on
the Brazilian Province of the Parana," by the Hon. H. P.
Voreker, her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Rio Grande do
Sal The second paper read war "Sketch of the Present
State of the Republic of Nicaragua," by G. R. Perry, her
Majesty's Vioe-Consul for that state.
Captain Beoroao Pim, R.N., F.R.0.5., then read his
paper on "Proposed Transit Route across Central Ame.
rice. " The proposed route has its Atlantic terminus at
Monkey Point, on the coast of Mosquito, where there is a
secure anchorage formed by Gorgon Bay. The railway
would extend from Monkey Point to Sea Miguelito ou the
Lake Nicaragua, a distance of 60 or 70 miles. From San
Miguelito the new transit route crosses lake Nicaragua
and it is proposed to cut a shallow canal of 6 feet deep
through the narrow neck of land of 12 miles broad which
separates that body of water from the Pacific, and form a
Pacific terminus at Salinas Bay, a harbour of great caw.
bility. The entire length of the route would not exceed
130 miles. The author then drew attention to the commer.
cal advantages of the new route, and expressed his wish to
obtaiu all the information he could on the subject.
An interesting discussion ensued, iu which Sir Roderick
I. Murchison, Admiral Sir Edward Belcher, and Mr. Ger.
stenberg took part.
Captain Pea having replied to Mr. Gerstenberg's re-
marks, the chairman adjourned the meeting to the 10th
March next.