The Express.
London, England, 1868-10-08 00:00:00

OCTOBER 8,11803.

MR. LAIRD, M.P, AND 'TUB ALABAMA.
to won mime cm TO =MUM
BlR,—Thy attention of Messrs. Laird Brothers,
the builders el the Alabama, has been sailed to a leading
al Cele in your publication of the Gth instant, la which
you state that a suit hes been oommencrd in the United
States MAI ict Court against Mr. Laird, the builder of
the Alabama, by the owners of the Sonora, one of the
meerb destroyed by her.
The article further states that Mr. Laird has funds in
America.
We Rhea feel much obliged to you if you will favour us
with the autholity on which you make these statements,
inasmuch as Messrs. Laird Brothers have not received
notice of any such proceedings, and it is not the fact that
they have any funds in the United States.—We are, ko.,
NULL, STONE, and rurranut.
8, Cork-street, Liverpool, Oct. 7.

We subjoin, for the informatics of Noma Hull, &one,
and Fletober, the evidence upon which oar stateownt wee
beard

(From the Now York Theo, Sept. 24.)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT-

-
DISTRICT.
(13410 rs Judge Blatoidord.)
sa £LIDAM4—A NM ♦OLDEN Eli IeILDIS.
_ _

• libel be. been lied w thin mart ageint John Laird,
Jun., the builder of the rebel cruiser Alabensa, by John
N. Cushing and William Cushing, of Newburyport, owners
of the *hip Senora, claiming to recover 119,000 dole.
damages for the destruction of the ship by the Alabama,
in December, 1033. The libel alleges that the Alabama
was fitted out by Laird , in violation of law, for the pur-
pose of preying upon American commerce, end that he is
liable to the adapts for the damages.
An order for the attachment we. issued on application
of the libelant's proctor, and, ea we understand, friends
[funds 19 of Mr. Laird's were attached under it.
The trial of such a suit will bring up some very inte-
resting questions for decision by the court.

It will be secn by oar law rcporta this morning :that a
suit has been commenced against Kr. Laird, the builder
of the rebel privateer Alabama, by the owners of one of
the verde which she destroyed. It is claimed that she
was fitted out in violation of law, and that her owners
and builders are liable for damages sustained at her
bands. We understand that Mr. Laird had funds in
this country which were accessible, and that they have
been attached, end are held liable for whatever he may
be bold to pay. The case is novel and arse of decided
iiitertat.

Mom the Kew York Truism, of Sept. 24.)
TIIE ALABAMA CLAIMS.

While the Honourable Reverdy Johnson, our Minis-
ter to England, le endeavouring to obtain a satisfactory
settlement of all the claims of our citizens against the
Brittl government for the depredation, of the Alabama
on our commerce, Meters. John N. and William Cushing of
ewburyport, blee/L. owners of the American ship Sonora,
which was burned at sea by the Alabama, have taken
time by the forelock, and, instead of awaiting the issue
of red tape negotiations, have initiated • suit against
John Laird, jr., of Linke:ahead, England, the builder and
titter-out of the Alabama, to reoover for the lose of their
vessel. The libel has been filed in the U.S. District Court,
in Admiralty for the Southern Diitrict of New York, the
libelant seeking to recover, not for a violation of the neu-
trality laws, but for what is legally and technically known
as • 'spoliation." On the libel being filed, all the effects
of Laird, the claimant, found within this district were
attached by Marshal Murray. The libel alleges that
libelant' are the owners of the American ship Sonora;
that on the 2Gth of Decemberlbli3, while she was at sea,
on • voyage from Hong Kong, China, to Akyati,
in British India, under • charter party to deliver
cargo at the latter place and receive cargo for England,
and while in the Straits of Malacca, in latitude J dogs. N,
longitude 101 degs. F., the Alabama, which had been
wrongfully, and in direct violation of the laws of Great
Britain, tittiAl out and equipped for the purpose of prey-
ing upon American commerce, piratically destroyed the
vessel and property of the libelauts. The libelant, claim
b66OU dole., the •sille of the ship, and 4244 dohs., the
value of the charter party, in all 119,044 dole., and to
secure themselves, in case of a decision in their favour,
have attached all the effects of the claimant in the hands of
Foster and 'Thompson of this city, and in the hands of
the assistant treasurer of the U. 8., and all the proceeds
of the steamship Wren. This is the first suit of this
nature brought in the United States mince the commence-

meat of the late war, an&it involves points of the greatest
importance to our maritime interests, reaper the es-
tablishment of precedents that may have material •
upon future interpretations of the neutrality laws. U r.
Johnson should, previous to the conclusion of this suit,
obtain full indemnity for the depredations of the Ala-
bama, it would operate as en estoppel. upon the
libelants, and the British government, having satisfied
the claims of our citizens, would have—providing the
course of that government was not held to encourage the
fitting out of privateers in its ports to prey upon our com-
merce—its remedy against, and loot for reimbursement
to, the parties fitting out such vessels. A precedent for
the claims of our citizens for damages sustained by
the Alabama and other Confederate privateers, was
established subsequent to the war of 1812. Before
the commencement of that war, while England and
. .

France were engaged in hostilities against each other and
wo were at peace with both nations, French privateers
were fitted uut in the port of Baltimore—then as celebrated
for its fast clippers as the Clyde is now, and was during
the war, for its blockade runner,—to pro y upon British
commerce. British merchants presented claims through
their government, at the close of the war in 1812, for in-
demnification for their losses from the depredations of
these privateers, and these claims were allowed by our
government to be just and were satisfied.

BLECTIONIERING 1Y DErOYSHIRE.

SIR STAFFORD NORTHCOTE, M.P.

Corildderable exatememt prevailed at Cullomp-
ton, North Devon, yesterday afternoon. A numerous
body of conservative* assembled in the open air to bear
addresses from Sir Stafford Northcote and Mr. Wairond.
Amongst the audience was a band of roughs, who by their
demonstrations prevented the speakers from obtaining a
bearing. The liberal candidate, Mr. T. 1). Acland, and
his supporters were in the opposite balcony. The chair-
man (the Rev. John Huysbe), who had been 40 years •
liberal, was greeted with cries of " Tmweost," and the
roughs set up • continuous yell. Sir Stafford had a more
favourable reception, but Mr. Walrond could scarcely be
board. At the dote of the meeting Mr. Acland, who had
been charged with shirking arguments, essayed to address
the electors, but the audience would not listen. Rotten
eggs and apples were thrown, and the roughs had several
tights. The police made their appearance, and this seemed
to increase the uproar. Several persons were severely
bandied. Sir Stafford and Mr. Acland in vain endeavoured
to restore quietude, and it was not until all the candi-
dates disappeared that the audience began to disperse.
Such excitement had not been witnessed in the town for
years peat The o:ntest in North Devon will be very
severe.

Wo understand that Mr. Goldwin Smith will
deliver a locture oil "Chatham and his Timm- at the
St. George's-hall, Laugham-place, ou Wednesday, the
21st instant.

The Social Science Congress at Birmingham was
brought to a close yt Manley. The Earl of Carnar►on, at
the concluding meeting, held in the Midland institute,
reviewed generally the work that had been accomplished
during the meeting, and repeated his conviction that a
monument to the late Lord Brougham ought to be placed
in Westminster Abbey.

A further advance was obtained yesterday in tho
prices of sheep at &amebae. The total flunks sold in
the two days was 61,866; unsold, 10,186. The supply of
horses was good, and prices ranged born 3W. to M.
Foreign buyers were warming troopers. Cattle are
coming in, and sales an already made. A man was
trampled on by horses on the green, and lulkid. The
weather continues fine.

As three soldiers at Camden-front, Cork, were
withdrawing a charge of powder for blasting, the fuse of
which bad apparently failed to Ignite, an explosion
occurred, and one of them was killed and the others were
seriously injured.

The staple production of the Island of Jersey
may now be said to be early potatoes. The land is =e-
nured to an extraordinary degree with ma weed, stable
manure, and Peruvian guano, to force the potatoes for.
ward. They are met to market early, and thereby
fetch so great a prim, that an sore of early potatoes is
valued at 16W.

Tim ANZHICAIT linturrait's Vie= ro
POOL.—At the meting at the Li I Tows °mail
retard& , ea the arson of Xs. BobstsasGladeleaa
by lb. Aldermen Men* it wee rushed :
"Tk&t es adders of welcome be resealed be his low the the Boa. Howdy Adam% the lliaistas et the
veiled moo" at the meek= of the intended blett
theepeol, mad thes the pawl asolra.rootory oom•
LON rocoestod to promo look ea

FOREIGN NEWS.

(TMIS DAY.)

THE SPANISH REVOLUTION.

The Madrid Gazette of the sth publishes the
following proclamation of Marshal Serrano:
Spaniards! Inverted with supreme power, and charged
with the formation of • government which is to rule the
country provisionally, I have the honour and the happi-
ness to announce to the people of Madrid and to all
Spain, that I am going immediately to discharge
the trust which the country has confided to me.
Men identified with the revolution will compose the
provisional government. Let tranquillity continue; let
confidence not be weakened; and let the magnificient
spectacle which has excited the admiration of Hurope
not be interrupted. The union and patriotism of the
whole army, its fraternisation with the people, and the

patriotism of ell will complete the revolutiCmary work,
while avoiding both the impulse of reaction and the dia.
credit of disorder.

Madrid. Oct. 44 lOW

Dro Ds La. Tomas.

The Madrid Gay& of the bth says :—" The
Duke de Is Torre remained at Pinto a whole hour
with the brave Marquis Novaliches. He embraced
the wounded man in the most affecting Jammer.
The latter, not being able to speak, the
conference took place by signs, or in
writing. Serrano with Pavia seemed like a
brother comforting a brother. The reply of Serrano
to the junta, when it felicitated him on his vic-
tory, was as follows My friends, I have
passed the bridge of Alcola, but I have no desire
to pass the bridge of government. I have now
but one wish, that is, to live with my children.'
In the person and character of the Duke de la
Tone ono sees at once Coriolanus and Du 'cloche."
(11110r0/1 saunas LO/LaCT.)
PARIS, 00T. d.
The Moniteur of this morning contains the fol-
lowing news from Madrid of yesterday's date :
" Distend Prim made a speech to the people
from the balcony of the office of the ministry, and
laid stress upon the intimate unity existing be-
tween Marshal Serrano and himself, and urged tho
necessity for liberals of all shades, for the people,
and for the army to preserve concord. ' The
vic-
tory of revolution,' ho said, ' wan duo to the joint
action of the fleet, Marshal Serrano, and the exiled
generals.'
" At the conclusion of the speech, General Prim
embraced Serrano, saying out aloud, ' Down with
the Bourbons" This was received by the people
with unanimous applause. In the evening Madrid
was magnificently illuminated.
" Admiral Topete has arrived at the capital,"

MARSEILLES, Ocr. 8.

Letters received hero from Barcelona state that
after the festivities on the occasion of General
Prim's reception the artisans returned to their
work, and a very good understanding prevailed
between the workpeople and their employers.

SPAIN AND THE COLONIES.
PARIS, nor. k.

A private telegram received from Madrid states
that Cuba and Porto Rico have declared their in-
dependence, that great agitation prevails in Ma-
drid, and that the fleet would be sent to Cuba. No
official confirmation of this news has yet bean re-
ceived.