The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-26 00:00:00

The Seiztre of the Tuscaloosa,

The commando of this Confederate cruiser,
lately seized by the authorities at the Cape of Good
Hope, has forwarded the following protest to Sir
Philip Wodehouse,K.C.B., governor of that colony :
—" Confederate States' ship Tuscaloosa, Simon's
Bay, Cape of Good Hope, Dec. 28,1863. Sir,—As
officer in command of the Confederate States' ship
Tuscaloosa, tender o the Confederate States' steamer
Alabama, I have tc record my protest against the
extraordinary meaiures which have been adopted
towards me and tie vessel under my command by
the British authorities of the colony. In August
last the Tuscaloosa arrived in Simon's Bay ;
she was not only recognised in the character
which she lawfully claimed, and still claims to
be, viz., a commissioned ship of war belong-
ing to a belligerent power, but was allowed
to remain in the harbour for the period of five days,
taking in supplies and effecting repairs with the
full knowledge and sanction of the authorities. No
intimation was given that she was regarded merely
in the light of an ordinary prize, or that she
was considered to be violating the laws of neu-
trality, nor, when she notoriously left for a cruise
on active service, was any intimation whatever con-
veyed that on her return to the port of a friendly
power, where she had been received as a man-of-
war, she would be regarded as a ' prize,' as a
violator of the Queen's proclamation of neutrality,
and consequently liable to seizure. Misled by
the conduct of her Majesty's Government, I

returned to Simon's Bay on the 26th inst., in 'very
urgent need of repairs and supplies. To my
surprise, I find the Tuscaloosa is now no longer
considered as a man-of-war, and she has, by your
orders, as I learn, been seized for the purpose of
being handed over to the person who claims her on
the behalf of her late owners. The character of
the vessel, viz, that of a lawful commissioned ship
of war of the Confederate States of America, has
not been altered since her first arrival in Simon's
Bay ; and she having been once fully recognised
by the British authorities in command in. this
colony, and no notice or warning of change of opi-
nion or of friendly feeling having been communi-
cated by public notification or otherwise, I was
entitled to expect to bo again permitted to enter
Simon's Bay without molestation. In perfect good
faith I returned to Simon's Bay for mere necessaries,
and in all honour and good faith in return I should,
on change of opinion or of policy on the part of the
British authorities, have been desired to leave
the port again; but, by the course of proceed-
ings taken, I have been—supposing the vie er now
adopted by your Excellency's Government to be
correct—firstly misled, and then entrapped. My
position and the character of my ship will most cer-
tainly be vindicated by my Government. lam
powerless to resist the affront offered to the Confe-
derate States of America by your Excellency's con-
duct and proceedings. I demand, however, the
release of my ship, and if this demand be not
promptly complied with, I hereby formally protest
against her seizure, especially under the very
peculiar circumstances of the case.—l have, &c., J.
LowE, Commanding C.S.S. Tuscaloosa."—[lt will
be seen, in our Parliamentary report, that Lord
Palmerston, in the House of Commons last night,
stated that the Government had ordered the release
of this vessel.]

STRAND THEATRE.—The Prince of Wales having
expressed his intention to honour this theatre with his
presence, the lessee has caused a private box to bo coa-
structed for his royal highness's use, with an anti-room
and a separate entrance in Surrey•street.
SNOW STORAI.—Thero was a heavy fall of snow
in Somersetshire and Wiltshire ou Wednesday eveuipg,
which, ceAtinued over Thursdoy.