The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-26 00:00:00

TER SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 26, 1864.

of £lO ; Private Page, of Banbury, the third of £5;
and Corporal Field, of Banbury, the fourth of £4.
The first prize for five shots at 200 yards was taken
by Corporal Palmer, of Henley,who scored 16 marks;
that for 500 yards by Private H. Underhill, of Ox-
ford, 16 points; and that for 600 yards by Sergeant
Ferris, of Oxford, 15 points. The smaller prizes
were gained by Prior, Jenkin, C. Underhill, Brown-
ing (all of Oxford), Collins (Bicester), Walker,
Newitt (Theme), Hewes (Henley), and Cobb (Ban.
bury). The silver cup, given by Lieut. North, M.P.,
the commandant of the battalion, was won by Pri.
Tate Bacon, of Oxford, who scored 32 with five
rounds, at 500 and 600 yards. Private Collins, of
Bicester, and Corporal Field, of Banbury, took the
second and third prizes respectively. The Associa•
tion prizes (seven rounds at 500 and 600 yards) were
awarded as follows :—First, Sergeant Clutterbuck
(Stroud), 53 points; second, Capt. Fane (Oxford) ;
third, Sergeant Rose (Oxford) ; and fourth, Private
C. Underhill (Oxford). A silver cup, given by the
officers, was won by Private Collins (Oxford), by a
score of 35, in five rounds each, at 400 and 500
yards; Private Hewlett, of Oxford taking the second
prize. The non-commissioned officers also offered a
cup for the best score at 200 and 500 yards, seven
rounds each ; and this was gained by Private Bacon
(Oxford), the winner of Col. North's cup, his score
being 43. The number of competitors for the vari•
ous prizes ranged between 54 and 22.
The annual prize meeting of the Somerset
County Rifle Association was held on Tuesday and
Wednesday at Wells, and attracted a large num-
ber of Volunteers of the county. The prizes
offered in the various classes amounted to 60, re-
presenting in the aggregate about £l3O. Besides
the money prizes, the programme embraced compe.
titiona for the bronze medal of the National Rifle
Association and for the Lord Lieutenant's prize, a
silver cup, value £lO. The number of competitors
who entered for the various matches was 150, and
comprised representatives from nearly every corps in
the county. The silver cup given by the Lord-
Lieutenant was fired for by winners in the previous
matches, at 200 and 500 yards, ten rounds at each
range, and was won by Sergeant Green, of the 3d
Somerset, with a score of 59.

The annual prize shooting of the Devonport Rifles
took place on Monday at Keyham. A bleak easterly
wind blew across the range, and two or three heavy
showers of rain fell in the course of the afternoon.
Several hundreds of spectators were on the ground.
There were 107 competitors for the " all comers"
prizes, which were shot for at 200 and 300 yards,
seven rounds at each distance. The first prize of
£2O was won by Ensign Tremayne (16th Cornwall)
who scored 40; Serg.-Major Stupart (4th Devon
Administrative Battalion Rifle Volunteers) came
second, with a score of 39 ; and Sergeant Ralph (2d
Queen's Own Regiment) third, with a score of 38.
The whole of the prizes in this class were of the
value of £62. The battalion prize of £l5 was com-
peted for at the same distances, five rounds at each
distance. Sergeant Clemens (3d Devon) took the
best prize, with a score of 30. Other prizes, repre-
senting a total money value cf about £4O, were also
competed for. The shooting, taking the unfavour-
able into consideration, was good, and superior to
that weather witnessed last year.
The 11th battery of Cornish Artillery were in-
spected in shot and shell practice by Lieut.-Colonel
Gilbert on Monday evening. He said he was pleased
to find that the high opinion he entertained of the
battery had been confirmed by the officer officially
sent from the War-office to inspect them, and by
whom he was informed that the St. Ives Battery
was second to none in the two counties. Oa Satur-
the Bth battery (Hayle) competed for four prizes
given by the County Association. Fifty shots were
fired ; of these, as judged by Lieut.-Colonel Gilbert,
14 were in line, and the average deviation of the
other 34 shots was three yards from line. Gunner
Tucker took the first prin. Upwards of £l4O will
be competed for at St. Colomb by Rifle Volunteers
on Monday next.
On Saturday last the 27th Lancashire Rifle Volun-
teers, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Gray,
M.P., were inspected at Bolton by Major Baynes,
her Majesty's Bth (King's) Regiment. The batta-
lion mustered nearly 700 strong. They wore put
through a variety of manosavres by the command-
ing officer, after which Major Baynes made a brief
address, in which he complimented both officers
and men.

The following very satisfactory letter has been
sent to Colonel Harcourt by the inspecting offic3r
who attended under the instructions from the \%Tar•
office, at the recent prize firing of the Ist Admini-
strative Brigade of the Cinque Ports Volunteer Ar-
tillery :

" Dover Castle, Ang. 23.
" Sir,—As inspecting officer of the Brigade of
Cinque Ports Artillery at Rye on the 9 zla inst., I have
the honour to inform you that I cannot allow the
proceedings of that day to pass over without ex-
pressing to you as the commanding officer of the
corps the great satisfaction that I feel in being able
to make a most satisfactory report of the same.
" In the first place, the most fastidious artillerist
could not but have felt satisfied with the excellent
gun practice made by the different gnu detach-
ments, although at the time there was a very
strong wind blowing from the right. The guns
were worked with celerity and regularity.
„" And I may here remark that I am truly sorry
that few of the corps have the advantage of having
several different kinds of ordnance, repositary gear,
8,7 c., at their different stations, to diversity their
drill, and to make it less monotonous to the men,
which would also have the effect of distracting their
attention from carbine practice,' as the time which
they can spare for drill I should wish to see solely
devoted to company and carbine drill and to artil-
lery duties, leaving rifle practice to the Rifle Volun-
teers. I feel confident that the expense Govern-
ment would be put to in affording the different
corps opportunities of learning drill would not be
money thrown away.
"The brigade did itself great credit in the man•
net in which it marched past, both in open and
quarter distance column, and also in the manner in
which the men performed their carbine exercise—
but it is not to be expected that mepting as they do
only once in each year, the battalion drill could be
otherwise than interior.

"I must also compliment you on your soldierlike
appearance on parade, and on the manner in which
their accoutrerocats were put on.
" In case of the service of the brigade ever being
required co aid in repelling invasion f feel that the
fine body of men under your command would
render moat prompt and efficient assistance, and
would not belie the spirit which seems to prevail
them.

It only remains for me to thank yourself and
the officers under your command for the assistance
given me in carrying out my duties as umpire on
the 9th inst.

" I have, &c,,
" CHARLES H. SMITH, Brevet Lieut. Colonel
Royal Artillery.
"Lieut.-Colonel Harcourt Commanding Cinque
Ports Volunteer Artillery."

The Railway Collision at Pontypool.

'WORCESTER, Aug. 25.
The sufferers from the fearful collision between an excur-
sion train and a coal train at the junction of the Taff Vale
Extension and West Midland Railways at Pontypool-road
on Tuesday evening, as reported in yesterday's paper, are
doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances.
Many of them were brought home to this city by special
train the same night, and arrived here about an hour after
midnight. The fact of the accident having been telegraphed
to Worcester, many friends of the excursionists were wait-
ing at the station, and urged upon the officials the propriety
of providing some means for removing the injured to their
homes. No special provision, however, was made, and the
sufferers were removed by their friends as best they could.
The passengers complain of the conduct of the parries hav-
ing the management of the refreshment room at Pontypool
road station, who, they allege, refused to supply warm
water to bathe the wounds of the injured, although they
were ready to sell hot brandy and water.
One of the most seriously injured persons is Mr Choat,
of this city, who was left behind at Hereford. Miss Gee, of
this city, who, as stated yesterday, had received an injury
in the spine, is now lying here in a helpless condition. A
number of passengers who had travelled by the train in the
morning had a providential escape. They had stopped at
Pontypool-road in the morning, and had visited Raglan
Castle. They were waiting at the station for the return
train, and witnessed the accident to their fellow passengers
of the morning.

SALMON FISHING IN THE CONWAY.—The quan-
tity of salmon this year in the river Conway is unusually
large. It is said, upon good authority, to be swarming
with fish. The destruction of the stake traps at the mouth
of the river has done more good than harm even to the
fishermen themselves. Should there be a downfall of rain
the Sy-fishing in the river would be splendid.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,

YORK AUGUST MEETING.-THURSDAY.

The interest in the Great Yorkshire Stakes ceased the
moment it was known that General Peel was scratched, and
that therefore the meeting between him and the Derby
winner would not take place. Rumours were rife last even-
ing that Blair Athol had been sold—the price the large sum
of £lO,OOO. The name of the purchaser was variously stated
as the Duke of St. Albans and ➢lr Naylor, but we are not
inclined to attach much credibility to the report.
There was a fine race for the cup between Caller Ou,

Rapid Rhone, and East Lancashire, the old mare giving
Lord Glasgow's horse 61b, and beating him by a short head,
amid vociferous exclamations from the foot people, in which
the Northumberland dialect was distinctly audible.
There was great excitement caused by the issue of the
race for the Great Yorkshire, where the Derby victor had
to lower his colours to Miner, and Claremont's pretensions
to the Leger certainly received their quietus. Blair Athol,
though beaten, was not disgraced, He was looking unpre-
pared, and carried 71b extra. Still his defeat created a sen-
sation, and sent him back a point in the betting on the great
Northern event. The rest of the racing calls for no parti-
cular notice beyond what our return gives, The meeting
has been very successful, and the attendance, especially
yesterday, quite up to the mark of former years.
The Knavesmire Stakes of 200 sous each, h ft, for 3-yr-olds;
colts, Bst 101 b; and fillies, Bst 61b. One mile. 4 subs,
Duke of St Albans' Brindisi, Bst 101 b .... (F. Adams) w.o.
The Colt Sapling Stakes of 50 sous each, 30 ft, for 2-yr-

olds; colts, Bst 101 b each. T.Y.C. 9 subs.

Duke of Beaufort's Koenig, Bst 101 b
Mr John Osborne's King Arthur, Bst 101 b .... (Rogers) 2
Betting-5 to lon Bsenig, who made all the running,
and won with extreme ease by a length and a half.
The York Cup, value 200 Bove, by subscription of 10 soya
each, the surplus in specie, with 100 added, for 3-yr-olds
and upwards ; weight for age ; winners extra, with mai-
den allowances ; the second to receive 20:sovs out of the
stakes. Two miles, over the Old Course. 24 subs.
Mr W. I'Anson's Caller Ott, 6 yrs, Bst Illb (Challoner) 1
Lord Glasgow's Rapid Rhone, 4 yrs, Bst 51b (Fordham) 2
Mr H, Rich's East Lancashire, 4 yrs, Bst 71b (in. 210 ex.)
(Osborne) 3
Betting-11 to 10 on Caller On, 2to 1 agst Rapid
Rhone, and 3 to 1 agst East Lancashire.
The latter, with a clear lead of a couple of lengths, made
play, Rapid Rhone going on second, with the favourite in
waiting. As they approached the plantation turn East
Lancalihire's lead visibly decreased, and Caller Ou, as they
came along the woodside, gradually drew forward, and as
they entered the straight they closed up and ran in com-
pany to the distance, where Rapid Rhone headed Lord St.
Vincent's colt and came on slightly is advance of the old
mare to the enclosure, when she went to the front, and won
a fine race, after some rousing, by a short head ; a neck
only separated the second and third.
The Nursery Handicap Plate of 100 soya, for 2-yr-olds ;
winners extra. T.Y.C. About five furlongs.
Mr T. V. Morgan's Wings of the Wind, 6st 131 b
(H. Covey) 1
Mr Samuel's Tilt, 7st (Mordan) 2
Mr Hodgman's King of Greece (in. 71b extra), Est 91b
(Morris) 3
Mr James Thirkell's Naples, Tat 4lb (Whiteley) 4
The following also ran :—Sister to Lady Augusta, Side-
wind, Lord Conyngham, Busy Bee, Tabitha Bramble,
Lansdown (late Tom Ashworth), East Lynn, Lord Walde-
grave, Doetord, Weatherglass, Holstein, and Exceller.
Betting-3 to 1 agst Wings of the Wind, 4to 1 agst
Lansdowne, 9 to 2 agst Tabitha Bramble, 5 to 1 agst Tilt,
7 to 1 agst King of Greece, and 100 to 8 agst Busy Bee.
After a long delay, they were despatched from the post in
close company. Sister to Lady Augusta, with Tabitha
Bramble, King of Greece, Naples, Wings of the Wind,
Lansdown, and Lord Waldegrave lying up, came on in
advance, Tabitha Bramble with a slight lead, which she re-
tained to the road, where she was headed by Sister to Lady
Augusta, who carried on the running to halfway down,
when Wings of the Wind, in company with Tilt and King
of Greece, drew away and finished the race home, the favo-
rite winning easily at last by a length, Tilt defeating Mr
Hodgman's colt in the last stride by a head—a neck sepa-
rating the latter from Naples, who was placed fourth, Lord
Waldegrave was fifth, close up, Busy Bee sixth, and Doe-
ford next. The others were widely spread as they came
past the post, the last two were Tabitha Bramble and Ex-
celler—the latter did not pass the post.
The Twenty-second Year of the Great Yorkshire Stakes of
10 soya each, with RO added for the second horse, for 3-

yr-olds ; colts, Bst 101 b ; fillies, Bst 51b ; the winners

extra. 11 miles. 84 subs.
Mr LAundo's Miner, Bqt 10Ib .. (Osborne) 1
Mr NIT. I'Anson's Blair Athol, Oat 31b (includ. 71b extra)
(Uhalloner) 2
Mr Cartwright's Ely, Bst 10Ib (Custance) 3
Lord Glasgow's Ascham, Bst 101 b (Aldcrott) 4
Mr Perry's Hollytcx, Bst 10Ib (Boyce) 5

sale of blood stock. The company was not so numerous, nor
the competition so good as on the previous day, and many
lots were withdrawn. The sales are below

Guineas.
Brown yearling filly, by Windhound—Lima (Mr.
Wittaker)
Chestnut yearling colt, by Oxford—Area
Bay yearling filly, by Fandango— Tbe Layer's darn
(Captain Machell) 70
Brown yearling filly, by Fandango, dam by The
Castor
Bay yearling colt, by Amsterdam—Jet (Mr Jacobs) 165
The following yearlings were sold with their engage-
ments :

Mountaineer, by Cariboo—Louisa. 9O
Harlequins, by Fandango—Columbia°, with en-
gagements at York, Richmond, and Epsom
(Lord Stamford)
Cora, by Leamington—Cypriana, engaged at York
meetings 1865 and 1866
Croft, 5 yrs, by Chanticleer—Honeysuckle 45
Security, 3 yrs, by Vindex—Confidence 25
Bay filly, 2 yrs, by Fandango—Elcho's dam (Mr
Danhill)... l2
Nottingham, 5 yrs, by Kingston—Athol Brose
(the Hadji's dam)
Rouge Dragon, by Windbound—Paradign (with-
drawn) no bid.
Yearling filly, by Fandango—Cht.rlcmagnc's dam 55
Elfrida, 6 yrs (Mr Holmes)
Loienzo, 5 yrs (Mr Langdale)
Mr Robert Johnson also sold the following blood stock :
Brown filly, by Fugleman—Louisa (Mr Slater)
Bay filly, by Fingal, dam by Caldar
Bay filly by Fingal—Boundless

Also the following brood mares, the property of Lord
Middleton :

Gipsy, by Jeereed—Fortune-teller .. 6
The Witch (steeplechase mare), by Crotton Oil or
Broomstick (Mr Dixon) l7
Mr Mills sold a chestnut yearling filly, by Maroon,
dam by Bay Middleton
There were several lots of hunters offered, some of which
sold very well, but the majority were a drug.

LATEST BETTING.
ST. LEGER,
2to 1 agst General Peel (offered)
sto 2 agst Blair Athol (offered)
10 to 1 agst Miner (taken)
12 to 1 agst Baragah (offered)
100 to 6 agst Ely (offered)
20 to 1 agst Claremont (offered)

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES.—If we were required to state in a single
phrase the secret of England's greatness, it might,
perhaps, be described as the economy of force. A
population limited in numbers, and pent up in a
very narrow space, have taken the lead in the
world, because they have known how to use the
powers given them to the best advantage. Thrifty
of results we are not ; the products of our industry
are consumed without stint, and Mr. Gladstone was
right when he pointed some time since to the
French people as models of frugality. But thrift
of results is of small account beside thrift of produc.
tion, and in that we are unrivalled. No nation has
so fully understood the advantage of dividing and
adapting labour, or has learnt to a similar degree
the mystery of increasing the ratio between pro-
ducts and forces. Recent events have forcibly
shown us that the economy we have practised in
the works of peace is equally necessary in the con-
duct of war. Prudent and peaceful as our states-
men may be, it is hopeless to suppose that we can
live for ever without coming into collision with
anybody. Passions of ambition and aggrandise-
ment have not disappeared from the world, and a
nation which boasts itself to be a great Power can-
not always look on while justice is outraged and
the weak are maltreated by the strong. We are not
prepared definitely to abandon all notions of inter-
national order, and to allow violence to run its
course without any interference of police. Bu! our
force is limited, our soldiers are few, and the cha-
racter of our population forbids us to hope that tlaser
numbers can be much increased. The fact is not
new. It has been felt in every Continental war in
which we have been engaged since the establish-
ment of the modern system, and we have been
obliged, under the specious form of subsidy, to hire
the armies of other nations to enlist with us and
assist in carrying on our campaigns. A more worthy
method of meeting the difficulty is to increase the
efficiency of the forces at our disposal. Our mili-
tary education has improved since' the time when
Picton could declare that English officers, though
brave as Hors, were totally and utterly ignorant of
their profession, and we now know that the need
of better weapons is not less imperative than im-
proved military education. We have been for years
perfecting our artillery, but the miserable cam-
paigns in the Duchies and in Virginia have brought
out the importance of the small arms of an army.
Two armies may meet each other equal in numbers,
in intelligence, and in spirit, and the one may be
hopelessly driven off the field because it is armed
with a muzzle-loading instead of a breech-loading
rifle. The breech-loading arm of the Prussian
infantry gave them an advantage over the Danes
which trustworthy witnesses declared to be incal-
culable. It is creditable to the Secretary for War
that the report of the facts brought out in the
Schleswig campaign prompted him to instant
action. Early in June, Lord Da Grey, with the
concurrence of the Commander-in-Chief, appointed
a Committee, consisitng of General Itussell, Colonel
Steele, Lord Longford, and four others, to inquire
into the subject, and to report on the propriety of
arming the Infantry wholly or partially with breech-
loaders. There could be little doubt as to the result
of an impartial inquiry. A comparison had to be
made between two weapons, one of which could be
fired three times as often as the other, so that the
destructive power of an army would be at once
trebled by being furnished with it. But, in addition
to this, there was not only a loss of time, but a loss
of power in the soldiers to be taken into account ;
an easy process is substituted for what was often a
laborious operation. A breecheloader, again, re-
mains serviceable for a much longer time, it does
not foul so easily, and it can be exposed freely to
damp and wet without being injured. Nor does
the comparison end there. While the destructive
efficiency of Infantry is increased by means of
breech-loaders, their exposure to the enemy is
absolutely diminished. A soldier armed with a
muzzle-loading rifle is for a considerable part of
his time a helpless mark to the enemy; while he
is painfully ramming a charge down a barrel
too soon fouled, he is exposed without protection
to the fire of the opposing army. With a breech-
loader everything is different. He can load it
in perfect security white he is quietly lying down
on the ground. The advantages which might thus
be almost guessed at were fully established by the
evidence: laid before Lord De Grey's Committee.
lh.erewere not wanting, indeed, witnesses to raise
objections to the introduction of a new arm into the
British army, as there never will be wanting wit-
nesses to object to any novelty. But the prepon-
derenco of evidence was unmistakable, and the later
the experience of the witnesses the stronger was
their testimony ire favour of breech-loaders. Mejor
Young, of the artillery, who had been present at
the autumn manoeuvres of the Prussian army on
the Rhine in 1861, was of opinion that breech..
loaders were not adapted for general use; the
Austrians had discerded the needle-gun, and the
Prussians would, he was assured, have done the same
were they not entirely committed to its use. But
this evidence was entirely at variance with more
recent accounts. Colonel Walker, who was in
Schleswig in March, reported that the Prussians
and Austrians were unanimous in praising the
needle-gun; the Prussians could not say enough of
it, and the Austrians compared it with their own
muzzleeloading arms to the disadvantage of the
latter. The needle-gun fired three shots to one from
the Danes, was loaded in perfect security, and re.
mained in good order when the muzzle-loaders of
the Austrians had become almost useless through
exposure to snow and rain. Colonel Tower, who
was present at the siege of Dybbol, gave evidence
to the same effect. It is to be regretted that the
experience of America was of little service to the
Committee. Two officers attended before them to
state the results of their investigations made during
a visit to the United States, but as they had been
refused permission by Mr. Secretary Staunton to
accompany the Federal army, they were unable to
speak from personal observation. The general opi-
nion in America seemed, however, to be in favour of
restricting the use of breech-loaders to picked bodies
of troops; but in the absence of special details vague
opinions are of little value. A gentleman from the
Confederate States had been sent to New York to
procure machinery for making Lresch-loaders, but his
mission was abruptly terminated by his arrest. The
evidence laid before the committee was, however, on
the whole so convincing that they could only arrive
at one conclusion. They reported unanimously their
opinion to the Secretary for War in favour of arming
the infantry wholly with breech-loading arms.
There were, indeed, but two reasons alleged against
the adoption of breech-loaders, and one of them may
be dismissed in a sentence. It was said that they
furnished a temptation to young soldier to fire away
their ammunition. If a rifle is more useful the sel-
domer it can be fired, it would be advisable to give
soldiers a weapon which cennot be fired at all. The
objection that a large supply of ammunition is fired
away in a short time is of no weight, unless it can
be shown that it is expended to no purpose. If the
ratio of effective shots remain the same, there is an
advantage in rapid shooting, and there is no doubt
that this the fact. The battles in America prove
thot modern war, without being less bloody, is swifter
than the warfare of our grandaires- Armies do not

remain firing at each other throughout a long sum-
mer's day, expending an incalculable amount of
ammunition, with but one man disabled for some
thousands of cartridges spent. A graver objection
arose from the difficulty of storing the ammunition
❑ecessary for breech-loaders. The quantity required
is necessarily increased, and as in the needle-gun cf
Prussia the ammunition carries its own means of
combustion, a danger might be anticipated from its
carriage. Practically, however, this danger appears
to be very small, nor is there any difficulty found in
keeping up the supplies in the field. The experience
of the Schleswig campaign has explained away
these anticipated difficulties. There is now no reason
to think that breech-loaders may incidentally en-
danger an army, while it is ch-ar that they increase
its efficiency. The recommendation of the committee
has already we are glad to see, produced its proper
effect, as Lord De Grey has issued advertisements
requesting gunreakers to commuuicate with him on
the best means of converting the Enfield into a
breech-loader. There can be ❑o doubt that the in-
genuity of our gunsmiths will devise many means
of making the conversion, and we may soon hope to
see the infantry armed with a weapon which will
put them on equal terms with any enemies they may
have to encounter.

PosT.—The intelligence of the capture of the
Georgia, the quondam Confederate privateer, but at
the time of seizure the property of an English mer-
chant and sailing under the British flag, has given
rise to a variety of speculations in respect to the
legality of the proceeding by which she has been
made a prize of war by a Federal cruiser. We think
it right, therefore, to take the earliest opportunity
of explaining to the public the law as applicable to
captures belonging to the same class with that which
has just been made, and placing in the clearest
light what seems to us the course most expedient
for the Government to pursue. There are many
who are inclined to invest with a peculiar sanctity
the banner of their country, and who conceive that
in every imaginable case where it floats at the gaff
of a vessel on the high seas it secures for the ship, the
cargo, and the crew the protection of the State whose
flag it is. This rule is, however, only general in its
character, and has its exceptions, and the point for
decision now is whether the present is not one of
those cases in which an almost universal principle
ceases to operate. When Captain Wilkes seized the
Confederate Commissioners on hoard the Trent, a
mail steamer sailing under the English flag, his in-
fraction of international law was patent to all, and
the English Cabinet did not hesitate for a moment
to demand the restitution of the gentlemen who had
been made prisoners when sailing under the protec-
tion of the English flag. But the capture of the
Georgia, though to all appearances a British vessel,
stands on a footing far different from the outrage
committed on the passengers in the Trent. In what
that difference consists, and how far it affects the
validity of the capture, we will now proceed to ex-
plain. The Georgia was, as our readers are aware,
a Confederate cruiser, armed and equipped for pur-
poses of war, and in that capacity inflicted no
little damage on the merchant shipping of the
Federal States. Some months since she put into
the port of Liverpool, and, for reasons which
cannot perhaps be precisely ascertained, was sold by
order of the agent of the Confederate Government.
The sale took place, if we are rightly informed, by
auction, and a gentleman named Bates, connected
with the East India trade, became the purchaser.
Shortly afterwards the Georgia, as was alleged, was
chartered by the Portuguese Government for the
conveyance of passengers between Lisbon and the
Coast of Africa or the West Indies, and the interior
of the vessel was fitted up to meet the requirements
of a passenger ship. On the Bth of August the
Georgia left the Mersey, under the command of
Captain Withycombe, a seaman notorious for the
skill and success with which he has frequently
eluded the blockade of the Confederate ports, and
all seems to have gone well until the vessel came
within sight of Lisbon, the port to which she was
hound. She was then brought to by e couple of
shots fired across her bows by a Federal war
steamer, called the Niagara, and which had left
Liverpool two days previous to the Georgia's de-
parture. A boat containing armed men from the
Niagara then boarded the Georgia; the captain of
the latter was conveyed on board the Federal
cruiser, and, despite his protests that the ship was
British, and sailing under a British flag, was told
that she had become prize of war. The Georgia's
papers were then given up, her crew transferred
to the Niagara, and a fresh crew placed on board,
with directions to take her to an American port,
The Niagara then steered for the English Chan-
nel, and on Wednesday landed at Dover the captain
and previous crew of the Georgia. She then took
her departure and put out to see, Such being the
facts, the only point to be determined is, whether
this sale of the Georgia to the subject of a neutral
State has the effect of depriving the Federal Go-
vernment of the right which at one time they un-
doubtedly possessed of capturing that vessel if
found beyond the bounds of neutral juris-
diction. The general rule of international
law is, that the character of a ship depends on the
naConal character of the owner, as ascertained by
his domicile; but, when the vessel sails under the
flag and peas of a foreign country, she becomes
invested with the national character of the country
under whose flag she sails. Tested simply by this
rule, the capture of the Georgia would unquestion-
ably be illegal, since—both in virtue of the national
character of the owner and of the flag under which
she sailed—she was a British vessel. But the
question still remains whether this national. charac-
ter was rightly acquired, and this depends on the
validity of her transfer from the Confederate Go-
vernment to Mr Bates. Now, in respect to the right
which a belligerent possesses of transferring vessels,
whether ships of war or merchantmen, to the sub-
jects of a neutral State, so as to deprive the other
belligerent of his right of capture, the custom ob-
served by all maritime Powers is not uniform. The
French, for example, laid it down, in the regula-
tions published in 1778, that no enemy-built vessel,
whether intended for purposes of war or for the
conveyance of merchandise, could be legally trans.
ferred to a neutral, so as to defeat the belligerent's
right of capture, unless the transfer was effected
previous to the commencement of hostilities. The
justice of this rule, in so far as it relates to mer-
chant shipping, is, however, questioned by Haute.
fenille, who says—" Commerce is free between
neutrals and nations at war; this liberty is un-
limited with the exception of the two restrictions
relative to contraband of war and to besieged,
blockaded, or invested places. Nations at peace
can thus, when they think proper, buy merchant
ships of one of the parties engaged in hostilities
without the other party having the right to com-
plain." This latter is the view taken by American
and English jurists, who maintain that neutrals
have an undoubted right to purchase and employ,
without rish of capture, the merchant shipping of
a belligerent. During the late Russian war the
question was raised more than once in the English
Admiralty courts, and, on the authority of Lord
Stowell's decisions, it was held that the sales of
merchant shipping were valid and binding as against
belligerents, In the case of the Johanna Emilia, a
Russian merchantman claimed by a Hamburger as
bevies', been purchased after the commencement of
hostilities,Dr Lushington said, " With regard to the
legality of the sale, assuming it to be bonajide, it
is not denied that it is competent to neutrals
purchase the property of enemies in another
country, whether =elating of ships or anything
else." But, in respect to ships of war, all States
concur in denying to neutrals the right of purchas-
ing them from a belligerent, and investing them with
the national character of the State by whose subjects
they are bought. Nor is it difficult to understand
why this should be so. Vessels employed for hostile
purposes against a belligerent are contraband of
war, and if, when pursued, they took refuge in a
neutral port, it would be easy for them to avoid eap•
ture, which would otherwise be imminent, by the
process of a sale to a subject of the neutral State.
Was the Georgia a vessel of war used by the Con-
federate Government ? If this question be answered
in the affirmative, and it seems impossible to answer
it otherwise, then the sale which took place in
Liverpool was inoperative, end she was during the
continuance of the war as liable to capture when
sailing under the British flag as under that of the
Confederacy. Under these circumstances, then, we
do not consider that our Government have any
grounds for interference. The vessel will be taken
for adjudication to a prize court, and before that
tribunal those who deny the validity of the capture
can, if they please, appear and make good, if they
are able to do so, their title to the vessel.

Foreign Mail Packet List.