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

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIT2,—In your paper of this evening I am re-
ported to have supported the second reeding of the
Archway and Kentish Town Junction Road Bill.
This is an error. I opposed the bill, and shall be
ob:iged by your correcting the mistake.--I am, air,
your obedient servant, IIARvEY LEWIS.
House of Commons, Thursday Evening.

The Seizure of the Tuscaloosa,

The commander 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 to the Confederate States' steamer
Alabama, I have to record my protest against the
extraordinary measures which have been adopted
towards me and the vessel under my command by
the British authorities of the colony. In August
lust 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•
traiity, 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
efher
Majesty's Government, I
d to
Bay on the 26th inst., in very
urgentet returned
need
repairs and supplies. To my
r Simon'sef
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 be 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 view now
adopted by your Excellency's Government to be
o misled, and then entrapped. My
positioncorrect—firstly
e t—
and
s t
the character of my ship will most cer-
tainly be vindicated by my Government. I am
powerless to resist the affront offered to the Confe-
derate States of America by your Excellency's cm-
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 htr seizure, especially under the very
peculiar circumstances of the case.—l have, &Co 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 haNing
expressed his intention to honour this theatre with his
presence, the lessee has caused a private box to be con-
structed fur his royal highness's use, with an anti-room
and a separate entrance in Surrey .street.
SNOW t'4TOßM.—There was a heavy fall of snow
in Somersetshire and Wiltshire on 'Wednesday eyeaing,
which continued over Thursday,