The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-17 00:00:00

on the Federal side to take a partial view of the
matter, and judge all the doings of the confederates
by the most strict and arbitrary rules which regulate
ordinary warfare, without taking into account the
very complex and awkward position in which they
are placed, In the first place, they are fighting
against great disadvantages, and have a most un-
scrupulous adversary to deal with. Besides these
drawbacks, Great Britain, under the guidance of
most mistaken Ministers, has completely failed in
rendering that justice which was, above all things,
to have been expected from a nation of her pre-
eminence. The mischief has been increased by
other States following in her wake, and thus the
Confederates have been hunted from here and driven
from there until there certainly remains everything
to exonerate them from taking the ordinary rules as
their guide and following precedent as their monitor.
Capt. SEMMES has been at great pains to deLcribe the
"situation" in which he is placed, and no one in
fairness can assert that he has exaggerated his state•
ment, or unduly magnified the difficulties by which
hdeeodr'clinary rules would be observed,
lie began by taking it for
gheranistedeethrreetutn
and that therefore his prizes would ha safe in a
neutral port. Unfortunately Spain, which was his
first venture, had followed the example of England,
v
and his prizes were handed over to the enemy,
•b' egg
warned
l
l as he y truly terms it, instead of
is then very forcibly
put that there could have been no "possible incon-
venience" arising from the permission to prizes to
remain in neutral ports until they had been adjudi-
cated, The summary of events here given is very
interesting, and proves very clearly how great has
been the injustice displayed by our Government.
Captain SEMMES describes the state of affairs when
the war broke out, and demonstrates the difficulties
which have surrounded the course of the Confede-
rates. The orders that refused to privateers the
right of asylum in British ports were an of ,ctual
stoppage to their procedure, and this was effected
by Earl RUSSELL 7ndice prepense. They could not
be made available in Confederate ports, because of
the blockade, and hence their virtual extinction so
soon as intelligence cf the Orders in Council ar-
rived, " Did he or did he not know," asks the
writer of this commuaication, "that he was dealing
a staggering blow to the Confederate States at the
same time that he wasplaying directly into the hands
of the Federals." 'no effect of this movement was
such that the little Sumter afterwards, assisted by
two other small vessels, was left the task of de-
stroy ing a commerce here emphatically described
as " second only to that of Great Britain, and
which covered every sea." It was absurd for our
Cabinet to keep up that perpetual jargon about
equality and the preservation of a " strict neutra-
lity." From first to last favouritism has been the
order of the day. It has been the Alpha and
Omega of the RUSSELL code of tactics, the guiding
influence of the Cabinet, the ruling spirit of all the
steps taken at home and abroad. Who can wonder
that the victims to such unjust conduct should
wax wrathful, and decline to accede to the demand
for acknowledging all fairness and conduct through.
out. Oa the contrary, they have been taught by
grievous experience that the days are past when
England was either a faithful ally or a neutral
Power that could be depended on. All that takes
place is the result of deep consideration as to how
this or that enactment, such or such regulation, will
affect the interests and mar the prospects of one
side of the belligerents. All laws have been strained
to the uttermost, and again very ingeniously waived
to suit the requirements of friends, and through it
all the voices of the statesmen who preside at the
helm of affairs are hoard declaring that strict and
impartial neutrality is being preserved, and that
the councils of England only seek to do justice
without let or hindrance. Such subterfuges
are quite unworthy of a great nation,
and should be disclaimed and disavowed
by all who take part in her affairs. The
very pretty part which our Ministers are playing
will neither effect their purpose now, nor carry out
their intentions hereafter. As Captain SEMMES
warns them at the conclusion of his argument, they
are wrong in supposing that the Yankees are con

ciliated by their propitiatory cfferings to them. "
warn her that it is all timidity, and that she wi

reap the reward of her timidity in the usual way
—timidity on the part of nations always inviting
further insult and outrage." Nothing cm be truer
than this, and everyday's experience serves to con-

firm the validity of the observation. By rendering
it impossible for the Confederates to adjudicate
their prizes, the greatest injury has been in•

flitted in many quarters, and there exists
no single reason in favour of such a course. Cap-

twin SEMMES dec.ared that when their diplomatic
disguise is taken from these orders that emanated
from a British Council, there remains proof positive
that they are most " nnjust, oppressive, and un-

neutral." It may well be asked to what purpose
we are to incur thin odium, and draw down upon

ourselves this reproach. Who is to make up to us
for the loss of respect, the want of confidence, the

.arnished name that will be our portion when the

strife of the New World is over and the people and
nations sit calmly down to take a retrospective

glance at tho fitful fever of the war, and com-

ment on the actions of the various parties who

have been directly or indirectly engaged in the con-
troversy. It is quite idle to shut our eyes to the

'act that the present political crisis of ou: land is

a very momentous one. We are not at war, but

we are mixed up in wers, and in neither do we

_
figure at all respectable. There is nothing but

animadversion passed on the decrees of our judg-

ment, and it is a melancholy fact,
and so sought as an ally, a humiliating
reflection that our country, once so dreaded in war,
discredit-
ably engaged in secret contrivances for the further-
should now be

ante of views which no statesman dare put openly

forward before his countrymen• It is time that a
thorough change be wrought in our foreign policy,
or we shall 1020 the small remaining portion of

prestige that can belong to us after the manner in
which strangers and foreigners discourse on our

doings.

STAR CLUB OF LONDON.—The members of this
club, with a large party of their guests, assembled
last Thursday, at the Cyrstal Palace, for the first of their
summer entertainments for the present season, it being the
35th year of their holding similar meetings. The next fete
given by the club will be at Richmond on the 20th July,
THE CIRCASSIAN EXODUS.—The committee an.
nounco that they yesterday transmitted £l,OOO to
Dr Millingen, as an instalment for the relief of the exiles
from Circassia. The committee cannot use better words,
in renewing their appeal to the public, than those of Sir
Henry Bulwer's despatch of May 3 :—" Still, it would
hardly be fitting for Turkey to seem to beg for this sum,
however great the necessity for it, and however noble and
useful the purpose on which it is to be employed. There
should be something like a movement to aid her. Surely
policy, humanity, public admiration for unexampled valour,
public pity for almost unexampled distress, would come in
to assist a cause to which no heart that has ever felt for
deeds of patriotic heroism could be insensible ?"
REFORM MEETING IN PETERBOROLIGH,—On
Wednesday evening a crowded meeting was held in
the Corn Exchange, Peterborough, on the question of par-
liamentary reform. The meeting was addressed by Mr
Whalley, M.P., and other speakers. Resolutions were
passed in favour of the LC) franchise, and it was resolved to
oeganise a reform association in the district. Cheers were
given at the close of the proceedings for Messrs. Gladstone
and Baines. Mr Hankey, one of the members for the City,
sent a le'cter apologising for his absence from the meeting,