The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-18 00:00:00

own. The main points of which are these; firstly,
that it is lawful to seize contraband of war in neu-
tral vessels trading between neutral ports, provided
that such contraband may be hereafter destined for
an enemy; and, secondly, to seize and condemn the
vessel which carries these articles, as well as the
articles of free commerce forming the remainder of
the cargo. Were such a precedent once established
no vessel would be safe from sudden seizure, for, ac-
cording to the American SOLOMON, an article which
can be of service to a belligerent, not only for the
purposes of aggression and defence, but even for the
necessaries and luxuries of life, are, in many in-
stances, considered contraband. Again, how is it
possible for the master and supercargo of a mer-
chant vessel belonging to a neutral nation, and
carrying goods from a neutral owner to a neutral
consignee, to prove that at some' future time these
same goods, which are perfectly legitimate merchan-
dise betwee❑ neutral ports, may not come into the
possession of a belligerent ; and yet, unless this
practical impossibility can be accomplished to the
satisfaction of the captor, the vessel and her cargo
are to be forfeited on the evidence of the American
supposition that the ulterior destination of the cargo
may possibly be intended for a belligerent. Let
this extraordinary mode of dealing with the pro-
perty of friendly nations be admitted, and it would
be less injurious to the prosperity of a maritime
country to engage in any existing war, where, on the
strength of belligerent rights, its navy could protect
its commerce by force, instead of standing neutral
and permitting friendly cruisers to ruin the trade
of the nation. In the case of the Springbok the
seizure was made upon the alleged ulterior destina-
tion of the cargo. The Springbok sailed from
Liverpool, bound for Nassau, having a British cargo
on board, is February, 1863. She was captured
between these two neutral ports by the Federal
steamer Sonoma, when it was discovered that,
amongst a general cargo of the value of some
£66,226, there were two cases of buttons, a few kegs
of nitrate of potash for curing of provisioes,
and a couple of dozen swords and bayonets,
amounting to the value of £225. The
buttons in question, which constituted the greater
portion of the condemned articles, were adjudged
contraband because they were marked C. S. N.,
which letters, the sagacious Tudge BETTS stoutly
maintained, could not signify anything but Confe-
derate States Navy. But that the result of the
trial of the Springbok has been her unjustifiable
condemnation, and must lead to the most disastrous
consequences sooner or liter, we might feel inclined
to laugh at such a thorough down east conclusion.
As it is, the position of a neutral consigner of cargo
is not enviable; he may please himself as to the
course he adopts, but the result will be the same in
any case. He may either declare that the cargo is
destined, after being landed at a neutral port, to
be forwarded at some indefiaite time to a belligerent,
or that it is a bona fide consignment for the use of a
neutral. In the first instance the cargo is at once
condemned ; in the other, the ship's papers are
pronounced to be simulated, because they do
not set forth that the cargo is intended
to be subsequently forwarded to a belligerent
port. Credat Judaus Why, it reminds
us of the fable where, in dividing the spoil,
the one sportsman thus addresses his compa-
nion :—" Have it any way you like—either I'll
take the partridge and you the owl, or you take the
owl and I'll take the partridge." " That sounds
quite fair," replied the other, "but it seems to me
that I shall get the owl anyway." So it is with
Judge BETTS' international law. Where is this
national disgrace to end?

Shakspere Events of the Coming Week,

(From the Athenceunz.)
On Monday, in the afternoon, there will be a meeting of
bankers and merchants at the Mansion House, to hear
addresses from Mr, Cowper and Mr. Tite, on behalf of the
Shakspere Committee, the Lord Mayor presiding. In the
evening there will be a performance of " The Merchant of
Venice" at Sadler's Wells, for the benefit of the Monu-
ment Fund. Miss Marriott and G. V. Brooke will sustain
the principal parts; Mr. Buckstone will appear in the
farce of " Box and Cox ;" and Mr. George Cruikahank and
Miss Heraud will play the dagger scene from " Macbeth."
On the same evening a Sbakspere concert will be given by
the Philharmonic Society, at which Miss Banks and Mr.
Lockey will sing, and Signor Sivori will perform Mendels-
sohn's violin concerto.

On Thursday evening a festival concert and dramatic
entertainment will be given at the Agricultural Hall, at
which Mesdames Lemmens Sherrington, Sainton-Dolby,
arid Parepa, Messrs. Reeves and Weiss, with many others,
will sing ; and Mr. Phelps will read the first act of Shake-
pere's " Tempest,"
On Friday, a grand concert will be given, under the di-
rection of M. Jules Benedict, at St. James's Hall. The
most eminent of our musical artists will give their ser-
vices,

On Saturday morning, the London trade societies will
assemble on Primrose Hill—from that day to be popularly
known as Shakspare Hill—where the bands of her Ma-
jesty's Household Brigade will execute some of the most
favourite Shakspere music. A space of ground will be
marked off on the southern slope, by direction of the Chief
Commissioner of Public Works, in which the working men
will plant an oak sapling from Windsor Forest in memory
of the day. The procession will then form and march
round the tree. _ _ .

In the evening these societies will assemble in the Agri-
cultural Hall, Islington, to witness a Shaksperian Concert
and Recital, At Drury-lane, the "First Part of Henry
the Fourth" will be performed. At the Haymarket,
"Twelfth Night," with " Venus and Adonis" as after.
piece. At the Princess's " Comedy of Errors." Perform-
ances in commemoration of Shakspere, and for the benefit
of the Monument Fund, will also take place at the New
Adelphi and the St. James's Theatres. At the Surrey
Theatre will be given the " Second Part of Henry the
Sixth." On the same day there will be a festival at the
Crystal Palace, for which a temporary monument has been
erected in the gardens; and a banquet, at which Lord
Carlisle is announced to preside, at Stratford.

PRESENT OF GUNS TO THE KING OF DENMARK.—
The Hampshire Independent of Saturday states that
Mr Waterman, a working man lesiding at Shirley, near
Southampton, lately addressed a letter to Viscount Palmer-
ston, asking his lordship whether it would be proper for him
to present to the King of Denmark a small park of artillery
of which he is the owner. To this application Mr Waterman
received a reply, which the Independent publishes, together
with a subsequent correspondence which passed between
this patriotic Englishman and General Knollys 10,
Downing-street, April 6, 1864. Sir,—I am desired by Lord
Palmerston, in reply to your letter of the 3d inst., to say
that he dues not conceive there would be any impropriety
in your giving to the Danish Government the guns which
you describe, but Viet he should be inclined to
am tethtinhke
pro-
servant, the Danish Government is sufficiently supplied with field
artillery, —llv.r.wemaatienrmyaoriu,rEsoqb:e,dien,,t servant, EVELYN
prietor of the small park of artillery represented above,
consisting of 14 4-pounder field-pieces, properly mounted,
together with two gun carriages. They have been used
upon I
many
have
loyal
had
them,an d festive a
proof occasionsf o
whichdul
haveing the
expended seven
years
upon those occasions more than a ton and a half of gun-
powder. They have been inspected by many military men,
who have pronounced them to be faultless, My object,
Sir, in now addressing you is to request you will do me the
favour to represent to his Royal Highness the Prince of
Wales that it is my wish and desire to present them to his
Majesty the King of Denmark. 1 feel, in common with a
very large number of my countrymen, that his Majesty
is nobly sustaining the nonour of his country in the un
equal strife in which he is now engaged, and nothing would
afford me more pleasure than to be allowed as a proof of my
sympathy to be permitted to carry out my wishes. I hive
written to, and received a reply from, Lord Palmerston,
stating that he could see no impropriety in my presenting
them to the Danish Government, and I should feel greatly
13.,nourtd by rec •iving the sanction of his Royal Highness
the Prince of Wales. I am only a working man, and in but
humble circumstances, but will hope that my motives may
nevertheless be rightly appreciated.—l remain, sir, your
humble and obedient servant, WM. WATER3IAN. General
Knnllys." " Sandringham, King's Lynn, April 12, 1864.
Sir,—l have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the
10th inst., with the offer of a small park of artillery for the
use of the King of Denmark, and have laid it before the
Prince of Wales. His Royal Highness has desired me to
forward your letter to a general officer in the King of Den-
mark's household, which I have done this day, and will not
fail to communicate to you any Teply I may receive should
the General employ me as the medium of conveying his
Majesty's pleasure.—l remain, sir, your obedient servant,
W, IiNoLLYs, Mr, Waterman,l',

LATEST INTELLIGENCE

LE EUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

FRANCE.

LETTER OF THE EMPEROR TO M. FOULD.
PARIS, APRIL 18.

The Emperor has addressed the following letter,
dated the 15th inst., to the Minister of Finance:—
" The happy solution of the Mexican affair creates
in me a desire to see the country profit by the
first repayment of the expenses of the war by
diminishing the taxes on landed property.

" Be good enough, therefore, to see if it be not
possible to effr-ct the immediate suppression of the
second decime registration fee, only preserving of
the general law prepared by the Council of State
those arrangements sr hieh may be strictly neces-
sary for balancing the budget. This measure, to-
gether with the hopes of peace, which every day
become more certain, will contribute I trust to the
development of public prosperity."
The Illoniteur of this morning publishes the fol.
lowing telegram ;--

VERA. CRUZ, MARLS 19.

There is no military news. The army of Juarez
no longer exists, Juarez himself being a fugitive.
His whereabouts is unknown.

There are only some bands of plunderers wander-
ing about the country.

THE NEW MEXICAN LOAN.
PARIS, APRIL 18.
The subscriptions to the new Mexican Loan
are already very large.
The scrip is quoted li per cent premium.

FINE ARTS,
Institute of Painters in Water Colours,

(THIS DAY.)

The Thirtieth Annual Exhibition of the New
Society of Painters in Water Colours—the Society
tbueded in 1831, under the patronage of her Most
Gracious Majesty the Queen, and re-christened a
season or two back as the Institute of Painters in
Water Colours—opened this morning to the general
public; the private view of the Gallery having
been duly afforded to that critics and the privileged
few on Saturday. Against the effect of the pictures
at the private view, the gloomy atmosphere of
Saturday militated very considerably. While it
did so, however, it had something of compensation
in the fact of its also thinning the customary throng
in attendance. The seasonable. transformation of the
weather to-day has had, of course, a totally contrary
result in each particular. The effect of the collection
is enlivened by the brilliant influence of the change
of weather, while the genial spring air and the
April sunahine have tempted into the Gallery of the
Society during this afternoon a crowd of visitors,
eager to inspect the works there displayed upon
the walls by the competing contributors. From
what could be seen of the collection, through the
gloom of Saturday and through the throng of toe
day, it is manifest that the Exhibition for the pre-
sent season may vie in many respects with the most
successful of its predecessors. There are not many,
though there unquestionably are some, among the
pictures in this collection of the very highest merit
as works of art—works achieved through this exqui-
site medium, that is, through the medium of water
colours, handled as those water colours are in the
select instance referred to, by some of the most
skilled and gifted among our living water
colourists, 'While, however, there are but
very few in this highest class of water colour pic-
tures—there are fewer this season than usual of
those more mediocre and insignificant contributions,
ordinarily making up the bulk of our annual art
exhibitions. The few inure nunepleituus ptclures
in the gallery this year we can alone now find
either leisure or space to particularise. Among the
foremost of them, by reason of its ambitious character,
is Mr. Henry Tidey's "Night of the Betrayal" (No.
253), an import int work, in three cooapartir eats,
suggested probably by Paul do la It ache's renowned
Good Friday pictures. Mr. Louis Heghe's two
pictures this year, for he has only two pictures in
the exhibition, Nos. 38 and 83, are worthy of him :
the former representing " Torquato 'lasso Sealing
an Asylum in the Convent of St. Onofrio, at 1-tome,"
the latter a splendid production, the interior of
" I'he Cathedral of Munster." No. 100 in the
catalogue will—trite though its theme—the por-
trait-painting in. the " Vicar of Wakefield"—be
turned to with interest and from with reluctance,
it being a sufficiently favourable specimen of Mr.
John Absolon. As for No. 282, knowing what is
the subject and who the painter (the former a scene
from Tennyson's " Morte d'A rthur," the latter, Mr.
Corbould), the visitor to the Gallery will not marvel
at the difficulty he has in obtaining anything like a
satisfactory peep tit it. Another favourite painter,
Mr. Augustus Bouvier, attracts more nume.
roue admirers than usual this eason—to
one, of his contributions especially, meaning
No. 184. Where the lovely Maids of Honour sung
of by Alexander Pope—radiant butterflies, not
mere houseflies, congealed in the an her of his verse
—the coquettish Bellendea and her gay compeeresses
are portrayed with a brush of bewitching grace and
fascination. Mr. Carl Werner has, according to his
wont, a number of resplendent Oriental sketches.
Mrs. Margetts, with her plums, in No. 92, touches
our sense of taste almost through the palate, and
with her !Haw and laburnums, in No. 26, almost one
might venture to say, gratifies our sense of taste
through the nostrils—so blooming are the spring
flowers there in their effiareecence. Mr. Aaron
Penley dazzles us, is No. 29 (hard by the lilacs),
with a radiant sunset at Windermere ; and Mr,
Whymper makes us long for a stroll through the
meadows by a glance at his (No. 257) Haymaking.
Altogether (we are tempted to repeat) the contents
of the gallery at 53, Pall. Mall, this season are in
the highest degree satisfactory. It should be ob•
served, however, in justice to ourselves, that we
have restricted our remarks to-day to the merest
pick from among the more meritorious contributions
to the walls of the Exhibition.

GENERAL GARIBALDI AT MELAZZO.—A picture,
painted by the celebrated Italian artist, Signor
Panebianco, is now on view at Messrs. Moore and
Macqueen's gallery in Fenchnrch-street, represent-
ing General Garibaldi at the battle of Melazzo. The
General is represented leading the attack, and
although the incident is depicted with spirit, there
is evidence of hurry in the execution of the work
which detracts somewhat from i:s general appear-
ance. The picture, notwithstanding, will be sure
to attract crowds of visitors.

Mr. Jerry Barrett's Drawing. Room picture was
privately exhibited on Saturday at 28, New Bond-
street. It represents a scene at Buckingham Palace,
and in the portraiture of the celebrities Mr. Barrett
has been peculiarly happy. The harmony of colour
is very beautiful, and a more interesting•specimen
of fine art has not been presented to the public for
a long time.

AN AFTERNOON AT HAMPTON COURT.—This is
the title of a picture, painted by Mr. Lucy, now on
view at the Egyptian Hall. It represents the Lord
Protector, Olivcr Cromwell, surrounded by his
family. The chief figures are well executed, and the
minute details are carefully fiaished. The painting
is a work of real excellence.

The number of visitors at the :Crystal Palace
on Saturday was as follows :—Admissions on payment,
16,884; ditto by season tickets, 7,407—t0ta1, 24,291.
MASSACRE OF POLES.—A Warsaw letter says :
—" A terrible but authentic pieceof news has come
to hand. In the western por►ion of the Government of
Warsaw ate three villages almost exclusively inhabited by
Russian peasants, only a few families of Poles remaining
there. An official report states that all these latter have
been massacred without exception by the Russian peasants,
who also set fire to the houses of their victims. The cure
of the Catholic church, the only one remaining in the three
villages, shared the fate of his parishioners, having been
thrown into the flames by the Russians.",