The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-06 00:00:00

FRANCE.

BOURSE, April 4.—The market was firm at the
opening of business, but sales for realisation have
since caused a slight retrograde movement, Threes,
for the Account, being now at 69f. 60c. Italian
Loan firm at 71f. 80c. Mobilier are rather lower.
Rsilway Share Market without much animation
The market closed as follows :

it per Cents .. 96
Do: end month....
3 per Cents
Do. end month 69 65
Nes, 3 per Cents
Do. end month —
Credit Mobilier 1370
Do. end m0nth...,1370

Bank Shares 3375 --
Credit oncier l5lO
Italian Loan 7l 80
Do. end month 7l 80

Russian
• Austrian
• Spanieh Threes 62 50
Home Debt .. 49 75
WAYS.

--
. Accont.
Orleans 1 Cash
100 .. 107,1
50
Northern ....
New ditto - . 1015 ..
Lyons and Mediterranean 1222 50 .. 1220
Geneva..
Southern
Western
Eastern ....
Sardinian
Austrian
Lon'bard
North of Spain
Saragossa 746 25 .. 745 --
Ditto to Barcelona

The Seizure of British Vessels by the
Federals.

A few days since the owners of the Peterhoff,
Springbok, and Magician steamers, which it will
be remembered were captured by the Federal crui-
sers while proceeding to the Mexican port of Mata-
moros, addressed Earl Russell, her Majesty's Secre
tary of State for the Foreign Department, upon the
illegal character of their seizure. Yesterday the
following reply was received by the owner of the
Springbok :

"Foreign-office, April 3, 1863.

" Sir,—l am now directed by Earl Russell to
make you acquainted with the conclusion at which,
having considered the communication with the law
officers of the Crown, your letter of the 26th of
March, requesting to be informed in regard to
the right of British vessels to trade with Meta-
mores, her Majesty's Government have arrived. The
Government of the United States has olaerly no right
to seize British vessels bona fide bound from this
country, or from any other British possession, to the
ports of Vera Cruz and Matamoras, or either of
them, or vice versa, unless such vessels attempt to
touch at, or having an intermediate or contingent
destination to, some blockaded port or place, or are
carriers of contraband of war destined for the Con-
federate States; and in any admitted case of such
unlawful capture, her Majesty's Government would
feel it their duty promptly to interfere, with a view
to obtain the immediate restitution of the ship and
cargo, with full compensation, and without the de-
lay of proceedings in a prize coart. Her Majesty's
Government, however, cannot, without violating
the rules of international law, claim for British ves-
sels navigating between Great Britain and these
places any general exemption from the belligerent
right of visitation by the cruisers of the United
States, nor can they proceed upon any general as-
sumption that such vessels may not so act as to ren-
der their capture lawful and justifiable. Nothing
is more common than for those who contemplate a
breach of blockade, or the carriage of contraband, to
disguise their purpose by a simulated destination
and by deceptive papers ; and the situation of the
ports on the coast of Mexico with reference to the
Confederate States is such as to make it not only
possible, but in many cases probable, that an osten-
sible Mexican destination would be resorted to as a
cover for objects which would really justify capture.
It has already happened in many cases that British
vessels have been seized while engaged in voyages
apparently lawful, which vessels have afterwards
been proved in the prize courts to have been really
guilty of endeavouring to break the blockade, or of
carrying contraband to the Confederates. It is the
right of the belligerent to capture all vessels rea-
sonably suspected of either of these transgressions
of international law, and whenever any such case of
capture is alleged the case cannot be withdrawn
from the consideration of the prize court of the
captor. After the case has undergone investigation,
it is the duty of the prize court to restore any such
prizes unlawfully made, with costs and damages,
and the proper time for the interference of
her Majesty's Government is, in general, when the
prize courts have refused redress for a capture
which the evidence shows to have been unjusti-
filhle. Her Majesty's Government cannot upon
ex parte statements deny the belligerents in this
war the exercise of those rights which in all wars
in which Great Britain has been concerned, she had
claimed herself to exercise.—l am, sir, your most
obedient servant,

" E, HAMMOND."

Respecting the seizure of the Peterhoff, his lord-
ship has intimated that Lord Lyons has been
directed to watch the proceedings now pending,
and to report to her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Charles Dickens will take the chair at the
dinner of the Printer's Pension Society. Mr. Wilkie
Collins was to have presided, but he is abroad, and in ill
health.