The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-23 00:00:00

THE STEAMSHIP SEA QUEEN.

The following correspondence has passed bet weer
the owners of the steamship Sea Queen, now wait'
ing to sail for Matamoras, and Mr. Adams, th(
United States Minister in London. It appears teal
as Mr, Adams, in his certificate granted to the NO
York contractor, Mr. Howell, and the Mexican offi
cer, Gen. Zirman, had stated that he had pleasure
in giving a certificate to any parties engaged in at
honest neutral trade, the owners of the Sea Queen
considered themselves entitled to apply for a similar
protection, provided they could satisfy Mr. Adams
that that vessel is honestly destined for a neutral
port with a cargo totally free from a single package
that could be liable to the shadow of an objection
that it is not a fair article of honest commerce. In
reply, however, they have been informed by Mr.
Adams that they are under a misconception as to
the course he has heretofore tkken, and that he hag
no authority to exercise any discretion in regard
either to the vessels or voyages of her Alsj,sty's
subjects. But his Excellency does not, state
that the certificate to Messrs. Howell and Zirman
was a forgery, and it is then fore diffi-talt to under-
stand wherein consists the misconception to which
he alludes. Messrs. Howell and Zirman tat- not
British subjects, but Mr. Adams can hardly intend
to intimate that he is anxious by means of his car•
tificates to secure a monopoly of the trade be-
tween Mexico and this country for Americans
tnd Mexicans, or for British shipowners who
will employ Americans or Mexicans to make

interest for them. In the certificate which
has been quoted he made no allusion to
questions of nationality, but simply announced the
cheerfulness with which he was prepared to assist
honest parties. Under these circumstances, there
can be little doubt that although the Sea Queen 1.5
not engaged for such. a purpose as that which Mr.
Adams has pronounced to be especially" credit-
able"—namely, the transport of arms and ammunl"
tion to enable the Mexicans to resist the attempt°
of the French Government to obtain redress for
long series of outrages—the public will consider
that ht r owners were not seeking any undue favour
in puttng forward their present solicitation. It 1°
true that Mr. Adams seeks to console them with
the assurance that they are certain to obtain pro-
tection from their own Government, but indicatione
that have transpired during the past few days leave
room to doubt whether on that point he is not
dulging in a little irony :
" 2, Cowper's-court, Cornhill, E.C., April 21, 1813.
" Sir,—Reterring to your letter to Mr. Gourley, in which
you state it is not the wish of the United States Govern-
ment to subject honest traders to any inconvenience, and to
the fact that you have recently granted a cerficate to the
naval dicer in command of the United States squadron,
in favour of a vessel proceeding to Matamoras, I would re•
spectfully ask you to give me a similar certificate in favour
of the steamship Sea Queen, which vessel is about proceed•
ing to Matamoras with a cargo of merchandise.
" To satisfy you that the venture is perfectly legitimate
I am prepared to submit to you the manifest of the
cargo, all the documents embodying the arrangements under
which the ship proceeds on the voyage to ;Matamoros and
back, and to wait upon you for the purpose of affording you
any further information or explanations you may desire.
" Not wishing to withhold anything, I think it is as wen
to mention that the Sea Queen was formerly called the
Lloyd's, and that, when sailing under that name, she sue"
cessfully ran the blockade into and out of Charleston ; bat
this circumstance cannot, of course, affect the present voyage
or the present owners, she having changed ownership since
that occasion.

"To satisfy you that the vessel is intended bona Fide, t 0
proceed to and return from Matamoras, I should be quite
willing that any person you may think proper to appoint
should proceed to Matamoras, in the vessel, at ray expellee:
"In making this application, I trust you witl res"
assured that I am influenced by no other consideration tball
a desire to afford you the opportunity of averting a repeti•
tion of the ptoceeoings with the l'eterhoff.
" As the steamer is lying at Falm,,uth ready to Bail I beg
the favour of an early reply.
" I have the honour to bt-, Sir, your most obedient,
" JOSEPH SPENCE, of Pi ep Spence, and Co.
" To the Hon. Chaves F. Adams, Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary tram the United
Stat s of America."

"Legation of the United States, London, April 22, 1863'
" Sir,—l have to acknowledge the reception of your note
dated yesterda . I regret to perceive that you labour tinder
a misc, nception of the course taken by me heretofore. 1/
must be obvious to you that I have no authcrily to exerciEe
any discrimination in regard eithtr to the vesseis or the
voyages of her Majesty's subjects. When they are engage°
in legal undtrtakin, s, they have a right to rely upon the
protecti .n o her G,,vernment, and th. y will undoubted',
obtain is from her, or ask it trom a representative of the
United States.—l am, Sir, your obedient servant, ,
" CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.'