The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-24 00:00:00

PRIVATEERING.

Mr. COBDEN called attention to the exploits of the
Oreto alias the Florida, the Alabama alias the 290, and
the Japan alias the Virginia. The hon. gentleman hav-
ing dwelt upon the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment
Act, and to the attacks which the above-named vessels had
made upon the merchandise of a friendly power, remarked
that every vessel which was captured by them was taken
note of by the American Government. In all cases the
value of the vessels sei,:;.,:d were taken by deposition on
oath, and in all eases a claim was made for compensation
on this country. The Government always resisted these
claims, but that was the most serious part of the matter,
and he contended that in such cases every man ought
to constitute himself a detective policeman in order
that these proceedings might be frowned down. By
every feeling of reciprocity towards the American people
we ought to strive to put down these illegal practices. He

thought there was 3;37 claim upon the 6overnm3nt to
la-event these armed vcaeols from leaving these ehores, On
this point he conatantly eaW fallacies running through the

speeches of Earl Russell and the Solicitor-General, for they
constantly confounded two things, the evidence necessary to
detain a vessel, and the evidence necessary to con In one
case a Confederate vessel went out with api is party ;
that was a most deceptive act, and the Gove nment might
have prevented it by putting a Custom- e officer on
board. He hoped that by no technica sion another
vessel for Confederate purposes would be a wed to escape
from these shores. The terrors of the civil war in Awe-

rica were frightful, but he hoped they would not be ex-
tended by any connection with it on our part. All he asked

for was neutrality. (Cheers.) Whatever might be the
issue of this dreadful war, let England keep clear of it.
His voice would be mute, and what he asked was that Eng-
land should be silent and sorrowful until this dreadful civil
war was over.

Mr. LAIRD denied that the Alabama went out of

Liverpool in an improper way.
Mr. COBDEN said he quoted Lord Russell.
Mr. LAIRD said he was not responsible for what Lord
Russell said. She went out of dock in the broad daylight.

Mr. COBDEN—Did she take a clearance?
Mr. LAIRD—She did not require a clearance.
THE lOMAN ISLANDS.

Lord J. MANNERS complained of the conduct of the
Foreign Office in excluding Turkey from the proposed con-
ference to whom is to be referred the cession of the Jordan
Islands to Greece. He should like to know whether Turkey
had made any demand to be admitted to the Conference.
lie considered that the cession of the lonian Islands was
the :nost unpolitic, uncalled for, prejudicial Act ever com-
mitted.
Conference would
the
theMCro. iernedbwefhoreethtehre
mtheeetinopginioofn
lonian Parliament ?
Lord PALMERSTON said he had listened with great
gentleman (Mr. Cobden), but it
attention to the hon.
appeared to him that he and her Majesty's Government,
and he thought the country at large, started on the consi-
deration of the matter from a different point. He (the
noble lord) looked upon the two parties as in arms against
each other, and as such, belligerents, and therefore entitled
to all the rights and privileges of belligerents. That which
was running in the head of the hon. gentleman, and which
guided his reasoning, as well as his feeling, was that the
Union was in legal existence, that there were not two belli-
gerents, but a legitimate Government, and a rebellion
against that Government. Now, what was the duty of a
neutral with regard to two belligerents ? The American
Government had laid it down for themselves, for they had
laid it down that a neutral might supply a belligerent with
ships, arms, ammunition, or any thing else, although they
might be important ingredients in naval and military
operations. The hon. gentleman complained that her
Majesty's Government had not taken proper steps in
this matter, but had rested upon information derived
from the American Minist3r. He could assure the hon. gen-
tleman that that was not the case, and he believed that the
hon. gentleman and the Federal Government were not en-
titled to say that the Government had omitted to do anything
by law they could do in reference to this matter. At the same
time he thought this country ought to enforce its law in these
matters as stringently as possible. With regard to the ques-
tion of the noble lord (Lord J. Manners)he said the Sultan was
not an acceding party to the protectorate. A treaty would be
signed by the Powers before the meeting of the lonian
Parliament.

CONSOLIDATED FUND (APPROPRIATION)
BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
AUGMENTATION OF BENEFICES BILL.

This bill, with some modifications, passed through com-
mittee.

The Rum Duty, the Clergyman (Colonies), the Super-
annuation (Union Officers), and the Alterations in Judges
Circuits Bills passed through committee.
The Colonial Acts Confirmation Bill was read a third
time and passed.
The sitting was then suspended.
At six 'o'clock the house resumed.