The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-31 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, IVES DAY EVENING, MARCH 31, 1863.

the glory of Glasgow University be it said, the
veteran statesman, now as First Minister of the
Crown of Great Britain, wielding the rod of empire
over the world-wide regions owning allegiance to
Que©n VICTORIA.
Physically even, certainly intellectually, the
newly installed Lord Rector of the University
of Glasgow must perforce be regarded in the light of
a phenomenon. In the vitality of his extended and
long-sustained reputation he is so, and that within
the distinct recognition of us all, When many of the
political characters surrounding Lord PALMERSTON
or confronting him, members, more or less eminent'
of his Government, or men numbered in the ranks
of the Opposition, were yet unborn, Lord PALMER-
STON—StiII to this day as vivacious in intellect, and
bearing, and temperament, as the youngest
amongst them, was already in office as an admi-
nistrator—high in office—a Cabinet Minister! He
has long since arrived at an age when we might
speak of him, regarcEng him simply through his age,
as Venerable. We are almost led to doubt, by this
time, however, whether it would be possible to
apply that appellation to Lord PALMERSTON
at any age, without exciting by such an
application of the word, a certain sense of
incongruity. There is too much go in the veteran
Premier, for him ever, as yet at least, to be spoken of
otherwise than jocularly as venerable. He seems
to have quaffed of some perennial fountain—to have
had a sip, at any rate, of the Secret Elixir. None
so gaily, so lightly, plays and trifles with the every
mood of the House of Commons, or wields a more
careless mastery over any miscellaneous auditory.
Another illustration-upon-illustration of which
fact Glasgow had the opportunity of recognising
yesterday afternoon ands yesterday evening
at the Installation and at the Banquet.
Neither the inaugural address, nor the
more brief and careless after-dinner harangue
affected to be in any one sentence an oration care-
fully prepared by a master rhetorician. The former
was admirably well considered nevertheless through-
out, though it bore, at the same time, all the
appearance of being extempore or unpremeditated.
The two speeches in effect, widely contrasting as
they do, the one with the other, were excellently
to the purpose. Could any thing have been in a
nobler strain than the following ?—" Our solar
system, as is well known, forms but an insignificant,
a comparatively insignificant, part in that great
universe of which, on a starlight night, we see some
portion exposed to our view, and the study
of the mechanism of the universe is a study which
leads the mind to the most exalted thoughts—
which expands our considerations more than any
other, and which, although it is not decided by cer-
tain results which have been maintained in the
study of our own solar system, yet I believe
enough is known to excite the wonder and the ad-
miration of those who are acquainted with it. Let
it not be said that these studies direct the mind
from the practical precepts of religion. Oa the
contrary, I maintain that they tend to strengthen
and confirm that faith which is inculcated by our
revealed religion. If when, on the one hand, we con-
template those marvellous arrangements extending
over space indefinite, and comprising worlds innu-
merable with order and arrangement, that nothing
but the most supreme wisdom could have established,
when we contemplate in the first place the arrange-
ments for our systems, when we consider the mul-
titudes of suns and worlds even beyond the range
of the telescopic power of man, and are made sen-
sible of the comparative insignificance of every-
thing that belongs to this earth, this speck of crea-
tion; and if there is any man who, in the con-
sciousness of genius, in the enjoyment of wealth,
in the possession of genius, is inspired by feelings
of vanity and pride when he reflects that the
world which he treads upon is a mere speck
in creation, and that he himself is an immeasur-
Ale atom in that speck, these thoughts must tend
to lower that pride, to divest him of that
vanity, and to teach him veneration and humility
in his position." The effect of these impressive
words we will not mar by adding here one syllable
of further comment upon those proceedings of yes-
terday, which must have been hardly less gratify-
ing to all who took part in them, than to Lord
PALMERSTON himself, the Hero of the Day.

STUN was not the Minister of Austria, not the
Minister of France but the Minister of England.
The two noble lords are together now as then in the
Cabinet, with the exception that they have changed
places, as Foreign Secretary and Premier. The
honour of our country seems left to take care of itself
and to be always considered secondary to the least
notion of offending other States, of provoking their
prejudices, and rousing their passions. This is
quite a mistake, since it is the same with nations as
with individuals, a decided manner and an unhesi-
tating line of action never give half the provoca-
tion that a timid and vacillating line of conduct is
sure to create at last. The inconsistency of the
Federals is amazing; they find it very convenient
co forget or ignore their own acts on former occa-
sions. During the Crimean war they ected as
purveyors to the Russians. They fitted out a frigate
and sent her to Petropaulowski, commanded by a
United States lieutenant. At present also they
have imported arms and munitions of war from
British ports, and are still doing so to a far greater
extent than the Confederate Government have been
able to do, and they now complain that a firm at
Birkehhead have built a single ship for the South-
ern Government. It appears easy for them to
forget that they themselves endeavoured to enter
into a contract with the same firm to build somo
half• dozen gunboats. It is evident that all these
sontretemps and misunderstandings arise from
r. he shortsighted policy of oar Government
in not having recognised the Southern States
at the outst of hostilities. Since in the
American War of Independence England was
forced to acknowledge the right of her
transatlantic colonies to eiecede from her rule, on
what grounds can Earl RUSSELL refuse an ( qual right
to a porti mof the same States. This is a question
that time must answer, but in the meantime many
and great are the evils that have accrued from the
want of due care and consideration that characte-
rised the proceedings of our Government at the
outset of this war.

defence reserve their sy:rpithies for the lonely
woman, suddenly roused in the dead of the night,
whoae natural cries for help and protection were
met by the murderer's savage blows. If
capital punishment is not to be iefl cted for
murder, let the fact be openly declared,
but in cases like the present let the
punishment which the law has awarded to the
crime of murder, whatever that punishment be, be
inflicted without mitigation. The lives and pro-
perty of solitary and defenceless persons will always
run risk enough from reckless and desperate ruf-
fians like these. Surely, then, the law should,
in such cases, even stretch a point in their
favour, and juries should not trifle with the noble
prerogative entrusted to them, by accompanying
their just condemnation of such ruthless crimes
with that recommendation to mercy which should
only be reserved for strongly extenuating circum-
stances.

DENMARK.

tin /I • DI EN CIATIITAT.

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, March 30.

The Queen, accompanied by her Royal High-
ness the Princess Louis of Hesse, drove ont this
morning. Lieut.-Colonel Hon. D. de Rcs, Equerry
in Waiting, attended on horseback.

AUSTRIA.

SPAIN.

The administration of English criminal law has
long been held to be one of the principal glories
of our country. We are fond of boasting that
among us the strong arm of the law protects the
very meanest, while justice is tempered with mercy
in a degree that becomes the humanity and civili-
sation of our age. Yet there are occasional diecre-
pancies in our practice which might go far to
modify our comfortable self-gratulation. The error
of excessive severity was the mistake of our fore-
fathers, until our criminal code was happily re-
modelled, thanks to the humane efforts of SAMUEL
ROMILLY and other labourers in the cause of pro-
gress. The evil consequences of the Draconian
system cues in favour, which placed on one level the
murder and the pickpocket alike; which could find
no other punishment than death for the starving
wretch who stole a few shillings, and the deliberate
poisoner who took inch by inch the life of his victim,
aro now so deeply felt that there is some danger of
our rushing to the opposite extreme. Wise and
good men differ, and have good grounds for differ-
ing, about the infliction of capital punishment for
any crime whatever; but, so long as the sentence
of death forms part of our penal code, so
long ought that penalty to be inflicted in
cases of cruel and deliberate murder, if we
would hope to invest the law with any salutary
terrors. The pardon of SMETHURST was an exten-
sion of the prerogative much to be regretted, as it
doulrless afforded encouragement to many secret
poisoners. He had been condemned, after a long
and careful investigation, in the course of which
every opportunity for defence was accorded him ;
and when the delibereee verdict of an English jury,
and the sentence of an experienced judge, were
practicay revoked by the Ministers of the Crown'
the affect of such interference was certain to be a
diminution of the popular respect for the law. The
generation which has acquitted THOMAS SMETH-
URST and CELESTINA SOMMERS can hardly be
accused of excessive severity, but the question is
whether, in its lenity to the murderer, it is suffi-
ciently considerate of the interests of the weak and
defenceless members of society.
The privilege which is accorded to juries of ap-
pending to their verdict a recommendation to
mercy is a very right and wise one. Many cases
may arise where the commission of an illegal act
is indisputably proved, but where the culprit's
youth and previous good character, the extreme
provocation received, or other extenuating circum-
stances, may fairly be taken into consideration.
In such instances the jury are bound, of course, to
give their verdict in accordance with the evidence,
but they feel that the case is an exceptional one,
and are unwilling that it should be treated with
the same severity as an act of premedi-
tated crime. Sometimes, however, the lenity
of juries exceeds their judgment, if we
may judge by a case which was yesterday heard
before Mr. Baron MARTIN on the Northern
Circuit. Four men were arrested for being con-
cerned in a murder at Ribchester near Preston.
One of them died suddenly in prison, another was
admitted as approver, and the remaining two were
brought up for trial. It appears from the evidence
~hat the deceased was a widow who kept a small
farm and beerhouse, living by herself. She em-
ployed a servant, who, on coming to his work one
morning found his mistress's door fastened, and his
suspicions being aroused, he searched the house,
e,hich he soon found had been ransacked. On
opening the door of the widow's room she was found
dead in her bed, with her hands tied to the bed-
post, and a handkerchief tightly fastened round ht r
neck. According to the confession of the approver.
he and his companions concealed themselves in a
barn belonging to the deceased on the night h
question until after twelve, when they forced one
of the windows, and entered the house. After
searching below, and helping themselves to what
they could find, they went up to the widow's room
Ind demanded of her where her money was kept.
rhe unfortunate woman, thus roughly aroused, began
screaming for help, when, according to the ap-
prover's evidence, he held her, and the others
beat her about the head in the most brutal
manner. Having secured her in the way
before stated, and apparently finished their task by
strangling her, they proceeded to ransack the house,
and, having found £lB, divided it among them and
departed. With the evidence of one of the gang
before them, the jury could not of course do other-
wise than find the prisoners geilty. This verdict.
however, thay thought proper to couple with a re•
commendation to mercy, upon what grounds we
confess ourselves unable to see. If it be on
the plea that the murder was not in-
tentional, their argument is scarcely tenable.
Four men beating an elderly woman violently on
the head, and tying a handkerchief " very tight
round her throat," have certainly every reason for
supposing that the death of their victim will
result. There is no ground that we can see for
giving them the benefit of the doubt. Surely the
law is mainly intended for the protection of those
who cannot help themselves, for the remedy of
those abuses Which existed when might was left
to settle the cause of right. Why should ruffians
like these be suffered to escape the full penalty of

The Federals seem resolved to continue their one-
sided policy. They carry out the same system in
war as in slavery, one law for themselves and an-
other for other parties. The news of another illegal
seizure makes one wonder at what they will stop, and
if any limits will ever be put to their cupidity and
arrogance. The accounts furnished by the captain
of the Magicienne reveal an astonishing imperti-
nence on the part of the officer of the Onward,
• hough, doubtless, he will be considered as a model
for others in the same capacity, and a gallant up-
holder of the rights of the Federal flag. With such
individuals as this officer, acting on such instruc-
tions, nothing appears to be of any use whatever in
the way of remonstrance. In vain the captain of
the suspected vessel prcffered most ample proof of
his innocence of the charge imputed to him.
Nothing he said was believed and nothing he showed
in evidence was accepted in good faith. Some of the
extracts from his vary concise summary will best
explain how matters stood, and give evidence of the
' glaring want of consistency, and the absence of all
courtesy which characterised the proceedings.
"After seeing the ship's papers, they went down
the forehold. After finishing there, they ordered me
into their boat; at the time it was blowing fresh and
a heavy sea, and I was in danger of being swamped
alongside. I mentioned that to the officer ; he told
me it was his orders, and I must go on board the
United States ship Onward. After getting on board
that ship the master came to me and said the M agi-
cienne did once belong to Charleston. I told him
she never did, she had always been an English ship.
He then said to me my cargo was for the Seces-
sionists."

Credit D 1 obilier.. 1285
Do, end m0nth....1285

RAIL

Further on we meet with similar proceedings.
" The officer told the first lieutenant he had seen
Papers since he had been on board, and he thought
the ship was cleared from England all right. I
showed the other papers to the captain, and he said
he would send the vessel to Port Royal ; but the
officer in charge said you may go on board ;' and
that he would follow Magicienne all night, and
settle all in the morning. Thursday—l told him
ho had used the flag and the ship very bad. He
said, "Captain, if your papers are right you will be
paid, but I take her on E>uspieion ; your papers
may be forged.'" Surely, this is going rather
too far, even for Americans, when treat-
ing with English Captains, or indeed with
any one sailing under an English flag. It is quite
time that our vacillating foreign policy was ex-
changed for something a little worthier a. nation
supposed to be the monarch of the seas. Also the
% days seem gone by when our countrymen could
share the privilege of the ancients. " Civis
Romantts Sum" was a passport from one
end of the world to the other, but
it is otherwise with us at present. The
flag that has braved, a thousand years the battle
and the breeze, must now be no safeguard and prove
no sanctity against invasion and insolence. This is
enough to make the attentive watcher of events
doubt the truth of that far famed Taunt of Lord

J 01IN RUSSELL in days of yore that Lord PALMER- their crime P Let those who wouid vead in ILtir LATEST INTELLIGENCE
The Capture of the Peteltoff,
(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

PREPARATION OF AN EXPEDITION
FOR VENICE.
BEItNE, MARCH 30.
According to official reports received from Turin
by the Federal Council, the party of action is
preparing an expedition for Venice in the Grisons
and Tessin.

COPENHAGEN, MARCH 30, EVENING.

The Berhngske Tidende of this evening publishes
a semi-official article, announcing that Russia and
France approve the candidature of Prince William
of Denmark for the throne of Greece.

The same paper states that Prince Christian and
Earl Russell have both inquired of the King of
Denmark whether the candidature would have his

Majesty's sanction.
The King will receive Mr. Paget, the British
Minister, to-morrow, to communicate his decision.
His Majesty does not seem disinclined to give his
consent, provided Prince Christian and Prince
William desire the arrangement. His Majesty will,
however, distinctly reserve further conditions, espe-
cially with regard to Prince William's right of suc-
cession to the Danish throne.

VIENNA, MARCH 31.

The Vienna papers of this morning state that at
a conference between Count Rechberg, the Duc de
Grammont, the French Ambassador, and Lord
Bloomfield, the?AmbassadQr for Englund, it was
agreed to address simultaneously an identical note
to the Russian Govf rn men t, recommending the
speedy introduction in Noland of seasonable re-
forms.

MADRID, MARCH 30 (Evening).

The friends of the Marquis de Mirafllres assert
that the new Ministry will endeavour to conciliate
parties and factions desirous of furthering the
welfare of the nation, and willing to forget former
differences.

CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 31.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Ripon has arrived here with the heavy portion of
the above mails, 89 passengers, £670 in specie, and
1,224 packages of cargo, including raw silk, valued
at £lOO,OOO. The Ripon left Gibraltar on the 26th
inst.

Violent easterly gales prevailed at Gibraltar from
the 23d to the 25th inst., causing several slight
disasters among the shipping.
Exchanges and freights at Gibraltar are un-
alterel

FRANCE.
PARIS, MARCH 31.

The Paris papers of to day publish a telegram
from Constantinople of yesterday's date, asserting
that a Christian village near Latakia had been pil-
laged, and that the Druses of Hauran had attacked
the regular Turkish troops.
PARIS, MARCH 30.
The Nation of this evening, in an article signed
by its editorial secretary, says--
. . .

" While the Polish insurrection maintains itself
by scattering its farces, it becomes more difficult to
suppress. France and England seek, in common,
a solution that Austria will be able to accept with-
out disquieting the other Powers interested.
" This question has therefore entered a diplomatic
phase, and the result must be awaited without too
much impatience.
" We believe we can state that France and Eng-
land agree upon the end to be attained, and it is
probable that Austria will not delay entering the
same path. We need not dwell upon the impor-
tance of this fact,"

Le Coizstztutionnel formally contradicts the ru-
mours recently afloat as to the serious illness of the
Count de Sartiges, the Emperor's Ambassador at
Turin. His Excellency's health is completely re-
established.

Le Seicle announces that M. Godin has been
selected by the Society of Acclimatization, to
sculpture the marble statue about to be erected in
the Bois de Boulogne in honour of Daubenton, who
first introduced the merino sheep into France.

Le Pays tells us that Marshal Baraguay
d'Hilliers has issued an order of the day, intimating
that upon the 20th pros. he will officially take
command of the camp at Chalons.
L' Opinion Nationale looks more cheerfully and
hopefully to-day upon the character of the news
now arriving, as one may say (thanks to the electric
telegraph) momentarily, from the seat of war in
Russian-Poland ! Chiefly in consequence of the
recent successes of Padleski, who has not only
defeated the Russian troops, but has since then
effected, in the neighbourhood of Loncza, his
junction with Kochanowski.
BOURSE, March 30.—The market has been in a
very agitated state. Threes commenced at a decline
on the closing rates of Saturday, and a retrograde
movement immediately after set in, without any
political cause beibg assigned, which brought them
down to 69f. 20c., at which they now are. Railway
Shares are also generally offered, and prices are
lower. The retrograde movement continued to the
close, and left off as follows:—
it per Cents. 96 35
Do. end month
3 per Cents
Do. end month 69 05
New 3 per Cents ~
Do. end month—. ,

Bank Shares 3380
Credit h oncier 1480
Itdlian Loan 7O 90
Do. end month 7l --
Russian
Austrian
Spanish Threes 52
Home Debt

AYS.
Cash. Account.
Orleans. •• •
Northern -
Now ditto — .•
Lyons and Mediterranean 1215 .. 1215
Geneva 420 .. 427 50
Southern
Western .. 548 75 .. 548 75
!;astern ....... ~. 580 -- .. 535 --
Sardinian 4lO .. 417 50
Austrian
Lowberd
North of Spain
Saragossa 730 .. 722 50
Ditto to Barcelona

LIVE IT DOWN.—In its notice of Mr. Jeaffre-
son's new novel, " Live It Down" (a second edition
of which has just appeared), the Athenalum says :--This
story will satisfy most readers ; it is lull, well considered,
and well worked out. The plot is broad, and the interest
goes on increasing to the last page. The story is extremely
well constructed. It is by far the best work of fiction ➢lr.
Jeaffreson has yet written. The characters are in al h❑man
beings, masked with individual character, and we recom-
mend our readers to make an acquaintance with them for
themselves. The episode of ' Little Fan,' the physician's
daughter, may take .ts place beside little Durabey for its
pathos."

TIIE IRoN DUKE ON LOVE.—In reply to an ap-
olica ion on behalf of a young ady to sand home a
major on active duty in .the ninsula, for whom she felt
so ardent an afrecti,,n that her life would, it was supposed,
be placed in danger it her wishes should not be acced• d
the Duke wrote :—" This fortunate major now commands
h a battalion, and I am vely apprehensive that he could
not with propriety quit it at present, even th,,ugh the life
of this female should d-pend upon it. We read occasion-
ally of despeta-e cases of this description, but I cam t say
that I have ever yet known of a young lady dying of love.
They contrive, in some manner, to live, and look tolerably
well, notwithstanding their despair and the continued ab-
sence of their lover; end some even have been known to
recover so far as to be inclined to take another lover, if the
ats'nce of the first has lasted too long. 1 don't suppose
that your protegee can ever recover so far, but I do hope
she will survive the continued necessary absence of the
major, and enjoy with him hereafter many happy days.—
I have, &,I.,—WELLINGTON."
therefore,
ezi
Importing Tea. without colour on the leaf pre-
kvienndts.
stheuCohniinimesaenp,sasas,i
Tea
ag
is
aff
uncoloured,in feriorleav
hse asret nore the usual
ivays
god ahke. Sold in packets by 2,280 agents.

Annexed are the deit:iis received to-day of the
°vitae of the British steamer Peterhoff by Ad-
miral Wilkes. The narrative is addres.,ed to the
Committee of Lloya's by their agenl at Matamoras,
who happened to be on board, and confirms the
statements which have already been submitted to
Lord Russell on this affair. The probabi.ity is that
the vessel will be immediately released even by
the United States Prize Court at Key West—a
British brigantine, the Magieienne, which bad been
seized just reviously under analogous circum •
stances, having already been surrendered; but there
remains the question, not only of damages, but ..f
the necessity for obtaining a guarantee against a
repetition of such discreditable proceedings :

" Key West, March 7th, 1863.

" Sir,—l have to inform you that the British screw
steamer Peterhoff, Captain Jarrnan, is just entering this
harbour, having been boarded off the harbour of St. Thomas
on the 28th of February, and taken in charge by a prise
crew from the United States steamer Vanderbilt, Ca lain
Baldwin, by the exprc,ss order of Admiral Wilkes, at that
tino in the flagship Washusetts, in St. Thomas. I thick
they have no valid defence for detaining or seizing the
Peterhoff, but must await the decision of the Admiralty
Court here. I shall write to you more , ully by an early
opportunity; meantime, please to notify contents to your
Committee and the underwriters on ship and cargo in Eng-
land, Scotland, and France.

" I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
" SAMUEL J. REDGATE,
" Passenger per Poterhoff, and Agent for Lloyd's
at Matamoros.
" G. A. Halsted, Esq., R.N., Secretary to Llo3 d's,
London."

" KeyWeat, Florida, March, 1863.

" Sir,-1 have to report for the information of the Com •
mittee that the screw steamship Peterhoff, Capt. S Jarman,
left Falm uth for St. Thomas and Matamoras on the even-
ing the 27th of January, and, after four and a half days of
rough weather and heavy sea in the Channel and Bay of
Biscay, the remainder of the voyage was without particular
incident until the morning of Friday, the 20th of February,
when we were boarded by a boat from a small schooner
under the Dntch flag, Svhioh we took to be a pilot boat,
but proved to be otherwise. Shortly after we observed a
steamer approaching us, which, when she got near, hoisted
the United States flag. The Peterboff had the British
ensign flying, and was proceeding in her 3ourse for the
harbour of St. Thomas. Close to the shore of St. John's
Is and, the United States steamer fired a blank
charge, and then a shotted gun, The shot passed the
Peterhoff's bow some distance ahead. We had no sails set
at the time, but the engine was immediately stopped. A
boat trom the United States steamer boarded us while in
Danish waters, as you will see from the following cross
beatings taken by Captain Jarman at the time —8 a.m.
'• Buck Island, W. N. ; Hundee, N.W., distant two
miles; Frenchman's Cap, S.W., by W. W.'

" The boarding officer said he came from the United
States steamer Alabama. He examined the Peterhoff's
papers and allowed her to proceed, declining to endorse his
visit and examination, on the plea that he had no authority
to do so. The Peterhoff remained in St. '1 homas's harbour,
for the purpose of completing her supply of coal, till about
noon of the 25th of February. During her stay, Admiral
Wilkes, of Trent notoriety, arrived in harbour with the
United States steamer Washussets and Oneida, and de-
clared publicly that the Alabama should have made a prize
of the Peterhoff in going out of harbour it was found that
the engine was disabled, and the ship stood out under easy
sail. Outside we saw the United States steamer Vanderbilt
coming up under steam. She exchanged signals with the
Admiral inside, and, as we heard afterwards, was ordered
to follow and overhaul us. Between 1 and 2 pm. she
overtook and ordered the Peterhoff to be hove to, A, 2
p.m. a boat boarded us, the officer remaining below about
three-quarters of an hour examining the ship's papers. lie
left for the Vanderbilt, directing the Peterhoff to be kept hove
to till his return, which was about 330 p m., when he stated
that her papers were not quite satisfactory, and requested
Captain Jarman- to go on board the Vanderbilt with the
ship's papers, &c., saying that he was authorised to say that
if Captain Jarman refused an armed boat's crew would be
sent to take him by force Captain Jarman said he held a
commiss on in the Royal Naval Reserve, and had in charge
her Majesty's mail for Matamoras, that ho would not leave
his ship, especially after the threat which had been held out,
but they were welcome to come on board, exareine the papers
and search the ship. He repeated this on deck, in presence
of myself and the other six passengers, who all protested as
well as myself against his leaving the ship. The boat left,
Capt, Jarman assuring the officer in charge that his papers
were open to the inspection of any officer sent from the Van-
derb lt, but that he would not allow them to be aken, nor
would he leave his ship with them unless compelled by
force to do so. At 4 p.m. we were boarded by two armed
boats from the Vanderbilt, and Lieut. Alexander, United
States navy, took temporary charge of the Peterhoff till the
Vanderbilt could communicate with St. Thomas. emptain
Jar man ordered the mate, Mr. Bound, to haul down the en-
sign, but was prevented fr re so doing by Lieut. Alexander,
who ordered it to bo kept flying, Ono lieutenant, one mas-
ter's mate, two engineers, and 21 armed men were placed
on board. One man was sent to the wheel, and a Union
Stites engineer took possession of the engine-room. The
Vanderbilt left us, and immediately steamed back to St.
fhemas, ur crew had to stop work, and our engineers
to discontinue their examination of our disabled machinery.
At 7h. 6m., St, Thomas time, Lieut. Alexander ordered
Captain Jarman, his mate and all the passengers to
go down to the cabin and to remain there. An armed
sentry was placed on guard over us. He said he hoped
he would nut keep us long there. No one but the
steward was permitted to go out of the cabins without ask.'
ing permission through the sentry. Nine p.m.—Again
boarded by a boat from the Vanderbilt. Officer came down
stairs into the cabin to deliver a message from Captain
Baldwin, United States' navy, to Captain Jarman to give
up his papers, that they might be sent on board with them.
Captain Jarman said he would not give up his papers to any
one but the British Consul, or to his order; that he would
not give them up to be taken out of the ship, nor would he
leave her himself unless compelled by force to do so; that
they were all at his service to be examined on beard th°
Peterhoff, and that Captain Baldwin might send him or
any number of officers to make the examination. 9.60 p.m..--
Boat came again from the Vanderbilt—officer with Captain
Baldwin's compliments, and wishes to have the paper's of
the ship. Capt. Jarman declined to let them go out of the
vessel, when the officer, whom we afterwards ascertained to
be Lieut. Lewis, United States' navy, took possession of the
Peterhoff in the name of the United States, and declated
that Capt. Jarman was no longer in command, and that lie
and all the passengers were to remain confined in the cabin.
Another officer was sent down to demand that, ail aims in
possession of t,apt. Jarman and passengers should be giv-

up, threatening search in case of reins al. Accurdio
several pistols and knives were given up and sent on board
the Vanderbilt.

"About 11 p.m. Capt. Jarman wrote Capt. Baldwin

that he considered the capture of the Peterhoff' to be all
illegal act, as her papers had been examined and passed bi
the Alabama a few days previously, and that, as he had her
Majesty's mails for Matamoras on board, he requested twit,
to avoid delay in their delivery, Capt. Baldwin would de-
liver them to her Majesty's Consul at Si. Thomas, so that
he might sent them ou. At 10 minutes pest midnight an
officer boarded with a verbal message from Capt. Baldwll39
who sent his compliments, and teat he did not feel auth°'
rized to take any part of the freight out of the ehiP*
Next morning, the 26th of February, the Vanderbilt left
us, and the Peterhoff made sail for Key West, in charge of
the prize officers and crew. It was their intention to take
u.. through the Mona passage, and we had reached Mona
Island, when the United States' steamer Alabama spoke
the British ensign being noisted on be aid the Peterhoff
" Our voyage since has been without any incident worth,'
of record, except we were allowed to go on deck, four of 118
at a time, for the benefit of the open air, our liberty, how'
ever, being restricted to the after part of the ship, and as
armed marine was stationed night and day at the cabin door.
"I have thus far narrated the voyage of the Peterhofft
which vessel, loaded with goods not contraband of war, and
having had her papers examined and passed in Londoay
Plymouth, and Falmouth, has been fired at and overhauled
in Danish waters by the United States' steamer Alabama) by
which vessel her papers were passed. On leaving St. Thorns.
she has the certificate of Acting Consul Mr. Ball, and never:
theless was overhauled just outside the port by the Unite°.
States' steamer Vanderbilt. I have learnt from Mr. Leviiir
the prize captain, that Captain Baldwin wished to let her
go, but was compelled to take possession by exp ass ordel
from Admiral Wilkes. Thus, by the arbitrary conduct o
this individual, a British ship proceeding from' a British
port to a neutral with a proper cargo has been seized, ad
her crew removed, by superior force, the officers and 600;1
passengers deprived of their liberty tor ten days and guarded
by armed men.
"I shall in a subsequent letter advise you of what takes
place at Key West, having written so far in anticipation.
" S. J. REDGATV•
"Captain G. A. Halsted, R.N., Secretary to Lloyd 8'
London."

CONSOLIDATED FUND ACT.-1y an act of Parliaci
ment just printed, a sum of £10,000,000 is to be applied
out of the Cousolidated Fund to the service of the presJi
year.
Mr. Hook will probably contribute to the BAVI
Aoadetuy some pictures, the subjects of ktieb lisTafs
been studied amongst the Scilly islanders. One is s
6, Low Tide," representing sail as menclaig their nets all
their boats, that lis upon the beach. A woman, the wits°
one of the men, approaches, bearing a basket of provisions"'
knits as she walks, but has lett off doing so to attend to ;
child who has fallen beside her. Another work is style
" The Sailor's Wedding;" the scene is the sea-shore; 1.
steep bank rises up therefrom ; the bride and briuegro3ol
.
are walking together ; an old mania creeping up the bunk'
about, are seen pm tFarations for a holiday. A buy Sliuei°
atones is another subject.