The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-17 00:00:00

DEPUTATION TO EARL RUSSELL.

A deputation of shippers and merchants inte-
rested in the Mexican trade, together with the
owner, sbipbroker, and underwriter interested in
the steamships Peterhoff and Sea Queen, waited yes-
terdayon Earl Russell. They were introduced by
Mr. Crawford, member for London, and the impoy-
ranee of the interview was considerably enhanced
by the fact of an announcement being made during
its progress which is likely to produce a singular im-
pression, to the effect that while the United States
Government have been seizing our vessels bound to
Matamoras without a single article of cuntfaband on
board, Mr. Adams, heir Alinister at this Court, has
been giving sp2cial licence for a ship to proceed from
England to Matamoras, free from interference by
American cruisers, to carry supplies (which are
stated to consist of arms and ammunition) for the ser-
vice of the Mexicans in their war against France.
On behalf of the deputation, Mr. Crawford first
called attention to the position of the captain, offi-
cers, and supercargoes of the Peterhoff, now in New
York, who are stated by the latest advises to have
been detained on board and not allowed to commu.
nicate with either the agents of the owners and
merchants or with the Britioh Consul. Allusion was
then made to the interference of the American
cruisers with our Mexican trade, and it was men-
tioned that a brisk and c)ntinuous trade is carried
on betwsen the United States and Mexico, and that
ships are daily advertised to sail from New York
to Matamoras; so that the effect of tolerating the
proceedings of the cruisers would be to enable the
Americans to establish a monopoly. The next cir-
cumstance pointed out was that the Federal Go-
vernment appear to assume the right to dictate
what trade shall or shall not be carried on by
British subjects ; and on this head the exposure
was theta made that a policy of insurance was at-
tempted to be effected in Lloyd's room today, ac-
companied by the following certificate from Mr.
Adams, the United States Minister in London, ad-
dressed to Admiral Dupont, commanding the Fede-
ral fleet :

" Legation of the United States, London,
April 9, 1863,

"Amid the multitude of fraudulent and dishonest enter-
prises from this kingdom to furnish supplies to the rebels in
the United States, through the pretence of a destination to
some port in Mexico, it gives me pleasure to distinguish
one which has a different and creditable purpose. Messrs.
Howell and Zirman have furnished me with evidence,
which is perfectly satisfactory to me, that they are really
bound to Matamoras with a cargo intended for the Mexi-
cans. I therefore very cherfully give them this certificate
at their request. It is not the disposition of the Govern-
ment of the United States to interfere in any way with an
honest neutral trade, and it is deeply to be regretted that
the frauds which have been so extensively practised in this
country have contributed so much to throw it under sus-
picion. " CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
_ _

Admiral Dupont, &c."
As Matamoras is no blockaded, the only pretext
of the Federals for seizing cargoes bound to that
port consists in the suspicion that they may be
intended to be diverted to Confederate purposes ;
yet it thus appears that the United States Go-
vernment are eager to step out of their way to give
official eanction and encouragement to the ship-
ment of stores from a foreign country for direct
use against France, which they profess to regard
not merely as a friendly but almost es a protecting
nation. After a strong expression of opinion with
regard to this letter, Mr. Crawford continued b 3
stating that the immediate object the deputation
had in view was to elicit from her Majesty's
Government some assurance of protection for the
steamship Sea Queen, now detained by the
owners at Falmouth awaiting a decision. He
explained that this vessel has received on board her
Majesty's mails, the owner being bound by the Mer
cantile Marine Act to carry them under a penalty ;
but that as the seals in the mail of the Adela were
broken and the letters read, and as it had been stated
by the judge in that case that a similar course would
be adopted in any future vessels captured, it was
not inly possible but probable the Federal agents
here would send through the Post-office fictitious

letters with the view of compromising the ship
Messrs. Pile, Spence, and Co., the owners, would be
incurring a risk which they did not conceive they
should be subjected to, and against which they

thought they were entitled to some protection from
her Majesty's Government. Earl Russell said that,
whatever might have been the case with the Adela,
Mr. Seward had in consequence of the representa-
.tions made by the British Government issue,' fresh
instructions tothe Federal officersthrough the Secre-
tary of the Navy, and that therefore he did not an-
ticipate any repetition of that attack. Mr. G. P.
Harding, on behalf of the shippers, observed that
while their goods were on board, and their engage.
ments binding, the vessel was detained, the owners
refusing to allow her to proceed, and alleging that
they cannot be compelled to send their vessel on a
voyage for which they have not the protection of the
law; that all interested are desirous of fulfilling
legal formalities, but that, notwithstanding their
readiness to prove the legitimate nature of the
voyage, the vessel is still subject to seizure. If a
suggestion might be ventured, the only practical
one he could offer would be for the Government to
send a mail agent in the ship, who would represent
an official guarantee that she was bound to the port
for which she was cleared. As the only pretence
given for seizure was a suspicion that she would
run the b ockade, it was considered that this
wight be a satisfactory solution of the difficulty,
and the owners and the merchants would b,
content to send the vessels on such conditions,
bearing all the expenses consequent on the
arrangement. His lordship said he would con-
sider the propriety of acting on this suggestion, ano
expressed his surprise at Mr. Crawford's informa-
tion respecting the detention of the persons on
hoard the Peterheff, they not being criminals or
subject to criminal law. Mr. Wake, on behalf of
:he brokers, offered for his lordship's inspection tht
manifest of the vessel, and declared the readiness of
the merchants to guarantee that there was no con-
traband of war on board. It was also stated that
insurances have increased at Lloyd's, and that whilt
liiey have doubled here there has been no alteration
in tLe rates on French vessels, owing to the free-
dom with which these are allowed to pass the Fede- i
ral cruisers.