The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-04 00:00:00

THE ALABAMA.

Some of the Federal papers moot the question
whether the bonds or notes taken from the com-
manders of American vessels by Capt. Semmes are
valid. The New I ork Express says :—" By the
general law of notions, ransom bills or contracts are
recognised, and a master may, by his contract for
ransom, bind his owners, the whole cargo, as well
as the ship. About the middle of the reign of
George 111. ransoms were by the policy of England
forbidden to English subjects, and we are not quite
sure that the existing Prize Act of that country does
not now forbid her Majesty', subjects to enter into
any contract or agreement for ransoming any ship
or merchandise which shall be captured by their
lenemies. Certain it is, however, that ransoms have
never been prohibited by the Confederate States,
or by the United States. The theory of ransom is
that it is a repurchase of the actual right of the
captors at the time the bill or bond is given, be that
what it may ; or, more properly, it is a relinquish-
ment of all the interest or benefit which the captors
might acquire or consummate in the property by
regular adjudication of a prize tribunal, whether it
be in the interest of the ship and cargo or a lien on
the same, or a mere title to expenses. These ransom
bills are, by rules of international law, an exception
to the general doctrine that no contract with an
enemy is valid. In the case of the ransom bill
given by the Ariel, it seems not to be payable until
six months after the recognition of the Southern
Confederacy. If, then, that contingency should
ever happen, what court would have jurisdiction to
enforce the agreement ? Primarily, all questions of
prize belong to the tribunals of the capturing Power;
and foreign tribunals will not interfere, unless where
their territorial rights have been violated. Ran.
sours belong to the same jurisdiction, and may there-
fore be enfotced or set aside, as the facts disclose a
good or bad prize. It is, however, competent for
the captors to change
redresschangetheinany
forum
nianucaatsreys
wofhrearnesotmhe,
and
pe
iprsaohnofittahaelfo2w, tier of the Ariel may be round, or
he

DOING A CABBY !—As an occupation in declining I
years, I declare I think saving is useful, amusing,
and not unh,coming• it must be a perpetual amuse-
hie retires yeas
dz. with the
ohffeer amuse-
ment. It is a game that can be played by day, by night,
yards. at home and abroad, and at which you must win in the
long run.
th
lam tired and want a cab. The fare to my
house, say, is two shillings. The cabman will naturally
want half-a-crown. I pull out ray book. I show him the
distancet is exactly three miles and fifteen hundred and
ninety
icnarda.rdAlys,
every curse is a ng ,
twoimshmi card—hlreasyphwiin
blaspheming
gg
w
compliment to my skill. I have played
him and beat hi
reward. This in, ; and a sixpence is my spoil, and just
far more cleverlyB than we
by the way, which women play
parts to life I "ail we do. But what an interest it im-
shall have my Duringgea the whole drive home I know I
hand, and shall beat Et the journey's end ; am sure of my
other way. I won't harveadvereerY. Or I can play in an-
omnibus : I will be one of the
cab at all, I will wait for the
ing vehicle. I will wait abouetdrnP fourteen in that steam-
'bus after 'bus shall pass, but Ini the rain for an hour, and
have a place, and get it at length,
not be beat. I will
through, and an umbrella dripping :itil mY boots wet
have a rheumatism, a cold, a sore-throat, between my legs, 1
—a doctor's bill to -morrow perhaps? yiii:, butsulkY evening,
my game, and am a gainer of a shilling I have Won
on this rubber.--
Thackeray in Cornhill for February.