The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-06 00:00:00

FRANCE.

BOURSE, April 4.—The market was firm at the
opening of business, but sales for realisation have
since caused a slight retrograde movement, Threes,
for the Account, being now at 69f. 600. Italian
Loan firm at 71f. 80c. Mobilier are rather lower.
Railway Share Market without much animation.
The market closed as follows :
It per Cents. 96 Bank Shares 3375
Do. end Credit }ander l5lO
3 per Cents
Do. end month.... 69 65 Do. end month 7l 80
New 3 per Cents .. Russian
Do, end month.... Austrian
Credit M0bi1i0r....1370 Spanish Threes 52 50
Do, end m0ntb.....1370 Homo Debt

RAILWAYS.

Cash. Account.
1100 .. 1107 50
1040 -- .. 1045

Orleans
Northern ....

New ditto • lOl5 .•
Lyons and Mediterranean 1222 50 .. 1220
Geneva 440 -- .. 440
Southern 770 .. 773 75
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa 746 25 .. 745
Ditto to Barcelona

The Seizure of British Vessels by the

Federals.

A few days since the owners of the Peterhoff,
Springbok, and Magician steamers, which it will
be remembered were captured by the Federal crui-
sers while proceeding to the Mexican port of Mata-
moras, addressed Earl Russell, her Majesty's Secre
tart' of State for the Foreign Department, upon the
illegal character of their seizure. Yesterday the
following reply was received by the owner of the
Springbok :

" Foreign-office, April 3, 1863.
" Sir,-1 am now directed by Earl Russell to
make you acquainted with the conclusion at which,
having considered the communication with the law
,ifficers of the Crown, your letter of the 26th ot
March, requesting to ba informed in regard to
the right of British vessels to trade with Mata-
mores, her Majesty's Government have arrived. The
Government of the United States has claerly no right
to seize British vessels bona fide bound from this
country, or from any other British possession, to the
ports of Vera Cruz and Mutamoras, or either of
them, or vice versa, unless such vessels attempt to
touch at, or having an intermediate or contingent
destination to, some blockaded port or place, or are
carriers of contraband of war destined for the Con-
federate States; and in any admitted case of such
unlawful capture, her Majesty's Government would
feel it their duty promptly to interfere, with a view
to obtain the immediate restitution of the ship and
cargo, with full compensation, and without the de-
lay of proceedings in a prize coart. Her Majesty's
Government, however, cannot, without violating
the rules of international law, claim for British ves-
sels navigating between Great Britain and these
places any general exemption from the belligerent
right of visitation by the cruisers of the United
States, nor can they proceed upon any general as-
sumption that such vessels may nit so act as to ren-
der their capture lawful and justifiable. Nothing
is more common than for those who contemplate a
breach of blockade, or the carriage of contraband, to
disguise their purpose by a simulated destination
and by deceptive papers ; and the situation of the
ports on the coast of Mexico with reference to the
Confederate States is such as to make it not only
possible, but in many cases probable, that an osten-
sible Mexican destination would be resorted to as a
cover for objects which would really justify capture.
It has already happened in many cases that British
vessels have been seized while engaged in voyages
apparently lawful, which vessels have afterwards
been proved in the prize courts to have been really
guilty of endeavouring to break the blockade, or of
carrying contraband to the Confederates. It is the
right of the belligerent to capture all vessels rea-
sonably suspected of either of these transgressions
of international law, and whenever any such case ot
capture is alleged the case cannot be withdrawn
From the consideration of the prize court of the
captor. After the case has undergone investigation,
it is the duty of the prize court to restore any such
prizes unlawfully made, with costs and. damages,
and the proper time for the interfere nee ot
her Majesty's Government is, in general, when the
piize courts have refused redress for a capture
which the evidence shows to have been unjusti-
fiable. Her Majesty's Government cannot upon
ex parte statements deny the belligerentsin this
war the exercise of those rights which in all wars
in which Great Britain has been concerned, she had
claimed herself to exercise.--I am, sir, your mos'
obedient servant,

" E. HAMMOND."

Respecting the seizure of the Peterhoff, his lord-
ship has intimated that Lord Lyons has been
directed to watch the proceedings now pending',
and to report to her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Charles Dickens will take the chair at the
dinner of the Printer's Pension Society. Mr. 'Wilkie
Collins was to have presided, but he is abroad, and in 111
health.

11011114 DIEN ar
eirtaTar
izo

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, April 4.

The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness
the Princess Louis of Hesse, drove out yesterday
afternoon, attended by Colonel Hon. A. Hardinge.

April 5.

Their Royal Highnesses Prince Alfred, Princess
I. ouise, Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, and Prince
Louis of Hesse, and the ladies and gentlemen in
waiting, attended divine servlco this morning in
the private chapel.
The Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Windsor
officiated, and administered the Sacrament of the
Holly Communion.

Viscount Sydney end the Right Hon. Sir George
Grey arrived at the Castle last night.

Accouchement of the Princess Alice.
WINDSOR CASTLE, Sunday.

Her Royal Highness Princess Louis of Hesse
(Princess Alice of Great Britain and Ireland) gave
birth to a Princess at a quarter before five o'clock
this morning.
Her Majesty the Queen was with the Princess
constantly during the night.

In the room with the Princess at the birth of the
child were her Majesty the Queen, his Royal
Highness Prince Louis of Hesse, Sir Charles Lo-
cock, Dr. Farre, and the nurses; and in the next
room Sir J. Clark.

In the adjoining apartment were Viscount Syd-
ney, Lord Chamberlain ; Sir George Grey, Secretary
of State for the Home Department ; and Baron de
Ricou, Head of the Household of his Royal High-
ness Prince Charles of Hesse.

Intelligence of the happy event was immediately
transmitted by telegraph to the Grand Duke and
Court of Hesse-D irmstadt, and to the various mem-
bers of the Royal Family.
The following was the bulletin issued
" WINDSOR CASTLE, April 5. 1863.

" Her Royal Highness the Princess Louis of
Hesse (Princess Alice of Great Britain and Ireland)
was safely delivered of a daughter this morning, at
a quarter befor- five o'clock.
Her Royai Highness and the infant Princess are
going on ptrfectl well.

" JAMES CLARK, INI.D
" CHARLES LocouK, M D.
6' ARTHUR, FARRE, M.D."

APPROACHING DRAWING ROOMS AND LEVEES.—
We are authorised to announce tuat his Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales will hold a levee, on behalf
of the Queen, at St. James's Palace, on Wednesday, the
l'th of May, and that her Royal Highness the Princess of
Wales will hold a drawing-room, likewise in her Majesty's
behalf, on Satirday, the IGth of May. There will also be
a drawing-room and a levee, on her Majesty's behalf, in the
course of the month of June. Presentations will be made
at both drawing-rooms.

THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES.—
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of
Wales continue in the enjoyment of privacy at Sandring-
ham. Excursions in the surrounding country have been
made almost daily, and on Good Friday and yesterday
their royal highnesses attended divine service at the parish
church. Lieut -General Knollys hes informed the High
Sheriff and the other county subscribers that the Prince
will be happy to receive the deputation entrusted with the
presentation of the " Norwich Gates" at Sandringham, to-
morrow (Tuesday). Their royal highnesses are expected
to leave Sandringham for town at the close of the present
week. The presentation of the " Norwich Gates" to-
morrow will doubtless attract a large and influential attend-
ance, and will be in Let the event of the week at Sandring-
ham. The Earl and Countess of Leicester, Lord and Lady
Sondes, Mr. Bentinck, M.P., Mr. Howes, M.P., Lieut.-
Colonel Coke, M.P., Mr. H. J. H. Harvey, and nearly all
the county aristocracy, are among the subscribers.

THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE.—His Royal High•
ness the Duke of Cambridge, Commander of the Forces,
having completed his duties, left Plymouth this morning,
under a royal salute from the citadel, by the South Devon
and South-Western Railways Er Portsmouth, in continua•
tion of his tour of inspection.
The Duke of Beaufort has arrived at Poictiers,
accompanied by several French noblemen and members of
the Paris Jockey Club. His grace proposes to commence
wolf •hunting in the Department of Vienne during the pre-
sent week.

---
The Earl of Fife returned to town on Saturday
evening from Edinburgh, where his lordship attended the
dinner given to Viscount Palmerston. The Countess of Fife
has been detained in town by severe indisposition.
Earl Grosvenor and Lady Constance Grosvenor
have arrived at Brighton. His lordship will be in command
of his regiment, the Queen's (Westminster) Rifle Volun-
teers, to .day.
Viscount Palmerston arrived at his residence it;
Piccadilly, on Saturday night, from Edinburgh.
The Right Hon. Sir George Grey returned tt
town yesterday from Windsor Castle.
Sir George Grey, Mr. Cardwell, and the Chan
cellor of the Exchequer remain in or near town during th,
Easter holidays. Earl Russell is also on duty in the me-
tropolis ; tut the Foreign Secretary is understood to be
Premier pl o tern. in London during the absence of Lord
Palmerston in Scotl-nd. All the rest of the Cabinet have
taken the advantage of the Easter recess to skedaddle into
the country. Mr. Milner Gibson left town on Thursday.--
Court Circular.

Our great Finance Minister has lately been
seen hobbling about with the assistance of a stick, ano
sundry jokes were launched, all of them insinuating that
the Chancellor of the Exchequer was suffering from au
attack of gout, brought on by his drinking too much of the
Gladstone 14s. claret. But the truth of the matter is that
Mr. Gladstone sprained his ankle rather severely in dis-
mounting from his horse alter a ride; and we ate happy to
say his constitution is as yet utterly guiltless of gout. If
there were a trace of it, we might depend upon its being an
article to be taxed in his next budget.—Court Journal.

Letters from Barcelona describe the success of
Signor Mario at the Italian Opera there to have surpassed
expectation, and almost any success of his former cam-
paigns.

Mr. Harrison and Miss Pyne sing at Dublin to
night. Mr. Alfred Mellon accompanies them as leader of
the orchestra, The next English opera season will, it is
stated, be under Mr. Gye's management.

The rumour is repeated that Verdi is at work
upon a new opera called " Salammbo," to be produced not
later than 1865, and that M. Flaubert will be assisted by
M. Theophile Gautier in the composition of the libretto.
Mr. George Vining leaves the Lyceum and enters
into partnership with Mr. Lindus, at the Princess's.
Madame Arabella Goddard, who has been suffer-
ing from indisposition, is at present on a visit to Boulogne.
Mr. and Mrs. C. Kean will appear at the Prin-
cess's on the 4th of May, for eleven nights; on the 15th of
July they will sail for Australia.
Mrs. Fanny Kemble is again about to read
Shakespere in London, commencing with "As You Like
It," to-night, and cortinuing the entertainment on alter-
nate nights.
The. Trustees of the National Gallery have recently
come into possession of Mr. Lewis's bequest of
£lO,OOO. The will was a little singular. Mr. Lewis left a
portrait of his father, "Gentleman Lewis," the weli-known
comedian, a cronie of George IV., to the nation, and on
condition of its acceptance by lite Trustees, he bequeathed
the £lO,OOO in money, to be applied in the first instance in
taking due cate of the picture, and afterwards as the autho-
r rities shall agros. The money, we understand, has been
funded, and the proceeds of it, about £3OO a year, will be
applied generally for the good of the collection.
SHAKSPERE's FATHER.—" There is Ms. John
Shakspere, in Henley-street—he is a glover, or a
butcher, or a yeoman,' or wool-dealer 1— what is he ? Can
no one sum up all the supposed trades, or business,-s, and
say, in a word, that they most probably mean he was a
wool-stapler ? Make him of any one of the above trades
actually and solely, and we cannot reconcile the above state-
ments. But, like the eller= readings of the same names
:tad the same employments it, Shakspere's days. it W.
adopt the conclusion that be was a merchant of the s aple,
we shall easily be able to understand his being called both
butcher and glover. Considering what a staple trade glov-
ing was in John Shakspere's time in his own county, it
he were connected with the mercers in London be would 01
necessity deal in glov(s. The possessor of land and owne)
~f cattle, it is the height of probability that he may have
slaughtered his sheep in his own farmyard, in order to have
the skins properly preserved. Butcher he might easily be
called, and so might Lis son William ; and also be repre-
sented as apprenticed to a butcher, when he was, in reality,
apprenticed to his father.—Bellow's New _Place at Stratford
on Avon.
Burns's sentimental song, " Auld Lang Syne,"'
contains the most abominable idea of fellowship
that man ever conceived ; for of the two worthies there
meeting, one does not order in the liquor to hallow the mo-
ment, but he frankly cries to tho other,—
" An' surely you'll be your pint stoup,
An' surely .1' a be mine;"
t, the shabby fellow not having the spirit to pay the score.