The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-16 00:00:00

THE PE TERHOFF.

The English steamer Peterhoff, a prize to the
Vanderbilt, has arrived at this port. She was sent
to Key West for adjudication, and thence here, as
her cargo would bring more at this port when sold
than at Key West. She is an iron steamer, of
about 1,000 tons burden, brig rigged, and of a
modern build. From the time of her loading in
London Admiral Wilkes has had his eye on her,
and from all we can learn was pretty well assured
that be would capture in her a lawful prize. It ap-
pears that the would-be blockade runner was not
caught in the act of attempting to run it, nor was
she ever on the ground near a blockading fleet;
but it was known that she had a rebel mail on
board intended for Richmond, and that at one time
a rebel colonel was on board as a passenger, but
just previous to her quitting her last port the bearer
of despatches left, but allowed the mail and de-
spatch bag to remain on board, with instructions to
forward it to its destination. Among her passen-
gers were several chymists with a full stock of
medicines and drugs; but these very much valued
articles are said to be marked for Matamoros. Upon
the whole the case is a very complicated one, and
many suppose the vessel will be cleared. But yet
it must be that Admiral Wilkes has good grounds
for sending her in as a prize, or he would not have
seized her. For the present communication with
the vessel is interdicted, and but little can be found
in relation to the case.—New York Herald.

TIIE RETIREMENT OF CAPTAIN ROBERTSON OF
THE 4TH DRAGOON GUARDS.—Reports are current
on good authority, relative to the sale of his commission by
Captain Robertson, which require explanation. If these
are to be relied on, Captain Robertson has been treated with
unusual harshness. He had requested, we are told, and ob-
tained leave of absence from his duty, until the sth of the
present month. He had all but effected an exchange into
an infantry regiment at the Cape, anxious to pay off the lia-
bilities which oppress him with the sum he w,.uld thus
receive as the difference in the value of the commissions.
Unfortunately, while just about to complete the exchange
he was arrested for debt and placed in Kilmainham prison.
Then it is stated that the authorities of his regiment waited
upon him in the prison, announced that his leave of
absence had been cancelled, and told him that he should
" either join or sell." Under this pressure Captain Robert-
son had no alternative, He " sent in his papers," sold
his commission, and is no longer an officer in her Majesty's
service.

" FUN'S SPIRIT COMMISSION. Daniel
Chequers, first witness.—ls a clerk in the City
Know anything of spirits? Rather. Prefers whisky,
though rum and water, with three lumps of sugar and a
slice of lemon, ain't bad. Not that kind of spirit I Oh I
very good ; another party. Yes;. has heard of mediums.
Wishes they were circulating mediums. Wouldn't
he go in for them I Not at all ; oh, no I The go-
vernor promised to raise hit screw last Christmas; didn't
do it, though. Thought him a screw. (The Com-
missioner here stopped the witness, as his evidence was be-
coming irrelevant.) Never heard a spirit rap; thought a
spirit deuced lucky if it always had a rap. Knew he hadn't
sometimes, especially just before his money was due. Had
seen a table go round—a whole room, for the matter of that.
(On being asked when this manifestation took place, wit-
ness at last confessed it was after the sixth tumbler o: whisky
and water, when celebrating Alec M'Reekie's birthday.
Upon which ho was ordered to retire ; whereupon be
became abusive, and wished to know what the Commis-
sioner was going to stand ? Plantagenet Millefleure—ls in
the Guards. Don't seem to care about spirits. Doesn't
know a medium; why should he? Mediums don't give
dinners and parties; then what's the use of knowing
them? Thinks Home a humbug; rather a cad than
otherwise. Howitt ? never heard of him ; not in the
army—perhaps in the militia, or a volunteer. Objects
to volunteers on principle : the regulars all do
Supernatural agency I never heard of it. His agents art
Cox and Co., the Craig's-court men. Nothing to do with
them ? Well, can't help it. Objects to being botherel any
more; has an appointment at the Rag, and can't stop any
Queer. (Here the witness sauntered out.)

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,11j-ffUrt t/Irtnar,
0.1

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, April 15.

The Queen, accompanied by her Royal Highness
the Princess Helena, and attended by the Hon.
Harriett Phipps, drove out in a carriage and four
yesterday afternoon.
Mt-.jor General Seymour attended on horseback.
Her Majesty, attended by Lady Augusta Bruce,
drove out this morning.
Colonel Hon. A. Hardinge was in attendance.
Their Royal Highnesses Prince Leopold and
and Princess Beatrice went to London, and visited
the Zoological Gardens, attended by Lady Caroline
Barrington, and Captain Sir W. Hoste.
Captain Hon. F. Egerton, R.N., arrived at the
Castle yesterday.
Lord Cremorne and Captain Sir W. Hoste have
succeeded Lord de Tabley and Lieutenant-Colonel
Kingscote as Lord and Groom in Waiting.
The Marchioness ot Dy has succeeded the Duchess
of Athole as Lady in Waiting to the Queen.

THE SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUM.
The following were among the company present
at the South Kensington Museum at the private
view of the presents to their Royal Highnesses the
P,ince and Princess of Wales :
Dukcs,—Roxburghe, Sutherland, Rutland, Somerset,
Devon-hire.
Dowager Duchess of Norfolk.
Mar,uises.—Donegal, Drogheda, Ailsa, Westmeath, Lon-
donderry.
Earls.—Vane, Cadogan, Cottenham, Craven, Dartmouth,
Fife, Enniskillen, Galloway, Bathurst, Effingham, St. Ger-
mans, Lauesbotough, Bantry, Sefton, Eldon, Dtaart,
Gainaborough, Caithness, Granville, Wicklow, Grey,
Erne. Tankerville, Lindsay, Camperdown, Hopei oun,
Mornington, Stanhope, Powis, DeGrey and Ripon, Monson,
11 Home.

Dowager Countess of Jersey; Countesses—Zetland,
Gainsborough, Ranfurly, Cowper, Airlie.
Viscounts.—Middleton, Gage, Enfield, M.P., Canterbury,
Andover, M.P., Nevi'', Torrington, Donaraile, Lifiord,
Strangford, Galway, M.P., Hamilton.
Archbishop of Canterbury.
Bishops.—London,. Winchester, Exeter, Oxford.
His Eminence Cardinal Wiseman.
Lords.—A. H. Trevor, Brougham and Vaux, Cremorne,
Claud Hamilton, Belper, A. S. Churchill, M.P., Sudeley,
Delamere, John Manners, M.P., Clarence E. Paget, M.P.,
Taunton, Harry Vane, Robert Clinton, I itzhardinge, De
Freyne, Blantyre, Gran' ley, Downes, Sondes, Tenderden,
Thurlow, Redesdale, Carew, Chelmsford, Keane, Dormer,
Wharncliffe, Lyndhurst, Colchester, Rivers, Truro, Lennox,
M.P., Wensleydale, Muskerrey, Raglan, It, Montague,
M.P., Proby, M.P., Vaux of tiartowden, Fermoy, M.P.,
Vivian, Bateman, Walsingham, Carrington, Clyde,
Henley, M.P.
Ladies.—Mackenzie, MacDougall, Charlotte Schreiber,
Shelley, Rolle, Bruce, Eastlake, Bryant, Lowe, Jenkins,
Lewis, Grant, Stewart, Rowe, Lamond.
Baronets and Knights—Bulwer Lytton, M.P., P.
O'Brien, Henry end Lady Rich, J. P. Boileau, John Mel-
lor, Hugh Cairns, M.P., Massy Lopes, M P., W. Farquhar,
M.P., W. P. Gallway, M.P., J. V. Shelley, M.P, W.
Scott, M.P., W. Wallace, J. B. Byles, J. P. Wylde, G.
Forster, M.P., W. J. Alexander, M.P., G. S. Mont-
gomery, 11. J. Strhcay, M.P., B. W. Bridges, M.P., E.
Lai:cheer, R.A., J. Trelawny, M.P., J. V. B. Johnstone,
W. J. Hayter, M.P , John Ogilvy, M,P., Alex. D. G3rdon,
T. E. Colebrook, W. G., Joliffe, M P., James Prior, Ed-
ward J. Mildmay, Sir A. and Lady Weldon, J. E. D.
Acton, J. Matheson, M.P., Francis Scott, W. M'Arthur,
Colin Blackburn, F. W. Heygate, M.P., J. Burgoyne,
K.C.8., W. Davison, H. H. Bruce, M.P., W. Athetton,
G. P. Lee, H. S. Keating, W. Dunbar, M.P., Charles
and Lady Rowley, William Russell, M.P., F. Madden,
M. W. R dley, M.P., C, E. Eastlake, P.R.A., W. Topham,
E. Kerrisoo, M.P., W. Page Wood, F.R.S.,
Richard Levinge, M.P., J. Fakington, u.e., A. W. Buller,
M.P., J. Ferguss MT., C. Compton, Lawrence Palk,
M.P., Stafford H. Northcote, M.P., CT. Bowyer, M.P.,
General Sir E. MacArthur, Lieutenant-General Sir H.
Bentinck, K.O B.
Right Honourable s.—C. P, Villiers, M.P., John Denis'n,
M.P., Sir Robert Peel, M.P., :veneer H. Walpole, M.P.,
G. C. Norton, J. It Mowbray, M.P„ H. A. Berbert,M.P.
B. Disraeli, M.P., E lward 11..rste,an, M.P., James Mon•
creiff, M.P., C, Duncornbe, F. G. Headlam, M.P., E. P.
Bouverie, M.P., F, Peel, N.,P., C.. 8. Adderley, M.P., W.
Hunt, M.P.
Honourables.—Percy S. Wyndham, Colonel Foley, R.
Curzon, C. P. Berkeley, M.P., W. C. albot, F. C. Howard,
F Byng, Georgo Browne, A. Thesiger, H. G. Lid lel!,
P. P. Bouver:e, H. Duncan, W. B Portman, ALP ,
G. Denman, R. H. Dutton, W. Stuart Knox, M.P, W.
W. Addington, Wilbraham Egerton, M.P,, C. W. S.
Howard, Spencer Littleton, Gerard Noel, M.P., Ashley G
J. Ponsonby, M.P., G. Wrottesley, F. Calthorpe, M.P., C.
H. R. Trclusis, W. E. Gladstone, C. S. Lennox, M P., E
C. Curzon, E. Cust, E. Curzon, Lieut.-Col. R. T. Rowley,
Lieut.-Col. Coke, M.P., Miss Baring, Mrs. Law, l‘lit,b
Jocelyn, Mrs. G. Campbell, G. H. Heallecote, M.P.
Baronesses—Mayer de R. thschild and Noith.
The Right Hon. the Lord Mayor.
Aldermen.—W. Copeland, D. Solomon, M.P., R. Besley,
T. Challis, T. Dakin, G. Gibbons, R. S. Phillips, Sir R
W. Carden, Thomas Gabriel, Sir F. G. Moon.
Ambassadors, &c.—His Excellency Count Apponyi, Count
Bernstorff, the Marquis d'Azeglio, Count Wachmeister,
Baron de Gros, Mr. D. Longuinoff, Commander de C,
Moreira, M. de Biile, Count V. de Eckstaedt, Chevalier
F. R. d'Andrada, Prince Yesenberg, Baron Donald Mackay,
Marquis de Cadore, Chevalier F. dos Santos, Don Juan B.
Valdivia, Chevalier d'Oliveira Silvo, Baron Beck Fries,
Captain Falbe, Monsieur le Baron Billing, Stephen Min,u-
rus Bey, Don Mariano Jose Sanz, Marquis d'Audigee,
Chevalier J. A. de Souza Correa, Viscount Cavalho, La
Barone, F. de Langlade, Count Lamirni.

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the
official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury
in Downing-street. The Ministers present were—Viscount
Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, Sir George
Grey, Earl Russell, the Duke of Newcastle, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, the Duke of Somerset, the Rigbt Ron.
T. Milner Gibson, the Right Hon. Edward Cardwell, and
Lord Stanley of Alclerley.
His Highness the Maharajah Daleep Singh has
returned to Claridge's Hotel from Middleton, Yorkshire.
The Marquis of Townshend and Mr. and Lady
E. St. Aubyn have arrived in Park-lane from Bfghton.
The Marehioness of Salisbury and Mr. and Lady
E. Russell are on a visit to the Earl and Countess Delawdrr
at Buckhnrst. Sir Alexander and Lady Bannerman and
Mrs. Lane Fox are also expected on a visit to the earl and
countess.

The Countess Dowager of Westmoreland and
Lady Rose Fano are expEcted in town this day from
Brighton.
The Earl of Dalhousie and Lady Christian
Maul° have returned to Claridge's Hotel from Scotland,

The Mit (pis al,l Marchioties6 of Tweeddale and
the 1,5di.-s Hay have arrived at Olariage's Hotel, Brook-
street, from Earl-Stoke Park.

Fleld-Marshal Lord Seaton, Lady Seaton, and
family are still residing at Valetta House, Torquay, where
they have been passing the winter mouths for the benefit of
his lordship's health.

L .ey Howard de Walden has arrived at Claridge's
Hotel from Brussels.

Lord Ravensworth and family have arrived at
their residence, Percy's Cross, Walham-green, from Ravens-
worth Castle, Durham.
The King of Hanover has just bestowed the gold
medal of honour for art and science on the celebrated vio-
inist Vieuxtemps, at Paris.
The races at the Bois de Boulogne on Sunday
were honoured by the presence of the Emperor and the
Empress. The course was crowded by an immense number
of smart equipages, and thousands of pedestrians.
THE IN ENV BARONET.—Tue Rev.lbert Frank-
land Lewis, M.A., who succeeds to the baronetcy
rendered vacant by the death of Sir George Cornewall
Lewis, is a younger brother of the late secretary of State
for War. He was born in 1808, in the same year with
Canon Wordsworth, of Westminster; but his name does not
appear in the list either of mathematical or classical hon-
ours. In 1831 he was ordained deacon by Dr. Huntingford,
Bishop of Hereford, and in 1833 was admitted into priest's
orders by Dr. Grey, who had meanwhile succeeded to
the bishopric of Hereford. Immediately afterwards he
was presented by Sir Velters Cornewall, Bart., to the
rectory of Mornington-on-the•Wye, near Hereford, worth
£360 a year, and about the same time to the rectory of
Gl,destry, Radnorshire, worth £350 a year, a living in the
giaftlloyfinthlehePgriiniteeotof Wales, but at the same time of course
re
fu 1860 he was nomtrtledGb7LowrdhoPawlmasersPtouinin:eo aMi canonry
nter
residence in the Cathedral Church of Worcester. Sir
Gilbert Lewis is married to the eldest daughter of the late
Sir Edmund Antrobus, Bart,, sister of the present member
for Wilton.
SIR TATTON SYKES, says Bazly's Magazine, once
showed puck to the father of Mr. Tattersall. H,
was already in the yellow leaf, when the tw ) went together
to the theatre at Doncaster, and were sitting on the back
row of the boxes. A person aftem ards came in with a
cigar in his mouth, which, as some ladies were in the box,
he was requested to put out. The man refused, and Mr.
tattersall, who, though lame, was strong, opened the door
with one hand, and swung the fellow out with the other,
the aged baronet immediately jumped up, buttoned his
coat, and said in his mild way, " Leave him to me, sir; it
he comes back, leave him to me, sir," The man came not,

NEUTRAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES.

Yesterday was is ued " Correspondence respect-
ing Instructions given to Naval Officers of the
United States in regard to Neutral Vessels and
Mails;" also a correspondence between Mr. Adams
and Earl Russell on the subject of neutral rights
and duties, arising from the incident of the seizure
of the British steamer Llbuan at Matameras, the
case of which vessel is still under discussion.

Mr. Adams, iu the course of this correspondence,
asked the British Government to interfere against
the "unlawful trade" carried on by British subjects,
representing that great embarrassment had arisen
to the Federal Government by reason of it, and that
the seizure of Labour was the rfault of that
embarrassment. Ou the 10th of May, 1862, Earl
Russell wrote :

EARL RUSSELL TO MR. ADAMS.
Foreign-office, May 10, 1862.
Sir,—ln the letter I had the honour to reooive
from you yesterday, you appear to me to have con-
founded two things totally distinct. Tee Foreign.
Enlistment Act is intended to prevent the subjects
of the Crown from going to war when the Sove-
reign is not at war. Titus private persons are pro-
hibited from fitting out a ship of war in our ports,
or from enlisting in the service of a foreign etate at
war with another state, or in the service of insur-
gents against a foreign sovereign or state. In
these cases the persons so acting would carry on
war, and thus engage the name of their S evereign
and of their nation in belligerent operations. But
owners and masters of merchant ships carrying war-
like stores do nothing of the kind. If captured for
breaking a blockade, or carrying contraband of war
to the enemy of the captor, they submit to capture,
are tried, and condemned to lose their cargo. This
is tha penalty which the law of nations has affixed
to such an offence, and in calling upon her Mejesty's
Government to prohibit such adventures, Sou in
effect call upon her Majesty's Government to do that
which it belongs to the cruisers and the courts of
the United States to do for themselves. There can
be only one plea for asking Great Britain thus
to interpose. That plea is, that the blockade is in
reality ineffective, and that merchant ships can
enter with impunity the blockaded ports. But this
is a plea which I presume you will not urge. Her
Majesty's Government have considered the blockade
as an effective blockade, and have submitted to all
its inconveniences as such. They can only hope that
if resistance should prove to be hopeless, the Con-
federate States will not continue the struggle; and.
that if, on the other hand, the restoration of the
Union should appear to be impossible, the work of
devastation now going on may cease.
her Majesty's Government can only desire the
prosperity of the inhabitants of the United States,
whatever may be the event of the present civil war.
—I am, &0., (signed) RUSSELL.
Mr. Adams replied, on May 12, in a letter which
concludes as follows:

I pray your lordship's pardon if I submit
that you appear to have entirely overlooked a
plea which I am confident enough to imagine
of no inconsiderable weight. That plea is,
that the kingdom of Great Britain endeavour,
in spirit as well as in the letter, to preserve the priti-
ciple of neutrality, if not of friendship, towards a
foreign nation in amity with it, to which it has
pledged itself. 'The precise mode in which that shall
be done it does not presume to prescribe. That the
toleration of such conduct in subjects of Great Bri-
tain as I have had the pain heretofore to expose is
stalely a violation of that neutrality, is justly to be
inferred from the very language of her Majesty's
proclamation. For it is therein declared that pre-
cisely such acts of theirs as I have been compelled
here to complain of, are done " in derogation of their
duty to her as a neutral sovereign, and incur her
high displeasure." If such, then, be the true cha-
racter of the proceedings to which I have hitherto
called your lordship's attention, they surely merit
something more of notice from her Majesty's mini-
sters than an intimation that they will be suffered
to pass unreproved unless the punishment shall bs
till,cted by the nation whom they are designed to
ti.jure. The object of the government of the United
States has not be,en to relieve itself of the duty of
vigils, ce to capture offenders against the law; it
eas rather been to avoid the necessity of applying
additional stringent measures for their own beell'
ity against British subjects found to be engaged
in such illicit enterprises, made imperative by the
conviction that no preventive co-operation what-
ever can be expected from her Majesty's Govern-
ment. ; it has rather been to avoid the risk of con-

:ounding the innocent with the guilty, because all
happen to be involved in a general suspicion ; and
astly, it has rather been to remove at as early a day
as may be consistently with its own safety the
restrictions on the trade with foreign countries
which these evil doers are labouring with so much.
industry to force it to protract. Your lordship
eaves me little hope of any co-operation of her
Majesty's Government to these ends. Nevertheless,
trust I may be permitted to indulge the belief
that the time is not now far distant when the diffi-
culties thus interpL,sed iii the way of its progress
will have been so far remeved by its own unassisted
action as to relieve both countries from the painful
necessity of further continuing the discussion.—
Renewing, &c.,
(Signed) CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
Earl Russell's reply closes the correspondence
EARL AUSSELL TO MR. ADAMS.
Foreign-office, May 17, 1862.
Sir,--1 do not wish to prolong this correspond-
ence, and shall only make one remark in answer to
your last letter. If the British Government, by
virtue of the prerogative of the crown, or by
authority of Parliament, had prohibited, and could
have prevented, the conveyance in Britian mer-
chant-ships of arms and ammunition to the Con-
federate States, and had allowed the transport of
such contraband of war to New York and to other
Federal ports, her Majesty's Government would
have departed from the neutral position they have
assumed and maintained. It, on the other handl
her Majesty's Government bad prohibited, and
could have prevented the transport of arms and
ammunition to both the contending parties, the,
would have ceprived the United States of a great
part of the weans by which they have carried 011
the war. The arms and ammunition received frog'
Great Britain, as well as from otter neutral court'
tries, have enabled the United States to fit out the
formidable armies now engaged in carrying on the
war against the Southern States; whi►e by means
of the blockade establishes by the Federal Go-
vernment the Southern States have been deprived
of similar advantages. The impartial observance
of neutral obligations by her Majesty's Government
has taus been exceedlugly advantageous to 061
cause of the more poAertul of the te, ci contending'
parties.—l um, &c.,