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

every time since the outbreak of the civil war.
Here is the Federal Army, wretchedly generalled,
cruelly discomfited, perpetually outmanoeuvred,
time and again brought by the foe into some de-
plorable fix, upon occasion so utterly routed that
there is no adequate word besides the newly-coined
one of stampede, by which to give expression to the
mere pace of their scattering! Yet—before the
tide in the Federal fortunes has given any indication
whatever of even a tendency to turn—the Fede-
rals themselves are going to do, we don't
know what all ! To enumerate in plain
words a few of the little exploits they have now
complacently chalked out for themselves—they are
going then—almost immediately--(ZaDKIEL was
not at their elbow to supply them with the precise
date)—to re-establish the American Republic one
and indivisible! And simultaneously with the ac-
complishment of that little feat, to absorb the two
Canadas, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfound-
land, the whole sweep of the Hudson Bay Com-
pany's Territory, British Columbia, and Vancouver !
Such are absolutely the meaning of the cool pre-
dictions enunciated by the Federal wiseacres at
this grand demonstration of theirspro Gen. BUTLER
and con Great Britain ! Mrs. GLASSE% recommen-
dation, in regard to the hare, never probably occur-
ring to the Federals, while they talked thus glibly
about the goose they are evidently bent upon cook-
ing for that old_ man of the sea, JOHN BULL, that
SINBAD among the Nations. It is precisely in the
same sublime spirit of exaggerated self-complacency
that one of the aspirants to the Presidential chair
in succession to Mr. ABRAHAM LINCOLN had it put
put forth, a brief while since, that ke would never
consent to be PRESIDENT of part of the States, but
must have them all, without any reservation
whatever, owning allegiance to his supreme magis-
terial authority. So now, precisely in a kindred
spirit, your true Federal, not content with exulting
over what is to him the dead certainty of a Re-
union very soon between North and South—must
needs blow a fanfaronade in honour of the absorp-
tion into those re-United States, of all the British
possessions but just now enumerated ! Of such a
revivified American Republic as that, there can be
ene only suitable President—to wit, Gen. BUTLER
himself ! The supreme commander of his maritime
forces being, as a matter of course, Admiral
NVILKEs ! His aptest Secretary of State, we would
suggest, moreover, might be Mr. G. F. TRAIN !
His Chaplain in Ordinary, or extra-Ordinary, no
other than the Rev. Mr. BEECHER The /VeW
York Herald, let us hint, the Official Gazette of
the new Government ! And then, probably, we
should see—what we should see!

Earl RUSSELL'S indignant remonstrance and the
firm stand taken by Lord LYONS in regard to the
seizure of British vessels have produced the desired
effect. The instructions to Federal cruisers that
have been drawn up and were published yesterday,
are only a revival of the ordinary regulations
adopted by belligerent Powers in regard to
neutrals, and which have hitherto been so
b
grossly violatedy AdmiralWILKES and
others. In all probability this result has
been in a great measure brought about through
motives of expediency. The Government at Wash-
ington were more influenced by the fear of a colli-
sion with British cruisers than animated by the
feelings of justice or desirous of obeying those laws
of courtesy which ought to regulate the actions of
all great Powers, whether in war or peace. Admiral
WILICES, whose overbearing insolence has been the
source of so much comment, has had to undergo the
mortification of looking on while two steamers,
known to be destined for Confederate ports, were
convoyed by a British frigate from Barbadoes.
Had no English cruiser been in port the vessels
must inevitably have been seized, Admiral WILKES
having announced his intention of capturing them
directly they left port. In fact, one of them having
made an attempt to go out, the Vanderbilt imme-
diately got up steam, whereupon the English
steamer dropped anchor and demanded the protec-
tion of the frigate, which the Captain of the
Phaeton immediately accorded, and forthwith
communicated with Admiral WILKES, and
the steamers left port without further molesta-
tion. This circumstance proves the necessity of
our having a large fleet in the American waters;
and there are plenty of idle ships in our dockyards
which might be made available. Precautions of

this kind would do much to prevent the arrogant
assumption and insolent interference of American
commanders. Had a fifty-gun frigate like the
Phaeton been in the vicinity Commodore WILKES
would never have dared to interfere with the
Trent. He would then have found discretion the
better part of valour. It is all very well for the
American Government to make promises, but to be
certain of their being kept it is prudent to be in a
position to compel their observance. Indeed, it is
more than probable that while Mr. STUART is
assuring Earl Runlx of his desire to meet his
views, his secretary may be writing private
instructions to commanders of Federal cruisers
in direct contravention to their public orders.
Earl RUSSELL'S letter is an admirable one,
so far as it goes, and mare decided and
determined in its tone than his lordship often is
in similar cases. He says that he is glad, on the
part of our Government, that the orders have been
rescinded which regarded any interference with
neutral vessels. He then goes on to say, with
something threatening in his manner, that had
they been sanctioned by the Government of the
United States, they would have called for prompt
and firm remonstrance on our put. This is
1 exactly the style in which the Cabinet at Washing-
ton must be treated in order to arrive at any satin_
factory conclusion of a vexed question, or to enable
us to maintain an incontestable right with dignity
and decorum. His Lordship then authorises Mr.
STUART to intimate to Mr. SEA'Aitro that "to order
vessels, though apparently and prima facie carrying
on a lawful trade, to be systematically seized
on the high seas, without any preliminary
search, and without the discovery during such
suspicion
of any strong evidence of suspici
against such vessel, would be to subject
the mercantile marine of neutrals to a system of
oppression and annoyance which no neutral Go.
vernment could be expected to tolerate."
This is
the most fitting language in which to express the
extreme dissatisfaction that the conduct of the
Federal navy has given in all quarters. Lord
RUSSELL thus concludes his letter to Mr.
STUART :—" The unjust seizure under urgent
circumstances of a neutral vessel may be
considered as one of the occasional bur-
dens which a state of war may impose upon
a neutral, and it may be partially compensated
by the condemnation of the captor in coats, or in
costs and damages; but the indiscriminate and
general seizure of merchant vessels without previous
search converts an occasional exception into an in-
tolerable rule.
" It is desirable that you should ascertain from
Mr. Seward whether the Government of the
United States admits the principle that her Majesty's
mail bags shall neither be searched not detained.,'
That phrase which characterises the converting of
an " occasional exception', into an " intolerable
rule" is a most happy one, and most aptly epito-