The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-04 00:00:00

THE AMERICAN BLOCKADE.

"TO MR. W. J. GRAZEBROOK, LIVERPOOL.
"Foreign-office, April 24.
" Sir,—l am directed by Earl Russell to acquaint
you that her Majesty's Government having consi-
dered, in communication with the law officers of
the Crown, the circumstances attending the capture
of tha Dolphin, as represented in your letters of the
13th and 15th inst., Lord Lyons will be instructed
to apply to the Government, of the United States
for the release of the vessel, unless some valid
ground for taking her before a prize court shall be
alleged.

"Lord Lyons will also be instructed to call the
special attention of the Government of the United
States to the manner in which a portion of the crew
of the Dolphin was dealt with by the captor.—l
am, sir, your obedient humble servant,
"E. HAMMOND."

" TO THE RIGHT HON, EARL RUSSELL, SECRETARY
OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
" Liverpool, April 29.
"My Lord,—l find on my return your lordship's
communication dated April 24, 1863, informing me
that her Majesty's Government have instructed Lord
Lyons to apply for the release of the Dolphin, if no
valid grounds can be alleged for bringing her before
a prize court, and also calling attention to the treat-
ment of the crew.
"I have to thank her Majesty's Government for
the prompt steps they have taken in this case, and
I trust the Federal Government will not be per-
mitted to detain this vessel an unlimited time, to
my great detriment.
" I beg to hand herewith an attested copy of a
letter received in Liverpool on the 27th inst. from
Captain R. H. Eustice, dated Key West, the 6th of
April, 1863, informing me of the capture of the
Dolphin, confirming previous statements of that
part of the crew arrived in England, and giving de-
tails of further outrages, showing that my captain
has been robbed and was left at Havannah, my first
engineer put in irons, and my ship and cargo pillaged
in a shameful manner. I have also to call the atten-
tion of her Majesty's Government to the fact that
the Dolphin, with a prize crew on board, called at
Havannah, which, I am told, of itself affords grounds
for her release, as two prizes of' the Confederate
steamer Sumter, with prize crews on board, having
been driven by stress of
liable
une
bat
ete
mrte
our: into
btiseized:e Cienfuegos,
our
uer great
rtmatterst,Edeeti
;.n
Cuba, were claimed by the American authorities,
be
st
and restored on the grounds that Spain war neu-
tral, and that prizes were not to be taken into
neutral porta.
have to
ccoanlltayionuerd
ilnordmsyhilpe'tstesrpoecfi
Englanda Apriltt
1:20t1n
it: 1
kIIGW
plain
n"ihnele
definitiony , t o give
ot
fo
the the merchants
laws,
GRAZ E1311.00Ii."
loss and to the derangement o
and, in short, is the British port of Nassau to be a
de-
tained, ih:end , andan d where
our c commerce :erre e
fair
sothatorwey
lawful destination for goods in British 8148
am, my lord, your, , lordship's

vant,

! aTO MR. W. J. GRAZEBROOX, LIVERPOOL.
~ Sir,—l am
" Foreign-office, April 30.
directed by Earl Russell to acknow-
apnhdin I,
thatani toh isst
istot
re
citsoh
iyp o u ,
ledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st instant,
as to the case of the vol-
letter
has nothing
his
which, by his direction, I a to add to
addressed to you
on the 24th inst. respecting that vesad. With re-
gard to the special protection which you seek for
your steamer the Adler, I am to state to you that
Lord Russell cannot promise to afford you any spe-
cial protection for that vessel. His lordship can
only say in general terms that her Majesty's Go-
vernment will not fail to protect, according to the
principles of international law, and in the
manner, the vessels of her Majesty's subjectsb proepnef
en-
gaged in a lawful trade and observing the ii gl.
tions of neutrality.—l am, &c.,

"E. HAMMOND.
"P.S.—Since this letter was written your letter
of the 29th inst. has been received."

A SAYING OF SYDNEY SMITH'S has been pre-
served, humorously illustrative of the view which
he took of Bishop Blondlaid's character. The bishop bad
been bitten by a dog in the calf of the leg, and fearing p( s-
bible hydrophobia in consequence, he went, with wtohnietghcao,cmhh,plia_raac.:..
charac-
teristic promptitude, to have the injured part cut out by a
surgeon before he returned liome.
eThwouoldorltikhreeit3oohneNav_rliaonmy,
he called were not at home, but at last the operation was
effected by the eminent surgeon, Mr. Keate. The same
evening the bishop was to have dined with a party Where
Sydney Smith was a gues.slut,n.:Jlreuesattdobineafloeocruetddinner a note r
a dog having rushed out from the crowd and bitten engagements
strihysvdenl de:gys.asymi niWhengtht: thisaetomh me notewenata
wag,
dog's account of the story,"—Bisi ~
toP zconifieu,s Li,e. the

The following appears in the columns of a con-
temporary :
I beg to hand you some further
with the Foreign-office concarning my L. r
Dolphin.

This steamer having left Falmouth on the 17th
of February, 1863, and the ship's papers, &c., being
altogether in order, are the best refutation to the
inferences intended to be drawn from the publica-
tion of an old circular referring to the blockade in
the columns of one of your contemporaries, well-
known for its devotion to the Federal cause, and
intended to injure my case in the eyes of the pubic.
I defy anyone to disprove that my steamer Dol-
phin was not on her legitimate voyage to Nassau
when seized near St. Thomas.—l am, sir, your
obedient servant,
Liverpool, May 1. W. J. GRAZEBROOK.

"TO THE BIGHT HON. EARL RUSSELL, SECRETARY OF
STATE FOR. FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
" London, April 21.
"My Lord,—l regret having again to trouble
you with reference to the capture of my steamer
Dolphin, but in the meantime by business is
suffering.
"This vessel was publicly advertised in the
Liverpool New r
paperrsovtin
to carry freight or passengers to
Nassau,
" Her bills of lading and articles engaging the
crew were signed for Nassau, and she was cleared
at the Liverpool Custom-house for St. Thomas and
Nassau, Nith a cargo of lawful merchandise.
" Near St. Thomas she was seized by the Federal
steamer Wachusetts on her evident course to her
destination.
"An armed force took possession of the engine-
room and the bridge before her papers were
examined.
"Although the ship's papers were in perfect
order, clearly demonstrating the above, the British
flag was struck, and
"Her captain was insulted and by force removed
"Her crew were made prisoners.
" Her cargo broken into, as the armed Federal
sailors got drunk with champagne which had been
packed in the fore hold.
" Sixteen of her crew were illegally detained on
board the Wachusetts at St. Thomas for 48 hours,
without being allowed to communicate with any
one until her Majesty's ship Nile left St. Thomas.
" The crew were not landed on American or
British possessions, but were landed on the foreign
island of St. Thomas, to starve or to beg, as no ar-
rangement was made for them with either the
hkg
aCcdaoepndsut capture
ports,e to provide
mAimiA
:esrfsircotahmne oftrohrßeergbioltoii British
occurred
rohrveai
dvd
have
for them.
ltyrhe eqlm,uo.eos
1,000
from her Majesty's Government some exact infor-
mation as to the limits of the law within which we
may demand protection, as at present it seems to be
left to the acquisitiveness of each American captain
who can catch a British vessel going towards our
West Indian possessions.
"I have at this moment my steamer Adler, in
Liverpool, ready for sea, and waiting your lordship's
decision, as my shippers and myself desire to know
before despatching her what protection we have to
expect on her legitimate voyage.
" If the Americans had declared war against us
we should go prepared to defend ourselves, but at
present we are like sheep delivered up to the
slaughter, and we wish to know what is lawful and
what is not.—l am your lordship's most obedient
servant, "W. J. GRAZEBROOK.4

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY,

The fund for the relief of the widows, children,
and relatives of those who perished in the wreck of
the Orpheus already exceeds £BOO sterling, all re-
ceived from private sources. The committee who
have the management and distribution of the
at the Naval College in Portsmouth doellyard, are
paying all allotments to widows and families for
April as fast as their claims are received. The real
value of this proceeding i, best appreciated by those
who know that when news is received of a man's
death in the service his pay is stopped, and the half
pay which his wife and children have received
monthly for their support during his absence from
home is stopped at the same time. As a result of
the measures taken by the committee, therefore, all
to whom were allotted monthly payments have re-
ceived or will receive them for April as usual, the
committee paying the amounts on this occasion in
lieu of the Admiralty. The immediate wants of the
families of the men lost will be thus promptly re-
lieved. To aid the good cause Captain Cowper
Phipps Coles, R.N., has issued a notice that he will
deliver a lecture at Hirst's Portland hall, Southsea,
on Wednesday evening nest, " On the Principles of
Revolving Shields and Ironclad Ships." Vice-Ad-
miral Sir Michael Seymour, G.C.8., will take the
chair. The proceeds of the lecture will be handed
over to the " Orpheus Fend."
The marine forts at Spithead—the Horse, No-
man, and Sturbridge—present the same appearance
as yet that they have done through the winter. In
each instance a score or so of wooden piles has been
driven into the shoal, with a huge iron cylindrical
pile in the centre, and the whole covered by a wooden
staging, on which is erected a timber cabin, with a
temporary lighthouse attached, to which some one
from the staff of the contractor for the construction
of the forts (Mr. Leather) is occasionally sent to
trim his lamps and keep watch that no drift runs
foul of the staging. In Stokes Bay a substan-
tial pier has been run out by the contractor,
and fitted with the necessary cranes and pur-
chases for receiving and discharging heavy
weights, while, at a convenient distance from the
shore and the pier,a village of workshops has sprung
up. Looking, therefore, at the preparations made
by the contractor, the progress already made with
the forts, and the penalties which would be incurred
by their abandonment, there cannot be a doubt that
when the question comes before the House of Cora •
mous it will be decided by a large majority to pro-
ceed with the two outer forts, the Noman and Horse,
whatever may be otherwise decided upon with re-
gard to the Sturbridge,
off Ryde. While the ques-
tion of marine forts for Spithead remains thus un-
decided and favourable weather for the construction
of their foundations is being lost, the construction
of new batteries, flanking the position of the forts
on the Isle of Wight shore, and the strengthening
of old batteries in a similar position on the Ports-
mouth shore, is being rapidly proceeded with by the
Royal Engineers. Preparations have been nearly
completed by the erection of temporary piers on the
sea beach and deposit of materials for strengthening
the flanks and altogether altering the nature of the
defences opposite the Spit buoy, now occupied by
Southsea Castle. On the island shore the earth-
works of a large open redan at Popful Point are
being rapidly developed. Popful Point is the most
projecting portion of the coast line between Ryde
and Seaview, and forms a portion of the Puckpool
Estate, adjoining St. Clare, where the Prince and
Princess Louis of Hesse spent their honymoon. To
obtain possession of the piece of land en which to
erect the battery, it has been necessary to purchase
the whole of the estate and residence. The work is
being constructed for mounting guns of great cali-
bre and range, and will probably have mortar bat-
teries at its angles.
The screw frigate Orlando, 46, 1,000 horse power,
Capt. G. G. Randolph, steamed into Chatham har-
bour, from the West Indies, at noon on Saturday,
attended by the Adder and Otter steamers, and was
immediately afterwards placed in No. 3 dock to un-
dergo a thorough overhaul and repair. Owing to
the Orlando's great draught of water, it was found
necessary to lighten her considerably to enable
her to pass over the sill of the dock, and accord-
ingly while at the Nore she had 400 tons of coal,
all her heavy maindeck guns, the whole of her shoe
and shell, and about 70 tons of water taken out,
which reduced her draught about 12in. As it was,
however, there was barely sufficient water to allow
of her being docked without dragging the bottom
of the dock, the strong north-easterly wind having
brought up the tide on Saturday much earlier
than had been calculated upon. On entering the
harbour her draught of water was found to be 19ft.
6in. forward and 21ft. 4in. aft, and, as the depth
of water in the dock was only a little over 21ft. on
her entering, she slightly dragged while being
placed on the blocks. She will undergo a thorough
survey by the dockyard officials this morning in
order to discover her defects, which are considered
to be rather serious. During the time she is in
dock the officers and crew will be berthed on board
the Gloucester and the Diamond receiving ships in
the harbour. The crew, 600 in number, are one of
the finest disciplined bodies of men in the Queen's
service, and the whole number, with their effects,
&c., were conveyed on board the hulks on Satur-
day without the least confusion and with the most
perfect order.

The whole of the available hands that can now
be spared from the dockyard are employed in
completing the vessel and gunboats belonging to
the first division of the Chatham steam reserve in
the Medway in readiness for the naval review which
will take place at the Nore on Whit Monday, on
which day Vice-Admiral Sir W. J. Hope Johnstone,
K.C. 8., will manoeuvre the fleet under his command
at the Nore, pier to hauling down his flag.
The following appointments were made on Satur-
day at the Admiralty :—Lieut. R. Pitman, to the
Liverpool ; Lieut. the Hon. H. B. Hamilton, to the
Leander; Lieut. H. C. A. Brand, to the Orontes.
the Marquis of Queensberry, midshipman, to the
Emerald; and A. N. Jones, clerk, to the Fisgard,
as supernumerary,

THE ARMY.
The examination of candidates for direct com-
missions, before Major-Gen. Hamilton, Vice-Presi-
dent, and the members of the Council of Military
Education, will commence to-day at theßoyal Hos-
pital, Chelsea, with the medical examination. The
examinations will conclude on Saturday next,

The lst Regiment of Life Guards had their first
field day on Saturday last at Wormwood Scrubbs.
The regiment was under command of Col. the Hon.
Dudley C. F. de Ros.
The
Deputy-Adjutant-General Col. C. Bingham,
by command of his Royal Highness Field-Marshal
the Duke of
order of Cambridge,
th has issued a general regi-
mental Royal Artillery, dated Horse
Guards, 28th ult., la contains the following in-
formation :—Her
Majestyhas approved the grant
of 25a. per diem conferra on the senior officer of the
Royal Regiment of ArtilwleryZch became vacant
by the death of Gen. J.
Colonel Commandant to Gen. Thomas J. Forbes, awarded
of
ceapension of
the Bth Brigade ; and of the good-service
..cen. £lOO per annum relinquished by
Gor-
don, on his promotion to the rank of Major-Gen,
dant, being conferred upon Major-Pester. °Tnihe fol-
man-
lowing appointments have been made :—To be d
jutants—Second Capt. David Dalrymple Anderson,
3i Horse Brigade; Second Capt. Henry W-Lums-
den, 17th Brigade; Second Capt. James Smith
Baird, 20th Brigade ; and Second Capt. Gustavus
Frederick Blair, 23d Brigade. To be Quartermas-
ters—Troop Quartermaster Robert Knox, 2d Horse
Brigade; Serg.-Major David Cummings, 17th
Brigade ; Quartermaster Serg. Bernard Ashbee,
20th Brigade ; and Serg. James Wolfe, 23d Brigade-
The undermentioned officers are raised to increased
pay, viz:--Lieut.-Col. H. L. Gibbard, 4th Horse
Brigade, vice Hatch, removed to the supernumerary
list; Lieut. T. Walker, 18th Brigade, vice Tasker,
promoted ; Lieut. G. E. Hancock, 21st Brigade,
vice Harcourt, promoted ; and Lieut. F. C. H.
Clark, 18th Brigade, vice Tanner, promoted. The
following officers are appointed instructors in gun-
nery, from the Ist April :—Lieut. C. E. Elwyn, 3d
Brigade;. Captain C. Hope Johnstone, 6th
fidCl4.lle ; Lieutenant F. A. Mant, 9th Brigade;
MillAtimftut Tremlett, 13th Brigade.

Commanding officers of brigades are requested to
report to the Horse Guards from time to time
any vacancies that may occur among the instructors
and assistant instructors of go 'Lary in their brigades,
and at the same tiro', to send nominal returns of any
individuals .who may hate qualified, and whom they
MY wish to recommend for the appointment. The
establishment for each brigade is one instructor and
two assistants, which is i❑ no case to be exceeded.
An exchange of batteries has been ordered between
Second Capt. W. M. S. Wolfe, of the 6th Brigade,
and Second Capt. C. Hope Johnstone, of the 7th
Brigade. Exchanges have also been sanctioned
between the following officers, viz., Second Capt.
P. Keate, of the 3d Brigade, and Second Capt. A. L.
K. Kaye, of the 13th Brigade; Lieut. E. H. Wick-
ham, 4th Brigade; and Lieut. D. N. Allan, 10th
Brigade ; Lieut. M. J. Sexton, 7th Brigade; and
Lieut. J. S. Bridges, Depot Brigade. The following
lieutenants are to join on the 12th inst. ; Lieut.
Halliday, at Jersey; Lieut. Whateley, Lieut. Smyth,
Lieut. Richmond, and Lieut. Bailer, at Worley.
The Inspector-General of Infantry, Major-Gen.
R. Rumley, completed his three days' inspection of
the infantry troops in the Chatham district on Satur-
day afternoon. The inspection was confined to the
3d Depot Battalion, occupying the Hut Barracks,
within the line of fortifications at Chatham. The
depot composing the 3d battalion, comprising the
Ist and 2d battalions of the 19th Regiment, the 51st
(King's Own Light Infantry), 75th, 81st, 91st, and
the 102 d (Royal Madras Fusiliers) Regiments, was
formed in the barrack-square at an early hour in
the morning, under the command of Lieut.-Col. the
Hon. J. J. Bourke. After giving the usual salute,
the troops were formed in open columns of compa-
nies, when the Insp:ctor-General instituted a minute
inspection of the uniforms, arms, kit, and accoutre-
ments of the non-commissioned officers and men of
each depot. At the completion of this portion of the
inspection the columns were re-formed, and the bat-
talion exercised in a few mancevres, to test the effi-
ciency of the troops under arms. They were then put
through the manual and platoon exercises by Capt.
Barrett, Ist battalion, 19th Regiment, senior captain,
and subsequently Major-Gen. Rumley inspected the
non-commissioned officers and men, who went
through the bayonet exercise under the direction of
Capt. S. A. Cleeve, 51st Regiment. The inspec-
tion was brought to a close by the battalion being
exercised in a variety of field and other manceuvres,
which were carried out under the direction of Lieut.
C. L. B. Hamilton, 51st Regiment, the senior subal-
tern officer, and Brevet-Major P. A. Brown, com-
manding the 102 d depot. The remainder of the
day was devoted by Major-General Rumley to the
inspection of the officers' quarters, mess-rooms, &c.
Before quitting the garrison on Saturday, Major
General Rumley conveyed to the commanding offi-
cers of the several battalions his satisfaction at the
result of his inspection, and with the highly effi-
cient state both as regards discipline and steadi-
ness under arms in which he found the three bat-
talions at Chatham.
The presentation of new colours to the 76th Hin-
dostan Regiment took place at Aldershott on
Wednesday last, in the presence of a large number
of spectators. After the Rev. N. Huleatt, principal
chaplain of the Camp, had read prayers, Lieutenant-
General Pennefather presented the colours to the
regiment. In doing so he reminded the troops of
the reputation their predecessors had won for them,
and congratulated Colonel Smyth on the present
state of the regiment, the gentlemanlike tone of the
officers, the active, anxious, intelligent conduct of
the sergeants, the manly bearing and admirable
esprit de corps of the soldiers, On the conclusion
of the General's speech Colonel Smyth briefly but
earne3tly thanked him for the honour conferred
upon the regiment. After the ceremony the various
companies dined together, and in the evening the
non-commissioned officers gave a ball, at which 150
were present, including Col. Smyth, Col. Brewster,
and Major Cater.