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 York Express says :—" By the
general law of nations, 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's subjects to enter into
any contract or agreement for ransoming any ship
or merchandise which shall be captured by their
I enemies. 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;
land foreign tribunals will not interfere, unless where
their territorial rights have been violated. Ran-
soms belong to the same jurisdiction, and may there-
fore be enforced or set aside, as the facts disclose a
good or bad prize. It is, however, competent for
the captors to change the forum in cases of ransom,
and apply for redress in any country where the
person of the owner of the Ariel. may be found, or
the ship itself."

DOING A CABBY !—As an occupation in declining
years, I declare I think saving is useful, amusing,
and not unbccoming• it must be a perpetual amuse-
ment. It is a game that can be played by day, by night,
he_veerelyticruesrsewistha
at home awl abroad, and at which you must win in the
long rin. lam tired and want a cab. The fare to my
house, say, is two shillings. The cabman will naturally
far more cleverly than we want half-a-crown. I pull out my book. I show him the
distance is exactly three miles and fifteen hundred and
ninety Yards. I offer him
hayveadversa
the
complimentt wo shillings,
to m y blaspheming
ski.
I
have
nun and beat him • haveinwpal radyl ad'
hand, and shall beat
reward. This
is , and a sixpence is my spoil, and just
by the way, which women play
parts to life I
in the journey's end ; am sure of my
3: c 3 we do. But what an interest it im-
shallother way. I won't whole drive home I know I
my game agt the
r3'. Or I can play in an-
omnibus : I will be one of tahecah et
all, I will wait for the
ing vehicle. I will wait aboutdraP fourteen in that steam-
'bus after 'bus shall pass, but In
wth.le rain for an hour, and
have a place, and get it at length' , not be beat. I will
through, and an umbrella dripping
betweenvrith my boots wet
have a rheumatism, a cold, a sore-throat ft. 131 Y
legs. I
—a doctor's bill to morrow• perhaps ? „,, - -.Wks' evening,
4 WI, but I have
my game, and am a gainer of a shilling won
on this rubber.--
Thackeray in Gornhill for ,Februgry,