The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-23 00:00:00

England and the United States•

A series of twelve official documents, which have been
exchanged between-Mr. C. F. Adams, the American Minis-
ter in London, and her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, on the subject of the late cruiser
Shenandoah, were published last night in a supplement to
the London Gazette, in continuation of the correspondence
on this subject which was published on the 11th ult.
The first of these communications is from Mr. Adams to
Earl Russell, and is dated on the 21st of October last. In
it the American Minister takes occasion to specifically state
that, "in view of the origin, equipment, and manning of
that vessel (Shenandoah), my Government claims to look
to that of Great Britain for indemnification for this and
other losses that have been occasioned by her depreda-
tions." Mr. Adams then recapitulates at length the pre-
sumed facts of the case, ankl argues in support of the posi-
tion his Government had assumed. On the 25th of Oc-
tober Earl Russell acknowledged receipt of this communi-
cation in the briefest terms; and on the 7th of November,
when Mr. Adams's next letter was dated, it was addressed
to Lord Clarendon, who had just assumed office. This
letter officially communicated to the Foreign Secre-
tary the news that the Shenandoah .had come into the
Mersey, and her Majesty's Government was requested to
take possession of the ship with the view of delivering
her over to the United States, that her career of lawless-
ness might be surely brought to a close ; and that the
property on board might be taken care of. Concerning
the disposition of the crew, Mr. Adams expressed the hope
that, under the circumstances, her Majesty's Government
" will be induced voluntarily to adopt that which may
most satisfy my countrymen." To this last letter Lord
Clarendon replied on the 11th of November, having simply
acknowledged receiving it on the 7th. After informing
Mr. Adams :that on the previous day (the 10th) the She-
nandoah, which had been given up by her captain to the
British naval authorities, had by them been formally de-
livered to the representative of the United States, Lord
Clarendon goes on to state that there were several severe
cases of illness among the crew of the Shenandoah; and
that instant action for disposing of those on board appeared
to him necessary. That any proceedings against these
men could only be taken upon some definite charge of an
offence cognisable by British law, and supported by evi-
dehce, and that in the absence of such charge her Majesty's
Government could not assume the power of keeping any
of them under any kind of restraint. But the Government
did not possess any evidence to invalidate the assertions of
Captain Waddell, whose report upon arrival (already pub-
lished), Lord Clarendon enclosed. It remained, however,
to ascertain whether any of the crew were British sub-
jects, who would, in that case, be liable under the provi-
sions of -the Foreign Enlistment Act. "In pursuance of
these instructions the senior naval officer at Liverpool
at once proceeded on board the Shenandoah, and having
mustered the crew, he reports himself to have been " fully
satisfied that they were all foreigners, and that there were
none known to be British-born subjects on board ;' where-
upon they were all landed with their effects."
Mr. Adams wrote on the 14th of the same month,
stating that the prompt delivering up of the Shenandoah
to the United States would "give great satisfaction to
my Government," but affirming that as regarded the release
of the crew, he should " carefully abstain from any un-
authorised word of mine which might tend to make a situa-
tion already much too grave still more serious." On the
18th of November the Earl of Clarendon replied to Mr.
Adams's communication of the 21st October, in which the
American Minister enunciated the claim of his Government
for indemnification from losses resulting from the cruise of
the Shenandoah. His lordship argued that the circum-
stances of the vessel's equipment were not such as in the
eye of the English law, or, consequently, in the view of the
English Government, could beiiregarded as illegal. Allud-
ing pointedly to Mr. Adams's assertion that her Majesty's
Government had, by receiving the Shenandoah into port
after knowing of her origin and manner of outfitting, as-
sumed a responsibility for all the damage done, Lord Cla-
rendon says : "If I needed (which in this case Ido not) to
find an answer to a claim founded upon such principles, I
should have to seek no further than the records of recent
American law, and the practice of modern American states-
men." On the 'same day (Nov. 18) Mr. Adams addressed
Lord Clarendon, beginning his letter with a statement of
"the most profound regret that I am thus compelled to
open my relations with your lordship in a spirit of contro-
versy." The letter was in reply to that one of Earl Rus-
sell's dated the 2d November (published with the first por-
tion of this correspondence on the 11th ult.), in which his
lordship argued against the liability of Great Britain on
this question, from the precedent negotiations of the Go-
vernment of the United States with the Government of
Portugal, on a like occasion. Mr. Adams now maintained
that the respective action of the United States towards
Portugal, and of Great Britain towards the United States,
differed so essentially and radically as to make it impos-
sible to bring them within a reasonable parallel. The two
letters which conclude the series are appended, and need
no comment :

"Mr. Adams to tho Earl of Clarendon.—(Roceived Nov.
21, 1865.)

"Legation of tho United States, London,
November 21, 1865.

"My Lord,—l have the honour to inform your lordship
that the notes elicited by the proposal for a commission
to consider certain classes of claims growing out of the
late difficulties in the United States, made by your pre-
decessor the Right Honourable Earl Russell, in his let-
ter addressed to me on the 30th of August last, have received
the careful consideration of my Government. Adhering,
as my Government does, to the opinion that the claims it
has presented, which his lordship has thought fit at the
outset to exclude from consideration, are just and reason-
able, I am instructed to say that it sees now no occasion
for further delay in giving a full answer to his lordship's
proposition. lam directed, therefore, to inform your lord-
ship that the proposition of her Majesty's Government for
the creating of a joint commission is respectfully declined.
" I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the
highest consideration, with which I have, &c.,

(Signed) " CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS."
" The Earl of Clarendon to Mr. Adams.

" Foreign-office, Dec. 2, 1865.
" Sif,—l have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter of the 18th ult., having reference to the letter
which my predecessor addressed to you on the 3d ult.
There are many statements in yours which I should be pre-
pared to controvert if it were not that her Majesty's Go-
vernment consider that no advantage can result from pro-
longing the controversy, of which the topics are generally
exhausted, but which might possibly, if continued, intro-
duce acrimony into the relations between this country and
the United States; two nations who from kindred origin
and mutual interest should desire to be knit together by
bonds of the closest friendship. Such a desire is strongly
felt by the Government and people of this country, and her
Majesty's Government do not doubt that it is shared by the
Government and people of the United States. While ab-
staining therefore from any discussion of the passages in
your letter, to the correctness of which I am unable to sub-
scribe, it is nevertheless my duty, in closing this correspon-
dence, to observe that no armed vessel departed during the
war from a British port to cruise against the commerce of
the United States, and to maintain that throughout all the
difficulties of the civil war by which the United States have
lately been distracted, but in the termination of which no
nation rejoices more cordially than Great Britain, the Bri-
tish Government have steadily and honestly discharged all
the duties incumbent on them as a neutral Power, and have
never deviated from the obligations imposed on them by
international law.—l am, &c.,

(Signed) " CLARENDON."

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This day.

~+---

LONDON, Dec. 23.—Wind this day at noon—South-
Easterly; moderate breeze, and fine weather, but rather
cloudy.
LIVERPOOL, Dec. 21.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Jhelem,
from Constantinople; Amalia, from Corunna ; Valentina,
from Rochefort.

FALMOUTH, Dec. 22.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Johanna
Ludvig, from Galatz.
CLYDE, Dec. 22.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Glen Tilt,
from Monte Video.

SWANSEA, Dec. 21.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Rose of
England, from Caldera.
PonTsmounr, Dec. 22.—Wind W.S.W.—Arrived—
Theresa, from Madras.
PLYMOUTH, Dec. 22.—Wind S.W.—Sailed—Robertson
for Jamaica.

LBY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. I
GRAVESEND, Saturday Morning.

Arrived, Dec. 23.—Leo, screw steamer, from Antwerp ;
Hyanite, from Guernsey; King of Tyre, from Seville ;
Moselle, steamer, from Antwerp.

DEAL, Saturday Morning.

Passed, Dec. 22 —Citizen, screw steamer, from London,
for Bordeaux; Tasso, screw steamer, from London, for
Newport ; Queen of the North, from Table Bay ; Prince
Oscar, from Calcutta—both for London.

GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY.---It is stated that
Mr. R. Moseley, who has been for 20 years associated with
railway affairs in the-eastern counties, is likely to be ap-
pointed general manager of the Great Eastern system.
The chief difficulty with which Mr. Moseley has for some
time had to contend is an insufficiency of plant ; and pro-
bably the new management will apply itself vigorously to
the correction of this grievance. The coal traffic from the
north, proposed to be developed in connection with the
Great Northern Railway, is not expected to be commenced
before April.
THE OLDEST INHABITANT.—James M'Cormick,
said to be the oldest man in the United States, died at
Newburgh, New York, on the 11th November. His age
is stated to have been
.114 years, three monthst and five
days. He did not marry until he was 45 ;he then became
the father of 14 children. _

Two WAYS OF LOOKING AT IT.—Exeter-hall says
the case against Governor Eyre is plain. In their hands,
we say, it is coloured.—Punc4.