The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-17 00:00:00

RUSSELL

Dated 'Washington, Dec. 31, 1861.
I have the honour to enclose, herewith, to you a copy of
a note from Mr. Seward to the Secretary of the Navy, which
has been communicated to me to-day by Mr. Seward. It
refers to the circumstances of an oath having been exacted
as a condition of release, by the Commander of the United
States steamer, from three British seamen, captured for
broach of blockade, to the effect that they should undertake
12,,t to be employed in similar proceedings for the future.
Your lordship will see that Mr. Seward strongly condemns
this act, and release the seamen from the obligation taken
by them.

Enclosure in extract from Lord Lyons' Despatch of Dec.

31, 1861.

Department of State, Washington, Dec. 31, IS6I.

To the lion. Gileon Welles.

Sir,—This department has been informally apprized
that Commander Woodhall, of the United States steamer
Connecticut, recently exacted as a condition of the release
of members of the crew of the British echooner Adeline,
captured for breach of the blockade, that they should enter
into an engagement not to be employed in a similar pro-
ceeding in future. It occurs to this department that, as
the requirement referred to is not warranted by public
law, the commanders of blockading vessels should be in-
structed not to exact any similar condition for the release
of persons found on board vessels charged with a breach of
the blockade. It may be lawful to detain such persons as
witnesses, when their testimony may be indispensable to
the administration of justice; but when captured in a neu-
tral ship, they cannot be considered, and ought not to be
treated, as prisoners of war. Angus Smith, John Mooney,
and John H. Mclienry, the alleged British subjects
above referred to, are consequently to be considered as
absolved fr the obligation represented to have been re-
quired of them by Commander Woodhall.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

LONDON GAZETTE.—(This Evening).

WHITEHALL, Jtx. 16.

The Queen has been pleased to direct letters patent to be
passed under the Great Seal, granting the dignity of a
Baronet of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire-
land, unto Charles Wentworth Dilke the 3 °anger, of Sloane-
street, in the county of Middlesex, Esq., and the heirs male
of his body lawfully begotten.
BOROUGH OF NEW SHOREHAM.
The Gazette contains the Speaker's warrant for issuing
new writ for the electing of a member to serve in Parlia-
ment for the borough of New Shoreham, in the room of Sir
Charles M. Burrell, Bart. deceased.

WAR-OFFICE, PALL-MALL, JAN. 17.
MEmonANnum.—The Queen desiring to perpetuate the
remembrance of her beloved husband's connection with the
Rifle Brigade, and feeling sure that it will be gratifying to
the corps to bear the name of one who, as its Colonel-in-
Chief, took such a deep and constant interest in its welfare,
has been pleased to command that it shall bear in future
the designation of " The Prince Consort's Own Rifle
Brigade."

WAR OFFICE, PALL MALL, JAN. 17.
36th Foot—Paymaster Chambre should have been de-
scribed, in the Gazette of 14th instant, as late Captain
14th Light Dragoons, not as late Chaplain.
CmarLAlN's DEPARTMENT.—The Reverend Reginald
Heber Bullock to be Chaplain of the Fourth Class.
MILITARY STORE DEPARTMENT.—Assistant -Superinten-
dent of Stores W. A, Holwell to be Deputy Superinten-
dent of Stores.

ADMIRALTY, JAN. 9.
CORPS OP ROYAL MARINES.—Mpjor-General Anthony
Blaxland Stransham to be Inspector-General of Royal
Marines.

BANKRUPTS.
The portion of the Gazette containing the Bankrupts
had not arrived when we went to press.