The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-09 00:00:00

THE SOULE AFFAIR.

On the subject of the misunderstanding with Mr.
Soule, the followingstatement is published in the Moniteur
of yesterday :
" Some foreign journals have reported, on incomplete
or inaccurate information, the details of an incident re-
lating to Mr. Soule, the Minister of the United States
in Spain.
"A year ago circumstances, which made some noise
out of Madrid, called the attention of the Emperor's
Government to this diplomatist. Since that time Mr.
Soule has traversed part of France, and stopped at Paris
and several towns of the south. The Minister of the
Interior was of opinion that considerations affecting
public order required that, in future, these journeys
should not be resumed without his knowledge ; and
orders were transmitted to the frontiers to prevent Mr.
Soule from penetrating into the interior of the empire
until intimation had been given to the Government.
" Mr. Soule landed on the 24th of October at Calais ;
the Commissioner of Police, appointed to inspect pass-
ports, informed him, with the utmost civility, of the in-
structions which related to him, and intimated that he
was going to report to Paris, with a request that Mr.
Soule would wait a little. These offers were not ac-
cepted, and on the very day of his arrival Mr. Soule set
off again for London.
"In the meantime the Minister of the Interior had
transmitted definitive instructions to the authorities
at Calais. They were to the effect that if Mr. Souhi
proposed to remain in France, permission would not be
granted to him ; but that if he intended merely to cross
our territory to return to his post at Madrid, his per-
mission to travel (titre devoyage) would be visa for that
destination. The road was therefore open to Mr.
Soule, Minister of the United States in Spain ; but re-
sidence was prohibited to Mr. Soule, in accordance with
the discretional power which the law confers upon Go-
vernment, in relation to all strangers without exception
—a power which, by its nature, is above all controversy.
" The same journals that have mentioned the fact
which we here relate exactly as it happened have in-
dulged in comments on it equally contradictory and
erroneous. -On_ the one hand it has been asserted that
Government has reversed its decision ; on the other it
has been alleged that the measure adopted with regard
to Mr. Soul 6 has led to an interchange of extremely
sharp explanations between the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and the Minister of the United States at Paris.
Government had no need to retract orders which recon-
ciled the exercise of its legitimate rights with respect for
the public character of Mr. Soulii. As to the represen-
tations that may have been made by Mr. Mason, andthe
answers given to them, both have been in perfect har-
mony with those proprieties which the Minister of the
United States feels as sensibly as any man, and the
amicable nature of the relations of the Emperor's Govern-
ment to the Cabinet at Washington."

ROYAL COMMISSION PATRIOTIC FUND.

16A, Great George-street, Westminster,
November 7, 1854.

The honorary secretaries to the Royal Commission of
the Patriotic Fund request the favour that the edi-
tor of The Sun will give publicity in his columns
to the accompanying letter, stating the arrangements
under which the Lords of the Admiralty have given
their consent to the immediate relief of widows and
orphans belonging to the navy, and which it is of
importance to make known to the service as early as
possible :

Admiralty, October 30, 1854.
Gentlemen,—Having laid before my Lords Commis-
sioners of the Admiralty your letter of the 2Gth inst., I am
commanded by their lordships to signify to you their
approval of the suggestion of the Royal Commissioners of
the Patriotic Fund, that the allotments to widows and
children of sailors and marines who may have died, or
have been killed, during existing hostilities, may be con-
tinued three months after the date of such demise reach-
ing their lordships, in order that time may be given for
inquiry, and for arranging a mode of relief—the Commis-
sioners of the Patriotic Fund undertaking to meet the
deficit, should there not be a balance duo to the individual
sufficient to defray such allotment; and I am to acquaint
you that the Accountant-General of the Navy has been
directed to give the necessary instructions to the paying
officers accordingly.—l am, &c.,
W. A. B. HAMILTON.
The Honorary Secretaries of the Royal Commission
of the Patriotic Fund.