The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-05 00:00:00

SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN.

The Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury
have caused Mr. Parker, one of their Lordship's Se-
cretaries, to transmit to the Commissioners of the Cus-
toms a copy of a letter from the Foreign-office, relative
to certain irregularities that have occurred in several
British ports in consequence of the masters of vessels,
belonging to ports in the duchies of Schleswig and of
Holstein, having reported those vessels as Schleswig-
Holstein vessels, or as German vessels, and subsequently
taken other steps tending to establish a claim to be con-
sidered as vessels not subject to the Crown of Denmark,
with the expression of the desire of their Lordships
that they will govern themselves according to the views
entertained on this subject by Viscount Palmerston, as
detailed in his said letter. The following is a copy of
the communication from the Foreign-office to the Lords
of the Treasury on the subject alluded to:—
"Foreign-office.

" Sir,—l am directed by Viscount Palmerston to re-
quest that you will inform the Lords Commissioners of
her Majesty's Treasury that the attention of her Ma-
jesty's Government has been called to the irregularities
which have occurred in several British ports, owing to
the masters of vessels belonging to ports in the Duchies
of Schleswig and of Holstein having, on their arrival in
British ports, reported those vessels as Schleswig-Hol-
stein vessels, or as German vessels, and having subse-
quently to their arrival taken other steps tending to
establish a claim to be considered as vessels not subject
to the Crown of Denmark. Under these circumstances
Viscount Palmerston thinks it expedient that the
Lords of her Majesty's Treasury should be informed
of the view taken by her Majesty's Government of these
matters. There are no treaties which regulate the com-
mercial intercourse between Great Britain and the duchies
of Schleswig and of Holstein, except the treaties which
have been concluded between the Crown of England
and the King of Denmark. In those treaties no sepa-
rate mention is made of the Duchies as distinct from
other portions of the dominions of Denmark, and it is
under the general terms of those treaties that British
vessels are entitled to admission into the ports of
the duchies, and that the vessels of the duchies
aro entitled to admission into the ports of Great
Britain. Hence it is that, although the King of Den-
mark is not King, but Duke, of Holstein and Schles-
wig, those local distinctions not being specified in the
treaties, the vessels of the duchies are entitled to admis-
sion to British ports only in the character of Danish ves-
sels, there being no treaty in existence which gives them
any privilege or rightin their localcharacterot Schleswig
or of Holstein vessels. In the present state of the differences
between Denmark and the two duchies it may not be ex-
pedient to carry the observance of this technicality too
far; but it would, nevertheless, be right that the officers
of the Customs should explain clearly to the masters of
Schleswig or of Holstein vessels entering British ports,
that it is only under the treaties between Great Britain
and Denmark that they can be allowed the privilege in
regard to duties, &c., which they claim, and that, con-
sequently, whatever may be the character by which they
may declare themselves, and which the officers of the
Customs should be instructed, as a matter of courtesy,
not to dispute, it is as Danish vessels that they are
really admitted to the enjoyment of the privileges which
they claim. The above relates to declarations that such
vessels are Schleswigers or Holsteiners, or Schleswig-
Holsteiners; but in regard to declarations by Holstein
vessels that they are German vessels, the case is differ-
rent; and it would not be expedient that such declara-
tions should be accepted. For such declarations would
specifically take such vessels out of the operation of the
treaties with Denmark, and would not bring them
within the scope of any other treaty; inasmuch as no
treaty has been concluded between the British Crown
and Germany, nor, i❑ point of fact, is there at present
any state called Germany in existence with which such
a treaty could be concluded. What the Holsteiners
mean by declaring themselves Germane is that the
Duchy of Holstein forms a part of the Germanic Con-
federation. But Great Britain has never concluded any
commercial treaty with that Confederation, and the ves-
sels of the states which composed that confederation have
been admitted according to their respective national cha-
racters, as belonging to Prussia, Austria, the Hanse
Towns, &c., according to treaties, but not under the de-
nomination of German vessels.—l am, &c.,
" To J. Parker. "EDDISBURY."

In pursuance of this order from the Lords of the Trea-
sury, directing the officers of the Customs to govern
themselves in this matter according to the views enter-
tained on the subject by her Majesty's Secretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, instructions to that effect have
been furnished by the Commissioners of the Customs
to the principal officers of the department at the port of
London, and at the several ports throughout the king-
dom, with directions to take care that the same be duly
observed.

A CURATE FLOGGED.—A rather unusual and ex-
citing scene occurred, as we are given to understand, on
Friday last, at the adjacent quiet little tow❑ of Wilton—
the curate of the new church, the Rev. Mr. Jacob, hav-
ing been publicly assaulted by two gentlemen in the
square. From sundry pieces of explanation dropped at
the time on the subject, it is accounted for as follows:
It appears that an elderly gentleman living in Leeds
has a daughter; between whom and Mr. Jacob an ac-
quaintance has subsisted for some time past, and at
the father's house the supposed suitor was fed and
lodged for the space of about two years. On obtaining
his present curacy, however, it seems he left his lady
love to sigh behind him, and has altogether given up
the connexion. The young lady's feelings being worked
upon by this treatment, she became in an alarming state
of excitement, and this exasperating the feelings of her
tiftltner and father, they paid a visit to Salisbury, going
thence to Wilton, on purpose to inflict the above sum-
mary punishment. Post-horses were ordered, with
which they reached the Pembroke Arms Hotel ;
then, watching their opportunity, a message was for-
warded to the curate's residence, soliciting an inter-
view on the part of two gentlemen. The unsuspecting
man had reached as far as the square in complying with
the request, when the father and son met him with out-
stretched hands (but in them horsewhips), and both
commenced a course of flagellation. Some bystanders
interfered and held back the son, with an idea of fair
play, and when the old gentleman had exhausted his
strength by the exercise, he left the place, and immedi-.
ately returned to London by the next train ; and so the
matter ended for the present. Since this affair the father
of the curate, who resides in the Isle of Wight, has bad
an audience with the Bishop of Salisbury on the subject,
who, it is said, recommends a lawsuit. The flogging
affair is the talk of the whole neighbourhood.—Sher-
borne Journal.

A FURTHER CALL UPON JENNY LIND'S BENEVO•
LENCE.—A correspondent wishes us to suggest the pro-
priety of originating a memorial in Barnsly to Mdlle.
Jenny Lind, soliciting her to give her gratuitous ser-
vices at an oratorio in St. Mary's Church, on behalf of
the distressed widows and orphans left by the late me-
lancholy catastrophe at Darley Main Colliery. If the
subject were properly taken up by the gentry of the
neighbourhood, we doubt not the services of the benevo-
lent Miss Lind might be obtained.—Leeds Mercury.
THE BORDER COUNT RY.—Tbe various farms re-let
during the winter have, notwithstanding the low prices of
produce, in every instance brought higher rents. This has
held true as to farms of 1001. to 3,0001. of yearly rent.—
North British Mail.
Sir Edmund Lyons, lately Minister at Athens,
will be appointed British Minster in Switzerland.
THE NATIONAL SOCIETY.—Her Majesty the Queen
Dowager has presented the sum of 2001. towards the ge-
neral funds of the National Society, and 50/. towards the
Welsh fund.

SOUTHAMPTON, 11. 30. A.M.—The Royal West
India Mail steam-packet Company's ship Tay is coming
up the river. She is now about four miles from
Southampton.

SEIZURE OF THE PORTRAIT OF CHARLES I.—Con-
siderable excitement was caused in this city yesterday by
the circulation of a rumour to the effect that the portrait
of Charles 1., lately on exhibition at Tait's Royal Saloon,
Princes-street, bad been seized on by a sheriff's officer,
at the instance of the trustees of the Earl of Fife, from
whose collection
it was alleged to have been stolen, or
at least surreptitiously obtained. On making inquiry
into the matter, we ascertained that the picture was
seized on Wednesday afternoon, at the instance of the
parties alluded to, and conveyed to the Sheriff's office
in the Ccuaty- buildings, where it still remains. Some
proceedings
tcok place yesterday, before the Sheriff, in
connexion with this case, but of what nature has not been
allowed to transpire. We understand, however, that coun-
sel were heard both for the trustees of the Earl of Fife,
who now claims the portrait, and for Mr.
,Snare, of
Th
Reading, in whose possession it was found. e case,
it is understood, was ultimately delayed, in order that an
investigation might be made into the history and pedi-
gree of the painting. From a pamphlet published by
Mr. Snare, it appears that he bought the portrait
(which he alleges to be the long-lost original, painted by
the Spanish artist Valasquez, in 1613, while Charles,
then Prince of Wales, was on a matrimonial visit at
Madrid), some years ago, for the trifling sum of Si., at a
sale of paintings at Radley Hall, then occupied as an
academy by Mr. Rent. He subsequently ascertained, in
the course of his researches to prove the validity of the
r?firt.rait, thst it was at one time in the possession of the
Fift,, from whose catalogue ho even adtlual
evidence to substantiate his statements as to its identity.
—lVort/4 13ritisk Mail