The Sun.
London, England, 1858-07-27 00:00:00

sufficient evidence of nationality, and it is only when
there are grounds of suspicion that the British cruiser is
entitled to see whether the suspected vessel is American
or not. That is all that ever was asserted by us, and when
j the American Minister declares her Majesty's Govern-
ment have given up, frankly and &ally, the right of visit
—a declaration which is received with great enthusiasm

by his countrymen—l am at a loss to understand what is
given up. 20 years ago we repudiated the idea cf such a
right. We never made assertion of any such right, and
therefore we cannot give it up. But the noble earl the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs added, that it is
important some mode should be taken to verify the na-
tionality of any vessel on the ocean, without which we
can have no security whatever. (Hear, hear.) The in-
erections to which I have referred were framed in the
most careful and cautious manner, and we had the advan-
tage of the assiitanc3 of the noble earl now at the bead of
the Government. If the noble earl the Secretary of State
can make any regulations, or issue any instructions which
shall be more effectually and more carefully guarded, I
shall ba very glad to see them ; but, notwithstanding
the desirableness of the object, I doubt whether be will
find it practicable. (Hear.) I do not complain of the
noble earl, because the subject was probably new to him,
but those who advised him ought to have recollected that,
this subject occupi.d, during many months, a great deal
of care and attention. At the time to which I allude the
question was at its height. It excited muoh more inte-
re4 than it does now, and assumed a much mere serious
character. I will not follow this subject further, but I
will read an extract from the last de-patch I wrote on

ibis matter :
" I have no intention to renew the discussion, and it is
the less necessary because my last note has remained for
more than four years without an answer, and the Secretes y
of State has declared to the British Plenipotentiary at
Washington, that the explanations given were entirely sa-
tisfactory. The President is assured and believes that
Great Britain will always respect the just claims of the
United States. We have no pretensions to interfere in
any manner, either by detention, visitation, or search,
with vessels of the United States, know,: or believed to be
such. But we still maintain and will exercise the right
and necessity of ascertaining the genuineness of any flag
that suspected vessels may carry. If, in the exercise of
this right, any involuntary error should be made; if, in
spite of every precaution, any loss or injury should be
sustained prompt reparation will be afforded ; but that
we should abandon the right itself is quite impossible."
That is the footing of common sense and common justice
on which the question stands at this moment, and I was
much pleased to see from the despatch of General Cass
that be adopted the same opinion, and that he made the
same statement and used the words which I myself em-
ployed. The (xsrei4e of our right, if it be cautiously and
prudently asserted, as it has been for the last 16 or 18
years, will not leave us in a very bad position it no
change is made. If, however, the noble earl can improve
the system a hich 'has prevailed during that time I can
have no olsjF clon.
Earl GRANVILLE —I never beard the state of the
law as laid down by my noble and learned friend quee-
tinned, nor am I awa:e that any complaint was made
against the late Government for the instructions issued
by them. No alteration in these instructions was
made by the late Government, and I wish to know
whether it is the intention of the noble earl to abide
by the instructions which have heretofore been acted
upon until the communications with the American
Government on this subject have been concluded.
The Earl of MALNIESBURY—The noble earl who
spoke last omitted to mention one very irep)rtant
matter. No doubt the noble earl and the Ministry with
which he was connected assumed that the law was such
as it has been laid down by my noble and learned friend.
But he did not say that the American Government hr
variably went further, and asserted that they had a
right to maintain their own police, and that whatever
might be on board a vessel, if the American flag were
flying, we had no right to visit it. They said that they
constantly carried out a visitation by their own police,
and that they would not be meddled with by any other
country. Then came the question of discretion. I
admit that lately, I know not by whose orders, there
has appeared to be an increased activity exhibited by
our cruisers in searching American vessels. There can
be no doubt that the accounts given to the American
Government have been immensely exaggerated, and I
may state that after a careful examination I have no',
found any instance in which our cruisers have
behaved even with incivility to the officers of any
American vessel which they have boarded ; but at the
same time I must admit that in the exercise of that dis-
cretion which is given to them under the orders of the
noble earl there has been a want of judgment in some
cases, and that our officers have visited- vessels which
there was no fair reason to suppose were engaged in the
slave trade. The noble earl has asked me whether I have
altered those instructions. I have not done so. They
remain precisely as they were. But Ido not think they
are so safely worded as they might be, and I think they
might be improved 89 as not to expose our officers to the
risk of making mistakes which amount to an infraction
of international law, and which place them in an unfair
position such as no officers, and especially young officers,
ought to occupy. Pending the arrangement which I
have sketched out, that English cruisers should search
suspected English vessels, that Americans should search
suspected American vessels, and that French cruisers
should search suspected French vessels, without actually
altering the instructions beret( fore acted upon, we have
thought it right to suspend them until the negotiations
have proceeded further. We bare also oederei our
cruisers on that coast to respect the American flag
under any circumstances. Toe Americans, on their
part, have added a considerable number of cruisers on
the coast, and have promised, during this period of in-
activity on our part, which, I trust, may be but sher.,
to use all the activity they can in order that the Ameri-
can sag, which I fear has been several times used by
slavers, may not be prostituted to the purposes of the
slave trade. (Hear.)
The conversation then dropped.
REGISTRATION OF DESIGNS.

Lord LYNDHURST presented a petition from the
Society of Arts and the Royal Institution of British
Artists, praying for an extension of the registration
of designs and an amendment in the present law.
The noble and learned lord proceeded to detail the
hardship to which artists were now rnbjected, in
consequence of having no copyright in their pictures,
and by the pract ce which existed of having copies
of original paintings made by inferior artists, and
sold as originals, Extensive frauds were thus commit-
ted by the sale of these spurious copies. He mentioned
a cage where a lady of f rtuoe purchased a most valu-
able picture on the especial condition that no copy of it
should be taken, yet what was her surprise on going to
the Manchester Exhibition, to see one among that col-
lection. By means of employing inferior artists, several
copies were often taken of one picture, a-.4:1 sold as
originals either by private sale or at auctions, especially
in such large provincial towns as Liverpool and Man-
chester. He knew nothing could he done during the
present session, but he wou!d now move the appaint-
meat of a select committee, and name its members, in
order to afford them an opportunity of considering the
subject during the recess.
The Earl of DONOUG HM0R14.3 had no objection to
the committee, but, on the contrary, thought it would
be very beneficial to the public.
The motion was agreed to.
THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SPECIAL
SERVICE BILL.
The Earl of WICKLOW wished to be informed why
it was that the Church of England Special Services
Bill, which passed that House on the 22nd of March,
was nut persevered with, He complained of the I
conduct of the Bishop of London in sanctioning these
irregular services at Exeter Hall, and in leaving Mr.
Edouart to contest the matter alone, and he described
such conduct as unjust and unfair.
The Bishop of LONDON thought that, before the
noble earl applied to his conduct such terms as "unjust
and unfair," he should be extremely sure of the facts of
his case. (Hear, hear.) • The only fact: which bore any
any particular reference to his (the Bishop of London's)
conduct in this matter was, the assert on that the ser-
vices at Exeter Hall were with his authority, which the
noble earl would see was not the case if he would only
consult the printed correspondence which he (the Earl
of Wicklow) bead in his hand, and had quoted. In one
of his (the Bishop of London's) letters contained in that
correspondence, the noble earl would find these words :
—" These services are not with my sanction." (Hear,
hear.) Before, therefore, the noble earl accused him of
conduct which was "unjust and unfair, it would have
been only just and fair for the noble earl to have read
his (the Bishop of London's) statement. (Hear, hear.)
The noble earl thought that he ought to have made him-
self a party to this affair ; tut in cases of disputed law
he could not interfere privately—the question could be
settled in the Bishop's Court. Some gentlemen thought
that the bill was unnecessary, and had written to him to
say that they thought they could accomplish in another
way that which the act was to enable them to accomplish
in a particular way, and that they intended to reopen
the services. He also received intimations from certain
other gentlemen that they entertained opposite opinions.
This was a case of disputed law, and it could be speedily
settled in the Bishop's Court. Their lordships bad
already decided by a large majority that these services
were needed ; any interference of his would only have
done harm ; but if it should turn out that these services
were legal, he for one should not be sorry. (Hear, hear.)
In reply to a farther question,
The Bishop of LONDON said he had nothing to
do with the Westminster Abbey servioss, which were
managed by the Dean and Chapter. But he did not be-
lieve it was ever intended to protract the Abbey services
later than July, so that the re-opening of the Exeter Hall
services had nothing to do with the termination of those
at the Abbey. (Hear )
The then dropped.
WILLS,b eeci , OF BRITISH SUBJECTS ABROAD
Ft COTbOuehUi
FOUR
COUNTY BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
PROPERTYo
CONVEYANCE BILL.
This bill passed through committee and was ordered
Dr
a: Uotzwßi
third
FI
timeN
A.aNnEXTENSIONDd s Bpassed.lßlLL.
I.BILL.
bp
COURTSTII Yrl
Nt
wecdastoor
emsa
This till was read a third time and passed.
LEGITIMACY DECLARATION BILL.
The report of amendments on this bill was agreed to.
Tl-e Sheert, dye, Contagious Diseases Prevention Bill,
the Turnpike Acts Continuance Bill, and the Taccination
(Ireland) B V, mere also read a third time and passed.
GOVERNMENT OF NEW CALEDONIA. BILL.
The Earl of CARNARVON, in asking their lordships
to give a second reading to this bill, stated that those
wbo happened to he familiar with the very graphic ac-
counts which bad appeared in the newspapers wi h re-
gard to the discovery of gold in the north-western pars
f British America, would feel, probably, that little os.