The Sun.
London, England, 1835-07-27 00:00:00

THE DANISH CLAIMS.

The following article from the Leeds Intelligencer required
some correction.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a letter from his pri—
vate Secretary, dated the 21st inst., addressed to one of the,'
Agents (being several days subsequent to the one addressed to
Mr. Hutt), says, "that he has reserved the claims of those
who occupy the 2d and 3d classes, that is, those who claim for
goods seized in warehouses, and for goods seized at sea, for
further consideration."
Now the 3d class compose the claims for shipping, which,
together with the cases for cargoes seized, are equally, if not
still more, entitled to compensation than the book debts : they
were equally contrary to the law of nations, as the Danes had,
by treaty with the Baltic Powers, precluded themselves from
reprisals in the Baltic sea, even in case of their hostility with
any Power beyond that sea, as they had declared the Baltic to
be a " sea close," where no molestation was to take place ;
but the Danes, in their irritation, did consider any breach of
the law of nations as too great where they could seize British
property or injure British commerce. The shipping cases are
also founded on the positive assurance of the Admiralty, and
the Commander-in-Chief in the North sea at that period, that
there was no danger in their proceeding up the Baltic; and
many of the British cargoes were on board neutral ships be-
longing to Baltic ports, and ought to have been safe from pil-
lage, if the Danes had adhered to their own previous declara-
tion and engagement by treaty. It would therefore be unjust
to make any distinction, and it is to be hoped, when the sub-
ject is brought before the House, which may be next Friday,
that the honour of the country will be vindicated from the re.
proach of injustice towards the unfortunate claimants for ships
and cargoes.

(From the Leeds Intelligencer.)
Mr. Hutt, one of the Members for Hull, has paid very lauda-
ble attention to the question of the Danish claims, which is
of great importance to many persons in the county of York,
and especially in the West Riding.
Having presented a petition from Hull on the subject, and
written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Hutt receivcd
the following letter from the Right Hon. Gentleman's son and
Private Secretary :

" Downing-street, July 13th, 1835.
" Sir,—l am directed by the Chancellor of the Exchequer
:o acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th inst., on
:he subject of the Danish claims.
" The Chancellor of the Exchequer has directed an esti-
mate to be prepared for carrying- into effect Lord Spencer's
engagement with respect to the claims arising from book
debts ; but he is not prepared as yet to announce any decision
on the claim of those parties who have been sufferers from th©
seizure of goods in warehouses. _ _

" He directs me also to add, that he cannot entertain the
proposition of giving any compensation to those parties who
compose the third class of claimants, whose losses were of
goods at sea.
" I have the honour to be, Sir, your very obedient
humble servant,
" S. E. SPRING RICE.
" W. Hutt, Esq., M. P., Conduit-street."
From this it appears that the present Government contem-
plate only a partial measure of redress, when they may find it
convenient to act ; but it is evident that nothing will be done
this session. We hope therefore that Mr. Hutt will again bring
the matter before the House of Commons.
Our readers will remember that as soon as Sir Robert Peel
had taken office, an attack was made upon the Right Hon.
Baronet's Administration by the Leeds Mercury. The " Tories"
were accused, not only of an indisposition to do justice to the
claimants, but with having reversed the intentions of their pre-
decessors in office ; and the partisans of the ousted Whigs in
Leeds exclaimed—" Sec what a price we are to pay for a
Peel Ministry—we are to have no compensation for our
losses r' And Mr. Baines did his utmost to spread this
delusion.

We promptly put down this falsehood by explaining the
exact position of the question. We stated that the Melbourne
Ministry, notwithstanding the promises held out by Lord Al-
thorp in the House of Commons, and to the deputations who
waited upon him, never did more than put the matter in train
for inquiry ; and that the Noble Lord had never intended to
recommend Parliament to make any grant without previous
proof. On Sir Robert Peel's accession to office he imme-
diately took up the question, and referred it to the Commis-
sioners for French Claims. _

Well, the famous Melbourne Ministry is again in office ; se-
veral months have elapsed, yet nothing has been done ; the
subject rests wncre it did a year ago. The Chancellor of the
Exchequer, indeed, pushed by Mr. Hutt, has given orders
for preparing an estimate with regard to the claims arising
from book debts ; yet, when that estimate is prepared, Parlia-
ment must be appealed to, and care will be taken that the esti-
mate shall nut come too soon, so as to increase Mr. Spring
Rice's troubles. _ _

In a word, the juggle of last year is in full operation in the
present, and will continue at least to the end of it. And what
says Mr. Baines, M.P. for Leeds? Just nothing at all. When
Sir Robert Peel was in place Mr. Baines's zeal in behalf of
the claimants suddenly kindled ; it is now as suddenly ex-
tinguished. The Whigs are in office, and that makes all the
difference in the world.