The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-19 00:00:00

SPAIN.

Mr. Seward sends instructions to Mr. Schurz,
our Minister in Spain, in which he says
" The President, in the absence of all informa-
tion, is left to conjecture what are the influences
upon which the so•called Confederate States rely
to induce her Catholic Majesty's Government to
grant their disloyal applications. The high con-
sideration which he entertains for her Majesty en-
ables him to assume that the appeal taken from this
Government to her Royal favour proceeds in part,
at least, on the ground that the revolutionisers
affect to have suffered opposition and wrong at the
hands of the Government of the United States,
which entitles them to the sympathy of the Queen
of Spain, if not to redress through her intervention.,
Her Catholic Majesty's Government has not been
addicted to such intervention hitherto, and the wis-
dom of its forbearance is seen in the revival of the
energies of that great and honoured nation, which
seems renewing a felicitous career, The President,
however, will not rely merely on the forbearance of
any foreign Power, not even on that of the Govern-
ment of Spain."
Ex-Minister Preston, April 22, writes :
"An interview has taken place between the
Minister of Foreign Affairs and myself in reference
to the subject embraced in your circular. In con-
formity with your instructions, I presented the In-
augural Address of the President, as expressive of
his policy towards the seceding States, and read to
him your despatch, saying that the Administration
conceived that the unhappy differences existing in
America owed their origin to popular passions and
were of a transient character, and that the Presi-
dent was well assured of the speedy restoration of
the harmony and unity of the Government. The
Minister replied with courtesy, expressing pain at
the posture of affairs in the United States, but said
that her Majesty's Government was informed that
extensive military and naval preparations were
making in the North to enforce the Federal supre-
macy in the South, and that the consequences were
to be decided. I replied that I felt assured his in-
formation was erroneous."

The Secretary of Legation, Perry, June 2d, in

writing to Mr. Seward, says,—
" The result of the interview with M. Calderon
may be regarded by the President as decisive in
regard to Spain. Much bad been done previously,
but it was brought to a teimination yesterday. The
Minister of State not only renewed to me the assur-
anc?s given to Mr. Preston, but amplified it, stating
at, ,olutely that if any Commissioners or other nego-
tiators should appear in behalf of the so-called Con-
federate States the Government would not see them
nor recognize them in any capacity—that Spain
would have nothing to do with the rebel party in
the United States, in any sonse."
The President's message, which was delivered on
the 3d, reached San Francisco (California) by the
morning of the sth.
Letters from Washington of the sth state that
Secretary Seward had issued an order for the civil
authorities of the district of Columbia not to arrest
slaves fleeing from rebel masters. It was further
ordered that the military officers should arrest any
police or other civil officers, if they disregarded the
above order.
The Boston Transcript of the sth alludes as fol-
lows to the State prisoners at Fort Warren :
" The State prisoners at Fort Warren were found
by the mayor of the city, in a visit made yesterday,
to be in great distress for want of the common com-
forts. The sick prisoners received beds and bed-
ding, proper food, wine, tea, sugar, medicines—
almost everything, no proper arrangements having
been made for the reception of so large a number.
Anything left at the mayor's office for the prisoners
will be sent to the fort by the harbour police boat,
which touches at the fort daily, and Col. Diramick
will see to its proper distribution. The case appeals
not only to the charity but the magnaminity of our
citizens, and requires immediate attention.
General Halleck, in command of the Federal
forces at St. Louis, issued the following rigorous
order on the sth ;
" To arrest and place in confinement all persons
in arms against the United States, or who give
assistance, aid, or encouragement to the enemy, and
to take possession of their property, as far as needed
by the army ; that all persons found in disguise as
pretended loyal citizens, or under other false pre-
tences, within our lines, giving information or com-
municating with the enemy, shall be arrested, tried,
and shot as spies ; that all persons now employed