The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-08-23

traders Of friendly States Of the change which aceorn.
to the declaration Of the English Parliament appeared
to have taken place in the resolutions Of the British go
vcrnment relative to enemys property board neutral
vessels The English government thought 1t on the ee-
agents abroad 1t does not conlne itself TO rectfyng an
Interpretation which we would have been the first to
acknow iedre IL there had been msapprehenson but
il attaches suppositions thereto little worthy govern
ment, especially in time Of war.
The circular Of the 9th Of june was published in the
public Journals. We should have passed it in ST.
lence like many other official and semi-oical declara
tons directed against Russia with intentions less
hostile but the British agents received instructions TO
communicate it officially TO the governments to which
they accredited and this makes 1t obligatory upon
to explain ourselves towards friendly who
do not refuse grant confidence to our words and
to the intentions Of the Imperial Cabinet.
The English government dwes upon two points in our
circular Of the 26th Of April We therein said:-
1s An English Envoy with Hag OF truce has notified
at Port Baltic that foreign vesses-that is TO say,
only IN ballastSor with cargoes not Russian property
3D. Reng asked whether the vessels which might leave
on the faith of that notification would be allowed TO de-
part ree without the risk Of being stopped BY cruisers
they might meet at the English Envoy declared tha
he could not answer for It, might be very possbl.
that the English Admiral should make other arrange
In replying to the FIRST point the English ministry
perty into aRnssan produce and It quotes passage
from the report made by Captain Watson to his superior
II is therein said:--
Neutral vessels being import laden with Russian pro
duce ye and gin) have received permission to leave 10
their respective destinations which they have done
to the rights Of neutrality is sufficient discern the
essential difference presented by these two versions.
That Of the English officer does not exclude the SUPPOSE
ton that Russian property board neutral vessels viii
not be respected. does not contradict the declaration
received by the local authorities from the mouth that
oficer--namey that neutral vessels might leave the
port, but only with cargoes not Russian property 1t
must, however, be observed that Captain Watson has
not Reproduced in his report the Of his nofca-
ton to the authorities of Fort Baltic in like manner as
the British government has not thought ft to make pub
lie the order in virtue of which that officer fulfilled his
mission.
have reason grant less confidence to the
city of our authorities than the British government
grants TO that of the officers Of the English navy The
prohibition declared for neutral vessels to export
chandise, Russian property, was understood by the
authorities, Moreover had reason to be surprised
at it. The declaration published by the London Ga
se the 2Sth Of March Of last year says, among other
To preserve the trade of neura from any useless i'm
pedment her Majesty is disposed for the present. to
nqash portion Of rights Of war conferred By the
right of seizng enemy's merchandise board neutral
vessels, unless il be contraband of war.
The French declaration Of the 10th of March, concerted
with the British government, is no less explicit. It
says -
the present to relnquish portion Of the rights, &c
The vessels Of his Majesty will not seize enemys property
board neutral vessel, unless, &c, &c
These dispositions adopted for the present we're there
fore only temporary the British government reserving
to itelfthe right Of having again recourse whenever it
right emanating from public law. 1t allowable,
therefore TO infer from the notification Of Capt Watson
such 1t made, that the British government had
the intention of returning to the doctrine that the flag
does not the cargo" And, the first to
receive that information, it WAS duty 10 inform
thereof the governments who terms III and
amy with Russia. This we did by circular of the
2Sth of April doth May, simply without bitterness,
without comment.
If there was an error or misapprehension it would
have been worthy Of the British government 10 disavow
simply and without any gratuitous suppositons, the in
enton attributed to it, The neutral States and we our
dsavOUll.
As regards the second point that which the
Interior pomparlers with the English envoy (poriene
U) at Port Baltic refers also to the text Of Captain
Watson That officer explains himself as follows to hi
commanding officer
promise that they he neutral vessels which had receve
permission to leave with Russian produce) would not BE-
%s ana nreee s BE- % b
guided by it, and that in Of their Icing captured
the affair would be decided by the Admiralty Court
Captain Watson adds:-
The Governor asked me to allow fishing smaeks un
deesed, TO proceed to Riga and, having informed you
at anchor in the port and respective cagocs Icon
muDicated to him your permission for them tn sail inform
ing him at the same time that YOU had no intention
moIesng the town any fishing smack, but that yo
could not guarantee that those boats would not be
Tested as the Comma ndcr Chief was expected and he
might issue other orders.
This report serves in measure TO complete an
confirms in every point what we say in our circular
sion to the fishing smacks, that did not concern tb
trade Of neutrals But Captain Watson bears out wh
we announced-namcly, that he was not able TO reply
positive manner to the question put to him. A re
CARDS the fishing smacks, he was obliged to refer
other orders which the COMMANDMENT Chief might hav
occasion to ISSUE and regards neutral vessels whc
might have sailed the faith Of his notification h
points out to them without disguise the possibility
their being captured despite Of it, and OF their ben
brought before the English Admiralty Court.
We abstain from any Interior reflection trusting III
impartial judgment Of friendly Governments and a. th
circular OF the British Government has been Official
communicated TO them the Imperial missions are auth
rized TO do the same with this present