The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-01-06

An English View Of an American Gift.
| As a single specimen of the comments which
have been offered by British press on the gifs
of the ship Resolute to that government we Al.
pend the following extract from the Liyerpool
Mercury of Dec. 18th
"If our efforts In the field of Arctic discovery
| have been comparatively barren in . utlitarian
| point of view, they have been singularly rich in
moral results. They have worthily sustained the
traditional glories Of British heroism enterprise
| and fortitude They have shown what English
| men are capable Of doing and enduring under a
sense of duly stimulated by the physical courage
which delights in perilous adventure, and by the
philosophical curiosity which counts all dangers
| cheap in the cause OF science 4 no less precious
fruit of these expeditions is the practical evidence
| they have afforded that the English and American
people are. after all, despite their occasional
chickering's aud jealousies, one nation The labois
and perils of England have been shared by our
| knsmen beyond the Atlantic with generous
de7otedness which makes proud of our com
mon parentsge, and the series of Arctic expedi
tions has been noby closed by an American citizen
Dr. Kane, whose lately published Explorations
| are one OF the most affecting records OF heroic
enei gy and indOmitab endurance to be found in all
the annals Of maritime and scientific enterprise.
| within the last few days we have been signay
reminded, by an act of interna tional courtesy
| which Is probably without example, of the cordial
| earnestness with waich the people of the United
States have particp pated in the tolls and anxieties
of our Arctic researches AS most our readers are
aware, her Majssty's ship Resolute-whch it was
| Judged necessary, some two three years ago. to
abandon in the Polar regions, for tear of fatally
prolonged detention in the ice-waS subse equently
| rescued by an American Whaler and brought safe
| ly to the United States. OF course she was the
| undoubted property of the captain aid crew " ho
| had taken possession of her by the simplest and
| most legitimate of titles he American Govern.
| mant and Congress- however, with good feeling
| and genuine politeuess which we cannot too warm
| ,ial. h,,tl
venturous csptors, voted forty thousand dollars tc
put the ship into perfect state of repair, AID
| have Eow presented her, newly rgged and tit for
service, with their best compliments to Queen Vic
tora. Ga Friday last she was brought into Spi.
| head, by Commander Hartstene-unfortupate
amidst a storm of thunder, lightning and rail-,
which prevented her officers from landing to re
ceive the welcome which tie people OF Ports
mouth were eager to give them-and she has al
| ready been formally made over to the admiralty
authorities.
I'VE feel more graLiiied than can well ex-
press by this demonstration Of good will on tie
part OF our American kiRsmen. The Govern.
nent has, we rejoice TO perceive, determined thar
it shall receive in every possible way fitting off
cial response; and the public will learn with espe-
cial satisfaction that her Majesty yesterday to
| pay visit TO the Resolute and offer personal
welcome to the bearers of this most handsome and
substantial present.
"As for the unofficial part of the business we are
sure II may be safely lett to the spontaneous feel
| ugs of Eng!ishmen. The municipal authorities OF
| Portsmouth lost not q moment IL inviting the
American officers to banquet, which is only post.
posed uutl the formal duties of their mission shall
| have been accomplished snd we have 40 fear that
either in tha metropolis or elSewhere they will have
to complain OF the coldnesS of English hospitality
| 1t s unfortunately out of the question to expect
| Commander Hartstene or his comrades TO accept
any of our dword titles or decorations; but
| every imaginable courtesy which can be agreeable
20 these feelings Of republicans ought be render
/ cd to the representatives. CT a friendly and kin
| dred nation. We caluot feast III em 400 heartily
! or too splendidiy, and we hope that by the time
our gallant vis IS leave shores they will have
| received abundant proof that Britishers know
how to priza The friendship and reciprocate .he
| poiteness OF cur transatlantic couaius.
| Nor shsplG his lie all. Why not 20 on. step FUR
ther! May not fairly regard this token of Amer.
lean good feeling niors than eacins the unples-
SAINT "reminiscences come cted with international
| differences in INCH, whoever may have been mosi
in the wrong, IL certainly cannot be sai3 that we
were altogether in ths right! For our own part we
feel 1t totally impossible to eny longer the 6i-
| rliasal of eur envoy By a Government which send.
US such message OF peace, as the good ship Reso.
! lutte We think we may now, without the smallest
| sacrifice of dignity, consider the Champion account
as finally closed, and join our American frie enGs in
| turning new iesf. We could not de sire BET
tar opportunity for renewing partially
dIplo.si relations with the United States than
afforded by the arrival of this embassy extraoI nary
from the other side Of the Atlan.ci could new
b .tish envoy TO Washington carry auspicious
cred entails tbau an autograph letter from @ laen
Victora TO th Chisf "a gistrste tf the Union thank
| ing the Government and peop of the great West
Republic for their graceful and kindly courtesy
Lord Palnsrstol ruay De assured that h. could not
q act universally popular with sll clsss.s
of his couutryn than 10 sezing ths fsicitous oc
casion putting everything straIgh with the Amer
| leans. We do not pretend to say what lplsmatic
etiquette would prescribe III such csss thou gh it
strlkes us that iE never be etiquette to hesi.
tate about being speaking terms with peopls from
| whom we may accept pleseHts But as it would not
be easy to discover any Official precedent exactly
bearing the case, we hone that the Premier will
leave etiquette to take care of tsslf and CONTEXT
himself With ooeylns ;hs natural sponsl eous i'm
| pulseA whiob or h. to pslyade the intercourse Of
generous natios JIlng common ancestry and speak
ing eoIGnrn Language