Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-23

I Seward are reported for some time to have
been the cause of disagreement in the Wash
ingtOn cabinet and that the decision of the
present question therefore is not entirely in the
hands OF that parsonage. Later adyices are
awaited with great anxiety, as it is seen That
the course OF circumstances may be much
modified by anything that may take place be-
tween the opposing armies, in the interval
from now and the arrival of the British de-
man Is A victory by the tederallsts might
perhaps, SO far satisfy the MOB as to enable the
government to act independently, and on the
other hand defeat might be equally produc
tive of pacific tone. AZ the same time, how
ever, there is danger that the bad features of
the situation may be aggravated by intelli-
gence OF some new offence on the part OF the
federal cruisers"
WHAT TIE DISPATCHES SAY.
The Paris papers assert that the dispatches
sent by the British government TO Lord Ly
ons, although cOuched in moderate anguage,
are nevertheless nfeXbie in their conclusion,
which is the restitution of the commissioners.
II this is refused, Lord Lyons is TO leave
Washington with all the members of the Brit
ish legation. The same journals affirm that
the English war vessels which are now being
prepared tor sea will leave for America at the
beginning Of January.
The Patrie publishes the following under
the head of tue latest intelligence 1t is
stated that the despatch addressed by the
British cabinet to Lord Lyons, TO be communi-
Gated to president Lincoln is based exclusively
OH legal considerations. This decision estab.
fishes that the commander of the San Jacinto
acting as he has done, has committed fla
grant breach Of maritime law and insulted the
English flag, that the only right officer Wilkes
possessed was to compel The Trent to go to
A
have been brought before the proper authori-
ties in the presence of the English consul,
that if in this search dispatches had been
found establishing that Messrs. Mason and
Slidell were on mission directly or Indirect
ly connected with military operations, the
commander would have been justified in seiz-
ing those dispatches and arresting the ENJOYS,
sending in detailed report OF the transactions
with such notes and observations as the Eug
lish consul might think fit to annex, that
these tormalities not having been fulfilled, no
charge can be established against the two per-
sons arrested, that their arrest therefore must
be regarded as null, that the Trent, being the
victim oil an arbitrary act, contrary to every
principle of right, England, acting in con
ciliutory and friendly point OF view, has asked,
as the only reparatiOn for this grave act, the
Liberation of Alessrs Slidell and Mason
that if she does not obtain 1t Lord Lyons
would leave Washington, with all the members
of the legation The Patrie adds-"We are
assured that the dispatch is drawn up with
great moderation that it carefully avoids any
hurttu expression that it is firm in its
conclusion. From information we have re.
ceived up to the present moment, we do net
believe it likely Mr.. Lincoln will give up the
prisoners"
Commander Williams, royal mail agent ON
board the Trent when she was stopped by the
San Jacinto, is to have public dinner given
him at Plymouth, It's a mark of appreciation
of his spirited and noble conduct"
The British vessel Rover, from Barbados
for London, was boarded, Nov. ., by the United
States steamer Montgomeryo.g'