The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-14
FOREIGN NEWS

/ The English papers are full of com ment
on the capture of Mason and Slidell. t.
: evident that there was much excitement :.
the reception of the news, as was shown b,
the public meeting instantly held in Liver
pool on the subject. The Times is cautious
but it says the federal government must no.
provoke war, and it says to Mr.. Seward, tina
whatever may be the issue, whether the ac
be declared legal or illegal, "the voices Of
the Southern Commissioners sounding from
their captivity are thousand times more ell
oquent in London aud in Paris, than thew
would have been heard at St. James and the
| Iullleries." The London Chr. nicle and the
London News are very loud in their condem-
nation, and call for PREPARATION or action. So
are other British journals. The London Star,
the organ of Golden, &C., takes ground, and
it says the law officers of the Crown also do.
in favor of the right assumed by the federal
government, and "advises that no irritation
oe shown at such annoyances as must inevi-
taoiy arise in the course of such struggle"
The London Chronicle of the 18th ult., has
the following: 60 The following important
statement is said to have been made on the
authority of the Confederate Commissioners,
who are at present in this country The law
officers of the Crown have given their opin.
ION that the Nashville, being regular com.
m'ssioned ship-ofwar,' of the Confederate
States, is entitled to repair and refit' in
British ports, Mr.. Adams, the Minister of
the Federal Government, has been warned
by Lord Russell that the stopping and over
hauling of any royal mail steam packet by
Federal ship-of-war will be considered as an
insult to the British flag, and, should blood
shed ensue, as a casus beli."
The Havre journals state that Gen. Scott
who arrived at that port in the Arago steam
sr, was, on landing, honored with quite an
walton by officers ofthe American merchant
men lying In that port. On leaving the YES
el, the general had to pass under an immense
American flag held by several officers, and
vas cheered by an enthusiastic crowd of his
ountrymen all the way to the hotel, which
vas profusely decorated with American and
'rench flags, as were also the American yes- !
els in the docks. Gen. Scott is now in Paris. q
The London Star of November Goth saws:
A numerous party of Unionists met on
londay in St. James street, London. to GEL
brate by dinner the victory of Port ROYAL. G
he company heartily approved that Gen. I
colt should be entertained at BANQUET in :
Ondon." l.
In the midst of the excitement created hv
'e Mason-Slidell affair, attention in London 81
as drawn to the fact that agents of the Fed 81
al Government had recently purchased, at 81
prices, all the saltpetre in the "
arket and to arrive in port, to the extent of ia
rec thousand tons. Such a sudden and
'prudent moke of buying, "seemed to de- NJ
'te," it was alleged, an intention of offer. "
e an outrage to England, such as might til
nder it difficult to obtain supplies bereaf.
r. 1t was assumed that, under the circum. M
ances, the British government would sum. ii,
arily prohibit the clearance of such econ. SE
aband of war" mr.