Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-19
LATER FROM EUROPE.

Ihe steamer JurR, from Liverpool Dec. b
and Queenstown 7ih, has arrived at Portland.
The reports by this steamer are that "the ex-
citemept in regard to the Trent affair contn-
ued unabated."
Mr.. Bright made an elaborate speech at a
banquet given him by his friends in Rochdale,
Eugand He rejected the theory that the pro-
tective tariff had led to the rebellion, contend.
ing, on the contrary, that ii was slavery which
had been mainly responsible for the disrup-
ton. lie declined to express decided opin-
ion as 10 the legality Of the seizure of Mason
and Slidell, but whether legal or not he held
the act both impolitic and bad He thought it
would be found TO have been without authOr-
| iy from government, aud lie had no doubt, if
the legal advisers OF the Washington cabinet
| came TO the decision that the act could not be
| justified by law, fitting reparation would be
| made. 1t was, however, a question OF law,
| and if the American government considered
| the act legal, he would be able 10 show that
! fifty or sixty years ago, during the war OF that
time there were scores OF cases us least as
! bad as this, and some infinitely worse. lie
strongly condemned the warlike teellnS which
! had been exhibited, and secuted the assertions
| that Lincoln aud his cabinet were determined
to pick a quarrel with England, and concluded
! with an eloquent peroration OF sympathy tor
| the uorthern states.
The United States consul at Paris had COM
municated to the French papers letter from
General Scott in which he declares there is
no truth in the report that the cabinet had or
dered the seizure of the southern commission.
ers, even under the protection Of a neutral
| ha8. He is quite ignorant Of the decision OF
| his government, but says it is necessary to
| preserve good relations between America and
England. He hopes the governments OF both
will agree on the question, whether the prls )n'
ers we're contlaband or not If they were
agents of the rebels, lie say it will be difficult
to convince even impartial minds that they are
less Contrahand of war than rebel soldiers or
cannon. In conclusion, Gen. Scott expresses
the conviction that war between America
and England cannot take place without more
serious provocation than is at present given.
The London Star thinks Gen SCOTS letter
will receive hearty response in message
OF peace. The Times says that Gen Scott,
like his countrymen, is rather inclined to dis
avow the conception OF the outrage than to
repudiate it now it has been done. The Her
aid wonders how the old soldier would have
regarded it had 1t been perpetrated by the
British on United States steamer The Dal-
y News thinks that if the American govern
ment will treat this difficulty did General
Scott, the war may be avoided. Seamen on
The Paris Temps announces that Napoleon
has rendered his services as mediator to tie
British government. The same journal is also
informed that, in case satisfaction Is refused,
the English cabinet is resolved TO recall Lord
Lyons, and recognize the southern states and
raise the blockade OF their ports. England
would not then declare war, but leave the Uni
ted States to do so if they pleased.
The Paris Patrie has article upon the
difficulty, in which it argues that France is
not interested in the question at issue between
England and America, but says if England
fails to obtain reparatoE new state OF things
may ensue that if England recognized the
southern cOnederacy, the other powers must
necessarily take such change into considera-
ton Tor the sake of their commercial interests,
and must desire termination OF the war, II
the southern contederacy, by its recognition
by one CT the great powers, should ENJOY the
public rights OF a nation. Other states would
have to consider what attitude suoh inn
portant modification would impose upon them,
and the cabinet at Wash 'ngton would bear the
responsibility of solution which the necessi-
ties of commerce and political influence would
impose upon Europe.
The strength OF the American navy is being
canvassed in England. The Times says the
federal navy scarcely presents dozen worthy
| antagonists though it would be imprudent in
the extreme to despise the power OF the Amer
leans at sea. We have done this once and
paid the cost OF our thoughtlessness. The
Americans will do littie but will do that little
well.
The Paris correspondent Of the Daily News
learns that when Slidell was taking leave OF
his wife on the Trent, he placed his dispatches
in her hands, in box loaded with shot, and
told her to go to her cabin, sit at the porthoe,
and if an attempt was made to take the box
to drop it into the sea. Mrs. Sidell obeyed,
was not moested and took the dispatches to
England.