The New York herald., 1861-12-17
viii EaGfand Go ia War with the
United Stntes9

The news from Europe which we published
yesterday has. on the first blush, q warlike as-
pect; bui when it is thoroughly analyzed. and
when the character Of John Bull for buster il
taken into account, aud the present circum-
stances Of ilngiand are we'll considered there
is good reason 10 believe that il is AN attempt
on her part to bufi The Cabinet at " Washington,
and cause il 10 rccede from the strong position
il has taken, and to apply healing salye to
the wounded honor Of her meteor flag She
is uneasy about the loss Of her maritime s,,-
prcmacy in Europe. and winces under the blow
of Captain wilkes which has made her feel that
other nations have rights as well az she. and are
prepared to maintain them al all hazards We
do not believe thai she can afford To go to war
with us. But whether chat be her conclusion or
not we will not surrender Mason and Sidell in
dictation 10 her threats. They were arrested
upon the principles Of maritime law promui-
gated in her own courts and illustrated by her
own example for three-'iuarters Of century;
and her statesmen may rs we'll dismiss .s from from
;.:r ;..:cir minds 3: once all idea Of the southern
Commissioners being eyer given up to them m.
der any circumstances whatever.
England cannot af6rd to go TO war with us
for the confiics, sooner or later, would involve
the loss OF her West india islands, Of Canada
and ihe adjoining provinces, and lasl and most
fatal of all the loss Of ireland her right arm ia
war; her granary in peace. England cannot go
to with us, for six hundred millions worth
of american stock are owned by British sub
vVf,s of "a
coniiseated; and now call upon the com
panes not TO take Il of their hands upon any
terms. Let It's forfeiture be held over England
| as weapon in te,rsem. British subjects have
two or three handred millions of dollars in
vested in shipping and other property in the
United States. All this property, together with
the stocks. would be seized, amounting to nine
hundred millions of dollars in all. Will Eng
land incur this tremendous loss for mere ab-
stractop?
For The purpose OF intimidating TIA she issues
a proclamation prohibiting the export Of
saltpetrc, arms or ammunition. We have salt
petre in the Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky.
and other parts Of the country, which,
If properly worked, will render MS indepen-
dent Of England; and we can manufacture arms
and ammunition for ourselves. But In more
Than this dungeon there could be no better
si'nile for the confinement in which that great
criminal. the Southern rebellion, now finds
itself. Hemmed in by walls Of bristling steel
and frowning cannon, it finds no safety even in
inaction. Upon the seacoast its bockaded
ports deny all egress, aud upon the land its
boundaries are marked by Gordon Of hostile
camps and forts. Beyond its original territory
it has never been able to stir single foot, and
now it finds even that territory lessening, CON
trscting, vanishing. From the east west
north and south the walls Of Union steel which
have enclosed ii are moving inward, and with
steady, resistless force are gradually and
surely approaching each other. AT the east
rebellion sees long tine of blocksdng
fleets, recaptured forts ut Hattcras and
Hilton Head; and armies ut Beaufort in
Western Virginia. at Hatteras and at For
tress Monroe. AT The north are the ves-
sel3 VI the Potomac h0tiila and The flashing
bayonets OF tbe Union armies At the south,
the Mississippi river is blockaded Fort
Piekena threatens, and Warrington and Pensa.
cola in flames AZ the wcs, The Union