, 1861-12-18
TEE ENGLISH NEWS,
Tone OF the American Press.

lue HEW ITlOunG4 1bl1-l
The country will be startled By the intel1i-
gence that contrary 70 the intelligence broughI
by the steamer Of last week, tie British Gov
crnmcnt have determined to demand the re-
lease Of Mason and Sldel1, and an apology for
their arrest by Capt Wilkes. In this emer
geney We 90 not not presume to say what & The
ever course it may adopt will be determined
By mature and careful Consideration of all the
rights and duties Of the case. Meanwhile, tic
first and most pressing Of our duties is to i'm
th TIE sebfzion ased TIE blockade At once, Jy en-
From the n. 7. Times, 16tb,]
Our news from England this morning will
give the public startling and most unwel-
gcrations contained in cur report, enough re-
mains that il unqucstfonablT true to show that
We are on the brink Of war With England
It seems to be certain that the British Gov
ernment has decided, contrary to the premo-
he seznre of eRsr at aad sde
by Capt. Wilkes, of the San Jacinto, was M
| warranted by international Law, and, therefore,
| IN Outrage on the British flag. It has decided,
therefore, to represent this matter in this light
to thg American Government; TO instruct
Lord Lyons to demand 4 disarowal Of the act,
| with an apology for the insult, and the resti-
| tuition Of the men who were seized; and it is
reputed that in the eyent Of 4 refusal, to de-
nand his passports and withdraw the legation
from Washington. Such a withdrawal might
it would ) and the reports indieate that Eng
land is making vigorous preparation for that
| contingency.
The result will very likely be long diplo-
| mat1c correspondence, by which the English
Government may seek to keep the question
open With REV to peace or war, according IS
! lis interests may seem to dictate in the fur
tler progress Of our civil war. If Lord Pal
merston has already determined to interfere
in behalf Of the South, the intense feeling
| which this occurrence has aroused viii
enable him to do so with the support Of the
nation. If our Government is Of opinion that
the arrest was legally justifable, the country
| will stand by 1t with perfect unarai1nity and
immoyablc strength Of determination in its
| decision 10 face any consequences that may
arise. But, on the other hand, these con5e:
quences may be so grave that the nation e1-
| poets the President to be as careful not tG
| refuse any just apology IF any be duc) us he
is firm in his refusal to make one that En-.
gland las no right to demand.
[From the y. r Herald, 16th.]
There eau be no doubt tilat this news viii
produce ! great sensation throughout thl;
country But there is no need Of getting eN
cited over the details. It is nevertheless til
part Of wisdom for our Government to be pre-
| pared for amy emergency that may arise. TAt
greatest efforts should at once be made, with
out the loss Of day, to put our seacoast ant
lake dcfences in the most effective condition
Of defence; and our local militia should b
more fully armed, equipped aud drilled u th'
use Of artillery and heavy ordnance. TAe5s
are the duties required Of each State. Fo
England is determined in spite Of her ow,
code and long practice, to make demands upo1
this Government such as Indicated in the Lon
don Obserrer, sue must Of course assume al
the responsibilities Of L war between the tvs
rations. 1t will not probably enter the mini
; OF single American, fora moment, even aits
reading the news in our columns today, tina
Mason and Slidell will be surrendered to til
| English government.