The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-12-21
FROM EUROPE.
The Probabilities of a war with Englcnd.

The Probabilities Of War with Englcnd.
There have been three arrivals from
Europe since our last-the Washington,
the Europa, and the Jura,-briuging dates
to the 9th, being little overa week since
the rec. ipt of the news of the Mason and
Slideil affair in England
The Britt II Press continued TO discuss
the affair to the exclusion of almost every
other topic. Ali the London papers ex-
cept the Star continued to denounce the
act of Capt. Wilkes, and insist on the
toration OF Mason and Slde!l or war. The
Times assumes that the government had
decided TO make such demand, and says
they rest it on the ground that "a British
ship, until her violation of neutral rights
IS fully proved, must be held to the British
ground as much as if she were an actual
piece of British soil, and the right Of pro-
| lection to all persons on board is as valid
as on British territory" The same paper,
however, admits that England herself
has established precedents which now tell
! against her in this matter OF the Trent;
out those precedents were made under
circumstances very different, it asserts,
/ from those which now occur. England
was then fighting for existence, and did
! in those DAYS what she would not do now,
nor allow others to do I he Star virtually
I iust;fies the arrest of Mason and Siidei',
and saws America can shield herself behind
alum lance of British precedents.
The French Press generally sided with
England at first, but has been vi>iblv cool
ing off. The Pays .NcnisuT. and Debats
appear to agree in opinion that the matter
will nave a peaceahle solution, and, on
the assumption that the sur, euder OF
Mason and S!idel has been demanded.
blame the English Government for having
yielded to the pressure OF public opinion,
as represented merely by Manchester and
Liverpool, and for having acted too hastily
in the Trent utfair
In the House OF Commons. I"r Bright
rla,i,, an elaborate speech on the American
question, in which he declined To live any
decided opinion in the Trent affair. He
believed if he act was iiii9al, that Amer-
ca would make fitting reraration- lie
strongly condemned the waFike feeling
and secuted the idea that the American
Cabinet had resolved to pick quarrel
with England. He made an eloquent
peroration in favor of the North
4 letter from Gen Scott is published ia
the French papers in which he declares
there is no truth in the report that the
Cabinet had ordered the seizure of the
protection Of a neutral FLAG He is quite
ignorant of the decision Of his Govern
ment but says it is necessary TO preserve
good relations between America and Eng
land. He homes both Governments vii!
agree on a solution OF the question whether
the prisoners were cou,rabaud or not, If
they were. AGENTS Of the rebels, be saws i.
vii! be difficult 20 convince even impartial
minds that tLey were less coutrabaud O:
war than rebe! soldiers or cannon. In
conclusion. Gen. Scot, expresses the con-
yic.lon that war between America and
England. without more serious provoca.
ton than i al present given. is impo..ibie
- % what the precise result al tl,.. con
situations Of the British Cnbiue, on the
suIiec, i cannot be known \ ,ucs.en.