New-York daily tribune., 1861-11-07
in reply, that this subject shall be considered. an,
Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, .-
H. w. HArxAs. s'q, No: Chapel street, Liverpool


Sir, your most obedient, humble servant, -
II. W. HArxAs. esq, No: Chapel street Li1aposI
LIVERPOOL, Sept. 4, 1851.
MY LORD: feel deeply obliged to your lordshipl
for having caused 1t to be intimaed to me, In Mr..
Hammonds letter of the Both ult that the matter oil
my communication, dated 29th idem, should be-
brought under consideration.
The question is Of such immense importance to
every interest In this country, that l hope, very
shortly to have the honor Of being informed that
the same, as have put il, has been favorably con.
sldered; and that shall have your lordshps sane
ton to immediately fit out the mercantile expedition
referred to. -.fr'r trr-r \ '-r-f- -.-
1t is probably unprecedented. within the confnes
OF international law, that nation under the strong.
est terms OF amity it'll another nation and still re-
naming 'o had, without cause 30 far as that nation
was concerned closed her ports and harbors against
the ie9imate gress and egress Of the ships Of such
friendly nation.
Coniendug, therefore, as do, that the blockade
OF certain ports of the United States Of America 40
against the ships Of this country IS infringe
u tnte1nat,oni lac, nugatory, and unagaiio6le,
respectfully claim tie protection of her Majesty q
Government for the mercantile expedition in ques-
ton; and at the same time, your ordship's permis
sion to defend itself ia case OF need rr
Waiting the honor Of an early communication from
your lordsbip, l remain, my lord your lordsbip'e
obedient, humble servant, HENRY W. HArMAs.
Tie Right Hon. Earl RUSSELL, Foreign Office.
FoRErGS OFFICE, Sept. I9, 1861.
SIR: am directed by Earl Russell to acquaint
you that the questions raised by yonr letters Of the
29th Of Auguat and 4th of September were Of consd
erabe Importance, and rendered it necessary for his
lordship to communicate with the law officers Of the
Crown previously TO answering your letters.
You stated in your letter Of the 2eth Of Augustl
that, 10 conjunction with other merchants you con-
templat fitting ont number of vessels for the purl
pose Of trading with the port of NewO Orleans and|
other ports OF the United States Of America and hat
al. Ia 4 -. -
between her Majesty aud the United States, you ap-|
prehend thai Brltieh chips had right under the aw
Of nations, upon the strict principle Of reciprocity,
to enter into and depart fron the ports and harbors
OF the United States. 4 i
You say that you ask and hope that these vesselr|
viii be protected by her Maestys cruisers but that
If such protection, from reasons Of State policy,
should be withheld, you will be prepared 10 defendI
yourselves beet you may in the pursuit OF your c
ultimate trade and that all parties Lindering you ia
the same will become responsible for the eonse'I
quences.
In your letter of the 4th of September you say that
contending az you do that the blockade Of certain
ports Of the United States against TIE sps OF thls
country, is infringement Of International law, nui
gstory and unavailable you claim the protection ~
her Majesty's Government for the mercantile expe1
clifton in question: and at the same time Lord kusi
sells permission to defend itself in case OF need
Understanding from the tenor Of your letters, THAI
the ports 20 which your vessels are TO proceed ard
ports which are or may be blockaded by the naval
forces Of the United States Lord Russell directs ms
to warn you OF the serious consequences which the
measures, contemplated ss stated IN your letters@
will entail on all concerned herein, and 10 inforn5
you that her Majesty's Government will not siford
the slightest protection couDtenance tothe proeet
ed enterprise.
The United States and the so-called Confederate
States are engaged In civil war, and her Majesty
Government have recognized that state OF things and
have taken up position of neutrality between ths
contendiDg parties. Under these circumstances, id
any British ship being utral, knowingly attemptd
10 break an effective blockade she 10 liable to cap
ture and condemnation. Ii such ship defends hersed
by force against national vessel enforcing suchI
blockade, such defense is breach of the law of nal
tioDs, and viii expose the ship AID cargo to condem
nation az price, and those persons who commit the ac
70 personal responsibility and severe treatment, ac
cording TO the law Of war; the act of such persons
being considered BY the law and usage Of nations as
one Of uujustifiable hostility.
am to state that the general rule ~ TO trading by
neutras in time Of with belgerents is that they
may freely trade but that they are bound 10 re.pect
every effective blockade and that If they cary con.
traband OF war TO either belgerents they do 20 at
the risk Of capture and condemnation by the other
II discovered am sir, your most obedent, hulabs
servant, Il. HAMMOND.
Ii. W. HATsAs, eaq,, No. Chapel street, LiysposL
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