The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-14
THE BLOCKADE.
The Dispatches OF the British Minister
In Warrington to HIS Government.


WASHINGTON, May 9, 1s6l
Ny LORI have the honor enclose you copy Of the
note by which wledged the receipt of wards
note Of the zth ut announcing intention of this 60
vernment TO foot blockade Of the Southern porig
was careful so TO word my note TO show that az.
copied yr. seward'e communication announcement
Of an intention 70 get on foot blockade, motif
cation Of he actucl commencement OF orr believe that
moot Of my colleagues ma .e 10 the sense.
have the homer to transmit TO your ortsho copies OF
the Presidents proclamation announcing the extension
of the blockade to the ports OF Virginia and North Caro-
Ina which have been sent 70 me IN blank from
the Stats Department
have made il my business since the entrance Of the
present administration into office Yearly months ago.
endeavor TO Ascertain precisely their intentions with
regard to the commerce or foreign nations with the
States which have withdrawn from the Union. Up to
the day before the blockade was announced The 9opsr-
had itself TO any decision N: subject.
Nor did think inexpedent 70 press IL to make any
declaration 80 long the commercial operations OF
British meTchante and British vessels n the seeded
States were carried without hndfance and without
inconvenience But since the blockade has been pro-
claimed have thought myself entitled 10 ask uih per.
stSence Cor definite information respecting the mode
which II is 10 be carried into effect had in particular
long conversation on the subject with Mr.. Seward 10
presence of the chief clerk CT the State Department
the 10th utimo. had prepared Mr. Seward for the in
tervew by Suggesting 70 him. through the Under Secre
tary Of State the advsableneas of diminishing the dsa
greeable impression which the announcement Of the
sbe definite assurances that it be carried with
liberal consideration for the interests OF foreign ma
tons.
60 far in general terms go, nothing could
be more satisfactory than Mr. Stewards language. did
not however, succeed in obtaining at the time as dei
mite declaration Of the rules which would be observed
as had hoped.
The principal point 70 which drew Mr. Sc wards aten
ton the extreme vagpeness Of the Information which
was given 10 referred him to the notifications Of
bockades made by Great Britain during the late war with
Russia, and pointed out TO him the care and precision
with which every particular stated in them asked
whether 1t intended TO issue similar notices for each
Southern port the actual blockade o. it should
commence.
The reply which received was that the practice of
the United States not 10 issue such notices. ba, 10
notify the blockade individually to each vessel approach.
ing the bockaded port, end 10 inscrbe memorandum Of
the notice having been given the ships papers. No
vessel was liable TO seizure which had not been ndi
vdua,ly warned This plan had was assured, been
found TO be, practice the most convenient and the
faest for ali parties The fact Of their being blockadng
ships present 10 give the warning the beat notice
aud best proof that the port actually and eectuay
bockaded
The principal objection 10 the plan appeared TO me TO
w. that might in some cases expose foreign vessels 70