New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-12-19
OPINION or THE CROWN LAW OFFICERS.
Apology and Restitution Demanded
THE SPIRIT OF THE ENGLISH PRESS
HOW THEY VIEW 1T on TIE CONTINENT.
THE NEWS AND IT'S EFFECT IN LONDON.

Since the declaration Of against Russia never
witnessed an excitement throughout all the strata Of
English society equal to that produced by the news
of the Trent affair, conveyed TO Souhamtt by the
La Plata on the 9Th inst At about O'Clock p. M,
by means Of the electric telegraph, the announce
ment Of the untoward event posted in the
news-rooms of all the British Exchanges. All con-
mercial securities went down, While the prlce oil
saItpeter went up. Consols declined l per cent
while at Lloyds war risks Of i've gulneas were de-
manded on vessels from New-York. Late in the
evening the widest rumos circulated in London, 10
the effect that the American Minister bad forthwith
been sent his passports that orders had been Issued
for the immediate seizure of all American ships III The
ports of the United Kingdom, and SO forth. The
cotton friends of Secession at Liverpool improved the
opportunity for holding, at ten minutes notice, IN The
cotton salesroom of the Stock Exchange an indigna-
ton meeting under the presidency of Mr. Spence
the author of some obscure pamphlet in the berest
of the Southern Confedercy. Commodore Williams,
the Admiralty Agent on board the Trent, who had
arrived with the La Plata was at once summoned to
London.
On the following day, the 2sth of November, the
London press exhibited, on the whole, tone OF
moderation strangely contrasting with the tremen'
dous political and mercantile excitement Of the pre-
vious evening. The Palmerston papers, Times,
4iorning Post, Daily Telegraph, Morning Adrer-
Hser. and Sun, had received orders TO calm down
rather than TO exasperate. The Daily Ners, by its
structures on the conduct Of the San Jacnto evident
" aimed lees at hitting tho Federal Government than
clearing i,self OF the suspicion Of Yankee preju-
dices, % while The Morning Star, John Brght's Or
gan, without passing any judgment on the policy ard
wisdom Of the act pleaded its lawfulners. There
were only two exceptions to the general tenor of the
London press. The Tory scrbblers of The Morning
Herald and The Standard, forming in fact one
paper under different names, gave full vent to their
savage satisfaction of having at Last caught the re-
publicans" in trap and finding casHs beI', ready
cut out They were supported by but one other
journal, The Morning Chronicle, which for years
had tried to prolong it, oheckered existence by alter
natey selling itself TO the poisoner Palmer and the
Tuileries. The excitement on the Exchange greatly
subsidized in consequence Of the pacific tone OF the
leading London papers. On the same 18th OF Now,
Commander Williams attended n, the Admiralty, aud
reported the circumstances Of the occurrence in the
old Bahama Channel. His report, together with the
written dispositions Of the officers on board the Trent,
were nj once submitted 10 the law officers Of tie
Crown, whose opinion late in the evening, was oic!-
ally brought under the notice Of Lord Palmerson,
Earl Russell and other members Of the Government.
On the 29th Of November there was TO be remarked
some slight change in the tone OF the ministerial press
IL became known that the law officers Of the Crown,
ON technical ground, had declared the proceedings
Of the friqaie San acinto illegal and that later in
the day. the Cabinet summoned TO general council,
had decided to send by next steamer TO Lord Lyons
instructions 10 conform TO the opinion OF the English
law offcers. Hence the excitement in the principal
places Of business, such as the Stock Exchange,
Lloyds. the Jerusalem, the Baltic, etc., set in with
redonbled force, and was further stimulated by the
news that the projected shipments to America oil
satpeter lad been stopped on the previous day, and
that on the 10Th general order was received at the
Custom. House prohibiting the expectation OF this
article TO any country except under certain stringent
conditions The English funds further fell I, and at
one time real panic prevailed in oil the stoik mar
kets. il having become impossible to transact any
business in some securities while in all descriptions
severe depression of prices occurred. IL the after
noon a recovery in the stock market was due to
several rumors but principally TO the report that
Mr.. Adams bad expressed his opinion that the act OF
the San Jacinto would be disavowed by the Wash
ington Cabinet.
On the 30th of November to-day all the London
papers, with the ST. lie exception of The Morning
star. pu, the alternative of reparaon by the Wash
ington Cabinet or-'en.
Having summed up the history of the events from
the arrival of the La Plata to the present day, shall
now proceed to recording opinions. There were, of
course two points to be consideration the one hand
the law on the other hand the policy of the seizure
of the Southern Commissioners on board an English
mail steamer.
AS to the legal aspect of the affair the first di-
Guilty mooted by the Tory press and The Morning
Chronicle was that the United States had never
recognized the Southern secessonsts as beiigerenls
and consequently, could not claim beligerent rights
in regard TO them.
This audible was at once disposed Of by the Minis
teria press itself. eve" said The Tunes, " have
already recognized these Confederate States rs
" q belligerent power, and we shall, when the
q" time comes, recognize their Government There
" fore we have imposed on ourselves all the duties
&" and Inconvenience of a power neutral between
" two belligeIents." Hence, whether or not the
United States recognize the Coniederates beliger
ents, they have the right 10 insist upon England sub
hitting TO all the duties and inconvenience OF
trail ia maritime warfare.
Consequently, with the exceptions mentioned,
the whole London press Acknowledges the right OF
the san Jacnto to overhaul, visit, and search the
Trent, in order 10 ascertain whether she carried
goods or persons belonging to the category of con-
traband Of war" The T,mes's insnuation that the
English law OF decisions " was gwen under e.renm-
slnnccs reru di Aerenk from those which now oeenrp