The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-13

OF Rhode Island who purchased heavily speculation,
could probably realize hundred thousand dollars profit
Flour steady and active to the receipt OF the for
egn news, when it became quiet and sales limited
Wheat was lrm but, from the same cause less active
Corn about &C. a 1c. higher. Pork heavy,
but active. Sugars and coffee firm, but quiet
Freight engagements fair, but closed with less
animation on account Of tho foreign
Highly Important from England-Tho
Case OF Mason and sIidcll-British
Blustcr and Sober Second Thought.
The news from England, which we lay before
our readers this morning, touching the case of
Mason and Slidell, is of the very highest i'm
portance, and will be read with an interest pro-
porionate to the solicitude with which it has
been looked for by the whole community during
the last few days. Many among us expected
that the proceeding of Captain Wilkes sus-
tanned, as it has been, by our government,
would result in another British war with the
United States, not because the justice or the
legality in the case is with England, but because
for decent pretext to quarrel with US and
because, whenever she wanted to 90 to
war with any nation, she was never at
a loss for casus telli. the merits Of the q,les-
ton having very little to do with her action
For our own part we entertained no such ap-
prehensions. We expected that JOHN Bull
would buster and blow on receipt of the news,
but that he would very speedily arrive at the
conclusion that discretion is the better part of
ya!or and subside into state Of quicscence
The result justifies our anticipations. 1t is
tue that We have no intelligence as yet
Of the sentiments Of the government, unless
50 far as the question has been prejudged
in our favor by the decision of the law
officers Of the crown upon q similar case.
But if public opinion be any indication
of the course the Cabinet is likely to pursue,
there appears to be but slight ground for any
fear Of rupture in our friendly relations with
our transatlantic cousins AS might have been
expected, there was great excitement in the
public mind, and some of the journals were
greatly exercised; but on the whole the aspect
Of affairs is pacific.
AT Liverpool an Indignation meeting Of the
merchants was held in pursuance of placard
headed SSOutrage on the British fAg-ihe
southern Commissioners removed from a British
ma;l steamer" After several gentlemen had
decliaed to take the chair the Office was al
length ascepted. Violent speeches were made
and a resoia!on was adopted, but with the sting
taken out Of it by the omission OF the words
"by requiring prompt reparatoa for this out
rage" We are. further iniorme,t that .sat the
conclusion of the ae,.ting number ef the older
merchants on Change expressed privately their
conviction that the msssting and its proceedings
had been premature" Thus the sober second
thseght succeeded to an sbulIition of patriotic
wrath,
The opinions Of the I.caion journals Gro.
Gle and the Daily Ne,cs are against us; the.
Times appears to be in a sort Of neuter fog,
but the Si's''--thc exponent of the democracy
is enthusiastically in favor of our position
The Chronicle warns rs That '.thr blood of all
England will N,c reused by the latest ineli-
gcncc from Aanerica.' and that the federal
authorities could scarcely have acted with
more lawless violence bad they b-en Manda-
rims of China This paper, which ha sbut very
small circulation. and little influence. does not
deign to support'its views by any reference to
maritime law. che Nc,os, which il, a more
popular journal, and formerly espcnsed the
cause of the No,ra, is decidedly adverse to
our government ir~ this case. and exceedingly
in its demands. 1t "hope ;ethat the
Cabipet will disavow the-act. re-
store Messrs Mason and Slidell, and,s tender
the fullest apology. Nothing short Of this
can h' accepted" But the
Ne.cs does noti eondesccnd to argue
the case upon principles of international law,
and appears to be influenced more by tho blind
ia,paises of passion than by cool and calm
consideration OF the Legal bearings of the case
The Times discusses the whole gus .tion at
great length thoughit contesses it "reouired a
strong effort of elfrestraint to do so with cool
ness." 1t takes exception to what it Is pleased
to- call ''the coarse and ill hammered" mode
Of making the arrests, but admits that this is
no ground for quarrel with us, provided we
are substantially light. The Times frst argues
that we are wrong according to. our own
showing, inasmaeh as it is only in time of
war a ship Of one nation can be boarded and
searched by a public ship of apather nation,
and it is insisted by Mr.. Seward that the