Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1861-06-05
Great Rritain.

In the House of Lords, on the 10th OF May,
the Earl of Ellenborough asked the Govern
ment whether the term lawful blockade"
used in the recent proclamation, was to be
interpreted literally, or with qualifications, as,
according to the strict meaning of the Paris
agreement, it was impossible to maintain an
effective blockade. Flo complained of the
vagueness Of the proclamation with respect to
articles contraband of war.
The Earl of Granville replied that lawful
blockade must be maintained by sufficient
force, but it was not absolutely necessary to
render all ingress or egress impossible, but to
render it extremely difficult With respect
to other questions, be stated that certain arti-
cles were clearly contraband Of war but that
certain other articles depended upon special
! circumstances and contingencies, which could
| only be decided by prize court, and which
| it was impossible to define beforehand.
The Earl of Derby sand that there were two
points on which it was desirable that the Gov
ernment should come to an understanding
with the United States. They proclaim a
blockade of the whole Southern coast, which
| they had not the force to maintain. Although
they could lawfully blockade certain ports, it
was not desirable that they should proclaim a
universal blockade, but only maintain a par
| tial one. The Northern States also declare
that they should treat privateers pirates,
but they could not do so by the law of na-
tions and it was desirable that, notwithstand-
ing the Proclamation that ii should be declar-
ed, such penalty on British subjects would
not be viewed with Indifference by England.
Lord Brougham said, privateering, accord
ing to international law, was not piracy. but
to join an expedition against power at peace
with England was piratical act. To cOnsti-
tute an efficient blockade, such force must
be maintained as to make the passage of
it absolutely impossible, but this was very
difficult.
Lord Chelmsford denied the doctrine Of
Lord Brougham relative to privateering.
Lord Campbell said that Earl Granville
had laid down the law correctly, with respect
to the blockade and articles contraband of war
} A subject of another power, holding letter:
of marque. not guilty of piracy.
, Lord Kingsdown said tha: the Northern
States might consider the people of the South
ern States as rebels. and guilty of high trea-
son, but that this would not apply to the sub
jects of other powers becoming privateers.
At preliminary meeting of the Great ShiE
company, the chairman said that contingen
) orders had been given to the captain of tht
: Great Eastern. with respect to her employ
ment by the American Government, and th'
Ministers in Parliament would be asked whe
e ther she would be absolved from the penaltie
D if chartered before the Queens Proclamation
e got out.
! Queen Victoria held Court at Bucking
ham Palace on the 18th ult., at which Mr.
Dallas delivered his letter of recall, and pre-
sented Mr.. Adams to Her Majesty.
S The Postmaster General notifies the Allan
; tic Steamship Company having failed to ful
5 fill the Galway contract, that the company ha
d forfeited the contract.
n Liverpool paper says they will continu
to run the Galway boats notwithstanding.