Smyrna times., 1861-12-19
Startling News from England .Immi-
nent Prospect of War.

The news fiOai Engl land has given the pub.
lie startling and most unweIcome surprise.
10 spite efihe evident exaggerations contained
an 4he report, enough remains that is unoues
siOnsbly true TO show that we are on the brink
eta war with England. and that nothing bat the
ki.Aesl aud the stesiiest sta ateems nship al the
helm, aud The cordial confidence of the public
IL the isdom aNd patriotism of the Govern.
meni. can save uS iron that direst OF Gala mites.
We mAy say at the outset, however, that dark
ss the prospect appears, it is BY no means hope.
Ism-ihs peril may and will be averled, if that
<isdSm add public CO nideDee are not withheld.
TIE New York Times says:
The only Indication of the specific ground
uken By the Law Officers Of the Crown is thus
stated ia the London Times Of the 2Sth:
"It is, We understand, the opinisn of these
is,isls that the right of the Federal Govern.
nszt, acting by its officers, was con fined to the
tisiling aud the searching Of the mail packet
sAs; it say men or things believed ~ be con-
G8baHd q war has been found oa board of her.
the proper course was 10 take her into port and
submit the question TO The Prize Court, which
wsald hear evidence and argument on both
Tass. and would have decided the case accord
ing 10 precedent and authorities"
II ihm 70 true statement Of the position of
jhe GHEefnmSHt, Il dIVesIs the case OF many of
is6'fieulIIes. 1t reduces the offence of Ca ut
Wilkes yer! materially. Il admits his right to
val and search The ship, but insists that he
should have taken her into a Prize Court for
sdlOd'caIlOn. We are by no means sure that
our GOrerRmeni eOWid not at once concur in
iAs opinion. Indeed, the only official utter
saee Se hsVe yet had on the subject leans de.
sldsdly 10 that direction. The Secretary of the
Navy, whilst commencing 10 the warmest terms
the tPifn aRd pa'rIOIIsn eViRced by Captain
Wilkes. Complains that he did net take the
IrsHf hsrssit Iato neutral port, aad only for
beFs 10 eenaars bIul for thus omission in view
ehe peculiar clEe4 e4nstances ofthe case. Nei-
ihsFiA President, Gar any other member Of
tss Caeiast, has expressed an opinion on the
sseIset Iadeed, the Gsysrnment could not
P'sPsfly take any action upon it Until it should
be sneIallT brought to It's notice by the action
Siihs British Government. While it is alte-
gsther probable that this will be done in a very
seeded aRd peremplory manner. we are not
prepared To regard t as certain that our Gov
Trsmsnt Will be reg Ired Instantly TO coucede
noeied PsInt OF Law HndeE The menace of war
Sail isss do We believe that, unless Great Bri-
tsln has alreasy resolVed upon war, she wIli
seesnPany this demand with aRy dcmonstra.
usss which should Ie9k like forcing us into any
s;ssF lhAna perfectly free and voluntary course
"i ssiIsn. IL she does she will probably be re.
qslred 10 disaVow any Huch purpose as co 10 i,s.
PsaHs'e preliminary % auy negotiation wAat.
ever upoH the subject.
u the preliminary difficulty shall not prove
ISF~'daoie, snd If the paragraph quoted abnve
Sstest the position Of the BRUSH Government
esrreeiiy. II Is scarcely possible that this diff
esily should lead to war. The Substantial fact
tCaPt Wilkes action is not objected to-,nd
we msy very well concede the point made by
ths Law officers Of the British Crown withou,
surreSderIng any substa nlIsl national right.
OAs point 10 noticeable in our foreign die
ptehss- The comments Of the Press, the la
Esage OF public men. and 10 very great drgree
the reporis coacernIng the ectioa of the Gov
srnE1ent, are cVloFed by the assumption tina
,hs UaIied States are seeking a war with Eng.
hsd ss means OF closing their internal strIte
Aad IhsG Air Seward has pursued policy and
held tone lndieatiVe ofsuch purpose. Moth.
ing could possibly be more prsposlereus than
sach an opinion. Beysnd the blatant aud INA.
hgaant aiIerances OF the secession press, it ha,
Hs'A particle Of support 10 auy sentiment, ac
90 uiieraaes of this country.
Tss article then proceeds to shsw the mad
ness OF sseh policy, as it would give IN,
army and navy of England to the support o
lhs rsbsis.