The New York herald., 1862-01-31
England ON Neutral Rights.
The Blockade or the Nashville.

We have escaped from the position of betgerents TO-
wards America To become tho spectators of Anne
rican hostiiities carried on at very doors For
consdeablo period attention has been excited alter
natey by the arrival of federal and Confederate war
steamers These hostile vessels invariably seek sort Of
maritime Alsatia in Southampton water There they
turn rent and their crews take their rcpose short
ervas between the excitement Of piratical enter
prses still unhappily not ndcfensibe by the law Of
tsns They servo to remind s0mewhat OF the Danish
sea kings Of ancient days. with the mportan sincton
naeed so FAR as we are concerned chat our coasts are
not their prize, but their common refuge =
The Nashville inprudentiy here too long; the
Intelligence that she s reGting from stem to flies
to America. and. quick lightning, the Tus
carora to make for the shortcomings tho less vig
liant James Adger The Tuscarora catches the Nashville
mapping II the southern Captain had exercised ordinary
foresight no would have been under weigh within the
time at which 1t would have been possible tho fede
rd government to have sont here another ship the
news OF his arrival at southampton had reached WASH
ington Tho Nashville carries, we believe, but two
guns and the TuscarOra nine. The Yankee Captain
cordingly anchors in Southampton water, just two
miles below the craving dock, in which no finds his
enemy: and, being obliged TO respect our hospable
neutrality is content to blockade her. His end would be-
at all events in part attained if lie could prevent her
from doing more mischief Thus the Nashville remains
in DOCK aud the Tuscarora keeps vigant watch upon
her from her moorings in tho river. For The Nashville
meet the 1uscdrord alone IN open ood be 10 eaconn
Ter he certa'nty Of goias5to the bottom.
In this state Of things the Nashville had three courses
before hei She might endeavor escape Tuscarora
in the dead Of night she might wait until the expected
sumter h2ve IN sight, and then boldly steam out in do
aancs Of the T1scsrorS or thirdly she must lay her
Of the wnter. The Tuscarora guessed, and not
enormously as il seoms, that the former was the
course on which the Nashville had resolved.
During the last few nights two officers and throe
men belonging to the former vessel have been found
by the superintendent Of the dock in close proximity to
the Nashville with dark lantern and combustibles.
Tho superintendent appears, the first OCCASION and
without some show OF reason to have sken them tho
outset for political incendares, and to have medated
giving them into custody for intended arson But
though their ready explanation doubtless tho true
one-that they were there simply to ascertain whether
10 N ho dOrL md
their explosives were to bo used merely signals tho
Tuscarora-ths superintendent did but his duty in
ejecng them the ground that the dock private
property and that they infringing regulations in
lureIing there amid many circumstances of suspi-
cion, after nightfsll The authority Of the American
Consul at Southampton invoked and that gentleman
appears 10 hare ndtscreay lent has name 10 TRANSACTION
obviously quite indeensb There is doubt that this
conduct on tho OF the Tuscarora CT the
belligerent incident; and submit that her officers have
right 10 act the part of9ses docks toards ee,ny
ch ,ohom zoe preserve the same neutrality that erhitA
tocc, ds the Stars and Sypes On Friday morning how
ever both tho Nashville and the Tusclrora had their
steam up and it was expected that the former would
steam out to with the latter chase The fires of
either however, died OUT and with them tho excitement
of Southampton.
Not many days ago the Sumter put into Cadz with the
OF three edera, mercantile vessels which she hal
sunk II is stated, pc. has without sufficient authority
that she has now again left Cadiz and may daily be
pccted at Southampton. She Is said to carry twelve
guns and complement OF hundred and forty men.
i0ssiby her first appearance in the ofng the Nash
vile will steam out Of dock and tho Tuscarora should
she pursue, will then be caught between two fires. On
the WHOLE the position OF the latter perhaps at all
better than that Of the Nashville; for IT, the othor
hand Sumter should bc mo0rcd in the river the us
carora will be blockaded In turn unless indeed she Is
equal TO both antagonists together in open sea- The
difficulty in which each vessel Is placed that neither
as fugitive can rely outstrippng opponent as
20 get beyond tho reach OF its cannon shot within tho
league from tho shore which s the boundary TO
dominion, aud consequently to their naction. r.
however, the sumter also Is really bound for Souhamp
ton water and Doth the Southern vessels followed close.
y by their antagonist will steam out TO under mu-
protection there Is every probability that OF
s viii witness naval action OF tho coast Of tho Isle OF
Wight, from tho ellis OF BTading. II is to
that both the Nashville and the Tuscarora wish
to remain in port throughout the winter they can
hcpit.
IL must at any bo acknowledged In America that
are giving fair play TO either sde We do oliou
orria Of partially TO du into either scale in nseiRg out
e3ua justice to rres We have refused on tho one
hand, TO allow the Nashville to increase hor military
equipments these ports and have nterfercd on the
other tho Of the Tuscarora from acting
as midnight spies upon the Southern vessel docks
Wo do liable therefore, at all events, to the i'm
putation being partisans Indeed need say we
should infinitely prefer that ports and harbors
should he kept clear OF by either belligerent. or
course wc please nethor party and probably oncoun-
ter a pretty good round OF after dinner dsparagement
ia tho m Of both vessels The Southern priva-
ecrs doing this moment the moro deadly execution
that they unable under the European law OF pr-
ocrng to procure the condemnation Of hoir prizes
any Court OF Admiralty this side OF the Atlantic then
arc reduced to e barJrous necessity Of burngthe al sea-
Posc,g houeer hich has resorted % he esvtge D,ea
sure Of dcstrodrg he hnyJcr of Charlsst.r ict not IN future
hare much ground for declining ogona s rgor of he
maritime policy Of ts Clfcnnts. But for ourselves
endure the nuisance of this smoteIod
iarc in ports long tie tco Geigersas choose 10
i.,eic. N on ns he risi,ation Of their presence