The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-01-04

The following iInpor tan corTespC ndence be
tween Secretary Seward and the British MIN.
lister at Washington, reiat We 70 the SURRENDER
OF cur Commissioners, Messsrs nia ON and sli.
dell, appeared originally in the Faiioaai Is,ei
hgsneer Of saturday last: eas - Is. 4
Mr.. Sf@erd 70 Mr. Aaams-( Erraes.)
.- DEPA2rxSxr OF ssrArR,1
Washington, Nov.ao, 1861. :
CAAsLEs FkAEcrs ApAxs, Esq, &c &c -
Sir: Your confidential note Of the 18th ol
November, not marked rs dispatch. h.. been
submitted to The President, and T hasten to
reply 10 it ia tame for Wednesdays matt
No Minister ever spoke or acted more wise.
~, IN crisis which excited deep public soil.
eitdde. than You did on the occasion Of the
Lord Mayors dinn-r. We are Impressed ..
ry fayorabiy BY Lord Falmerston conversa.
tion with you. 1ou spoke the sim pie fact
when you toid him thai the life of this in sur
surEectton Is sustained by the hoi es Of reccg-
Eiti0a in Great b itaia and In EraEca.t II
would perish in ninety days, If these hopes
should cease. hays rerar for 3 mo,nent De-
lieved that such recognition could tsks
pace without producing imm mediately war
between the United States and all the reoog-
nizng powers i have not supposed 1: posi-
bic thas the British Government co MD fail to
see this, anu at the same time have sincere
~ believed the Britiah Government mus
in in i IS inmost he,rt, be averse to such war
as know this Government is.
am sure that this Governfa ant has cs re-
fully avoided giving any cause OF offence or
irritation TO Great Britaia Hut 1t has
seemed to me that the British Government
has been ins sttentive to the currents that
seemed to be bringing the two coun tries into
collision. e sa
infer from Lord Palmerstou's remark
that the British Government is now awaae
to the Importance OF averting rossihl con
f.ict, and disposed to confer aud act with
etEestness 10 that enc. II so, we are dis
posed to meet them in the same spirit, Is a
nation, chiefly of British Lineage, sentiments
and sym npatAies-a civilized and humane Ra.
ton, 4 Christian people. ~'~+=.f-
Since that conversation was held, Gapta N
Wilkes. in the steamer San Jacip to has hoard
ed British Colonial steamer, and taken trc IN
her deck two insurgen ts, who were proceed.
ing to Europe Oh an srrand of treason again st
their own country. This is new incident,
unknown and unforeseen, at least in its cir.
cumstances, by Lord Falmerston. 1t is to be
met and disposed OF by the two governments,
II possibl., IN the spirit to which have ad-
verted Lord Lyons has pruden tly refrainrd
from opening the subject TO me, Is, presume,
waiting for instructions from home. We have
done nothing o.l the subject to anticipate the
discussion, and we have not furnished you
with any explanations. We adhere to tina,
course now because we thiI.k IL more rudeHt
that the ground taken by the British Govern.
ment should be first made known to us here,
and That the discussion, II there must be one,
shall De had here. 1t is prorer, however,
that you should know one fact in the cas-
without indicat' ng that we attach Importance
to it, namely, that in the capture Of Messrs
Mason and Siideil on heard British vessel
Captain Wilkes having acted without any
instructions from the governm en- t. the sub.
Ject is, therefore, free from the EN- mbarrass
ment Which might have resulted If the ac
had been specially directed by us.
trust that the British Government will
consider the subject in Il friendly TEN per, anc
it may expect the best disposition On the par
of this Government.
Although this is a confidential note, shall
not object TO your reading IT TO Earl kuss-i
and Lord Palmerston. If you deem it expe
dent. AN. sir, your obedient,
WILLIAM H. SEWARD.