The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-30
British Neutrality a Sham.

Com Craven, of the Tuscarora, has pub
lished letter, denying statement of the
London Times, that he had declared himself
satisfied with the treatment he received from
the officers of the British government, while
watching the rebel steamer Nashville at
Southampton. He says that he told Col Pa
tey of the British navy, that he had not kept
good faith with him. How the British plot
ted and Unanswered to secure the escape of
the Nashville under the pretense of neutrali-
ty, Com Craven tells as follows -
"On the 2Sth of January was perempto-
rily ordered to 'eave Southampton waters
and proceed to sea- Believing that in good
faith the Nashville would also be sent out of
the port, l, on the Doth left Southampton
1t was blowing gale of wind at the time,
and therefore anchored in Yarmouth
Roads, about eigteea miles from Southamp-
ton. Tie gale continued two days, at the
end of which wen: to sea and cruised two
days, returning into the Solent, and anchor
ing at Cowes on the I'd February, at 2 p. m.
My movements and whereabouts were con-
stantly made known to the authorities at
Southampton by the coast telegraph, and as
soon as l anchored at Cowes, fifteen miles
below Southampton, Capt Patey was seen to
60 on board of the Nashville, in uniform
He remained there about ten minutes, and
hurried on board of the admiralty dispatch
boat dying ready with steam up,) and start
ed down the river the Nashville following
him. The weather was hazy, and We did
not discover the pirate until within two miles
of US. 1t was two late-he had the start.
Capt Patey came on board to remind me of
the obligations of international law, deliver
ed to me a letter written at Southampton,
thirty minutes after l had anchored off
Cowes. told him 'his visit was unnecessa-
ry. had already promised to observe the
laws of neutrality, but that he had not kept
good faith with me- That officer is we'll
aware that was not satisfied, unless his I'M
derstabding of the English language is as
much perverted as his sense of good faith.
The present situation of the two nations
is this The British desire to see the grow
ing power of our country broken down, our
commerce destroyed, our cotton culture an
initiated, and the genius of liberty mutilated.
They therefore have held out false hopes to
the South, giving encouragement to the re-
bellion, that the struggle be prolonged till
time is afforded to develop the cotton cul-
ture of their Indian slaves. In another year
they will have established this culture of
their territorial cotton on firm basis, when
they will SO protect and nurture it as to ex-
clude from their market the cotton Of other
countries. In this merited and heavy blow
will fall on the rebel states.
IF the rebellion is not closed by the time
this, their state policy, is accomplished, they
may offer Intervention in our affairs, from
the desire to reopen market for the goods
OF Great Britain. TO this view of the ques-
ton our people will ere long awake; and i;
is to be hoped that the same spirit which in
l71j refused tea under British taxation
may again refuse all sorts of British manu-
factures."