Newbern weekly progress., 1862-01-07

Of orr Commiss. .oners, Messrs. Mason and Sill
dell. appeared originally in the National IN
tcl{igeAce':
iIr. Seuard to lkr. 1da'ns- Ertract)
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, Nov. 80, 1861.
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, Esq, &c, &c.
Sir: Your confidential note OF the 18th of
! November, not marked as dispatch, has been
submitted to the President, and hasten to re-
plv to It in time for Wednesdays mail.
No Minister ever spoke or acted more wise
/ ly. in a crisis with excited deep public so!ci-
tude. than YOU did on the occasion OF the Lord
! Mayors dinner. We are impressed very IA
vorably by Lord Palmerstt MS conversation
with YOU You spoke the simple tact when
YOU told hin that the life of this lnsurrectlon
| IS sustained by the hopes of recognition in
Great Britain and in France. 1t would perish
in ninety days, ifthese hopes should cease.
have never for moment believed that such a
recognition could take place without p. odncing
Immediately war between the United States
and all the recognizing powers. have not
supposed it possible that the British Govern
ment could fail to see this, and at the same
time | have sincerely believed the British
Government must, in its inmoSt heart, be
aversc to such war as [ know this Govern-
meNt is
Tan, sure that this Government has care
fully avoided giving any cause of offence or
Irritation to Great Bri ain. But 1t has seemed
to me that the British Government mas been
inattentive to the currents that seemed to be
bringing the two countries into collision
T infer from Lord Paltners tons remarks that
the British Government is now awake to the
iunorlance of avertlng possible conflict, and
Il sncsed to confer and act with earnestncss to
that end. If So we are disposed to meet them
in the same spirit as nation, chiefly OF Brit
ish lineage, sentiments and sympathles-a CIV
ilized and humane nation, Christian people
Since that conversation was held, Captain
Wilkes in the steamer San Janclnto, has board
ed British colonial steamer, ana taken from
her deck two insurgents, who were proceeding
to Europe on an errand of treason against their
own country This is a new incident, un-
known and unforeseen, at least in its circum-
stances, by Lord Palmerson. Ii Is to be met
and disposed of by the two governments, II pos
6 }le. in the spirit to which have adverte =
Lord Lyons has prudenuy refrained from open
ing the subject to NE. as presume, "al'nS
for Instructions from home. We have done
rothing on the subject to anticipate the discus
sion. and we have not furnished you with any
exnIanatlon We adhere to that course now
because we think it more prudent that the
prouud taken by the British Government
should be first made known to US here, and
that the discussion, if there must be one Shall
be had here. It is proper, however, that you
should know one fact in the case, without IN
iriicating that we attach Importance to 1t, name
lv. that in the capture of MeSsrs Mason and
Sliden on board British vessel, Captain
Wilkes having acted without any instructions
rem the government, the subject is, therelore,
free from the embarrassment which might
| have resulted if the act had been specially dl-
rected by as.
trust that the British Government will con
slider the subject in friendly temper, ard 1t
NAV expect the best disposition on the part o.
| this Government.
| Although this is a confidential rote. shall
not object to your reading it to Earl Russell
and Lord PaIgnerston, If you deem II expedlent.
| am, sir, your obedient,
| WuLAN H. SEwAED.