, 1862-03-20
ENELAN D AND THE BLOCKADE
An Acknowledgment by Earl Russell.

fEy foreign ady1cea TO March, 1st.7
The papers relative to the Southern block
ade, had at length been presented to both
HOUSES of Parliament They arc quite yolum-
inous. Consul Bunch, in q series Of letters
from Charleston, extending from, the 18th Of
May 10 the 9TH Of September, frequently :l1u-
dcd to the intfliciency Of the blockade Of that
port az shown By the facility with which YES
sels continued to enter aud leave the port.
Consul Muir, writing from New Orleans, in
June and July, reported that the blockade of
the Mississippi was strictly enforced. Com
naahdcr Hickey, Of her Mujesty's ship Gladia-
tor, represented, under date Of July Esd, that
the blockade Of the Southern coast was mere
ly nominal.
Commander Lyons, of the Racer, writing in
July, represented that Savannah and Charles
ton were effcclual1y b1ockaded, but raauy 9th
rr 1arhorf and inlets along the coast were per-
fcc1ly free from blockade The same officer on
the l9sh December reported some instances Of
breaking the blockade at Charleston aud VIII
minSton, and inferred thcretrom that the
blockade either Intentionally or through want
Of ordinary vigilance, was not effective.
Cap!ain Ross, Of the Desperate, reports the
result 6f visit to Galveston in December.
The blockajing ships we're visible, and he WAS
ofopiDion thai vessels might casily escape from
Galveston or st, Louis Pass. At the other
ports which he visited, the blockade was gen
orally actively maintained. Lists OF British
vessels seized for violation Of the blockade
were 1urniskcd by Consul Archibald Of New
York in October and January last
Tic last Dispatch in tho "bIue book" is
from Earl Russell to Lord Lyons, dated
February 18Th, 1862, and is US follows:
Her A1ajcsts's Government have had
under their consideration the state Of the
blockade Of the ports of Charlestoa and Viii
| n,ington. It appcars from the reports re-
c''iycd from her n.ajesty's naval officers that,
| although s: sufficient blockading force is sta
/ toned off these ports, various ships have sue
| coeEfu)ly Guided the blockade; question
| might be raised, therefore, as to whether such
! :: blockade should be considered as elective.
"Hcr Majesty's government, however, are
Of opinion that; assuming that tue blockade i;
duly notified, and also 1nAt q number Of slip:
ETC stationed and remain ut the entrance of :
port, sufficient reilly to prevent acccss to il
| or TO create an evident danger Of entering Of
leaving it, and that these ships do not volun
| tarily permit ingre=s or tgrgss, the fact that
| yarlous ships may have escaped through it "a:
| III the particular Instances here referred to-
/ will not Of itself prevent the blockade from
| being an effective one by international law
"Ihc adequacy Of the force to maintain {
blockade being always and necessarily a mat
ter OF fact and evidence, and one as to whic1
different opinions may be entertained, Deu
trail State ought to exercise the greatest ca.l
! lion with reference to tho disregard Of d
.5aeio, and notified blockade, and ought not tt
disregard it excerpt When it entertains con
! viction, which is shared by tie neutr;lls gene
rally having an interest in the matter, that til
power Of bleckede is abused By a State eithe
unable 10 institute or maintaln it, Or un gilli9j
| from sou,e other motive to do so,''
The blue book contains long lists Of yes
sells which eyaded the blockade at variou
places, from Mr.. Tancey and Mr.. Mason.