The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1862-02-14
FOREIGN NEWS.

The steamship America, from Liverpool
25th, and Queenstown Goth, arrived ut Hal
flax Yesterday. The sales Of cotton on Sat-
urday were 5000 bales. The market closing
quiet. Brcadstufis dull. Provisions heavy.
There are vague rumos that Napoleon had
notified England that he will shortly Official
ly demand her joint action in raising the
Northern blockade. If England refuses to
take part, he will take the initiative alono.
The Times urges England not to interfere,
and says the nation can afford to wait.
The Sumter was reported cruising of &C.
noa.
The Asia had arrived out.
FIVE DAYS LATER.
The Jura has arrived at Portland, bringing
full week 8 later news than We have before
published. Mason and Slidel had arrived
at Southampton, where they received no dc.
monstration, but went their ways to London
and Paris.
Earl Russell. in despatch dated Jan. Odd,
to Lord Lyons. says the English Government
differ entirely from Mr.. Stewards conclusions
on the questions whether the persons taken
from the Trent and their supposed dispatches
were contraband. He argues tho point ut
length: points out the injurious consequen.
ces of such law, as, for instance, according
to Mr.. Stewards doctrine, o packet convey.
ing Confederate agent from Dover to Ca.
las, might be captured and taken to New
York, and in like manner the Confederates
might capture Cunard steamer bound from
Liverpool to Halifax. on tie ground Of carry.
ing Mr.. Sewards's and Mr.. Adam 8 despatch
es.
The British Government would not acqui.
esce in the capture Of any British ship under
circumstances similar to those of the Trent
and the fact Of its being brought for abjudi.
cation before Prize Court, though altering
the character, would not diminish the gravi,
ty of the offence. The despatch concludes
with reference to MIR. Stewards declaration
that II the safety Of the Union required It,
It would have been right to detain the Trent
prisoners. In reply to this Earl Russell say,
Great Britain could not have permitted the
preparation of that wrong, however aonr.
ishing might have been tho instruction in
the South.
Another despatch gives Lord Lyons con.
yersation with Mr.. Seward on the Charles.
ton blockade. Mr.. Seward stated that the
plan was not devised to injure the harbor
permanently. but merely to aid the blockade.
Il would be the duty of the Government to
remove oil the distractions as soon as the
Union is restored, from the harbor of Char
lesion. The harbor of Charleston Is not now
altogether inaccessible. He (Mr. Scward)
was not prepared to say that rs M operation
in war, Il was unjustiiable to permanently
destroy the harbors Of an enemy.
The Emperor. Napoleon opened the French
Chambers OH the 9th. In his speech be
said "The civil war which desolates Amer.
lea has greatly compromised our commercial
interests. SO long, however, as the rights oil
neutrals is respected, we must confne our
selves to expressing wishes for an early ter.
mination Of these discussions. The speech
refers to the pacific relations Of Franco, and
recapitulates the financial programme Of NJ,
Fould's budget.
Some OF the English journals construe the
allusion Of America into threat, and n
significant that France Is impatient, and will
Interfere when tho occasion appears to do
mand 1t. ~.