New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-01
A NEW BRITISH GRIEVANCE.

From the Geographic summary Of rgws by
the Europa we learn tbat he British Govern
mentor The London Iines, if there 10 any
essential differences blessed with new
grievance against this country. Mr.. Adams, at
the request of certain merchants in London,
had given o certificate, addressed to Admiral
Dupont, that a vessel about 10 sail for Mata.
rcctas engaged IN r-~..s---.- -->-s-.
The object, Of course, was to avoid all risk OF
detention by American cruisers, and the ship
pers used the certificate to modify the rates
of insurance. "Tbs whole proceeding" The
Times declares, "is monstrou,, whether az
calculation or blunder."
That that journal should 10 consider this
transaction does not surprise us, for it is diff.
cult to conceive Of anything relating to this
country, unless 1t be in favor Of the Rebels,
Perhaps we may agree with it in this partc-
uar case when we are more fully informed Of
all the particulars; but so far as we can now
see, it seems TO have been very harm
cargo in question, though shipped on
British bottom, belonged, according to the
report, TO an American citizen, and as it was
intended TO aid tho Me1icans in defending
themselves against the French invasion, would
have been tempting prize to either Of the
Rebel pirates, the Alabama or the Virgins,
which the British Government has permitted to
be built in and sent TO sea from British ports.
~ A,no bav
preferred an American vessel on which to
load bis goods, but that the uniriendly
acts Of Great Britain had made too hazard.
Gus, if not an impossible operation. Compelled,
therefore, to resort to Ill English vessel, his
next step was naturally, il not wisely, to re-
sort to the representative Of bis own Govern
ment in London for protection from that La
bility to delay and possible danger which at
tends oil vessels under the British flag on our
Southern coast, from the notorieiy they have
gained as blockade runners. On the one
hand he would run the hazard Of losing
everything from the Anglo-Rebel cruisers
if be sent his goods in an American ship, or
if he used British vessel there was still i'm
minent risk of loss by detention from our
blockading squadron, whom events have com.
PEELED to regard with suspicion everything sail
ing under the British flag. He sought, there
fore, the only safeguard that remained to him.
by asking for protection for American goods t.
be sent to their destination by the only chan
mel that the British Government had left Oper
| to him.
1t was, it seems to us, so far as we arc nov
informed, shrewd device and quite worth,
OF the Proverbial Yankee enterprise. That i
should incense Tie Times is quite natural
That journal would be pleased, of course, tina
American goods, as well as American ships
should be subject to the predatory warfare o
the Anglo-Rebel cruisers, and is quite wn
that British ships when taken up for American
account should be brought to grief by GU
blockadiDg squadron. Whole chapters, Ii
doubt, Of International law will be cite
to show the unwarrantable interference
of Mr.. Adams with British commerce
But az the facts are now stated he seem
simply to have left British commerce pre-
cisely where the British Government had pu
it. and has merely certified 10 American navs