, 1863-07-13
EnEl1sh Merchants and the
Neutrality Law TGrcnt Bril-

4 petition to Earl Russell, has been pre-
pared and signed By a large number Of lead
ing shipping merchants of Liverpool, con-
cerning the departure from English ports Of
vessels intended to commit depredations
upon the commerce Of the United States. It
isa very interesting letter and shows that a
very formidable public sentiment In England
protests very warmly against the gross viola-
lions Of neutrality which have already taken
Place. The following Is copy:
To the Right Honorable the Earl Russell. Her
Majesty Principal Secretary Of State fot the
Foreign Department:
Ths memorial q tho Observation-Disclosures OF
That your memoriallsts, who are deeply inter-
eaed in British shipping, view with dfsrnay tho
pmb9ble future consequences Of a state OF affairs
which permits foreign bellgerent to construct
III and scnd to sen from British ports, vessets.of-
Har in eoat1asention Of the p1ovislons Of tho cx-
That the immediate effect Of placing at tho dis
posa! OF that foreign belbgcrent very small num-
ber q steam cruisers has been to parayze the mef-
eanttle marine Of apowerful maritime and naval
Iation, tnaicting within fsw months losses, d.
rect and indirect, on its shpowning aud mercantile
interests, inter which years Of peace may prove made
That your memoria1ists cannot shut their ewes tn
TIE probability that in my future war between
England and foreign power, however fnsicp1a.
eAnt IN nAva! strength, the example no.. aat -
may oo followed By eitzes Of 6tbe1 Is sonntliss
nsntIal when England beileerent "a 3at re-
e..oae nans oi splessness in Which Her Maiestv:a "
~ sln1lent have declasd their inabllty to detect
mitted By certain Of Her Majeaty's subjects, nav
hereafter be successfully initiated By the Govern
ments @ Of those other countries in answer to Eng
That the experience Of late events has proved 10
me CONVICTION q your memoSialists that the DOS.
eesalon BY beligercnt Of swift steam crutsers.
under no necessity, actnA1 or conventional to yeif
thc possibly 6ockaded home ports Of that bellico-
rent bnt able to obtain all requisite supplies from
ueutIale, will become weapon Of offence acainst
which no prepouGerancc Of naval etrcugth Ean ~
feetnally guard. and the severity Of which viii be
Of the nation sgalnst whose mercantile marlna ndi.
the Efforts OF those steam cruisers may be dfrected
That TIE eject OF the future war with any Power
sp;a of snaeed 10 purchase Ard Fet
tranFfer to neutral flags that portion Of tho ses
csrTytng trade OF the world which Is now epioyed
py your memoriallsts and by other British ship
That oyer and above tho chances Of pecuniav
loss to themselves your memorialiets share in the
regret with which q lawfegaraing community
must naturally look on successful attempts to
passed for single and simple purpose, but which
powers needed for its effective execution.
specially urge upon your Lordahp tho e1pslieaee
Or proposing to Parliament to sanction be intro.
austion Of such ameninents into tho Foreign Ell
ae o ss t6e he e.
n british ports Of ships destined for the
use or belligerents; and your memoriaista would
tnrther suggest to Jonr Lordship the Importance
e1nment Of the United States of America: md Of
other foreign countries, to the adoption OF siilar
In those countries also.