Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-07

day by appointment with Earl Russell OF State
for Foreign Afairs, at the Foreign Ofoe Many Of the
gentlemen present also largely interested Ia the
Sea Queen at Falmouth and also bound for
Matamoras. ss41sss
The deputation was introduced by Mr.. r. B. Crawford
M p for the city OF London who having briefly stated
the objects Of the deputaon said he DESTROYS of call
ing the atentoa of his ordshp the frat place to the
treatment Of the captain officers and supercargoes of the
Peterho who detained board that vessel and not
allowed to communicates with either the agents of owners
rchants, with the British COnsul They had
been taken board weasel which had been sed only
suspciLn aud detained though they criminals
For the truth OF this he pointed TO the pOndence
Mr. Crawford continued that the trade between ports
and those of Mexico in most unsatisfactory state
and ID not possible for il to be under existing
circumstances The liability Of seizure suspicion
theory that it completely arresting our
trade, while vessels from New York were contnu-
onsly running Not content with the unfair and illegal
they pursuing the Federal authorities
seemed to consider Themselves entitled to dictate what
trade should and should be carried by British YES
ses for he held in his hand most extraordinary docu-
ment purportng emanate from Mr.. Adams the recog-
Missed representative at this Court of the United States
This letter, which he would read was circulated at
Lloyds that day. and shown to the underwrers order
to effect at as low rate possible, an insurance
cargo Of and ammunition articles contraband Of war
going from British port to Matamoras The letter
to the following effect and addressed to Admiral Dupont
commanding the Federal feet; aH.
y.
Amid the mulituds Of fraudulent disnouest enter
pses from this kingdom furnish supplies the rebels
port in Mexico gives pleasure dngui
which has diae ent and erediabe purpose. Mesrs.
M perfectly satisfactory to they really bound
Matamoras with cargo intended for the Mexcans there
fore cheeruy give this certificate their request
is not the disposition of the Government Of the United
Sites to interfere any with honest neutral trade
extensively practced couHty have contributed
50 much to throw 1t under suspicion
Admiral Duposr &c $3.50 . ~. t.7.,
After giving expression to strong opinion on the cha
racter of the letter. Mr. Crawford continued by stating
that the immediate object Of the deputation
an opinion or some assurance Of protection for vessels
gagged in legal trade with Mexico The steamship Sea
Queen now lying at Falmouth. detained by the
Messrs. Pile, Spence Co., in consequence Of the
previous seizure Of the Peteho mail had been placed
board which those gentlemen 1.-THE owners)
PEELED by the Mercantile Marine act to carry under pen
atty In the OF the Adela the mails had been opened
by the Federal authorities and the Judge had Informed
the officers commanding her Msjesty's fgate Rinaldo
that the course would be followed in future and thu
letters read for info nation relative to ship and cargo 1t
very probable, nay. likely that Federal agents here
would write fictitious letters and pass them through the
post Office in order to compromise the ship and cargo and
the Of the vessel would, under such
be mourning risk to which they ought not to bs subject
aad he therefore considered they enttled to
protection from the Government.
Mr.. Crawford commented the Injustice and on the
complete stoppage Of all trade which must from the
unianess OF the conduct Of the Federal authorities in
interceptng vessels while their those Of other
nations, and certain British ships which the American
Minister here had taken under his protection were a.
lowed 10 pass free The loss by Interrupt
tons OF this nature was very serious. and no amount Of
of trade which the present unsatisfactory state Of the
matter entailed.
Mr. Spence pile Spence g. Co had reason to believe
that the of the Federal authorities to cap
III the Sea Queen wherever found and irrespective Of
the fact that she contained contraband Of In
ion expressed by the law officer Of the Crown they the
owners were quite unable to the vessel against
risks. M
Mr. G p Harding observed that the difficulty under
which the merchants abored that while their goods
hoard, aud their engagements binding the
vessel was detained by the owners, because
could be given that she woud not be illegally seized
as the Peterbof had been. When a claim for damages
suggested resulting from the loss the merchants
consequent such detention the alleged that they
could not be legally comp lied to send the ship voyage
for which they had proec ion Of the law At present
The grievance the mpossibfy under which they la
Dor to protect themselves from capture They had full
filled every gal formally, and desirous of doing all
in their to prove the legitimate nature Of the vo
age, but notwithstanding this they were stil liable to
seizure II he might venture on suggestion, he thought
an tfsctua one would be the placing Of mail agent on
board the Sea Queen in charge Of the post Office letter
bags. His presence would be- kind Of Off is guarantee
that the vessel would proceed to the port which she
had cleared and the only pretence which seizure
could be baed that the sse might be purposey d.
verified from her Destination he apprehend. that this
might meet ihs obje:fi0n. The merchants
would mt To sBd their vessel under such conditions
and were wiling to pay any expense attending such
rangem-nt
Mr. Harding, dwelling upon the unfairness of the
Federal conduct remarked that while our We seIs were
Intercepted aud trade entirely stopped he found and
he was prepared to show by the papers in his hand
sells daily advertised to sail from New York for Matamo
ras, and that those ships allowed to proceed M
challenged and 10 addition to this there was the vessel
referred to by Mr. Crawford carrying and of war
intended to help the MexicaD against the French which
bad obtained official pass from the Federal authorities
We had the dissatisfaction Of finding dou
bled while the French rates remained the same The
consequences OF this must inevitably be that the trade
which would otherwise be carried from British ports
must seek the protect m Of another flag
Mr. Wake (Bennet & Waks) offered the manifest both
Of the Peerho rnd the Sea Queen for the closest nspec
ton, to prove the legal nature Of the voyage He also
offered to give guarantee the part OF the merchants
that the destination OF the vessel should be altered
and show that she intended for Matam0ras only
Earl RUSSELL 10 replying, expressed his surpr,e at the
information brought before him respecting the treatment
OF the persons board the Peerho for even supporting
the vessel condemned and the cargo forfeited the
presence Of British subjects was not criminal offence
nor were they subsct 10 imprisonment by
law With respect to the Adea appeared that facts
quence OF the presentat made by her Maj4sys Gov
ernmen Mr. Seward had issued fresh instructions TO the
Union officers aud be therefore did not anticipate rene
on OF such acts Referring to the suggestion which had
been made respecting the p icing Of mail agent on board
the en- Queen his hardship said he would take that mat
ter into consideration There M precedent for such
proceeding but the Government were desirous Of az
fordng such protection to the merchants as they were
legally justified doing His lordship added that formal