The New York herald., 1863-05-19
THE COTTON TRADE.
LORD LYONS TO EARL RUSSELL.

tho 18th inst, and set out hs HIS post this
From information which he gave me- It appeared evident
that very great desire existed on the part both OF
the so called Confederate government and OF private
persons in the south TO make large sales OF cotton
to neutral purchasers, and that the Confederate
Of cotton III had tao passs
beyond their military lines IL seemed that they
posas from them to English merchnnts This Mr.. Moore.
having no means Of communicating with the Northern
Statcsor with Europe except those afforded by the United
States government virtue OF its understanding with the
British and Frcoch legations here could do without
breach OF coed ia and he o course, refused to listen
TO the solicttIons which were made to HIM nor indeed
could tho proposals IL made have led under present cir
cumsances, to practical result for IL appears That
the Conederatcs choose rather to burn their than
to run any risk o. US falling into the hands o the fedcras
while foreign merchants Will OF course not risk their
n,o,y uIss 'e, nav = sua NC s,'. 'uey
shall at least be able to keep they be not ablc 10 cx
port, their purchases.
lost no time in moeing Mercier acquainted with tho
information given me by Mr.. Moore, and asked him
whether he thought there any mode consistent with
the maintenance OF good faith with this government
in which we could turn u account for the benefit d our
respective countries tho growing desire Of the Confede
rates to dispose of their cotton TO neu,ras The oay plan
which could devise to cndeavor 70 obtain from
the United States government definite
calculated TO confidence both To buyers and sellers OF
cotton in tho South Wo had very little hope OF succeed
ing the momon in elicrng any declaration sufficiently
formal aud explicit but agreed that there could bc
harm IN nv mentioning TO Mr. Seward the nature OF the
information which had reached me, and cndeavoring TO
find out from him exactly what security the United States
government would really give to neutral buyers, and
purchases.
accordingly went 10 Mr. Seward on the 10th instant,
and said TO him that concluded that he not una
the Confederates made n apd and france tho
tempting offers OF cotton They said, .'Here rs cot
ton in abundance buy it, or we shall be obliged to burn
it," observed this course could but
full in respect at least unless tie federal government
feelings towards the United States in Europe Could not
Mr. seward give me some assurance which would end 10
diminish such feelings.
observed to Mr. Seward that what the Confederates
wanted to he assured that cotton sold to neutras
would not fall into the hands Of United States officers
10 this Mr.. Seward answered that the Oilers OF tho
rebels nsd!ous. Why had not cotton been already
sold to neurals? Why had it not been brought to mar
kety The government OF the nited states had given
every facility had dccla eli that would respect cot
ton che property OF ncutrals however obtained it had
al one time conceded that bought in tho south
might be paid for in gold instead OF United States
tecy that inquiry should he mado as 10 how the gold
had been conveyed to the nsurgen States question
asked to who the cotton bad been purchased FROM
neutral would have had nothing TO do but 10 take his
New Orleans aud export It. Still cotton had
appeared The only effect oc all these had
asked Mr.. seward whether all these concessions had
beeu recorded IN official documents distinctly as to
leave doubt of their existence their extent Tho
communications concerning them had j observed taken
place during absence. might not be fully acquainted
with them, but certainly the impression on my mind was
that the facilities for bringing and exporting cotton had
oeen ny no means SO groat az ne represented them !
declaration that neutral cotton would be respected
clear as TO bc calculated to remove all doubt from the
minds of neutral buyers well Confederate seersy
Again. might English merchant at this safely
buy large quantity of cotton in the Southern States
and send II TO New Orleans with a certainty that he
would DC aiiowed 70 export iU
Mr. seward observed with regard 70 the first question,
mat neutral property was oy given
over ana over agan oy TINS government 10 tue socono
question, General Buffers proclamation would, he said,
nave oeen sunccnt answer put tnc case might now
altered for General Banks had p 'obaby by this timo
superseded General Butler and the new plan might have
been put in force
said. and artcr consideration TO the
cuson that the only thing which would have any chance
Of being attended with practical result would be TO en-
deavor 70 obtain rom Mr. seward some ASSURANCE IA
writing.
On reflection, however became convinced thit mere
informal declaration from MT Seward would not be sum
oient could not feel sure that such document would
be held 70 be binding by all the departments OF the go
yernnent remembered with regard TO the proclamation
Of General Butler, on which Mr.. Seward laid so much
stress ,ha at ,e very moen, az whch Mr sewara had
on orders had without his knowledge been issued which
rendered tho CONCESSIONS mace oy aosether inopca
tive IN practice came therefore to the conclusion tha'
hotnng wouie pe guheu unless procured regular iH-
mai document declaring the intentions OF the whole 60
yetnment WIN .nls view wrote 70 par. seward .ne
etter o, wncn CODY " hcioseo. ~ Was fcau ana a-
proved ny NJ Mercer on s way 10 the STATE
am NOT ssnsunc as 70 thc SUCCESS OF tnis or any or
Of cotton Il difficult not impossible for the govern
ment y, tne uneo Stars :, uevse shy pnn py wncn
s @ n,,, ." s,ian 20 e ,s S.ua = ~ ~
slon.ng Wy w nv y. ..o
s ins 20 'ne uhea @
ssaes % oe,'n @ nm na @ uv ma '".y ,sse I've
Oily W se. .nc .enioso AMI usnker at va, vac
want Of cotton may drive .ne European Powers 70 aAs
part with the south In the war
LORD LYONS 10 wssas,,oS ssns MSssbs. bsa "a 1ss,
Ny LoRp--wth my despatch of the 10th inst had the
honor TO transmit 70 your ordship copy Of letsee
taln whether the goyernment Of the United states WAS
willing to give definite assurances calculated to give coma
Cotton smoke 10 Mr. seward about fbis letter ves,er
day ana endeayored 10 obtain from him some dcdn,,e
a'sr he w. ev,Sensv rea so circ than IN
ouired whether he could furnish me with any Information