The New York herald., 1863-07-14


bhy 10 have been used by her owners TO secure fr
immunity trader bound 70 Matamoros with lavfuI
cargo when in fact she designed not reach or
even seek that port at all but 70 discharge her reeht
into rebel lighters at the mouth OF the Rio Grande at ho
order OF pretended consgnees who her
70 DO conveyed the possession OF Insurgents
on American, not Mexican soil. She indicated
over as forerunner OF other fraudulent craft OF the
same Character organized with regularo, to
sttute oonraband packet line She searched, and
upon probable grounds seized the
e. available port for adjudication. The Key
compliance with the wishes or the British authorities,
as well as OF the owners sent at New York In
vesIigation was promptly instituted there II has boon
prosecuted with much diligence and regularity as were
ever practsod in ary prize court any country and
complaint has yet been made TO this govern
ment Of any error abuse which has occurred 10
RrooeedDgs But that investigation had only commenced
snese woen the impression was suddenly made Eng
aIo 70 which your ordshp has called my attention.
MADE 70 advance and with the tendency not tho pur-
pose 70 dssses. ~. s5Ahunal by anticipating It's judg-
ana 70 prevent the exercise by this government o
all legal right 70 arrest the new contraband trade
u would be neither possible becoming for me, on
behau OF the government specific explana-
tons designed 70 furnish you means for CORRECTING the
erroneous and unjust impression which y have brought
s or Unfair sc. ~ 6;s on your own part any
which could have been in producing that Inn.
preston must be content, therefore, with denial
designs dispositions attributed this government by
those persons in England who have made the
impression which you have described No otncr PROOF
need be offered TO that the impression is groundcss
and erroneous than the correspondence which has akea
oflice for Foreign Affairs touching the cases Of
seizure which have occurred throughout tho whole
war, including the cases OF the Dolphin and tho
Peterhoff. parte statements Of which in England
would 10 have had effect in producing the
impression complained or Thus referring confidently 70
that correspondence have farther to inform your
Lordshp that every seizure which has been mado snco
the last autumn was made under the just an fair and
unquesonaby legal Instructions OF the Secretary OF the
Navy which announced TO you by In my noto o(
OF August that other different nstruc
tons open secret been given by this
Az cannot DO assumed by the United conced
90 by Great Britain that all the vessels ostensiby trading
between British port. and Matamcros unawfuliY
engaged so cannot be claimed by Great Britain nor
coded by that British vessels may fraudulent
engaged in that oStensbe trade conveying supplies
the insurgents Of the United States This government
puts forth its best efforts IN all TO prevent abuses
OF the right OF the OF search and II those efforts
sometimes fail through the ncompetonCy misjudgmone
Of agent hasens TO the involuntary
rofers the trial OF every fact and OF every question Of
OF judgments has been complained or by tho
British government and which therefore justly lies under
suspicion OF etner want OF intelligence want OF i'm
partially.
Happily, the operations Of tho army and the navy
Mississippi be likely TO break up the IN
land way which the unlawful trade in question
Intended to be carried and to remove the
temptations to continuance OF that Injurious ana for
hidden commerce. Renewed instructions hav0 been
given the Of the bockadng feet 70
cauton and conform strictly TO the principles Of
Admiralty Is likely to pronounce upon tho legality
OF the seizure OF the PetehoG and IN other cases which
in preparation for adjudication.
IT, therefore, the British government assures us with
entro ranknees and sincerity as we believe your ooun
try coutont abide by the rules and principles OF tho
law OF nations 10 doubt that the painful
impression TO which you have called my attention wit
give way 70 sentiments more accordant WILD the nten-
tons OF the and conducive 70 tho
preservation Of harmony and friendly nterco0ree bs,
ween them. avail, &c. WILLIAM II. SEW ARD.