The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-06-22

ACTIVITY or ooR BLooKA IMPORTANT Car
This morning we have Information which
shows that our navy is not idle, and that
1t is doing good service in its various
duties First, we have through rebel
sources the news of the capture of the
rebel iron.clad Atlanta, better known as the
Fingal. From all that we have been able to
learn she intended raid upon Fort Seymour,
and was met and captured by two OF our IRON
clads after q brisk engagement of about thirty
minutes. The Atlanta gave promise of much
trouble; but this capture not only weakens the
rebel defences of Georgia in particular. but
will relieve quite number Of our blockaders,
who for many months have been watching for
her advent into active service. i q. II
The official reports Of Admiral Dupont show
that the blockaders of Charleston ere vigilant
and active, and that two more steamers-one
loaded with cotton, bound to neutral port,
and the other filed with valuable articles now
much needed by tho rebels-have been entirely
destroyed by our gunboats off the harbor Of
Charleston.
These captures entail a severe loss upon the
rebels. The Isaac Smith, the steamer loaded
with cotton, was formerly federal gunboat,
and was captured in Stone Inlet last winter
war; but her speed recommended her to the
rebels, and she was dismantled to carry cotton,
so that they might procure the necessaries they
80 much stand in need Of The Havelock was
loaded with cargo of incalculable value to the
rebel army &. 4,n
Admiral Dupont and his officers are entitled
to much credit for their unceasing energy in
breaking up the trade between England and the
Confederate ports within their jurisdiction, and
the number of vessels the South Atlantic Squad
ron has captured and destroyed since its or
ganization is numbered by scores.
IMPORTANT FROM EURopE-ENGLAND AND THE
UNITED SrATEs-By an article which we pub
lish from the London Shipping Gazette it will be
seen that in consequence of some captures of
blockade runners by our cruisers, and the act Of
the British government in sending an armed con-
voy with their merchant vessels trading in the
direction of the West Indies, a very interesting
question of international law has arisen in Eng
land, which is soon to be brought before the
House of Lords. There is decision of Lord
Stowell, the great English authority on maritime
law and the rights of neutrals, to the effect that
an armed convoy cannot lawfully Interfere with
the right of belligerent to visit and search
merchant vessel. But the English journals say
that is not the question, but whether convoy
cannot prevent the capture of such vessel. The
question then rccurs, Of what value is the right
of search, if the convoy decide that capture
is not to be made? If our cruisers should de-
eide differently, would not the question then
become one of force! II the convoy Is to be
made the judge Of the legality of the papers Of
merchant vessel, then the right Of the bellige-
rent TO board and search is a mockery and a
delusion. This question is likely to lead to
some international difficulties between England
and the United States unless the British gov
| eminent withdraws its claim to PREJUDICE by
its Admrals the bellgersnt rights Of this
republic.