, 1863-05-09

ish vessels on the high seas to be 1nolested on
the pretence Of carrying contraband Of war,
unless actually engaged in violating the block
ade.
Mr.. seward issued orders in accordance
with the understanding arrived at; and If
these orders were disregarded, they must pre-
Bume that It WAS not with the knowledge OF
the American Government, for their fnterpre-
tation Of the law Was the same as that Of her
Majesty' Government
Lord r. Cecil said that the Solicitor-Gener-
ais explanation would be very satisfactory If
it was carried out in practice. What was the
use Of Mr. Seward making professions one
day # be violated. them the next. and sent
Admiral " ilkest an officer notorious for his
, hatred to England, to most delicate post:
He admired the gnllant speech Of Mr.. Roe
buck, and it Was worthy Of an Epglishman.
THE PRESS ON THE DEBATE.
-, The newspapers generally have editorials on
The Daily Neus commends the prudence Of
+ t1e government IN waiting for the completion
OF the evidence on both sides, and says that
after the Ministerial statements which were
made the question becomes one Of confidence
in the government.
The Morning Hst feels persuaded that the
American government will percciyethe neces-
sity Of noderating i1s course Of action to-
wards neutral traders 1t it really does not wish
to increase the III. feeling it has unfortunately
for itself provoked.
The 1i1.ts says that from the debates the
American government may learn the feeling
that their acts have produced among all class.
es Of the English people. It cannot be denied
that very great Irritation exists.
The Star bitterly denounces Mr. Roebuck's
warlke remarks, and protests against his be-
irg taken to express any particle Of English
sentiment outside Of his OWN embittered
bosom.
The Shipping Gazette says the Federal Gov
ernment would do well to consider the pro-
ceedings in the British Parliament, and the
very strong and decided feeling elected, espe.
Mr.. Roebuck, unmeasurcd rs it was, wou1d
never have elected the cheers which followed
the utterances Of every sentence, If the sense
O. indignation produced By the recent reite-
s1ated outrages upon British subjects and Bri-
t3sh properly we're not heartfelt.
The Globe says: Circumstances are critical.
We cannot but feel that every successive
month the war In America continues the dan
ger increases ofbecoming ultimately involved.
The public in this country are arriving at the
are in corrGo of iniiiction on our commerce,
and the public in the United States are arriy
ing at a similar conclusion on account Of the
Alabama aud her sister ships. The rcclpro-
cal ir1itnt;on augurs badly for amicable rela-
tions.
ALE AA4Lo VI LIE IElEAaOFEs
In the House of Lords on the 9th, Lord
Redesdale referred to Mr. Stewards instruc-
tions 10 the naval officers Of the United States
cruisers, directing that the mails should not
be opened when seized on board any ship, but
should be either given up to the Consul Of the,
nation to which the vessel belonged, OF sent
to the United States Government; that anv
correspondence found in them would be re-
ferred to prize court, to be used In deciding
the condemnation ofa vessel.
This seemed to him to Indicate that the
United States Government either claimed the
right Of foFening or using The mails, or expect
Cd thar the English Consn1 should do so, aud
hand over to them any correspondence which
they suspected. He wished to know if it was
pressed himself satisfied. Earl Russell, who
1sas all but inaudiblt, was understood to say
that this order had been modified, but that
the practice was in Il great degree sanctioned
By the decision Of Lord Stowell
The Earl Of Derby said that nothing could
be mors monstroas than this claim on the
pant Ut the American Government. What was
still more astonishing WAS that her Majesty 3
Government should in any way acqniesce
In II.
The Marquis Of Clanricarde hoped the Gov
e1Dment would take the matter into the most
serious consideration.
Lord Chelmsfordaskedi if there was any truth
in the report that four more British vessels
had lceu seized, as stated in the evening pa
pezs.
Earl Russell said the Government had re-
cciyed information that vessels had been
| seized iu the act Of breaking the blockade. He
| wished to explain that, in answer to Lord Ly.
| ons, Dir. Seward had written letterto Mr.
Welles, modifying the instructions Issued by
| the latter to the officers Of the Federal navy,
| and it was to this letter hercfu7rcd. He would
however, consult the Law officers Of the
| crown.
| The Earl Of Hardwicks said that the yacili.
alton shown By the Government would, as 4
matter Of course, be attributed to fear. H.
hoped that the Secretary Of State would rise
in his place and say that the pratensions of the
! Federal lGoyernuient we're unjnstiiable. Lord
! Taunton could not agree in any ceusure on
! the Government, which, MS long as it pursued
the same digniacd and prudent course, would
whatever was the result, be supported by ali
claEs'F E. In reply to tue Earl Of Malmcsbury
Earl Russell said that he would endeaTor te
lay OIL the table the opinion of tue law officer:
/ Of the crown on Monday.
In the House of Commons on the 24th,
Lcrd A. Churchill asked whether merchant
ships in the prosecution Of q voyage between
neutral ports, would be legally justified In de.
Tending themselves by the use OF arms from
| capture by the cruisers Of the Federal States
| The Solicitor General said that merchant
| ships under the circumstances mentioned
would certainly not be justified in defending
| themselves from capture by the use of arms
| II any such attempt was made OIL the part OF
merchant ships it would expose them not
| only to capture but to q just condemnation.
| SEIZURE OF THE ALEXANDRA.
Mr: Horsfall called attention to the seizure
1.e wished to point out tht: case Of individual
| Hardship to the owners Of the vessel which
| was being built by Mr.. Miller, highly re-
spectahle ship builder Of fifty years standing.
lie read letter from Messrs Fawcett & Co.,
| which stated that the vessel was being con-
structcd for them as speculation, and was
being fitted with engines which would give
her speed Of nine or ten knots, as pasSen.
ger vessel, or mail boat, ora yacht. He had
| personally inspected the vessel and could con-
| firm This statement. The owners denied that
| the vessel was being fitted out for the Con-
| federates, and he was sure that the public
| would take the word OF such a firm aglfnst
| the unknown inform2nts Of the government,
He complained Of the anomalies that, while
| field batteries might be supplied to the un-
known agents Of the Federnl Government,
the fitting ont Of an unarnled vessel was pro-
| hibited, lest on re sale she might become the
| property OF the Confederates.
He rCad letters from Mr.. Peabody, confirm
ing tue order Of Col. Fremont, given to the
same firm Of 31essrs. Fawcett, Preston d. Co.,
the free shipment Of warlike materials and Of
1,ish recruits to the Fedcrals, and protest d
against the system Of espoinage established
~ the Federals. Hc strongly urged flir aud
| impartial administration Of tho Law.
The Attorney General said the government
thought itself fully justified in sciziug the
A1exandra on the information they had re-
ctired, and the proceedings would 60 on in
| the regular course. He thought 1t would be
difficult to prove that the Irish emigrants we're
recruits, and pronounced the charges Of Mr.,
Hort fall as most unfair.
The merits Of theseizure were generally de-
bated by numerous speakers,
Mr. Golden urged the importance Of the
| enforcing Of the Foreign Enlistment act, and
pointed out that the Americans had always
acted on its principles when England WAS at
WAT He warmly Impressed upon government
and on the public at large, the obligation as
we'll as the importance Of acting towards the
American government us 1t had always acted
towards us, in spirit not only Of gratitude
for their conduct, but Of good faith and honor
able neutrality.
He urged that the Alabama, which was
t wholly equipped aud manned from England,
| and which it was admitted had escaped IN vio-
la.ion Of the law, ought to be seized as the
only method Of putting an end to these clan
destinc practices.
The Solicitor General reiterated his defense
Of The government in the matter Of the Ala-
| bamn.
Sir Fitzroy Kelly complained that the gov
ernn ent had acted harshly In the case Of the
| Alexandria He asked II government was
taking measures to protect the postal service
n Ith the ports Of the Cult Of Mexico
Lord Palnerston eaid that Ensland's eom-
| Mercial interests with Mexico Ind the best sc-
/ rsf IN half af hat +h< Trf$ AA -%n.