The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-04-30
ADDiTioHAL FR0m
The Alexandra Case Changes Ia the Cab:.
net-The Quesn, &c.

A"e nAeAanofo CoSe-ChonGes Ia the CAB:
net-The Queen, &c.
bc'ow we Give q summary Of the latest Euro
pean news contained In the London correspondence,
OF the PhiladeIphia Iaqstrr. There is an enioya
bse pique In this Yankee letter which makes 4
more readable than the dry coi!ated news Of thu
European journals. His Indignation over ,ht
Alexandra casa is very pleasant:
tine ALxxANb2A DECISION.
Undoubtedly the most important occurrence This
week has been the delivery of the decision of ii,e
House of Lords In the Alexandra case. Tts in,
portance, however, does not lie in any effect Il nav
have upon the relations OF this country with the
United States, for those relations are In NO sv Ar
lected by II. So far as we are concerned, this
Government has done everything In Its power to
bring the case to proper Issue, and we can have
no ground Of complaint against them. Besidcs
cur object, and our only one, was attained long
ago. The Alexandra, vessel building for the
Coniederates, was laid under an embargo, and has
been efiectualy prevented from fulfilling the par
pose Of her construction Nor will she now, even
after the decision just given, ever fall Into the
hands Of the parties for whom she was being
built. The Mcssrs Laird have saved fheGsslves
will keep too strict an eye upon their movements
for them to do any act that shall tend to injury.
The sun Of the Confederate ship builders has for
ever set in England, unless, which do not be-
thorough reversal Of the present policy of England
in regard 10 the american question.
The real importance Of this decision lies In the
exhib tfOn 1t affords Of tho wretched condition Of
the English law. and the still more wretched char
acter OF at least portion Of the English judiciary
You will bear me witness that have from the first
placed the responsibility Of this whole affair where
it properly belonged viz on the shoulders of Lord
Chief Baron Pollok, the presiding Judge of the
Court of Exchequer, where the case was originally
tried The present only proves that | was right -
The whole case and its attendant circumstances are
remarkable, and will bear recapitulatiOn
When the Alexandra case was first tried In tho
Court Of Excheqaer you will remember what a
one sided charge the Chief Baron gave the jury,
after which II was impossible for them to do else
than give verdict against the Grown. The Ch ef
Bar0n however. distinctly assured the counsel for
the Government that he would allow bill of ex
cepiOns, In order that the might be carried 10
higher court but when the Crown counsel ten
dered his bill of exceptions the Ohief Baron refused
to accept and sign it, the ground that his charge
to the Jury was misrepresentcd in il.
Row, his charge was taken dosn, word for word,
by the official saOr hand reportess of the Cour,,
aud ii Is unreasonable 10 suppose that they blum
dered go ouirageuusly as his lOrdship was pleased
TO alege that they did 1t may be regarded as ali
sJlutelv certain that they reported his charge ex
acty as he delivered it. He insisted, however,
upon his own modified version of il, and thus left
the Crown counsel without any tangible basis for
his bill of exceptions. The Chief Baron then sug
gested an appeal, assuring the Crown counsel that
there would be no difficulty about that, and that
he might thus accomplish his desired purpose. |
have no hesitation In alleging that Chief Baron
Pollock knew better at the time, and perfectly
well aware that no appeal would be susiained-
And think that the only proof necessary to con-.
arm this presumption lies In lhs fact that before
authorizing the appeal, he compelled the Crown
counsel to pledge himself ~ abandon Tie Idea Of d
bill Of exceptions
In other words, the Crown counsel could and
would have modified his bill Of exceptions In some
way, SO As to have secured n new hearing, and il
was this that the Chief Baron, in his partisan
character, was determined TO prevent. He, there
fore, falsely and maliciOusly assured the Crown
counsci OF his right Of appeal on condition OF his
abandoning, then and forever, whatever might be
the result Of the appeal his light to introduce bill
of exc piiOns.
The result is already seen The Cour, to which
the appeal was taken promptly decided that 1t
would not lay, and further application TO the
House Of Lards the COurt OF last resort, has ended
in the confirmation of that decision. Here, then,
is presented this singular state OF things in refer
ence 10 one of the most important questions that
can ever arise In the English Courts. A matter af
fectmg only natioaa !'t International interests
is tried and decided fiaally In one of the lower
Courts from whose decision there can be ap-
peal; and knowing this fact, but privately and
wifulIy eOnceaIiug it, The presiding Judge Of that
Court, by trick, induces the COUNSEL for the de-
feased party to waive his right to resort TO the only
measure by which new hearing OF the case, In
tue nature of an appeal, could be had. or course
the law itself Is defective, and that is bad enough
In country that boasts Of the perfection Of its u,
Otcldi SyStcuI, Dub WudI are WO LO tHIUk OI an
Eagsh Judge who carries his partisan spirit SO far
as TO lend himself to such a scheme as this?
The decision Of the House of Lords was en-
tirely upon technical matters. The merits Of the
original case were not Involved In the slightest de
gree The result, however, fs, that the Govern
ment stands beaten, and Is compelled to pay the
entire costs of The prosecution. The Lairds come
off with lying cOlOrs, aad they and their friends
are In high elee. 1t Is Understood that they will
claim enormous damages for the loss they have
sustained by detention, SC; aud, as they will be
careful bring their case n hief Baron POiiock's
COart. they will probably obtain verdict from
which there can be- no appeal.
have only TO add on this subject that sensible
Engishmen are heartily ashamed OF the hisal issue
of this case. Even tho Times admits that some
thing ought to be done speedily TO remedy the de-
feet in the existing lazy, and prevent the recur-
renee Of similar result.
AEERICAN AFFAIRS IN PARLIAMENT
You will find from the reports Of the proceedings
In the House Of Lords that the Marquis of Cianri.
earde aud EarIs Derby and DOnoughmore-a nOto-
riOus trio In such cases-have again agtated sun
dry questions connected with American affairs,
but with very little effect. Indeed, almost the only
result attained was the endorsement by the aar
qus OF Canrcarde OF the high character OF Sir
Adams, the United States representative at this
Court. The same Marquis attempted "A sort Oftrck
by using In his resolution certain language that
wouiy imply recognition by The House OF Lords
OF the separate existence as nation 0f the Con,
Tolerate States but Earl Russell promptly detected
aud exploded the lrick by insisting on the C0nled
crate States being mentioned In the resolution as
the $50 called" Confedcs ate States.
DESIGNATIONS IN THE CABINET.
You will also have received by the mid week
steamer intelligence of the changes that nave ia
ken place In the Ministry. The resignation Of the
Duke Of Newcastle had been for some time threat
sned, and does not excite much interest. Ills alb
sencc will not be seriously felt. lie was never
much Of a business man, and the details Of the
Colonial Office were generally mana sed by the two
able under Secretaries, Sir frederic Rogers, Bart,
and Mr Chichester FOTtescue.
The retirement of Mr.. Slansfeld, however, has
been q matter Of some moment. This poor man
has literally been worried into this step account
Of the odium that attached 10 him by reason Of his
personal friendship for Ma2zini. Not man In
England supposed for moment that ne mad any.
conspiracy III any such existed, against Louis Nd
pOtcon, and yet his sacrifice was demanded On the
score OF public morals, and the demand has been
acceded 10, although Lord Palmerston only bare
fortnight before av0wed his determination 10 stand
by his colleague The true secret or his resigna
lion Is that the Opposition were prepared to make
successful stand on the question Of his retention
In the Ministry by taking advantage VI the popular
sentiment and il ia and necessary, In order TO
save the Ministry, that Mr.. Stansieid should be
made its saving Jonah. SO overheard he went. 1t II
perhaps fortunate tor him, as ne illtnereOy escape
the odium of going with the Ministry ITSELF whose
existence Just now is held by very pEecarious ten
ure Indeed, do not hear any prOphesy that u will
last more than fOrnght lODgef is now conceded
that the DEPOSITION Will nOt dWHlt tHc SLOW IoccSs
of It's natural death, but that they dete mined
TO put speedy end 1, its existence, Ii they can
possibly do so. Lord palmerston ma, possibly, by
making other sacrifices, manage TO tide over the
present crisis, but just now u looks as though the
announcement of dissolution might take place al
any moment.
TIE QUEEN AND PCBLIC ITs.
As progmosticated Ia my last letter, the QueeG
fMnd he yseN unfq qual 10 the task Of holding the
Court announced Tor last "Wednesday, and on tls
morning Of that day the announcement was conn