The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-05-09

despatch whom you have consented allow 70 walt
Richmond has been autsrzed by the ~
boat for the purpose OF delivering H. ana WIN
permission to return for Washington BY the same MODE
Of conveyance.
have tho honor TO be- with high respect. ySas ODE
dent humble servant, LfoNo'
You will also convey 20 Mr. Davis, at Richmond,
through such channel shall be available and as you
ana aonsranes Of her Maestys
the efforts OF the authorities OF the SO called
States to build war vessels within her Maestys aomin.
United States Perhaps your ordship might best
plish this object BY obtaining permission from the
auhortes Of both beIigerens TO send special messen
ger Richmond with the necessary despatch in which
will transmit this paragraph or tho substance OF 49,
together with all that follows TO the close OF this com
Her Majesty's government, m taking this course.
desires Mr. Davis 10 rest assured that Il Is adopted en-
trey in that spirit of neutrality which been declared
the policy OF this country with regard to the two belig
erents now SO lamentaby dosolsng America and which
will continue TO be pursued with careful and earnest
desire 70 make conducive 10 the most rigid impartaty
aud justice.
After consulting with the law officers OF the crown, her
Majestys government have come to the decision that
agents or the authorities Of the so.caled Confederate
States have been engaged In building vessels which would
be at least partially equipped for war purposes ON leaving
the ports Of this country that these vessels would
undoubtedly be used against tho United Staes country
with which this government Is at peace that this would
violation OF the neutrality laws Of the realm, and
that the OF the United States would have just
ground TOR serious complaint against her Messys gov
amcable relations now subsstng between the Two coun
tries
franknes5, courtesy and dscernment which Mr. Davis
has displayed In the difficult circumstances in which
recognition or the correctness OF the position which
her Maiesty's government have taken upon this sub
ject. No matter what might be the difficulty Of
proving in OF law that the parties procuring
the building OF these vessels agents OF the So
called Confederate States, universally understood
throughout the world that they and her Maestys
government satisfied that Mr.. Davis would not deny
that they Constructed as "rams" as these
sells are they would certainly be condition eav-
ing port to nct the most serious damage on vessels
belonging TO the United States was shown BY the do
struction OF the Cumberland United states war
by the ramn Merrmac. merely by the latter being run
into collision with the Cumberland Such vessels are TO
ali ntents and purposes equipped as war vessels OF oer
munton board the frequent use Of the word
"equp" in the sense Of to furnish with everything ne
cessary for VOYAGE" be held for moment 70 limit It's
significance TO the furnishing of war vessel with
everything which might be possible TO put upon her,
or the ultimately putting OF which on her might DO con
templated Sucn construction cannot be entertained
for instant. IL Is clear that hundred and twenty
gun ship might DO equipped for war purposes with any
DO so powerful efficient as she would be she
had the whole OF IL. ram would be also equipped for
war purposes although absence OF her ordnance
ammunition might render her less effective than she
would be with them This, It is presumed by her Majes
ty's government will be conceded BY Mr.. Davis without
further argument or illustration in support of it.
This much being established 10 the perfect conviction
of her Majesty government and the law officers OF the
by Mr. Davis and by every other person OF sound and
impartial judgment, there not the slightest room to
doubt that s purposed TO the vessels in question
against the United States, country with which this
nation az and on forms OF amity and that the
permitting OF them 70 leave the ports Of her Majesty.
domnions would be violation Of the neutrality laws OF
the kingdom. and such an injurious act towards the
United States would justify the government Of that
country 10 seriously complaining Of II as unriendy and
offensive 10 the highest degree, even to the imminent
peril OF rupturng the peaceful relations now existing DO
tween the two countries.
Under these circumstances her Majsstys government
protest and demonstrate against any further efforts being
made on the part OF the socasd States or
the authorities agents thereof to build or cause TO be
but purchase cause to be purchased, any such
vessels those styled rams any other vessels 70 DO
against any country with which the United Kingdom a
peace and on terms Of amty and her Aaestys govern
OF hs s~s tho 40
have the honor to be, your lordshps ooedent Der
want, RUSSELL.
RICHMOND, Va, 8. A., april 8. 1864.
TO the Right Hon. Lord Lyons. G. B., &c. H. B. Ms MIN.
lister 70 the government OF tho Omitted states
ny Losp-I have been instructed by the President to
acknowledge tho receipt Of despatch from your lord
ship, enclosing copy o. portion o. despatch from
Affairs purportng to be "formal protest and renon
STRANGE OF her Majesys government against the efforts
build war vessels within her Maestys DONATIONS to Be
employed against tho governments OF the United States
The President desires TO TO your ordship that
while be is not unwilling TO waive in existing circum.
stances, the Transmission OF such document through
be inconsistent with the dignity Of tho position he
flls. chief magistrate OF q nation comprising .
population Of more than twelve millions, occupying :
Kingdom and possessing resources unsurpassed by those
OF any other country on the face OF the globe 70 allow
the attempt Of Earl Russell to ignore the actual existence
of the Confederate States. and to conumeliousy style
them $50 called ;" 10 pass without protest and
monstrance The President therefore, docs protest and
demonstrate against studied insult and he nstrucs
say that 10 future any document 10 which II may
be repeated will be returned unanswered and unnotced
vitb IN tha sfhfa Of Ia
Russes despatch the President desires me to state that
the plea neutrality which used to sustain the snister
course Maestys present government against the
government OF the Confederate states is clearly
trad,cted by their actions that IL is regarded by the
world-noi even excepting the United States-as mere
cover for actual hostility the President cannot but
feel that this Just view OF II. We're, indeed, her
Maestys government sincere IN desire and determine
ton TO neutrality the President could not but
icc that they would neither be Just gallant to allow
the subugatou nation like the Confederate States by
such barbarous, despotc now attempting IT,
He cannot but feel with the history and traditions Of the
Anglo Saxon before him. that under government
faithfully representing tho people OF Great Britain the
whole weight and power OF that nation would be IN.
hestaiipgly thrown into the scale In favor OF tho
principles OF Tree government on which these states
were originally formed, and for which alone tho Con-
federate states now struggling lie cannot but
feel that with such government, and with the plea Of
neutrality urged upon the people as now is, no such
p,fu spectacle could be witnessed is manifested
by Maestys present government In the persistent
on of the Confederate States the beck and
bidding Of officers OF tho United states while prime
minister mocks and insults the intelligence OF House or
Commons and OF the world by exousiog the permission
10 allow British subjects TO the United states 10 fight
against by tho pay subterfuge that the great
demand for labor and the high rate wages that were
taking them hher He but feel that neutrality
cunningiy. audscousy, fawuingly and nsolently
sought urged begged and demanded by
and repudated by the other must be seen by all impair
al men be prctext Tor aiding the cause OF one
az the expense the other while pretending 70 be i'm
partial TO be. in Short but cover for treachGous, ma
hgnant hostity.
As Tor the specious arguments on tho subject OF the
rams, advanced BY Earl RUSSELL the President desires
10 that hes content TO leave theorld and his
tory TO prom Judgment upon this attempt TO hesp
injury upon insult by declaring that her Majesty
eminent and officers satisfied OF the questions in
vovsd while those questions are stu before the highest
legal tribunal kingdom, composed OF members Of the
government law occrs OF the crown for
their decision The President himself will not condesceud
70 notice them.
have the to be your Lordships obedient hum
bic servant.
BURTON N. HARRISON. Private Secretary.
Miscellaneous Matters.
WASHINGTON, May .. 1854.
Atlanta Ga pqpers 2pth ulttmo been 70