The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-02-29

EARL RU66ELLH EXPLANATION OF THE ACTION OF
THE ENGLISH CABINET.
In the House Of Lords the 18th OF February, az re-
ported In the HERALD Of yesterday morning. Lord Derby,
after referring tho delay that had occurred In follow.
ing the seizure Of the steam at Liverpool by any
legal proceedings read extracts from the correspondence
Of Mr. Adams with Mr. Seward, In which the change in
the policy OF the British government TO the
zion Of such vessels represented concession 10
pressure or something like The whole OF this
before Congress, including the despatch which
Lord Russell stated had never been communi-
ws NOT The version o. sn ns5s
ence laid before Parliament Its production could
AFFECT any questions pending In the English courts OF law
They only bad 70 decide whether English statute bad
been violated by the parties who constructed the vessels
that had been seized He could what injustice
whole correspondence For the sake Of the government
itself he thought no time should be lost In publishing
authentic English version Of what had already been given
70 the world He also asked what remonstrapces her
Maeetys government had made against the threats OF
the government OF the United States pursue unarmed
vessels attempting 70 break the blockade into British
Earl Rrss1L, in reply, sad:r think the best
can pursue will DO TO refer shortly the
OF the iron clad vessels taking ao some notice Of the
correspondence with Mr. Adams which the noble Earl
aludes Early IN the summer It was question pro-
ductve OF great anxiety 1t tho Foreign Office TO the Under
Secretary or STATE myself that two iron clads should
be building ct Birkenhead, which. wac generally be-
preyudiced were well informed, would BE- used In the
service Of me cdled Confederate States against the
snps 81 e United states employed in blockadns ,os
great anxiety, and endeavored far AZ possible 10
ascertain by inquiry the truth with respect 70 these
sells. Now, II W well known 70 your lordships, and 70
appears from the intercepted CORRESPONDENCE OF the
Confederate States which has been published, that
employ IN this country agents who were 10 n
out and equip vessels OF for service against the
how far these Instructions had been acted upon and what
had been done: But we were met ~ nrst We might
have expected, by every kind Of evasion. II was de-
pool had said these vessels were building on French
account and that they were intended for other puY.
Secretary Of he French Embassy 10 sn country and the
Minister for Foreign Airs at Paris entirely denied the
truth q the assertion Sill we had MOI evidence su
Confederate service and therefore wrote not only TO
Mr. Adams but 70 others who applied 70 me, and stated
that for the purpose Of enforcing The Foreign rnstment
act, under which vas proposed that these vessels
should Be detained, was necessary 70 show that they
we're intended for war purpore and intended 70 be used
ne sam. d,eraios ,sseA imaseed Aim !" decline TO 70
rather complainusy and hastily he notes ITO 10
which the noble earl has referred. ! replied
time evidence sucen for tho purpose Of oonvictne the
persons engaged IN tng out these vessels but added
tina! We we're stu making Inquiries and that the utmost
vigilance would DO used VI order 70 obtain evidence az 10
the real object for which .hsee vessels were designed
Mr. Adams unfortunately did not notice that part Of my
sion upon the case OF these vesses But In this be
comp etesy mistaken. Inquiries went on and then an
other sscry was pat forward tina. the vessels
tended Tor tho vCeroy OF Egypt and being fitted
IN pursuance OF contract made by the French sub eot
to whom have before alluded with the Pssha Of Egypt
and We found THAI " unsubstantia a. the other
statement Having done and no further evidence hav
detained and few days later were ordered 70 bc seized
Mr. Adams rseray enough wishing 70 gam credit for his
own attributed the seizure 10 the eject Of
notes 70 whhA thc noble ear, has referred mad been
written, me dSsssn OF her ksssty's government had