The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-10-24
BY TELEGRAPH,
TO THE DAILY PRESS.
FIVE DAYS
LATER FROM EUROPE.
Arrival of the Hibcrnian OF Farther
{ - Point
FARTHER PorNr. Oct %

rived cut on the IJtn important diplomatic
correspondence between MIR. Adams and Earl
Russell is published in the London Gazette of
the 18th. It begins with a letter from Mr..
Adams, dated April 7th last, in which he calls
Earl RusselPs attention to the official reports
respecting the ravages of the Shenandoah, and
announces that for the damage caused by said
cruiser, the government cannot avoid entail
ing the responsibility upon the government of
Great Britain. Earl Russers reply is dated
May. 9TH. He says the duties of Great Brit
ain toward the United States are not to be
measured by the losses which the commerce
Of the latter may have sustained. The ques-
ton is simply whether the Queens Govern
ment have faithfully and honorably performed
the duties which international law and their
municipal laws imposed upon them
The reply of Mr. Adams IS dated the 4th.-
He repeats that the insurgents became bellig-
erents on the ocean solely by reason of the ia
cilities furnished in Her Majesty's ports
lie complains of the secret sympathy OF Her
Majesty's officers in the port Of Liverpool,
and contends that after the in formation which
he supplied respecting the Alabama, it was by
the fragrant negligence of Her Majesty's Board
of Customs that this vessel admitted to be
intended for war purposes, was suffered to de-
part from Liverpool
An interval of three months elapsed between
the above letter and Earl Russel's reply to it.
In response Earl Russell proceeds to justify
the course of Her Majestys Government in rec
ognizing the rebels as belligerents, and reasons
are given why there was extreme difficulty in
giving orders to exclude from British ports
vessels of war partly fitted up in the United
Kingdom.
An important item is referred to in this let
ter. Earl Russell notices a statement in let
ter from Mr.. Adams in 1868, as to the Govern
ment at Washington being ready to refer these
disputes to arbitration. This offer Earl Rus
sell declines, and says it is question first,
whether the Queens Government have acted
in good faith in maintaining their neutrality;
and, in the second place, whether the law Of
ficeTs of the Crown correctly interpreted Brit
ish statutes. The Queens Government can
refer neither of these questions to arbitration.
The words used by Earl Russell are as fol-
lows: "Her Maiesty's Government are the
sole guardians of their own honor. They cam
not admit that they have acted with bad faith
in maintaining the neutrality they protested.
The law officers of the Crown must be held to
be better interpreters of British statute than
any foreign government, and must therefore
decline either to make re paration or compen-
sation for the captures made by the Alabama,
or to refer the question to any foreign State
Her MajeSty'S Government conceiveS that if
they were to act otherwise, they would en-
danger the position of neutrals in all future
wars. Her Majesty's Government are, howev-
er, ready to consent to the appointment of
commission, to which shall be referred all
claims arising during the late civil war, which
the two powers shall agree to refer to the
commission"
~ Mr.. Adams reply to it, Sept 18th, is very
serious in tone. He considers there is nowno
dispute as to the fact that the recognition of
the South as beligel ents, was such an act as
was never done by any nation towards anoth-
er in a state of amity. He charges the Brit
ish Government with having acted without
knowledge, and upon mere presumption in as
Stunning the existance of the blockade. TIE
blockade, he says, was the consequence, not
the cause, of the British policy. He thinks
the only excuse for the conduct of the British
Government was that it was precipitate, and
he intiInates that if the doctrine and practice
of the BaitiSh Government are allowed to be-
come the rule, the United States viii not be
the greatest loser by them. Mr. Adams docs
not appear to think that Earl Russell's refusal
to refer the question to commission, will be
approved by his Government.
The Daily News says that, besides the mag
nitude of the demands and question effecting
neutrals of an equitable solution, the affair in
dispute is closely connected with the main
tainance of friendly relations between England
and America.
The Star, referring to the escape of the, Ala
bama from England, remarks: "There may,
perhaps, have been negligence without such
gross culpabiity as to render us liable for all
damage which the escaped privateer perpetra-
ted; but, If our views on this question, should
differ from those of the United States, and if
the latter insist as peremptorily upon their
claims, as we upon our denial Of them, are we
to run the risk Of rupture, rather than con-
sent to arbitrament?"
" The Herald awaits Mr Adams instructions
with much apprehension, and dares not say
what effect upon the temper of England, what
distrastrous disturbance OF the friendly rela-
tons between the two countries may not re-
suit from deliberate attempt to appraise the
losses caused by Confederate cruisers and to
exact payment for them.
Satterthwaite's Circular of the evening of
the 18th, says: The unprecedented action of
the Bank of England in advancing its rate of
discount three times during the last week,
completely upset all the markets in the stock
exchange, and American securities participate
ed in the general confusion. Fiye-twenties
have declined more than. one per cent, and
were last quoted at So 1-2 and IS "a.
Arrests for Fenianism continued in Ireland.
Thirteen persons were committed fer trial at
Cork, on Tuesday, and more were committed
in Dublin. 1t is reported that one prisoner
will become an informer and reveal their Sc
crets.
ROME.
The official Journal, the Di Roma, announ-
ces its authority to declare that the Pope in
his epocha upon secret societies, that he is at all
times, from all the promptings of his own con-
science, for full independence.
HUNGARY.
Great agitation prevailed at Pesth on ac-
count OF the meeting of the committee of
comlnittal Of that city. The election question
was under discussion.
5,s, Latest by Telegraph to Londonderry.
Liverpool. Oct. 12th-eveninr-At 4 meet
ing of the Atlantic Telecraph Company. il was
voted to increase the caDital by 10000 shares
at 60 each.
y The papers generally comment on the Ad-
ans and Russell correspondence.
The Times says it can hardly doubt that
the proposal for commission will be ulti-
mateiy accepted. and thinks il is the best. if
not the only, solution, and that the candid and