The New York herald., 1865-07-18

ME-. Seward ON Our Relations with Eng
land and France.
The despatch from the Secretary of State to
Sir Frederick Bruce, which we published yes
terday, in reply to the official notification that
the government of Great Britain had recog-
nized the extinction of the late so-called South
ern confederacy, is State paper which, at this
juncture in our foreign affairs, will be read
with unmixed satisfaction by every citizen of
the United States interested in the maintenance
Of the dignity and honor of the country.
Mr.. Seward, after informing the British Minis
ter of the Presidents qualification in learning
that her Majesty's government had withdrawn
the quasi nationality heretofore conceded to
vessels-ofwar sailing under the rebel flag,
fatty declares that earl Russell's despatch
is accompanied by reservations and ex-
plantations which are deemed unaccepta-
BILE by the government Of the United
States" This government "does not admit
that the original concession of belligerent
privileges to the rebels by Great Britain was
either necessary or just, or sanctioned by the
law of nations" Upon this important point,
therefore, our heavy outstanding accounts
against England remain in their adjustments
open to future contingencies. It is further
source of regret to Mr.. Seward that England
still continues in force the twenty-four hours
detention rule against our vessels-ofwar in
cases where the rule may operate to the escape
Of an insurgent vessel; and, again, he regrets
the reservation in favor of insurgent vessels
whereby in English waters they may assume and
will be protected under any recognized flag
they may choose to adopt But in the one
case Mr.. Seward gives notice that the twenty
four hours rule a. applied to our vessels
ofwar in English ports will be applied
to her Majesty's ships in American ports
till otherwise ordered; and that in regard
to this other matter of allowing rebel war
vessels or pirates to be sheltered in, or to de-
part from, English ports under foreign flag,
''this government maintains and insists that
such vessels are forfeited to, and ought to be
delivered to, the United States upon seasonable
application in such cases made, and that if cap
tured at sea, under whatsoever flag, by naval
force of the United States such capture will be
lawful"
These are the specific disagreements still ex-
listing between the two governments in refer
ence to belligerent rights and British reserva-
tions in favor Of rebel buccaneers. Practically
there is, we believe, now that Spain has de-
cided to deliver to our government the ram
Stonewall, but one rebel vessel left within reach
Of these reservations-the Shenandoah
when last heard from, was prOwllng along the
coast of Australia, and which has probably
been spirited away.
From Mr.. Seward's despatch, however, we in
fer that he still regards distrustfuly the entente
cordiole between England and France in refer
ence to American affairs. He regrets "that
Earl Russell has thought it necessary to inform
this government that her Majesty's government
have found it expedient to consult with the gov
ernment of France upon the question whether
her Majesty's government will now recognize
the restoration Of peace in the United
States" Why regret it! Because from this
movement it is broadly limited that the gov
ernments of England and France must be con-
sidered as a standing alliance against the
United States The success OF the Union cause
in this late gigantic struggle of life or death
has given new impulse to popular rights and
popular ideas, from the British islands to the
Danube. Against this widespread popular re-
action the same danger threatens alike the
feudal aristocracy of England and the dynasty
of Napoleon. Their common interests thus
unite them in Q common cause against us.
Their distrust of each other prevented an
armed Intervention on their part in support Of
JEFF. Davis. 1t was the wish of both Louis Ma
poleon and Lord Palmerston; but each was
fearful Of trcachery from the other in the ups
and downs Of war with this country. The
same apprehensiOns render us reasonably Sc
cure against any such warlike alliance here
after; but Earl Russell may still threaten us in
the name of England and Of France, if he can
do nothing more.
The London Times, in discussing the mighty
consequences resulting and likely to result
from the suppression of our great Southern
rebellion, very gravely says:-"If the French
revolution, with all its manifold Influences on
society, was the indirect consequence Of Ameri.
can independence, no one can say what
changes may hereafter be traced back to the
crisis now in course of development" This
means that Europe is in danger Of another pop
ular conyulsion from another American wal
resulting in favor Of popular rights and popu
lar institutions. In this view we can hardly
share in the regrets of Mr.. Seward touching
Earl Russell's last consultation of Louis Napo
leon, inasmuch as the masses of the European
people, accepting our cause as their own, art
only awaiting their opportunity for a Aanl
movement in our support and fire in the real
Of the common enemy-"the divine rights" o
kings
FIRE IN PLACES OF AMUsEMENT-OUR MARROW
EscAPE.-There are some lessons in the fir