The New York herald., 1869-05-29

UOlu, iOT fnuauelpnla.
The Lairds, the Alabama and the British
Governmental Fire i'm the Rear.
The Messrs. Laird, of Birkenhead, builders
Of the notorious rebel incendiary cruiser, the
Alabama, it appears, have deemed it expe-
dent, in their own justification, to publish
letter on the building of the ship. They claim
in this letter that it was simple business
affair, free of concealment; that it was known
to the government and the public and the
American Minister that the vessel was intended
for war purposes and for the Confederate gov
ernment; that there was no haste or secrecy
in the work; that her Majesty's government
had ample time and opportunity to discover the
character of the ship, and to seize her If an
unlawful venture. They hold, in short, that
the building Of the Alabama was not in viola
ton of law, the opinion of the English people,
or the practice of foreign nations. The ship
was sent out unarmed, and went to the Azores,
to which men and arms had been sent from
other parts for her equipment
The Lards begin to feel their responsibility
in this business; but they are only repeating
their old story with greater emphasis under
the pressure of Senator Summers astounding
exposition of the American view of these
Alabama claims. But as the London Star
puts it, if the apology Of the Messrs. Laird
must be admitted in their defence, the culpa-
bility Of the British government is only brought
out into bolder relief. The Lairds, however,
were not so innocent as they wish to appear.
The Alabama, under the fictitious name of
1890, left Liverpool on the Both July, 1862,
as on pleasure excursion in trial trip To
give color to this artifce she went out with
number Of ladies on board, and when sufficiently
far out for her purpose the ladies and other
pleasure passengers were transferred to tug
provided for the occasion and taken back to
Liverpool, the 1890" pursuing her course to
the rendezvous Che Island of Terceira)
appointed for the regular arming, equipment
and rechristening Of the ship. Another
steamer, the Bahama (rebeD, took out from
Liverpool, to meet the $780," Captain
Semmes, his officers, and portion of his crew.
and munitions and supplies. This stratagem
Of the trial trip and pleasure excursion was
auopteu because the united states war
steamer Tuscarora was on the watch in the
| harbor for the suspected craft, having been
pretty well informed of the intentions Of the
Anglo-rebel league in Liverpool concerned in
getting her up and getting her of to sea.
All these and other facts connected with the
character, purposes and departure of the
"290" and her tenders were 30 generally
known in Liverpool at the time that indepen-
IDENTIFY OF Mr.. Laird, the M. p, the
British government cannot put in the plea Of
ignorance. The member Of that government
concerned in the ship and the government
itself we're, then, confederates in the trick of
her escape. With the guilty member and his
plea Of innocence we have nothing more TO do.
Our bill Of complaints and damages is against
his government. The Lairds had their
hearts in their work. They were with the
so-called Confederate States In the shin
building into which they entered for the benefit
of JEFF Davis incendiary cruisers, blockade
runners, iron-clad rams, and what not, they
combined business with pleasure, and for the
cause they took many risks which more pru.
dent business men would have avoided. Bu
our account is with their masters. The same
spirit controlled the perddious neutral