The New York herald., 1870-01-17
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 10. 1870.

WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan. ID. 1870
PRINCE ARTHUR's VISIT TO WASHINGTON.
Tho specuations In regard to the object OF Prince
Arthurs visit to the capital OF the nationthas 49, 30
fur as any political or diplomatic significance Is
attached to it-are all at sea. The son OF his royal
mother comes here simply as matter OF inter-
national etiquette, to pay mis- respects to the s0ve-
reign OF the great American republic. Her Majesty
the Queen, wrote to the Prince telling him that ne
must not neglect to pay his respects to President
Grant and to express to him the high estimation In
which she holds him personally, a. well as In the
capacity OF Chief Magistrate OF ths United States !
am informed that her Majesty has not only signned
her wishes privately to the Prince, but that, more
appropriately still, she has caused her Millsler In
this country to say TO Secretary Fish tnat on no
account could she allow her son, while so near the
United States omit this pleasant duty Of paying
o visit 10 the President
Prince Arthur Is expected to arrive here on the
2Sd or oath inst. Minister Thornton has made ex-
tensive arrangements to receive The Prince and TO
maze the few days OF his sojourn In this city as
pleasant as possible. Mr.. Thornton has Issued cards
for a select dinner party to occur on Monday, the
Gath, in honor oi the Prince, and 1t is understood
that President Grant, Secretary FISH, Geaeral Sner
man. some Of the Cabinet Ministers and members OF
the diplomatic corps VIII attend 1t Is expected that
the Prince will not tarry here more than four or five
days, when he Will go TO New York and have an op-
portunity OF seeing the American elephant IN Its
most expansive condition.
TIE ALABAMA CLAIMS AND BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN
ANNEXATION.
You heed not be surprised should the present agI-
taon Of the subject Of annexing to the United States
the whole OF british North America, In satisfaction of
the celebrated Alabama claims, take u practical
shape before long, There Is more in the matter
tnan Is generally supposed am certain our own
government Is highly favorable to the project, and
have excellent reasons for believing that her Maes-
VS. government would not be very to permit
ting the British North American provinces to sde'
into the republican family OF States. BY this doi't
mean that John Bull would ever consent TO NC
his provinces come to us as an acknowledge
settlement OF the difficulties with his American
cousin John would never do that; he Is too proud,
even now, when no Is p0werless In Europe, to make
q settlement that would involve what might be
called an act derogatory to his honor and pride.
But suan John would never condescend to say
"Here, Jonathan, you can have all our Mort
American provinces. We own up that we tried to
injure you when you were IN trouble; we admit we
allowed Confederate prvateers to be nt-ed out and
manned ia our ports, and that we are responsible
for the damage thereby resultant to your commerce.
We confess that we have sinned grievously IN
thonght, word aud action. and now we are ready to
make amcnds--all In our power. Here Is Canada
for you ana Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince
Edward Island, Newfoundland and British Coum-
bia Take them all and give us O receipt In FULL"
Irepea. that while Mr.. Bull could never be brought
10 such an open confession ana repentant mood az
that, still ne would nave no objection to dong the
thing In roundabout manner You know your
very proud man, sometimes when his honor
aud personal safety are involved, Is glad to
| lind some loopboe through which he can
escape without endangerlng either OF those precious
ARTICLES. Mr.. Butts lo0phole Ii this matter Is the
independence OF his North American provinces II
his aforesaid provinces tell hun they want to be free
ne will say "Go, and peace be with you God speed
We have no objections to your Independent aspira-
tlons, and, in iact are rather pleased than other
wlsc.n
Then, Mr.. Bnll having thus spoken and his pro-
vinces having cut themselves from all connection
with the venerable gentleman. OF course the latter
would have nothing more TO do with advising or
shaping the colonial policy The provinces could
do just as they Ike, and they would most certainly
Ike annexation In preference TO erecting separate
republic or their own. Trade Is what they want,
trade unhampered by restrictions or conditions and
such trade they could only have by annexation.
| Now TINS is not fancy picture. AS remarked
above, pave very good reason to think tAat Great
| glad to have events SO shape themselves. l te.e.
| grapled you tue other day the reported views OF
Minister Thornton on the subject, from which 1t
may be inferred that her Majesty's representative
here knows that his government viii be favorable
to any reasonable project OF annexation not opposed
by the provinces themselves, and. at the same time
which VIII be accepted as taclt settlement O, the
Alabama claims. Mr. Thornton when told OF the
resolution introduced by Senator Corbett and OF the
| peculiarly strong remarks thereon made by Senator
| Howard, or Michigan, rather coolly observed that
| ne, for one, would be glad to end the Amer
can government proposing some definite plan
| OF settlement and presenting some blIl Of
| items, lnasmuch as heretofore our govern
| ment had dealt In the most unsatisfactory
| kind OF generaities. This Is considerably
more than mere straw, coming, as 1t does from
such source as her Maesy's Minister to this coun-
try. 1t is clear indication of the drift OF EnRand's
policy in regard to her American colonies and an.
| nexation and decidedly favorable to the latter.
INTERESTING SCRAP OF HIST0RY-LoRD MoRPErH
AND MR.. FISH.
am In possession OF an interesting scrap OF his
tory calculated to throw light upon the British
North American colonial policy and the feeling Ia
england even twelve years ago IN regard to the
project OF annexation. At that time the Hon. Ham,
| lfon Fish, present Secretary OF State was IN
| England IN an unofficial capacity. lie became well
| acquainted with many or the leading men OF
that counsry, and had frequent opportuni.
ties OF conversng with them on political
subjects. Among others with whom he thus talked
were Lord Morpeth and the late Earl Derby, and
particularly the former, with whom his friendship
was of long standing. and with whom, also, he was
IN the habit OF exchanging views with the utmost
freedom. Lord Morpeth, by the way, was also
very great friend OF Charles Sumner. Well, at the
time to which aude there was lively discussion
going on between the United States and England
regarding the right claimed by the latter to board
and search American ships suspected OF being en-
gagged in the nefarious slave trade. English war
vessels had, In point Of fact. overhauled and
searched three Or t9ur American vessels, and IL Was