The New York herald., 1871-11-17
The British-Amcrican Claims CcmmiS.
sion Ready for Business.
Large Number of Claims Al
ready Presented.
English Holders Of the Rebel Gotten Loan
DoSmid 10 Disappointment.
ANOTHER PENSION AGENT IN TROUBLE.

Cousins Doomed 10 Dissppoins meut.
The British American Claims Commission, ap-
ponted and organized under the twelfth article OF
the Treaty OF Washington, will hold another brief
session tomorrow Tor the completion OF some pend
ing business and will then adjourn MI some day in
December for the purpose OF a1ording the counsel
81 the two governments an opportunity 70
prepare arguments on the general question
Of the Jurisdiction OF the Commission ana
certain points developed n the few cases aircady
heard The Commissioners havo established their
ONCE 10 q commodious iron building IN FHteenth
street. directly opposite the Treasury Depart-
mcnI The session room Is a fair-sized apart
mcnf. along tie upper end OF which the Brit
isn and American nags starting from o Gen.
sre point In The ceiling, are festooned along
the wall The three Commissioners are seated
at a long oficiaooSing table--Count Corti, the
neutral member, q little Italian, occupying the mid
die seat Recorder Gurney, OF London, the seat in
front 0! the American nag and Judge Frazer, OF In.
diana, tnat before The British ensign. Facing the
two Commissioners last named cit the counsel OF
the American and English governments, Judge
Hale on the psrt or the United States being ois-pis
with The meteor nag OF England, and Mr.. Carlisle,
who is employed to care for the legal welfare OF
the British empire, admirably seated to study In his
moments OF quietude the symbolic character OF our
own starry banner. The Secretary. Mr.. Thomas G.
Cox, OF the State Department, is provided with ac
Coumouatlons NJ u SNiai taDle on the ielt nanK OF
she JOINT Commission. Up 10 the present time
over 1000 claims have accumulated in the hands OF
the British agent, Mr. Henry Howard, but not more
Than twenty are yet in proper shape to
be submitted to the Commissioners. No
Claims against Great Britain have yet been pre-
ferred by American citizens, though q few are
shortly expected. The British claims are for every
conceivable OBJECT falling under the heads OF appro
prlation and OF private property for public pur
dation, destruction and molestation, both OF pro-
perty and person. through the agencies and
circumstances OF war. The estimates OF values
and damages are as various as the nature
or the claims themselves, and so Affected by the
customary exaggeratons OF quantity and price and
aemands Tor remote and So called consequential
damages as 10 afford no Trustworthy indication OF
any allowance that may be made upon them With
such reservation this state OF things calls for it
may be mentioned without alarm that six OF the
claims already presented amount to three quarters
of million apiece, and a number of others range
from quarter TO half million. Below these ng-
ures they are likely to roam till they reach amounts
chat Will not afford practicable percentage to pay
pro rata share OF The contingent expenses OF the
mixed tribunal before which they come for adjudi-
cation
1t Is matter OF certainty that the claims OF the
holders OF the rebel cotton bonds will pe brought
them considered on their merits; that Is, such
merits as legal subtety dealing with the compli-
Gated questions OF governments de facto was the
Confederacy, and governments de jurc, as the Con.
1ederacy was not IN American eyes and minds
can fashion for them; or, If hearing
could be obtained they nigh argue that the ponds,
called, were but certificates OF ownership OF
oerran cotton stored at various points In the South
and awaiting shipment by the opening Of the ports
IN lawful manner, which cotton was seized by the
armed forces OF the United States, and should &C
cordlngly be paid for. Though this line OF argu-
ment may not be strong, either In law or in
logic, Is believed by those who repre-
sent the American side TO be quite as
good as anything yet advanced. and
equal to anything likely TO be put forth hereafter
But though under Lord Granvle's assurance III at
al claims which may be forwarded to the British
agent at Washington shall pe submitted TO the
Commissioners, there is no doubt Of the abilitv OF
she cotton bondholders to get their claims on
record, Counsel Hale just as certain to stop their
fnrther progress by demurrer TO The
jurisdiction or the Commissioners that the
latter will not be anxious, 10 say
the least 10 overrule. Her Msjesty's government
viii not in the existing state OF good feeling between
the two nations, be jealous 10 obge these English
STOCKHOLDERS Dy urging that The Confederacy was a
government OF that degree OF Legality that 1t
capable OF contracting liabilities that the United
States, as its successor Is bound TO assume and
discharge, and the alternative argument is
fully stopped by the explicit declarations
OF the English government In cases
arising In France during The Franco German war.
Right here Is The text OF a despatch IRON the
British Foreign oficc. that win find It's direct up
plication In thousands OF cases to come before
the three Commissioners and IL is not to be sup
posed that the State Department will pe derelict
causing TO be applied, far as 1t will 60, to the
claims OF the bondholiers. Except that they were
not all resident In America there no points OF
Adherence.
But 0ranvllles precedents are not even yet ex-
hausted. In the case OF Worth, the Parslan Eng
lish and masculine dressmaker, who was captured
and for time imprisoned by the Germans while
attempting TO leave Paris In balloon, the noble
Earl informed this subject OF Her Majesty that he
aid not feel ustlDed in placing his claim for in-
demnity before Count Bismarck, and, though
he may permit claims OF all sorts TO be
presented here, he will surely not insist
upon pressing those arising out OF OF imprson
ment as a precaution aud necessity OF state OF
war. Upon the foregoing statement OF The case IL
b not difficult TO reach the conviction that good
understanding with our cousins across the ocean
y not 10 be purchased by us al the cost OF
depletion Of the United states Treasury, aud
that the consideration aud absolute and
nnal settlement OF claim Is not Of
necessity always synonymous In terms with
me payment OF its exaggerated and unsubstantia
demands. That the United states have been over
reached In the provisions OF the treaty. sub ected
nnfair adJudicauons Of the claims OF British sub
tcc,s- or committed 70 new ana oppressive prin-
cipes OF interGaoDa law, there is just cause to
believe. That large number OF British subjects
have had extravagsnt expectations raised OF dive
into our pethoric treasury Is ault either OF the
two governments, and Their DISAPPOINTMENT calls
Sor no other alienation than our sympatny can
Afford.
FOREIGN OFFICE. March 2s 1871.
Sir am directed ~ Ear Granville 10 acEnow-
iedge the receipt OF your letter of the I'D Inst con.
sAininga statement OF certain property possessed