The Sun. — 1841-10-08 (London, England)

FOX AND THE 111‘LEOD AFFAIR.  There is nothing in the into news from England that contradicts the intelligence received from Halifax, viz , that despatches were preparing for Mr. Fox of a nature to bring the affair of McLeod to a crisis. On the contrary, all that has publicly transpired goes to confirm the supposition that the British Government intends to hold the Government of the United States to the principles of national law as avowed by Mr. Webster, as all knowledge of the individual State of New York is disclaimed in the transaction. It is purely a national affair, and we have yet to learn whether Mr. Fox has received instructions to remain at his post, awaiting the deeislott of a Circuit Court of this State, which, whatever may be its results in this individual case, leaves the main principle undisposcd of, viz., the right of any power to make individuals personally responsible for public acts of duty, performed under the orders of the national authorities of their country. If the British nation submits this case to the jurisdiction of New York, she must be prepared to permit the same course to be applied to Sir Allen M'Nab, Captain Drew; end the forty-five individuals who formed his force In the attack upon the " Caroline," any of whom, coming within American jurisdiction; may, be sensedand tried, a contingency Mitt May nappen any day; and thus we should have the new dilemma, of Great Britain protesting against the execution of the sentence of a court whose jurisdiction she had tacitly admitted in the case of M‘Leod ; an inconsistency, to await the consequences of which, Mr; WkliPatt routing at his post. These are probably " the delicate negoclatiOnsH which have been going on lately at Washington, and are most likely still pending. Sir Robert Peel, the present Prime Minister of England, in his speech in Parliament on the 27th August, significantly intimated that there were matters under dilidliSSibli; Of it hatitft ett#ei to be promulgated, and that Lord Palmerston's cautions fepliee to Mr. Roebuck " were anything but full or satisfactory." That England desires the maintenance of peace, is tinqueBti,rieble ; we have yet to learn whether she will purchase it at the taCrifice of a principle, which for ever afterwards leaves the brave defenders liable to be arraigned as felons before any foreign tribunal, for doing their ditty in obedience to the orders of their superiors. Upon this pivot turns the whole affair. Men who reflect can judge of the probabilities of Mr. Fox countenancing or protesting against a course which places his country in the above dilemma. The British nation is arraigned, in the person of McLeod ; can she go through the ordeal of a criminal trial, and if convicted, sue for, or receive mercy at the hands of the Governor of an individual State ? Those who truly desire the preservation of peace, will not press upon her such an indignity as the trial of Mr. McLeod would in anyevent entail. If England admits the principle involved in the detention and trial of Mr. M‘Leod, the Pacha of Egypt, or a Governor of one of his provinces, may here after seine every officer of the British fitet which attaCiftd Atte, and try and hang them as " murderers." The Turki:h Sultan, or any of his Pachas, may pursue the same measures to redress the " outrage " upon his fleet at Navarino. Neither of these hostile acts had the sanction of a formal declaration of war, and they were therefore just as " illegal" as the attack upon the Caroline, _ _ _________  OFPICIAL, APPOINTMtgriS BY PRtgrDENT, Algernon Rydney Robertson, Marshal fur the Eastern District of Louisiana.