The Sun. — 1862-02-11 (London, England)

RUSSELL—In the first place, I must say that her Majesty's Government are fully sensible of the support which was given them by the noble earl opposite, who spoke on the first night of the session in regard to the conduct they have pursued in relation to the United States. It certainly does give a great additional weight to the course taken by this country when all political parties agree in supporting the line adopted by the Government--(hear, hear)—and the British nation must derive great confidence from a knowledge of that fact. Nothing could be more fair and candid than the course followed on Thursday night by the noble earl. As to this question of the blockade, it is as the noble earl says, one of very great importance and I will not presume to enter at this moment into so grave a discussion. I gave orders early in the contest that Admiral Milne should furnish her Majesty's Government with every information in his power, and I also sent to our consuls at the different ports with a view to obtain every information from them. When the blockade was first mentioned to me by Mr. Adams, I stated to him the difficulty which the United States' Government would experience in maintaining a blockade over 3,000 miles of coast. Mr. Adams's reply was, that there were but seven ports which could admit large vessels, and that therefore the difficulty was not ro great as it at first sight appeared. With respect to the allegation that a very large number of vessels have eluded the blockade, I asked Mr. Mason myself what was the tonnage of those vessels to which reference was made, and to that question he was unable to give me an answer. But the noble earl will see that that is a matter of very great importance, because those seven ports are connected by numerous creeks with other and minor ports, and small vessels run in and out of those creeks, carrying small cargoes. Before the meeting of Parliament I desired that various papers should be collected together. That has now been done, the papers have been printed, and they will very shortly be delivered to your lordships by her Majesty's command. Without, then, pronouncing any judgment on this question, I must repeat that it is one of the utmost importance. (Hear, hear.) On the one hand, if we said that anything that was called a blockade, however ineffective, should be held to be a legal blockade—or, on the other hand, if we were to incur the danger of a dispute with the United States without having the clearest and strongest ground fcr it—in either case a great evil would be produced. I therefore trust that your lordships will reserve your judgment until you see all the evidence. (Hear, hear.) The noble earl has asked me a question with respect to the dreadful murder which took place at Pisa. The British residents in Tuscany have made a representation as to the negl'gence of the authorities and the inadequacy of the means of detecting and punishing crime in Pisa. That representation was sent to Turin, to the Prime Minister, Baron Ricasoli, who promised to take it into consideration, with a view to devising such measures as may render the police more effective in that district. With respect to the arrest of the assassin and bringing him to justice, the report made by the Consul is, that the first proceedings have been more speedy than is usual in that country. But it appears that these porters are generally a very ill-disciplined and violent class of men, that crime is rife among them, and that the British residents in Florence have complained of the great want of some regular tariff of charges by which disputes might be prevented. This has been represented to the authorities, and I trust that a better state of things will before long be established in Pisa.  Earl