Year: 1863

1t is known to our readers that during the pend
ing war our Prize Courts have been repeatedly
called to deal with questions Of Admiralty law
which were difficult ~ well by their novelty as
their delioaey. These queations have naturally
engaged in o large degree the attention as they
have enlisted the solicitude of the Secretary Of
State, charged with the duty Of interpreting to
foreign Governments the decisions Of our courts in
matters Of such lively interest to neutral CON-
merce, and in which the decisions reached may
give new extension and development to branch
of law placed more than almost any other under
the jealous scrutiny of commercial Powers. The
present Britsh Secretary Of State for Foreign AT
fairs has taken repeated occasion to express his
entire satisfaction with the manner in which the
admiralty law has been administered by our courts
during the present war, and which has resulted in
the condemnation Of SO many British vessels seek
log to break the blockade Of the Southern coast


We observe that in the British House of Lords
on the 10Th utimo the Marquis of CLAsRIoARDE
thought it proper, in support Of a motion calling
for certain papers the subject, to stgmatize the
conduct Of our Government as being SO contrary
TO the recognised law Of nations, in reference to
the seizure Of ships engaged in commerce, that it
absolutely necessary, in his judgment, for her
Majesty's Government to take more decided action
in the matter than they had hitherto done At this
moment it was impossible, he said, to effect insu-
rance upon vessels trading to the Western hemi-
sphere, owing to the constant seizures which are
made by the United States cruisers. vessel
was seized, her cargo, worth probably fl50,00O,
was locked up, and if the owners applied to the
Government for redress, they were simply told that
their case hSd been referred to Lord Lyons. If
there was any hope that the present state Of
things would soon pass away, Cor that the United
States would evince greater desire to respect the
recognised law of nations" he should wish the
Government to make every allowance, but these
seizures had now gone on for q considerable time,
and he saw no prospect of o more satisfactory
state Of affairs arising unless the steps taken by
her Msjesty's Government were of more ener-
getic and decisive character The Marquis refer
red to the seizure Of the Lebuan, the Adelis, the
Springbok, the Dolphin, and the Peterhof, and
urged that in each case the capture was clearly
Illegal, and contrary to international law. He
also complained Of the course Of procedure adopted
in our prize courts.


1t was in reply TO such spimsdversions that
Earl Russell spoke as follows:


Earl RUSSELL said his noble friend had made speech
containing very grave charges asanst the American Gov
ernment and prize courts. He had brought in fact
charge that the American Government and courts had
aside the whole international lazy Of the world that they
had given orders ncoadstent with international law and
that they had decided upon nterruptng British
Al far they coul Now far from denying the law of
nations Mr. Seward in all his communications had
petey acknowledged it, and had said and again
that there must be certain and legal Of capture be-
fore ship was taken Admiral Milne had been instructed
to send ship shpsowar TO the neighborhood OF Mata
moras in order that Brt.h vessels might be protected
from uDust6sble sesure. The port Of Matamoras was
crowded with vesses engaged In commerce, that it
would not appear that the proceedings the United States
cruisers could have had any effect in deterrng those who
were engsged in legitimate commerce from carrying on
ths;r ordinary busness He had referred 10 the law off,
Gers Of the Crown smost every in which there had
been complaint and they reported that there was no
tonal ground Of objection As to the decisions of the
prize courts Of the United States they bound to be-


sve that the ledge by tbese courts Of
international law very great their mparality and
their wish 10 do justice must be for the present unques
toned There could be doubt that many vessels built
for speed systematically engaged In breaking the
blochse and he afraid that the moment of them
seized her made their appearance at
the Foreign Oice, and with all the airs Of injured limo
cence demanded redress Referring to the case Of the
Alabama the noble Earl denied that that vessel had been
6tted out with the coenizance of the British Government
aud said that there wish on the part Of this country
to interfere unfairly in the contest now going on"


The Earl Of DERBY concurred in the remarks
which bad fallen from Earl Russell, and ,hou gh
that the British Government ought not either rash
ly or hastily to mpute to the American courts tha
they deliberately, and contrary to law and justice
set aside the law of nations. The British Govern
msnt ought also, he thought, to make every allow
ance for the natural provocation the American.
must feel at seeing 80 large portion Of the com
merce Of this and other countries carried on, not
withstandng the blockade, to the Confederate
ports. aaa.


After some remarks from Lord CRANwoRrH, th,
motion was Withdrawn.


GEN HOOKER's ENLARGED POWERS


1t reported BY the Washington correspondent Of TIN
Qaza haA nac ~