Monmouthshire Merlin

THE OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE. We have now received further details of the official correspondence relative to the arrest of Messrs. Mason and Slidell. The first is a letter from Secretary Seward to Mr. Adams, the American Minister in London, dated Novem- ber, 30, 1861. Mr. Seward, in his letter, compliments Mr. Adams for speaking and acting so wisely at the Lord Mayor's dinner and also states that he told Lord Pal- merston the simple fact, when informing him that the life of the insurrection is sustained by the hopes of a recognition of the Southern Confederacy by England and France, and if these hopes ceased the insurrection would perish in ninety days. He refers in the same note, to the fact of the arrest of Messrs. Slidell and Mason, by Captain Wilkes, as a new and .unforeseen circumstance, which is to be met by the two governments, if possible, in a kindly spirit. Lord Lyons had said nothing on the subject, and no explanations were furnished to Minister Adams, it being deemed prudent that the ground taken by the British Government should be first made known at Washington, and discussion to be had there but Mr. Seward deemed it proper to state that Captain Wilkes acted without instructions, and the subject, therefore, was free from embarrasments that might have ensued if the act had been specially directed. He trusted that the British Government would consider the subject in a friendly temper, and it might expect the best disposition on the part of the Washington Cabinet. ,I The next letter is from Earl Russell to Lord Lyons, dated November 30, which details the Trent affair. He says :—It thus appears that certain individuals have been forcibly taken from a British vessel, the ship of a neutral power on a lawful and innocent voyage, an act of violence which was an affront to the British flag, and a violation of national laws. Her Majesty's Government are willing to believe the act was without authority, and resulted from misunderstanding, as the government of the Unite4 States must be fully aware, that the British Government will not allow such an affront to its national honour to pass without due reparation, and the British Government are unwilling to believe that the United States deliberately intended unnecessarily to force a discussion of so grave a question between the two governments. Her Majesty's Government trust that the government of the United States will, of its own accord, offer such redress as alone could satisfy them—namely, the liberation of the four prisoners, and their delivery to Lord Lyons, that they may again be placed under British protection, with a suit-; able apology for the aggression committed. Should thesa! terms not be offered by Mr. Seward, you will proposer them to him." Mr. Seward replies to Lord Lyons (by whom he was furnished with a copy of Earl Russell's letter) stating1! that the despatch has been submitted to the President. Mr. Seward says :—" The British Government rightly conjectured what it is now my duty to state, that Cap-; tain Wilkes acted upon his own suggestions of duty, without any directions or instructions, or even foreknow-1 ledge of it on the part of this Government. No directions j had been given him, or any other naval officer, to arrest. the four persons or any of them on the Trent, or any other British vessel, or any neutral vessel there or else- where." After discussing the whole question at great length in all its bearings, Mr. Seward says :—" I trust I have shown to the satisfaction of the British Govern- ment, by a very simple and natural statement of facts, and an analysis of the law applicable to them, that this I Government has neither meditated, nor practised, nor approved, any deliberate wrong in the trans- action to which they have called its attention; and on the contrary, that what has happened has been simply an inadvertency consisting in a departure by the naval officer-free from any wrongful motives--from a rule uncertainly established, and probably by the several par-, ties concerned, either imperfectly understood or entirely unknown. For this error the British Government has a; right to expect the same reparation that we as an inde- pendent state should expect from Great Britain or from r any friendly nation in a similar case. I have not been unaware that in examining this question I have fallen into an argument for what seems to be the British side of it against my own country but I am relieved from all embarassments on that subject. I had hardly fallen in that line of argument when I discovered that I was really defending and maintaining not an exclusively British interest, but an old honoured and cherished American cause not upon British authorities, but upon principles .that constitute a large portion of the distinctive policy by which the United States have developed the resources of a continent, ancl thus becoming a considerable maritime power, have won the respect and confidence of many nations. These principles were laid down for us by James Madison, in 1804, when Secretary of State under Jefferson, in instructions to James Monroe, our then Minister to England." Mr. Seward says, after quoting these instructions :— If I decide this case in favour of my own Government, J must disallow its most cherished principles, and reverse and for ever abandon its essential policy. The country cannot afford the sacrifice. If I maintain those principles, and adhere to that policy, I must surrender the case itself. It will be seen, therefore, that this Government could not deny the justice of the claim presented. We are asked to do to the British nation just what we have always insisted all nations ought to do to us. In coming to my conclusions, I have not forgotten that if the safety of this Union required the detention of the captured pri- Boners, it would be the right and duty of this Government to detain them. But the effectual check and waning proportions of the existing insurrection, as well as the comparative unimportance of the captured persons them- selves, when dispassionately weighed, happily forbid me from resorting to that defence. Nor am I unaware that American citizens are not, in any case, to be unnecessarily surrendered, for any purpose, into the keeping of a foreign state. Only the captured persons, however, or others who are interested in them, could justly raise a question on that ground. "It would tell little, for our own claims to the character of a just and magnanimous people, if we should so far consent to be guided by the law of retaliation as to lift up buried injuries against national consistency and national conscience. Putting behind me all suggestions of this kind, I prefer to express my satisfaction, that by the ad- justment of the present case upon principles confessedly American, and yet, as I trust, mutually satisfactory to both nations concerned, a question is finally and rightly settled between them, which heretofore exhausted not fily all forms of peaceful discussion, but also the arbitra- ent of war itself, for more than half a century alienated the two countries from each other, and perplexed with fears and apprehensions all other nations. The four per- sons in question are how held in military custody at Fort Warren, in the state of Massachusetts. They will be cheerfully liberated. Your Lordship will please indicate a time and place for receiving thepi.—I renew, &c., 11 W- H. SEWARD." The despatch from M. Thouvene] to M. Mcfcier, the French Minister at Washington, as aIrtiady published, is also contained in the correspondence. The following is from Lord Lyons to Mr. Seward :— "WASHINGTON, DEC. 27. I have this morning received the note which you did me the honour to address to me yesterday, in answer to Earl Russell's despatch of November 30, relative to the removal of Mr. Slidell, Mr. Mason, Mr. M'Farland, and Mr. Eustie from the British mail packet Trent. I will without loss of time forward to Her Majesty's Govern- ment a copy of the important communication which you have made to me. I will also without delay do myself the honour to confer with you personally on the ar- rangement to be made for delivering the four gentlemen to me, in order that they may be again placed under the protection of the British flag.-I have the honour, &c., LYONS," A Washington telegram of the 28th says that the decision of the President in this affair, as announced in Mr. Seward's despatch, has the approval of every mem- ber of the Cabinet. The Washington National Intelligencer (the organ of the administration), in an article apparently semi-official, says ;—" Whatever may be the disappointment of any at the result to which the administration has come on settling a question constitutionally devolved upon the executive branch of the government, we are sure all will applaud the firmness and sincerity with which the Ad- ministration, resisting a natural tendency, impressed by the conceited (?) drift of public opinion in our own coun- try, has resolved to do what it believes to be right in the premises, and it surely should cause to pause all who may be disposed to challenge the propriety of the resolution to which the Administration has come, when they note that a contrary decision would leave us in opposition, not only to the views of Great Britain, but also to those of the government of France respecting the principles of public law involved in this transaction." The Intelligencer says in conclusion :—" Whatever, there- fore, may be said by any in the way of exception to the extreme terms of the demand made by tlw British Go- vernment in the case of the Trent, it is at least just to admit that the case has been so adjusted by our govern- ment as to subserve, we hope, the great cause of neutral rights against the assumptions heretofore asserted by England, but now repudiated by that power in common with France and the United States. The law of nations, as traditionally interpreted by our govenment, has received a new sanction, though at the cost, it may be, of, some national sensibilities waked into disproportionate activity by the temporary exacerbations of our civil feuds. The latter, let us remember, are but for a day; the law of nations is for all time." The Economist says:—" The act of Captain Wilkes has been repudiated and disowned, but only from an inciden- tal error in its execution its principle is entirely justi- 'fted. The American Government contend that the Trent might and ought to have been taken by Captain Wilkes to New York harbour, and if so taken she would have been condemned. In its consequences this doctrine may be very serious. If Mr. Seward lays down that any mail packet which carries and conveys messengers or couriers from the Confederate States to a neutral power may be Seized by Federtfl cruisers an the high seas, assuredly some will be so seized. The Confederate States will and must send envoys everywhere; our steamers are the great means of transit everywhere. We have shown repeat- edly that this doctrine is wholly false, and it hwiheen dfttinothr repudiated ty tfia ioyjertuit ppuWj

MR. GLADSTONE ON THE AMEKICA.N QUESTION AND THE FRENCH TREATY. On Saturday, the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., Chancellor of the Exchequer, laid the foundation stone of St. James's (Episcopal) Church, Leith, and was subse- quently presented with an address from the Council of that town. In replying to the address, Mr. Gladstone alluded to the loss the country had sustained during the past twelve months, by the death of eminent men, ob- serving that the twelve months which began with the loss of Lord Aberdeen ended with a loss that goes straight to the heart of the highest personage of the realm. Although, however, they must feel these things, he thought it was impossible for any one to give a glance at the state of the world without profound emo- tions of thankfulness to the Almighty for the peculiar measure of His favour, with which of late times, perhaps more conspicuously than ever, this nation has been blessed. There was everywhere amongst the people a spirit of loyalty and obedience to law, and the country was in the happy position of being, with one exception, on the best relations with the other great countries of the world. The right hon. gentleman continued:-Of course. when I speak of one special case, which I do not speak of as an exception, because 1 am justified in saying that we still have relations of good-will, and I trust we may long have relations of good-will with our kinsmen across the Atlantic —(loud cheers)-yet, of course, I refer to the recent anxieties in regard to the relations of this country with America. I heartily wish that it was in our .power to exhibit to the community of the United States the precise and exact state of feeling that has subsisted in this country ever since the beginning of that tremendous convulsion which now agitates that continent, and overturns its peace and its prosperity. (Cheers.) I do not believe that at the time when that con- vulsion commenced there was one man in every thousand in this country who had any sentiment whatever towards the United States of America except a sentiment of af- fectionate and sympathising good will-(loud cheers)-or who felt anything but a desire that they might continue to go on and prosper, and to finish the work, whatever it may have been, which Providence had appointed them to do. (Cheers.) I have not the least scruple in saying for myself, that my opinion is not only that England had nothing to fear from the growth of the United States of America, but that as far as we had a sel- fish interest at all in the matter, our interest was that the American Union should continue undisturbed. (Loud cheers.) Universal good-will was the sentiment that pre-; vail fid towards Amnrica in this ooimtry. (Loud cheers.) Yet wecouldnothelpforminganopinion upon that terrific and frightful convulsion when it occurred and there is no doubt of the fact. I am not pretending to reveal secrets, or to be an interpreter of public opinion more than any other man but there is no doubt, I think, of the fact that all thinking men in this country had come to the conclusion that in that war which had commenced the party which was apparently the strongest had committed themselves to an enterprise which would probably prove to be entirely beyond their powers. We saw there a mi- litary undertaking of tremendous difficulty; and a mili- tary undertaking which, if it was to be successful, would only be the preface and introduction to political diffi- culties far greater than even the military difficulties of the war itself. Now, I am afraid when this opinion came to be prevalent in England that this war was a war to be lamented and deprecated, and likely to result in great misery, great effusion of human blood, enormous waste of treasure, permanent estrangement, and bitterness of feeling; I am afraid that the formation of that feeling, though conscientiously formed, gave deep offence to the people, or to many persons at least in the United States. Well, we know in private life that the same thing constantly happens when a man is engaged with his whole heart and will upon some enterprise that he thinks vital to his well-being; and when some other person is known to have said that he thinks the enterprise had much better not be undertaken, great irritability, great susceptibility, is the result, and such a state of things arises in despite of the inclinations of the men themselves, in which there is a disposition to quarrel and to contention. (Cheers.) I believe that is a true and fair description of the state of things between England and America at the time when what is so well known as the case of the Trent occurred, and produced so profound a sensation in this country. When that case oc- curred I need not say that it was the duty of the Govern- ment to use their very best exertions to make an exami- nation of the facts and law of the case. Having used the best exertions in our power to inform ourselves on these points, we made a demand to the American Government- which is known to this country. You all know also the success of that demand. (Cheers.) Now, what I earnestly hope is, that we shall take in good part the con- cessions that the Americans have made. (Cheers.) Do not let us be tempted to criticise in an unfriendly spirit any portion of their proceedings perhaps, if there is any one individual who might be tempted to criticise their proceedings, it is the Chancellor of the Exchequer. (Laughter and cheers.) I hear some people say, "Why did they not give up Messrs. Mason and SlideU- at once, without waiting for our demand!" Well, I think I am the person who has the best right to put that question, because undoubtedly if they had given up Messrs. Mason and Slidell at once, without waiting for our demand, it would have saved the various depart- ments of the State a great deal of trouble, and would have enabled me to present, at the close of the financial year, a balance sheet more entirely satisfaotory than I can now possibly do, although I do not despond in respect to it. But 1 hope that question will not be put—I trust no such question will be put. I trust nothing will be said in this country about previous questions and old controversies with the Americans. Let us endeavour to look at their conduct in a generous spirit. We have formed an opinion in re- gard to this war, which, although we have formed it con- scientiously, I am afraid will produce a susceptibility in America. Do not let us add to the susceptibility by in- dulging in anything which may possibly cause irritation. Let us look upon the bright side of that which the Ameri- pans have done, and surely a bright side it has-let us look back to the moment when the Prince of Wales appeared in the United States of America, and when men Dy the thousand, by tens of thousands, and by hundreds of thou- sands, trooped together from all parts to give him a wel- come as enthusiastic, as obviously proceeding from the depths of the heart, as if those vast countries were still a portion of the dominions of our Queen—(cheers)—let us look to the fact that they are of necessity a people sub- ject to quick and violent action of opinion, and liable to great public excitement, intensely agreed on the subject of the war in which they were engaged, until aroused to a high expectation by hearing that one of their vessels of war had laid hold on the Commissioners of the Southern States, whom they regarded simply a. rebels—let us look also to the fact that in the midst of their exultation, Government has, under a demand of a foreign Power, Written these words—for they are the closing words in the despatch of Mr. Seward-" The four Commissioners will be cheerfully liberated." (Loud cheers.) Let us take those words, I say, without minute criticism upon any- thing that may have passed at former times, and may have been open to difference of view—let us accept them with thankfulness to the Almighty for having removed any apparent cause of deadly collision, in which the hearts of the people of this country were united as the heart of one man to vindicate under all circumstances and to all extremities the honour of the British flag; and to discharge the duty of protection to those who had Claced themselves under its shelter. (Cheers.) Let us form for the future good auguries from that which now stands 'amongst the records of the past, and let us hope that whatever remains or whatever may yet arise to be adjusted in those relations between the two eountnes, which afford a thousand points of contact, every day must necessarily likewise afford opportunities for collision. Let us hope that in whatever may arise or remain to be adjusted a spirit of brotherly concord may prevail, and altogether with the disposition to assert our rights, we may be permitted to cherish a disposition to interpret handsomely and liberally the acts and inten- tions of others, and to avoid, if we can, aggravating the frightful evils of the civil war in America by, perhaps, even greater evils- -at any rate, enormous evils to what, though not a civil war, would be next to a civil war— hrny conflict between America and England. Mr. Gladstone referred to the relations of this country with foreign powers, and continued by dwofhog on the advantages which had resulted from the commercial policy of recent years. He said the treaty with France has only been in operation for a very few months. There are but three months, in fact, with respect to which any reference can be made as to its results that would be of great im- portance. That time is much too short, and in submitting to you a comparison, in a very few figures, between the present and the former state of the trade with France, pray understand I am giving you the result of a very short experience, and which are, I think, more an indication of what we may expect. But I must think that they are satis- factory. Ithasnotyeteiiiijslycomeintooperation. Oneor two articles took effect in the year 1860, and one or two more took effect at different periods in 1861; but it was only on the 1st October, 1861, that the most important change was made. That change, however, is not final; because upon a future day the general scale of duties upon Eng- lish commodities will be further reduced. Therefore, we have not done more, as I consider, than, if I may use the expression, tap the benefits that I hope are to be the result of that great measure. I take the months of Oc- tober and November, which are the only two months dur- ing which we have the result before us but I add the month of September, because although the new law was not then in operation in France, yet the exports of this country in preparation for the new law, on the 1st of 'October, hacf. of course, taken place by anticipation. I fake the Oi'ports of this country to France in the three months of September, Octoberj and November, 1861, and I compare them with September, October, and No- vember, 1860. I ought, however, to observe to you that in the three months of 1860 we already benefited greatly, even by the one sided operation of the treaty, because the free admission of Frepch goods tended to produce, and did produce, an increase of exportation of British foods to France, even irrespective of any change in the 'rench law. But the threo months of September, Octo- ber, and November of 1860 showed that we exported in those three months British produce to France to the amount of £ 1,517,000. I now give you the exports of the same three months in 1861, which represent what I may call the first fruits of the treaty; but it is right I should mention that in 1861 there was a considerable export of corn to France, caused by the deficiency of the French harvest, which did not occur in 1860, which would have caused some temporary increase, although nothing like that which I am about to mention, The exports for the three months in 1860 from England to France in British produce was £ 1,517,000; while, during the same three months of 1861, they amounted to £ 3,617,000—(ob«er8> —nlMWttMf a vrom timoie of ^WW.QOfi, >

EXECUTION OF PATRICK M'CAFFERAS FOR THE PRESTON TRAGEDY. On Saturday, at noon, Patrick^M 'Cafferay, a youth 18 years of age, was executed in front of Kirkdale gaol for the murder of Colonel Crofton and Captain Hanham, at Fulwood barracks, Preston. The culprit had a very youthful, indeed almost boyish appearance, and the most hardened in the crowd that witnessed his execution could not but feel a pang of horror on seeing the criminal step upon the scaffold. The public are already aware of the nature of the crime for which M'Cafferay expiated his giiilt on Saturday. The guilty youth, after his condemna- tion, doggedly refused the ministration of the Rev. Mr. Gibson, a Roman Catholic priest, to whose communion he belonged. He ultimately, however, became extremely penitent, and up to the time of his execution he was fervent in his prayers for forgiveness. It was com- puted that upwards of ten thousand persons witnessed the execution. The culprit was attended by two Roman Catholic priests, the Rev. Mr. Gibson and the Rev. Father Lanns, of Bishop Heaton (a Belgian missionary), and these two gentlemen have been unremitting in their attention to the unfortunate youth. M'Cafferay went to bed in his icell at eleven o'clock on Friday night, and slept soundly. He rose a little after five o'clock. The Rev. Mr. Gibson arrived at the gaol about seven o'clock, administered the last Sacrament, and prepared M'Cafferay for his end. About eight o'clock, the condemned man partook of a hearty breakfast. He afterwards requested to see the Governor, Captain Gibbs, thanked him for the kind manner in which he had fulfilled his office, and ex- pressed a fear that he had behaved morosely to Captain Gibbs in the early part of his confinement. He had previously requested Mr. Gibson to procure for him some ■mall "pious pictures," to be sent to his friends as remem- brances after death. These friends were the sergeant at Preston, to whom he had previously written, and a young man at Stalybridge, with whom he had lodged. Mr. Gib- son inclosed the mementoes in letters which he wrote at the dictation of M'Cafferay, who desired to express his sorrow for his past life, and the bad example he had set them, and requested their prayers for him, according to the custom of his Church. He informed Mr. Gibson that he came from Athay, county Kildare, and was not aware that he had any relatives or friends beyond those named, and a Liverpool police-officer who visited him on Friday. The young man who had invariably maintained the greatest calmness and fortitude, was pinioned by Calcraft in the usual manner and at twelve o'clock he walked with a firm step upon the drop. He was attended by the Rev. Father Lanns, who, until the bolt was drawn, was constant in his admonitions. Immediately behind M'Cafferay walked the hangman, Calcraft, who soon placed the cap over the face of the criminal, and adjusted the rope about his neck. While thus standing on the brink of eternity the pastor continued his prayers for M'Cafferay, who exhibited much devotion, and his lips were seen continually to move as if he were engaged in prayer. Just before the bolt was drawn the priest pressed the crucifix to the lips of the culprit and continued his ex- hortations. The last audible words that he uttered were, Mary and Joseph, I give you my soul; and afterwards, Jesus, have mercy on me." Calcraft and the priest then left the scaffold, and soon afterwards the bolt was drawn, the drop fell, and the unhappy youth was sus- pended in mid-air. He struggled, though not violently, for several seconds.

A project has been started for the construction of a pier at Blackpool. Mr. Justice Mellor took his seat on the bench for the first time on Saturday. Mr. J. B. Aspinall, the new recorder of Liverpool, was, 'on Saturday, formally inducted into his office at St. George's Hall, Liverpool. Sir George Clarke will, we believe, be Provisional Governor-General of India in the interval between the departure of Lord Canning and the arrival of Lord Elgin. —Spectator. THE MYSTERIOUS DISCOVERY OF THE BODIES OF CHIL- DREN AT CHELSEA.-The woman Agnes Renton charged with concealing the birth of two children, the bodiet of which were found in a box at her lodgings, was again examined on Friday. There was no ad- ditional evidence, and Mr. Arnold said that, under those circumstances it would be useless at present to go any further with the case. There was nothing to sustain the charge against the prisoner for concealing the birth of the children. How she got possession of the children was a complete mystery. She was now discharged, but if any further evidence were obtained, she could be again apprehended. EXTENSIVE ROBBERY OF VAT-TTABOCS. — On Friday, a well-dressed young man alighted at Reading from the Great Western train from Weymouth, which arrives there between ten and eleven o'clock, having a ticket from Weymouth to London. He stated that he had fLsked for a ticket from Weymouth to Reading, but a pri&take was made by the clerk, and he wished to be al- lowed to have returned to him the value of the fare be- tween Reading and Paddington. He went into the office and filled up the usual form, which he duly signed, and then left, but the railway authorities did not observe! I the direction he took. Directly after his departure from the office, a telegraphic message was received, stating that a person had left Weymouth by the! early train with the produce of a robbery, and the number of the ticket issued was given. The ticket taken from the young man was at once examined, and the numbers were founu to correspond, and this furnished p. conclusive proof that the late holder of it was the delin- quent. He was traced to the station of the South-Eastern Railway Company, and the police were immediately communicated with, upon which Mr. Rice, one of the inspectors, went to the station, and in a carriage of the midday train, which was within two minutes of starting, he found the young man, whom he took into custody. He then gave the inspector a handsome antique gold watch, set with diamonds, value about £100, and a number of other articles of jewellery, which he took from his pockets, admitting that he had stolen them from Sir James Dundas's, at Weymouth, in whose service he had been as footman. He had with him a carpet bag, which contained a quantity of plate, &c., to the value of about £ 200. The prisoner, named Charles Edward Hart, alias Hamilton, was brought before the Reading magistrates soon after his capture, and remanded for the purpose of communication being made with the Weymouth police. SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT A MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.— SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT A MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.— On Saturday evening, an accident of an alarming, though happily not fatal character, took place at the Debcross Mechanios' Institution, Sad die worth. As usual at. this time of the year, the annual tea party at the Bridgehouse Mechanios' Institution, Saddleworth. As usual at. this time of the year, the annual tea party at the Bridgehouse Sunday school was held in the schoolroom, and after tea the party adjourned to the spacious lecture room of the Mechanics' Institution in order to hold a meeting. The whole of the building is old, and it seems that the timbers of the flooring are not very secure. Some time (tgo, at a meeting held in the room by the Freemasons, a slight giving way of the floor took place, but immedi- jtttely afterwards the timbers were examined", and props put up wherever they were deemed requisite, and it was, therefore, considered to be perfectly safe, even for a large audience. On Saturday night the attend- anoe was very great. One end of the room was occu pied by the platform, on which the chairman of the meeting, the Rev. F. A. Shawyer, Independent minister, Delph, the Rev. W. Burrows, M.A., Uppermill, and others, were seated. The chairman had just risen to commence the proceedings, when the centre of the room suddenly gave way, and about 100 of the audience were precipitated into the room below. The scene which en- sued was one of wild confusion, and the cries of the living plass of human beings were truly heartrending. The two ends of the floor remained firm, and it appeared that one of the centre beams hail given way, ih consequence of its decayed condition. No time was lost in rendering aid to the sufferers, and in extricating them from their unfortu- nate position. Many, it is needless to state, were injured, but none fatally. Miss Sophia Palmer, of Samewater, has her collar bone fractured; and her brother, Benjamin Palmer, has his arm broken. Several others also sus- tained serious injury, and it is stated that a woman had her leg broken but the majority fortunately escaped with severe bruises, and some were not hurt at all beyond the shaking and fright they experienced. The meeting was, of course, brought to an abrupt termination, and everything wiis done to minister to the wants of those who were injured. THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.-—The difficult task of allotting the space in the building has been disposed of, and the whole of the letters of allotment have been sent out to those applicants for space whose demands have been wholly or in part complied with. The number of exhibitors has been reduoed from 7,862 to 5,986 in the' industrial department. In addition to these there will be ibout 400 exhibitors of photography and photographic apparatus, and about 2,000 in the four classes of the fine artsy making the total number of exhibitors in the British Bide somewhat more than 8,000. In some of the classes the cutting down of demands was much greater than in others, the commissioners and the local committee being guided to some extent in their decision by consi- derations of the importance of particular classes of indus- try, and the amount pf space available. The greatest number of applications was in connection with the class of, iron and general hardware; 1104 claims were regis- tered and 469 acceded to. In the class for steel and cut- lery there were but 120 applications, and of these 102 were accepted. Glass and pottery produced but few applica- tions, and the number registered was correspondingly small. There were 289 applicants for space to exhibit agricultural implements, and of these 143 were accepted. In mining and metallurgy there were not more than 20 rejections the number accepted was 382. An enormous femount of dissatisfaction has been caused among ap- plicaiits fbr space, but rid' other rCsnlt could be expected when it is known that the space demanded was seven times greater than that at the disposal of the commissioners, Nearly 2,000 appeals have been lodged against the deci- sions of the committees by intending exhibitors, nearly six hundred have refused the smaller portions of space allotted to them, and in the case of a considerable num- ber the allotments have been cancelled, owing to the forms of acceptance required by the commissioners not being complied with within the specified time. Foreign nations are now busily engaged in preparing for the trans- mission of their goods, which will be received on the 1st of February. On that day the commissioners will take possession of the building, and the staff of superinten- dents and clerks will be removed to Kensington from their temporary offices in the Strand. Arrangements have been made by which visitors to the Exhibition may pass to and from the Gardens of the Horticultural So- ciety. Season tickets, giving admission to the gardens a# well as to the Exhibition^ will bo issued at fiv« guineajr AAch; the tiokete admitting to tho Stiubitioo Qnly iriu

F A C E T I L- -+- A joke that has no kernel isn't worth cracking. Some men are like brooks, they are always murmuring. The worst of all kinds of eye-water is a coquette's tears. A long tongue is even harder to conceal than a long nose. Knaves who never do a good thing will often do a good man. It is supposed that a soldier will be raw till he is exposed to fire. It is often a nobler work to conquer a doubt than a redoubt. The young lady who gives herself away loses her self- possession. What is society, after all, but a mixture of mister-ies and miss-eries ? As long as a miser lives, his money chest is very sura to be heir-tight. All our laws would seem to be bankrupt laws; they are broken every day. A coquette is equal to a dozen high winds in throwing dust in one's eyes. The most disafo-eeable articles for a man to keep on hand are hand-cuffs. What is that which makes all women equally pretty !—* Putting the candles out. A fly in a man's butter is decidedly the least pleasant of all kinds of butterflies. Let me collect myself," as the man said when he was blown up by a powder-mill. They say that justice isn't sold in our courts but those who try to obtain it often are. Follow the fashion you had better display othe people's follies than your own. ril take the responsibility," as Jenks said when ha held out his arms for the baby. Some men's mouths seem to be like the dykes of Hol- land-made to keep out water. 'If we were to judge young ladies by their shapes, we should think them a waspish set. Father," said a little boy in a theatre, ain't that a band-box where the musicians are f The earliest female ancestors to whom a man can trace back his pedigree are the Eves of his house. It isn't enough that men and women should be of the true metal; they should also be well tempered. Soft soap, in some shape, pleases all; and generally speaking, the more lye you put into it the better. A live turkey would seem to be less noisy than a dead one, for one makes only a din, the other a dinner. The only way to escape the importunities of beggars is to make yourself look like one of the brotherhood. Armies ought to be publio-spirited, yet each soldiet should occasionally attend to his own private aim*. A fellow caught in a man-trap, while stealing apples, has secured a firm foothold upon his neighbour's promises. A true pioture of despair is a pig reaching through a hole in the fence to get a cabbage that lies a few inches beyond his reach. At an infant school examination, a few days ago, ths examiner asked, What fish eat the little JUKI" "The big wis," shouted a little urchin. Pat, you are wearing your stockings wrong side out- ward." Och, and don 11 know it, to be sure there's a hole on the other side, there is." Players of wind instruments often devote so much time to music, to the entire neglect of their minds, that they may be literally said to have blown their brains out. Foote, being once annoyed by a poor fiddler straining harsh discords under his window, sent him a shilling with a request that he would play elsewhere, as one scraper at the door was sufficient. A soldier, a policeman, and a miller, entering an ion to rest and refresh, the landlord (a man of few words) directed seats to be placed for them by quoting a line from a popular song. He said, "Three cheers for the red, white, and blue." Some elderly gentleman will please inform the public whether the pain is greater when a man cuts his teoth, or when his teeth cut him? And whether it is more disagreeable to have no appetite for one's dinner, or ng dinner for one's appetite My dear, what shall we name our baby ?' said Mr. Smith to Mrs. Smith, the other day. "Why, huz, I've settled on Peter." Peter I never knew a man with the simple name of Peter who could earn his salt." Well. then. we will call him Salt Pater. Oh, pray let me have my own way this time," said a young officer in one of our Irish volunteer regiments about going South, as he attempted to force a kiss from his dear Biddy.—" Well, Willie, I suppose I must this once, but you know that after your return and we are piarried, I shall have a WiU of my own."—American Paper. A FEMALE'S IDEA OF SOLDIER?.—A young married woman, whose husband has" gone to the wars," heard in conversation the remark that the government wanted more cavalry and more infantry. She replied that she knew nothing about the cavalry, but addea with a sigh, that if more infantry were needed, the Government had better send some of the Volunteers home. AN IRISH PILOT. — A merchant brig got a pilot on board on the south coast of Ireland, to take her into Cork. It became stormy, and the pilot quite lost the reckoning. You're a pretty pilot, truly," said the cap- tain, "not to know where we are."—"Och, my dear," replied the pilot, "show me the Old Head o' Kinsale, and I'll tell you where we are in an instant." SHARP BOY.—A cute little fellow, whose father sent him to the Post Office with a letter and the money to pay the postage, returned, after half an hour's absence, highly delighted, and rushing up to his Father, exclaimed: — I I Father, I seed a lot of men putting letters in a little place, and when no one was looking, I slipped yours in for bothing and bought some cake for the mpney." 4 THE GARDENER'S LOVE.—"Oh, Angelina!" said a senti- mental young gardener to his love, one eyening, if you could only see how each day she develops new beauties—■ so beautiful ? Hanging over me so tenderly No honey half so sweet and delicious to the taste !"—Angelina sud- denly fell to the floor like a pancake.—" Villain she cried, "you love another?" and swooned away.—"Oh, I have killed her!" exclaimed the young gardener, jumping up and wringing his hands. Oh, Angelina, don't, 'don't! You mustn't for the world, Angelina I didn't mean it. I only meant the grape vine !"—She revived, and they married without delay. Delays are dangerous in such camm.-A"Lerican Paper. A schoolmaster hearing one of his scholars read, the boy, when he came to the word "honour," pronounced it full; the master told him it should be pronounced without the H, as thus—onour. "Very well, sir," replied |he lad. "I will remember for the future." "Ay," jtaid the master; always drop the JJ.' The next morn- ing the master's tea, with a hot muffin, had been brotight' fo his desk; but the duties of his vocation made him wait till it was cold when, addressing the same boy, he tpl4 him to take it to the fire and heat it. "Yes, giy,' replied the scholar, and, taking it to the fire, ate it. Presently the master called for his muffin. 1 have eat it as you bade me," replied the boy. Eat it you sooundrel r I bade you take it to the fire and heat it." But, sir," answered the lad, yesterday you told me always to drop the H." TOOK HIM AT His WORD.—A certain farmer had a friend to visit him on business, and was very much an- noyed when his wife came to ask him what he wanted for dinner ? Go away let us alone ?" impatiently said the farmer. Business detained his friend till dinner time, and the farmer urged him to remain. To the surprise of both, they saw nothing but a huge bowl of salad, which the good wife began quietly to serve up. My dear," said the farmer, where are the meat and poultry ?"— You didn't order any,' coolly answered the housewife. I asked what you would have, and you said, lettuce alone Here it is," -The friend burst into a laugh, and the farmer, after looking lurid for a moment, joined him. —" "Wife, I give it up. Here ia the money you wanted for that new dress which I denied you. Now let's have peace, and some dinner." The good woman pocketed the money, rang the bell, and a sumptuous repast was brought in. The fanner never joked with her a;a.in febout dinners.. •» [ BULL FROQ.—Old Dr. Levi Bull, an Episcopalian, of Ches- ter, who died six or eight years ago, used to tell of a man and his wife--plain people—bearing the uneuphonious sur- name of Frog, and who came to him one Sunday morning jyst at church time, to have their child baptised. With- out any preliminary observation, they were called up to the font at the end of the second lesson. Name this child," said the doctor. We name it after you, sir" whispered the woman as she handed him the baby. Oh, bnt whispered the doctor back, you named the last one Levi, as I now remember." Well said she, in a hurry, "call this one after your t'other name. And, so the doctor did, and christened the baby by the name of Bull. After the parties got home, and the excitement of the day had somewhat passed off, they began to reckon it all tip; and they saw for the first time that it bad'struck their attention, that their youngest darling was bound to go through life with the cognomen of Bull Frog." A DUTCH QUARREL.—In some part of Pennsylvania two Dutchmen, who built and used in common a small bridge over a stream which ran through their farms, had dispute concerning some repairs which it required, and one of them positively refused to bear any portion of the expense necessary to the purchase of a few planks. Finally, the aggrieved party went to a neighbouring lawyer, and placing two notes for ten dollars each in hit hand, said, "I'll jjive-you all dish money if mak0 Hans do justice mit de pridge.'—" How mucn will it cqsJ. 0 repair it <" asked the honest lawyer.— Not more as If ten tollars," replied the Dutchman.—"Yery well," said the lawyer, pocketing one of the notes and giving hin| the other; take this, and go get> the bridge repaired I rtis the best course you can take."—"Yaas,' said thfl putchman, slowly—" yaas, dat ish more petter as to quarrel mit Hansbut as he went along he shook hia bead frequently, as if unable, after all, to see quite clearly how he nad gained anything by going to law. But the bridge was repaired, and the Dutchman never again invoked the aid of the law.—American Paper. .Printed and published by WILLIAM CHRISTOPHERS, _of No. 7, Commercial-street, in the Borough of New- port, at the MERLIN General Printing Office, No. 15, Commerclal-strept. I' Newport, Sat%vd#jh January IS,

ARRIVAL OF THE AMERICA." SUSPENSION OF SPECIE PAYMENTS BY THE BANKS. QUEENSTOWN, JAN. 14. — The royal mail steam- ship America, from New York on the 1st inst., arrived here at 8 a.m., with 24 passengers, and 56,866 dollars for England. She landed 71 sacks, mails and three passen- fers, and proceeded to Liverpool at 8 30 a.m. All well, he experienced very rough weather on her passage home. NEW YORK, DEC. 31 (Evening).-The excitement in regard to the Trent question has materially subsided. Since the settlement of the Trent affair the American press has been much more moderate in its tone towards JSngland. The New York Journal of Commerce thinks that Mr. Seward's answer to Lord Lyons does not settle the question of international law, but it leaves it open for England to withdraw from the subject without denying or admitting the law laid down by Mr. Seward. The Journal of Commerce considers, however, that England cannot honourably do this. The New York Evening Post considers that, although Mr. Seward states the informality of the seizure to be the reason for surrendering Messrs. Mason and Slidell, the. real reason is that America cannot afford to go to war with England. The New York Timet urges the assembling of an inter- national congress for the settlement of the question of tnternationallaw. tnternationallaw. It is supposed that Messrs. Mason and Slidell will pro- ceed to Europe in the steamer Niagara, which sails from Boston in a few days. The Journal of Commerce thinks that the suspension of specie payments is not the end of the present history, but only the turning of another leaf, and considers a resort to immediate taxation, fully in proportion to the national expenses, as the only method to avoid a grand collapse ftt the conclusion of the war. The Evening Post says the banks had resolved not to take up the third fifty millions of the Federal loan. Reconnaissances from Beaufort to within fifteen miles pf Charleston have been made. .It is reported in Aifgusta that the British steamer Gladiator ran the blockade with arms. The steamer Sonora left San Francisco for Panama on the 20th, with over 1,270,000 dols. for England. Mr. Stevens had obtained leave to introduce a bill into Congress for the abolition of the Southern ports as ports pf entry. He said, in his speech to Congress, the con- duct of France in the Trent affair was impertinent. trance was not invited to interfere. When American domestic troubles were settled, the Americans must look into the holy alliance between France and England, and see how far they shall be permitted to control American affairs. NEW YORK, JAN. 1, MORNING. -A rumoured battle has taken place in Kentucky details have not yet come forward. A meeting of British residents will be held at the British Consolate, in New York, for the expression of oondolence with the Queen on Prince Albert's death, The Borussia had arrived out. Sterling exchange has advanced to 112!. The banks have suspended specie pay- ments. There is no war news. The excitement on the Trent affair has subsided. Cotton is firm, at 37c. The steamer Karnak, which arrived at New York yes- terday, brought advices from Havannah to the 21st, and from Nassau, New Providence, to the 23rd inst. The general news from Havannah is unimportant. The city was healthy and business dull. At Nassau the Con- federate steamers Isabel and Gordon were in port, closely watched by the United States gunboat Flambeau. The British steamer Gladiator was also in port, and would sail soon for England. There was a report at Havannah when the Karnak left of an outbreak at the city of St. Domingo against ex- President Santana. It was said to have been quite seri- ous, and that many lives were lost. A party from the- country endeavoured to aid the revolted citizens, but were prevented by a Spanish force sent out against them. The New York Evening Post of the 28th Dec. publishes the following despatches •.— Fortress Monroe, Dec. 27, via Baltimore, Dec. 28.—A Bag of truce this morning took to Craney Island the Rev. Mr. Brown, a rebel chaplain, and a lady. No passengers were brought down. General Burnside is expected to arrive here to-morrow, to consult with General Wood and Commodore Golds- borough in relation to his contemplated movements. Considerable excitement prevails at York Town, in an- ticipation of an attack. All the sick were removed on the 21st by order of General Magruder. The publication of the Norfolk Day Book was suspended yesterday for the want of a supply of paper. A copy of to-day's issue was brought down by the flag of truce from which we extract the following despatch, dated Augusta, Georgia, December 26. which says that a passenger and freight car came in collision about one mile from there on that afternoon. Three persons bad received broken legs and several horses were killed. A despatch dated Nashville, the 25th, says that Tom Crittenden, with 12,000 men, was within forty mtles of Hopkinsville, and would advance upon that place at three points. The Southern rights citizens there are sending their families and stock to the South. The banking house of a branch of the Northern Bank of Kentucky, at Glascow, was taken possession of by the rebels on the 24th. Only 7,000 dols. in Kentucky bills were found. A force of not loss than 80,000 men, the advance of General Buell's army, has crossed Green River, and is within five miles of General Hindman's advance. Great preparations have been made for the defence of Bowling- green, and show a terrible conflict to he impending. The New York press generally consider there will be no American interference in Mexican affairs unless per- manent Spanish occupation is attempted.. The Government's financial plans attract much atten- tion. The press continues to urge heavy taxation as the only legitimate means of relief. Active measures con- tinue in Canada for the formation of Volunteer corps. A painful rumour was current at Halifax that the steamer Parana had been lost in the St. Lawrence with 1,000 troops on board, but the report cannot be traced to a reliable source. The press is again speculating on the early advance of the Federal army. Confederates in Kentucky have des- troyed a large portion of the railway between Louisville, and Nashville. The Charleston Mercury says & large force of Federals landed on the the North Edisto, and seized the rail- way station. War vessels were reported at Ship Island. Fort Pickens opened fire on Pensacola on the 1st. Result unknown. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. NEW YORK, DEC. 31.-Money tighter. Exchange very firm; bankers' -bills, 112. Stocks in good demand; New York Central, 80i Illinois, 62F; Erie, 32J, Cotton steady; middling, 37c, Flour in demand for export Indian corn steady. Provisions quletand Unchanged* foflMviiM, Sugar (tody, Mnlimi

IMPORTANT DESPATCHES FROM EARL RUSSELL ON THE "TRENT AFFAIR. The Gazette of Tuesday. night contains the following despatches not previously published EARL RUSSELL TO LORD LYONS. Foreign Office, Dec. 19, 1861. My Lord,—Mr. Adams came to me to-day, at the Foreign Office, at three o'clock. He said he came to ask two questions which concerned himself personally. I interrupted him to ask whether what he was going to say was by order of his Government, or from his own sense of what he ought to do. Mr. Adams answered that the proceeding was entirely his own, but that he had with him a despatch from Mr. Seward, which he was authorised to read to me if he should think fit to So so. It appeared, he said, from that despatch, that the Go- vernment of Washington had not authorised the capture of the two insurgents, Mason and Slidell, and that the United States Government stood quite uncommitted at the time of sending the despatch. "I said that if the despatch did not enter into any controversy with regard.to the case of Messrs. Mason and Slidell, I should be glad to hear it read." Mr. Adams then proceeded to read the despatch, dated Nov. 30. In answer to Mr. Adams, I touched upon most of the points treated of in the despatch. I did not think it necessary, however, to recur to the case of Mr. Bunch. "With regard to the Confederate privateer, I said that I could not see that our cqnduct had been different from that of France, or Holland, or of Spain. The Sumter had been refused coal from the Government stores at Trinidad, but had been allowed to get coal and provisions from pri- vate merchants. The same thing had taken place at Martinique and Curacoa. I did not find that the rule of 24 hours had been observed in practice, bnt there would be little difficulty in coming to an agreement on this point. In regard to the export of arms and ammunition to the Confederate States, I had lately read the opinion of the Attorney-General, and believed it was in entire con- formity with the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act: warlike equipment of a vessel was prohibited the loading a vessel with arms and ammunition was not pro- hibited. But, in point of fact, a much greater amount of arms and ammunition had been sent to the Federal States, where there was no obstacle to the export or the import, than to the ports of the Confederate States which were BLOCKADOD Mr. AIAMS admitted this to be the fact, and said he had refrained from pressing a more rigorous compliance with the Foreign Enlistment Act for this reason. I then stated to Mr. Adams the substance of the two despatches I had written to Lord Lyons on the subject of the Trent. I told him that in a private letter I had directed Lord Lyons to talk the matter over with Mr. Seward two days before reading to him the despatch. Mr. Adams asked whether the direction to Lord Lyons to leave Washington in seven days was in the despatch to be read. I said it was not, and that in case Mr. Seward should ask what would be the consequence of a refusal on his part to com- ply with our conditions, Lord Lyons was to decline to an- swer that question, in order not to have the appearance of a threat. I said that I thought the explanation that the Government had not authprised the seizure would stand in the place of an apology. But the essential condition was, that Mr. and Mr. Slidell should be given up to Lord Lyons. Mr. Adams said that if the matter was stated to Mr. Seward in the manner I had explained, he hoped for an amicable termination of the difference; he thought that if the Government of the United States insisted on maintaining the act of Captain Wilkes, the United States would be abandoning their doctrine and adopting ours. "Mr. Adams asked me a further question, which he said I might decline to answer; it was whether, if Lord Lyons came away a declaration of war would be the im- mediate consequence. ( I told him nothing was decided on that point; we should wait for a reply from America, and then decide upon our course. I stated to Mr. Adams the substance of M. Thouvenel's despatch to M. Mercier, as I had heard it from M. de Flahault. Mr. Adams said that the French Government had always been very consistent in their maintenance of the rights of neutrals. He added that he could not pay our Government the same compliment. I said, I would dispense with compliments if this matter would be amicably arranged. We parted on very friendly terms. "I am, &c., "RUSSELL." A letter from Lord Lyons to Earl Russell, enclosing Mr. Seward's despatch follows. He says: "The note contains a very long and very elaborate dissertation on the questions, of international law involved in the case. I have not time, before the departure of the messenger, to weigh the argu- ments, or to estimate precisely the force of the expres- sions used. But as Mr. Seward admits that reparation is due to Great Britain, and consents to deliver the four pri- soners to me, I consider that the demands of her Majesty's Government are so far substantially complied with, that it is my duty, in obedience to your lordship's commands, to report tho facts to her Majesty's Government for their consideration, and to remain at my post until further orders." Earl Russell thus replied on the 11th January, after a brief recapitulation :— I received, yesterday, your despatch of the 27th ult., enclosing a note to you from Mr. Seward, which io .In substance the answer to my despatch of the 30th of Nov. Proceeding at once to the main points in discussion be- tween us, Her Majesty's Government have carefully ex- aminedhow far Mr. Seward's note, and the conduct it announces, complies substantially with the two proposals I have recited. With regard to the first-viz., the libera- tion of the prisoners with a view to their being again placed under British protection—I find that the note con- cludes by stating that the prisoners will be cheerfully liberated, and by calling upon your Lordship to indicate a time and place for receiving them. No condition of any kind is coupled with the liberation of the prisoners. With regard to the suitable apology which the British Government had a right to expect, I find that the Govern- ment of the United States distinctly and unequivocally declares that no directions had been given to Captain Wilkes, or to any other naval officer, to arrest the four persons named, or any of them on the Trent, or on any Other British vessel, at the place where it occurred or elsewhere, "I find, further, that the Secretary of State expressly forbears to justify the particular act of which her Ma- jesty's Government complained. If the United States Government had alleged that although Captain Wilkes had no previous instruction for that purpose, he was right in capturing the persons of the four prisoners, and in removing them from the Trent on board his own vessel, to be afterwards carried into a port of the United States, the Government which had thus sanctioned the proceeding of Captain Wilkes would have become responsible for the original violence and insult of the act. But Mr. Seward contents himself with stating that what, has happened has been simply an inadvertency, consist- ing in a departure by a naval officer, free from any wrongful motive, from a rule uncertainly established, and probably by the several parties concerned either im- perfectly understood or entirely unknown. The Secre- tary pf State goes on to affirm that for this error the British Government has a right to expect the same re- paration which the United States, as an independent State, should expect from Great Britain, or from any other friendly nation in a similar case. "Her Majesty's Government having carefully taken into their consideration the liberation of the prisoners, the delivery of them into your hands, and the explana- tions to which I have just referred, have arrived at the conclusion that they constitute the reparation which her Majesty and the British nation had a right to expect. It gives her Majesty's Government great satisfac- tion to be enabled to arrive at a conclusion favourable to the maintenance of the most friendly relations be- tween the two countries. I need not discuss the modi- fications in my statement of facts which Mr. Seward f says he has derived from the reports of officers of his Government. I cannot conclude, however, without adverting shortly to the discussions which Mr. Seward ha3 raised upon points not prominently brought into question in my des- patch of tho 30th of Nov. I there objected, on the part of Her Majesty's Government, to that which Captain Wilkes had done. Mr. Seward, in his answer, points out what he conceives Captain Wilkes might have done with- out violating the law of nations. It is not necessary that I should here discuss.in de- tail the five questions ably argjjed by the Secretary of State but it is necessary that 1 should say that Her Majesty's Government differ from Mr. Sewara in some of the conclusions at which he has arrived. And it may lead to a better understanding between the two nations on several points of international law which may during the present contest, or at gome future time, be brought into question, that I should state to you, for communica- tion to the Secretary of State, wherein those differences consist. I hope to do so in a few days. In the meantime it will be desirable that the com- manders of the United States cruisers should be in- structed not to repeat acts for which the British Govern- ment will have to ask for redress, and which the United States Government cannot undertake to justify. You will read and give a copy of this despatch to the Secra- tary of State.—I am, &c., RUSSELL." EARL RUSSELL TO LORD LYONS. "Foreign Office, Jan. 11. My Lord,-Your conduct in the important matter of the Trent is entirely approved by her Majesty. The dis- cretion and good tamper you have shown have contributed greatly to the success of our operations. In order to give your lordship, by a public document, a proof that you have acted strictly according to the instructions you have received, I enclose an extract, annexed to this despatch, of a private letter I addressed to you on the 1st of December last.—I am, &c., "RUSSELL." (Enclosure.) EXTRACT OF A PRIVATE LETTER FROM EARL RUSSELL TO LORD LYONS, December 1, 1861. •" T^ie despatches which were agreed to at the Cabinet yesterday morning, and which I have signed this mora- ing, impose upon you a disagreeable task. My wish would be that, at your first interview with Mr. Seward, you should not take my despatch with you, but should. prepare him for it, and ask him to settle with the Presi- dent and the Cabinet what course they would propose. The next time you should bring my despatoh, and read it to him fully. If he asks what will be the consequence bf his refusing compliance, I think you should say that you wish to leavehim and the President quite freo to takfl • their own course, and thtf you desire to fttataia from anything likt