Interesting from Europe.
A letter from
London to the Philadelphia
Inquirer gives the following late foreign intelligence.
The capture of the Florida,
as I said in my last letter, has caused no excitement here, in suite of the strenuous efforts of the unfriendly journals to falsify the circumstances in the case and to rouse the popular indignation.
There has been, however, a good deal of serious discussion on the subject, and I am compelled to say that, even among the warmest sympathizers with the
North, there appears to be but one conclusion, and that is, that the capture of the
Florida was unwarrantable, and not to be justified under any circumstances.
At the same time, the impression is quite as general that the authorities at
Washington will, of their own accord, promptly disavow the act of the captain of the
Wachusett and make the proper apology and reparation to the
Government, of
Brazil.
It is proper to say, however, that we have only the
Southern version of the affair, and that too much dependence must not be placed on the unsupported testimony of the commander of the
Florida, who will, of course, make the best of his tale.
You will have received what purports to be the official correspondence on the subject, and be in possession of all the facts before we are. We are anxious to learn what explanations are given by the captain of the
Wachusett and by
Consul Wilson; but as the case now stands, the most patriotic of us here fear that there must be, on the part of the
Washington Government, a repetition of the course pursued in the
Trent affair.
English Opinions of the case.
The language used by the
Star (about whose friendliness there can be no doubt) will show you exactly how the matter is regarded.
That journal, after suggesting the absence of any Federal account of the affair, says as follows:
‘
"The circumstantial Confederate accounts have been so supplemented by the official correspondence of the
Brazilian authorities, that there can be no doubt as to the main facts necessary for forming a judgment upon the occurrence.--That judgment can only be that a very gross violation of neutrality has been committed by the
United States cruiser, which we sincerely hope the United States Government will repudiate and offer to
Brazil whatever satisfaction may be necessary to atone for the offence."
’
And again: "We know nothing which could so raise the reputation of the
Government of the
United States among its friends in
Europe as a prompt offer of reparation to
Brazil for this unquestionable and unpardonable outrage."
The last proverbial adjective in this latter quotation is probably not to be taken literally.
If the outrage, as it is termed, be unpardonable, there would be very little use in making any offer of reparation.
The quotation serves, however, to show that even our best friends resort to the strongest language in expressing their dissatisfaction with the act in question.
A Notable day.
The 9th of November has again come and passed.
It is, you are aware, a double anniversary, being
Lord Mayor's day and the birthday of the
Prince of
Wales.
The
Lord Mayor's show differed little from that of former years, since the water procession to
Westminster was abolished.
The principal thoroughfare of the city was blocked up for two or three hours by the passage of the stupidest of all processions, and the civic proceedings terminated with the usual aldermanic feast at the Guildhall.
The usual speeches were there made, some of them by Her Majesty's ministers, and Lord Palmerston had the bad taste to indulge in one of his stereotyped slurs against the
United States.
The rejoicing, so far as the
Prince of
Wales was concerned, were of a more extensive and hearty character than usual.
The Prince himself was at
Windsor Castle, as the
Queen persists in never setting foot in
London if she can possibly avoid it, but the bells rang throughout the day, and the illuminations at night were numerous and gorgeous.
The Prince seems daily growing in the affections of the people.
Certainly he and his wife spend the quarter of a million dollars the people furnish them yearly out of their own pockets in the most easy and graceful manner.
They pay Lord Derby a visit next week, and afterwards retire until
Christmas to their seat in
Norfolk.
