Further from Europe.
the blockade question in the British Parliament--
Mr. Slidell's interview with the
French Minister, &c.
The advices from
Liverpool by the
Canada are to the 23d ult.:
American Affairs in Parliament.
In the House of Commons, on the 20th inst., The
O'Donoghue moved for a return of the British vessels, of their captains and owners respectively, that have succeeded in running the
American blockade; also, for similar returns of British vessels captured or destroyed in attempts to break the blockade, and return of the number of British vessels that have put into
Nassau and other colonial ports with contraband of war and supplies for the
Confederate States, and that have been permitted to refit and supply themselves at those places, in contravention of the
Queen's proclamation and of neutrality.
He strongly censured the
Government for not having taken active steps to prevent breaches of neutrality committed by British ships.
Mr. Layard said that it would scarcely be convenient that he should enter into a discussion of the blockade, which would come on more regularly when there was a solution of it, of which notice had been moved.
He must decline, therefore, to consent to the return, for two reasons.
In the first place, the
Government had not yet got the information sought for; and in the second place, if they had, it would not be their office to furnish a list of wrongdoers and violators of the law. The papers relative to the blockade would probably be laid on the table on the 24th or 25th inst., and would contain a statement of the number of vessels which had broken the blockade, and perhaps their tonnage and he hoped the information would satisfy.
The
O'Donoghue.
The
Solicitor General explained the misapprehension of the O'Donoghue, and said that private vessels might carry contraband of war, but at their own risk, and if detected they must abide the consequences.
In the House of Commons, on the 20th ult.,
Mr. Maguire called the attention of the
House to the serious distress at present existing in
Ireland.
Sir Robert Peal, in reply, refuted his assertions, and, in the course of his remarks, said that no more remarkable proof of the absence of grievances existed than that which occurred the other day, when there was danger of a rupture with
America.
Ireland was full of American emissaries trying to raise up a spirit of disloyalty, and meetings, were held in
Dublin, at which a few mannikin traitors had tried to imitate the cabbage-garden heroes of '48, but had met with no response.--Not a single man of respectability throughout the country answered the appeal made them, and why?
Because
Ireland at the present day was very different from
Ireland of the past.
Mr. Slidell and the French Cabinet.
The
Paris correspondent of the London
Times says:
‘
I cannot affirm that
Mr. Slidell has as yet seen the
Emperor, but I believe he has seen several, if not all, of the
Ministers.
Of course not officially.
He doubtless explained his views of the state of the
South; but he must understand that the time is not yet come for decision.
’
A letter from
Paris, dated February 18, to a New York paper, says:
‘
I have many reasons for believing that
Mr. John Slidell had an interview with his Majesty
the Emperor of the
French at the Tuiteries on Friday last.
Mr. Slidell was of course received only in the capacity of a private citizen, having matters of importance to communicate.
Persons occupying similar positions are being continually received by the
Emperor, who prefers to ascertain at first hand what they desire to say to him rather than have it simmered and diluted through his ministers.
It is said that
Mr. Slidell commenced by adroitly referring to the present suffering condition of thousands of French workmen thrown out of employment by the cessation of commercial intercourse resulting from the
American war, and to the depressed condition of trade of every description, owing to the same cause.
He assured his Majesty that the
South possessed sufficient resources to enable them to hold out for five years against the
Union Government, and that there was no possibility of their returning into the
Union.
The Emperor is said to have confined himself to replying that he sincerely hoped the war would soon be brought to a close, as it was inflicting upon
France an incalculable injury daily; and with this assurance
Mr. Slidell took his leave, without being asked to call again.
’
Southerners here are still lamenting the settlement of the
Trent affair, which knocked from under them their dearly cherished hope of involving us in a war with
England.
They were loud- mouthed and positive about that time in regard to a speedy recognition; but they sing exceedingly small now and drink their brandy cocktails in mysterious silence and wear long faces, and some of them very seedy coats, as the suppression of the mail communication cuts off their supplies, and their credit is very bad.
Miscellaneous.
Forty-five Spanish war vessels are to sail for the
Pacific in April.
They are to rendezvous first at
Montevideo, and then start for other parts of the
American coast.
Our latest intelligence of the
Sumter is from
Gibraltar, February 13, where she was still lying.
Her captain had offered twelve dollars a ton for coal, but although the regular price was only eight dollars, all parties refused to sell to him.
Prince Napoleon made an important speech in the French Senate on the liberty of the press and in defence of the
Government.
He said the empire signified to him the glory of
France abroad, the destruction of the treaties of 1815, and the unity of
Italy.
The empire has but ‘ "one justification, and that is when it becomes an application of the principles of the revolution."’
The Papal Government was removing a portion of the sacred archives from
Rome.
The
Gazette de Cologne observes: At his last audience with
his Holiness the following significant words struck upon the
Marquis de Lavalette's startled ear: ‘ "We are thinking of repairing to
Vienna, when we can no longer remain here with our full dignity."’ The
Marquis is reported to have exclaimed in alarm, ‘"Surely, Holy Father, you would not occasion a universal war;"’ to which no answer was returned.
At
Rome an attempt has been made upon the life of the
Marquis de Lavalotte.
The assassins, who all belong to the legitimist party--one being a Belgian, the second a Bavarian, and the third a Neapolitan — have all been arrested, and will be tried by French military tribunal.
The
Marquis was not injured.
