27 DECEMBER 1856, Page 1

If the expedition of Captain Hartstein to England had no

other effect, it would prove the good-will of the United States towards this country ; but it has also enabled the Americans to barn the kind of reception which their friendliness would meet beyond the cold atmosphere of the official pale. As soon as it came to personal intercourse, whether with Sovereign, Minister, • or people, there could be little mistake : and it is far from being improbable that this little incident operates with other not un- important ,considerations to terminate the degree of offloial estrangement which has existed since the unhappy enlistment affair. Indeed, there are many reasons why the British Govern- ment should close that formal state of coolness forthwith. On the election of a new President, it would be a matter of course to offer a renewal of established relations in the usual way ; but who is that President ? It is Mr. Buchanan, the very man who was the diplomatic representative of the United States when the dispute began. Of course, our Government could not on that account refuse to send an Ambassador, since it could not recog- nize the Envoy in the President ; and so the best way to avoid ranking the concession to Buchanan, is to effect the reeoncilement at once with Pierce. The war, out of which the enlistment question arose, is no more. The settlement of the troublesome Central American questions has been arranged, wanting only the ratification of the American Senate ; and it cannot be an object of our Government to supply our enemies among the minority in the Senate with any argument derived from the aspect of a forpral perseverance in a formal coolness. Every purpose in keeping up the severance has passed ; every consideration of policy and good feeling dictates a renewal of complete relations.

The only question now turns upon the choice of the man to be sent out on a mission scarcely less important than Lord Ashbur- ton's in Sir Robert Peel's time. Several persons have been Waned ; Mr. Charles Villiers has been openly mentioned by the: Daily News, but the appointment is contradicted by the Globe. Mr. Villiers would have been well suited, as he has political ex- perience, attested liberality, and—what is not without its value among " the citizens "—high family connexions. These are still considerations for the choice of the right man ; and it is hardly conceivable that, however " high " his position, any patriotic statesman should refuse a post where he can do so much public service.,