28 DECEMBER 1861, Page 1
A new case, that of the Hendrik and Alida, has
been turned up by the lawyers. Five Americans, with military commissions signed by Franklin, were seized in this ship while on her way from Holland to the Dutch colony of St. Eustatia. The Admiralty Judge, Sir George Hay, released the ship, on the ground that we could have no right to seize her while sailing from neutral port to neutral port. This decision covers the whole legal ground, and exonerates the Trent, whatever the character of her passengers or cargo ; but it-remains to be discussed how far a precedent, which, as regards military passengers, is but little in harmony with Lord Stowell's decisions, can be accepted as final.
