The "English Case" has at last got out of the
secret department, but its interest is rather slight, as it was prepared in complete ignorance of the American Case ; and instead of the two cases meeting on the principal points, they cross each other in different planes. The British Case is strictly limited to replying to the imputation of negligence as regards the escape of these four vessels, the Alabama, the Florida, the Georgia, and the Shenan- doah. Theme, it ays, " are the only vessels in respect of the acts .of which claims have been made by the Government of the United States on that of her Britannic Majesty, either during the Civil War, or during the six years which have elapsed since its termina- tion." On one occasion, indeed, namely, in a despatch dated 27th August, 1866, it is added that "the Sumter" was also included amongst those in respect of which these claims were set up, but
deualod claims in respect to the Sumter were in fact made, even in the list included in that despatch, nor have any such been madebefore or since. 11.t the American Case professes to offer evideneethat we are liable for the acts of the 5Luntor, the Nashville, the Florida, the Alabama, the Georgia, the Tallahassee, the Chickamauga, and the Shenandoah,—that is, makes demands against twice the number of vessels for which we have previously been held liable. The British Case as to the four vessels it does deal with is terse and strong. For the Alabama alone are we at
all likely to be held responsibla by the tribunal. But those who drew the American case will lose nothing for want of asking.
