NEWS OF THE WEEK.
IT appears that the wrath of England is not regarded on the Confluent with that salutary 'dread which a patriotic Englishman would expect. The Emperor of Russia has really declared that he intends to blockade the Dardanelles: An official notice of this intention has been communicated to the British Government ; and the public learned the certainty of a measure, which has excited no ordinary sensation, from the following circular addressed to the organ of the Committee at Lloyd's :—
"Foreign-Office, Oct 1. " am directed by the Earl of Aberdeen to acquaint you, for the information of the Committee of Lloyd's, that his Majesty's Government have received information that it is the intention of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Russia to establish a blockade of the Dardanelles. This blockade will be limited to the prevention of vessels bound to Constantinople, and laden with rrovisions or articles contraband of war, from entering the Straits.
"His Majesty having declared to his Parliament that his Imperial Majesty "had consented to wave the exercise, in the Mediterranean Sea, of any rights appertaining to his Imperial Majesty in the character of a belligerent power," Lord Aberdeen is desirious of making the above communication with the least possible delay, for the information of all whom it may concern ; and! am further directed by his Lordship to state, that in the opinion of his Majesty's Government, such commercial enterprises of his Majesty's subjects as may have been already undertaken upon the faith . of his Majesty's declaration in Parliament, are not liable to be affected by this blockade. (Signed) " DLINGLAS. "To the Chairman of the Committee of Lloyd's."
Out of the wording of this circular several questions have arisen ; and particularly as to how far the blockade will affect vessels on the seas with interdicted cargoes, vessels now loading, and the contracts which may have been entered into under the guarantee of the King's speech. On this delicate point the Ministers maintain a prudent silence ; but it is announced that sugar and coffee are included, ,as provisions, among the prohibited articles. Some of the journals condemn the Government, on the assumption that it has tamely acquiesced in the blockade ; others observe, that the circular does not sanction, though it notifies the blockade, as a warning to our merchants ; and some of the less judicious partisans of the Duke of Wellington's Government assert, in very positive language, that the Premier has protested against it in a tone the most decisive and peremptory.
On the same page of Lloyd's books which contained the announcement from the Foreign-office, there appeared the following intimation from an office of steam-packets
DUKE OF YORK STEAM VESSEL.
"The above vessel, owing to the system adopted by the existing Government of Portugal, is prevented from touching at Lisbon, and in consequence discontinues he: trade to that port. She left Portsmouth on the 1st of October, at five p. m., for Cadiz and Malaga, and may be expected to return from thence about the 10th of November.
(Signed) "JOHN NORMAN, Agent. "1, Water-lane, Oct. 2."
This added a shade of plausibility to the rumour, 'that it was Miguel's intention to close his ports against the British shipping ; and the climax of our national misfortunes and degradation was thus wound up by the humorists of the Stock Exchange :— "TO TI1E CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE OF LLOYD'S.
"Sue-1 am desired by the Earl of Aberdeen to inform you and all whom it may concern, that the Government of this country having received notice of the determination that Don Miguel intends to blockade the port of Falmouth, and having learnt that a frigate, having the Portuguese national flag flying at her stern, has appeared off Falmouth and landed several suspicious characters, the Earl of Aberdeen deems it right, by and with the advice of the Council, to declare the blockade of Falmouth and all ports west of Billingsgate full and effective."
