Mr. Cobden has written a very foolish letter to the
Roch- dale meeting, on international law—very foolish, we mean, for the purpose he had in view. The Congress of Paris had laid down the rule that neutral ships should cover enemies' goods, except contraband of war. The shipowners said very justly that such a provision would fall rather on the belligerent's shipping interest than on his commerce only ; and that it ought to be extended, so that all private property other than contraband of war, whether in a belligerent or neutral ship, should be exempt from capture ; otherwise the neutrals get the whole benefit of the carrying trade without any necessary injury to either belligerent's commerce. Mr. Cobden goes a step farther again, and a step too far for his purpose. He asks that all neutral ships shall be absolutely exempt from search, whether carrying contraband of war or not. This overleaps itself. It would allow a neutral to furnish a belligerent with any stores or ammunitions, almost without danger of exposure. Such a proposal is but too likely to injure the cause of the more reasonable thesis of our shipowners.
