NEWS OF THE WEEK.

ATERRIBLE rumour is floating about London that the steamer Parana, with a battalion of Guards on board, has gone down in the Bay of St. Lawrence. Its origin is a tele- gram which was sent from Halifax to New York, on the 3rd inst., and mentions the story only as a "painful rumour." There was a furious gale blowing in the Gulf on the 2nd, but the Admiralty have heard nothing. The telegraph which carried the rumour could have conveyed more accurate in- telligence. Sir S. Cunard has letters from his son with no account of a catastrophe, and the report is, we trust and be- lieve, a "sensation telegram," founded on somebody's fear that the Parana might have gone down in the storm.

The event of the week has been the suspension of cash payments by the Federal Treasury. This step, which has been expected for some days, was adopted at last rather suddenly. A "silent panic" seems to have seized the country depositors, who, in five days, withdrew about one quarter the specie stored in the New York Banks. The Managers, frightened at the boundless expenditure unsupported by taxation, and irritated by the assault on their paper currency, refused to supply the fifty millions of dollars still due for the last loan, the national contributions did not supply the de- ficiency, and the pulse of the Treasury stood still. The "demand notes," as Americans call assignats, are not paid on demand, and Mr. Chase is at his wits' end to raise sup- plies. He and the Committee of Ways and Means seem re- solved on a large issue of inconvertible paper, but the papers are opposed to this policy. They go in for henesty, and demand direct taxation heavy enough to yield 50,000,000/. a year. Such taxes will scarcely be endured by the Western population, but it is satisfactory to see that the people are not prepared for repudiation. They show, indeed, much finan- cial sense, considering how terribly they are misguided,—the Herald, for example, gravely arguing that the English debt is wealth, that England, after the Revolutionary war, "pos- sessed 500 millions more than she did before, chiefly in Consols." That notion of Consols being the equivalent of national wealth, is a curious index at once of our repute for honesty and of American financial ignorance.

England is still very dull. Mr. Gladstone has made a speech at Leith, telling us all that he "does not despond" of a decent budget, that the French Treity has increased trade by eight millions a year, and that we ought to be more tolerant in our strictures on American action. It was the utterance of a man of fine nature, but, except in its financial paragraphs, contained little of interest. Mr. Gilpinalso has spoken, arguing on the .A_merichn side in a style which de- stroys the effect of his words. Will the advanced Liberals never learn that their duty is to be national, provided nation- ality is compatible with principle, and that, with that one reservation, their sympathies are due to their countrymen. Mr. Beresford Hope has also delivered another of his lec- tures on behalf of the South. He wants to see England allied with the South, and argues that slavery must, in a State brought into direct contact with Europe, finally- disappear, while abolition must produce a carnival of lust and massacre. In short, By a treaty made between the Queen and the Emperor of Morocco, at Tangiers, on the 24th October, 1861, having for its object to assist the Emperor of Morocco in the discharge of his obligations to Spain, and thereby to secure the prompt evacuation of Tetuan, the British Government lends itself to mediate a loan for Morocco with the money-lenders in London. What is in fact engaged, is this : our London money merchants are to find 426,000/. for the Emperor of Morocco ; as security for this loan he pledges fifty per cent. of the customs duties of all the ports of Morocco (which are said generally to amount in all to 322,904/. per annum), and this sum a commissioner appointed by Her Majesty is to receive half-yearly, and pay out of it the interest on the debt, and the sinking fund destined to redeem it, to the agents of the contractors for the loan. In fact, the Go- vehiment lends its quasi-guarantee to the loan; for the Emperor contracts with the Queen to pay the customs duties to her servant, and any breach of this obligation would be a breach of treaty. The Government, again, is of course responsible for what their own commissioner does with the money, so that in fact any irregularity in the payment of the interest will be a responsibility on the Go-- vernment. We cannot imagine any more mistaken and in- jurious policy than this practice of lending the guarantee, or quasi-guarantee, of the Crown to pecuniary operations of private money-lenders. The evacuation of Tetuan is a trifle in the balance against so vicious a principle. If we are to guarantee to any extent, however partial and construc- tive, all the loans for which moneyless nations may wish to contract in Lombard-street, we shall be embroiled in endless quarrels. If done by the Government at all, it should be done directly on their own responsibility. Nothing is more dan- gerous than these quasi-guarantees, which involve a moral without an actually legal obligation. "It air quite right against a king To dror resolves an' triggers, But libbaty's a kind of thing That don't agree with niggers."

The King of Prussia opened Parliament on the 14th inst. in a speech which explains his policy with tolerable clearness. He is disposed to enter the path of reform and of unity, but he will not move very fast towards either object.- If his subjects want any special change, they are welcome to have it, but they must not reduce the army, or trench on the prerogative. If, again, other German States, like Coburg, will yield their armies to Prussia or help to create her navy, the monarch has no objection ; but then the power and se- curity of Prussia must not be endangered. The speech seems to have been well received, the good Germans quite understanding the value of a Prince who is never one step in advance of the people he governs. The Cingalese have a notion that an angel, clothed in a muslin robe, flits once a year across Adam's Peak ; when the sweep of the robe has worn down the Peak the sins of man- kind will be remitted,—a notion which precisely meets the German idea of political progress.

The Saturday _Review of last week had an article agaes strong writing.

An Amazon has appeared in the Confederate ranks curious symptom of the enthusiasm which seems to pr there. In an engagement at Newmarket, near Fort 111 o a woman, mounted on a beautiful horse, rode fearlessl before the rest of the cavalry, into the thickest part of the fight. She dashed up to the captain of the 20th Regiment, and fired a pistol at him. "When he turned round, she smiled and rode off." The new Penthesilea was more fortu- nate than the old, and met with a more compassionate Achilles, who would not return her fire. The Yankees are not too scrupulous, 'but they appear to be more chivalrous than the Myrmidons.

Not only is the feminine enthusiasm, but the masculine common sense, as yet rather unequally distributed. The reply of Captain Semmes, of the Confederate ship Sumter, now at Cadiz, to the charge of Mr. Welles, the Federal Secretary to the Navy, that the Sumter was "piratical," printed in yesterday's Times, is in its way an effective, if rather vulgar, production. He has a regular commission from Mr. JA'erson Davis, and boasts of having burnt three Northern ships during his voyage from Martinique, and liberated a fourth only because it had an English cargo on board. The cause of independence seems to have overshadowed in the minds of the South all the evil and shameful excuses which first induced them to claim independence ; the love of mere empire has too much swallowed up in the minds of the North the righteous reasons which induced them to claim empire.

The Catholic Pope is fighting the Greek one, and seems to be winning the game. At least, the Czar has consented to receive a Nuncio at St. Petersburg, who will be, he may rely on it, Advocate-General for the Poles. The Pope, men- tioning the subject in Consistory, announced his resolve to request the release of the Archbishop of Warsaw, condemned to a year's imprisonment, and the recal of the priests now exiled to Siberia. He will very likely obtain his demands. The Russian Court is wise in its generation, and the Polish clergy once paralyzed by the Pope, Czartoryski's best weapon breaks in his hand. Now, as ever, the Papal _power is strong in proportion to its distance from Rome. Pio Nono may release a prelate in Warsaw, but he cannot save the bishop condemned at Pistols. The sufferer, Bishop Carli, was, if we mistake not, once Bishop of Agra, and built a church, the steeple of which he promised should tower above the Crescent on the Taj. In spite of the architects he succeeded, and his cathedral is the "tallest" edifice in India.

The Spanish fleet has arrived in Mexico, and the army, on the 9th of December, occupied Vera Cruz. The local go- vernor issued orders to all inhabitants to abstain from deal- ing with the invaders, and to send their horses into the in- terior, but it is rumoured that thepeople received theSpaniards well. The Spanish Commander, Gassetti, issued an address telling his soldiers their mission would not end till they had won the affections of the Mexicans. Unless the original word was Mejicanas, the period fixed is a little indefinite, but the Commander, in an address to the inhabitants, disclaims the idea of conquest. The French squadron was off the town, and the English on its way from Jamaica. The American press declares the North will not interfere unless Spain intends to retain permanent possession. In that case, they will put the "Monroe doctrine in force." Suppose the South helps on Spain ?

The fate of the Burke expedition from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria has at last been ascertained, and one journal recovered. Mr. Burke and two comrades died at Cooper's Creek of fatigue and hunger, but it was on their return. They had crossed the continent to the sea, and ascertained that the interior is not a sea, nor a saline marsh, nor a barren desert, but land apparently culturable ; an im- mense gain for science, and for Australia. It is hoped that a second and more minute journal may be discovered, and that the single survivor, who reached Melbourne the day before the steamer sailed, may afford some more information. Of the camels which accompanied the expedition two sur- vived till they were killed for food.

Humbert, Prince of Piedmont, and heir to the kingdom of Italy, made his political debut on Sunday last, the 12th instant, in receiving a deputation of the National Rifle As- sociation, of which he has been elected President. The Prince welcomed the deputation in his own state apartments, and his reply was modest and princely. He spoke of the hopes and national unity of. Italy as befitted one who may probably be the first to unite the whole realm under his sceptre, certainly the first heir to the inheritance, in mo- dern times. He is spoken of as an eager student as well as a brave soldier, and as combining all the polish of refined Its- ban scholarship with his father's masculine virtues. Should he live to succeed to the crown, he will be Humbert the Fourth of Piedmont, but the First of Italy.

It is said that there will be nine candidates for the Chair of Modern History at Oxford, and the names mentioned are those of Mr. J. A. Froude, of Exeter; Mr. C. H. Pearson, of Oriel ; both well known as men of great historical know- ledge and eminence ; Mr. E. A. Freeman, of Trinity ; Mr. W. W. Shirley, of Wadham ; Mr. Shepherd, also of Wad- ham ; Mr. J. T. Rogers and Captain Burrows, both.. of Mag- dalen Hall ; Mr. G. Broderick, of Merton ; and Mr. Oakley, of Magdalen. The election must, we should think, lie between the first two, or at most the first four, candidates whom we have named. The electors are a board, consisting of the Home Secretary, the Foreign Secretary, the Primate, the Dean of the Court of Arches, and the Warden of All Souls. The election will take place in March.

Fragre.—The quinquennial census of France, which was taken on the 1st of January, 1862, has been published in the Mottiteur. The entire population of France, which was in 1856, 36,039,364, is now 37,382,225, showing an increase of 1,342,861. Out of this number, however, 669,059 have been acquired by annexation, and the true increase is only 673,802, or at the rate of 134760 a year, or about two-thirds of the "'mesh rate. This result is an improvement on those published in former years, which showed the annual increase to be little more than 60,000, and disposes of the assertion that the population is stationary. The increase extends through 57 depart- ments, the highest rate being in the Seine, 226,241, corresponding to 13 per cent. ; Nord, 91,027, or 7 per cent. ; Rhone, 36,502, or 5 per cent. ; Bouches-du-RhOme, 33,747, or 7 per cent. ; Seine-et-Oise, 28,894, or 5 per cent. ; Gironde, 26,436, or 4 per cent. This would indicate that the tendency of the population is, as in England, to seek the great cities, Paris, Bordeaux, and Marseilles, while districts like the Basses-PyrOnees !gradually decline. The present administrative division of France is into 89 departments, 373 arrondissements, 2938 cantons, and 37,510 communes.

The French Press generally praises the action of America in sur- renderinc, Mason and Slidell to the demand of the civilized world, and the :facial organs think the incident has increased the influence of France. The Orleanist Debate, however, complains that France has interfered against the side for which the white flag gained such victories. The Government is said to be relieved by the termination of the affair, as war would have rendered an immediate loan indis- pensable. The Revue des Deux Mantles, in an article from the pen of M. de Forcade, remarks that the planters will never be able to sell cotton so cheaply again, as they will have to pay an increased price for machinery from the North, increased taxes and increased freight ; a remark partly erroneous, as the South, with no import duties, will draw machinery from England, run its cotton in English vessels, and have only its increased taxes to add to the price. The high Northern tariff deprived the South both of cheap machinery and low freights. M. Forcade lays great stress on the sounder doctrine that slave culture exhausts the soil, arguing that slavery confined within limits inevitably wears itself out. It is said that the American civil war causes immense distress in. France, particularly at Lyons, St. Etienne, and Rheims. Subscriptions are being collected for the poor, but the State will be compelled to ad- vance to their help.

The Emperor has assumed the right of nominating the Grand Master of the Masonic Order, and has appointed Marshal Magnan.

%el.—The debate in the Senate on the vote of confidence has e'nded in favour of Baron Rieasoli. It was in no way remarkable, the subject having been exhausted in the Chamber, except for a speech made by the Premier on the 15th instant. He said : "At Rome the destinies, not only of Italians, but of humanity, will be accomplished. It may be that at this very moment our destinies are ripening." When Called on to explain this enigmatical sentence, the Baron observed : "I expressed myself thus on the Roman question because, being a moral question, it makes progress every day," but he probably relies more in his own mind on the ill-health of the Pope. There is no visible change in Rome, but we are informed, on unim- peachable authority, that the Papal efforts to revolutionize Naples are failures, that the French Legitimists, who really guide them, are tired of the expense, and that the Pope is most melancholy at his present position. The Italian Government continues its efforts to arm itself, and has contracted for 675,000 stand of arms, of which 445,000 will be delivered in 1.860-61. A much larger number is required, the National Guards alone numbering 754,000 men. This number of course is nominal, but the effective strength is probably not less than half a million, and those who are armed do turn out for service very readily, even in the South. Ricasoli, during the recent debate, acknowledged his obligation to the guard of Naples, and that of Palermo this week suppressed an attempt at reaction by force. The conscription and the tobacco duty have been extended to Sicily, and the Royal Lieutenancy in the island has been abolished, a mea- sure expected to be unpopular. An attempt is being made to collect a census of all Italy, which, however, will fail in some districts, the populace not understanding the measure. The result will be curi- ously watched, as the population of Southern Italy has probably been underrated.

The Municipality of Naples has begun to act, and has cleared away all beggars and all stall-keepers who formerly occupied the pavements in some of the principal streets. The beggars have been sent to the Albergo dei Poveri, but the stall-keepers complain bitterly, and talk of Masaniello, and the National Guard was turned out to meet an expected resistance. None occurred ; but the Italian Government, like that of England, having suppressed the convents, must institute some kind of poor-law. No further eruption of Vesuvius has occurred, but deleterious gases are pouring up through the town of Torre del Greco, and even through the water some fathoms from shore.

Tnissia.—The text of the King of Prussia's speech to his Chambers has been received. His Majesty spoke of the "irreparable loss in- flicted on a great and friendly king.dom united to his own by the dearest bonds of relationship," congratulated members on the prosperity of the kingdom, promised an extension of the railway system, and ob- served that measures of high importance would be brought forward which would "show that his Government was not averse to reforms, rendered necessary by the actual state of things." He announced that the finances were in a satisfactory state, and hoped that the ex- traordinary credits opened for the army would be covered by the surplus, but deprecated further economy in the military budget. The laws of conscription for the navy must be placed on a legal basis, and his Majesty regretted that "his serious and incessant efforts to effect a pro.per revision of the military constitution of the Germanic Confederation have not, as yet, to his great regret, been attended with any satisfactory results. Meantime his Government is endea- vouring to open the way, by separate conventions with individual States,. to a greater uniformity in the military institutions." His Government would "incessantly work in favour of reforms which, responding to the real situation, will more energetically concentrate the strength of the German people, and put Prussia in a position to favour in a more efficacious manner the interests of the common .country." The speech has been well received, and is understood to mean that Prussia will take every opportunity of uniting Germany ander her own military leadership.

iniltia.—The Austrian Government has definitively refused to share its right to the Presidency of the German Confederation with Prussia, unless all Germany will consent totee her non-Ger- manic possessions, which is impossible. TheVaril Emperor is at Venice, where the people remain ha-doors rather than meet him, refusing even to enter the theatre, but where General Benedek assures him that the army, whatever its nationality, is devoted to Austria and to its illustrious House. Considerable interest has been felt in a sudden summons of Count Recliberg to Venice, which is supposed to have some connexion with the Italian or the Eastern question; but the story reads like a piece of continental gobemoucherie, such as is retailed at Brussels every morning. The Reichsrath has done no- thing noticeable during the week, but we see it reported that the declaration of martial law in Pesth was required, crime having fright- fully increased, and taken the form of brigandage. We suppose there is some political discontent, and probably some active resist- ance to the tax-gatherers, which in official dialect means brigandage.

3lltrini.—The Spanish expedition arrived at Vera Cruz, as we stated last week, on the 8th ultimo. The city was undefended, though it is said—falsely we believe—that one hundred rifled cannon were found in the castle; but the Governor, on retiring in obedience to orders, pro- claimed that no citizen should communicate with the interior, or with the invaders, under penalty of death or confiscation of pro- perty; while all horses must be sent into the interior or to the na- tional army. The Spanish commander, Manuel Gassetti, landed on the following day and issued three proclamations. In the first, he congratulated the troops, told them their mission had but begun, for that they must avenge the insults offered to Spain, and "recon- quer the affections" of the Mexicans; the second reassured the people, as Spain intended no conquest; and the third placed Vera Cruz in a state of siege, and ordered general disarmament. It is said the Spaniards were well received, but the order to disarm does not exactly indicate confidence. The French squadron arrived in the bay a very few days after, and awaited the English, which was to leave Havanna on the 1st of January.

Itutralig.—The only political question at the latest advices dis- cussed at Sydney was the right of the colony to sell the clergy re- serves—half a million of acres. They were taken away from the Church some years since, but the law officers hold that Government, in revoking the charter, became trustee of the lands for religious purposes. The Assembly has twice passed a bill for selling the Lands, but the Legislative Council has rejected it. ' At Melbourne, the topic of conversation is the expedition of Mr. Burke, the result and fate of which will be found described under our local column. We need here only remark that the only informa- tion which has reached England is contained in a very hurried letter from the Governor of Victoria to Sir Roderick Murchison.

lurtrita.—The American journals brought by the two last mails con- tain in full the text of the diplomatic correspondence relative to the Trent affair. The first despatch on the subject is one from Mr. Seward to Mr. Adams, and is dated November 30th. Mr. Seward, while expressing his satisfaction at the tone adopted by Lord Pal- merston during an interview with Mr. Adams reported by the latter, suggests also that "the British Government had been inattentive to the currents which seemed to be bringing the two countries into col- lision." In conclusion, he briefly returns to the Trent affair, the intelligence of which had just reached him, and without entering into the merits of the case distinctly, states that the act had not been specially advised by the Fedemls. A despatch from Earl Russell to Lord Lyons, also dated Nov. 30th, relates the particulars of the Trent outrage, and directs Lerd Lyons, in case Mr. Seward should not offer to restore the Commissioners,together with an apology for the aggres- sion, to propose those terms as the only ones which could satisfy the British nation. in a private letter, Earl Russell directs Lord Lyons to talk the matter over with Mr. Seward some days before reading the despatch to him. A subsequent despatch from Earl Russell to Lord Lyons, dated December 19th, mentions that Mr. Adams had called at the Foreign- Office that morning, and had read the despatch addressed to him lay Mr. Seward on the 30th November, and proceeds to reply to several charges of alleged partiality towards the Southern States contained therein. Earl Russell also relates some conversation which took place on this occasion between himself and Mr. Adams, in the course of which the latter asked what would be the course pursued by the British Government in case of a refusal to surrender the prisoners. Earl Russell replied that nothing would be decided on that point until the reply actually arrived. Mr. Seward's reply is dated De- cember 20th, and sets out by representing several modifications in the facts of the case, as stated by Earl Russell. Mr. Seward then goes into the question of whether or not Captain Wilkes's. proceeding were in accordance with international law, which, he says, involved the following_inquiries :

1st. Were the persons named and their supposed despatches con- traband of war?

2nd.. Might Captain Wilkes lawfully stop and search the Trent for these contraband persons and despatches ? 3rd. Did he exercise that right in a lawful and proper manner?

4th. Having found the contraband persons on board and in pre- sumed possession of the contraband despatches, had he a right to capture the persons ?

5th. Did he exercise the right of capture in the manner allowed and recognized by the law of nations ? He then enters into a lengthened legal argument, an analysis of which will he found in another column. The conclusion he finally arrives at is thus expressed:

"If I decide this case in favour of my own Government I must disallow its most cherished principles, and reverse and for ever abandon its essential policy. The country cannot afford the sacrifice. "If I maintain those principles and adhere to that policy, I must surrender the case itself.

" It will be seen, therefore, that this Government could not deny the justice of the claim presented to us in this respect upon its merits. "We are asked to do to the British cation just what we have always insisted all nations ought to do to us.

"The claim of the British Government is not made in a discourteous manner. The Government, since its first organization, has never used more guarded lan- guarei in a similar case.

"In coming to my conclusion I hare not forgotten that if the safety of this Union required the detention of the captured persons, it would be the right and

duty of the Government to detain them. But the effectual check and waning proportions of the existing insurrection, as well as the comparative unimportance of the captured persons themselves, when dispassionately weighed, happily forbid me from resorting to that defence.

"Nor am I unaware that American citizens are not in any case to be unne- cessarily surrendered for any purpose into the keeping of a foreign State. Only the captured persons, however, or others interested in them, could justly raise a question on that ground.

"Nor have I been tempted at all by suggestions that cases might be found in history where Great Britain refused to yield to other nations, and even to our- selves, claims like that which is now before us. Those cases occurred when Great Britain, as, well as the United States, was the home of generations which, with all their peculiar interests and passions, have passed away. She could in no other way so effectually disavow any such inquiries, as we think she does now, by assuming as her own the grounds upon which we stood. "It would tell little for our claims to the character of a just and magna- nimous people, if we should so far consent to be guided by the law of retaliation as to lift up buried injuries from their graves to oppose against what national consistency and the national conscience compel us to regard as a claim intrinsically right.

"Putting behind me all suggestions of this kind, I prefer to express my satis- faction that by the adjustment of the present case upon principles confessedly American, and yet, as I trust, mutually satisfactory to both of the nations con- cerned, a question is finally and rightly settled between them which heretofore, exhausting not only all forms of peaceful discussion, but also the arbitrament of war itself, for more than half a century alienated the two countries from each other, and perplexed with fears and apprehensions all other nations. " The four prisoners in question are now held in military custody at Fort Warren in the date of Massachusetts. They will be cheerfully liberated. Your lordship will please indicate a time and place for receiving them."

Earl Russell's answer, published in Tuesday night's Gazette, is dated January 11th, and contains the following passage :

"Proceeding at once to the main points in discussion between us, her Majesty's Government have carefully examined how far Mr. Seward's note, and the conduct it announces, complies substantially with the two proposals I have recited.

"With regard to the first—viz, the liberation of the prisoners with a view to their being again placed under British protection, I find that the note concludes by stating that the prisoners will be cheerfully liberated, and by calling upon your Lordship to indicate a time and place for receiving them. "No condition of any kind is coupled with the liberation of the prisoners. "With regard to the suitable apology which the British Government had a right to expect, I find that the Government of the United States distinctly and unequivocally declares that no directions had been given to Captain Wilkes, or to any other naval officer, to arrest the four persons named, or any of them, on the Trent, or on any other British vessel, or on any other neutral vessel, at the place where it occurred, or elsewhere.

"I find, further, that the Secretary of State expressly forbears to justify the particular act of which Her Majesty's Government complained. If the United States Government had alleged that, although Captain Wilkes had no previous instruction for that purpose, be was right in capturing the persons of the four prisoners, and in removing them from the Trent on board his own vessel, to be afterwards carried into a port of the United States, the Government which had thus sanctioned the proceeding of Captain Wilkes would have become responsible for the original violence and insult of the act. But Mr. Seward contents himself with stating that what has happened has been simply an inadvertency, consisting in a departure by a naval officer, free from any wrongful motive, from a rule no certainly established, and probably by the several parties concerned either imper- fectly understood or entirely unknown. The Secretary of State goes on to affirm that for this error the British Government has a right to expect the same repa- ration which the United States, as an independent State, should expect from Great Britain, or from any other friendly nation, in a similar case.

"Her Majesty's Government having carefully taken into consideration the liberation of the prisoners, the delivery of them into your hands, and the explana- tions to which I have just referred, have arrived at the conclusion that they constitute the reparation which her Majesty and the British nation had a right to expect.

" It gives her Majesty's Government great satisfaction to be enabled to arrive at a conclusion favourable to the maintenance of the most friendly relations between the two natious. I need not discuss the modifications in my state. ment of facts which Mr. Seward says be has derived from the reports of officers of his Government."

In conclusion, Earl Russell adverted to the conclusions drawn by Mr. Seward as to what Captain Wilkes might have done without violating the law of nations :

"It is not necessary that I should here discuss in detail the five questions ably argued by the Secretary of State ; but it is necessary that I should say that her ldajesty's Government differ from Mr. Seward in some of the conclusions at which he has arrived. And it may lead to a better understanding between the two nations on several points of international law which may during the present contest or at some future time be brought into question, that I should state to you, for communication to the Secretary of State, wherein those differences con- sist; I hope to do so in a few days.

" In the mean time it will be desirable that the commanders of the United States cruisers should be instructed not to repeat acts for which the British Go- vernment will have to ask for redress, and which the United States Government cannot undertake to justify."