"The Alabama."

Whatever may have been the wish of the English people as to the outcome of the American Civil War, there is no question but that the Government of England, represented by the Queen, was in favor of maintaining the Union of the United States. Yet the Government of England was seriously at fault in the "Alabama" matter. The "Alabama" was apparently a British cruiser. She was built by an English firm, the house of Laird, in an English dockyard; she was manned for the most part by English seamen; her gunners were English, and many of them belonged to the English Naval Reserves; she sailed under the British flag, was welcomed in British harbors, and never was in an American port. What then had the Americans to do with the "Alabama"? While in process of construction as No. "290," Mr. Adams, United States Minister at the Court of St. James, warned Lord Russell, the Minister of Foreign Affairs for England, that "290" was being built for the Confederate Government in neutral waters and by a neutral power. Lord Russell required proof; Mr. Adams asked for the detention of the vessel until he could produce the proof; but in the meantime the vessel, fully equipped as a privateer to prey upon American commerce, put to sea. One point has since been fully proven, and that is that there never was any doubt at the English dockyards as to the destination of "290." Openly and in the face of day other vessels were then being built for the same service, until at last Mr. Adams wrote to Lord Russell, "This means war." Lord Russell, in reply, "presents his compliments to Mr. Adams, and has the honor to inform him that instructions have been issued to prevent the departure of the two iron-clad vessels from Liverpool." During the two years' career of the "Alabama" on the high seas she captured seventy Northern merchant vessels.' Her plan was to hoist the British flag, decoy her victim, then display the Confederate colors and capture her prize. So skillfully was she managed by Captain Semmes that she had only two engagements with armed vessels. She sank the "Hatteras;" then, near Cherbourg, France, the "Kearsarge," an American ship of war sent out in search of the "Alabama," finished the career of this famous Confederate rover in one hour. The English Government disclaimed any responsibility, but finally paid $15,500,000 in gold as an indemnity to the United States for the two years' cruise of the "Alabama." The last installment was but lately received at Washington. The case is interesting as having established a new ruling in international marine law; the settlement is known as "The Treaty of Geneva."