XXXIV.) ON MARITIME LAW.

8za

Position that no power would dream of laying hands on
you. I think I told you that all our commercial and trading
community have already pronounced in favour of exempting
Private property from capture by government ships, as first
proposed by Mr. Marcy. In the ensuing session of Parliament
 I intend to make a speech on the subject of maritime
law, in which I will undertake to prove that we, above all
other countries, are interested in carrying out all the above
three propositions of reform. With the exception of the
aristocratic classes, who have an instinctive leaning for any
policy which furnishes excuses for large naval and military
 establishments, everybody will be favourable to the
change.”

1862,

“Zr. 8s.

Maritime Law.

“ Midhurst, Feb. 2. (To A. W. Paulton.)—I hope to” see
you on Wednesday evening. I have an idea (about which
we can talk) of occupying ground in the House upon the
subject of rights of neutrals by giving notice early of something
 of this kind: That in the opinion of the House the
questions affecting belligerent rights and the rights of
neutrals are in an unsatisfactory state, and demand the
early attention of her Majesty’s Government.’
“ A Committee on Shipping in 1860 reported in favour of
adopting Marcy’s plan of exempting private property altogether
 from capture by Government ships as well as privateers,
 but nothing was done.
“Now, I think such a motion must be agreed to, hecause
 all parties are dissatisfied with matters as they wers
left at Paris in 1856. In my speech I should advocate :—
“1st. The making of private property sacred from capture
by armed ships of all kinds.
“2nd. Exempting neutral ships from search or visitation
in time of war as in time of peace.