HISTORICAL PARALLEL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 137, 24 April 1862, Page 5

HISTORICAL PARALLEL.

There is something like a historical parallel In the case of Sliddell and. Mason. taken by .the Americans, and of the subject -of the following notice :— ■■"' . '■•"• "■'■'''- '• "•' ' ' " ■■ i"[r: :■■:■:. EaHyin September last,; Mr. Henry Lawrens was taken prisoner by the British frigate Vestal, on his way front Congress to the coast of Holland, and is now confined in the Tower of London. A correspondent at PortsrnouthyEngland-, gives'the. following account of Ids capture:—" Mr. Keppell, the Captain of the Vestal, was on a cruise on the coast of America,'wheh he fell in with, a ship, which carried Mr. Lawxcns, the President 'of the American .Congress. It : wasa Dutch vessel laden with {tobacco, and bound for Holland. As soon as Air. iawrens perceived .the English armed boat make xip to. the vessel in which he was, lie threw the box that contained his letters overboard, but the lead that was annexed to it proving insufß- ! cient for sinking it immediately, one of the daring tars belonging to the Vestal, leaped from the boat -and kept it afloat till the. rest assisted liim in lifting it.. Mr. Lawrens wis bound to Holland, with a communication from the Congress, and the tenor of -hisi business ; ;was; certainly, of such a nature ns must have produced immediate hoslilitifes between England arid- the States. The papers which were found, in the box above mentioned are of the utmost importance j they contain an explicit detail of his business with .the States,; and p. full description of his--powers. Government have sent word that' Mr. Lawrens should be brbdghfc to London under a strong guard. They are in a puzzle whetherhe1 shall be received only •as ah American.captive;or be.sent to Jfewgateas a rebel."—Afpqre's JOiaryofthe American Mevolutioii, Vol. 2, page 354. ..'..'' '.. .; •'. ..;;.!