ALABAMA CLAIMS. 117 



operations, — could not discover in these incidents any 

 negligence or any violation of neutrality on the part 

 of the British Government. Sir Alexander chose not 

 to remember that the affair of the Oreto or Florida 

 was, from the beginning to the end, according to the 

 confession of Lord John Eussell himself, a scandal 

 and a reproach to the laws of Great Britain, and still 

 more, we may add, a scandal and a reproach to cer- 

 tain of the B/itish Ministers, of whose honor Sir Alex- 

 ander assumes to be the special champion. 



When Count Sclopis had concluded the reading of 

 his opinion. Sir Alexander Cockburn renewed his mo- 

 tion for the hearing of Counsel ; but was again over- 

 ruled by the Tribunal, which assigned for its next 

 Conference the consideration of the case of the Ala- 

 hama. 



SPECIAL ARGUMENTS ORDERED ON CERTAIN POINTS. 



The Tribunal met again on the 25th ; and the Bar- 

 on d'ltajubd then made a precise and formal propo- 

 sition, calling on the Counsel of Great Britain for a 

 written or printed Statement or Argument in elucida- 

 tion of three questions of law, namely : 



" I. The question of due diligence treated in a genei'al man- 

 ner. 



" 2. The effect of commissions possessed by Confederate ves- 

 sels of war which had entered into British ports. 



" 3. The supplies of coal furnished to Confederate vessels in 

 British ports," 



And with liberty to the Counsel of the United States 



to reply either orally or in writing as the case may be. 



This j^roi^o.sition was adopted by the Tribunal. 



