“One point, however, on which Mr. Sumner dwells, is of such urgent present importance as to make the reproduction of his remarks, at such length as our space allows, desirable. We refer to his criticism of the claims of the Confederates to belligerent rights _at sea_. Whether the ground which Mr. Sumner takes on this question be or be not tenable, whether the authorities and examples by which he supports it really make out his case, is a matter not to be decided summarily. His argument is, beyond dispute, a most masterly one, and deserves the careful attention of the English Government and its legal advisers, and will, no doubt, engage the ingenuity of writers upon International Law.” These expressions of opinion show something of the extent to which Mr. Sumner was sustained, and also the British criticism he encountered. To the latter must be added an unexpected episode. * * * * * Earl Russell was on a visit to Scotland when Mr. Sumner’s speech arrived. Being entertained at a public dinner in the Town-Hall of Blairgowrie, September 26th, he took that occasion to review the questions of the war, and especially to answer Mr. Sumner, thus making a new precedent. It is not known that any European statesman ever before made a speech criticizing a speech in another country. The part relating to us was approached by the remark, “I am speaking of what has occurred in what a few years ago were the United States of America”; and then, towards the end, he says, “The people of what were the United States, whether they are called Federals or Confederates.” The following passages belong to this answer. “It was impossible to look on the uprising of a community of five million people as a mere petty insurrection [‘_Hear! hear!_’], or as not having the rights which at all times are given to those who, by their numbers and importance, or by the extent of the territory they possess, are entitled to these rights. [_Cheers._] Well, it was said we ought not to have done that, because they were a community of Slaveholders.