Detention of Lord Lyons' dispatches.
--The following, from the St. Louis Bulletin of the 10th, explains a dispatch published a few days since:We have been permitted to make the following extracts from a letter received in this city a few days since. We regard it as entirely reliable:
‘ Washington, Aug. 3.--Among the on dits circulated in this city is one of much importance, as showing the wisdom of our premier in conducting foreign negotiations.
It appears that the day of the battle of Manassas was that fixed for the sailing of the Cunard steamer. The news at first received was so much in favor of the Federals that certain prominent Northern men raised $1,500 to pay the expenses of detaining the boat till Monday, and telegraphed the arrangement to this city. When the tide of battle turned, and it became evident that ‘"Forward to Richmond"’ meant ‘"Back to the Potomac,"’ an imperative message was sent by the authorities here to send the steamer off immediately. She sailed, therefore, without any news.
’ The British consul at New York immediately telegraphed this fact to Lord Lyons, who, in turn, dispatched to Halifax to detain the steamer at that point until his dispatches should arrive there.
When he had received correct information regarding the battle, he took a dispatch to the telegraph office and supposed it would be sent immediately. Something occurring to arouse his suspicion, he, accompanied by his secretary, drove to the telegraph office and requested that his dispatches should be repeated from Halifax. This forced the operator to acknowledge that they had not been forwarded. ‘"By whose orders are my dispatches suppressed?"’ queried the indignant Briton. ‘"By those of Secretary Seward,"’ was the reply. The British representative drove immediately to the State Department and inquired of the premier if such orders had been given. He replied in the affirmative. ‘"My passports! "’ was the stern demand of England. Seward hesitated. A Cabinet consultation was held. The dispatches were sent, and Lord Lyons reluctantly withdrew his demand, but informed the astonished Cabinet that he should refer the matter to his Government.
