The Sun.
London, England, 1861-12-03 00:00:00

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

(From the Special Correspondent of the Times.)
WASHINGTON, NOT. 19.
The news from Amex ica by this mail will need no
introduction to public notice—it is deeply and pain.
fully interesting, and nothing that I can say is re-
quired to fix upon it every thought of the nation.
Presuming that the intelligence has reached London

(either by the West India mail or by the City of
Washington, which left New York on Saturday)
before the arrival of this letter, I shall at once pro-
ceed to a brief history of this extraordinary and un-
precedented occurrence, of which full details can be
had from the American papers, and from the pas-

sengers of the Trent. If I use words such as "out-
rage " or " insult " in the remarks I shall have to

make, they will be merely the expressions most
suited to characterise such an unusual display of
force towards an allied and friendly power, and

are not intended to prejudge the issues which are
raised in this country in reference to the absolute
right of the United States to make that display and
to use that force in accordance with international

law. It appears that the United States' second-
class screw steamer San Jacinto, of 13 guns, Capt.

Wilkes, on her way back from the coast of Africa
to reinforce the blockading fleet, put into Havannah
for coal, and while there Captain Wilkes heard
that Mr. Slidell and Mr. Mason, the Commissioners
from the Confederate States to France and Eng-
land, had engaged passages on board the Royal
West India mail steamer Trent at Havannah, and
would sail for England on the 7th inst. He imme-
diately resolved to seize upon them, and for that
purpose lay out in the Bahama Channel, where
he met the Trent on the Bth of November, and
brought her to by firing round shot across her
bows. This is believed to have occurred in Spanish
waters. A boat loaded with marines was sent on

board the Trent, under the command of Lieutenant

Fairfax, who informed the captain that he had come
to arrest Mr. Mason and Mr. Slidell, his passen-
gers. Mr. Mason was on deck at the time, and Mr.
Slidell came up from his cabin almost immediately.
In one account it is said the captain refused to

show his passenger list or give any information to
Lieutenant Fairfax, and that the latter recognised
Mr. Mason from previous acquaintance, and it is
added that the latter appealed to the captain for

protection, and asked if he would permit such an
insult to his flag, to which appeal that gentleman

made an inaudible reply. It may oe inferred that
he remonstrated against the seizure, as it is known
he made a protest to Lieutenant Fairfax against the
act before the latter left the ship with his prisoners.
The gentlemen, on being informed of their danger,
went below to their cabins, but Lieutenant Fairfax
followed them, and declared he would remove them
by force if necessary. Mr. Mason and Mr. Slidell
declared they would only yield to force, and the ma-

rives, who had gone below with the officer, then

took them by the shoulders, which was a sufficient
display of force for the purpose, and the prisoners
then took leave of their families, who were induced
by the express wish of husband and father, to pro-

teed on their way to Europe in the Trent, after a
scene which is described as inexpressibly affecting.
Mr. Eustis, who was acting as secretary to Mr. Sli-
dell, and Mr. M'Farland, who was accompanying
Mr. Mason in the same capacity, were also arrested
and were transferred with their baggage and papers
to the San Jacinto, where they drew up a formal