Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-11
NUMBER 80

was nfed from your ship, again across |
the course of the Trent. When the Trent got
within hailing distance, her captain inquired
what was wanted2 The reply was understood
to be, "They would send boat" Both vessels
were then stationary, with steam shut of. A
boat very soon put off from your ship, followed
Immediately by two other boats, with full crews,
and armed with muskets and side arms. A lieu
tenant in the naval uniform Of the United States
Navy, and with side arms, boarded the Trent
and in the presence of most of the passengers,
then assembled on the upper deck, said to
Captain Moir that be csmo with orders to de-
mand his passenger-Iist The captain refused
to produce it, and formally protested against
any right to visit his ship for the purpose indi-
Gated. After some conversation, impsrtiug re-
newed protests on the part Of the captain
against the alleged object Of the visit, aud on
the part of the officer of the San Jacinto that
he had only to execute his orders, the latter
said that two gentlemen, naming Mr.. Slidsll
aud Mason, were known to be on board, as also
two other gentlemen, naming Mr.. Eustis and
Macfarland, and that his orders were to take
and carry them on board the San Jdcinto. 1t
should have been noted that on first addressing
the captain, he announced himself as a lieu
tenant Of the United States steamer San
Jaoinlo. The four gentlemen thus named beiug
present, the lieuteRant addressed Mr.. Sli
dell, and afterwsrd Mr.. Mason, repsstbg
that his orders were to take them, together
board his ship. Messrs. Stidell aud Mason, iu
reply, protested in the presence of tho Captain
of the Trent, his officers and passengers, against
such threatened violation of their persons aud
their rights, aud Informed the lieutenant that
they would not leave the ship they were in uu.
less compelled by the employment of actual
force greater than they could resist aud Messrs.
Eustis and Macfarland united with them in ex-
pressing like purpose, That officer stated
that he hoped be would not be compelled to
resort to the use of force, but if il would be-
come necessary 10 employ it in order TO execute
his orders, be was prepared to do so. He was
answered by the undersigned that they would
submit to such force alone. The lieutenant
then went TO the gangVay where his boats
were, he undersigned going st the same time
to their state. rooms on the deck next below,
followed by Captain Moir and by the other
passengers. The lieutenant returned with
party of his men, a portion Of whom were
aimed with side arms, and others appearing to
be squad of mBriDes having muskets and
bsyonets. Mr.. Sidel was in his state room
Immediately by and in full view. The lieuten-
ant then said to Mr. Mason that having his
force now present he hoped to be relieved from
the necessity of calling it into actual use. That
gentleman again answered that he would only
submit to actual force greater than he could
overcome, when the lieutenant, and several of
his men, by bis order, took hold of him, and in
a manner and in numbers sufficient to make re
sistanee fruitless; and Mr.. Slldell joining the
group at the same time, one or more Of the
armed party took like hold of him, and those
| gentlemen at once vent inro the boat, During
this scene many of the passengers became
highly exasperated and gave vent to the
strongest expressions of Indignation, seeming
to indicate purpose of resistance on their part,
when squad armed with muskets, with bay
Onets Fixed, made sensible advance of one or
two PAGES with their arms at n charge. Itmust
| be added here, omitted in the course Of the mar
ration, that before the party left the upper
deck, an officer of the Trent, named Williams,
In the naval uniform Of Great Britain, aud
known to the passengers as having charge Of
the mails and accompanying them to England,
said to the lieutenant that as the only person
present representing his Government he felt
called upon, in language as strong and en-
pbstic he could express, to denounce the
whole proceeding as pirarical act.
Mr.. Slidell and Mr.. Mason, together with
Mr.. Eus,is and Mr.. Mcfarland, against whom
f1Ice ia like manner had been used, we're taken
10 the San Jdcinto as soon as they entered the
boat, When they reached your ship you re
ceived them near the gangway, announcing
yourself as Captain Wilkes, commander of the
snip, and condu,ted them to your cabin, which
you placed at their disposal. When the un-
dersigned came aboard they found the men
at their quarters aod the guns bearing on the
Trent. After some time occupied in bringiu Z
on board our baggage and efsc's, the San
,Jocinto proceeded to the nortbward, throug b
the Southern Channel, the Trent having been
detained from three to four hours.
The foregoing is believed to be correct mar
rative, in substance, of the facts and circum-
s'ances attending our arrest and transfer from
the British wal-steamer TO the ship under your
command, and which, We doubt not, will be
corroborated by the Lieutenant present. as well
by all who witnessed them,
The incidents here given in detail may not
have been witnessed by each one of the under
sigped, individually, but they we're by one OF
more Of them. As, for the most part, they did
not pass under your notice, we have deemed Il
proper 10 present them in this form before you
expressing the wish, if considered incorrect IL
any part, the inaccuracies may be pointed out
with respectful request that you will transmit
a copy Of the paper to the Government of the
United States together with your report of The
transaction; TO facilitate which copy is here
with ibctosed
We have the honor to be, very respectfully
your ohsdiant servants,
[signedl JOHN sLIDELL,
| J Nj. MASIN,
GEORGE GUSTIS,
J.E. MACFARLAND.
. | REPLY OF CAPTAIN WILKES
UNITED STATES STEAMER San JACINTO,
AT SEA, November IS. J
GENTLEMEN: Your letter, dated the 9th inst
was hsDotd TO me yesterday. shall transmi
1 IT. aRretdolN 70 your requesty 10 the non Oec
retary OF the Navy, with my report of the trans
actien 10 which it refers.
In reply to your wish to have any inaccura
cits it may contain pointed out, deem it m,
duty to say the facts differ materially in respec
to the time and circumstances.
! The facts in my possession are derived frOr
the log book, (tbe official record Of the ship,
: and from the reports, 10 writing, of all the of
! ficers who visited the TreRt, all Of which Wi
form a part OF my report.
= am, respectfully, your obsdient servant,
/. [Signed] CHARLES WILKES
/ PROPER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
Us. STEAMER SAN JACIHTo, November 10, 1851.
Cart Wilkes Commanding U. S. steamer San Jacinto:
SIR: Before leaving your ship we think
proper that we should s.ate that since we hay
been on board of her We have uniformly bee
70 treated with great courtesy aud attention.
Z Very respectfully, yours,
i IsiRnedl JOHN SLIDELL,
. | ...r JIM MASON,
Il | J.E MACFARLANl
GEORGE EUSTIS.
= HIGH PRIoE FOR 0YsTERs-A letter fro
Denver City, Colorado Territory, to the Free
eTick Mo. Union, contains this item;
awe had fresh oysters from Baltimore la
week, which SOLD readily at the tO'0 price efsia