The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-28
DECISION OF THE o. 8. G0vERNMLNT IN
THE TRENT AFFAIR.

IeaSeU from FORTRESS w arren Hon. James M
Mason and Hon. John Slidell. taken from on
board the British steamer Trent, by the U.
S. steamer San Jacinto, some weeks since.
The National Intelligencer contains the
correspondence in relation to the release.
1t appears that on the Goth of November,
Secretary Seward notified Minister Adams
that Com. Wilkes had acted without the in
structions of the U. s. government.
On the same day Earl Russell wrote to
Lord Lyons, giving information Of the Trent
affair. trusting that the United States would,
Of its own accord, offer to the British gov
Eminent such redress as alone would satisfy
the British nation, namely the liberation OF
the four gentlemen and their delivery in or
der that they may be again placed under
British protection-and suitable apology
for the aggression which has been commit.
ted" and directing that if these terms were
not offered by Mr.. Seward they should be
proposed to him.
Lord Lyons left copy of the despatch
with Mr.. Seward. who, on Thursday last,
replied thereto in a letter occupying three
columns and half Of the Intelligencer, dis
GUESSING the whole subject and concluding as
follows:-
The four persons in question are now
held in military custody at Fort Warren, in
the State of Massachusetts. They will be
cheerfully liberated. Your lordship will
please indicate time and place for receiving
them" -
TO which Lord Lyons responded yester-
day as follows:-
i"SlR: have this morning received the
note which you did me the honor to address
to me yesterday, in answer to Earl RusselPs
despatch Of the 30th Of November last, rela.
tive to the removal Of Mr.. Mason, Mr.. Sill
dell, Mr.. Mcfarland, and Mr. Eustls from
the British mail packet Trent"
1 will, without any loss of time, forward
~ her Majestys Government copy of the
iurportaft communication which you have
made to me-.
will also without delay, do myself the
honor to confer with you personally on the
arrangements to be made for delivering the
four gentlemen to me, in order that they
may be again placed under the protection of
the British flag"
Appended TO the correspondence is des-
patch from the French Minister Of Foreign
Affairs, to the French Minister at Washing
ton, sustaining the claim of the British Gov.
erument as just and equitable, and urging
the United States to acquiese in the demand.
This despatch was read to Secretary Seward,
who responds on the 9th Of December, that
the President had previous to the arrival Of
the despatch, resolved to remit the gentle.
men in question to the protection Of the Bri-
fish Government.
FROM BELow.-Captain Jones, who arriv-
ell up from below the Confederate batteries,
reports that, when passing Maryland Point,
he saw large schooner sunk, and propel-
ler either sunk Or grounded In shoal water
Coming up, he met small vessel with pur-
ton OF her bow stove in.
photographic dispatch from Washington
reports that " it is generally believed the
Trent affair has been adjusted" Other &C.
counts say, it If the prevailing belief that
the Trent affair cannot be settled.
The steamboat Talocca, has arrived in
Washington. having passed the Potomac
batteries without being fired at. She is in
tended for the new U. S. government ferry
beat at Georgetown, to bring across army
supplies, &c.
The general appropriation bill, passed Ivy
the Confederate Congress, appropriatss $780,
200, 900 for the Southern army, and 50, OOO,-
900 for the navy. A feet for the South F"
is now urgently called for 10 the Southern
papers.
The U. s. frigate Santiago captured on
the 18th in the Gulf Of Mexico, British
schooner from Matamoras, bound to Havan-
ma. with q cargo of WOOL, and also schoon.
or from Havana to Brazos, taking from her
Mr.. Zachaue, of New Orleans, and several
others, suspected Of being Southern agents.
They were transferred to the U. S. steamer
Baltic, and sent to New York, where they
have arrived. and been placed 10 Fortress
La Fayette.