The New York herald., 1861-12-31


IL Is, indeed, very fortunate that each Of ths
parties concerned in the Trent affair shoold
nave hero to praise and honor. The Ameri-
cans have Capt. Wilkes. from whom no settao-
ment OF the questions of international law and
no surrender of the rebel Commissioners csa
take the credit of having done good deed,
sensibly, quickly and patriotically, although
circumstances and an unapprecated courtesy
prevented his doing it thoroughly and efectn-
ally. The rebels have heroine in the person
of Miss Slidell, who slapped lieutenant in the
face, resisted the bayonet charge of ilc a
marines and screamed when she saw her be-
loved parent sticking half out Of the ships port
hole, like columbiad or a sawfsh. But, most
illustrious Of all, the English party have Com
mander Williams, letter carrier to her British
Majesty the Queen, exponent of international
law and general remonstrator and protector Of
indignant females in distress.
Captain Wilkes, the American hero, has been
dinnered and feted, as is the custom nowadays
with all popular men. He has also made
speeches; and, though we are generally regard
ed az a voluble and oratorical nation, it is only
fair to say that Captain Wilkes speeches have
been very brief, extremely modest and not aS
all egotistical. Miss Slidell has not yet had the
privilege of speaking her mind, except, per-
haps, through her brazeu trumpet. the gallant
Commander Williams; but we have not yet re-
linquished the hope that she may be Induced
either to deliver an grafton from the balcony Of
her hotel, or else to write private letter to
some friend of hers in Dixie for publication in
the columns of the Richmond Enquirer. Com
! mander Williams, the British hero, however, has
had all opportunity to vent himself in words, and
the report of the dinner which was given him
and the speech he made there appeared in yes
| terday's HERALD, and was, by long odds, the
most amusing and ridiculous account with
which the public has been favored in some
time
1t seems that about fifty gentlemen Of the
English army and navy became envious of
the rising popularity of Williams, and deter
mined to let him speak himself into universal
contempt. A dinner was therefore concocted
at the Royal Western Yacht Clubhouse, al Mill
bray, Plymouth, and Williams was seduced into
| attending the same. The old stagers of the army
| aad navy were in ecstacies when Williams ap-
peared and. as soon as the health of their
! gallant and worthy guest !" had been drunk
with ironical honors, they set Williams upon
his pins, and Immediately began to chaff, badger
aud befool the illustrious commander after the
most approved English fashion. Williams began
| by speaking of himself as g national matter"
and incidentally alluded to :" the mantle of ap-
| probation which had, been flung around his
shoulders" This tickled the jolly old sea and
! war dogs nightly, and any subsequent refer
enceS to 'the mantle ''-and such references
| were frequcnt-were hailed with roars Of laugh
ter, which the noble Williams translated into
| encouragement, ard the decorons reporter
marked as applause" So Williams,
the laughter having temporarily subsi-
ded, continued -" Which compliment, gen.
tlemen, was never looked after by me-" This
started the diners off again, and in the pa
| roxysm of mirth they shouted "Good boy"
and 1--WE believe you, Williams! Then Will
pers and to Punch, and to tell about the arrest
! of the rebel Commissioners, becoming every
moment more ridiculous as he attempted to
| be more impressive.
| 81 was a sitting" says Williams, with Q
pipe in my mouth a reading the hessays and re-
views" Here the company cheered enthusias-
| tically for Williams pipe, which was not the
! pipe of peace. The first thing that occurred
| to me-" says Williams, which l was not .
thinking of the thing at all, was that if fugi-
! tive slave put his foot upon free State he was
| free This felicitous introduction of the in
evitable nigger and the complimentary compa-
rson of Mason and Slidell to fugitive slaves.
were too much for the company, and one old
| commodore was carried out in fit of apoplexy
| induced by excessive laughter. I" THE Ameri-
| cans have applied TO me-" says Williams, the
| hexpression of a gasconader.'' At this all the
! company cried Shame" and one old colonel
! shouted pityingly, "You dom mean to say they
have dared to do that, Williams 7" Them
still unconscious of being the butt of the party.
\ Williams told how be shook hands with Lieu
| tenant Fairfax. how he saw the San JacntO at
! -, Thomas. (Which he didn't remember whether
| it was the morning of the 10th or the morning
| Of the l7th;'. how he went to Vera Cruz; how
| the Hampshire Advertiser abused him: how he
was proud TO carry her Majesty's letters; how
he had talked with the great Palmerston; how
| he was proud to introduce to them his "Orplan
! nephew how he could not afford the expense
Of commanding ship. and many other matters
| just as pertinent to the affair, in all of which
| he was encouraged by the derisve cheers and
| tremendous laughter OF the harmonious COM
| pany
| And then Williams told about Miss SlideA,
| and declared that she did slap Fairfax in the
! face, not with that vulgarity Of gesture which
had been attributed TO her." but with her arms
around her fathers neck and in her agony'-as
! If Miss Slidcll had acted like cat in fit. ssI
should be glad" says Williams, "to have Miss
Slidell's little knuckles strike me in the face,
which should have been proud to wear thu
marks forever" Williams tender susceptible
ties were too much for the company, and another