Worcester daily spy., 1861-12-13
LATER FROM EUROPE.
THE MASON-SLlDELL AFFAIR IN
ENGLAND.

Mason and Slidcll aboard the Trent was
known in England, and was the che topic.
LETTER ABOUT THE SEIZURE
A letter detailing an account OF the seizure
of the traitor commissioners, states that a shell
was fred at the Trent, exploding within one
hundred yards. 1t also states that the indig-
nation on board the Trent was intense, and all
the passengers were ready tor fight, if the
captain wished also, that the captain Of the
Trent supplied stores to the San Jacinto, Tor
the Sustenamce of Slidell and Mason. The
dispatches of the traitor commissioners
capped the vigilance OF the officer OF the San
JRcinto, and safely arrived in the La Plata, in
charge OF gentleman OF the party. On ar
irving at Southampton, the remainder OF Sil'
dell and Masou's families and suite went on
board the Nashville, aud the next day the dis
patches we've taken to London. No repairs
had yet been commenced ON the Nashville.
INDIGNArIoN MEETING AT LIVERPOOL.
On hearing the news the Liverpool shippers
flashed of at once. The following placard
was posted Oh Change -
COURAGE ON THE BRITISH FLAG THE
So 5IHERN COMM SSlQNER5 FQRGlbLH TAKEN
FROM A BRITISH MAIL ) SrEAMERn 4 Public
Meeting will held in the Cotton SalesrOom, at three
o 'clOch p. NJ.
The room was crowded to excess. The
chair was occupied by James Spence ESD,
who read the following resolution =
Resolved, That this meeting having heard
with Indignation that an American federal
ship of-war has f1rcbY taken from a British
mail steamer, certain passengers who were
proceeding peaceably under the shelter oi the
British flag, from one neutral port to another,
do earnestly cali upon the government to as
sert the dignity OF the British Tag, by requr-
ing prompt reparation for this outrage"
Tue resolution was received with great en-
thusasn. The resolution was advocated by
the chairman, who considered that lie was eX-
pressing the feeling OF the people to press on
government the imperative necessity OF vindi-
eating the honor and dignity Of the British
name and flag.
MIR. John Campbell considered that there
was reason to doubt whether the facts related
and acted on by this meeting, were in reality
breach OF international law, and referred 10
the opinions OF the law officers OF the crown,
as being in some measure inclined to SHOW
that such step, as taken with respect to the
southern com missi0nerS, was justtabe under
the existing state OF international law, and
urged the propriety OF postponiug the consld-
GRAFTON Of the subject until tomorrow.
Mr.. r0rr sustained DIr. Campbeil's views.
The chairman suggested that to meet the Oh
lection Of Mr.. Campbell, to strike out the
words, "by requiring prompt reparaton tor
this outrage" and thus amended, the reSolu-
tion passed nearly unanimously. Several
merchants expires I'd their views after the ad-
iournment, that the meeting and its action was
premature.
LONDON, Nov. 27-Eveniag. most in
tense excitement exists here to-lay, under the
intelligence Uf the action OF the federal steam
er San Jacinto in taking the southern commits
sioners, Messrs. Mason aud Sdell, from the
British mail steamer Trent.
WHAT THE LONDON NEWS SAYS.
The London Daily News of the Slh says in
regard to the seizure OF Mason and Slidell:-
The remote consequences OF tins act we
shall not attempt to predict. Enough for the
present that it is one which will make it the
duty of our government to insist on ample,
complete and immediate satisfaction. Its
wanton folly bids us hope that Lieut.. Fairfax
was acting without Instructions, and that The
Washington cabinet will no sooner learn what
has taken place in the Bahama Channel than
it will disavow the ACT, restore MessrS. Mason
and Sdell, and tender the fullest apology.
Nothing short of ths Ieparati0u can be ac-
cepted. Until there has been time to receive
news from Washington, we teei bound to be
lieve that the seizure OF passengers on board
the Trent was an act as much i'll excess 0t
duty as it was in violation OF public law. No
government should know better than The
United States the lines which separate the
rights ot heigereats and neutlals respectively
our mercantile vessels stopped On the high seas
by both parties in search OF cOntrabaud. Had
Lieut.. Fairfax confined himself to demanding
Mr.. Slidel's dispatches and taken them oil
we must have acquipsCed IN bis visit as one of
the disagreeabe occurrences incident 10
voyage in the neighborh0od OF contendug Ioes /;
but tie seizure OF pres0ns stands on different
footing. In the eyes OF Mr.. Seward Messrs.
Slidell and Mason are rebels. In our eyes
they are simply passengers, and the Washing
ton government may rest assured we shall no
more permit it 10 take its rebels out OF our
vessels than we should cOEcede a similar right
to Austria or Russia,
incidents like these are irritating, but the
British people have the satisfaction OF know
ing that their affairs are under firm guidance.
With the irascib!e Earl OF Derby or the iussy
Lord Malmesbury in power, we might well be
concerned for the interests of peace at Il time
like this but, from the present government,
we may expect courage without precipltancy,
and prudence without weakness. Their course
is tolerably clear, and it will be for the gov
ernment OF the United States to determine
what shall be the future relations OF the two
countries
WHAT THE LONDON TIMES SAYS.
The London Times is more moderate in its
comments on the capture OF Mason and Shdeil
than the London News. While denying that
the federal government on its own position
that the existing war is mere rebellion, has
right to overhaul neutral ships, tie Times
nevertheless admits that England herself has
established precedents which now tell against
her in this matter OF the Trent But those
precedeuts were made under circumstances
very different, it asserts, from those winch
now occur England was then lighting for
existence, and did in those days what she
would not do now, or allow others to do. In
discussing The question whether Mason and
Slidell were liable to capture as belIigerents or
contrabands on board the Trent, the Times
states that it is the opinion of very eminent
jurists that this was not the question to Ue adj
Indicated by the boats crew. The legal course
would have been to take the ship itself into
port for adjudication. 1t concludes with the
expression OF an opinion that EugliShmen will
discuss the question with calmnesS and APP
peals to the federal states not to provoke war
by such acts.
AN IMPORTANT STATEMENT.
The London Star has this statement =
"The event has not been unanticpated. 1t
was indeed expected to have come off on this
side OF the Atlantic. 1t is notorious that
federal ships have left our own ports to watch
for the mail steamer with the deliberate nten,
tion of taking from her the commissioners.
The opinion OF the law officers OF our crown
has been taken on the sutJect, and we are as
sured it is clearly IN favor OF the right assum'
ed by the United States government
THE REBELs IN EUROPE.
Capt Pegram and Mr.. Yancey had returned
from London together and the latter states
that it has been intimated to him through
third party that the Nashville is recognized by
the British government as national vessel.
and will he ailrwp1 IN rpfit and repair at