The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-17


mand from the trade and for export, while prices in
at the ccsc rather better. Wheat was
quite rm and tho market tolerably actvesaes part
for future delvery-whic full prices were sustained
Corn opened hrm but closed at rather rates with
sales Of good mixed for export at 6Sc 69c aoat and
small lots a, roc Pork heavy lower sacs
of made at Sc so $14, and prime at 50 rs
So Sugars quiet with sales Of about SEQ hhds Cuba
at steady prices. Coffee quiet and sales unmporan
Freights exhibited rather tone to English ports,
while engagements to q fair extent.
Highly Important News-Capturc OF the
Rebel Commissioners, Ma som and Sill
dell.
vember one piece Of good news for the Union
follows another in rapid succession, while the
rebels may well exclaim that disasters and mis-
fortunes come not singly. On the heels of the
great naval victory at Port Royal harbor the
startling and very unexpected intelligence
reaches US from Fortress Monroe that the United
States steam frigatc San Jacinto had arrived in
Hampton Roads with Mason and Slidell, the
rebel Commissioners to England and France
and their two secretaries, prisoners, having
been taken from the British mail steamer Trent
in the channel of the Bahamas, while on their
way from Havana to ST. Thomas, en- route to
England, by an armed force from the American
frigate. The San Jacmto was to have sailed
with the prisoners on Friday evening for New
York, and will probably be here before the
HERALD reaches the hands of our readers
The arrival of this important despatch here
yesterday forenoon created intense excitement,
not only from the fact of two such men being
cure, and everybody concluded that they were
beyond the reach Of the long arm Of the govern
mcnt, but also from the grave question which
may arise from the boarding of British mail
steamer on the high seas, and taking away four
of her passengers by force. The captain protest
ed, and denounced the act as piracy; but Com
modore Wilkes took the responsibility. 1t
will be said that it is contrary to the law of
nations, and particularly adverse to the posi-
ton which our government has always assumed
on the question of the right of search; but then
it will be seen, by several French authorities
which we publish to-day, that the right to take
parties engaged in the service of the enemy
from the decks of a neutral vessel is vested in
any government. Moreover we have prece-
dent in the action Of the British government
itself, in precisely similar case, in the Irish
rebellion of lS4S, when the person of Terence
Bellew McManus was forcibly taken from an
American ship, the brig N. d. Chase, of Boston,
under protest of the officers, in the harbor OF
Cork where he had taken shelter under the
Stars and Stripes, at a time, too, after she had
cleared the port and was virtually on her voy-
age, having been lying off the harbor for six
days, waiting for a favorable wind But it is
evident Commodore Wilkes was not authorized
TO make the arrests on board of British ship,
and it is more than probable the government
will disavow the proceeding, apologize for it,
promising never to do it again, and perhaps re-
primand the naval officer for permitting his zeal
to outstrp his discretion. This is all we think
the English government can fairly demand, if it
ever does make any demand on the subject.
The English papers will probably make great
noise about it, and Palmerston and Russell will
be terribly embarrassed. But as for giving up
Mason and Slidell, now that they are in the
hands of our government, that is another affair,
and altogether out of the question. Their trunks
containing their papers are secured, and these
will afford the government most valuable infor-
nation as to the purposes and plans of the
chiefs Of the contederacy, who probably
had some new propositions to make to
England and France, offering them adj
| vantageous treaties, If not to place
scion of European royalty on . Southern
f, throne--a contamination squinted at in the
message of Governor Pickens. 1t is possible
that the papers Of the prisoners may bring to
light some such desperate scheme, and even
complicate England herself. Their capture,
therefore, is lucky event, even at the risk of a
misunderstanding with our transatlantic cousins
which can be easily settled by a little diplo-
macy, if no evidence turns up against them in
the papers Of the prisoners. Even the delay
+, will embarrass Jefferson Davis and his sham
government, while the blockade is now SO
rigidly enforced that they will find it difficult to
send away another ship with their emissaries.
The coincidence Of these arrests with the ar
rests of Senator Gwin and his companions on
board the California steamer, and their just ar.
irving at New York at the same time with Mason
and Slidell. is very singular--indeed, the clergy
| to-day will probably call it providential-