Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-12-21

Wilkes, commanding the U, S. steamer San Jacnto,
by MesSrS Mason, &C., on the 9th Nov. Capt
Wilkes replied briefly on the 18th denying some of
the statements in their protest
U. S. STEAMER SAN JAcNTo, AT sea-
November 9th
Capt. FiIkes U. s. NJ, Commanding San .Iacinto:
SIR: We deere to communicate to you, by this
memorandum the facts attending arrest yester-
day on board the British mail steamer Trent, by
your order, and our transfer to this ship.
We, the undersigned embarked at Havana on
the 7th instant, as passengers on board the Trent
Captain Moir, bound to the Island of ST. Thomas
the Trent being one of the regular mail and passen-
ger line Of the British Royal Mail Steamship Com
pany running from Vera Cruz, Uia Havana 10 ST.
Thomas, and thence to Southampton, England We
paid our passage money for the whole route from
Havana to Southampton, to the British Consul at
Havana, who acts as the agent representative of
the said steamship company, Mr.. Slidel being ac-
comPained by his family, consisting of his wife,
four children and a servant, and Mr. Eustis by his
wife and servants
The Trent left the port of Havana about o'clock
a. H., on the morning of the 7th inst, and pursued
her voyage unnerruptedly until intercepted by the
q. S. steamer San Jacinto, under your command,
on the day following, (the 9Th inst in the manner
now to be related:
When the San Jacinto was observed several miles
distant the Trent was pursuing the usual course of
her voyage along the old Bahama or Nicholas chan
mel was about 240 miles from Havana and in sight
of the lighthouse of Porandon GRANGE, the San
Jacnto then lying stationary, or nearly so, about
the middle OF the channel, and where it was some
fifteen miles wide, as since shown US on the chart
the nationality of the ship being then unknown
When the Trent had approached near enough for
her flag to be distinguished, it was hosted at the
peak and at the main and so remained for time
No flag was shown b. the San Jacinto. When the
Trent had approached within mile of the San
Jacnto still pursuing the due course of her voyage
shotted gun fired from the latter ship across
the course of the Trent and the United States flag
at the same time displayed at the peak.
The British flag was again Immediately hoisted,
as before by the Trent, and so remained. When
the Trent had approached, still on her course with
in two or three hundred yards of the San Jacnto,
second shotted gun fired from your ship, again
across the course of the Trent. When the Trent
got within hailing distance, her captain inquired
what was wanted? The reply was understood to
be: "They would send boat" Both vessels
were then stationary, with steam shut off A boat
was put of from your ship,
by two other boats, with full crews, and armed
with muSkets and side arms. A lieutenant 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 Capt Moir that he came with
orders to demand his passenger list. The captain
refused to produce it. and formally protested against
any right to visit his ship for the purpose indicated
After some conversation, impartIng renewed protests
on the part Of the captain against the alleged object
of the visit, and 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.. Slidell and
Mr.. Mason, were known to be on board, as also two
other gentlemen, naming Mr.. Eustis and Mcfarland,
and that his orders were to take and carry them
hOa ard he San Z
that on first addressing the captain he announced
himself as Lieutenant of the United States steamer
San Jacinto The four gentlemen thus named be-
ing present. the Lieutenant addressed Mr.. Slidell
and afterwards Mr. Mason, repeating that his orders
were to take them together with Eustis and Macfar
land, and carry them on board his ship. Messrs.
Sdell and Mason in reply protested in the presence
of the captain of the Trent his officers and passen-
gers against such threatened violation Of their per-
sons and their rights, and informed the Lieutenant
that they would not leave the ship they were in
less compelled by the employment of actual force
greater than they could resist and Messrs. Eustis
and Macfarland united with them in expressing q
like purpose. That officer stated that he hoped he
would not be compelled to resort to the of force
but if it would become necessary to employ it. in
order to execute his orders, he was prepared to
do so.
He was answered by the undersigned that they
would submit to such force alone. The Lieuten-
then went to the gangway where his boats were,
the undersigned going at the same time to their
staterooms on the next deck below, followed by
Captain Moir, and by the other passengers. The
Lieutenant returned with party of his men, a
portion of whom were armed with side arms, and
others appearing to be squad of marines having
muskets and bayonets. Mr. Slidell in his state
room Immediately by and in full view. The Lieu
tenant then said to Mr.. Mason that having his force
now present he hoped to be relieved from the neces
sity Of calling it into actual use. The gentleman
again answered that he would only submit to actual
! force greater than be could overcome, when the
Lieutenant and several of his men by his order,
took hold Of him, and in a manner and in numbers
sufficient to make resistance frutless; and Mr..
Sldell joining the group at the same time one or
more Of the armed party took like hold of him, and
those gentlemen at once went into the boat
During this scene many Of the passengers became