Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-11
NORTHERN NEWS and LIES
Department. of Mason and sIEdeH to Iho
OIEicera who Captured Them.

Department. Of Mason and BITdeII to III 0
Officers who Captured Them.
The officers of the San JacntO, who captured
Messrf. Mason and SLDEIL from the English steamer
Trent, were given dinner by the citizens of Bos-
ton,! on the 26th altimo One of the officers of the
San Jaeinto, Lieutenant FAIRFAX, who boarded the
steamer, "a Virginisn by ths way,) delivered q
speech on the occasion, detailing the particulars
Of the capture. We make an extract from his
speech: --
1t was by no means an agreeable duty to go on
board the Trent and arrest my oil friend. Mr. Ma
son, whose family is connected with mine by mar
riRge, though we are not, as some of the papers
have said, cousins. l knew pretty well what had
to do, and knew, soon after got aboard the yes
sci, that should have something more to contend
with than the four gentlemen l was to take with
me to the San JacintO. Mrs Slidell and her daugh-
ters we're there; they were womRnly and ladylike;
but they were under great deal of excitement
and you may well imagine that they gave utteralce
to a good many not very pleasant expressions l
extended to them the courtesy, agreeably to the
instructions of, Captain Wilkes, Of passage IN
the San Jacinto, which they declined, and they were
permitted to go on their way to Europe, and made
short work of the matter as Icould. daughter
and applause
introduced myself to the captain Of the Trent
who received me properly; but when informed
him Of my mission, he dengtrTed considerably to ma
proposition. Seeing Messrs Mason and Siidell not
far of / told him il was not necessary to insist up
on what had frat dsmanIed-an examination of
his passenger 1ist-as had tangible evidence that
my friends were on board. / then addressed
MessrF. Mason and Sliden. ard told thGm my miss
sion. They minated that they would net go I'M
less force were used. I told them | was prepared
for [cheers l-aud in short time had suti /
eient force on board to impress every one on the
ship with that fact. Lieutenant Greer, of the San
JacInto came on board, and took quite as active q |
part in the transaction as Lieutenant Fairfax did
He was rather spprehensve that tbs ladies and the
mob would overcome ms, and presented six very
inotensiEe marines on'board, to be mads offensive
if necessary. EApplause.l That gsTe rise to the
report about charge Of .themarines with fixed
bsyonets, on the ladies. Messrs Mason and Slideu |
conducted themselves with.a good deal of proprie-
ty under the circums tsnces.-.. ...----~- F..-\
Mr.. Mason was perfectly courteous throughout.
Mr.. Slidell as we al know, has more crustiness in
his disposition, but it must be remembered that he
had much more TO enbsrrass him, having lus wife
and family with him, therefore it was more diff.
cult to impress him with the belief that intended
to carry out the purpose Of my visit. he said he
would not go unless | employed more force than 1
then deemed willing to show; but by the aid of the
officers the gentlemen were removed or board
the San JacintO, where we made them very CONS
Ortable.