Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-12-31
Official Correspondence in the Case
of Mason AID Slidell,
Earl Hps.seIl TO Lord Lyons.
FoRE1eN orrIcE, Nov. 80, 1856

II Iii
Earl teSsnssseIl to Lord Lyons.
FoRE1eN orrIcE, Nov 80, 1861.
4 The lord Lyons, x. B. o., DC. 3c.,3es
i Ny LORD :-Intelligenc of very grave
nature has reached her Majesty Govern
ment,
This intelligence was conveyed officially
\ 70 the knowledge of the Admiralty by
Commander Williams, agent for mails on
board the contract steamer TRENT.
It appears from the letter of Commander
Williams. dated dRoyal Mail Contract
Packet Trent1 at Sea, November o. that
the aTrent" left Havana on the 9TH in-
slant, with her Majesty's mails for Eng
land, having on board numerous passen-
gers. Commander Williams states that
shortly after noon on the 9Th n steamer
having the appearance of a man-of-war,
but not showing colors, was observed
ahead. On nearing her at LIS P. NJ, she
fred round shot from her pivot gun
across the bows of the Trent and show
ed American colors. While the "Trent' was
approaching her slowly the American yes
seIdischarged shell across the bows of the
Trent, exploding half o cables length ahead
of her. The Trent then stopped, and an ofi-
Ger with large armed guard of marines
boarded her The officer demanded a list
of the passengers; aud, compliance with
this demand being refused, the officer said
he had orders 10 arrest AIessrs. Mason, Sill
dell, Mcfarland and Eustis, and that he
had sure informal i1nof their being passen-
gers in the Trent. While some parley was
| going on upon this matter, Mr.. Slidell step
| ped forward and told the American officer
that the four persons he had named were
lthenstandine before him. The commander
of the Trent and Commander Williams pro-
tested against the act of taking by force
out of the Trent these four passengers,
then under tho protection of the British
fap. But the"San Jacinto" was at that
time only two hundred yards from the
.tTrent," her ships company atquarters,
her ports open, and tompions out. Resist
ance was therefore out of the question, and
the four gentlemen before named were for,
chilly taken out of the ship. A further de-
mand was made that the commander of the
Trent should proceed on board the San ia
cinto, but he said he would not go unless
forcibly compelled likewise, and this de-.
mand was not insisted upon.
It thus appears that certain individuals
have been forcibly taken from on board a
British vessel, the ship of a neutral Power,
while such vessel was pursuing lawful
and innocentvoyage-au act of violence
which was an affront to the British flag,
and a violation of international law.
Her Majesty's Government, bearing in
mind the friendly relations which have long
subsisted between Great Britain and the
United States, are willing to believe that
the United States naval officer who COM
mitted the aggression, was not acting in
compliance with any authority from his
Government, or that If he conceived him
self to be SO authorized he greatly misun-
derstood the instructions which he had re-
.ceiyed For the Government ofthe United
States must be fully aware that the British
Government could not allow such an affront
to the national honor to pass without full
repatriation, and her majesty's Government
are unwilling to believe that it could be the
deliberate intention of the Government of
United States unnecessarily to force into
discussion, between the two Governments,
question of so grave q character, and
with regard to which the whole British ma
ton would be sure TO entertain such un-.
animity offeeling.
Her majesty's Government, therefore,
trust that when this matter shall have been
brought under the consideration of the Gov
eminent Of the United States that Govern
!ment will, gifts own accord, offer to the
British Government such redress as alone
could satisfy the British nation, namely,
the liberation of the four gentlemen and
their delivery to your lordshfp, in order that
they may again be placed under British
protection, and q suitable apology for the
aggression which has been committed.
Should these terms not be offeredby Mr..
Seward you will propose them to him.
You arc at liberty to read this despatch
to the Secretarylo of State, and, if he shall
desire it, you will give him copy oft.
am, &c. RUSSELL.