Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-22

some fifteen miles wide es since =n5Tn az
on the chart, the nationality OF the ship
| being then unknown When the TreIt tad
approached near enough for her dag Ia Dc
| distinguished, Il was hoisted at the peak and
at the main, and so remained for time. No
| Gag was shown by the San Jacinto. When
the Trent had approached within mile OF
the San Jacinto, still pursuing the due
course Of her voyage, a shotted gun was tired
| 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 re-
manned. When the Trent had approached,
| still on her course, within two or three hum
dred yards OF the San Jaciato, second shot
ted gun was fired from your ship. again
across the course Of the Trent. When the
Trent got within heiling distance. her cap
| tain inquired what was wanted7 The reply
| was understood to be "They would send
boat.n Both ves5el5 were then stationary,
| With steam shut off. 4 boat was soon put
OF from your ship, followed Immediately by
| two other boats, with full crews. and armed
| with muskets and side arms 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 passen-
gers, then assembled on the upper deck,
said to Capt. Aoir 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.
impartiug 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 Ar. Slidell
and Mason, were known to be on board, az
also two other gentlemen, naming Mr.. Eus-
tbs and Mcfarland, and that his orders were
to take and carry them on board the San
Jscinto.n 1t should have been noted that
on FIRST addressing the captain he announced
himself as lieutenant OF the United States
steamer San Jacinto. The four gentlemen
thus named being present, the Ieutenant
addressed Mr.. Slidell and afterwards Mr..
Mason, repeating that his orders were to take
them, together with Eustis and Mcfarland,
and carry them on board his ship. Messrs.
Slidell and Mason in reply, protested in the
presence of the captain Of the Trent, his OIL
GERS aud passengers. against such threatened
violation of their persons and their rights,
and informed the lieutenant that they would
not leave the ship they were in unless com
PEELED by the employment of actual force
greater than they could resist, and Messrs.
Eustis and Mcfarland united with them in
expressing q like purpose. That officer
stated that he hoped he would not be COM
PEELED to IT sort to the use of force, but If it
would become necessary to employ it, in or
der to execute his orders, he was prepared TO
do so.
BE was answered by the undersigned that
they would submit to such a force alone
The lieutenant then went to the gangway
where his boats were, the undersigned going
at the same time to their state rooms on the
next deck bslow, followed by Capt. Moir and
By the other passengers. The lieutenant re-
tnrned With a party of bis men, portion of
whom were armed with side-arms, and others
appearing to be squad of marines having
muskets and bayonets. Dir. Slideil was in
his state-room Immediately by and in full
view. The lieutenant then said to Mr.. Mason
that having his force now present he hoped
TO be relieved from the necessity OF calling
il into actual use. The gentleman again an
swered that he would only submit to actual
force greater than he could overcome when
the lieutenant, and several of his men by his
order. took hold of him, and in O manner and
in numbers sufficient TO make resistance fruit
less and Ar. Slidell joining the group at the
same time one OF more Of the armed party
took like hold Of him, and those gentlemen
at once went into the boat.
During the scene many of the passengers
became highly exasperated, aud gave ven. to
the strongest expressions Of indignation,
seeming to indicate a purpose of resistance
on their part, when squad armed With mus
kets, with bayonet fixed, made sensible adj
vance Of one or two PAGES with their arms
at charge. Il must be added here, omitted
in the course Of the narration, thats before
the party left the upper deck, en- officer of
the Tent. named Williams. in the naval uni
! form of Great Britain. and known Ia the
passengers as having charge of the mails and
accompanied them to England, said to the
Lieutenant that as the only person present
be felt representing his Government called
upon in language as strong and emphatic as
| be could express, TO derounce the whole pro-
ceeding as q piratcal act.
| Hr. Slideli and Mr. Mason, together with
Mr. Eustis, and AacFarland, against whom
force in like manner had been used, were
taken TO the San Jscinto as soon ss they
entered the boat. When they reached your
ship, you received them near the gang-wsy,
announcing yourself ss Capt. Wilkes. COM
mandar Of the ship, and conducted them 10
your cabin, which you placed at their dispo-
sal. When the undersigned came aboard
.hey found the men at their quarters and she
| guns bearing on the Trent After SONS lime
occupied in bringing on board our baggage
aud effects, the San Jacinto proceeded TO the
northsard, through the Southern Channel
the Trent having been detained from three
to four hours
| The United States, rightly jealous, as we
think, OF their sovereignty, cannot suffer
| thamsalyeS tn debate any abFid ce,neDt Of