New-York daily tribune., 1861-12-30
Mr.. ye,card to Lord Lyoas.
..,r,,.,. oy cr.rv wAsufxGToN DeA &c. 1851.

(ontrac packet boat Trent a sea, Nov. 3 states that
tia tvessel left Havana on the IN of November, WIN
her Msiesty's mails for England, hayiog on oosrd
numerous passengers. Shortly after noon, on the
9Th OF November, the United Siates war steamer
San Jacnto, Capt. Wilkes, not showing coloIs was
observed ahead. That steamer, on being Deaied py
the Trent at one O'Clock fifteen minutes IN the after
noon, fired round shot from pivot gun ocross her
bow, aud showed American colors
While the Trent was approaching slowly TOWARD
the San Jacinlo, she discharged shell across the
Trents bows which exploded al bali cable
length before her. The Trent then STOPPED, and az
officer with large armed gnard Of Taflnes BOARDED
her The officer said be had orders 10 arrest Mes.
sieurs Mason, Slidell Mcfarland and Eustis, aod
had sure Information that they were passengers ID
the Trent. While some parley was gong on 9poh
this matter Dir. Slidel stepped forward and sald 70
the American officer that the four persons De nae
pamed Were standing before him: Inc eommhl'oes
OF the Trent ard Commander Williams protested
against the act of taking ibose four passengers oar
OF tue Trent. they then being under the protection
of the British ag. But the san Jacinto was al this
time only two hundred yards distant, her shlps con-
pauy al quarters. Der ports open, ana 'omiaShs ou',
and SO resistance out of the question. lhe iour
persons before named then forcibly taken out
of the ship.
A fur.her demand was made thai the commander
Of the Trent should proceed on board the San acn'o
bot he said he would hot 20 unless forcibly com,
pelied likewise, and this demand was not ibsioted
| upon. Upon this statement Earl Russell remarks
that IL titus sppt that certain iudlvldnsis nave
been forcihly taken lrom on board BTllsn VetSei,
the ship OF q neutral power, while that vessei was
pursuing lawful and innocent voysge-an aci OF
violence which was an aiiront TO the british lag,
and violation of international law.
Earl Russell next savs chat her Majesty's Govern
meut bearing in niud tie friendly relations winch
have loug eubsisted between Great Bfilain ana the
United States ore W ling to believe lLat The naval
officer W no committed tLis aggression was not acting
IA
ment or that II be conceived himself TO be 90 aa-
thoiized lie greatly misunderstood the Instructions
I which he had received.
! Earl Russell argues that the United States mwt
be fully aware that tie Biitsh Government could
not allow such sflront TO tbe National honor TO
pass without full reIaraton, ard they are Wiling
20 belev, that IL could he the deliberate uen-
lion OF the Government Of The United States uuhe-
cessariy 10 force inlo discussion between ibe two
/ Governments II queriion Of 70 grave charsc'er,
snd with regard 10 which the Whole British nation
would b. cure TO entertain such unaIDity ofie,bng
4 Earl Russell, res,iog uIon the statement and The
argument which have thus reuted closes win say
ing that her Malesty's Government trust that wren
his matter shall have been brought under the con-
siderai IN of The Government OF the United States,
i, will Of ils sc,oId, offer to tic Brsh tiov-
euuert such Iedros. alone could taiisiy The B'it-
ish paon namely tie liberation o the iopr prison
iahen from tie Trent, anc their delivery 10 your
lo,dslib ia order that tL,y may again 10 pla ID un-
Ger British lrotection; and suitable apology Tor
the aggression wbich has been committed. Earl
Russell finally iDsIuets yoa to propose thee
terms e. ne, II slould not first oiier iLem on Tie
pant of this Government.
This dispatch has been submitted to the Presi-
dent.
Il Tie Britsh Government has rightly COME stirred,
what il is now my duty 10 state, that tspt "HLe''
in conceying aud executing the iroceeclig Ia qneS-
lion, acted nIon Lis own suggestions OF 6uty, WIZ
out auy direction instruction, or even fofekn0wl-
edge of it, OF tie Tart of this Government. 10
directions had been given 10 bim or any o'hef 1aVal
officer to arrest the four Iersonr named, or any o'
them on tie Trent, or Oh hny other Bri ish vessel,
or on auy oteI neutral vessel al the lace where II
occurred, or elsewhere.
the Uitish Government will justly infer from
these facts that tie United States not oy have 90
no purpose bot Ihon, ht of forcing Into dis
cushion the question Which has arisen, or any other
: which could efeet In any way the sensibiiit.es oi
b tie British nation.
:, II l. true that round shot was fred by the San
= Jscinio from her pivot gun when the Trent was
e rapidly approaching. But as the facts baye teen
rel DRIED 10 this Government, the sbOt neverttc
u lees inreutionaliy Ged ia direction Obviously
divergent from the OF the IIeUt 10 be quite
. 10 harmless l. blank slot, while II should be re-
II garded as a signal. So also learn thet tie Tfeut
was hot approaching the San Jacinto slowly when
tie she'll was ired aeIoss her bows but on the con-
tmiy, the Trent war, or seemed 20 te moving under
full bead OF steam, us II with purpose to pass the
San Jacinto
We are informed also that tie boarding officer
Lieut.. Fairfax, did Dot hoard tie Trent ith
large armed gusrd but he left bis marines ia bic
when be entered tie Trent. lie sta ed bis ipstruc-
tiOns from Capt Wilkes to search for tie four per-
SOILS named, in a respectful and courteous though
decided amer he asked the capt lin Of the Trent
to show bis passenger lst, which refused. The
Lieutenant, RS We are informed Gid not employ sb-
solute force in transferring the passengers but he
the parties concerned that refusal or resistance would
, be une yailiDg.
So, ALSO we are informed that the captain Of the
Trent was not at any time, or in eny way, required
TO 20 on board the San JsciDto.
These notifications Of the care, ar presented by
Commander Williams, are based upon our official
reports.
4 / have now to remind your Lordsbip Of como
facts which, doubtless, were omitted by Earl
Russell, with the very proper and becoming mo-
tive OF allowing them to be brought into the Gaze
on the part of the United States, In the way most
satisfactory TO uis Government. These facts arc
tiHt at the time the transaction occurred an iDsur-
rection was existing in tie United States which this
Government was engaged In suppressing by the EN-.
pioyneDt Of lsnd and naval fOices; that, 10 regard
to this domestic strife the United States considered
Great Britain q friendly power, willie she had
sumed for herself the attitude Of neutral; and that
Spain was considered in the same light, and bad
sumed the same atli,ud as Great Britain.
IL had been settled by correspondence that the
| United States and Great Britain mutually recog-
nized as applicable this local strife these two ar
ccs of the declaration made by the Congress OF Paris
in 1856 namely: "That the neutral, or friendly hag
should cover enemy's goods, NOT contraband of war;
and that neutral goods not contIaband Of war, are
not Liable to capture under an enemy 8 flag" These
exceptions of coniraband from favor were mega.
tive acceptance by the parties Of the rule hitherto
everywhere recognized a. part Of tho law Of M
ions that whatever Is coDtiaband is liable to cap
ture and coniscsiion in all cases
james II. Mason and +. j. Mcfarland are citizens
of the United States, and residents Of Virginia.
Jotu Slidell and George Eastis are citizens of the