Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-24
AN lHnaDlArE CONFLICT ANTICIPATED.
British Account OF the Seizure of ma sen
and SIiden. y q
ocrrsspenaeao. q ths LOpd0n TLnes

II
| SOUTHAMPTON, Nov. p. by the srri7al here hi
| morning Of the West India mail steamer La Plata
Captain Weller most important intelligence has bee
received, involving questions affecting the relation
existing between this country and the Federal Gov
ernment Of America. The mail steamer Trent Can
tain Aoir, was intercepted By the American steam
eF San Jseinto, commanded by Captain Wilkes uhilu
on her passage from HaTanR TO St Thomas and IN
der force Of arms the accredited commissioners tC
Europe from the Southern O0nfederacy Messrs.
Mason and Slidell, were taken prisoners and forci
bly, taken from the Trent 20 the San Jaeinto. Thil
act was committed IN defiance of the joint remon,
stFance of the commissioners, Captain Moir, and
commander Williams, the naval officer in charge OF
the mail 81 board the Trent. 61.ty
The San Jae1nto IL q frst-clsss steamer of.war Of
!, 446 tors, and carrying thirteen guns She was
re6ttsd at this port in the year 1854
1t appears from the statements which we have
received that the San Jacinto, Captain Wilkes ar
rived st HaTana on or about the 81 of November
from the coast Of Africa, bound to New York. She
e0aled and sailed again on the 4th inst. At this
time it was well known at Havana that Messrs Ma
son and Sdel with their suites mere at that place
having arrived there in the steamer Theodore
which vessel the blockade at Charleston. These
gentlemen had not kept their presence a secret, as
from the moment of their landing at HavGns they
were unqueshonably under the protection Of the
Spanish flag Passages to Southampton were
booked for them by the British Royal Mail Steamer
which was to sail from Havana for St. Thomas on
the 9Th inst, on which day they duly embarked on
board the Trent.
The Trent sailed from Havana at eight O'Clock.
on the 7th, and nothing occurred worthy Of notice
till about noon on the 9Th when IN the narrow pas-
sage of the old Bahama Channel opposite the Para
don GrRnde light house, steamer was obsersd
ahead, apparently waiting, but showing no color
On approaching her, Captain Moir Of the Trent
hoisted the British ensign, which met with no res
poDse until the two vessels were within about
furlough Of each other when the stranger fred
shot across the Trent's bow, and hoiated the Amer
lean flag. This proceeding was quite contrary to
acknowledged law, as when vessel of war wishes
another vessel to stop, it is customary to fire first
: blank cartridge. The Trent was still holding on
her way, when q shell was fred from long pivot
gun on the Americans deck forward, which burst
about hundred yards from the Trent's bow. Cap
tain AOir Immediately stopped the Trent, and the
American had her broadside Of guns run out and
men at quarters reRdy to fire.
Captain Moir then hailed her, and the American
Captain replied that he wished to send boat on
board. A boat containing two officers and about
lssses, then showed of and boarded the Trent and
demanded list of the passengers, which the Cap
tain refused to give. The officer commanding the
boat stated the Of the frIgsts theSan Jecin
toof which he was the First Lieutenant and furth-
erst&ed that they had received most positive infor
nation that certain passengers, were on board
whom he would takeOut This was also refused.
Commander Williams, r n, the Naval Agent in
charge of Her Msjesty's mails, with captain Moir
positively objected to their being taken. denying
their right to take any person from under the Brit
ish nag. a.
The Lieutenant then called cut the names Of the
before mentioned Commissioners and Secretaries
and said that those were the persOns he sou0ht
and that he would taks them at all hazards The
four gentlemen immediately answered to their
names, and requested to know what was wanted of
them. The Lieutenant stated that he wished to taxa
them on board the man-of.wsr, to which they re
piled that they would not 60 until they were taken
by force and turning to Captain MOir, Mr.. Sldell
said, I'VE claim the protection of the British Gag y
On the Captains again refusing to give up the
passengers, the Lieutenant said he should take |
charge or the ship. Commander Williams E. NJ !
then spoke as follows, Viz In this ship am the
representative of Her Nsjestys Government, and I
call upon the officers of the ship. and the passen
sengers generally to mark my words when, in the |
name Of that Government, ard in distinct language
denounce this illegal sct-an act in violation /
of international lRw-an act indeed of wanton pira-
cy, which, had We the means Of defence, you would 4
not dare TO attempt" The Lieutenant then beck
oned to the frigate, and three boats containing /
thirty marines, and about sixty sailors, cfaeered