The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-20
IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON
>~~~~~~~~>~~>~>~~-~~~
THE MASON-SLIDELL AFFAIR
ARRIVAL OF THE QUEENS MESSENGER.
No Demand Yet Made Upon Our
Government.
~~~~~~~~~~>>~~>~,~~~~~
An Honorable Solution Of the Question
Predicted.
%So>>>>~Se~>o~~o>oo~>~
The Designs or the European
Powers i'm Mexico the
Cause Of the Flurry.
-~-~~~~~~~~->.~1>o~o-~~
Decision Of the Secretary Of State
In the Case Of the British
Ship Perthshire.
INDEMNITY AWARDED TO HER OWNERS.
The Bill Ordering Twenty Iron Clad War
Ships Passed by the House,
&C., &c., &c.

&C., &C., &c.
WASHINGTON, Dec 10, 1861.
TIE NAs0N-sLIDELL AFFAIR.
The mail bag containing the dispatches from Minister
Adams was placed in charge Of Captain George Cook of
the Twenty second Massachusetts Volunteers at Boston,
with view Of expediting its transmission to Washing.
son. Captain Cook travelled with Queens messenger
Captain Seymour by the Shore route from Boston to
Now York. where they arrived more than two hours
hind time, and missed the connection. The English
bearer Of dispatches proceeded by special train.
Captain Cook teegraphed Secretary Seward to know IL
he should engage special ran received that
was not necessary. He arrived with his charge this
morning, only few hours behind Capt. Seymour. Tho
dispatches calmly by the Secretary They
nled large mail bag, and weighed hundred pounds
Al New Haven there great excitement the depot
when the train arrived There was an immense crowd
curious the Queens messenger who was then fast
aslcep.
An absurd rnmor circulated to-day, that the gov
S,idei. It Is without any foundation whatever.
UP TO eleven O'Clock tonight Lord Lyons had made no
communication from his government to the President or
Secretary Of relative to the seizure Of the traitors
Mason and sidell. Mr. Adams, in his communications
10 Mr. Seward gives clear and detailed OF the feel
ing Of the British people and the sentiment Of British
statesmen but does not indicate that he knows the pur
rt,rt
Lord Lyons.
Ncnag contained IN Mr., Adapls' dispatches tadsca'es
a tAat eorenms wiH make any escrbstsa de1aond upon
Ae United States elasu to the Of the traitors This
Is not only true, but permitted announce by high
orciai authority, that letters received to-day
zom distinguished British statesmen, assert that the
government Of Great Britain will demand the release
Of Mason and sidel but will require apology srh
reparation the United States honorably grant.
This is also confirmed by other private correspondence
from Americpns in London who have facilities for learn
ing somehing Of the intentions Of tho British govern
nent
The French Minister gave dinner this evening" Ths
British Spanish, Russian and other Ministers pre-
sent In conversation the tables were rather turned
upon the French Minister, that he received no in
strucons from his government the Mason and slde
AFFAIR, since France viewed as the chosen ally Of
England. This waa pleasantly done, but the French
Minister did not relish the joke
The President has important private letters that will
have great weight the summing up Of this tratorous
imbroglio.
Senator Sumner, Chairman Of the Committee Finance
Interrupted the proceedings Of the by NOV
ing that the body into Executive Session consider
important business communicated by special message
from tho President The motion carried.
The message covered highly important documents con-
corning our foreign relations but having reference to
the Mason and slde affair IT the trpartite
expedition to the Gulf, which is after 81 of more i'm
portance to this than everything else now
agating the public mind in this country The message
was ordered to printed.
The Mason and slidell affair is only enp,oyed by the
British government prctext while theyrmploy their
forces in another direction 70 destroy our power and
strengthen their own
THE CASE OF TIE BRITISH sHIe PRRTHeE IRR-THn
DAMAGE TO HER OWNERS MADE GOOD.
The Committee on Foreign Relations to WHOM was ro
fsrred much Of the Presidents Message as relates to
any claim Of the British government account Of the
detention Of the skip Perthshre have had the same un
der consideration, and now report
The President, n.his annual Message iuvted the At
tention Of Congress the correspondence her
Britannia Majestys Minister accredited this govern
nent and tas Secretary Of State relative tho deten
sion Of the British ship perthshire June last by the
United States steamer Massachusetts, for a supposed
breach Of the hockade In the opinion the Presdeut
ths detention occasiered by 0pv ions nsapprs
hension Of the facts, and justice requires dhat
houd commit bellgeYsnt act not founded r strict
eight sanctioned by public law he recommended that
an appropriation be satisfy the reasonable de-
mand OF the owner T the vessel for her deortion.
appears from the correspondence that tho British
ship Pertfehre, belonging 70 VIM. Gray chartered
~ merchant in Lvsrpoo, March last, TO proceed in
ballast from Grmsby to Pensasela, and thsre load
cargo OF timber for the United Kn8dom the charterer,
however, having his option. through his agent at Pen
sacos OF ordering the ship Mobile TO load coston TO
liverpool The Psrhshire sailed from Gsimsby in March
sst and on the 18th Of May making for the harbor
ofPensacos, when she was boarded By ON officer Of the
Dnited States ship Sabine, and her captain was warned
fhat Pensacola bleckaded but Informed f,at Mobile
was not blookaded The chip then proceeded 10 Mobile
where she arrived on the l4th or May, twelve davs
before that port blockaded and ioaded carao OF
cotton for Liverpool
The blockade WIS established the 2e,h of Nav On