New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-12-24

The Mason and Slide1l Affair in Europe.
CORRESPONDENCE AND EDITORIALS ENGLISH JOURNALS
. The PuRsER's ACCOUNT OF THE SEIzURE-To the
Editor OF the london Times : hasten to forward
you some particulars of the grevous outrage COM,
mitted to-day against the English flag by the
United States steam sloop San Jacinto, Captain
Wilkes. You have probably heard how, some
three weeks ago, the little steamer Theodore,
having on board the Commissioners sent by the
Confederate States of America to London and
Paris, ran the blockade at Charleston arriving
safely in Havana. Once arrived there, they, of
course, imagined that, on neutral territory, they
were perfectly free and safe from all molestation,
and therefore made no attempt to conceal their
names, position and intended movements. Mr..
Shdell, the Commissioner for Paris, was accom-
panied by his wife, son and three daughters, and
also by his secretary, Mr. G. Eustis, with his wife;
Mr.. Mason, the Commissioner for England, being
accompanied by his secretary, Mr.. Mcfarland. 1t
was well known in Havana that berths were booked
for the whole party to proceed by this steamer to
st. Thomas there to join the homewardt West
India mail steamship for Southampton. They ac-
oordingly embarked yesterday morning, trusting
to receive the same protection under the English
flag which they already received from that OF
Spain. ~ ~ -A.E -=+- -'-'T.F ga. 30
We left Havana yesterday morning at eight
This morning about LIZ O'Clock we observed a
large steamship ahead, and on a nearer approach
found she was hove to, evidently awaiting US. We
were then in the narrowest part of the Bahama
Channel, abreast of ParadOn Grande lighthouse
AS soon as we were well within range, we had the
first intmation of her nationally and her intentions
by round shot being fired across our bows, and
at the same moment by her showing American
| colors. We were now sufficiently near to observe
| that all her ports were open, guns run out and
crew at their stations. On still nearer approach
| she fred shell from a swivel gun of a large
| calibre on her foreeastle, which passed within q
| few yards of the ship, bursting abouta d hundred
| yards TO leeward We were within hail, when
Captain Mor, commanding this ship, asked the
| American what he meant by stopping his ship, and
| why he did SO by firing shotted guns contrary to
| usual custom. The reply was that he wished TO
| send boat on board fus. This was Immediately
followed by boat pushing off from the side of the
San Jacinto, containing between twenty and
| thirty men, heavily armed, under the command OF
| the first lieutenant, who came up on the quarter
deck, and, after asking for Captain Mor, demanded
list of passengers. AS his right Of search " was
denied, the Information required was, of course
| peremptori!y refused.
He then stated that he had information thai
| Messrs. Sidell, Mason, Eusts and Mcfarland were
| on board, and demanded that they should be given
| up. This also being Indignantly refused, MIR. Sill
dell himself came forward, and said that the foul
gentlemen named were then before him, but ap
pealed to the British flag, under which they were
sailing, for protection. The lieutenant said tina
his orders were to take them on board the San ia
| cinto by force if they would not surrender. HI
then walked 10 the side of the ship and waved hi
hand Immediately three more heavily armei
4 boats pushed off and surrounded the ship, and th
party of marines who came in the first boat cam
up and took possession of the quarterback; /; these
however, he ordered down on the main deck, t
take charge of the gangway ports. Captain VII
liams, 4. N, the naval agent in charge of tn
mails, who was of course present during this intel
view, then, in the name of Her Majesty-he bein
the only person on board directly representa-
her-made q vehement protestation against tn
piratical act. During the whole of the time tn
San Jacinto was abouttwo hundred yards from u
4 on the port beam, her broadside guns which wei
MI manned, directly bearing upon US, Any ope