The New York herald., 1861-12-30

TYIE MASON-SLIDELL AFFAIR.
Important Decision Of the Ame-
rican Government
The Rebel Commission
ers Surrendered to
England.
Arrangement Of the
Difficulty.
THE DEMAND OF ENGLAND,
! SECRETARY SEWAnD'S' REPLY
Note from the French Minister Of
Foreign Affairs.
~.---~~---~~~~~>~~
MR.. sEwARD's ANSWER.
et., &C., 60.
Note from the French Minister o.
Foreign Affairs.
MR.. sEWARD's ANSWER

Mr. Seward to Mr.. Adams.
DrrARmr7 ox srsrs,
st WAsMxGroN, Nov. 80, 1881.
I Uxssaxs FRAEors AnAsn, ESQ, &C., &c., &c.-
sR-Your confidential note of the 18th OF November
not marked ~ despatch, has been submitted TO ths
President, and hascn to reply IL time for tho We'd
ncsdsy's mail.
No minister spoke acted more wisely In crisis
which excited deep public socsuds than you did on the
occssion Of the Lord Mayors dinner.
We are impressed very fsvorably by Lord Pal.
niers,on's conversation with you. Yoa spoke the
simple fact when you told him tina. the life Of
shis nsurrection is sustained by Its hopes Of recog
nitloa in Great Britain and in Franco. II would
perlsh IN ninety days those hopes should cease have
never for moment believed that such recognition
could take place without producing immediate.ya war
between the United states and all The recognizing rwers
have not supposed possible that the British govern
ment Could fail TO see this and at the time have
sncercly believed the British government riust in It's
snmoss neart, DO as averse from such as know
atn sure that this government has carefully avoided
But il has seemed to me that the BRITISH royernsn, ha
been natenttve ~ the that seem be
the two countries into collision.
infer from Lord Palmerst0ns remark that the British
government IA now awake to the importance II averng
possible conflict, and disposed to confer act with
Shsm IN the same spirit, as nation chiefly of British
lineage sentiments and synpathiesa civilized and hu
name nation Chrt tStian people.
Since that conversation held Captain Wilkes in the
steamer San JacintO has boarded British colonial
steamer, and taken from her deck two insurgents who
wore proceeding to Europe errand treason against
aheif own country This is . now incident, unknown
90, and unforeseen, at least in It's circumstances.
by Lord Psmsrstoa. II is 10 be met aud disposed
ofby the two governments, possible iu the spirit TO
which have sdvsrted. Lord Lyons has prudcntIy re-
Trained from opening tho subject TO me, a, presume
waiting instructions from home We have done nothing
oo the subject to te ao the discussion and we have
mol Furnished you with aay explanations We adhere TO
that course now because think it prudent that
ehe ground taken by the British government should be
first made known to us here and that the discussion If
there must be one shall be had here proper hevysv
" that should know fact in the without nd
eating that We attach nro lance TO tnsiasy that the
capture OF RussSS. Mason aud Slldef board it,sh
vessel Captain Wilkes having acted without any nsruc.
tous from the government the subject thsraore FREQ
from the which mighi have resulted IL tho
act bad been specially directed by us.
trust that tho british government viii consider The
subject in friendly tcmpsr and may expect the best
disposition on the part of this government
Although this u coonAoatss nose shsii object to
your reading TO Earl REsss1 aad Lord pnnorsion il
you deem cxp0N1ont am sir your obedient servant
WILLIAM r. SEWARD