Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-02-05
LORD JOHN RUSSELS REPLY TO SECRETARY
SEWARD
EARL RUSSELL TO LORD LYONS.

FoRuGS OTTlcS Jan IL, Ny Lord In my
despatch to you Of the SOh of November, after in
forming you OF the circumstances which had occurred
in relation 10 the capture Of the four persons taken from
on board the Trent stated TO you that thus appear
ed that certain individuals had been ocity taken from
on board British vessel the slip of ural power
While such vessel pursuing lawful end innocent
VOYAGE an act Of violence which an sront 10 the
British flag and violation Of international law, COZ
GUIDED By directing you, in case the repsa'iou which
Her jastys Government expected to receive, should
no. be Of red BY Mr. Seward, propose 10 that Minis
ter 70 make such redress alone would satisfy the Brit
sh nat on-namey first, the liberation OF the four gen
smen take from board the Trent and their delivery
20 your Lordshp, in order that they might again be
placed under British protection and, secondly, suitR
tle apology for the aggression which had been COM
mitted.
received yes:erdly your dispatch OF the 9Th ut,
nccsing note 10 you from hT. Seward, which IS in
sbance the answer to my dispatch OF the SOh o! No
vember.
Proceeding at once to the main pon's in discussion
b,lween u.s. her jes'ys Government have carefully
amned how FAR Nj. Stewards note and the conduct it
announces complies substantially with the two propo-
sails have rtcited.
with regard TO the frat, VIZ: the liberation of the
prisoners with view to their being placed under British
protection fad that the concludes by staug that
the prisoners will be cheeruly liberated, and by calling
upon your Lordship to indicate time aud place for
ceiviDg them.
No coalition Of any kind Is coupled with the LIBERIA
ton OF tbs prisoners.
With sgsrd to the suitable, apology which the British
Government had right TO expect, find that the Gov
eminent Of the United States distinctly and unequivo
csly declares that directions had been given to Capt
Wilkes or to any other naval officer 10 arrest the four
persons named any o! them on the Trent or on any
Other neural vessel ct the place where 1t occurred or else
where.
fid, further that the Secretary Of ate expressly
forbears to justify the particular act Of which Her Ma
o.
Government had alleged thai, although Captain Wilkes,
had no previous instruction Tor that purpose, he was
right in capturing tie persons Of the four prisoners, and
Ia removing them from the Trent board his own YES
se TO be Afterwards carried into port oil the u States,
the government which had thus sanctioned the proceed
ing OF Captain Wilkes would have become responsible
for the original yol.ncs AID insult OF the oct.
Blu. Mr. Sew ard contents himself with stating that
what has happened has been simply an inadyereucy,
consisting in departure Of naval officer, free from any
wrongful motive from rule uucertaily established and
probably by the several parties concerned either imper-
iectly understood entirely unknown. Tho cretary
OF State GOES on affirm that for this error the Bftsh
Government has right TO expect the same repara ion
which the United States dependent State, should
eIpe FROM Great Britain or from any ether friendly
nation, in q similar case.
Her Eaiestys government having carefully taken into
their consideration tie liberation Of the przoners, the
delivery of them into your hands aud the explanations
to when have Just referred have arrived at the concu
sion that they constitute the reparaon which her Ma
issly and the British nation had right to expect,
l. gives h,r Mjssys Government greVt satisfaction to
be enabled to arrive at conclusion favorable to the
maintenance OF the mos. friendly relations between the
Two nations / need not discus the notifications in my
statement Of the fct which air. Seward says he he's de-
rived from reports Of officers Of bis Government.
cannot conclude, ho~eyer without adv ring shortly
to the discussiOns which Mr.. Seward has rased upon
points prominently brought into question in ny d,s
patch OF the 9Oh November. there objected on the
part of her esty5 Government, that which Captain
Wilkes had doue. Mr.. Seward his answer points out
what he cnc'ives Captain Wilkes might have dote with
out violating the Laws OF nations.
IL is not necessary that should here dsclss in detail
the Se questions ably argued by the Secretary OF Stale
bat II ia necessary that should say that Her Asesys
Government otter from Mr.. Seward in some OF the ca
illusions at which he has arrived And il may lead 10
better understanding between tho two nations oo several
points of iutea ionsl law which may during the pref
ent contes; at some future hne, b brought into que
lior, that should stale to you, Tor communication 10