Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-02-07
r.sr Rrssrrt 70 LORD Ivoxs.


Ny LoED uny despatch TO you Of The 30th
Of November, after informing you Of the circum-
stances which had occurred in relation 20 the can
ture OF the four persons taken from on board the
Trent, stated TO you that it thus appeared that
certain individuals had been forcibly taken from
on board 4 British vessel the ship Of neutral
power, while such vessel was pursuing q lawful
and innocent voyage, an act Of violence which was
sfrout TO the British flag. and violation Of
international law. l concluded by directing YOU
In case the reparation, which her Maisstys gov
erument expected 70 receive, should not be offered
by Mr.. Seward, 70 propose 10 that Minister to
make such redress ss alone would satisfy the Brit
ish uAtion-namely. first, the liberation Of the
four gentlemen taken from on board the Trent,
and their delivery to your lordship. in order that
they might as ain be placed under British protsc-
ton; and. secordly,a suitable apology for the az
erosion which tas beea committed.
l received yesterday your espa,eh Of the a7th
ult, enclosing note 10 you from Mr.. sevari.
which is, in substance, the answer TO my despatch
Of the } III \ ovcmber.
Proceeding al once TO the main points in discus
zion between Us, er AAiesty's government have
carefully examined how far Mr. sewsrl's no,r.
and the -onduct II announces, complies subst.n
italy with i-c two proposals. I have rccited.
With regard TO the frst-viz'. tho liberation OF
the prisoners with view 70 their being again
placed unde- British protection, find tha, tbe
note concludes by stating the prisoners will be
oheeriuhy liberated, and Dy calling upon YOUR
Lordship to inf,l's time and place for ree,iving
them.
SO condition Of sny kind lie coupled with the
lihersticu Of che prisoners
With regard 10 the 81 table apology Rhich the
British government had a right to expect. | find
that the government of the United States distinct
ly and unequiEooally declares taat 10 directions
had been given to capt. WILKES, or to any other
naval officer, to arrest the four persons named. or
any OF them, on the Trent or on any other Brit.
ish vessel, OF any other neutral vessel at the
place where II occurred or elsewhere.
In lind, further, that the Secretary Of State ex
pressly forbears to justify the particular act of
which Her Msiestys government complained III
the United States government had alleged that
although Captain likes had no previous instruc-
tions for that purpose, he was right in capturing
the four prisoners, and Of removing them from
tn Trent on board his own vessel, 10 be after
ward carried into port Of the United States, the
ceedings of Capt. Wilkes would have become res
Ionsible Tor the original violence aud insult Of
the act But Mr.. Seward contents himself with
stating that VIA has happened been simp
an inadyertency, consisting IN d parture BY
naval ofhcer, free from acy wrongful olive, from
a rule uncer ainly established, and probably by
the several parties concerned either imperfecily
understood or entirely unknown. The Secretary
Of state goes on 10 affirm that for this error the
b. itish government has II right to expect the same
reparation which the United States, a. an indie
pendent State, should expect from Great Britain,
or from any ether friendly nation In q similar
0szo.