Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-02-07
The Diplomatic Correspondence on the
Affair Of the Trent.
IAEL RUSSELL 10 LcRD LYONS.
FonrIGx orr1cK. DAG. 10. ]

EAEL RUSSELL TO LORD LYONS.
FoBEIGS OFFICE, Dec. 10, 1851.
M LoRD--Mr. Adams came 10 me to-day, at
the Foreign Office, at o'clock. lie said he came
TO ask two questions which concerned himself per-
sonslly.
interrupted him to ask whether what be was
going TO say was by order Of his government or
from his own sense Of Whist he ought to do.
Mr.. Adams answered that the proceeding WAS
entirely his own, but thst he had with him dis
patch from Mr.. Seward which he was authorized
To read to me If he should think ct to do 90. II
appeared, he said, from that despatch, that the
government Of Washington had not authorized
the capture Of tue two Insurgents Mason
and Slidsli, gnd that the United States
government ..eod quite unoomini ted AZ he time
Of sending che dispatch.
! said the if the dispatch did net enter into
any ct-.---ersy with regard to the Of Messrs.
Mason ed Shell, L thoRll be glad to hear it
read
Mr.. Adams then proceeded % rad the despatch.
II commenced by referring VITA appreciation to
3 speech made by MIR. Adams at the Mansion
House, and proceeded 10 notice with qualification
the sentiments which had seen expressed by Lord
Pslmsrston in a conversation he had held with
Mr.. Adams IN reference 10 the James Adger.
NJ. Seward then proceeds TO declare tnst the
American gorernmest value highly tho friendship
ef Great Britain, and lament that certain causes
o. diderolce have arisen, owing, ss Mr.. Seward
imagines, 90 the want Of attention on the part
Of the British Government 10 the performance Of
the duties incumbent on a friendly power during
the strzggle in which the United states en-
gaSed. Mr. Seward gives as instances the case
OF Communication te the Confederate authorities
by xr. Bunch; the admission Of the sumter pri-
vsteer 10 puruhsss coal sad provisions at Trini-
dri in disiiuorfun, as he said, 20 the conduct Of
eVery EuroFssn State; and the arrival in the
Southern sSstes OF vessels laden with arms and
ammunition from England.
Mr.. Seward then proceeds to the case II the
Trent, from which ship the two insurgents had
been taken. He Afhrms that no instructions we're
given To Captain v like which authorised him 20
act in the rssne- be lad done Neither had re
United States government committed itself With
regard TO any decision upon the character " that
act The government woull wait for any repre-
sentAtion the British government '=iYet make
before coming TO any positive tecisiOc. be de-
s-es that If Mr.. Adams should th'zE II desirable,
this despatch should be rad 70 ne. and slso to
Lord P1lmeSston-
In answer 20 Mr.. AdArs, touched upon most
Of the point. treated Of .. the despatch. 1 did
not think it necessary. soueyer, to recur to the
case Of Mr.. Bunch.
With regard - ths Confederate privsteer,
said that l oscld not see that conduct
had been different from that Of France sud Hol-
land. or Of SSain. The Sumter had been refused
coal fron ehe government stores Of Trinidad, but
had beer allowed TO get coal and provisions from
| private merchants. The same thipg had taken
| plAns ct Martinique and at Curacao. l did not
find that the rule Of twenty-iour bours had been
observed in practice, but there would be little
difsoslty in coming 10 an agreement on this
point
In regard 10 he export Of arms AID smmuni-
zion TO the Confederate States, l had lately
read the opinion Of the Attorney general aud be-
heved it in entire c nforuity with tic provi-
/ sions Of the foreign Enlistment act. Warike
Z o. VA led fHaf A.
| ing Of a vessel with arms and ammunition Was
/ not prohibited. but IN point Of fact, q much
Z greater smoUut Of arms and ammunition had been
sent 70 the Federal States, where there no OBJ
stacle 10 the export or the import than 10 the
ports q the Confederate states which were block
I AIDED Mr. Adams admitted this TO be the fact
tod said be bad refrained from pressing s more
J rigorous compliance with the foreign enlistment
/ act for this reason.
I then rtsted to Mr.. Adams the substance Of The
I two Dispatches ! had written q Lord Lyon on
| the subject o: the Trent.
I r1ld him that, in private letter. I had d.
rected Lord Lyons 10 talk the matter over with
I EE. seward two days before reading O. HIN the
I despatch. Mr.. a iams asked whether the 1irec-
/ ton 20 Lord Lyons 90 leave Washington 20 seven
| days sas in the despatch 90 be read saii that
| 10 vas not. an that ~ case Mr. seward sa Guild
| ask what would be tie Consequence % refusal
90 his part & comply with our conditions, Lord
! Lyons was 10 decline 90 answer that question, 10
| order not to have the appearance oi threat /
said that thought the vXplauati.u t--t ttc Cow
eminent hsd not authorized the seizure, would
| stand IN the place OF an apology.
But the essential condition was. that NJ Mason
and T. Slidell should be slven % 90 Lord Lyons
/ Mr.. Adams said that II the matter Eas stated %
| Mr.. Seward IN the manner ! had explained, be
/ hoped for al Emicsb.e termination Of the differ
enoe. He thought that if tho Government OF the
nited states Il sisted on maintaining the action
| Of Capt. Wilkes, the United states would be a1an-
douing their doctrine and adopting ours Nj
! Adams asked me a further question, which be
| said l might decline 10 answer. il was whether,
! If Lord Lyons came away, declaration Of war
would be the immediate consequences. told bin
nothing was decided on thai point, ne should
wait for the reply from America, and then decide
| upon our course. / stated 70 Mr.. Adams the sub
stance Of u. Thouvenels dispatch 70 II. MERCER
| IS l had heard IT from NJ. de Flsbsult. Mr.. Ad-
! ans said that the French Government had always
been very consistent in their maintenance Of the
| rights Of neutrals. he added that be could not
! psy our Government the same compliment ! said
! would dispense with compliments II this matter
could be Amieably arranged. We parted 90 very
friendly terms l an. &c.
(>igned) RrssrIL
Dec. 9Th, Lord Lyons wrote 70 Earl
Russell. Incl1sing copy Of ; CT iary SOW
ard Is answer 10 the despatch oi E,rl Rue
sell, relative to the removal Of Mcssrs.
Mason and Slidell, mcfarland aud Elstis
from the Trent. Lord Lyons does DO t
discuss the argument Of Mr.. Stewards an
sver but says that as Mr.. Seward admits that
reparation is due to the British Government,
and consents to deliver the four prisoners
to hun, he reports the facts and will
confer with Mr.. Seward on the arrangements
for the delivery of tic prisoners to him.
To tbis communication the despatch below
refers