The New York herald., 1862-01-03


Messrs Mason and Slidell have taken their de-
parture for England in the British war steamer
Rinaldo, which arrived at Provincctown on Tuesday
night They were taken from Fort Warren by the
sugbost Starlight, ut eleven O'Clock on Wednes
lay morning, and put on board the Rinaldo. TO
gether with their secretaries, Eustis and McFar-
land. The Rinado sailed for Europe at six O'Clock
on Wednesday evening, the wind at that time
blowing q perfect hurricane. The Trent affair is
thus conclusively settled, and in a manner SO en-
tirely satisfactory to the British Minister at Wash
ins.on, Lord Lyons, that his government cannot
find fault with the prompt and conscientious action
of Secretary Seward.
Our news from the Upper Potomac shows tia.
considerable activity exists on both sides near
Harper's Ferry. Point of Rocks, Leesburg and
Frederick, although no engagement has taken
place. Contrabands from Culpepper, Fairfax,
Loudon and Fauquier counties continue to flock
into General Banks headquarters, and are sent on
10 General Mcclellan. The rebels are said to be
augmenting their forces at Leesburg, where they
are erecting strong works. They still make de-
monstrations at Dam No. S, but without effect.
Our Parrott gun at that point is doing some dam
age among them.
Our news from Port Royal, BY the Ariel yester-
day, is interesting. The British steamer Fingall
attempted to run the blockade at Savannah, but
was foiled. She got ready to make her way
through Warsaw Sound, but information having
been received from deserter, the gunboat Otta-
wa was despatched to the Sound, and on her arri-
val the rebel mosquito feet of Tatnall came down
to attack her. After brisk engagement a shell
was put through Commodore Tatnall's vessel,
.hus frustrated. A Spanish schooner without
lame, but laden with q valuable cargo Of Havana
;egars, shoes and other stores, was chased, run
aground and burned, at Cumberland Inlet on the
18th ult, By the boats of the Bienville and Aaba-
ma. Her cargo was taken off, The crew had
previously fed to the woods.
Three thousand men for General Buffers expe-
iition were put on board the Constitution at Bos.
.on yesterday. and are expected to sail for the
South to-day.
The drst hostile step Of the allied expedition
against Mexico was taken on the 18th ult., when
The Spanish troops from the feet landed at Vera
Cruz, took unopposed possession of that city and
The fort Of San Juan dc q oa, and hoisted the
Spanish flag over the city and the fort. We have
received in detail the history Of the entire affair by
The steamer Columbia, from Havana, which ar.
rived at this port yesterday. and we give in full
In our columns to-day. The rejoicings in Havana
on the receipt Of the news were most enthusiastic
The British bark Express, Of Hull, for New Or.
leans, loaded with $500 bags Of coffee, arrived
here yesterday as prize, having been captured by
the United States sloop-of.war yincennes. She
took in her cargo at Rio Janeiro.
Some idea Of the way the Southern people treat
the release of Mason and sndeIl may be found
from the fact that the Norfolk Day Book Of the
3lst ult. consoles itself that England will not be
satisfied with the simple surrender of Mason and
Slidell, but will demand the surrender also OF
Captain Wilkes and Lieutenant Fairfax, of the San
Jacinto, to be tried for piracy before an English
court, and also the raising of the blockade Of
Southern ports and the removal by the United
states Of the distractions to Southern harbors
The Day Book concludes that if all these demands
are not complied with the rebels will have the
pleasure of seeing their enemies wiped OUT and if
they should be granted, they will have their inde
pendence at once secured.
The Charleston Mercury says that the schooner
Prince of Wales, while attempting to run the
blockade at Georgetown, 8. c., with q cargo Of
salt from Nassau, N. p, was chased and driven