The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-01-04

lordship, in order that they may again
be placed under British protection, and
suitable apology for the aggression
which has been committed.
Should these terms not be offered by
Mr.. Seward, you will propose them to
him.
You are at liberty to read this dos-
patch to the Secretary of State, and, if
he shall desire it, you will give him a
copy of it.
| am, &C., RUSSELL.
After rccapitulation of Earl Russell's
letter, Mr.. Seward proceeds to discuss
the subject as follows:
The British government has rightly
conjecturcd, what it is now my duy to
sta c, that Captain Wilkes in conceiving
and executing the proceeding in question,
ac ed upon his own suggestions of duty
without any direction or instruction, or
even foreknowlclge of il on the part of
this Government. No directions had
been given to him, or any other naval
officer, to arrest the four persons named,
or any of them, on the Trent, or on any
0 her British vessel, or on any other
neutral vessel, at the place where 1T
occurred, or elsewhere. The British
government will justly infer from these
facts thai the United Sta os not only
have had no purpose, but even no
thought of forcing in discussion the
question which has arisen, or any other
which could affect in any way the scnsi-
blitics of the British nation.
1t is true that round shot was fired
by the San Jacinto from her pivit gun
when the Trent was distlntly approach
ing. But, as the facts have been rcpor-
ted this Government, the shot was
nevertheless Intentionally fred in a
direction so obviously d " ,rgent from the
course Of the Trent as to be quite HARM
less as blank sho', while it should be
regarded as a signal.
So also we learn that the Trent was
not approaching the San Jacinto slowly
when the shell was fired across her bows,
but, on the contrary, the Trent was, or
seemed to be, moving under full head
of cam, as if witt purpose to pass
the San Jacinto.
We arc informed also that the board
ing officer Lieutenant Fairfax) did NOT
| board the Trent with large armed
guard, but he left his marines in his
boat when he entered the Trent lie
stated his instruc ions from Captain
Wilkes to search for the four prisoners
named, in respectful and courteous
though decided manner, and he asked
the captain of the Trent to show his pas
scnger list, which was refused. The
lieutenant, as we are informed, did not
employ absolute force in transferring the
passengers, but he used just so mnch as
was necessary to satisfy the parties con-
cerncd that refusal or resis cncc would
be unayailing.
So, also, we are informed that the
captain of the Trent was not at any time
or in any way required to 60 Oh boarC
the San Jacinto.
These notifications ofthe case as pre-.
scented by Commander Williams are
based upou our official reports.
| have now to remind your lordshi'
of some facts which doubt.essly wer,
omitted by Earl Russell, with the yer,
proper and becoming motive Of allowing
them to be brought into the case, on The
part of the United States, in the way
most satisfactory to this Government
These facts are, that at the time tn,
transaction occurred an instruction wa
existing in the United States which thi
Government was engaged in supprossin9
by the employment of land and nava
forces that in regard to this domestic
strife the United S atcs considered Grca
Britain as friendly power, while sh,
had assumed for herself the atti ude Of r;
neutral and that Spain was considered
IN the same light, and had assumed thu
same attitude as Great Britain.
1t had been settled by correspondence
that the United States and Great Britain
mutually recognised as applicable II
this local strife these two articles of th'
declaration made by the Congress o
Paris in 1856, namely, that the neutra
or friendly flag should cover enemy
goods not contraband of war, and tha
neutral goods not contrabaud of war ar,
not liable to capture under an enemy,
flag. These exceptions Of contraban(
from favor were a negative acceptance
by the parties of the rule hitherto every
where recognised as part Of the law o
nations, that whatever is liable to cap
ture and confscation in all cases.
James NJ. Mason and &. j. Mcfarland
arc citizens of the United States ant
residents Of Virginia. John Slidcll ant
George Eustis are citizens of the United
States and residents of Louisiana. l
was we'll known at Havana when these
parties embarked in the Trent that james
NJ. Mason was proceeding to Eng
land in the affected character Of
Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court o
St. James, under pretended commission
from Jefferson Davis, who had assumed
to be president of the insurrectionar,
party in the Uni cd Sta es, and &. j
Mcfarland was going with him in a lik
unreal character of Secretary of Legation
to the pretended mission. John Slidcll
in similar circumstances, was going tt
Paris as pretended Minister to tn
Emperor of the French, and George
Eustis was the chosen Secretary o
Legation for that simulated mission
The fact tina. these persons had assumed
such characters has been since avowe,
by the same Jefferson Davis in prcten