Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-01-11
EARL RUSSELL TO LORD LYONS
FOREIGN OFFICE. Nov. 80, 1861.
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FOREIGN OFFICE, Nov. 80, 1861.
The Lord LYoNs K. @. b. &c. &c &c.
Mr. LORD Intelligence of very grave
nature has reached her Majesty's Goyerl-
mtnt.
This intelligence vas conveyed officially
to the know ledge of the Admiralty by
Commander Williams, agent for the mails
on board the contract steamer Trent"
II appears from the letter of Commander
Williams, dated Royal Mail Contract
Packet Trent, at Sea, Nov 9" that the
Trent" left Havana on the lib inst, with
Ter Maj, sty's mails Tor England, having n
board numerous passengers. Commander
Williams states that shortly after noon q
the 9th steamer having The appearance of
q mau ofwar, bot not showing cologs, was
observed ahead On nearing her at ;l5
P NJ, she fred round shot from her piy-
OF gun nccross the bows of the Trent"
and showed American colors. While tho
"Treut" was approaching her slowly the
American vessel discharged shell across
the bows of the Trent, exploding half ca
hle's length ahead Of her The Trent then
stopped. and an officer with large armed
gnard Of marines boarded her The officer
demanded list Of the passengers and,
compliance to this demand being refused,
he officer said he had orders to arrest
Messrs. Mason, Slidell, MeFarlane and
Eus;is, and that he had sure information Of
their being passengers 10 the Trent. While
some parley was going on upon this matter.
Mr. Slidell stepped forward aud told the
American officer that the four persons be
had named were then standing before him.
| The commander of the Trent aud Comman-
der Williams protested against the act OF
taxing by force out Of the Trent these four
passengers, then under the protection Of the
British flag The "San Jaciuto7 was Of
that time only two hundred yards from tho
Trent" her ships company at quarters,
her ports open, and tompions out Res;s,
tance was therefore out Of lbe question, and
the four gentlemen before named we're for
cibly taken ont OF the ship. A further De-
mand was made thai the commander Of the
Trent should proceed on board the San ia
cinto, bRt he said he would not go unless
forcibly compelled likewise, and this de.
mand was not insisted ppoa.
IL thus appears that certain individuals
have been iorcibly taken from on board
! British vessel, the ship Of a neutral Power,
while such vessel was pursuing lawful and
innocent voyage-an act Of violence which
was an al1i ont TO The British Gag and vi,
olation OF International law.
Her MajeSlys Government bearing in
mind the friendly relations which have long
subsisted between Great Britain and the u
S. are wiilh 6 believe that the IT, S. ma.
val officer Who committed the aggression
was not acting in competence With any au-
thority from bis Government or that Il ho
conceived himself 10 be so authorized be
greatly misunderstood the Instructions
hich he had received For the govern
men of tbe u S. must be fully aware that
the British Government could not allow
such an aifront to the national honor 70 pass
without full separation, and her MajSeiy's
, Government are uRwiiliDg TO believe thar Il
. could be the deliberate iutentior Of the Gov
: ernment Of the U. S. unnecessarily 10 force
into discussion, beigeen the two Govern
ments. a question of so grave character,
and with regard 20 which the whole British
nation would be sure TO entertain such uns
animity Of feeling.
Her Majestys Government, therefore.
I trust, that when this matter shall have
been brought under he consideration Of she
government Of the u S that govsrnmsnt
will, Of as own accord offer 20 ihe Blush
Government such redress as alone could
satisfy the Bri'ish nation. natuely. lbe lib-
eralion Of the four gentlemen and their do
J livery to your iogdship. Ia order that they
may again be placed under British proleel
tiOn. and suitable apology los tbs aggres
sion which has been eommllted.
Should these terms not be offered ~ Mr..
Seward y0u will propose then 20 bin.
You are at liberty 70 read lhis despalch
to the Secretary q State. aud, 4 he shall
desire II, yon viii give , o a copy q 4