Santa Fe gazette. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1859-1864, 1862-02-01
M. SeUard to Lord Lyons.
DkPARrMkST oV STATE,
WARRINGTON. Dec. rs, 1881. {

WASHINGTON, Dec, 70, 1851.
The Right Honorable Lord Lyons de-, &C.,
Ny. LORD. Earl Rssssll's dispatch Of Nov, 80, a
copy Of which you have loft with ME, at my re.
quest Is of the following effect namely That a
letter of Com Williams dated Royal Mail contract
packet boat Trent at soa, Nov. Q, states that that
vessel loft Havana on the 7th Of NoyembeI, with
Her Majsstys mails, for England, having on board
numerous passengers Shortly after noon. Of the
9Th Of November, the U. s. war steamer San
Jacinto, Capt Wilkes, not showing colsrs, was
observed ahead, That steamer, on being neared
by the Trent, at IA o'clock 10 the afternoon,
fred round shot from a pivot gun across her
bows and showed American colors While the
Trent was approaching slowly toward the San
Jacinto, she discharged shell across the rrents
bows, which exploded at half cables length be
fore her. The Trent then stopped, and an officer
with large armed guard Of marines boarded her.
The officer SAID he had orders to arrest Messrs
Mason, Slide, Mcfarland and Eustis, and had
sure information that they were passengers in the
Trent. While some parley was going on. upon
this matter Mr.. Slide stepped forward and said
to the American officer that the four persons he
had named were standing before him, Ths Com
mander Of the Trent and Commander Williams
protested against the act Of taking those four
passengers out Of the Trent, they then being under
the protection Of the British flag But the San
Jacinto was at this timo only two hundred yards
distant, her ships company at quarters, her ports
open, aud tompions out, and SO resistance was out
Oh the question The four persons, before named
were then iorcibly taken out ofthe ship. A furth
or demand was made that the commander of thu
Trent should proceed on board the San Jacnto
but be said he would not 20 unless forcibly com
PEELED likewise, aud this demand WAS not insisted
upon. Upon this statement, Earl Russell remarks
that it thus appears that certain individuals havt
been forcibly taken from on boaraa British vessel
the ship Of neutral Power, while that vessel wai
pursuing lawful and innocent voyage--an act o
violence which was an affront to the British flag
: and violation Of international law. grll f''.a
pea Earl Russell next says that her majestos Gov
eminent, bearing in mind the friendly relation
. which have long subssted between Great Britai
and the United States, are willing TO believe tha
the naval officer who comnitted this aggresslo
was not acting Ia compliance with any authorit
from his Government; or, that II he conceived him
self to be- 90 authorized he greatly misunderstood
4 the instructions which he had received, 59 w
Earl Russell argues that the United States mus
. bs fully aware that the British Government coul
not allow such an affront to the national honor t
pass without full reparston, and they are willin
G 10 bslisvs that It could not be the deliberate IN
tenti,n Of the Government Of the Uaitsd State
unnecessarily to force into discussion between tn
two Governments gu ,stion Of so grave chara,
ter, aud with regard to which the whole Brits
nation would be sure to entertain such nnauimit
Of feeling.
Bari Russall, resting upon tho statement an
the argnmSntwhich Ihpve thhsreclted, closes wit
saving that Her Majesty's Government trust thu
when this matter shall have been brought undo
she consideration Of the Government ofths Unite
states II will, Of It's own accord, offer to the Bfi
Ish GoEsFnment such redress d alone could sstis
nd British nation, namely, the liberation Of II
four prisoners taken frou th' TrsstaSd their 4