Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-01-08
MR. SEWARD TO LORD Lyons.
DEPARTMENT or STATE,
WAsHINGTON, December II, 1861.


The R;glf Hsaa-cBIs Lord Lyons. nc, &C.
MY LORD: Earl Russeirs dispatch Of November 18Th,
AGONY o. which y0u have left with ne AZ my request, Is
q the following eject, viz: a.,
mail contract boat Trent at SEA, November sth, ststes
that that vessel left Havana on the 5h Of November
with her mSestys mails for England, having On board
numerous passengers Shortly after noon on the etn OF
November, the United States war steamer San JaciGto,
Capt Wilkes, not showing coiors, was observed ahead
The sheamer, upon being neared BY the Trent, al LIS In
the afternoon. fired q Mound shot from q pivot gun across
her bows, and showed American cOlorE- While The Trent
was approaching slowly towards the San Jacinto, she
discharged a shell across the Trents bows, which ex-
ploded At half 3 cables length before her. The Trent
then stopped. and an officer, with a large armed guard q
marines, boarded her. The officer sid he had orders 20
arrest Sessrs. Mason S1dell, Mcfarland and Euztis.
add had suIe Information thai they were passengers in
she Trent While some pariey WEs going on upon tins
raatser, Mr.. SHiei stepped forward and said 10 the
American officer that the four persons he bad named
were standing before him. The commander Of the Trent
and Commander Williams protested against the act Of
taking those four passengers out Of the Trent, they being
under the protection Of the British flag Bat the San
Jacirto was at this time only two hundred yards OF, her
ship's company Al quarters. heF Por1s open and tonplon-
cut, and 50 resistance was cut Of The question The four
persons before named were then furefDlg taken out Of the
slip. A further demand was made, that the esEmander
Of the Trent should proceed on beard the San J2eihiS-
but he said be would not g unless fOreibly compelled
Hsswis, ard this demand Wa nos Insisted upon
iron this statement Ear Russell remarks. that IL thus
apfuaays that certain indiVidallE have been foTcibiy taken
from on board q Brit n vessel, the ship q q neutral
power, VkGe that ress1 was Prrsaiag 2 lawful and m
AaItu - HH1r 49,
10 the Ffifish aaz aad "a ISOLATION Of international law.
Ear Kuzsl Hozt ays filst Der majesty government.
bearing lh mind the friendly rslaUons which have long
aabsisted between Great Britain AL fas United staies,
are willing 70 believe thai the naFa ofneeF gho commit
sd this aggression was not acting IN eompEaHes viii
any authority from hs government o. tnail re eoncelf.
ed himself 70 Be 70 authorized he greatly misuuderfoOd
the Instructions be had received.
Earl Russell argues that the United statss must be ful
Is aware thai the British EoEerHmeut could not allow
eueh an affonf 10 the National h0nOr % pass without fii
reparshon, and they are willing g believe fhat it could
Goi be the deliberate intention Of the Luitea isigies IN
lIecessarly 10 force into Discussion between tbs two gov
Imp o., a question Of - grave a character, and with
regard 10 which the vdhole British nation would BE- sure
60 entes1sin snch unsniniiy Of feeling.
Earl Russell, resting upon The statement and the argu.
ment which ] haFe reelted, closes with saying that heT
maiestvss qovcrnmafa trust that when this matter shall
have been brought under the consideration Of the gov
eminent Of the United Btites, Il VII, Of is own accord,
offer 70 the Brtisl government such redress a. could
sao1e satisfy the BIff1h nation, viz: the liberation Of the
four prisoners taken Hoa The Trent, and their aeligefy
10 y0ar lo-dship, In order dist they may again be placid
under British protection, and 3 suitable apology for the
aggressoh which has been committed Eari Russell
finally instruets yoa 70 propose those terms % nae, II ]
should not frst 0f rfhen on the part Of the governmsus.
This dispatch has been submitted 70 the PRECEDENT
The British government has rightly eonieetured that II
= aow my duty % state that Capt Wilkes, ~ eonoeiving
and executing The proceedings IN question, acted upon he
auu suggestions 81 duty without any direction or insuuc-
zion. or even foreknowiedge q 4, on the part Of this
government No direction had been given 10 him or any
other nngai officer 20 arrest the Eur persons named. or
any o. them, Oh tbe Trent, or on any other British vessel,
or on any other neEfral vessel, at the place where i
occurred or elsewhere. Tie British government VIII
susly infer from these faets that The United States not
only have had no purpose. bus even no thought, OF
forcing into discussion The question Whiah has arisen, or
any other which could affect il any way tie seasihai ies
Il the British nation.
1t is true that a round shot was Gred by the San Jaciu-
20 from the pfv0i gun when ts Trent was distanty ap-
preaching. But, a. the laets have been reported 70 TINS
government, the shot was neyerfhelcss Intentionally fed
IN a direction 50 obviously divergent fr0m the course q
the Trent, A. 10 be quite as harmless Is a blank shot.
azhle II should be regarded asa signal.
"a a1ao we learn that the Trent was not auyTOHeulno