The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-01-08
Trent Correspondence.


The official correspondence between Eng.
land and the U. S. relative to the Trent af-
fair has come to hand. This correspond
ence opens with Sec'y Stewards letter to
Minister Adams, in which he compliments
Mr.. A. on his speech at the Lord Mayors
dinner, and announces that this government
would wait for England to make known
her position relative to the affair before
making explanations.
This letter was shown by Minister Adams
to Lord Russell, who Immediately wrote tc
Lord Lyons, the British Minister at Wash
ington, detailing the historical circumstan.
ces Of the arrest, and presuming that Capt
Wilkes acted without instruction, for tn.
US. government must be fully awar.
England could not allow such an affront te
pass without full reparation, and that tn,
U. S. government will Of it's own accord Of
fer redress, viz surrender of Mason ant
Slidell, and their Secretaries to England
Sec'y Stewards reply to this communica
ton, and the subsequent letter of LORD
Lyons to Sec'y Seward are herewith sub
mitted in full:
MR.. SEWARD TO LORD LYONS.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsuINGroN, Dec. 26, 189l{
Tie Right honorable Lord Lyons. &C., Sc.
Nix LoRD--Earl Russelrs dispatch o
Nov. 30th, copy Of which you have left
with me at my request, is Of the following
effect, namely:
That u letter Of Commander Williams
dated Royal Mail Contract Packet Boa
Trent, at sea. Nov. 9th, states that that YES
sci left Havana on the 7th Of Nov, with he,
Majcsty's mails for England, having or
board numerous passengers. Shortly after
noon, on the Sth If Nov, the U. S. wa,
steamer San Jacinto, Captain Wilkes, moi
showing colors, was observed ahead. Ira,
steamer, on being neared by the Trent, a
one o'cl.ck and fifteen minutes in the af
ternoon, fired round shot from pivot
gun across hrr bows. and showed American
co'ors. While the Trent was approaching
slowly towards the San Jacinto she dis
charged shell across the Trents bow.
which exploded at half cables length be
fore her. The Trent then stopped, and ar
officer with large armed guard Of marine.
boarded her. The officer said he had or
ders to arrest Messrs. Mason, Slidcll, Nc
Farand, and EuS,iS, and had sure infprma
.ion that they were passengers in the Trent
While some parley was going on upon thi,
matter, Mr.. Slidell stepped forward and sal,
to the American officer that the four per
| sons he had named were standing befor.
him. The commander Of the Trent anl
Commander Williams protested against tht
act of taking those four passengers out ol
the Trent, they then being under the pro
lection Of the British flag. But the San
Jacinto was at this time only two hundred
yards distant, her ships company at quar-
ters, her ports open and tompions out, and
so resistance was out OF the question. Tn.
four persons before named were then forci
bly, taken out Of the ship. a further de
mand was made that the commander Of the
Trent should proceed on board the San Ja
clinton. but he said he would not 60 uni. s,
forcibly compelled likewise, and this DE-.
mand was not insisted upon.
Upon this statement Earl Russell remarks
that it thus appears that certain individuals
have been frcibly taken from on board q
British vessel, the ship Of q neutral pow er
while that vessel was pursuing lawful and
innocent voyage-an act Of violence which
was an affront to the British flag and vio-
latiOn Of international law.
Earl Russell next says that her Majesty
government, bearing in mind the friendly
relations which have long subSisted between
Great Britain and the u S., are willing ia
believe that the naval officer who committed
this aggression was not acting in compli.
ancc with any authority from his govern
ment, or that, ii he conceived himself to b.
so authorized, he greatly misunderstood the
instructions which he had received.
Earl Russell argues that U. S. must be
fully aware that the British government
could not allow such an aifront to the ma,
tional honor to pass without full reparation
and they are willing to believe that it could
not be the deliberate intention Of the gov.
ernment Of the U. S. unnecessarily to 70, &C
into discussion between the two govern
ments a question Of so grave a character
and with regard to which thewhole British
nation would be sure to entertain such una
nimity of feeling. .. .... ..-
Earl Russell, resting upon the statement
and the argument which have thus reel
ted, closes with saying that her Majesty's
government trust that, when this matter
shall have been brought under the consid
Grafton Of the government Of the U. S., i
will, Of its own accord, to the British gov
ernment such redress as alone could satisfy
the British nation, namely: the Liberation
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