Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-01-07
MR.. SEWARD TO LORD LYONS.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
IVoebintrfon Deeemher 26 1861


&e.--My LoRD Earl Ruasels dispatch ofNo
vember aOth, copy of which you left with
me at my request is of the following effect,
namely
That Il letter of Commander Williams, dated
Royal Mail Contract packet-boat Trent, at sea,
November 9th, states that that vessel left ha-
vana on the 7th of November, with Her Maies-
ty's mails for England having on board nu-
merous passengers Shortly after noon, on
the sth OF November, the United States war
steamer San Jacinto, Captain Wilkes, no'
showing coors, was observed ahead, That
steamer, on being neared by the Trent, at one
O'Clock fifteen minutes in the afternoon fired
n round shot from pivot gun, across her
bows, aud showed American colors. While
the Trent Was approaching slowly towards the
San Jacinto she discharged shell across the
'l'fent's bows which Exploded half cables
onS nnSSs,-.-hefore b.. her. The i.aut then stopped,
..,. m M with large af.ed guard of
ad -. The officer sale he had
~ a.. ies' "ess-s. M.son, Sidell, Mcr-r-
land aad Eustis, and nj suta Information
that they We're passengers in ia. Tre,t While
some porley was going on upon this natter
Mr.. Slidell stepped forward and said to "a
American officer that the four persons he had
named were standing before him. The com
mander of the Trent and Commander Williams
protested aeains, he act OF taking these four
passengers out of the Trent, they then being
nnder the protection of the British flag. But
til San Jaeinto was at this time only two hun
dred yards distant, her ships company at
quarters, her ports open and tompions out,
and so resistance was out Of the question:
The four persons before named were then for
chilly taken out of the ship. \ further de-
mand was made that the commander of the
Trent should proceed on board the San Jacin-
to, but he said he would not go unless forci-
bly, compelled likewise and this demand was
not insisted upon.
Upon this statement Earl Russell remarks
that it thus appears that certain individuals
have been forcibly taken from on board Brit
sh, the ship of neutral power, while that
vessel was pursuing lawful and innocent
voyage, an act of violence which was an af-
front to the British flag and violation OF in
ternatonal law.
Earl Russell next says that her Maiesty's
Government, bearing in mind the intended re-
lations which have long subsisted between
Great Britain and the United States, are will
ling to believe that the naval officer who com
mitted this aggression was not acting in COM
plianee with any authority from his Govern
ment, or that, if he conceived himself to be so
authorized, he greatly misunderstood the in
strnctions which he had received.
Earl Russell argues that the United States
must be fully aware that the British Govern
ment could not allow such m alIront to the
national honor TO pass without full reparation,
and they are willing to believe that it could
not be the deliberate intention of the Govern
ment of the United States unnecessarily to
force into discussion between the two Govern.
ments question Of so grave character, and
with regard to which the whole British nation
would he sure TO entertain such unanimty of
feeling.
Earl Russell, resting upon the statement aud
the argument which have thus rected, closes
with saying that Her Majestys Government
trust that when this matter shall have been
brought under the consideration of the Gov
ernment of the United States, it will, of its
own 7ccord, offer to the British Government
such redress as alone could satisfy the British
nation namely, the liberation of the four pris-
oners taken from the Trent, and their delivery
to your lordship, in order that they may again
be placed under British protection, and suit
able apology for the aggression which has
been committed. Earl Russell finally instructs
you to propose .hose terms to me, if should
not first offer them on the part of the Govern
ment.
This dispatch has been submitted to the
President.
The British Government has rightly coniec-
tured, what it is now my duty to state, that
Capt. Wilkes, in coucciying and executing the
proceeding in question, acted upon his own
suggestions of duty, without any direction or
instruction, or even foreknowledge of II 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 any other British YES
sci, or on any other neutral vessel, at the place
where it occurred, or elsewhere. The British
Government will justly infer from these facts
the United States not only have had no pur-
pose, but even no thought, of forcing into dis
cussion the question which has arisen, or any
other which could effect in any way the sensi-
hlites of the British nation.
1t is true that round shot was fred by the
San Jacinto from her pivot gun whensithe
Trent was distantly approaching. But, as the
facts have been reported to this Government,
the shot was nevertheless Intentionally fired
in direction so obviously diverged from the
course of the Trent as to be quite ms harmless
as blank shot, while it should be regarded as
n signal.
So also we learn that the Trent was not ap-
preaching the San Jacinto slowly when the
shell was fired across her bows, but, on the
contrary, the Trent was, or seemed to be, mov-
ing under full head of steam, as if with a
purpose tospass the San Jacinto.
We are informed also that the boarding of.
ficer (Leut. Fairfan) did not board the Trent
with large armed guard, but he left his ma
rines in his boat when he entered the Trent
He stated his instructions from Capt Wilkes
10 search for the four persons named, in a re-
spectinl and courteous though decided manner,
and he asked the captain Of the Trent TO show
his passenger list which was refused. The
lieutenant, as we are informed, did not employ
absolute force in transferring the passengers,
but he used just so much as was necessary to
satisfy the parties concerned that refusal on