The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-06-28
to England. His letter of instruction

nave long SuDSlStSu peINCSh Oiose
Britain and the United States, are will
ing to believe that the United State:
naval officer who committed the aggres
sion was not acting in compliance with
any authority from his Government ol
that if he considered himself so author
lied he greatly misunderstood the In.
structions which he had received.
"Her Majesty's Government therefore
trusts that when this matter is brought
under consideration of the Government
of the United States, that Government
will of its own accord offer such redress
as could alone satisfy the British nation,
VIZ, tie liberation of the four gentlemen
and their delivery to your Lordship IN
order that they may again be placed
under British protection, and suitable
apology for the aggression which has
been committed.
ain my previous dispatch of this date
! have instructed you, by command of
Her Majesty, to make certain demands OF
the Government of the United States.
Should Mr.. Seward ask for delay in
order that this grave and public matter
should be deliberately considered, you
will consent to a delay not exceeding
seven days. If at the end Of that time
no answer is given, or any answer Is
given except that of compliance with
the demands of Her Majesty's Govern
ment, YOUR Lordship is instructed to
leave Washington, with all the members
of tie Legation, aud repair Immediately
TO London.
at, however, you should be of the
opinion that the requirements of Her
Majesty's Government are substantially
complied with, you may report the fact
to Her Majesty's Government, and re-
main at your post until you receive fur
ther orders"
While negotiations on the subject were
pending active preparations for war were
continued. The leading papers of Lon
don, including the ministerial organ, de-
clared that England was interested to
proclaim war, since she might then ad
just the boundaries of her colonies at
her own viii, and open the Southern
ports. Ship owners were instructed to
signalize any English vessels that war
with America was probable
On the 18th of November the Gov
ernment at Washington was officially
informed of the arrest of the conspira-
tors, and on the Sd of December the
President announced his determination
to release them, but thought it better to
AWAIT THE DEMAND
which he expected England to make.
It was received about Christmas, and
made no allusien whatever to the prin-
ciples of international law which were
deemed to have been violated. In reply
to formal demand for the surrender of
the Ambassadors, Secretary Of State Sew
ard said that Capt. Wilkes acted in max
ing the capture upon his own suggestions
of duty, and that the Administration had
given instructions neither to him nor
anybody else to seize the Commissioners.
Our Government deemed them and their
dispatches to be by general law of
Nations eontraband, and justified Capt.
Wilkes IN stopping the Trent and
searching her, both in the act and in
the manner of the act.
La accordance with what it was
deemed to be of the best interests of the
country at the time the British Govern
ment was informed that the Commits
sioners would be surrendered; and they
were accordingly transferred from Fort
Warren to the English gunboat Rinaldo,
and eventually reached England, where,
however, they were not officially re-
ceived.
Mason and Slidell have long since
passed away to join the silent majority
beyond, without giving any evidence of
repentance for the crimes they COM
mitted and treason advocated; but the
excitement and popular demonstration
attending their capture is still fresh in the
memory of the writer and many others
who were connected with the United
States Navy at that time.
The l.. S. S. San Jacinto was a second
class frigate, built in l84S, bark rugged,
with screw propeller, and carried eight
guns, with a crew of 260 men, and
named in honor of the battle of San
Jacinto, Tex. She was flagship for Ad-
miral Theodorus Bailey, of the East
Gulf Squadron, stationed at Key West,
Fla, in 1868, "a, where she partici-
pated in the capture of some very valu-
able prizes. In August, 1864, the yel-
low fever broke out among the crew,
and quite number Of them died. The
vessel was then ordered north, going
as far as the Labrador coast. After
being repaired at Portsmouth Navy
yard, the San Jacinto was again or
dered to sea in pursuit of privateers and
blockade-runners. While cruising in
the vicinity of the Bahama Islands she
struck some hidden rocks near Green
Turtle Key On the night of Jan. l,
1865, and proved a total loss. The
crew were saved, however, and rescued
by the U. S. S. Tallapoosa, taken
to Key West, where they were trans
ferred to the L. S. S. Magnolia.
Capt Charles Wilkes was born in the
State of New York, and entered the
Us. Navy as Midshipman Jan. /, 1918;