The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-19

much A the Secretary stated IN his annual re-
port 70 the President, dated two days later,
that Capt. wilkes's action was heartily APP
proved by him, II is hardly probable such a let
ter would have been sent without the knowl-
edge II not the actual approval OF the Presl.
dent. Whether II was given TO the public
press by tho department or Capt. wilkes Is not
known, but 81 any rate II was Immediately
printed. and at once attracted the attention Of
the British authorities. subsequently there
was some difficulty in explaining away this
vigorous executive approval OF the seizure.
The Confederate Government received intelll-
Renca OF the event on Nov. 10. through Gen.
Wool. the Union commander OF Fortress Mon
roe, TIE same day 1t reached the Washington
authorities. In forwarding by flag Of truce
letters from prisoners TO friends In the South,
Wool announced the fact to Gen. Huger at Nor
folk, who Immediately telegraphed the news
to richmond. In e message to the Confsdcr-
ate Congress on the 10th, President Davis
alluded TO the capture of the Commissioner
as n violation Of the rights Of embassy, and
wholly illegal. He held that a claim ito seize
them In the streets of London would have been
as well founded as that to apprehend them
where they were TAKEN" There was evident.
ly a wish on Mr.. Davis's part to put the worst
possible construction on the matter for tne pur-
pose of tanning British irritation. Under the
circumstances, IL Is clear that Mason ana Sill
dell we're far more eficacious ambassadors for
the Confederate cause in Fort Warren than
they would have been in London and Paris.
TIL Confederates instantly saw this, and were
overjoyed at the capture Of their Commission
ers, and the deep humiliation to which tho
British lion had been subjected 10y a Federal
ship OF war. u portended q rupture between
the United States and the most powerful mari
time nation Of the world. and perhaps immc-
diate hostilitics, tho result Of which could not
DO otherwise than favorable to the Confederatcs.
As soon us the event was announced Mt Wash.
%ington, Lord Lyons. the British Minister.
Immediately despatched nm outline OF tho in
telligence to his Government. On Nov. 10,
upon fuller knowledge OF its details. he fol-
lowed this with a letter, enclosing slips from
American newspapers Intended to disclose to
the London Foreign Office the high state Of feel
ing prevailing in the United States. The tone
Of this first letter TO his chief was strikingly
moderate and commendatory. incidentally
1t may he remarked that Lord Lyons was not
thrown of his balance by the surprising intelli-
gence OF the seizure. He appears TO have been
rather distressed than angered by Capt. Wilkes's
unexpected action. He exhibited no excite
ment. mnde no public threats or demands of
any kind whatever. expressed no opinion on
the question OF international law involved. or
the course likely to be taken by the London
Government.
He wisely did nothing which would have
tended to further complicate a situation al
ready too dangerous, merely contenting him
self with keeping his Government fully In
formed of the progress of events. and saying
upon every occasion 70 American statesmen
and to the press that 1t was an untownrd event
which he very much regretted. There he
stopped, and prudently awaited the ~instruc-
ffnna nf hta GnNnrnynrnt Ia nathan sought
nor avoided an Interview with Mr.. Seward,
and for a period of more than two weeks after
the capture was known he did not see n mem
Der OF our Government; received no author!-
tative declaration of the view It took of the
affair; indeed. had no communication from 1t
whatever. Lyons was waiting to hear from
London, and Mr.. Lincoln's Government re-
maincd silent until it was informed OF the
scope and form Of the British demands.