On Nov. 7, 1861,
James M. Mason, of
Virginia, Confederate envoy to
Great Britain, and
John Slidell, of
Louisiana, accredited to
France, embarked at
Havana in the
British mail steamer
Trent for
England.
The
United States steamship
San Jacinto,
Captain Wilkes, was watching for the
Trent in the
Bahama channel, 240 miles from
Havana,
Captain Wilkes having decided, on his own responsibility, to seize the two Confederate envoys.
the
San Jacinto met the
Trent on the forenoon of Nov. 8, signalled her to stop in vain, and then fired a shot across her bow. Her captain unwillingly allowed
Mason and
Slidell, with their secretaries, to be taken aboard the
San Jacinto.
Captain Wilkes reached
Boston on Nov. 19, and the two ministers were confined in
Fort Warren.
This seizure was received with favor in the
United States, but
Great Britain demanded from the government at
Washington a formal apology and the immediate release of the prisoners,
Lord John Russell instructing the minister, Lord Lyons, at
Washington, Nov. 30, 1861, that unless a satisfactory answer were given within seven days he might, at his discretion, withdraw the legation and return to
England.
This despatch was received on Dec. 18; on the 19th Lord Lyons called on
Mr. Seward, and in a personal interview an amicable adjustment was made possible by the moderation of both diplomats.
On Dec. 26
Mr. Seward transmitted to Lord Lyons the reply of the
United States, in which the illegality of the seizure was recognized, while the satisfaction of the United States government was expressed in the fact that a principle for which it had long contended was thus accepted by the
British government.
Mason and
Slidell were at once released, and sailed for
England Jan. 1, 1862.
See
Mason, James Murray;
Slidell, John;
Wilkes, Charles.
