THE ATTACK ON THE BRITISH MAIL STEAMER TRENT, AND CAPTURE OF THE SOUTHERN COMMISSIONERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XVII, Issue 977, 22 March 1862, Page 3

THE ATTACK ON THE BRITISH MAIL STEAMER TRENT, AND CAPTURE OF THE SOUTHERN COMMISSIONERS.

The La Plata has arrived. She brings news that Messrs? Slidell arid Mason, tho Confederate Commissioners, were forcibly taken out of the Royal Jlail Company's steamer Trent, whilst on her voyage from Havannah to St Thomas, by the American war-ship San Jacinto.

The steamer Theodora, with the commissioners on board, ran the blockade of Charleston on the 18th of October last. Mr Slidell was accompanied by his wife and three daughters. They left Havannah on board the Trent on the 7th inst., and on tho Bth, as she was approaching a narrow passage between a reef opposite the Paradon Grange Lighthouse, Old Bahama Channel, a large war-vessel was observed" waiting a-head and showing her colours. On comingl nearer, the Trent hoisted her ensign, which met with a response from tho warvessel. When within about an eighth of a mile, the stranger, it is said, fired a round shot across the Trent's bows, at the same time hoisting the American flag. Immediately afterwards, it is reported, she fired a shell from a long pivot-gun on her forecastle, which burst about a hundred yards to the leeward of the Trent. Captain Moir, of the Treut, thereupon hailed the captain of the other ship, asking him what he meant |>y stopping his ship. He replied he wished to send a boat on board; at the same time one was lowered, containing two officers and ten men, who bparded the Trent and demanded her list of passengers, which was refused. Lieutenant Fairfax, the officer in command of the party from the war-steamer, which proved to be the San Jacinto, then said that Captain Wilks, his commander, had received reliable information that Messrs Slidell, Mason, Eustace, and Farland were on board the Trent, and demanded that they should be given up. This was peremptorily refused, both by Captain Moir a^d Commander Williams, R.N., the naval agent in charge of Her Majesty's mails; the former stoutly denying the right "of the federal vessel to take any person from under the British flag. The commissioners were standing near, and: boldly declared that they were all present, but being; on board a British ship, claimed protection of the flag, i 3Phe lieutenant then said he would take charge t>f the steamer, and waved his hand to the San Jacinto,- when three more boats were sent alongside, in which Xvere thirty marines and about sixty sail- : ors. Commander Williams thereupon made the following protest:-—" In this.ship lam the representative of Her Majesty's Government, and I call upon the officers of the ship, and passengers generally, to mark m y words, when *in the name of the British Government, and in distinct language, I denounce this an illegal act, in violation of international law, and an act of wanton piracy, Trhich, had we the means of defence,' you would* not dare to attempt." The men in the boats then boarded, and" came on the deck of the Trent frith''bare cutlasses, and the Commissioners were forthwith arrested and and forced into the boats. Mr Sliddell said he hoped the case would be fully represented. The Americans stated that they were short of provisions, arid asked for a supply to maintain their prisoners. Captain Moir did so; but said distinctly, they were for the exclusive use of the four gentlemen.

The American lieutenant afterwards said his orders were to take Captain Moir and his papers on hoard the San Jacinto, and that the Trent was to be moored nearer. Captain Moir replied—"You will find me on the quarter-deck; if you want me, you will have to come there for me," and immediately afterwards walked on deck. The Lieutenant, however, called his men together, and ordered them into the boats, finally telling Captain Moir he wanted nothing further. The boats then returned to the San Jacincto, and the Trent proceeded on her voyage. The despatches~of the Commissioners did not fall into the hands of the Americans, and have arrived in the La Plata. The indignation on board the Trent was so great that every person was willing to take part in the defence of the ship, had an order been given; this was, however, out of the question in the presence of such fearful odds. The two other persons taken were the secretaries of the Commissioners.

The Admiralty agent has gone up to London by special train.

LiTEBPOOL.—This afternoon, a public meeting was held in the cotton sale rooms, Exchange-build-ing, to consider the question of the arrest of Messrs Slidell and Mason on board the steamer Trent.

A resolution denouncing the act, and calling upon the Government to assert the dignity of the British flag was carried. Great excitement prevailed on 'Change, arid hundreds could nut gain admission to the meeting.

Captain Wilks, of the American war ship San Jacinto, arrived at Havannah on, the 2nd instant, on her way to^New York, arid gaining intelligence there that Sliddell and Mason were on board the Trent, he started in pursuit, and overtook the Trent on the Bth instant in the narrow passage of Old Bahama Channel.

On the boat leaving the Trent with the Southern Commissioners on board, Mr. Sliddell said he expected redress from the British Government for the outrage whilst under protection of its flag, and called upon the English captain to represent the case properly. When the American officers first boarded the Trent, Captain Moir pointed to the British flag and said he should resist, whereupon the captain of the man-of-war said.—" It is no use mincing the matter, we have evidence that you nave persons on board whom we want, and you must give them up." On Captain Moir refusing, the Trent Was immediately boarded by the crews of five armed boats and some marines, on a signal irom the captain of the San JFacinto, and then demanded the rebels (as they were called), and took them by force. It is said the armed boats contained 150 men, and as the Trent had not sufficient anns on board it would have been useless to have resisted.— Economist.