LATER ENGLISH NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 95, 6 March 1862, Page 6

LATER ENGLISH NEWS.

(FROM THE " MELBOURNE HERALD," FEBRUARY 20tu.) Messrs. Money Wigram's fine ship, the " Suffolk," arrived in Ilohson's Bay at half-past one to-day, after a splendid run of seventy-nine days, bringing two days's later news. By the kindness of Captain ,T. B. Martin, to whom we have been on three former occasions indebted for later English news, we have received papers to the 28th, containing important information confirming our telegraphic announcement of the Federal attack by the San Jaeinta, upon the Royal Mail Company's steamer, the Trent, and the seizure of the Commissioners, Messrs. Sliddel, Mason, Eustace, and Farland. The greatest excitement prevailed, and public meetings were being convened, full particulars of which we subjoin. The Suffolk has brought out Sir Dominic Daly, the new Governor of South Australia. Considerable excitement manifested in London and the provinces during: the day. Consols.—On news of the treatment of the Southern Commissioners, the market fell from 92$ to 91$, about £ drop. ■ ■ ■' From this they reacted to 92 J firmer again. Nov. 28.—1.30 p.m., Consols 912. 2 p.m., Railways down 1 to 1J per cent. 2 40—Consols <J2, rather sellers. Markets somewhat rallied. Closing prices—Consols, 93|- to f.

Southampton, Wednesday.—The La Plata has arrived. She brings news that Messrs. Sliddell and Mason, the Confederate Commissioners, were forcibly taken out of the Royal Mail Company's steamer Trent, whilst on her passage 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 IBth of October last. Mr. Sliddell was accompanied by his wife and three daughters. They left ITfivsinnah on board the Trent, on the 7th inst, aid on the Bth, as she was approaching a narrow passage between a reef opposite the Paradon Grande Lighthouse, Old Bahama Channel, a large vessel was observed waiting ahead and shewing her colors. On coming ncarer'the Trent hoisted her ensign, which met a response from the war vessel. 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 leeward of the Trent. Captain Moir, of the Trent, thereupon hailed-the captain of the other ship, asking him what he meant by 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 man, who boarded the Trent and demanded her list of passengers, which was refused. Lieut. 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 Sliddell, Mason, Eustace, and Farland were on board the Trent, and demanded that they should be given np. This was peremptorily refused, both by Captain Moir and Commander Williams, R.N., the naval agent in charge ot her Majesty's mails; the former stoutly denying the right of the Federal vessel to take any person from under the English 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. The lieutenant then said he would take charge of the steamer, and waved his hand to the San Jacinto, when three more boats were sent alongside, in which were 30 marines nnd about 60 sailors. Commander Williams thereupon made the following protest : —" In this ship I am the representative of her Majesty's Government, and I call upon the officers of the ship, and passengers generally, to mark my words, when, in the name of the British Government, and in distinct language, I denounce this as an illegal act, in violation of international law, and an act of wanton piracy, which, had we the means of defence, you would not dare to attempt." The men in the bouts then boarded and came on deck of the Trent with bare cutlasses, and the Commissioners were forthwith arrested and forced into the boats. Mr Sliddell said he hoped the case would be fullj' represented, Americans stated that they were short of provisions, and asked for a supply to maintain their prisoners. Captain Moir complied with the request, 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 vapors on board the San Jacinto, and that the Trent was to bo moored nearer.—Captain Moir replied— " You will find me on the quarter-deck ;if you want mo, 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 tolling Captain Moir he wanted nothing further. The boats then returned to the San Jacinto, and the Trent proceeded on her voyage. The dispatches 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. Livkui'Ooi., Wednesday, 4.30 p.m.—This afternoon, a public meeting was held in the cotton sale rooms, Exchange Building, to consider the question of the arrest of Messrs. Sliddell 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, and hundreds could not gaiii 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, and 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 the protection of its liag, and called upon the English captain to represent the case properly. When the American officers 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 have 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 from the Captain of the Jacinto, who 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 arms on board it would have been useless to have resisted. The Captain of the Jefferson Davis is among, the passengers of the La Plata, as well as other persons from the Confederacy, for the purpose, of buying arms in England. The Sumter has not been captured ; she was at Martinique on the 1 lth instant, landing prisoners. The Federal man-of-war Iroquois, left St. Thomas in pursuit of her. Ten, p.m. —The report of Government taking any decided steps in the La Plata affair is quite premature, and the question still arises whether the capture was not legal, however- impolitic it

may be considered. Su-.no decision on the part * of England and France as to tha blockade being '' ineffective is considered not improbable. i The recent order to have all the gun-boats in the nuval stations ready at the shortest notice has been commented on to-day, as showing some anticipation of their employment It is not probable that anything -will transpire as to the intentions of the Cabinet until Friday or Saturday, because communication with the F French Government will be necessary, and so grave a matter would require' most serious consideration. The general feeling is one of strong iudignation. Tha Evening Herald is informed that imme- ■ diately on the receipt at the Admiralty of the > intelligence, per La Plata, of the outrage on the > British flag, a Cabinet Council was summoned by Lord Valmerston to determine whether Mr. Adams's passports should not be forthwith sent ? him. The Globe, however, makes no mention of • these facts. I The Sun, after indulging in surmises as to the legal rights of the case, says :—" The general impression is that the matter creates a real ' difficulty." 1 The Globe and other evening papers make no I remarks on the subject, probably owing to the news not reaching them until late in the afternoon. Southampton, 27th Nov., ]2 p.m.—lt is stated I on good authority that the Hansa, which sails tomorrow, at 10 a.m., for New York, has taken on board an immense quantity of muskets and other warlike stores for the Federal Government. Mr. Sliddell, on taking leave of his family, on board the Trent, is reported to have said— "It is true that I may suffer great personal inconvenience, but, thank God, it is the best thing that could happen for my country. 1' The city articles express fears of a serious complication. Considerable excitement has prevailed at the Stock Exchange, and all public places of resort since the publication of the news. A feeling of irritation was general ; at the same time much discussion arose whether a neutral flag could legally carry persons taking an active part in hostilities.