CAPTAIN WILKES’S SEIZURE OF MASON AND SLIDELL.

‘37

As the 'Trent approached she hoisted English colors; whereupon our en-sign was hoisted and a shot was fired across her bow. As she maintained herspeed and showed no disposition to heave to, a shell was fired across herhow which brought her to. Captain Wilkes hailed that he intended to senda boat on board, and I then left with the second cutter.

The manner of heaving the Trent to evidently was galling to CaptainMoir. When he did stop his steamer, he showed how provoked he wasby impatiently singing out through his trumpet, “ What do you mean byheaving my vessel to in this manner ? ” I felt that I must in every wayconciliate him when I shouldget on board. Two boats hadbeen equipped and preparedto lower the crews and officersin charge, and the latterwere ready to jump into them.

These were not employed untillater. The boat I took was athird one, and as the sea wassmooth, but a few minuteselapsed before we reached theTrent. I instructed the boat’screw to remain alongside fororders, and, boarding the ves-sel, I was escorted by one ofher officers to the upper orpromenade deck and was in-troduced to Captain Moir, who,though very gentlemanly inhis way of receiving me, wasalso very dignified and mani-fested no little indignation ashe spoke of the unusual treat-ment received at our hands. I JOHN SLIDELL, CONFEDERATE COMMISSIONER TO FRANCE .

immediately asked if I might ™ 0M A ™ 0T0 « BA ™-

see his passenger-list, saying that I had information that Messrs. Mason andSlidell were on board. The mention of Mr. Slidell’s name caused that gen-tleman to come up and say, “I am Mr. Slidell; do you want to see me?”Mr. Mason, whom I knew very well, also came up at the same time, thusrelieving me from Captain Moir’s refusal, which was very polite but very

will be taken possession of, examined, and retained if procure them; the amount will be paid for by the pay-necessary. master.

“I have understood that the families of these gentle- “Lieutenant James A. Greer will take charge of themen may be with them; if so, I beg you will offer some third cutter which accompanies you, and assist you inof them in my name a passage in this ship to the United these duties. T trust that all those under your com-States, and that all the attention and comforts we can mand in executing this important and delicate dutycommand are tendered them and will be placed in their will conduct themselves with all the delicacy and kind-service. ness which become the character of our Naval Service.

“In the event of their acceptance, should there be “I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,anything which the captain of the steamer can spare to “ Charles Wilkf.s, Captain.

increase the comforts in the way of necessaries or stores, “To Lieutenant D. M. Fairfax, U. S. N., Executive

of which a war vessel is deficient, you will please to Officer, San Jacinto,”

mm

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