138 CAPTAIN WILKES’S SEIZURE OF MASON AND SLIDELL.

positive, that I could not under such circumstances be shown any list of pas-sengers. I asked where their secretaries, Mr. McFarland and Mr. Eustis,were, for I wanted to see them also, and Mr. Mason pointed them out tome standing near. In the briefest time I had the four gentlemen before me,and then I informed Captain Moir that I had been sent by my commander toarrest Mr. Mason and Mr. Slidell and their secretaries, and send them pris-oners on board the United States war vessel near by.

As may readily be understood, when it was known why I had boarded theTrent, there was an outburst of rage and indignation from the passengers, whonumbered nearly one hundred, many of them Southerners. The captain andthe four gentlemen bore themselves with great composure, but the irrespon-sible lookers-on sang out, “ Throw the d-fellow overboard!” I called on

Captain Moir to preserve order, but, for the benefit of the excited passengers,I reminded them that our every move was closely observed from the SanJacinto by spy-glasses (she was within hailing distance), that a heavy batterywas bearing upon them, and that any indignity to any of her officers or crewthen on board might lead to dreadful consequences. This, together withCaptain Moir’s excellent commanding manner, had a quieting effect. Duringthis uproar among the passengers, the officer in charge of the San Jacinto'sboat, not knowing what it meant, and fearing some ill-treatment of me, hur-ried up with six or eight of the crew. Captain Moir was the first to see thisbody of armed men, and remonstrated with me at their appearance on thepromenade-deck among his passengers, there being many ladies and childrenamong them. I immediately directed the officer to return to his boat andawait my orders. I assured him, amidst the noise of his passengers, that themen had come contrary to my instructions. I was really pleased to find thecaptain so tenacious of his command, for my mind was possessed with theidea that Mr. Mason or Mr. Slidell, or both, would urge Captain Moir to relin-quish his command, making it necessary for me to assume it, as in such eventmy instructions left no opening for me to decline it. After order had beenrestored, we discussed the affair more generally, Captain Moir, however,scarcely joining in the conversation—always dignified and punctilious. Themail-agent, Commander Williams, an officer of the Royal Navy , on the retiredlist, was more officious, for he scarcely left me, and more than once remindedme that he represented Her Majesty’s Service, and that I must refer things tohim. Of course, I knew what was due to him, but I also knew that CaptainMoir was the only person with whom I could have any official relations.I carefully avoided giving offense, and confined myself strictly to the dutywhich had taken me on board. I was anxious that Mr. Slidell and Mr. Masonshould not leave any of their luggage behind. Mrs. Slidell having askedme who commanded the San Jacinto, I replied, “Your old acquaintance, Cap-tain Wilkes”; whereupon she expressed surprise that he should do the verything the Confederates were hoping for—something to arouse England; andshe also spoke of our having run down a French brig, a short time before,saying that two French men-of-war were at Havana when the brig camein with jury-masts, almost a wreck, as the captain of the brig reported to