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MESSRS. MASON AND SLIDELL.

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several sessions as Chairman of the Com-active agent of Mr. Buchanan's adminmittee of Foreign Relations, doubtless istration, which he greatly influenced, had its influence in his selection as a and the rebellion found him among the diplomatic agent abroad of the Confederate States. We have seen his choice on occasion of the Secession and the part he took in his native State in its assaults upon the Government. His course in the Senate was chiefly noticeable for the defiant tone with which he supported the pretensions of the Southern party. Unlike his grandfather, who was a resolute opponent of the institution of slavery, he was one of the most strenuous advocates of the new pro-slavery policywas the author of the fugitive slave bill -and had long made up his mind in favor of the separation from the Union of the Southern States.

most conspicuous of the secessionists. We have already noticed his farewell to the Senate. Of late years he had also borne a prominent part in the disturbed local politics of New Orleans, and undoubtedly was well qualified, as a thorough partisan and ambitious advocate of Southern independence, to represent the Confederacy wherever he might be sent. Of course persons so well known would not think of making their way through the Northern States to embark for Europe. A better chance was to take the risk of the blockade. Accordingly, a little before midnight of the 11th of October the party consisting of Mr. Mason John Slidell, the Commissioner to of Virginia, his secretary Mr. McFarFrance, was a native of New York. land, Mr. John Slidell of Louisiana, acBorn in the year 1798, he was a few companied by his wife and four children years older than his coadjutor. A duel and his secretary Mr. Eustis with his in his youth with Stephen Price the wife, together with some other agents of well-known theatrical manager, was fol- the Confederates, among whom, it was lowed by his retirement to New Orleans, said, was Captain Coxeter, late of the Priwhere he pushed his fortunes in the law vateer Jeff. Davis, embarked at Charlesand in political life. He was appointed ton on board the small steamer Theodora. United States District Attorney at that The night was dark and the obscurity city by President Jackson, was frequent- was increased by a light rain. Under ly sent to the State Legislature, and was these favoring circumstances the steamer elected a member of the national House escaped the notice of the Union ships off of Representatives. While a member the harbor and made her way in safety of Congress he was prominently brought to the port of Nassau, in New Provito the notice of the public by his ap- dence. There the party would have dispointment by President Polk as Minister embarked and taken the British steamer Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordin- by which communication is kept up beary to Mexico on the eve of the war tween England and the island, but learnwith that country. The difficulties; how-ing that this vessel made New York her ever, between the two nations had gone stopping place, they were needs compelltoo far for negotiation-at least it was ed to choose some other route. "Howso thought by the government at Mexico, ever gratifying a sight of New York and Mr. Slidell was not received in his might have been under other circumdiplomatic capacity. On the retirement stances," as the Charleston Mercury, in of Mr. Soulé from his seat in the United reciting these particulars, with an uninStates Senate to enter upon his mission tentional foreshadowing of coming events. to Spain, Mr. Slidell was appointed as remarked, "the commissioners determinhis successor, and upon the conclusion of ed on this instance to forego the pleathe term was again elected. He was an sure." The Theodora then sailed for

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Cuba, landed the commissioners at Cardenas on the 16th, and the next day entered the port of Havana displaying the Confederate flag. There the ambassadors were well received by their friends and the supporters of the Southern revolt.

Meanwhile the reported departure of the Commissioners had made some stir at Washington and throughout the country. It was said on the authority of a Southern newspaper, that they had escaped from Charleston in the steamer Nashville, a privateering vessel fitting out at that port, which, as subsequently ascertained, did not leave till more than a fortnight after the Theodora. Government vessels were immediately dispatched in pursuit to the Bermudas, whither the Nashville had directed her course, and to the coast of England, whither it was supposed she would speedily proceed. To none of the vessels, however, specially sent out to intercept the Nashville, were the ambassadors the destined prize. Their capture was reserved for an eminent officer of the American Navy, whose accidental return to this region from a foreign station threw him at the time upon their track.

been assigned to special duty near Washington. At the time of the departure of the Confederate Commissioners he was on his way home from the Coast of Africa in command of the United States vessel San Jacinto, a first class screw steam sloop, mounting thirteen guns.

Approaching the American Coast, Captain Wilkes put into the island of St. Thomas, and there, gaining information of the movements of the Confederate privateer Sumter, went in pursuit of her in the Gulf of Mexico and at various West India stations. At Cienfuegos he learnt that the Theodora had run the blockade from Charleston and reached Havana, whither he proceeded to watch her movements and capture her if possible on her return to the Southern States. On reaching Havana, on the 31st of October, he found that the Theodora had already departed, leaving the Confederate ambassadors and their suite, enjoying the hospitality of the British Consul and their sympathizing friends while they awaited the arrival of the West India packet, the regular means of communication with Europe, the English steamer Trent, Captain Moir, which would leave the island on the 7th of November. The Trent ran from Vera Cruz by way of Havana to St. Thomas, where another vessel carried the passengers and mails to Southampton. Having ascertained the intention of the Commissioners, and having satisfied himself of his legal rights in the premises, Captain Wilkes at once came to the conclusion that it was his duty to capture the ambassadors on their passage. In his own words: "I made up my mind to fill up with coal and leave the port as soon as possible to await at a suitable position on the route of the steamer to St. Thomas to intercept her and take them out." Accord

Captain Charles Wilkes, into whose hands they fell, a native of the State of New York, born in 1805, had entered the navy at the age of thirteen, and had long been distinguished in the service, being specially known by his scientific acquirements and by his command of the Exploring Expedition sent out by the American Government to the South Pacific in 1838. His narrative of the observations and discoveries of the Expedition covering a period of four years, published on his return, brought him to the notice of the European public, and he received the gold medal of the London Geographical Society as a recognition of his achievements. He subse-ingly, making his preparations in haste, quently published a work relating to he left the port on the 2d of November, California and Oregon, entitled "West- and presently directed his course to Key ern America." Of late years he had West, where he expected to find the

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

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CAPTAIN WILKES' PREPARATIONS.

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Fairfax, with the second cutter of this ship, was despatched. He met with some difficulty, and remaining on board the steamer with a part of the boat's crew, sent her back to request more assistance: the captain of the steamer having declined to show his papers and passenger list, a force became necessary to search her. Lieutenant James A. Greer was at once despatched in the third cutter, also manned and armed. Messrs. Slidell, Mason, Eustis, and Macfarland were recognized and told they were required to go on board this ship. This they objected to until an overpowering force compelled them: much persuasion was used and a little force, and at about two o'clock they were brought on board this ship and received by me. Two other boats were then sent to expedite the removal of their baggage and some stores, when the steamer, which proved to be the Trent, was suffered to proceed on her route to the eastward, and at 3.30 P. M. we bore away to the northward and westward. The whole time employed was two hours and thirteen minutes.

Powhatan or some other steamer to accompany him to the Bahama Channel "to make it impossible for the steamer in which Messrs. Slidell and Mason were to embark to escape either in the night or day." The Powhatan, however, had left the day before his arrival, and he was obliged to rely solely upon the vigilance of the officers and crew of his own ship. Running back to the northern side of Cuba on the 4th, he was in hopes of receiving a telegraphic communication from the coast from the United States consul-general, Mr. Shufelt, advising him of the exact time of the departure of the English packet. In this also he was disappointed, when he ran to the eastward some ninety miles where the old Bahama Channel contracts to the width of fifteen miles some two hundred and forty miles from the Havana, and in sight of the Paredon del Grande lighthouse. There, continues Captain Wilkes in his report to the Secretary of the Navy, "we cruised until the morning of the 8th awaiting the steamer, believing that if she left at the usual time she must pass us about noon of the 8th, and we could not possibly miss her. At "It was my determination," adds Cap11.40 A. M. on the 8th her smoke was tain Wilkes, "to have taken possession first seen; at 12 M. our position was of the Trent, and sent her to Key West to the westward of the entrance into as a prize, for resisting the search and the narrowest part of the channel, and carrying these passengers, whose characabout nine miles northeast from the light- ter and objects were well known to the house of Paredon del Grande, the near-captain; but the reduced number of my est point of Cuba to us. We were all prepared for her, beat to quarters, and orders were given to Lieutenant D. M. Fairfax to have two boats manned and armed to board her and make Messrs. Slidell, Mason, Eustis, and Macfarland prisoners, and send them immediately on board. The steamer approached and hoisted English colors, our ensign was hoisted, and a shot was fired across her bow; she maintained her speed and showed no disposition to heave-to; then a shell was fired across her bow, which brought her to. I hailed that I intended to send a boat on board, and Lieutenant

officers and crew, and the large number of passengers on board, bound to Europe, who would be put to great inconvenience, decided me to allow them to proceed. Finding the families of Messrs. Slidell and Eustis on board, I tendered them the offer of my cabin for their accommodation to accompany their husbands; this they declined, however, and proceeded in the Trent. Before closing this despatch I would bring to your notice the notorious action of her British Majesty's subjects, the consul general of Cuba and those on board the Trent, in doing everything to aid and abet the es

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