"The Trent Affair."

During the latter part of 1861, when the great Civil War was sweeping over America, when party feeling was running high as to the attitude of England toward the North, and every effort was being made by the South to enlist the sympathy of England in her behalf, the Confederate Government resolved to send ambassadors to foreign Courts to arrange, if possible, for the recognition of the Southern Confederacy.

Mr. Slidell, a prominent Southern lawyer and a shrewd politician, was to go to the Court of France, and Mr. James Murray Mason to the Court of St. James. The Southern ports were already in a state of blockade, but the two ambassadors managed to escape on a dark night in a small steamer to Havana, and there took passage for Southampton in the English steamer "Trent." The U.S. sloop of war "San Jacinto," under command of Captain Wilkes, cruising about in quest of Confederate privateers, learned while touching at Havana that two Confederate agents, with their secretaries, were already on their way to Europe. Captain Wilkes determined to overtake them, and succeeded. Two hundred miles from Havana he signaled the "Trent" to "heave to;" his signal not being obeyed, he fired a shot across her bows and brought her to. Armed men then boarded the "Trent," seized Slidell and Mason and their secretaries, and carried them as prisoners on board the "San Jacinto" despite the protest of the English captain of the "Trent." Captain Wilkes landed his prisoners first at New York, then at Boston, where they were confined in one of the forts of Boston Harbor. The news of the arrest of Slidell and Mason at once caused a tremendous outburst of indignation in England, and preparations for war began.

Troops were dispatched to Canada, and an order sent to the British Ambassador at Washington to demand satisfaction or to leave the country at once. There was intense excitement both in the North and South of the United States. But fortunately two men were then living who seemed to have adopted the watchword of William the Silent--"Calm amidst the breakers." President Lincoln declared at once, "This act of Captain Wilkes can never be sustained." Yet Congress passed a vote of thanks to the officer commanding the "San Jacinto" that had stopped the "Trent" and seized the Confederate agents. The other man was the Prince Consort. He was lying upon what, later, proved to be his death-bed. When the matter was laid before the Queen, and by her before her always wise counsellor, the Prince then gave his last advice upon public matters, recommending calmness and forbearance on the part of the English Government, inasmuch as the States were already involved in a tremendous issue. This is well known history, yet it involves an incident but little known.

Thurlow Weed was sent to England to counteract the strong feeling against the North. He arrived there when the war feeling was almost at a culminating point. On the day of his departure from New York a gentleman put into his hands a letter of introduction to a Mr. William Arthur, of London, remarking: "You had better present that as soon as you arrive." He did so, little aware of its importance. Mr. Arthur received him cordially, and said: "There is no time to be lost. The feeling against the North is very bitter. You must see Lord John Russell immediately." "But how?" asked Mr. Weed. "It will take some time to obtain an audience." "You must see him right away--no formalities," said Mr. Arthur. "Cut the tapes; cut the tapes." The tapes were cut, for when Mr. Arthur returned, after a brief absence from the room, he said: "You will go to Lord John's country seat to-morrow, where you will be expected." Mr. Weed went, and found himself expected. The interview touching political complications was a stormy one. Mr. Weed succeeded, however, in mollifying the Earl's wrath on account of the recent insult to the British Flag. Lunch was announced, and Lady Russell appeared on the scene. After lunch she proposed a walk through the grounds, where she managed to obtain a few words with Mr. Weed. "I am aware," said her ladyship, "of your solicitude in this matter, and if it is any satisfaction to you, I can assure you that her Majesty's sympathy is with the North, to maintain the Union of the States." Later the following facts became known to Mr. Weed, evidencing the sympathy of the Queen. The law required that official dispatches to foreign ambassadors must first be formally presented to the Queen. Before any official dispatches on the "Trent" affair had reached this country, Mr. Seward, Secretary of State, had had an unofficial conversation with Lord Lyons, intimating that everything depended upon the wording of the dispatches expected from England. Should the release of Slidell and Mason be demanded in aggravated language it would be impossible for him, acting as Secretary of State for a proud, sensitive, and highly excited nation, to comply. Lord Lyons replied, "Not to comply means war." Thereupon Thurlow Weed was sent to England. Lord Palmerston was the Queen's Prime Minister in this crisis. When he returned to London after an interview with the Queen at Windsor he left his portfolio on the table in his library. Some one opened the portfolio, and found enclosed with the dispatches prepared for Lord Lyons the following memorandum in the handwriting of the Prince Consort, with interlineations in the handwriting of the Queen:

(Interlined by the Queen.)

WINDSOR CASTLE, Dec. 1, 1861.

"The Queen returns these important drafts, which upon the whole she approves; but she cannot help feeling that the main draft, that for communication to the American Government, is somewhat harsh.

"She would like to have expressed a hope that the American captain did not act under instructions, or, if he did, that he misapprehended them; that the United States Government must be fully aware that the British Government could not allow its flag to be insulted, or the security of her mail communications to be placed in jeopardy; and her Majesty's Government is unwilling to believe that the United States Government intended wantonly to put an insult upon this country, and we are therefore glad to believe that, upon a full consideration of the circumstances of the undoubted breach of international law committed, they will offer such redress as can alone satisfy this country, namely, the release of the four gentlemen and a suitable apology."

The formal communication to the United States Government was drawn up along the line suggested by the Prince Consort and Queen. When Thurlow Weed heard that in place of a harsh, peremptory demand for the surrender of the prisoners, considerate language had been substituted, he was overwhelmed with a sense of obligation to the Prince and Queen, whose intervention at a most critical moment was so exercised as to avert a third war between the United States and England. The Prince was released from all worldly care before his peaceful message liberated the "Trent" prisoners.