tutes and ordinances, to be from time to time made and ordained by Her Majesty, her heirs and successors, Sovereigns of the said Order; And to ordain and direct that it shall be competent for the Sovereign of the said Order to confer the dignity of a Knight of the Order upon such native princes and chiefs of India as shall have entitled themselves to Her Majesty's favour, and upon such of Her Majesty's British subjects as have, by important and loyal services rendered by them to the Indian Empire, merited Her Majesty's favour. The Queen has been further pleased to ordain, constitute, and appoint the Right Hon. Charles John, Earl Canning, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Hon. Order of the Bath, and Her Majesty's Viceroy and GovernorGeneral of India, to be the first Grand Master of the said Most Exalted Order of the Star of India; And to nominate and appoint lately Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's forces in the East Indies; His Highness Runbeer Singh, Maharaja of Cashmere; Sir George Russell Clerk, K.C.B., Governor of the Presidency of Bombay; His Highness Tookoojee Rao Holkar, Maharaja of Indore ; His Highness Maharaja Khunde Rao, Guicowar of Baroda ; The Right Hon. Sir John Laird Mair Lawrence, Bart., G.C.B., lately Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab; His Highness Nurendur Singh, Maharaja of Putiala ; Lieutenant-General Sir James Outram, Bart., G.C.B., lately Member of the Council of the Governor-General of India; Her Highness Nuwab Sekunder Begum, of Bhopal; General Sir Hugh Henry Rose, G.C.B., Commander-in-Chief of Her Majesty's forces in the East Indies; and His Highness Yoosuf Ali Khan, Nuwab of Rampore ; To be Knights of the Most Exalted Order of the Star of India. The Queen, in order to mark the high sense and esteem in which Her Majesty holds the said Order, and to give an additional proof of her affectionate regard for his Royal Highness the Prince Consort and his Royal Highness Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, has been pleased to nominate and appoint their Royal Highnesses to be Extra Knights of the said Most Exalted Order of the Star of India. STATE PAPERS. THE CASE OF THE "TRENT." Extracts from the Correspondence respecting the Seizure of Messrs. Mason, Slidell, Mc Farland, and Eustis, from on board the Royal Mail-Packet Trent, by the Commander of the United States' Ship of War San Jacinto. Commander Williams to Captain Patey. Trent, at Sea, November 9, 1861. Sir,-There devolves on me the painful duty of reporting to you a wanton act of aggression on this ship by the United States war screw-steamer San Jacinto, carrying a broadside of seven guns, and a shell pivot-gun of heavy calibre on the forecastle, which took place on the 8th instant, in the Bahama Channel, abreast of the Paredon lighthouse. The Trent left Havana at 8 A.M. on the 7th instant, with Her Majesty's mails for England, having on board a large freight of specie, as well as numerous passengers, amongst whom were Messrs. Mason and Slidell, the former accredited with a special mission from the Confederate States to the Government of Great Britain, and the latter to the French Government, with their respective secretaries, Messrs. Mc Farland and Eustis. Shortly after noon, on the 8th, a steamer, having the appearance of a man-of-war, but not showing colours, was observed ahead, hove-to; we immediately hoisted our ensign at the peak, but it was not responded to until, on nearing her, at 1.15 P.M., she fired a round shot from her pivot-gun across our bows, and showed American colours. Our engines were immediately slowed, and we were still approaching her, when she discharged a shell from her pivot-gun immediately across our bows, exploding half a cable's length ahead of us. We then stopped, when an officer with an armed guard of marines boarded us and demanded a list of passengers, which demand being refused, the officer said that he had orders to arrest Messrs. Mason, Slidell, Mc Farland, and Eustis, and that he had sure information of their being passengers in the Trent. Declining to satisfy him whether such persons were on board or not, Mr. Slidell stepped forward, and announced that the four persons he had named were then standing before him, under British protection, and that if they were taken on board the San Jacinto, they must be taken vi et armis, the commander of the Trent and myself at the same time protesting against this illegal act, this act of piracy, carried out by brute force, as we had no means of resisting the aggression, the San Jacinto being at the time on our port beam, about 200 yards off, her ship's company at quarters, ports open, and tompions out. Sufficient time being given for such necessaries as they might require being sent to them, these gentlemen were forcibly taken out of the ship, and then a further demand was made that the commander of the Trent should go on board the San Jacinto, but as he expressed his determination not to go, unless forcibly compelled likewise, this latter demand was not carried into execution. At 3.40 we parted company, and proceeded on our way to St. Thomas, on our arrival at which place I shall deliver to the Consul duplicates of this letter to Lord Lyons, Sir Alexander Milne, Commodore Dunlop, and the Consul-General at Havana. I have, &c., (Signed) RICHARD WILLIAMS, Commander, R.N. No. 7.- Memorandum made by Commander Williams at the Ad miralty, on the 27th of November, 1861, relative to the forcible seizure of Messrs. Mason and Slidell, and their Secretaries, from on board the Trent. On Mr. Slidell's announcing that the four persons inquired for were then standing before Lieutenant Fairfax under British protection, and that if taken on board the San Jacinto they must be taken vi et armis, I addressed that officer in the following terms: "In this ship I am the Representative of Her Britannic Majesty's Government, and, in the name of that Government, I protest against this illegal act-this violation of international law this act of piracy, which you would not dare to attempt on a ship capable of resisting such aggression." It was then that Lieutenant Fairfax waved his hand towards the San Jacinto, and additional force was sent. The marines were drawn up at the entry-port -bayonets fixed; and on Miss Slidell's uttering an hysterical VOL. CIII. scream on her being separated from her father, that is, on his breaking the window of his cabin, and thrusting his body through to escape from the distressing scene of forcible separation from his family, they rushed into the passage at the charge. There were upwards of 60 armed men in all, and the aforesaid gentlemen were then taken out of the ship, an armed guard on either side of each seizing them by the collar of the coat. Every inducement was held out, so far as importunate persuasion would go, to prevail on Mrs. Slidell and Mrs. Eustis, with the son and three daughters of the former, to accompany their husbands, but as they did not wish their wives to be subjected to imprisonment (Lieutenant Fairfax having replied to Mrs. Slidell's inquiry as to their disposal if they did accompany them, that they would be sent to Washington), they remained on board the Trent, and came on to England in La Plata. The ships getting somewhat further apart than when this affair commenced, a boat came from the San Jacinto to request us to approach nearer; to which I replied that they had the same power as ourselves, and if they wished to be nearer to us, they had their own remedy. 66 out. Resistance was, therefore, out of the question, and the four gentlemen before named were forcibly taken out of the ship. A further demand was made that the commander of the Trent should proceed on board the San Jacinto, but he said he would not go unless forcibly compelled likewise, and this demand was not insisted upon. It thus appears that certain individuals have been forcibly taken from on board a British vessel, the ship of a neutral Power, while such vessel was pursuing a lawful and innocent voyage; an act of violence which was an affront to the British flag and a violation of international law. liams, Agent for Mails on board her ports open and tompions the contract steamer, Trent. It appears from the letter of Commander Williams, dated Royal mail contract packet Trent, at sea, November 9," that the Trent left Havana on the 7th instant with Her Majesty's mails for England, having on board nu merous passengers. Commander Williams states that shortly after noon, on the 8th, a steamer, having the appearance of a manof-war, but not showing colours, was observed ahead. On nearing her at 1.15 P.M. she fired a round shot from her pivot-gun across the bows of the Trent, and showed American colours. While the Trent was approaching her slowly, the American vessel discharged a shell across the bows of the Trent, exploding half a cable's length ahead of her. The Trent then stopped, and an officer, with a large armed guard of marines, boarded her. The officer demanded a list of the passengers, and compliance with this demand being refused, the officer said he had orders to arrest Messrs. Mason, Slidell, McFarland, and Eustis, and that he had sure information of their being passengers in the Trent. While some parley was going on upon this matter, Mr. Slidell stepped forward and told the American officer that the four persons he had named were then standing before him. The commander of the Trent, Commander Williams, protested against the act of taking by force out of the Trent these four passengers, then under the protection of the British flag. But the San Jacinto was at that time only 200 yards from the Trent, her ship's company at quarters, Her Majesty's Government, bearing in mind the friendly relations which have long subsisted between Great Britain and the United States, are willing to believe that the United States' naval officer who committed this aggression was not acting in com. pliance with any authority from his Government, or that if he conceived himself to be so authorized, he greatly misunderstood the instructions which he had received. For the Government of the United States must be fully aware that the British Government could not allow such an affront to the national honour to pass without full reparation, and Her Majesty's Government are unwilling to believe that it could be the deliberate intention of the Government of the United States unnecessarily to force into discussion between the two Governments a question of so grave a character, and with re gard to which the whole British nation would be sure to entertain such unanimity of feeling. Her Majesty's Government, therefore, trust that when this matter shall have been brought under the consideration of the Government of the United States, that Government will, of its own accord, offer to the British Government such redress as alone would satisfy the British nation, namely, the liberation of the four gentlemen, and their delivery to your Lordship, in order that they may again be placed under British protection, and a suitable apology for the aggression which has been committed. Should these terms not be offered by Mr. Seward, you will propose them to him. You are at liberty to read this despatch to the Secretary of State, and if he shall desire it, you will give him a copy of it. I am, &c. with all the members of your Legation, bringing with you the archives of the Legation, and to repair immediately to London. If, however, you should be of opinion that the requirements of Her Majesty's Government are substantially complied with, you may report the facts to Her Majesty's Government for their consideration, and remain at your post till you receive further orders. You will communicate with Vice-Admiral Sir A. Milne immediately upon receiving the answer of the American Government, and you will send him a copy of that answer, together with such observations as you may think fit to make. You will also give all the information in your power to the Governors of Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Jamaica, Bermuda, and such other of Her Majesty's possessions as may be within your reach. Earl Russell to Lord No. 8.-M. de Thouvenel to M. Lyons. Foreign Office, November 30, 1861. In my previous despatch of this date I have instructed you, by command of Her Majesty, to make certain demands of the Government of the United States. Should Mr. Seward ask for delay in order that this grave and painful matter should be deliberately considered, you will consent to a delay not exceeding seven days. If, at the end of that time, no answer is given, or if any other answer is given except that of a compliance with the demands of Her Majesty's Government, your Lordship is instructed to leave Washington Mercier. (Communicated to Paris, December 3, 1861. Sir, The arrest of Messrs. Mason and Slidell on board the English mail-packet Trent by an American cruizer has produced in France, if not the same emotion as in England, at least a profound astonishment and sensation. Public opinion was immediately occupied with the legality and the consequences of such an act, and the impression which has been thereby produced has not been for an instant doubtful. The act seemed to the public to be so entirely at vari |