(TRENT AFFAIR) 6 Signatures each by one of principal figures

Sale 2492 - Lot 83

Price Realized: $ 438

?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price

Estimate: $ 250 - $ 350

(TRENT AFFAIR.) 6 Signatures, each by one of principal figures involved: William H. Seward * James Murray Mason * John Slidell * Charles Wilkes * Lord Palmerston * Charles Francis Adams. Each 3 1/4x5 inches or smaller; generally good condition; matted together with a related engraving and framed. Vp, vd

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Additional Details

Seward. Signature, "William H. Seward / Auburn [NY]," on a small card Mason. Clipped Signature, "J.M. Mason" Slidell. Clipped Signature, "Your Resp'y / John Sidell" Wilkes. Clipped Signature and date, "CharlesWilkes / R'rAd'l U.S.N. / Sept 21st 1870" Palmerston. Signature, "Palmerston," on an envelope addressed to "General Hamilton," in his hand Adams. Signature and date, "Charles Francis Adams / 23 February 1875," on a small card.

On November 8, 1861, two Confederate diplomats--James Murray Mason and John Slidell--were arrested while at sea aboard the British RMS Trent by Union Navy Captain Charles Wilkes. British officials were outraged that a diplomat should be seized from their vessel in neutral waters and threatened to recall their minister at Washington. To diffuse the tension, Secretary of State William H. Seward arranged for U.S. envoy to the U.K. Charles Francis Adams to inform Prime Minister Lord Palmerston that Wilkes had acted without orders, and on the 26th of December, the Confederate prisoners were released.

From the Collection of William Wheeler III.