rely on the
personal side their capture was cause for wide rejoicing[404].

Surprise was also an element in the American elation, for until the news
of the capture was received no portion of the public had given serious
thought to any attempt to stop the envoys. Surprise also played its part
when the affair became known in England, though in official circles
there had been some warning. It had already been reported in the British
press that Mason and Slidell had run the blockade at Charleston, were in
Cuba, and were about to set sail for England on the Confederate steamer
_Nashville_, but the British Government, considering that the envoys
might perhaps sail rather on the West India Mail Steamer for
Southampton, became much concerned over a possible American interference
with that vessel. On November 9 Hammond sent an urgent enquiry to the
Advocate-General stating the situation, calling attention to the
presence at Southampton of an American war-vessel, and asking whether
this vessel, or any other American man-of-war, "would be entitled to
interfere with the mail steamer if fallen in with beyond the territorial
limits of the United Kingdom, that is beyond three miles from the
British Coast."

[Illustration: _Photo: Handy, Washington_ JAMES M. MASON]

"Whether for instance she might cause the West India Mail
Steamer to bring to, might board her, examine her Papers,
open the Mail Bags and examine the contents thereof, examine
the luggage of passengers, seize and carry away Messrs. Mason
and Slidell in person, or seize their Credentials and
Instructions and Despatches, or even put a Prize Crew on
board the West India Steamer and carry her off to a Port of
the United States; in other words what would be the right of
the American Cruiser with regard to her passengers and crew
and lawful papers and correspondence on board our packet on
the assumption that the said packet was liable to capture and
confiscation on the ground of carrying enemies' despatches;
would the Cruiser be entitled to carry the packet and all and
everything in her back to America or would she be obliged to
land in this Country or in some near port all the people and
all the unseizable goods[405]?"

Hammond further stated that Russell was anxious to have an immediate
reply, inasmuch as the mail packet was due to arrive in Southampton on
November 12. The opinion of the law o