The Trent Affair really almost turned ugly against the United States when the USS San Jacinto stopped the British ship RMS Trent and took off and arrested Confederate commissioners Mason and Slidell. England was mortified and this probably came the closest that they ever got to taking overt operations against the country. Britain demanded the immediate release of Mason and Slidell and an apology.
A break came when British Prince Albert talked Russell's demands down.
Seward's stance was that since the Trent wasn't taken to a prize court. The British refused to allow Confederate privateers from bringing prizes into a prize court and could not call the Union's blockade ineffective (which it was).
They appointed Charles Francis Adams as ambassador to England which appeased the British somewhat. He was the son of a president and grandson of another and aristocratic, which helped appease the British.
Later, Lincoln quietly released Mason and Slidell. John Slidell went to France and Mason to England where he was a bad choice and not liked much by the British aristocracy because of his manners. One thing he did that offended them was chew tobacco and then, worse, spit on the floor.
--Old Secesh
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