LINCOLN'S WISE STATESMANSHIP. —THE MASON AND SLIDELL AFFAIR. —
COMPLICATIONS WITH ENGLAND. —LINCOLN'S "LITTLE STORY" ON THE
TRENT AFFAIR. —THE BUILDING OF THE MONITOR. —LINCOLN'S PART IN
THE ENTERPRISE. —THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE. —DISCUS‐
SION OF THE LABOR QUESTION. —A PRESIDENT'S RECEPTION IN WAR TIME.
—A GREAT AFFLICTION.-DEATH OF WILLIE LINCOLN. —SOME CHAP-
TERS FROM THE SECRET SERVICE. —A MORNING CALL ON THE PRESIDENT.
—"DARKEY ARITHMETIC."—GOLDWIN SMITH'S OPINION OF LINCOLN.
—MR. LINCOLN AND "FATHER GIDDINGS."—STANDING BY OLD FRIENDS.

IN November, 1861, occurred one of the most important
and perilous episodes of the war; one whose full significance
was not understood, except by a few cool heads, until long
afterwards. Two influential Southern politicians, Mason and
Slidell, had been sent by the Confederate Government as
Commissioners to Great Britain and France, to try and secure
the recognition of the Confederacy; and while on board the
British steamer "Trent," they were taken prisoners by the
U. S. steamer "San Jacinto," and brought to Washington.
Great Britain loudly protested against what she regarded as
an unwarrantable seizure of passengers under the British flag,
and for a time excitement ran high, and war with England
seemed almost inevitable. Fortunately for our country, the
controversy was amicably settled by the surrender of the
prisoners, without any sacrifice of the dignity of the Govern-
ment of the United States. As happily stated by Mr. Hosea
Biglow:

"We gave the critters back, John,
Cos Abraham thought 'twas right;
It wa'nt your bullyin' clack, John,
Provokin' us to fight."

The statesmanship displayed by our Government through-
out this difficult affair was of the highest order. The credit
of it has usually been given to Mr. Seward, the able Secre-
tary of State, by whom the correspondence and negotiations

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