The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-05-23
An American in England.
Extract from a private letter.

Improvement as very much 10 uepreCidle eho
value of opinions entertained on this side of
the water in relation to American affairs. 1t
is hopeful sign that our people are becon,-
ing Indifferent to the unfriendly criticisms of
Europe, and are assuming more and more
the dignifed bearing of conscious strength.
While our crippled and Inundated North
stood suppliant for British sympathy, it
was the most natural thing in the world, as
human nature goes, that England should
play the bully towards US. But how changed
is her attitude since the North has shown, by
success in arms, that she can dispense with
highlands sympathy, and can even defy En-
glands power. BY the way didn't our wor-
thy president, in his proclamation for the
April thanksgiving, commit political mis-
take in abiding to our providential deliver
ance from foreign Intervention? Now, al
though the British government was dictate
rial and exacting towards the United States
during the time of their supposed weakness,
and even assumed very threatening attitude
upon the Mason and Slidell affair, yet as
government she has from the outset, and in
the most distinct manner, declared her pur-
pose not to interfere between the North and
the South. Was it not, therefore, impolitic
at least for our government, through an exc
cutive proclamation for special thanks to
Providence, thus to discredit before the world
the sincerity of those declarations What
the English themselves think of it, is of the
least possible consequence, for they have not
been at all tender of our honor or feelings
but the diplomatic world will see in it breach
of official courtesy that must be damaging to
our government. Besides this, the public
call for graduation at the escape from the
clutches of the British lion was hardly con-
sistent with the dignity of frst-rate power
1t IS a confession that we were for a time at
the mercy of England, and that our present
improved condition is due in part to the will
of Providence, but in still greater degree to
British c!emency.
Another flaw: wasn't the thanksgiving al
together premature? SO far as the victory
at Pittsburg is concerned, We are as vet, here
in England, in painful state of doubt, ow-
ing to the last conflicting accounts. But as
to the idea of foreign intervention, are We so
sure that that danger is entirely over.
The agitation of the subject is again reviv-
ing among the secession papers of London
and Paris, as witness the following which ap-
pears to-day. The Paris correspondent of the
Independence Beige reports this news:
1T appears that France and England have
agreed to interfere between the northern and
southern states Of North America. The
journey of NJ. de Morny to London was con-
nected with this business, which has been on
the taps for some time. 1t is certain that
NJ. Ihouvenel sent three weeks ago instruc-
tons to NJ MERCER, the French Minister to
the United States, and required from him a
detailed report as to the professions of the
South and the demands Of the North. 1t
was, no doubt in order to obtain exact infor-
; nation on this point that NJ. Mercier went to
; Richmond
Another London Journal contains the fol-
lowing:
PARIS, Monday Evening.
A strong feeling is growing up here in IA
vor of intervention in America. The i'm
p preston is so powerful as to cause considera-
h l.,
Paris, and it is believed that very serious
overtures have been made bv the French
cabinet to that Of Lord Palmerston with q
view to joint action to put an end to The
war, which, according to official information
received here, is as far from its termination
} as ever. The tone of the semi official press
I is calculated to strengthen the belief that the
} government is bent on some decisive course
+ An important article in the Constitutional
: has attracted much sensation:
"Our principal anxiety just now is to sci
forth the facts as they really exist, and to pu
! the public on their guard against dangerous
illusions. America fights, but Europe suf
e fers the American batt!e-felds are strewec
: with corpses, but the industrial battle field,
D of Europe are covered with wounded. Anl
J unfortunately if the fighting is to go on much
D longer on the other side of the Atlantic, tn,
j people will still have long to suffer both il
f England and France Those who pretend
1 that the struggle between the North and the
;, South is almost at an end are misleading
: public opinion We enlightcn it when we at
a firm that even if the southern armies were
n defeated the South would not be reduced tc
e subjection."
Whilst the scmi-oficial prints are thu.
pointing out that the interests of France anc
. Eng and-nterests of the most vital nature
are seriously compromised by the prolon
CATION of the internecine struggle in Ameri
ca, the Opposition prints and the Liberal pa
pers generally, who all support negro cman
cipation, give themselves great deal o
trouble to persuade the public that the Nortl
is driving everything before it,that the south
: ems will not have leg left to stand on be
! fore long, and that only short time mus
u elapse before an adequate supply of cottol
shall revive the dropping manufactures il
England and France. But the Moniteu
speaks out far more explicitly than any 0
the other papeN In s0i-disant letter from
London, published this day by the oficia
print, it states in the most positive manner
r that no cotton is to be expected for the mex
# two years-that the southern rivers vii
~. shortly become too shallow in consequence
u of the summer droughts to enable the north
J. ern gunboats to cooperate with the land for
q ceS-and finally that as the season advance