The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-19

panied by an order to Lord Lyons fully to In
form the Governors OF Canada and other Brit
ism dependencies In America Of the impending
crisis. that they might be prepared for action.
Vice Admiral Sir A. Milne, commanding the
British naval forces In these waters. was In
structed to Communicate fully with Lord
Lyons. and to take such measures as circum-
stances may seem to require" He was TO
look to the safety of her Majcsty's possessions
In North America and the West Indies" but
he was to refrain from any act of hostility
against the sea or land forces of the United
States except in self-dcfenCc."
On the day following, VIZ, Dec. /. Earl Rus
sell followed these instructions with n private
letter to Lord Lyons. suggesting to Che latter
the manner in Which he should approach Mr..
Seward. Io said:
My wish would be that Mt your first inter
view with Mr.. seward you should not take my
despatch with you, but should pre- pare him for
it. and ask him to settle with the President
and cabinet what course they would propose.
The next time you should bring my despatch
and read / 1t to him fully. If he asks what will
be the consequence of his refusing compliance,
] think you should say that you wish Ia leave
him and the President quite free to take their
own course. and that You desire to abstain from
anything like menace"
When it was generally known throughout
Great Britain that the Government had for
INFLATED its demands and despatched them by
special messenger to Nashington. and the yer
emptory nature of them. the public realized
that a crisis had been precipitated. 1t had
a SOLDERING influence; everywhere there
was an immediate sensible subsistence OF pas
sion. Cooler counsels supcrveued. and In the
ensuing discussions it began to dawn upon the
British mind that in their haste for satisfac-
ton they had perhaps ovciTeached themselves.
The temper of the people underwent a rapid
change. There even developed a good deal of
anxiety for the result, Notwithstanding the
~fippant remark OF the London Times that I'VE
are at this moment looking UP at tho coin which
Is twlrling In the air, and guessing, without any
good ground Of preference, whether II will come
heads or tails, war or peace" War with a
maritime power like tho North, which had
within a few months developed a formidable
naval force. did not promise a cheerful out.
look for the merchant marine Of England,
Vague anticipations arose of other compiled
lions in Europe which might involve calamity
and disaster.
There was o very largo artstocratio element
which was strongly opposed to launching the
nation In n war essentially In behalf OF a slave
holding oligarchy. Then, again, the middle
and lower classes openly svmpathi2ed with the
Union. The voice OF these elements, now
that FIRST anger had cooled, began TO be heard
and felt. There wa, a growing distrust on the
part OF even the most bloOdthirsty OF the lin
goes OF the appropriateness OF the mode
adopted TO secure a remedy for what was
becoming to be understood 10 have been
an unintentIonal indignity. There was some
talk of submitting all tho issues TO ar
bitration. a mode OF settling national diff
erences not 80 often heard of In those days
as now. Even Mr.. Adams so far regained
confidence from the rapid change that he oh
served going on as 10 express doubt To Mr..
Seward on Jan. . II a declaration Of war would
ensue even though tho United States should de-
cline 10 surrender Mason and Slidell. From n
careful study Of the records, II seems doubtful
II the Palmerston Government ever intended
10 press the controversy to the extreme issue.
There was some danger IN the situation, OF
course, from the pressure Of the headlonR pub
lie passion b"hind them, and doubtless what
they did was largely in answer to that. That
they at first exaggerated It's staying power Is
highly probable, and hence their part was over
done. The wave Of English passion was too
vehement to be more than transItory. and so II
turned ont, as they should have known.
But thcTo need have been no anxiety about
the. ultimate attitude OF the Washington Gov
eminent. For n short while the public com.
motion probably extended to the President
and Cabinet. and perhaps ON all hands there
was secret satisfaction with Capt, Wilkes's
bold act. Secretary Wclles's letter TO Wilkes
is evidence Of this. Hut the President gave
no official or public sign or such satisfaction,
II he felt il. Secretary Welles, in a publica-
tion made long after the war on Mr.. Lincoln
and Mr.. Seward" in the Gdidry Magazine. as
serts that the Secretary OF State and the rest
Of the Cabinet, with the exception Of POET.