e war should end, I
would choose for its ending by the restoration of the old union this very
day."

In a letter to the Duchess of Sutherland (Nov. 7, 1862), he says: "A
friendly correspondent writes to say he is sorry the South has my
sympathies. But the South has not my sympathies, except in the sense in
which the North has them also. I wish them both cordially well, which I
believe is more than most Englishmen can at present say with truth. In
both I see the elements of future power and good; in both I see also the
elements of danger and mischief.' To another correspondent: 'I have never
to my knowledge expressed any sympathy with the Southern cause in any
speech at Newcastle or elsewhere, nor have I passed any eulogium upon
President Davis. In dealing whether with South or North I have thought it
out of my province to touch in any way the complicated question of praise
and blame."

At a very early stage the Duke of Argyll sent him some letter of Mrs.
Beecher Stowe's, and Mr. Gladstone in acknowledging it from Penmaenmawr
(Aug. 26, 1861) writes expressing all possible respect for her character
and talents, but thinks that she has lost intellectual integrity:--

It seems to me that the South has two objects in view: firstly the
liberation of its trade and people from the law of tribute to the
North; secondly and perhaps mainly, the maintenance of the slave
system without fear or risk of Northern interference. That on the
other hand it is very difficult to analyse that movement of the
North which Mrs. Stowe finds sublime, but which in my eyes is
tumultuous. There is the anti-slavery motive impelling with great
vehemence a small section, which she rather offensively calls the
Christian people of the union; there is the spirit of protection
and monopoly, unwilling to surrender future booty; there is the
unquietness in the great towns, found in America as in all
countries, and ever ready for a row; there is the fear which Mr.
Motley described, that unless a firm front were shown against
secession it would not stop where it had begun; there is last and
(relatively to this subject matter) best of all the strong
instinct of national life, and the abhorrence of nature itself
towards all severance of an organised body. This last sentiment,
as well as the first, deserved to be treated by us with great
tenderness and respect.... As to the authority