than ever. I find, however, that I am
going beyond my own province, and I will therefore add only
an excuse for doing so[1118]."

Lyons followed this up a week later by a long description of America's
readiness for a foreign war, a situation very different from that of
1861. America, he said, had steadily been preparing for such a
contingency not with any desire for it but that she might not be caught
napping[1119]. This was written as if merely an interesting general
speculation and was accompanied by the assurance, "I don't think the
Government here at all desires to pick a quarrel with us or with any
European Power--but the better prepared it is, the less manageable it
will be[1120]." Nevertheless, Lyons' concern over Russell's motion of
withdrawing belligerent rights to the North was great, and his
representations presumably had effect, for no more was heard of the
matter. Russell relieved Lyons' mind by writing, November 21:

"I hope you continue to go on quietly with Seward. I think
this is better than any violent demonstrations of friendship
which might turn sour like beer if there should be a
thunder-storm.

"But I am more and more persuaded that amongst the Powers
with whose Ministers I pass my time there is none with whom
our relations ought to be so frank and cordial as the United
States[1121]."

If relations with the North were now to be so "frank and cordial," there
was, indeed, little remaining hope possible to English friends of the
South. Bright wrote to Sumner: "Neutrality is agreed upon by all, and I
hope a more fair and friendly neutrality than we have seen during the
past two years[1122]." George Thompson, at Exeter Hall, lauding Henry
Ward Beecher for his speech there, commented on the many crowded open
public meetings in favour of the North as compared with the two
pro-Southern ones in London, slimly and privately attended[1123].
Jefferson Davis, in addressing the Confederate Congress, December 7, was
bitter upon the "unfair and deceptive conduct" of England[1124]. Adams,
by mid-December, 1863, was sure that previous British confidence in the
ultimate success of the South was rapidly declining[1125].

Such utterances, if well founded, might well have portended the
cessation of further Southern effort in England. That a renewal of
activity soon occurred was due largely to a sudden shift in the military
situation in America and to the realizati