oubt startled foreign
observers, but in British opinion, at least, the end had been foreseen
from the moment Sherman reached the sea at Savannah. The desperate
courage of the South was admired, but regarded as futile. Equally
desperate and futile was the last diplomatic effort of the Confederate
agents in Europe, taking the form of an offer to abolish slavery in
return for recognition. The plan originated with Benjamin, Southern
Secretary of State, was hesitatingly approved by Davis[1263], and was
committed to Mason for negotiation with Great Britain. Mason, after his
withdrawal from London, had been given duplicate powers in blank for any
point to which emergencies might send him, thus becoming a sort of
Confederate Commissioner at Large to Europe. Less than any other
representative abroad inclined to admit that slavery was other than a
beneficent and humane institution, it was felt advisable at Richmond not
only to instruct Mason by written despatch, but by personal messenger
also of the urgency of presenting the offer of abolition promptly and
with full assurance of carrying it into effect. The instruction was
therefore entrusted to Duncan F. Kenner, of Louisiana, and he arrived in
Paris early in March, 1865, overcame Mason's unwillingness to carry such
an offer to England, and accompanied the latter to London.

The time was certainly not propitious, for on the day Mason reached
London there came the news of the burning of Columbia and the evacuation
of Charleston. Mason hesitated to approach Palmerston, but was pressed
by Kenner who urged action on the theory that Great Britain did not wish
to see a reconstruction of the Union[1264]. Slidell, in Paris, on
receiving Mason's doubts, advised waiting until the Emperor had been
consulted, was granted an interview and reported Napoleon III as ready
as ever to act if England would act also, but as advising delay until
more favourable news was received from America[1265]. But Mason's
instructions did not permit delay; he must either carry them out or
resign--and Kenner was at his elbow pressing for action. On March 13,
therefore, Mason wrote to Palmerston asking for a private interview and
was promptly granted one for the day following.

Both personal disinclination to the proposal of abolition and judgment
that nothing would come of it made Mason cautious in expressing himself
to Palmerston. Mason felt that he was stultifying his country in
condemning slavery. Hence in ro