had written from Washington that Lincoln "was the only friend of the
South in his party[1299]," and he was extremely anxious that Seward's
recovery might be hastened, fearing the possibility of Sumner's
assumption of the Secretaryship of State. "We miss terribly the
comparative moderation of Lincoln and Seward[1300]."

[Illustration: BRITANNIA SYMPATHISES WITH COLUMBIA. _Reproduced by
permission of the Proprietors of "Punch"_]

The American Minister naturally became the centre toward which the
public outpouring of sympathy was directed. "The excitement in this
country has been deep and wide, spreading through all classes of
society. My table is piled high with cards, letters and
resolutions[1301]...." Indeed all the old sources of "addresses" to
Adams on emancipation and many organizations having no professed
interest in that subject now sent to him resolutions--the emancipation
societies, of horror, indignation, and even accusation against the
South; the others of sympathy, more moderate in tone, yet all
evincing an appreciation of the great qualities of Lincoln and of the
justice of the cause of the North, now victorious. Within two weeks
Adams reported over four hundred such addresses from Emancipation
Societies, Chambers of Commerce, Trades Unions, municipalities,
boroughs, churches, indeed from every known type of British
organizations[1302].

On May 1 the motion for the address to the Crown came up for debate. In
the Lords, Russell emphasized the kindly and forgiving qualities of
Lincoln as just those needed in America, and now lost by his death.
Derby, for the Opposition, expressed the horror of the world at Booth's
act, joined in expressions of sympathy to the United States, but
repeated the old phrase about the "North fighting for empire, the South
for independence," and hinted that the unusual step now being taken by
Parliament had in it a "political object," meaning that the motion had
been introduced in the hope of easing American irritation with Great
Britain[1303]. It was not a tactful speech, but Derby's lieutenant in
the Commons, Disraeli, saved his party from criticism by what was
distinctly the most thoughtful and best-prepared utterance of the day.
Palmerston was ill. The Government speech was made by Grey, who
incautiously began by asserting that the majority of the people of Great
Britain had always been on the side of the North and was met by cries of
"No, no" and "Hear, hear." Disraeli conclud