very good appointment[93]." This news was received
in London on April 2, but over six weeks were yet to elapse before Adams
reached his post. The appointment of Adams, however, seemed to Lyons a
matter of congratulation in his hope that no vicious anti-British policy
would be indulged in by Seward. Ten days after his telegram, he wrote at
length to Russell, making an excellent statement and analysis in regard
to the character of Adams.

"Mr. Adams is son of John Quincy Adams, the fifth P. of the
U.S., and grandson of John Adams, the second P. The
grandfather was the first Am. minister in England. The father
was one of the Plenipotentiaries who signed in London the
Convention of the 3rd July, 1815. Mr. Adams as a member of
the H. of R. for one of the districts of Mass., acted with
the less violent section of the 'Republican' Party. During
the last session of Congress he made a very remarkable
speech on the state of the Union, denying the reasonableness
of the complaints of the Southern States, but stating his
desire that every concession not inconsistent with honour and
principle should be made to them. He is considered to be a
man of great independence of character, and has the
reputation of being very tenacious of his own opinions. In
manner he is quiet and unassuming. He is a man of good
fortune. Mrs. Adams comes of a considerable family in Mass.,
of the name of Brooks. The late wife of Mr. Edward Everett,
who, as your L. is aware, has held the offices of Minister in
London and Secretary of State, was her sister[94]."

Similar characterizations were being forwarded at almost the same time
by Bunch in regard to the Southern Commissioners, now being despatched
to London, but they were not so favourable. Mann, wrote Bunch, was the
son of a "bankrupt grocer." His personal character was "not good," yet
he alone of the three Commissioners appointed had had diplomatic
experience. Yancey, it was stated, was an able lawyer, a stirring
orator, and a recognized leader of the secession movement, but he was
also extremely pro-slavery in his views, had expressed himself in favour
of a renewal of the slave trade, and throughout his career had been a
"manifest destiny" man. Of Rost, Bunch had no knowledge. In conclusion
Bunch described the extreme confidence expressed in the South in "King
Cotton," and in rather bitter criticism stated th