pose upon
the Government at home a duty so to shape its actions as, if
possible, to defeat all such calculations and dissipate such
hopes.... We owe this duty not less to the great body of
those who in this kingdom are friends to us and our
institutions, than to ourselves[1372]."

[Illustration: JOHN BRIGHT (_From a photograph taken of him in the
attitude in which he usually spoke_) (_From Trevelyan's "Life of John
Bright_")]

Thus Adams advised his Government to tread lightly in respect to
democratic agitation in England. Over a month later he received a
deputation headed by Bright, come to present to him the resolutions
passed at the Trades Unions' meeting. The deputation expressed fears
that a rupture was imminent in the relations of Great Britain and
America, and that this would have a disastrous influence on the
aspirations of working-class Europe. Adams replied in general terms of
appreciation for the sympathies expressed by the meeting but
carefully avoided specific comment on its democratic purpose. "He was
too prudent," said the _Times_ in reporting the deputation, "to appraise
the importance of the particular demonstration to which his notice was
invited ..." and his reply was given favourable comment[1373]. This
reply, wrote Adams, "appears to have had a sedative effect[1374]."
Meanwhile, Bright continued his preachment to the English people though
modifying his tone of fierce accusation against "privilege," and
confining himself to declaring the interest of the unenfranchised in the
American conflict. In a speech before the Union and Emancipation Society
of London, on June 16, he asserted for the "twenty millions of people in
this country" as yet without representation in Parliament, "I say that
these have an interest, almost as great and direct as though they were
living in Massachusetts or New York, in the tremendous struggle for
freedom which is now shaking the whole North American Continent[1375]."
Like utterances were repeated at further public meetings and so
insistent were they as to require reply by the conservative faction,
even if, as was supposed, the effect of the Trades' Union attitude had
been to give a halt to the vehemence of those who had been sounding the
"lesson" of American failure in democracy. Bright became the centre of
attack. The _Times_ led.

"His is a political fanaticism. He used to idolize the
Constitution of the United States as the one gre