at, "Our victory is won on this side the
water[552]," while the American Minister himself believed that "the
prospect of interference with us is growing more and more remote[553]."
Russell also was optimistic, writing to Lyons, "Our relations have now
got into a very smooth groove.... There is no longer any excitement here
upon the question of America. I fear Europe is going to supplant the
affairs of America as an exciting topic[554]," meaning, presumably,
disturbances arising in Italy. On April 4 Adams described his diplomatic
duties as "almost in a state of profound calm[555]."

This quiet in relation to America is evidence that no matter what
anxiety was felt by British statesmen over the effects of the blockade
there was as yet no inclination seriously to question its legality. That
there was, nevertheless, real anxiety is shown by an urgent letter from
Westbury to Palmerston upon the blockade, asserting that if cotton
brought but four pence at Charleston and thirteen pence at Liverpool
there must be some truth in its alleged effectiveness:

"I am greatly opposed to any violent interference. Do not let
us give the Federal States any pretence for saying that they
failed thro' our interference.... Patience for a few more
weeks is I am satisfied the wiser and the more expedient
policy[556]."

[Illustration: KING COTTON BOUND: Or, The Modern Prometheus. _Reproduced
by permission of the Proprietors of "Punch"_]

This would indicate some Cabinet discussion, at least, on the blockade
and on British trade interests. But Westbury's "few more weeks" had no
place in Russell's thought, for on February 15 he wrote to Lyons in
regard to assertions being made that the blockade was ineffective
because certain vessels had eluded it:

"Her Majesty's Government, however, are of opinion that,
assuming that the blockade is duly notified, and also that a
number of ships is stationed and remains at the entrance of a
port, sufficient really to prevent access to it or to create
an evident danger of entering or leaving it, and that these
ships do not voluntarily permit ingress or egress, the fact
that various ships may have successfully escaped through it
(as in the particular instances here referred to) will not of
itself prevent the blockade from being an effective one by
international law[557]."

From this view Russell never departed in official instruction