great European Power might be a knock-down
blow ('Coup d'assommoir' was the expression he used) to them.
It might induce them to come to terms with the North. At all
events it might lead to an Armistice, under which trade might
be immediately resumed. He had (he told me) mentioned to Mr.
Seward his notion of using this language, and had added that
of course as a Minister accredited to the United States, and
visiting Richmond with the consent of the United States
Government, he could not speak to the Southern men of any
other terms for ending the War than a return to the Union.

"Monsieur Mercier proceeded to say that Mr. Seward entirely
approved of the language he thus proposed to hold, and had
authorized him to say to the Southern leaders, not of course
from the United States Government, but from him Mr. Seward,
personally, that they had no spirit of vengeance to
apprehend, that they would be cordially welcomed back to
their Seats in the Senate, and to their due share of
political influence. Mr. Seward added that he had not said so
much to any other person, but that he would tell Monsieur
Mercier that he was willing to risk his own political station
and reputation in pursuing a conciliatory course towards the
South, that he was ready to make this his policy and to stand
or fall by it."

This was certainly sufficiently strong language to have pleased the
American Secretary of State, and if actually used at Richmond to have
constituted Mercier a valuable Northern agent. It cannot be regarded as
at all in harmony with Mercier's previous opinions, nor as expressive of
Thouvenel's views. Lyons was careful to refrain from much comment on the
matter of Mercier's proposed representations at Richmond. He was more
concerned that the trip was to be made at all; was in fact much opposed
to it, fearing that it would appear like a break in that unity of
French-British attitude which was so desirable. Nor was he without
suspicion of a hidden French purpose to secure some special and separate
advantages in the way of prospective commercial relations with the
South. Mercier told Lyons that he knew he could not ask Lyons to
accompany him because of American "extreme susceptibility" to any
interference by Great Britain, but he thought of taking Stoeckl, the
Russian Minister, and that Stoeckl was "pleased with the idea." Lyons