retary of State, he was now wholly convinced of the settled
determination of the South to maintain its independence, even under
extreme reverses. Upon enquiry by Lyons whether the South expected
European assistance, Mercier "replied that the Confederate leaders
professed to have abandoned all hope of succour from Europe," and that
confident in their own power they "desired no aid." Cautiously adverting
to his suspicion that Mercier's trip might have had in view French
commercial advantage, Lyons asked whether France had received any
proposals of benefit in return for recognition. Mercier answered with a
simple negative. He then further developed the interview with
Benjamin[599].

"He said that he had spoken while at Richmond as a friend of
the Union, and a friend of all parties, but that the
particular language which he had intended to hold was
entirely inapplicable to the state of mind in which he found
the Confederates one and all. It was idle to tell them that
they were worsted on all sides; that the time was come for
making terms with the North. What he had said to them about
the recognition of their Independence was that the principal
inducement to France to recognize it would be a hope that her
doing so would have a great moral effect towards hastening
peace; that at this moment it would certainly not have any
such effect; that it would embroil France with the United
States, and that would be all[600]."

Thus none of the strong representations intended to be made by Mercier
to convince the South of the uselessness of further resistance had, in
fact, been made. In his report to Thouvenel, Mercier stated that he had
approached Benjamin with the simple declaration "that the purpose of my
journey was merely to assure myself, for myself, of the true condition
of things; and that I called to beg him to aid me in attaining it."
Since the proposed strong representations were not reported to
Thouvenel, either, in the explanation given of the initiation of the
trip, the doubt must be entertained that Mercier ever intended to make
them. They bear the appearance of arguments to Seward--and in some
degree also to Lyons--made to secure acquiescence in his plan. The
report to Thouvenel omits also any reference to expressions, as narrated
to Lyons, about recognition of the Confederacy, or a "principal
inducement" thereto[601]. Mercier now declared to Lyons his own