as a "hostile act" and ought to be resented by the
"Sovereign State" as a "breach of neutrality and friendship[817]."

Thus on receipt of the news of Napoleon's proposal the Cabinet crisis
was renewed and even more sharply than on October 23. The French offer
was not actually presented until November 10[818]. On the next two days
the answer to be made received long discussion in the Cabinet. Lewis
described this to Clarendon, prefacing his account by stating that
Russell had heard by telegram from Napier at St. Petersburg to the
effect that Russia would not join but would support English-French
proposals through her Minister at Washington, "provided it would not
cause irritation[819]."

"Having made this statement, Lord John proceeded to explain
his views on the question. These were, briefly, that the
recent successes of the Democrats afforded a most favourable
opportunity of intervention, because we should strengthen
their hands, and that if we refused the invitation of France,
Russia would reconsider her decision, act directly with
France, and thus accomplish her favourite purpose of
separating France and England. He therefore advised that the
proposal of France should be accepted. Palmerston followed
Lord John, and supported him, but did not say a great deal.
His principal argument was the necessity for showing sympathy
with Lancashire, and of not throwing away any chance of
mitigating it [_sic_].

"The proposal was now thrown before the Cabinet, who
proceeded to pick it to pieces. Everybody present threw a
stone at it of greater or less size, except Gladstone, who
supported it, and the Chancellor [Westbury] and Cardwell, who
expressed no opinion. The principal objection was that the
proposed armistice of six months by sea and land, involving a
suspension of the commercial blockade, was so grossly
unequal--so decidedly in favour of the South, that there was
no chance of the North agreeing to it. After a time,
Palmerston saw that the general feeling of the Cabinet was
against being a party to the representation, and he
capitulated. I do not think his support was very sincere: it
certainly was not hearty ... I ought to add that, after the
Cabinet had come to a decision and the outline of a draft had
been discussed, the Chancellor uttered a few oracular
sentences on the da