ord Lyons) is the most sphinx; he is
taciturn, reserved, listens more than he speaks; the others are more
communicative.

What an idea have those Americans of sending a secret agent to Canada,
and what for? England will find it out, and must be offended. I would
not have committed such an absurdity, even in my palmy days, when I
conspired with Louis Napoleon, sat in the councils with Godefroi
Cavaignac, or wrote instructions for Mazzini, then only a beginner
with his _Giovina Italia_, and his miscarried Romarino attempt in
Savoy.

Of what earthly use can be such _politique provocatrice_ towards
England? Or is it only to give some money to a hungry, noisy, and not
over-principled office-seeker?

MAY, 1861.

The administration tossed by expedients -- Seward to Dayton --
Spread-eagleism -- One phasis of the American Union finished --
The fuss about Russell -- Pressure on the administration
increases -- Seward, Wickoff, and the Herald -- Lord Lyons
menaced with passports -- The splendid Northern army -- The
administration not up to the occasion -- The new men -- Andrew,
Wadsworth, Boutwell, Noyes, Wade, Trumbull, Walcott, King,
Chandler, Wilson -- Lyon jumps over formulas -- Governor Banks
needed -- Butler takes Baltimore with two regiments -- News from
England -- The "belligerent" question -- Butler and Scott --
Seward and the diplomats -- "What a Merlin!" -- "France not
bigger than New York!" -- Virginia invaded -- Murder of Ellsworth
-- Harpies at the White House.

Rumors that the President, the administration, or whoever has it in
his hands, is to take the offensive, make a demonstration on Virginia
and on Baltimore. But these ups and downs, these vacillations, are
daily occurrences, and nothing points to a firm purpose, to a decided
policy, or any policy whatever of the administration.

A great principle and a great cause cannot be served and cannot be
saved by half measures, and still less by tricks and by paltry
expedients. But the administration is tossed by expedients. Nothing is
hitherto done, and this denotes a want of any firm decision.

Mr. Seward's letter to Dayton, a first manifesto to foreign nations,
and the first document of the new Minister of Foreign Affairs. It is
bold, high-toned, and American, but it has dark shadows; shows an
inexperienced hand in diplomacy and in dealing with events. The
passages about the frequent ch