g, were those that might spring up during the winter
from the discontent of our industrial centres. Yet behold, suddenly, the
state of affairs transformed; recognition becomes possible, the blockade
is threatened, the United States are in danger of being forced to turn
from the South to face a more redoubtable foe!

Really, what has Mr. Jefferson Davis done for you, that you should
render him such a service!

Let us now turn to England, and tell her also the truth.

So long as England shall not treat the affair of the _Trent_ on its own
merits and with coolness, so long as she shall give ear to those
falsehoods invented by passion, which envenom questions of this sort,
and exclude conciliatory measures and pacific hopes, she will labor
actively to destroy all that she has gloriously built upon earth. It is
impossible to imagine the consequences, fatal to every form of liberty,
which such a policy would comprise within itself.

It was at first supposed that Captain Wilkes had acted by virtue of
instructions, and that Mr. Lincoln's Government had expressly ordered
him to seize the Southern Commissioners on board the English vessel. Now
it is found that Captain Wilkes, returning from Africa, had no
instructions of any sort. He acted, to use his expression, "at his own
risk and peril" like a true Yankee.

It was next supposed that Mr. Lincoln's Government had conceived the
ingenious project (such things are gravely printed and find men to
believe them!) of seeking of itself a rupture with England. It was in
need of new enemies! It hoped, by this means, to rally to itself its
present adversaries! It was about to give over combating them, and to
seek compensation through the conquest of Canada! I have followed the
progress of events in America as attentively as any one, I have read the
American newspapers, I have received letters, I have studied documents,
among others the famous circular of Mr. Seward; I have seen there more
than one sign of discontent with the un-sympathizing attitude of
England; I have also seen there the symptoms of the somewhat natural
fear which the intervention of Europe in Mexico excites in men attached
to the Monroe doctrine; but as to these incredible plans, I have never
discovered the slightest trace of them. I add, that a marked return
towards friendly relations with England will be manifested the moment
that the latter shows herself more amicable towards America.

If there is any quality fo