erest the reports of a British
special agent sent out from Washington on a tour of the Western States.
Anderson's reports emphasized three points:

(1) Emancipation was purely a war measure with no thought of
ameliorating the condition of the slaves once freed;

(2) Even if the war should stop there was no likelihood of securing
cotton for a long time to come;

(3) The Western States, even more then the Eastern, were in favour of
vigorous prosecution of the war and the new call for men was being met
with enthusiasm[792].

This was unpromising either for relief to a distressed England or for
Northern acceptance of an armistice, yet Russell, commenting on
Clarendon's letter to Palmerston, containing Derby's advice, still
argued that even if declined a suggestion of armistice could do no harm
and might open the way for a later move, but he agreed that recognition
"would certainly be premature at present[793]." Russell himself now
heard from Clarendon and learned that Derby "had been constantly urged
to press for recognition and mediation but he had always refused on the
ground that the neutral policy hitherto pursued by the Government was
the right one and that if we departed from it we should only meet with
an insolent rejection of our offer[794]." A long conference with Lyons
gave cause for further thought and Russell committed himself to the
extent that he acknowledged "we ought not to move _at present_ without
Russia[795]...." Finally, October 22, Palmerston reached a decision for
the immediate present, writing to Russell:

"Your description of the state of things between the two
parties is most comprehensive and just. I am, however, much
inclined to agree with Lewis that at present we could take no
step nor make any communication of a distinct proposition
with any advantage."

* * * * *

"All that we could possibly do without injury to our position
would be to ask the two Parties not whether they would agree
to an armistice but whether they might not turn their
thoughts towards an arrangement between themselves. But the
answer of each might be written by us beforehand. The
Northerners would say that the only condition of arrangement
would be the restoration of the Union; the South would say
their only condition would be an acknowledgment by the North
of Southern Independence--we should not be more advanced and