[Footnote 156:  Hansard, ibid., pp. 1564-7.  Gregory, a “Liberal-Conservative,” though never a “good party man” was then supporting Palmerston’s ministry.  He was very popular in Parliament, representing by his prominence in sport and society alike, the “gentleman ruling class” of the House of Commons, and was a valuable influence for the South.]

[Footnote 157:  This subject is developed at length in Chapter V on “The Declaration of Paris Negotiation.”]

[Footnote 158:  See ante, p. 88.  The chronology of these rapidly succeeding events is interesting: 

  April 29—­Malmesbury states in the Lords that “news was received
    this day.” 
  May 1—­Naval reinforcements sent to American waters. 
  May 1—­Russell’s interview with Dallas. 
  May 2—­Russell’s plea in Parliament, “For God’s sake keep out of
    it.” 
  May 3—­Russell’s first interview with Yancey and Rost. 
  May 3—­Attorney-General’s memorandum. 
  May 4—­Russell’s note to Lyons that this is a “regular war.” 
  May 6—­Cowley instructed to ask France to recognize Southern
    belligerency. 
  May 6—­Lyons notified that England will recognize Southern belligerency. 
  May 6—­Russell states in Parliament that privateers can not be
    treated as pirates.
    [Presumably, since parliamentary sittings begin in the late
      afternoons, the instructions to diplomats were drawn before
      the statement in Parliament.]
  May 9—­Russell’s second interview with Yancey and Rost. 
  May 9—­Sir George Lewis announces that a Proclamation of Neutrality
    will be issued soon. 
  May 13—­The Proclamation authorized. 
  May 13—­Adams reaches Liverpool. 
  May 14—­The Proclamation officially published in the London Gazette. 
  May 14—­Adams in London “ready for business.”

It would appear that Russell’s expressions in Parliament on May 2 indicated clearly the purpose of the Government.  This was notified to Lyons on May 4, which may be taken as the date when the governmental position had become definitely fixed, even though official instructions were not sent Lyons until the 6th.]

[Footnote 159:  F.O., Am., Vol. 780, No. 50.  Bunch to Russell, April 19, 1861.]

[Footnote 160:  F.O., Am., 789, Monson to Alston, received May 21.]

[Footnote 161:  F.O., Am., 763, No. 197, Lyons to Russell, received May 26.  The full statement is: 

“To an Englishman, sincerely interested in the welfare of this country, the present state of things is peculiarly painful.  Abhorrence of slavery, respect for law, more complete community of race and language, enlist his sympathies on the side of the North.  On the other hand, he cannot but reflect that any encouragement to the predominant war feeling in the North cannot but be injurious to both sections of the country.  The prosecution of the war can lead only to the