82-85, gives an account of the initiation of Mercier's trip and prints Lyons' private letter to Russell of April 25, describing the results, but does not bring out sufficiently Lyons' objections and misgivings.

Newton thinks that Mercier "whether instructed from home or not ...

after the manner of French diplomatists of the period ...

was probably unable to resist the temptation of trying to effect a striking _coup_...."] [Footnote 596: Stoeckl's report does not agree with Mercier's statement.
He wrote that he had been asked to accompany Mercier but had refused and reported a conversation with Seward in which the latter declared the time had not yet come for mediation, that in any case France would not be accepted in that role, and that if ever mediation should become acceptable, Russia would be asked to act (Russian Archives, Stoeckl to F.O., April 23-May 5, 1862.No.

927).] [Footnote 597: F.O., Am., Vol.828.No.250.Confidential.