In view of the actual conditions of the trade, already recounted, these were appealing arguments to the larger manufacturers, but the small mills, running on short order supplies and with few stocks of goods on hand were less easily convinced.

They were, however, without parliamentary influence and hence negligible as affecting public policy.

At the opening of the new year, 1862, Bright declared that "with the spinners and manufacturers and merchants, I think generally there is no wish for any _immediate_ change[687]." Bright's letter of November, 1861, was written before news of the _Trent_ reached England: that of January, 1862, just after that controversy had been amicably settled.

The _Trent_ had both diverted attention from cotton and in its immediate result created a general determination to preserve neutrality.

It is evident that even without this threat of war there was no real cotton pressure upon the Government.