He hoped that France would promptly make this clear[725].

But France gave no sign of lack of "perfect accord." On the contrary Thouvenel even discouraged Slidell from following Mason's example of demanding recognition and the formal communication was withheld, Mason acquiescing[726].

Slidell thought new disturbances in Italy responsible for this sudden lessening of French interest in the South, but he was gloomy, seeing again the frustration of high hopes.

August 24 he wrote Benjamin: "You will find by my official correspondence that we are still hard and fast aground here.

Nothing will float us off but a strong and continued current of important successes in the field.
I have no hope from England, because I am satisfied that she desires an indefinite prolongation of the war, until the North shall be entirely exhausted and broken down.
Nothing can exceed the selfishness of English statesmen except their wretched hypocrisy.