5-17, 1862, No.

2002.) Gortchakoff wrote on the margin of this despatch: "Je trouve son opinion tres sage." If Stoeckl understood Lyons correctly then the latter had left England still believing that his arguments with Russell had been of no effect.

When the news reached Washington of England's refusal of the French offer, Stoeckl reported Lyons as much surprised (_Ibid._, to F.O., Nov.

19-Dec.

1, 1862, No.