Did the British Government exhibit an unfriendly attitude toward the North by a "premature" Proclamation of Neutrality?
On May 13 the new American Minister landed at Liverpool, and on the morning of the fourteenth he was "ready for business" in London[167], but the interview with Russell arranged for that day by Dallas was prevented by the illness of Russell's brother, the Duke of Bedford[168].
All that was immediately possible was to make official notification of arrival and to secure the customary audience with the Queen.

This was promptly arranged, and on May 16 Adams was presented, Palmerston attending in the enforced absence of Russell.

Adams' first report to Seward was therefore brief, merely noting that public opinion was "not exactly what we would wish." In this he referred to the utterances of the press, particularly those of the _Times_, which from day to day and with increasing vigour sounded the note of strict neutrality in a "non-idealistic" war.

On May 30 the _Times_, asserting that both parties in America were bidding for English support, summed up public opinion as follows: "We have been told, in fact, by Northern politicians, that it does not become us to be indifferent, and by Southern leaders that they are half inclined to become British once more.

Both sides are bidding for us, and both sides have their partisans over here.