1.] [Footnote 149: It is interesting that on this same day Lyons was writing from Washington advocating, regretfully, because of his sympathy with the North, a strict British neutrality: "The sympathies of an Englishman are naturally inclined towards the North--but I am afraid we should find that anything like a quasi alliance with the men in office here would place us in a position which would soon become untenable.

There would be no end to the exactions which they would make upon us, there would be no end to the disregard of our neutral rights, which they would show if they once felt sure of us.

If I had the least hope of their being able to reconstruct the Union, or even of their being able to reduce the South to the condition of a tolerably contented or at all events obedient dependency, my feeling against Slavery might lead me to desire to co-operate with them.

But I conceive all chance of this to be gone for ever." Russell Papers.

Lyons to Russell, May 6, 1861.] [Footnote 150: F.O., France, Vol.1390.No.