XXV, "Correspondence on Civil War in the United States." No.35.Russell to Lyons, May 15, 1861.

Another reason for Lyons' precaution was that while his French colleague, Mercier, had been instructed to support the British Proclamation, no official French Proclamation was issued until June 10, and Lyons, while he trusted Mercier, felt that this French delay needed some explanation.

Mercier told Seward, unofficially, of his instructions and even left a copy of them, but at Seward's request made no official communication.

Lyons, later, followed the same procedure.
This method of dealing with Seward came to be a not unusual one, though it irritated both the British and French Ministers.] [Footnote 167: _U.S.Messages and Documents, 1861-2_, p.85.Adams to Seward, May 17, 1861.] [Footnote 168: Bedford died that day.] [Footnote 169: _U.S.Messages and Documents, 1861-2_, pp.

90-96.