On that matter he believed that there would be no difficulty whatever[284]." This clearly referred to privateering.

Russell's instructions to Lyons took up the points of the Declaration of Paris in reverse order.

That on blockades was now generally accepted by all nations.

The principle of the third article had "long been recognized as law, both in Great Britain and in the United States." The second article, "sanctioned by the United States in the earliest period of the history of their independence," had been opposed, formerly, by Great Britain, but having acquiesced in the Declaration of 1856, "she means to adhere to the principle she then adopted." Thus briefly stating his confidence that the United States would agree on three of the articles, Russell explained at length his views as to privateering in the American crisis.
"There remains only to be considered Article I, namely, that relating to privateering, from which the Government of the United States withheld their assent.

Under these circumstances it is expedient to consider what is required on this subject by the general law of nations.