He should frankly tell them that to all appearances their cause was desperate; that their Armies were beaten in all quarters; and that the time had arrived when they ought to come to some arrangement, which would put an end to a state of affairs ruinous to themselves and intolerable to Europe.

It was useless to expect any countenance from the European Powers.

Those Powers could but act on their avowed principles.

They would recognize any people which established its independence, but they could not encourage the prolongation of a fruitless struggle.
"Monsieur Mercier thought that if the Confederates were very much discouraged by their recent reverses, such language from the Minister of a great European Power might be a knock-down blow ('Coup d'assommoir' was the expression he used) to them.
It might induce them to come to terms with the North.

At all events it might lead to an Armistice, under which trade might be immediately resumed.